The 2022 NFL Draft is officially in the books, which means it’s peak dynasty rookie draft season.
In an effort to help you navigate through selecting your favorite prospects beyond providing the industry’s top-tier rookie rankings, FantasyPros conducted a 3-Round Dynasty Superflex Rookie Mock Draft. Below you can see the full draft board and the picks made by myself (Andrew Erickson), Derek Brown and CBS senior fantasy analyst Heath Cummings. I was selecting from the third spot (non-snake draft).
This exercise should give you a general idea of where rookies are expected to be drafted in the Superflex format, so you can unearth certain values to target.
And be sure to listen to the latest FantasyPros Football Podcast where we drafted LIVE for more analysis on each selection.
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ROUND 1
Breece Hall at the 1.01 means that all is right in the world. He’s been my top-ranked rookie all pre-draft and first overall pick in some of my own personal Superflex dynasty rookie drafts. The Jets rookie running back is worthy of the highly-coveted selection because Heath and I agree that Hall is going to be a three-down back after the Jets traded up to the top of Round 2 to acquire him.
2021 fourth-rounder Michael Carter (RB – NYJ had his moments as a rookie, but the Jets know he’s just a No. 2 running back. I’d expect Hall to shoulder 15-20 touches per game based on the workload that Carter received last season when Tevin Coleman (RB – NYJ) missed time.
From Weeks 7-9 with Coleman sidelined, Carter averaged 19 touches per game and a 66% snap share. Upon Coleman’s return from injury in Week 10, Carter averaged 14 touches per game and a 55% snap share in the games they played together.
Carter’s looking anywhere between five-to-eight touches per game with Hall entrenched as the bellcow, making the former UNC back near obsolete as anything other than a handcuff with upside.
Drake London IS Derek Brown’s guy, so I have got no problem with the selection here. London’s profile signals he will vacuum up targets at a high rate on the Atlanta Falcons, with a barren pass-catching depth chart outside second-year tight end Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL).
Even if London’s final 2022 stat line doesn’t turn heads based on potential shoddy quarterback play from Marcus Mariota (QB – ATL)/Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL), a high target share for a 21-year-old rookie WR is going to be heavily valued heading into 2023.
London finished first in his draft class in receptions per game this past season (11.0).
1.03 Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
Jameson Williams’ injury is causing him to slide the 1.07 in rookie drafts ADP, and it just doesn’t add up to me. He was viewed as the clear-cut No. 1 WR for many NFL teams. The Lions were over-the-moon in love with Williams and traded up to snag him.
And last I checked, dynasty fantasy football isn’t just about 2022, it’s about having these players for their entire careers.
I’ll gladly take the discount knowing he will offer an immediate impact once he hits the field. Sure, Jared Goff’s (QB – DET) lack of deep game isn’t ideal, but we have seen him fuel top fantasy WR seasons before in Los Angeles and Detroit. Most recently with Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET), who was the fantasy WR3 to close out last season.
Williams’ No.1-ranked 13.1 yards per target last season suggests he will have a couple of massive games that will dramatically boost his dynasty stock heading into year two.
1.04 Kenneth Walker III (RB -SEA)
Based on ADP, I don’t hate the selection of Kenneth Walker. He usually goes either 1.02 or 1.03, so Heath got some value here. But I’ve still got major concerns about Walker going well ahead of the majority of WRs taken in Round 1.
I went in-depth on the topic in the FantasyPros collaborative article on rookies to avoid in dynasty rookie drafts. Long story short, it’s just too steep a price to pay for a running back that is projected to be used heavily on early downs on an offense that easily projects to be bottom-five in the NFL led by the unsurprising duo of Drew Lock (QB – SEA/Geno Smith (QB – SEA) at quarterback.
I so often preach just drafting players on good offenses and avoiding ones on bad teams — especially when there is a premium price involved.
