BoRookies are one of the best investments you can make in Best Ball tournaments, as they routinely outperform their draft positions by huge margins. Because they have a less defined range of outcomes, many Best Ball drafters avoid rookies more than they should, which helps keep their costs down. Today, I’ll be discussing some of my favorite rookie targets based on cost in Underdog Fantasy Football drafts.
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Underdog Fantasy Football Rookie Targets
RB Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
Omarion Hampton enters the NFL after an impressive career at North Carolina in which he was highly productive. Hampton had at least 1,700 total yards, 16 total touchdowns, and 29 receptions in each of his last two seasons. For his college career, Hampton averaged four yards after contact, a 40-percent breakaway run rate, and 8.7 yards per reception. He is a prototypical workhorse running back with the size to handle plenty of opportunities and the athleticism to produce with them.
Omarion Hampton’s Advanced Stats & Metrics profile
This offseason, the Chargers signed Najee Harris in free agency to a one-year, $9 million contract. However, that contract only has $5.25 million in guaranteed money, so it should be no surprise that they invested in the position in the NFL Draft. The Chargers selected Omarion Hampton with the 22nd overall pick. That kind of draft capital all but guarantees Hampton will have a workhorse role for them. First-round running backs are rare these days, but when they do come around, they always have a large workload.
As of now, Omarion Hampton has an overall ADP of 44.1 as the RB15 in Underdog fantasy football drafts and is the second rookie running back being drafted after Ashton Jeanty. His cost may seem expensive, but know that this is a discount due to the presence of Najee Harris. Harris is going to have a role, and it may be a little annoying to start the season, but this will be Hampton’s backfield sooner rather than later. Hampton is essentially a younger, more athletic version of Harris. Enjoy the discount while you can.
RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
Being drafted at the top of the second round in the NFL Draft, TreVeyon Henderson enters the NFL after a productive career at Ohio State. Henderson burst onto the scene as a true freshman and took college by storm. Injury marred his next two seasons, but he was still highly productive when healthy. Henderson could have declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season, but he decided to return for his senior year to try and win a championship. Ohio State brought in (paid a lot of NIL money to) Quinshon Judkins as well, and they formed an incredible duo in the 2024 season.
TreVeyon Henderson’s Advanced Stats & Metrics profile
Henderson is a dynamic playmaker both as a runner and receiver. He has true breakaway speed and is elusive in the open field. Also, he was the best pass-blocking back in the class, ensuring he will lock up third-down duties in addition to his other roles. It’s important to know that Henderson isn’t likely to be a 20-plus opportunity per game player in the NFL, but that’s of no worry. His big-play ability makes it so he can score highly even without a full workhorse role, a la Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Patriots are an ascending offense that could be underpriced as a whole due to 2024. Finding underpriced offenses is one of the bigger edges in Underdog fantasy football because those offenses provide some of the larger values in any given year. Being drafted as the RB20 with an overall ADP of 61.9, TreVeyon Henderson has a somewhat expensive but discounted and worthwhile price. Not only can he be a top running back in the NFL, but his play style also lends itself to spike weeks, perfect for the Best Ball format.
WR Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Emeka Egbuka was one of the cleanest prospects to project entering the NFL in the entire class. He is a polished wide receiver who’s solid in all areas of the game but excels in the short and intermediate areas of the field. He will also do all the dirty work, like helping block in the running game. With his well-rounded skill set and willingness to do all the little things, Egbuka is a near guarantee to be a solid NFL player.
Emeka Egbuka’s Advanced Stats & Metrics profile
Landing with Tampa Bay is not the best landing spot we could hope for, but it’s not as bad as many think it is for Egbuka’s chances of producing as a rookie. First, round-one players are near locks to get serious playing time because of the investment made in them, especially prospects like Egbuka who are NFL-ready. Second, the Buccaneers are likely to play a lot of three-wide receiver sets. Third, he has a lot of contingent upside. Mike Evans will be 32 this season, and Chris Godwin is coming back from a broken ankle. If either has to miss time, Egbuka will step up.
Because of the landing spot, Emeka Egbuka‘s ADP has been falling. Currently, he is the 50th receiver off the board in Underdog drafts with an overall ADP of 93.5. This actually makes him more attractive. As his ADP falls, any risk that’s associated with his landing spot is more acceptable. Talent can transcend situation, and Egbuka has plenty of it. Not only can Egbuka help your team throughout the season, like most rookies, he should be performing at his highest level at the end of the season, during the Best Ball tournament playoff weeks.
QB Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Can Ward had one of the more intriguing paths to the NFL in this class. He was a zero-star recruit coming out of high school and had to go to Incarnate Word. He started for two seasons there and was incredibly productive, propelling him to transfer to Washington State. Ward had a solid another two solid seasons in Washington before transferring to Miami for his final collegiate season, where he made his name known. He threw for 39 touchdowns, ran for another four, and had a career-best 6.3-percent big-time throw rate as a Hurricane in 2024.
Cam Ward’s Advanced Stats & Metrics profile
It became clear very early in the draft process that Ward would be the first overall pick to the Titans. Obviously, the rookie will be the Titans’ day one starter. It’s not the best landing spot for a rookie quarterback, but there’s reason for optimism. The Titans have invested in their offensive line, Calvin Ridley is a talented number one receiver for Ward, and they added Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike in the NFL Draft. They also have a talented backfield duo in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.
Cam Ward isn’t considered as good as most first-overall quarterback prospects. However, we are routinely wrong about that, as quarterback is the hardest position to scout. Ward has shown the ability and work ethic to make sure he’s continuously improving, so we shouldn’t discount his ability to be a serious fantasy producer. Most first overall quarterbacks wouldn’t be drafted with an overall ADP of 157.3 as QB23, but that’s where Ward is going now. Ward’s range of outcomes is well worth his cost, and he’s easily stackable with his weapons.
WR Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans
Joining Cam Ward in Tennessee, Elic Ayomanor was drafted by the Titans after a productive career at Stanford. The Canadian-born wide receiver was late to football but quickly ascended due to his natural athletic ability. Standing 6-2, weighing 206 pounds, and running a 4.44 40-yard dash, Ayomanor is a big and fast threat who excels working down the field. He can also provide after the catch when he has room to work. However, Ayomanor is still refining his craft. He needs to perfect the nuances of route running, and his hands are inconsistent.
Elic Ayomanor’s Advanced Stats & Metrics profile
Before the NFL Draft, Elic Ayomanor was consistently mocked in the second round. But when the draft arrived, he slid all the way to the fourth round. Since then, there have been reports that that was in part due to a medical issue, but it could also have been due to his inconsistency and need for development. Falling to Day 3 of the draft isn’t ideal, but Ayomanor landed in a spot with a path to opportunities. After Calvin Ridley, the Titans’ depth chart is open for the taking. Competing with fellow fourth-round pick Chimere Dike, aging Tyler Lockett, journeyman Van Jefferson, and first-round disappointment Treylon Burks, Ayomanor could easily ascend above them all.
Ayomanor’s cost in Underdog fantasy football drafts is rightfully cheap given his draft capital. Currently, he’s drafted as the WR76 with an overall ADP of 190.8. When you need a wide receiver towards the end of the draft, Ayomanor is a fantastic target with the potential to provide a massive return on investment. His down-the-field play style means he’s more likely to have spike weeks than other late-round wide receivers. He’s also easily stackable with Cam Ward.
Bottom Line
Despite Best Ball being around for several years now, rookies continue to be undervalued year in and year out. Knowing the best rookie targets will help your draft teams with an edge over the rest of the field. These five players stand out as talented prospects who are too cheap in Underdog drafts compared to their upside.
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