The 2022 NFL Draft has come and gone, and that means it’s time for dynasty rookie and startup drafts to really take off. We’ll have you covered throughout the draft season. You can find our full dynasty startup, dynasty rookie, and dynasty superflex rookie rankings that will be updated through draft season.

Below, our analysts weigh in on another dynasty rookie draft question. They provide players they are targeting most in the middle rounds of dynasty rookie drafts.

Which mid-round dynasty rookie pick are you most excited about?

 
And here’s what our analysts think of the top players referenced:

Jalen Tolbert (WR – DAL)
The Dallas Cowboys needed a No. 3 receiver and Jalen Tolbert fits the bill to a tee.The South Alabama product was a mega-producer in the small school college ranks.

The 6-foot-1 and 194-pound deep-ball specialist earned a career 31% dominator rating – top-three in the class – factoring in a redshirt freshman season. Tolbert posted dominator ratings of 35%, 42%, and 42% from his sophomore year onward. He torched defenses downfield as the nation’s leader in targets (99), catches (38), and receiving yards (1,402) on targets of 20-plus air yards.

Tolbert also boasts a 19-year-old breakout age – his player profile stacks up with some top wideouts from his class.

And although Tolbert doesn’t possess elite speed – 57th percentile 40-yard dash time – he still understands how to get open deep. He’s similar to Adam Thielen in that fashion.

If Tolbert can beat out James Washington in training camp, Tolbert could offer some sneaky fantasy redraft value with Michael Gallup unlikely to be ready for Week 1 coming off a torn ACL.

He has big-play ability that should gel well with quarterback Dak Prescott.

Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL)
Many thought Ridder would be the third or fourth quarterback drafted and a possible late first-round pick. However, he lased till the 10th pick in the third round, 74th overall. Not only was he the second quarterback drafted, but Ridder landed in an excellent situation with the Falcons. Not only did Atlanta give him Drake London with their first draft pick, but Ridder could start as a rookie.

Marcus Mariota got signed this offseason as the bridge gap quarterback. However, he likely won’t be on the team beyond this season. Furthermore, Mariota has struggled with injuries during his career, which could lead to Ridder seeing the field sometime early this upcoming season. Even if Mariota stays healthy, the Falcons project as one of the worst teams in the NFL in 2022. The coaching staff could decide to pull the plug on Mariota and make Ridder the starter at some point. Furthermore, Mariota isn’t locked in as the starter. Ridder could have an impressive training camp and start Week 1.

Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF)
Khalil Shakir‘s electric Boise State career hit its peak during his 2020 season when he cultivated a whopping 46% dominator score – the second-highest single-season rating among the 2022 Draft Class. He finished that year as PFF’s ninth-graded WR (88.8), averaging over 100 receiving yards and 7.4 catches per game.

Shakir’s junior season was a strong follow-up to his 2019 breakout sophomore campaign when he hung a 22% dominator rating at age 19.

The Boise State slot wide receiver would end his college career on a high note as PFF’s third-highest-graded wide receiver (92.9) among his draft class.

Shakir could emerge as a Russell Gage-esque receiver that works well in fantasy PPR scoring.

Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL)
Allgeier has been a monster over the past two seasons, ranking first in rushing yards after contact (1,847), second in rushing touchdowns (36) and third in PFF rushing grade (94.8) among FBS players with at least 150 carries. Don’t be surprised if he has an Elijah Mitchell-esque rookie season with little competition for touches in the Atlanta backfield.

2022 Dynasty Rookie Rankings

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