1.05 Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)
I was somewhat surprised that DBro didn’t go with Treylon Burks (WR – TEN) here based on the latter’s landing spot. But give credit to my sharp co-worker for betting on the player that we both had higher pre-draft than Burks. Because betting on talent at WR tends to work more than at running back, where the situation plays a much bigger role.
The Jets receiver room seems a bit crowded, and nobody knows whether Zach Wilson (QB – NYJ) can support one or multiple fantasy assets. There are definitely question marks.
Corey Davis (WR – NYJ) has an opt-out in his contract in 2023, so that does lend some clarity to Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore (WR – NYJ) being the two top dogs in this offense. The best-case scenario is we get a poor — albeit very poor — man’s version of Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN) and Tee Higgins (WR – CIN) production last season.
jets have them both LMAO https://t.co/NztvsGpeZm
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) April 29, 2022
Davis is the “Tyler Boyd (WR – CIN)” in that scenario, where he gets pretty much phased out of the target pecking order. I’ll bet on Wilson ahead of Moore in my 2022 wide receiver rankings because he’s shown the ability at Ohio State to command targets and produce in an offense littered with other elite talents.
If Wilson earns the starting role on the outside, we could see him post similar production to Davis from the first five weeks of last season. The former Titan was the WR25 in half-point scoring with a 21% target share.
1.06 Treylon Burks (WR – TEN)
This selection was a no-brainer for me at 1.06. There’s hardly any competition for targets outside of Robert Woods (WR – TEN), who is coming off a torn ACL. And with a similar YAC-ability to AJ Brown (WR – PHI), Treylon Burks should be able to step on the field on day one and offer immediate fantasy football appeal as a top-30 fantasy option.
The Razorback’s 8.5 yards after the catch rank 14th among 169 qualifying wide receivers (92nd percentile) over the past two seasons. The run-heavy nature of the offense and limitations of Ryan Tannehill (QB – TEN) at quarterback will likely hinder Burks’ fantasy ceiling, but he has a path to opportunities that not many other rookie wide receivers will see from the get-go as a favorite to be the team’s WR1.
Heath was extremely high on Chris Olave’s high-end potential in year one, citing his professional readiness, superb route running and Michael Thomas’ (WR – NO) injury concerns as reasons to be in on the former Ohio State Buckeye.
I am less bullish on the first-round pick, which I divulged deeply in a head-to-head debate with FantasyPros’ own Pat Fitzmaurice. 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 a healthy Thomas, I have trouble getting overly excited for Olave in New Orleans.
The Saints were run-heavy with Jameis Winston (QB – NO) last season, as he averaged just 186 yards passing in his first six starts.
1.08 Christian Watson (WR – GB)
The worst-case scenario with Christian Watson is that he becomes Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR – KC) in the Green Bay Packers offense. The elite athleticism and big-play ability present a sky-high ceiling as Aaron Rodgers’ (QB – GB) future WR1, but a lack of refinement and focus drops reveal a somewhat scary floor.
MVS’ 73-target rookie season in 2018 is the most a first-year WR has ever earned from Rodgers, which further bolsters the case for a Valdes-Scantling floor for Watson. Davante Adams (WR – LV) led that team with 169 targets.
Either way, he’s worth a middle-to-backend Round 1 pick in rookie drafts. The opportunity he could see from Day 1 amid a lackluster receiving corps of Sammy Watkins (WR – GB), Allen Lazard (WR – GB), Randall Cobb (WR – GB) and Amari Rodgers (WR – GB) is salivating.
1.09 Skyy Moore (WR – KC)
But I’d be lying if I wasn’t glad to see DBro go with Watson to allow Skyy Moore to fall into my lap with the ninth pick.
The Western Michigan product was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the NFL Draft, essentially tying his career to Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC) for the foreseeable future. With a revamped KC WR depth chart in the post-Tyreek Hill (WR – MIA) era, Moore has a chance to hit the ground running competing for targets with Juju Smith Schuster (WR – KC) and Valdes-Scantling. His impressive YAC-ability — tied for first with 26 forced missed tackles in 2021– helps him stand out from the other Chiefs WRs. I’d be comfortable selecting Moore as high as 1.06 in 1QB formats and 1.07 in 2QB/Superflex leagues. So at 1.09, I’m giddy.
