3 Rookie Wide Receivers to Watch in 2024

Josh Larky -

The top rookie wide receivers heading into the 2024 NFL season could prove to be quite a catch straight from the opening snap. Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze all have elite potential, and this year’s overall group of rookie pass catchers has the chance to produce a class like 2020, when multiple stars – Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. – emerged.

As for the leading trio in ‘24, we’ll break down their college careers, NFL landing spots and fantasy expectations for their rookie seasons and long-term career prospects.

Training Camp Headlines 

Before we dive into the top rookie wideouts, see what’s happening around the league as veterans report for NFL Training Camp:

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals 

"Harrison is groomed for this, to be a sharp, clean WR1 that is super polished." -Kurt Benkert, Sleeper NFL Insider

College Career

Hailing from Hall of Fame bloodlines, Harrison Jr. was a sought-after prospect who chose Ohio State among a large array of college offers. He barely played as a freshman, though, sitting behind future NFL standouts Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 

With Wilson and Olave leaving for the NFL, Harrison Jr. broke out as a sophomore in 2022, leading the Buckeyes with 77 receptions, 1,263 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Those numbers were all top-three marks in the Big Ten that season. 

Harrison Jr. downgraded from C.J. Stroud to Kyle McCord at QB for his junior season, but he still managed 1,211 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns en route to the Biletnikoff Award, given to the top college receiver in the nation.

NFL Landing Spot

The Cardinals fielded numerous offers for the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft but ultimately stood pat – and for good reason. Harrison Jr. has a prototypical frame for the position (6’3” 209 pounds) and runs the entire route tree more fluidly than your typical outside receiver. His ability to rotate his body at the last second for the catch is a trait that likely translates to high touchdown numbers at the next level.

Harrison Jr. lands with an exciting quarterback in Kyler Murray and a young, progressive coaching staff led by head coach Jonathan Gannon (formerly with the Eagles) and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing (formerly with the Browns). The target competition in Arizona is light, too, with TE Trey McBride, second-year WR Michael Wilson and free-agent WR Zay Jones also vying for Murray’s focus.

Rookie Season Expectations

Sleeper projects 81 receptions, 1,091 receiving yards and six touchdowns, a similar stat line to DeVonta Smith’s 2023 campaign. No other rookie projects for more total yards in ‘24, and you can expect Harrison Jr. to make an instant impact. 

Fantasy managers will be banking on that early production to validate his hefty price tag, as his Sleeper redraft ADP of 14th overall is historic for a rookie wideout.

Long-Term Outlook

Harrison Jr. can join the elite tier of dynasty receivers like Lamb and Jefferson with a strong rookie season, and dynasty managers should anticipate at least half a dozen fantasy WR1-type seasons. His Sleeper ADP in rookie drafts is first overall in 1-QB leagues, while he falls to 1.02 behind Caleb Williams in superflex/2-QB formats.

Malik Nabers, New York Giants

"Nabers is a matchup nightmare in the slot. Crazy burst that can make a house call any play." -Kurt Benkert, Sleeper NFL Insider

College Career

Nabers’ freshman year at LSU was nothing to write home about, with 28 receptions and 440 total yards; however, more than 60% of that production came in the final four games. That late-season momentum carried into his sophomore season, and Nabers’ 1,017 receiving yards led the team and nearly tripled that of teammate and fellow 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars, 23rd overall).

As a junior in 2023, Nabers put up video game numbers as the focal point of college football’s most efficient passing offense. His 89 receptions and 1,569 receiving yards were both tops in the SEC, cementing Nabers as the 1B to Harrison Jr.’s 1A in the draft.

NFL Landing Spot

The Giants have struggled at wide receiver ever since Odell Beckham Jr. left, so they selected Nabers sixth overall. The team was impressed by his blazing 4.35 40 time, college production and ability to win outside and in the slot. Many scouts compared Nabers to Ja’Marr Chase during the pre-draft process.

His quarterback situation is shaky at best with Daniel Jones returning from an ACL tear, but for Nabers’ sake, there’s an out in Jones’ contract after the 2024 season.

