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.
When it comes to rookie drafts, there are so many factors that come into play when deciding who to target and select. While it’s great to practice using our free dynasty rookie mock draft simulator, decisions will come down to your dynasty roster and those of your league mates. Still, when putting together dynasty rookie rankings, there is plenty of room for debate. That is certainly the case this year. To help you navigate your dynasty rookie draft prep, our analysts are providing the cases for and against certain polarizing rookies of this draft class.
Our experts debate several of the most polarizing names in this year’s dynasty rookie draft class.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Debate: Jameson Williams
The case for Williams (Pick 2 overall, WR2)
Jameson Williams is a game-changing talent at the wide receiver position. With elite speed to take the top off of any defense and the route running chops to win at all three levels, he’s my 1.02 in dynasty rookie drafts in all formats.
– Derek Brown
The case against Williams (Pick 7 overall, WR5)
This isn’t meant as a diss. I think Williams is a top-10 pick in rookie drafts. I just don’t think he’s a top-five pick in rookie drafts. The concern isn’t so much that he’s coming off a torn ACL and could miss time at the start of the 2022 season, or that he’ll have ample target competition in Detroit, or that those targets will be coming from Jared Goff. The concern is that he’s going to be another DeSean Jackson. D-Jax was an electrifying playmaker, but Jackson’s slight build made him susceptible to injury, and he wasn’t a volume receiver for most of his career. Jackson had some dazzling games, but he was a streaky performer who also had a lot of dud games. At least D-Jax had longevity. The other comp that comes to mind for Williams is Will Fuller — and I don’t think Williams investors would be pleased with that outcome.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
Dynasty Rookie Draft Debate: Chris Olave
The case for Olave (Pick 6 overall, WR4)
Olave is the best route-runner in this WR class and will instantly be an above-average NFL route-runner. He also has 4.39 speed to blow by defenders who bite on one of his expertly sold feints. If you’re thinking of drafting Jameson Williams over Olave in a rookie draft, just remember that Olave’s presence was a big reason Williams had to transfer from Ohio State in order to find playing time. Olave’s landing spot isn’t a bad one. Michael Thomas is a volume receiver but runs a different route tree than Olave does, and QB Jameis Winston isn’t shy about making aggressive downfield throws and letting his receivers make plays.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
The case against Olave (Pick 11 overall, WR8)
Olave draws parallels to Calvin Ridley with his impressive route running ability. But like Ridley coming out of school, Olave doesn’t offer much after the catch.
His forced broken and missed tackle rate ranked 43rd among 43 qualifying wide receivers in the class. His yards after the catch per reception (4.2) ranked 37th.
Without much YAC-ability in an offense that ranked fifth in that YAC/reception last season and a firm seat in the WR2 chair behind Thomas, I have trouble getting overly excited for Olave in New Orleans.
New Orleans did their best to reel back Jameis Winston in 2021 from his turnover-prone Tampa Bay Buccaneers days – 26th out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks in attempts of 20-plus air yards per game – and I’m afraid that might result in more of a rushing attack than vertical aerial assault.
Olave can be good in New Orleans – but maybe not great enough to move the needle in fantasy. With rhetoric certain to swirl that he will see a boatload of targets after New Orleans traded up for him, he is likely going to be a massive riser in dynasty rookie drafts post-draft. I’ll likely be lower on him than the consensus.
– Andrew Erickson
Dynasty Rookie Draft Debate: Alec Pierce
The case for Pierce (Pick 12 overall, WR9)
Alec Pierce has the raw athleticism and ability to stretch a defense at this juncture to believe that he’s just scratching the surface of his talent. With second-round draft capital and only Michael Pittman ahead of him for targets, it could be lift-off time for him sooner rather than later in Indianapolis.
– Derek Brown
The case against Pierce (Pick 25 overall, WR14)
Alec Pierce earned solid Day 2 draft capital with the Indianapolis Colts, but I’d be hard-pressed to admit I like the landing spot with Matt Ryan. Pierce figures to slide into that vertical field-stretching role for the Colts vacated by veteran T.Y. Hilton based on the rookie’s speed and vertical profile from his college career at Cincinnati. But how valuable of a role is that with the team committed to both Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. as the clear touch hogs of the offense. Not to mention, Ryan’s deep ball rate (9.1%) ranked 32nd out of 38 qualifying quarterbacks in 2021. I’d rather just draft Cowboys rookie deep threat, Jalen Tolbert.
– Andrew Erickson
Dynasty Rookie Draft Debate: Zamir White
The case for White (Pick 15 overall)
Yes, White is an early-down banger who’s torn both of his ACLs. But the argument here is that White is worthy of a third-round dart throw in rookie drafts, not that he’s ticketed for stardom. White’s calling card is his physicality. Good luck trying to bring down this dude with an arm tackle. It’s an attribute that should translate well to the NFL. This is a goal-line runner’s profile, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see White have a 10-TD season at some point. The other thing working in White’s favor is that his new employer, the Raiders, just declined the fifth-year option on RB Josh Jacobs‘ contract. If White fares well in his rookie audition, he could be a starter in Year 2. This is a dart worth throwing.