The moment Skyy Moore found out he'd get to catch passes from @PatrickMahomes ? pic.twitter.com/ttGG4aF0hG
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 1, 2022
Heath’s infatuation with running backs continues with Bills running back James Cook. And I for one LOVE the value here. The Georgia product has immediate fantasy appeal across all formats based on his draft capital, pass-catching prowess, explosiveness and offensive situation.
Also, don’t read into Cook’s smaller size at 5-foot-11 and 199 pounds as a massive red flag. It’s not about the size of this Georgia Bulldog — it’s the size of the draft capital his team used on that Georgia Bulldog that is the larger factor.
5'7'' and 203-pound Devin Singletary was the RB3 over the last six weeks of the 2021 season…??? https://t.co/S7PdrHTMDF
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) May 3, 2022
And his skill set should be praised for the game of fantasy football, that heavily favors dynamic pass-catching back versus two-down grinders.
I’ll be the first to admit that I was not the highest on wide receiver Jahan Dotson during the pre-draft process, but the guy going as a fringe first-rounder and often second-rounder in rookie drafts is blasphemy.
He’s got mid-round one draft capital and a landing spot that I think is being undervalued by the consensus. Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS) is in the midst of a contract dispute, Curtis Samuel (WR – WAS) has struggled to stay healthy and 2021 third-rounder Dyami Brown (WR – WAS) failed to fire as a rookie.
Dotson’s biggest strengths to me are his reliability and the floor that he can offer the Commanders, and that is going to translate into target volume. Sure, he may not make splashy plays, but the guy will vacuum up targets from Carson Wentz (QB – WAS).
I was floored to take Dotson at the 2.01 in an industry dynasty league.
The Kenny Pickett slide stops at 1.12. And the rationale behind this pick is pretty simple. He’s a rookie quarterback that is going to start games this season. There’s no other rookie quarterback that has that kind of certainty. So although Pickett profiles as a floor-play, that’s still super valuable in the Superflex format, where a warm body gets the job done in the QB2 slot.
I think Pickett’s being undervalued with an overall poor perception of this QB class.
ROUND 2
2.01 George Pickens (WR – PIT)
Full disclosure. I will be drafting a lot of George Pickens in my dynasty rookie drafts with his future looking bright. Therefore, I fully approve of this selection by Heath.
The Steelers selected Pickens at pick No. 52, with WR3 an area of need and Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT) slated for free agency in 2023. I absolutely love the fit for Pickens here with the Steelers, who seem to never miss selecting wideouts on Day 2.
Injuries and off-field issues plagued Pickens’ draft stock, but he looks fully healthy based on his testing at the NFL Combine. And Pittsburgh seems like the right spot for him to get his head on straight.
I already can’t wait for the heated training camp fights between him and Chase Claypool (WR – PIT) as the gloves come off — well not really — for target supremacy.
I’ve admittedly moved Alec Pierce up and up my rookie rankings throughout the process, but I think he’s being overvalued at the top of the second round. I echoed my concerns with his downfield archetype as a bad fit with quarterback Matt Ryan (QB – IND) in Alec Pierce’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Debate piece.
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 (WR – DAL).
RB Rachaad White looks just like Leonard Fournette’s (RB – TB) backup at the moment. But there’s an outcome where he delivers massive upside should Lenny go down with an injury.
Running backs drafted on Day 2 or earlier that have averaged at least 30 receiving yards/gm in their final college seasons:
Saquon Barkley, David Johnson, Joe Mixon, Antonio Gibson, Najee Harris, Travis Etienne Jr. and Rachaad White ?
