12 Potential Fantasy Football Players Who Turned Heads at the NFL Combine

The NFL Combine is the first big event of the 2024 offseason and despite the optics of the spandex Olympics, it does provide some clarity on which rookie prospects to focus on for fantasy football purposes. Let’s take a look at who dazzled last weekend in Indianapolis, possibly improving draft stock and earning themselves a potential spot at the fantasy table for 2024.

More Rookie Content: 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Connor Allen's 1.0 | 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Scott Smith's 1.0

Quarterbacks

The perceived top three at the position - Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels - did not participate in drills or testing which could have opened the door for others to make some waves. The waves were small, but here is the best of the rest.

J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)

The former Wolverine did not run the 40-yard dash but participated in the throwing session. His footwork was impressive and McCarthy registered the second-highest velocity on the day at 61 mph which was showcased in his accurate deep throws. A Round 1 selection is possible for the 21-year-old, but he’ll likely need some time before entering the fantasy conversation, however, stranger things have happened.

Wide Receivers

Rome Odunze (Washington)

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound WR did exactly what we expected him to do and crushed the combine. Odunze clocked a 4.45 40-yard dash with a 39-inch vertical jump and a respectable 10’4” in the broad jump. He was in consideration as a top 10 NFL Draft pick before last weekend and solidified his spot based on that meaty performance. Odunze’s current Underdog ADP is WR32 as the fourth pick in the fifth round with some fantasy-positive landing spots including the Chargers, Bengals, or Giants.

Adonai Mitchell (Texas)

The former UGA-Bulldog-turned-Longhorn showed up big at the NFL Combine, posting the third-fastest 40 time among WRs (4.34), along with the farthest broad jump (11’4”)—all at 6’2”, 205 pounds. This showing, along with his extensive tape of highlights plants him firmly at the top of a deep WR class in 2024.

For now, Mitchell boasts an Underdog ADP of 11.06 as WR57, but expect his stock to rise after his recent performance and eventual landing spot if positive.

Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)

Thomas had an impressive Saturday in Indy with the second-fastest 40-yard-dash time (4.33) at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, plus he notched a 10’6” in the broad and a 38.50” vertical jump. He’s built like a prototypical “X” receiver and will likely be fantasy-relevant right away if Thomas goes early to a WR-needy team as expected. Early Underdog drafters are selecting the former Tiger as the WR41 at spot 7.01.

Ladd McConkey (Georgia)

McConkey’s exceptional route-running was no secret before the NFL Combine, but apparently, his speed was, as folks were blown away by the WR’s 4.39 40-yard dash time. He also showed fluidity and efficiency in the gauntlet drills and likely improved his draft stock among NFL front offices as a high-level utility receiver. Grab him now while he’s still relatively cheap, as McConkey’s Underdog ADP is 12.04 as WR61.

Ladd McConkey is smoother than old church steps. Catches everything and doesn't drift off that line like many receivers do. Take him in the first round of you want a winner. pic.twitter.com/na3s7qadoE

— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) March 2, 2024

Xavier Worthy (Texas)

Speed is certainly not everything for an NFL prospect, but you can’t teach it. Worthy broke the record for the fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL Combine history with a 4.21, and also put up a solid vertical jump of 41.00”. Insert the small frame narrative as he’s just 5’11” and 165 pounds, but his performance likely bolted Worthy up some teams’ draft boards. For now, Underdog drafters are taking the speedster as WR60 at pick 12.02.

OFFICIAL: 4.21



Xavier Worthy HOLDS THE NEW 40-YARD DASH RECORD pic.twitter.com/IrXf3WyemB

— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024

Running Backs

Jaylen Wright (Tennessee)

Wright has showcased his outstanding athleticism on tape, and now the 20-year-old’s NFL Combine performance solidified that NFL potential. The Volunteer product led all RBs in the broad jump with 11’2” and finished fourth in the vertical with a 38” jump. Add in some speed with a 4.38 40 time which was second at his position, and you have a runner with stock on the rise. In a draft class devoid of a clear frontrunner at RB, Wright should be one of the first three backs taken in April.

Before finding an NFL landing spot, Wright boasts an Underdog ADP of 15.06 at the RB53.

Trey Benson (Florida State)

Benson ran an outstanding 40-yard dash for his size (6’0”, 216lbs) which checked in as third among the RB prospects (4.39). The rest of his testing was congruent with his film, and the former Seminole’s mix of power, speed, and vision could lead to bell-cow status in the NFL, it just depends on which uniform he wears in 2024. Benson is currently the 40th RB off Underdog draft boards at pick 11.11.

Isaac Guerendo (Louisville)

At an even 6 feet, 221 pounds, Guerendo ran the fastest 40-yard dash among ball carriers (4.33) and also jumped the highest vertically at 41.50” at his position. He also posted a 10’9” in the broad jump which checked in as the second longest at RB. He’s big-bodied, fast, and explosive which could take him far in the NFL. Guerendo is currently not in the Underdog system but I suspect that will change in the coming days or weeks.

Tight Ends

Brock Bowers (Georgia)

As the clear TE1 of this draft class, Bowers decided not to participate in on-field drills but was measured along with the rest of his position. He came in comparable to Sam LaPorta, who rewrote the narrative on rookie TEs for fantasy purposes last season. Bowers is currently the TE7 off Underdog boards at spot 7.05.

Sam LaPorta:

H: 6'3"

W: 245 pounds

Arm : 32 1/8

Hand: 10 1/4



Brock Bowers:

H: 6'3"

W: 243

Arm: 32 3/4

Hand: 9 3/4

— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) March 1, 2024

Ben Sinnot (Kansas State)

A sub 4.70 40-yard dash time was solid for the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Sinnot, but the prospect stood out from the crowd due to his jumps on Friday. Only five TEs since 1999 have hit 40” in the vertical, and his broad jump of 10’6” lands among the highest at his position, as well. Sinnott is among the top three TEs in this draft class and could be a sneaky best ball addition depending on landing spot. Right now he’s being drafted as the TE37 in early Underdog drafts with an ADP of 238.1.

Theo Johnson (Penn State)

There hasn’t been much hype surrounding Johnson, particularly from a fantasy perspective thus far, but his combine results are hard to ignore. At 6’6” and 259 pounds, the Penn State product posted a 39.5-inch vertical, a 10-foot-5 in the broad jump, and ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash. All impressive stuff that could propel him up teams’ TE boards. For now, Johnson’s ADP is 239.8 as Underdog’s TE46.