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, we take a look at the order of the top five quarterbacks in our staff consensus dynasty rookie draft rankings.
1) Kenny Pickett (PIT – QB)
Kenny Pickett gets the draft capital we covet in dynasty going in the first round. The Pitt product stays close to his alma mater with the landing spot with the Steelers. Pickett should compete for the starting job in camp with Mitch Trubisky in a system that should highlight their mobility in the pocket. If he can overcome the yips against pressure behind a still leaky offensive line, Pickett could return mid to low-end QB2 numbers with a talented set of pass-catchers, including Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and Pat Freiermuth around him.
2) Malik Willis (TEN – QB)
The Malik Willis slide ends at No. 86, with the Liberty quarterback landing in Tennessee. With a third-round investment, I seriously doubt that Willis sees the field in 2022 unless Ryan Tannehill gets hurt or crumbles entirely.
It’s probable best real-life case scenario for Willis that he can sit for a year and then potentially take over the reins in 2023 should the Titans want to get out of Tannehill’s bloated contract.
So although Willis’ fantasy upside is tantalizing from a rushing perspective, fantasy gamers need to temper expectations in 2022 because he won’t see the field with Tannehill due $35M this year.
Willis’ massive draft fall and landing spot make him a no-go in redraft and only a speculative “injury-away” stash in 2QB formats.
3) Matt Corral (CAR – QB)
The Carolina Panthers traded back into the 3rd round to snag Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. And unless the Panthers add a veteran quarterback, it’s just Sam Darnold standing in the way of the QB1 gig.
Darnold’s struggles need no introduction, so there should be some optimism that he can start some games for the Panthers in 2022 if Darnold falls flat on his face.
Corral rallied the Rebels to a 10-2 record while finishing third in the SEC in passing yards (3,343) and 11th in the nation in PFF passing grade from a clean pocket (91.6). Corral’s expected throw air time is the lowest in the class, which is a reflection of his quick release and imposing arm strength.
He also rushed for nearly 750 yards and 11 scores. It’s that exact dual-threat ability that fantasy football dynasty managers should be looking to invest in for years down the line.
Not to mention that the offensive environment for Corral is excellent. Great receivers and improved offensive line will go a long way to ensuring he finds success in Year 1.
4) Desmond Ridder (ATL – QB)
Desmond Ridder was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft at pick 74. He was connected to the Falcons throughout the draft process often drawing comparison to Marcus Mariota, who signed with the Falcons this offseason.
As the next most pro-ready quarterback in the class behind Kenny Pickett, I wouldn’t rule out Ridder earning the starting job over Mariota.
Ridder made a strong push around NFL circles this past season, leading Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff against Alabama. PFF’s seventh-highest-graded 2022 draft-eligible quarterback then turned heads at the 2022 Senior Bowl, showcasing accuracy and polish.
Ridder also offers juice with his legs, having rushed for over 2,700 yards during his four-year career (58 per game). His athleticism was at the forefront of his testing at the NFL combine.
The Bearcats quarterback ran a 4.52 40-yard dash (96th percentile) and jumped a 36 vertical (92nd percentile) and 127 broad jump (98th percentile).
From speed to predictive passing metrics working in his favor – 97th percentile passer on early downs per PFF (91.0) – the Cincinnati product possesses all the ingredients to become a fantasy-friendly quarterback at the next level if he can earn the starting job.
5) Sam Howell (WAS – QB)
Sam Howell‘s once-bright star has collapsed into a black hole. Slipping to the fifth round of the NFL Draft is a coffin nail for his fantasy football future. If we want to spin this with an optimistic tone, he should be able to compete with Taylor Heinicke in camp for the backup role, but with this type of soul-sucking draft capital, it’s difficult to project him getting a chance to start.
2022 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
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