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) May 2, 2022
White has shades of David Johnson (RB – FA) and Le’Veon Bell (RB – FA) in his style of play, which clearly didn’t go unnoticed by the new senior football consultant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bruce Arians.
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 he carves out a role on early downs even though the team added Marlon Mack (RB – HOU) 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 (RB – HOU). In fact, $2.1 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 was until Caserio left New England, that Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE) 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 (RB – NO) 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.
2.05 Jalen Tolbert (WR – DAL)
Dynamite pick right here.
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 — in his 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 (WR – MIN) in that fashion.
If Tolbert can beat out James Washington (WR – DAL) — on a one-year, $1.2M contract — in training camp, he could offer immediate value with Michael Gallup (WR – DAL) unlikely to be ready for Week 1 coming off a torn ACL.
He’s got big-play ability that should gel well with quarterback Dak Prescott (QB – DAL).
David Bell might be my favorite WR to draft in Round 2 of rookie drafts. He has an awesome landing spot with the Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE).
The Browns understand his limitations as an athlete, but his strengths as an underneath wide receiver can help him produce after the catch.
Bell finished third in the FBS in receiving yards on the outside (1,097), second in total forced missed tackles (25) and 10th in PFF receiving grade (86.9) among his draft class.
He’s a perfect fit alongside prototypical No. 1 WR Amari Cooper (WR – DAL) and the speedy duo of Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR – CLE)/Anthony Schwartz (WR – CLE).
2.07 Isaiah Spiller (RB – LAC)
The Chargers are no strangers to taking shots on bigger but unathletic running backs on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Joshua Kelley (RB – LAC) was the guy in 2020 and Larry Rountree (RB – LAC) was the guy in 2021.
Isaiah Spiller represents the latest installment of the Chargers trying to find an appropriate thunder to Austin Ekeler’s (RB – LAC) lightning, and I for one think Spiller is already the best bet currently on the roster. The former Texas A&M running back has the capacity for three-down spot start duties.
Their best No. 2 option last season — Justin Jackson (RB – FA) — remains an unsigned free agent.
2.08 Tyrion Davis-Price (RB – SF)
Tyrion Davis-Price is getting buzz because he was drafted in the third round by the San Francisco 49ers, but a second-rookie pick is too rich for blood, based on his uninspiring profile.
First off, he’s not particularly explosive. Seventh percentile vertical jump, 39th percentile broad jump.
He also didn’t see much work as a pass-catcher at LSU the past two seasons and didn’t break out until this past season with a meager 19% dominator rating. With arguably the worst yards per scrimmage play in the class, TDP looks like he’s following in the grim steps of the 49ers’ third-round pick last season Trey Sermon (RB – SF). His profile as a gap scheme runner makes the pick questionable to a zone-heavy team.
Davis-Price is also not elusive — 29th in broken tackle rate per Sports Info Solutions — so he will require wide-open lanes to be effective.
He also struggles to create yards after contact. His 2.8 yards after contact per attempt ranks 28th in the class.
The fact that his best trait is actually his experience in pass protection might foreshadow his role at the next level. He finished first in the class in pass pro snaps per game (11). JaMycal Hasty (RB – SF) was PFF’s fourth-worst graded pass-blocker among RBs last season.
Maintaining a relatively high rank on Malik Willis has less to do with my take on the player and more about me thinking about his market value a year from 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 (QB – SF) had a stellar rookie season, but his occasional flashes and rushing upside suggest Willis’ value will at worst stay stagnant.
I project that when we are discussing Willis next season, 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.
2.10 Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL)
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.
2.11 John Metchie III (WR – HOU)
DBro begrudgingly made this selection if you listen back to the podcast. However, the value of a WR taken high on Day 2 is a great value at the tail-end of Round 2 in rookie drafts.
Houston traded multiple picks to move up for the Crimson Tide receiver in a similar fashion to how they acquired Nico Collins (WR – HOU) a season ago.
Metchie caught 96 balls for over 1,100 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his final junior season.
