Now that the 2022 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, rookie drafts are underway. While they are short and sweet, rookie drafts are one of the best parts when playing dynasty fantasy football.
Every fantasy player has a different mindset or strategy for their rookie draft. Some focus on improving their team by taking the best player available. Others add players at a position of need. I will take the best player available for this mock draft.
The league configuration for this mock draft is 1 QB, 12 teams, and half-PPR scoring. This mock draft consists of four rounds of offensive players only, and I picked from the seventh slot.
Round 1
- 1.01 – Breece Hall (RB – NYJ)
- 1.02 – Drake London (WR – ATL)
- 1.03 – Treylon Burks (WR – TEN)
- 1.04 – Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)
- 1.05 – Malik Willis (QB – TEN)
- 1.06 – Kenneth Walker (RB – SEA)
- 1.07 – Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
- 1.08 – Chris Olave (WR – NO)
- 1.09 – George Pickens (WR – PIT)
- 1.10 – Skyy Moore (WR – KC)
- 1.11 – Christian Watson (WR – GB)
- 1.12 – Rachaad White (RB – TB)
Had Walker slid to my pick, it would have been a slam dunk. With the lack of elite running backs in this draft class and the depth at wide receiver, Hall and Walker should be the first two picks in rookie drafts. However, Walker went off the board at pick 1.06, so I grabbed the wide receiver with the most upside left on the board in Williams. While he might miss the start of the 2022 season recovering from a torn ACL, Williams will step into the No. 1 wide receiver role when healthy. Furthermore, the Lions will likely draft a new quarterback in 2023, providing Williams with even more upside.
Round 2
- 2.01 – Jahan Dotson (WR – WAS)
- 2.02 – James Cook (RB – BUF)
- 2.03 – Isaiah Spiller (RB – LAC)
- 2.04 – David Bell (WR – CLE)
- 2.05 – Kenny Pickett (QB – PIT)
- 2.06 – Trey McBride (TE – ARI)
- 2.07 – Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU)
- 2.08 – Justyn Ross (WR – KC)
- 2.09 – Alec Pierce (WR – IND)
- 2.10 – John Metchie (WR – HOU)
- 2.11 – Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL)
- 2.12 – Brian Robinson (RB – WAS)
Watching Dameon Pierce slide to me with pick 2.07 was a dream come true. Before the draft, he was likely a mid-third-round pick. After the Texans spent an early fourth-round pick on him, his fantasy value shot up. Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead are the two veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, but neither will stop Dameon Pierce from getting on the field.
Mack has 37 touches over the past two years, while Burkhead had one game with over 47 rushing yards last season. Both running backs have one-year contracts and limited guaranteed money protecting them. Dameon Pierce has an excellent chance to impress during training camp and become the Week 1 starter.
Round 3
- 3.01 – Zamir White (RB – LV)
- 3.02 – Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG)
- 3.03 – Matt Corral (QB – CAR)
- 3.04 – Jalen Tolbert (WR – DAL)
- 3.05 – Sam Howell (QB – WAS)
- 3.06 – Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL)
- 3.07 – Jerome Ford (RB – CLE)
- 3.08 – Kyren Williams (RB – LAR)
- 3.09 – Romeo Doubs (WR – GB)
- 3.10 – Calvin Austin (WR – PIT)
- 3.11 – Keaontay Ingram (RB – ARI)
- 3.12 – Hassan Haskins (RB – TEN)
After grabbing two players with potential flex appeal as a rookie, it’s time to shoot for upside with these next three picks. The Browns have two talented running backs already on the roster in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The duo has been the focal point of the offense the past few years. However, Hunt is entering the final year of his contract and possibly won’t be back with the team in 2023. If Hunt leaves next offseason, Ford would be the favorite to earn that critical No. 2 running back role. He is one of my favorite running backs to target, especially in leagues where he can sit on my taxi squad for a year.
Round 4
- 4.01 – Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF)
- 4.02 – Tyler Badie (RB – BAL)
- 4.03 – Charlie Kolar (TE – IND)
- 4.04 – Tyquan Thornton (WR – NE)
- 4.05 – Greg Dulcich (TE – DEN)
- 4.06 – Pierre Strong (RB – NE)
- 4.07 – Jelani Woods (TE – IND)
- 4.08 – Isaiah Likely (TE – BAL)
- 4.09 – Danny Gray (WR – SF)
- 4.10 – Cade Otton (TE – TB)
- 4.11 – Kyle Philips (WR – TEN)
- 4.12 – Tyler Goodson (RB – GB)
I don’t usually draft tight ends in rookie drafts because they take a year or two to develop. By the time they become fantasy-relevant, you need the roster spot for another player. However, I am breaking that rule this year and targeting Woods. He had an excellent pre-draft process and an outstanding athletic profile. Landing with the Colts was perfect for Woods. While the Colts re-signed Mo Alie-Cox this offseason, they can get out of his contract after next season. Woods could be a popular name on sleeper tight end lists a year from now as the new starting tight end for the Colts.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.