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.
You can also practice and prepare for your dynasty rookie and startup drafts using our FREE dynasty mock draft simulator. Let’s take a look at a dynasty rookie mock draft.
1.06 Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
Williams may not hit the field until October, making him a tough guy to stash in redraft formats. Furthermore, Williams’ vertical ability cannot be capitalized with Jared Goff under center. Goff’s average depth of throw has decreased over the last four seasons, with his most recent 2021 mark (6.8) ranking dead last among 38th qualifying quarterbacks. He has also averaged just 13 completions of 20-plus air yards the last two seasons. Williams finished top-seven among all college wide receivers in receiving yards on 20-plus air yard throws in 2021. However, Williams does also possess top-tier YAC-ability so he should be able to salvage some production when he returns from injury. And although Goff’s lack of deep game isn’t ideal, we have seen him fuel top fantasy WR seasons before in Los Angeles and Detroit. Most recently with Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was the fantasy WR3 to close out last season. Williams commanded a 31% dominator rating last season by hanging 1,561 receiving yards, 20 yards per reception, and 15 touchdowns – all achievements that ranked top-three among his 2022 NFL Draft class. Nobody will be shocked to see Williams out-produce the combination of St. Brown and T.J. Hockenson once he is fully acclimated into the offense.
2.06 Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU)
If you liked Dameon Pierce before the NFL Draft, then you should be thrilled about his landing spot in Houston. There’s a chance that PFF’s highest-graded running back from the FBS (92.0) in 2021 carves out a role on early downs even though the team added Marlon Mack this offseason. News flash, people – Mack signed a one-year, $two-million deal with Houston, and it’s less than the team is paying Rex Burkhead..1 million of Burkhead’s $2.35 million contract is fully guaranteed. We could easily see Mack released as much as we could see Pierce become the team’s starting running back. Although my one reservation with Pierce is that traditionally New England has been very stingy about featuring rookie running backs historically – especially ones drafted late. During Nick Caserio’s tenure with the Patriots, Stevan Ridley’s 87 carries were the most for any non-first-round rookie running back. It wasn’t until Caserio left New England for Houston, that Rhamondre Stevenson broke that mark with 133 carries in 2021. Not to mention, there’s clearly an affinity with veteran running backs that Texans can’t seem to quit. They force-fed David Johnson and Mark Ingram II among other veterans last season, despite having some younger players they could give reps to. Caserio’s post-draft press conference cited Pierce as someone that needs to earn a role and be a factor on special teams. So pump the brakes on Pierce RB1 szn ever so slightly. The fact Pierce never fully took over Florida’s backfield does raise red flags. His 12% career dominator rating is eerily similar to Trey Sermon (12%) from last season, and Sermon struggled to separate himself from the pack in his rookie campaign. Even during his breakout senior season, the 5-foot-10 and 218-pound running back earned just a 22% dominator rating while sharing the backfield alongside fellow draft-eligible running back Malik Davis. However, I am willing to offer some benefit of the doubt after Pierce never topped 106 carries in college. There may have been some underlying issue with former Gators head coach Dan Mullen that prevented Pierce from seeing a more featured role. Case in point: Pierce only had two games with double-digit carries in 2021, both of which came after Mullen was fired toward the end of the season. Pierce’s lackluster dominator rating doesn’t capture his coach’s potential ineptitude. The fact Pierce competed with NFL talent like Jordan Scarlett and La’Mical Perine very early in his college career paints a better picture of how his impact will be felt in years to come. But from the get-go, I doubt we see Pierce be a major fantasy factor to start the 2022 season.
3.06 Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF)
Khalil Shakir might not have received late Day 3 draft capital (fifth-round), but he was gifted with a juicy landing spot. Shakir sits behind Jamison Crowder, who is on a one-year deal, and special teams players like Jake Kumerow and Isaiah McKenzie for snaps. Shakir is a versatile receiver who can play both inside and on the perimeter. He’s a player worth bookmarking for a middle-round pick who could be a starter in the Buffalo offense in 2023.
4.06 Greg Dulcich (TE – DEN)
The UCLA tight end weighed in at 6-4 and 243 pounds at the NFL combine and tested extremely well: 122″ broad jump (88th percentile), 4.69 40-time (70th percentile), 34″ vertical (63rd percentile) and 7.05 3-cone (75th percentile). Per Next Gen Stats, Dulcich averaged 18.0 yards per reception over his four-year career at UCLA, which is the third-most by a tight end invited to the combine since 2003. In 2021 alone, he ranked fourth in yards per reception (17.3). It’s hard to watch Dulcich’s tape and not see hints of Dawson Knox.
Remaining Picks
Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft Results
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Four-Round, 12-Team, Middle Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Four-Round, Superflex, Middle Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Four-Round, 10-Team, Early Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Four-Round Superflex, 10-Team, Early Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Four-Round, 12-Team
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Four-Round, 12-Team, Superflex
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, Superflex
2022 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
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