Rookie Season Expectations

Nabers should be force-fed as early as Week 1, since Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt are his primary competition for targets. Sleeper’s projection agrees, and Nabers’ 76 receptions for 1,031 yards far exceed any other Giants players; Robinson’s 593 projected receiving yards are a distant second.

Fantasy managers will need to be aggressive in redraft leagues, as Nabers’ ADP on Sleeper is 38th overall (early fourth round). A low-end fantasy WR1 season is within reach, though there’s some risk when you’re catching passes from a mediocre signal caller like Jones.

Long-Term Outlook

Nabers’ dynasty trajectory could resemble the Jets’ Wilson, Saints’ Olave or Falcons’ Drake London, where poor quarterback play initially quells the hype. However, we’ve also seen receivers like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Stefon Diggs elevate their teams’ passing attacks upon their arrival. Nabers’ dynasty startup ADP on Sleeper accounts for both scenarios, and he goes as the WR11 at 20th overall (second round), just after Olave but just ahead of Aiyuk.

Nabers is the 1.02 in 1-QB rookie drafts, and he’s the 1.03 in superflex/2-QB formats, behind Williams and Harrison Jr.

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears 

"Odunze is a freak. Highest ceiling in my opinion of the three with his frame, hands and explosion." -Kurt Benkert, Sleeper NFL Insider

College Career

Odunze’s first two seasons at Washington were largely forgettable, and he came along much more slowly than Harrison Jr. and Nabers. He struggled to get on the field as a freshman in 2020 before poor quarterback play limited the passing attack during his ‘21 season. Odunze did record more than half of his sophomore-year production in his final three games, scoring in two of them as well.

He really took off his junior year, which coincided with the arrival of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Odunze led the team, and the Pac-12, with 1,145 receiving yards in 2022, and there was some speculation he’d leave college early for the NFL. Odunze’s decision to stay for his senior season was a wise one, and his 1,640 receiving yards were the most among NCAA FBS players (71 more than Nabers).

NFL Landing Spot

The Bears wanted an alpha receiver to pair with Williams long-term, so they selected Odunze ninth overall. While Odunze isn’t as hyped as Harrison Jr. or as flashy as Nabers, he’s arguably more well-rounded in his game. Odunze can also learn from veteran receivers Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore, so there’s little pressure on him to perform right away. On paper, this is among the NFL’s scariest receiver trios, and Williams can be the right distributor if he delivers on his high expectations.

Rookie Season Expectations

Despite the serious target competition, Sleeper still projects 71 receptions and 961 receiving yards for Odunze, lower than Moore but slightly more yards than the aging Allen. Fantasy managers should be patient when selecting Odunze at his sixth-round Sleeper ADP (64th overall), since there’s a decent chance he’ll be off the field in two-receiver sets early in the season. The potential is there, though, for a mid-to-late-season surge if injuries affect Moore or Allen, and Odunze has top-12 fantasy upside should that happen.

Long-Term Outlook

Odunze is a high-floor prospect who may be tied to Williams for the next decade. There’s a good chance for half a dozen fantasy WR1-caliber seasons in his future. Right now, Odunze is valued near players like Pittman Jr. and Nico Collins in dynasty, with a startup third-round ADP (31st overall) on Sleeper.

Odunze is the clear 1.03 in 1-QB rookie drafts after Harrison Jr. and Nabers, and he also slips behind Williams and Jayden Daniels in superflex/2-QB leagues.

Fantasy Impact for 2024

The 2024 rookie WR class has elite headliners, and their lofty rookie-season ADPs reflect this. Expect numerous Pro Bowl appearances and several fantasy championships courtesy of the Harrison Jr.-Nabers-Odunze trio.

To better prepare for the upcoming fantasy season, join a mock draft on Sleeper and practice adding these rookie receivers to your squad.

Looking for more analysis on Harrison Jr., Nabers, and Odunze? Watch five-year NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert react to some of their best plays: 

Note: This breakdown originally appeared in the Sleeper Newsletter. Sign up below to get timely updates, fantasy insights and exclusive analysis using Sleeper proprietary data.