He possesses a nice skillset that will translate well with the Texans. He’s a savvy route runner that understands how to get leverage and create separation from defenders. His game reminds me of Eddie Royal.
He probably won’t ever be a true No. 1, but that doesn’t preclude him from carving out a niche role starting from the slot. After Brandin Cooks (WR – HOU), there’s nobody on offense that has an established pedigree. To be honest, Metchie played with tougher competition at Alabama.
2.12 Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL)
Love me some Tyler Allgeier at the tail end of Round 2. The Atlanta Falcons’ fifth-round running back ranks 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 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 (RB – ATL), Damien Williams (RB – ATL) and Qadree Ollison (RB – ATL).
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. Their offensive line is horrible, so Allgeier’s ability to create yards after contact will help separate him from the others.
ROUND 3
As my favorite long-shot odds candidate to win offensive rookie of the year (+2000), Matt Corral in Round 3 of a SuperFlex draft is egregious.
I’d argue that his path to seeing the field is equal to if not better than both Malik Willis and Desmond Ridder. Carolina spent the entire offseason trying to find a new quarterback, before ultimately being left with Sam Darnold (QB – CAR) as their only option with zero draft capital to work with.
And if Carrol becomes the starter, it’s hard to not love the offensive situation he is falling into. Carolina’s roster was already set up extremely well after addressing needs in free agency. And they solved their glaring hole at left tackle with Ikem Ekwonu (OL – CAR).
Equipped with a revamped offensive line along with D.J. Moore (WR – CAR), Robby Anderson (WR – CAR) and Christian McCaffery (RB), Corral could make some noise in a relatively weak NFC. Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo was the major driving force behind Carolina selecting Corral in the first place, so it remains to be seen how committed the new Panthers’ play-caller is to Darnold — a quarterback he was not involved with trading for last season.
With so much uncertainty about players that go in Round 3 of rookie drafts, snagging No. 1 tight end Trey McBride feels right. Great job DBro.
It’s obviously a look at the long-term with Zach Ertz (TE – ARI) entrenched as the starter in Arizona.
Unless Ertz sustains an injury — possible at age 31 — McBride won’t have much fantasy appeal in a heavily crowded Cardinals Air Raid offense.
But with DeAndre Hopkins (WR – ARI) entering the twilight stages of his career coming off a PED suspension and Ertz being labeled as dust not so long ago, perhaps McBride’s impact will be felt sooner rather than later.
3.03 Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WAS)
When I made this pick, it was based solely on Brian Robinson’s third-round draft capital and size/speed profile. He’s probably destined to be just a hand-cuff to Antonio Gibson (RB – WAS), but that’s valuable to have in the dynasty format.
But according to head coach Ron Rivera, we could see Robinson and Gibson work together in a similar fashion to how Jonathan Stewart and De’Angelo Williams operated during Rivera’s tenure in Carolina.
Coaches lie all the time so I wouldn’t overreact, but Robinson owning a legitimate 1B role on offense isn’t shocking based on Gibson’s injuries and their investment in the Alabama running back.
Robinson finished third in missed tackles and seventh in PFF rushing grade (90.4) while also flashing his chops in the passing game last season. He caught 35 of 38 targets for 296 receiving yards. Robinson is far from a can’t-miss prospect but offers the physicality and size to be a thumper for the Commanders.
The Raiders’ new management declined Josh Jacobs’ (RB – LV) fifth-year option and has zero ties to Kenyan Drake (RB – LV). Zamir White looks to be the next starting running back in the wings for 2023.
However, I would not expect much from White in year one based on McDaniels’ track record from New England of not using Day 3 rookies
He’s more likely to run Jacobs into the ground as he did with Dion Lewis, LeGarrette Blount and Shane Vereen during his Patriots tenure.
3.05 Wan’Dale Robinson (WR- NYG)
When DBro made this pick, I sunk back in my podcast chair and thought, “Man, I drafted the wrong Robinson.” It’s a great value getting a highly-drafted guy that the new Giants coaches and executives are attached to.
