One of the most exciting periods of the NFL offseason is about to begin. As the NFL Draft approaches, so do rookie drafts in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Usually, the rookie draft will take place shortly after the real NFL Draft, allowing dynasty managers some time to scout their favorite incoming prospects and attempt to draft them to their squads.
Rookie drafts are essential in roster building, and championship runs. Many managers have “rookie fever” which suave managers have taken advantage of in the past by using draft picks to acquire veterans. If your team is rebuilding, the rookie draft is the place to acquire future studs.
For this article, I used FantasyPros Draft Wizard to conduct my dynasty rookie mock draft. I randomized my selection and was rewarded the second-overall pick. The format of the league that I mocked for is starting one quarterback, with 12-teams in the league and PPR as the scoring.
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Here are the results from my dynasty rookie mock draft:
1.02: Ja’Marr Chase (WR – LSU)
I had a serious debate at the 1.02 with Chase, Travis Etienne, and Kyle Pitts on the board. I have been a fan of Etienne since his freshman year in college, and despite some concerns among analysts, Etienne is solidified as a top-three running back in the 2021 class, especially after he bulked up to 215lbs and still ran a 4.45 4.0. The tight end out of Florida is set to wreak havoc on the league. Pitts is a freakish, matchup nightmare that will dominate the NFL for years to come.
However, with my rookie WR1 still on the board, I could not pass up the opportunity to draft Ja’Marr Chase. What Chase was able to do as a 19-year-old in the SEC during the 2019 season is otherworldly and should not be ignored even though he did not play in 2020 due to opting out. Chase’s potential profiles as a fantasy WR1 superstar with the highest ceiling among any wide receiver in this year’s draft class. His landing spot will not be an issue because wherever he gets drafted, he will surely be the alpha-dog from Day 1. I could not be any happier walking away with Chase as my first pick.
2.02: Jermar Jefferson (RB – Oregon State)
My second-round pick is one of my favorite incoming rookies. Landing Jermar Jefferson at 2.02 was a delightful treat. Jefferson profiles as a potential three-down NFL running back and showed his capabilities as a workhorse in college, producing 1527 scrimmage yards off 264 touches and 12 touchdowns during his freshmen year. Jefferson’s stock depends a bit on draft capital and landing spot, though his talent will outweigh his hypothetical situation. If he lands on a running back needy team in the third or fourth round of the draft, he could surprise a lot of fantasy players this season with his homerun capabilities he exemplified at Oregon State. Jefferson could easily land in a timeshare, but his talent and skillset will eventually set him apart. Watch out for Jefferson beating out a veteran in front of him in the depth chart this season.
3.02: Trey Sermon (RB – Ohio State)
Although the WR class is deep this year, at this point in the rookie draft I felt like adding another running back with a chance to eventually carve out a role for himself was my best course of action. Trey Sermon has the physical traits and skillset of a budding NFL running back. He showcased that talent in flashes at Oklahoma, and most recently this season during an impressive stretch of games at Ohio State before his injury in the National Championship. Sermon will most likely not have great draft capital due to the injury and ranking behind other running backs in the class, but if Sermon finds himself in a not-so-crowded running back room, perhaps he will channel his end-of-season run at Ohio State into solid production at the next level.
4.02: Amari Rodgers (WR – Clemson)
My final pick of the rookie draft was Amari Rodgers, a unique prospect coming out of Clemson. Although he did not break out until his senior season, his big-play ability, matched with his shiftiness, can translate well to the next level. He took running back reps at Clemson’s Pro Day, which shows his dynamic, multi-faceted game. This gives Rodgers unique fantasy upside as an offensive weapon. Some might be concerned about Rodgers’ late college bloom, but these can be put to rest early if he can set himself apart on an offense and produce early and often. Rodgers draft capital will be interesting, which will impact his ADP one way or another.
Conclusion
Rookies are never a guaranteed thing. Betting on talent over situation is usually the safest method of drafting. There will certainly be a lot of hype and hyperbole surrounding certain players, but if you put in the time, work, and research, trust your process and draft players you truly believe will succeed in the NFL.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.