Rookie fever is fully upon us. Dynasty managers everywhere are preparing for their rookie drafts as we head into the NFL Draft at the end of the month. Until we know landing spots, all we have to go on is talent evaluations. This has its pros and its cons, but that can also remove any biases about situations when ranking players.

For this month’s rookie mock draft, I used the Draft Simulator and set it up like a Superflex league. In these leagues, the QB position is much more valuable since you can start a second one if you so choose. Superflex is quickly becoming the standard, but it’s not there just yet. Either way, it’s good to see where things stand every few weeks regardless of format.

Like last time, I’ll be picking from the No. 8 spot and see how it goes. With the added QB focus it definitely won’t be identical, but here we go!

Round 1

• 1.01 – RB Breece Hall
• 1.02 – QB Malik Willis
• 1.03 – QB Kenny Pickett
• 1.04 – WR Treylon Burks
• 1.05 – QB Desmond Ridder
• 1.06 – QB Matt Corral
• 1.07 – WR Drake London
• 1.08 – WR Garrett Wilson
• 1.09 – QB Carson Strong
• 1.10 – QB Sam Howell
• 1.11 – RB Kenneth Walker III
• 1.12 – RB Kyren Williams

Surprisingly, to some at least, a QB is not the 1.01 in this simulator draft. That title goes to the running back Breece Hall. QBs do take up four of the top six picks though, which feels about right given how shallow this class is at the position. There are a couple left when I’m up at the 8th spot, but I just can’t pass up the value that falls to me when I get on the clock.

At 1.08 I select the 3rd WR off the board in Wilson. He’s someone I fully anticipate being a stud WR in the league and a player that could go earlier than most people think in the NFL draft itself. I don’t think he’ll be the first WR off the board or anything, but Wilson brings a lot to the table for fantasy and I’m ecstatic to grab him this late.

The last two QBs that I feel comfortable with go right after my pick, along with another running back in Walker. Williams feels more like a second-round pick to me, but the simulator loves adding a little chaos to the draft, just like you may see in yours when the time comes.

Round 2

• 2.01 – WR Chris Olave
• 2.02 – WR Jameson Williams
• 2.03 – RB Isaiah Spiller
• 2.04 – WR George Pickens
• 2.05 – RB James Cook
• 2.06 – WR Jahan Dotson
• 2.07 – WR Christian Watson
• 2.08 – RB Rachaad White
• 2.09 – WR John Metchie
• 2.10 – WR Skyy Moore
• 2.11 – WR David Bell
• 2.12 – WR Justyn Ross

Spiller falls into the second along with a few other second-tier WR options. The first six picks of the second are the sweet spot for me in this draft. If any of these guys get the right draft capital they could easily be first-round picks, making them great values here before the draft.

The simulator recommends that I select a receiver myself at 2.08, but I love what I’ve seen from Rachaad White and select him instead. Since I grabbed a WR in the first, I also like diversifying my draft options here and adding a potential stud to my RB room. RBs are generally worth more than WRs as the season gets closer and people start worrying about their lineups, so I might even consider trading him if need be.

There’s a WR run after my pick, including the two players the experts thought I should take in Bell and Ross. Again, these guys are great values in the late second and could be fantasy starters for years in the right situations.

Round 3

• 3.01 – RB Zamir White
• 3.02 – WR Jalen Tolbert
• 3.03 – TE Jalen Wydermyer
• 3.04 – RB Brian Robinson Jr.
• 3.05 – RB Pierre Strong Jr.
• 3.06 – TE Trey McBride
• 3.07 – RB Ty Chandler
• 3.08 – WR Wan’dale Robinson
• 3.09 – RB Tyler Allgeier
• 3.10 – RB Dameon Pierce
• 3.11 – WR Khalil Shakir
• 3.12 – RB Jerome Ford

In the third, we start to see more variety as tight ends finally get into the action. More running backs go as well as the receiver pool is getting shallower. I love Wydermyer and Robinson in this range, but both get selected before my 3.08 pick.

When I’m up, the experts want me to take Robinson and I completely agree. I think he’s got some raw talent that should transfer to the NFL well, but he’s going to need the right situation to hit early, in my opinion. All that aside, he’s a fine consolation for me this late in the draft.

More lottery ticket picks get taken after Robinson, but that’s what this part of the draft is all about. Allgeier, D. Pierce, and Ford are all great value RBs like Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF) was last year. If any of them land in a place that needs RB help and is given the reigns in training camp, they could see their values all shoot way up as the season approaches. All perfect lottery tickets to me.

Round 4

• 4.01 – RB Tyler Badie
• 4.02 – WR Alec Pierce
• 4.03 – RB Jerrion Ealy
• 4.04 – TE Jeremy Ruckert
• 4.05 – RB Tyrion Davis-Price
• 4.06 – RB Isaiah Pacheco
• 4.07 – WR Calvin Austin III
• 4.08 – QB Bailey Zappe
• 4.09 – WR Romeo Doubs
• 4.10 – TE Isaiah Likely
• 4.11 – RB Kevin Harris
• 4.12 – WR Kyle Phillips

Now we’re getting deep. All of these players are potentially cut options as preseason veterans start to emerge, so I don’t worry too much about them myself. Pierce and Austin are guys I’m getting higher on and tend to target in the 4th, but again both are selected before it’s my turn.

Instead, at 4.08 and my last player in this draft, I go an entirely different direction with QB Bailey Zappe. After the top six go in the first, not a single other QB is selected, and in Superflex, I would rather take a chance on a QB than a depth WR or RB. If he ends up balling out in camp, then he would see a crazy value bump for teams looking for QB depth. I mean, why not, right?

Summary and Full Draft Board

1.08 – WR Garrett Wilson
2.08 – RB Rachaad White
3.08 – WR Wan’dale Robinson
4.08 – QB Bailey Zappe

If I left my own Superflex draft with this group I would probably feel a little underwhelmed. Looking back, I probably would have selected one of those remaining QB options in the first given the depth at the WR position in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. This is why we do mock drafts though, to learn what we like and what to do when the real thing happens.

What do you think? Would you have taken Howell or Strong over Wilson? Or did I make the right choice? Hit me up on Twitter @AndrewHallFF and let’s talk about it!

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