We have barely passed the midpoint of fantastic football regular season and we have to make sure we prepare properly for the playoffs.

One area that can help you stay on track is the rookie wide receiver market.

Many rookie receivers need time to develop.

Not everyone can be Brian Thomas Jr.

Last season, Rashee Rice got off to a slow start but dominated the latter part of the season, just in time for a fantasy playoff run.

The year before it was Garrett Wilson and Drake London.

In 2024, most people will turn to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers because they’re brand names, but there are other rookies that won’t cost you an arm and a leg in trades or, if available, acquisition FAB.

It starts with the opportunity for Tampa Bay’s Jalen McMillan.

With Chris Godwin out for the season with a sprained ankle and Mike Evans unlikely to play again until Week 11, McMillan has the best chance to move up among the must-start players.

He will compete with Trey Palmer and Sterling Shepard for targets.

But the team turned to McMillan in Week 7.

He played 60 percent of the snaps and led the group with eight targets.

He is versatile enough to play both the outside and the slot, a job usually held by Godwin.

Expect a significant increase in value to continue throughout the rest of the season.

We can also look at Ricky Pearsall from San Francisco.

Brandon Aiyuk is out for the season with a torn ACL, and while Jauan Jennings appears to be the “next man up,” he’s also dealing with a hip injury and could be limited this week.

Pearsall would deserve the start in this matchup against Dallas, then after the week at guard, he is expected to carve out a bigger role.

It would make sense for the 49ers to use Pearsall on all downs and for Jennings to come in as the third option out of 11 recruits.

Do you bet on the NFL?

There are plenty of rookie options to check out for the next playoff run.

Troy Franklin is getting more work in Denver, and Roman Wilson could see increased action now that he’s healthy and the Steelers have a legitimate passer.

Targeting under-the-radar rookies might be the best way to bolster your roster depth.

It can be both economical and explosive, just what you need for a championship run.

Howard Bender is the Head of Content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantastic football news and advice.