– Pat Fitzmaurice
The case against White (Pick 33 overall)
Zamir White‘s former five-star prospect status is clouding the fact that he was only a two-down grinder who was greatly aided by their mauling offensive line at Georgia. With Josh Jacobs still in town and only fourth-round draft capital to his name, I’m more likely to gravitate to wide receivers over White when his name reaches the top of the list in dynasty rookie drafts.
– Derek Brown
Dynasty Rookie Draft Debate: Tyler Allgeier
The case for Allgeier (Pick 15 overall)
Love me some Tyler Allgeier. The Atlanta Falcons’ fifth-round running back ranks 1st in rushing yards after contact (1,847), 2nd in rushing touchdowns (36) 3rd in PFF rushing grade (94.8) among FBS players with at least 150 carries over the past two seasons. I believe he would have been taken by Atlanta in Round 4 if they had a pick available to them, so I don’t think it’s fair to view the RBs that went in Round 4 in higher regard. I also don’t think it’s outlandish to think that he’s already the best pure rusher among a backfield that consists of Cordarelle Patterson, Damien Williams, and Qadree Ollison. He’s proven to be able to shoulder a massive workload as both a rusher and receiver, which is not true of any other back for the Dirty Birds.
– Andrew Erickson
The case against Allgeier (Pick 39 overall)
The Atlanta Falcons are a team we have hoped and prayed for a running back to land with for the last two draft cycles. These prayers were answered with a false prophet in the form of Tyler Allgeier. Allgeier falling to the fifth round, and the hit rates for these rushers for fantasy purposes have to be considered when looking at this backfield. Last year the Falcons found an aging diamond in the rough in Cordarrelle Patterson. In 2021 Patterson showed he was plenty capable of racking up volume on the ground and through the air and that he was far from washed up. Patterson’s 2.95 yards after contact per attempt placed him immediately behind Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris (minimum 40 carries, per PFF). Damien Williams also landing with the team in the offseason is another thorn in Allgeier’s side as he has proven over time that he possesses a three-down skill set.
– Derek Brown
Dynasty Superflex Rookie Draft Debate: Malik Willis
The case for Willis (Pick 11 overall in Superflex, QB2)
Maintaining a relatively high rank on Willis has less to do with my take on the player and more about me thinking about his market value a year now. Because I truly believe that the massive upside still exists with him because of his rushing ability even if he doesn’t play this season at all. Ryan Tannehill has a massive contract for the next two seasons, so I could see the team moving on if he crumbles before he turns 35 in 2023.
Also nobody would say that a similar raw prospect in Trey Lance had a stellar rookie season, but his occasional flashes and rushing upside suggest Willis’ value will at worst stay stagnant.
But when we are discussing Willis next season, I guarantee his perceived value will be higher than it is in rookie drafts. Just takes one or two massive preseason games for dynasty managers to be convinced.
– Andrew Erickson
The case against Willis (Pick 28 overall in Superflex, QB2)
Walking into draft season, my Malik Willis hope was through the roof, but now that draft night has come and gone, I have to temper my expectations for his career arch. With Willis falling to the third round of the NFL Draft, his path isn’t carved in stone. While there’s a conceivable road for him to achieve starter status, the draft capital the Titans invested in him also makes it equally plausible they can cut ties with him quite easily if he doesn’t show the growth needed to seize the job.
– Derek Brown
Dynasty Superflex Rookie Draft Debate: Desmond Ridder
The case for Ridder (Pick 19 overall in Superflex, QB4)|
When scraping the boom of the barrel for a quarterback in 2QB/Superflex leagues, sometimes all you need is a warm body. That’s Desmond Ridder in my books. As the next most pro-ready quarterback in the class behind Kenny Pickett, I wouldn’t rule out Ridder earning the starting job over Marcus Mariota.
He’s got the athleticism to be a rusher at the next level and to be an above-average fantasy producer.
– Andrew Erickson
The case against Ridder (Pick 32 overall in Superflex, QB4)
I was already not a massive fan of Desmond Ridder‘s passing accuracy issues, but it’s time to adjust with the NFL also telling us that they weren’t over the moon for Ridder. Ridder could take over for Mariota later in his rookie season or next year, but that’s not a definite. Arthur Smith is well acquainted with what Mariota brings to the table, and as long as he can provide capable quarterback play, he could hold the job until the Falcons are ready to pay up with a high-end draft pick for their future face of the franchise.
– Derek Brown
2022 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
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