That draft capital commitment is going to get Wan’Dale Robinson on the field sooner rather than later; the same can’t be said for guys like Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG) or any other leftover Giants skill players from the previous regime.
I’m also more optimistic than most that Brian Daboll understands how to use a shorter receiver like Robinson, based on his prior experiences with Cole Beasley (WR – FA) and Isaiah McKenzie (WR – BUF).
In his first season playing wide receiver, Robinson finished second in the FBS in yards per route run (3.56).
3.06 Hassan Haskins (RB – TEN)
The fact that an Ohio State alum in Mike Vrabel drafted a running back from Michigan should tell you they think highly of Hassan Haskins.
With an identical PFF rushing grade to Breece Hall (91.6) over the last three seasons, Haskins looked primed to exceed expectations in the NFL. He immediately looks like a direct back-up for Derrick Henry (RB – TEN), who showed us last season that he is mortal.
Tight end Greg Dulcich helps fill the void at the tight end position left by Noah Fant (TE – SEA) for the Denver Broncos. The offense should feature plenty of 12 personnel based on Nathaniel Hackett’s coaching history.
Green Bay ranked second in 12 personnel usage (two TE sets) with Nathaniel Hackett as OC in 2021.
Strong chance that Denver isn't done revamping their tight end room after trading away Noah Fant.
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) March 12, 2022
3.08 Tyquan Thornton (WR – NE)
The Baylor wideout was barely on my radar for fantasy football purposes before the NFL Combine, which was clearly an oversight on my part. His sub-4.3 speed alone got him Round 2 draft capital from the Patriots.
Thorton’s speed translated well into on-field production, as he graded out as a top-10 wideout in PFF receiving grade from the intermediate level of the field (10-19 yards) last season.
But it wouldn’t surprise me to see him play more special teams than on-field offensive action in year one. Bill Belichick is notorious for over-drafting players that can offer some special teams value.
Instead of chasing draft capital with Thorton, I opted for fifth-round WR Khalil Shakir from the Buffalo Bills. He wouldn’t be in line to start even if he was drafted on Day 2 this year, but the slot role could open up as soon as 2023. Jamison Crowder (WR – BUF) is on a one-year deal and Isaiah McKenzie is earning veteran special teams money.
I also feel like Shakir’s electric play will force the Bills’ hand sooner rather than later, and that he will impress should he ever crack the starting lineup because of an injury.
The Boise State slot wide receiver ended his college career as PFF’s third-highest-graded wide receiver (92.9) in the class.
DBro and I forced Heath into this selection because the upside of the uber-talented Justyn Ross attached to Patrick Mahomes is tantalizing and worth the conversation. But as an UDFA, the floor is rock bottom.
Ross’ experience playing special teams does give me some hope that he can stick to the bottom of the depth chart in KC.
Jelani Woods’ freakish athleticism alone is a reason to gravitate towards him in dynasty rookie drafts because that’s been a great predictor of fantasy success at the next level. Woods just has to flash once or twice in year one to accrue immediate value, which is exactly what dynasty managers should be looking for in the later rounds of rookie drafts.
The 6-foot-7 Virginia product boasts massive size, speed and explosiveness, running a 4.61 40-yard dash (88th percentile) at 253 pounds.
Guys like Mo-Alie Cox (TE – IND), David Njoku (TE – CLE), Albert Okwuegbunam (TE – DEN), Brevin Jordan (TE – HOU), Irv Smith Jr. (TE – MIN), Jonnu Smith (TE – NE) and Donald Parham Jr. (TE – LAC) have all hung around the back-ends of dynasty rosters because they are tight ends that possess above-average athleticism.
I debated between Romeo Doubs and a few other WRs — Danny Gray (WR – SF), Calvin Austin (WR – PIT) — with the last pick in the mock draft, but ultimately couldn’t pass up a WR attached to Rodgers. Of course, I voiced concern about rookie WRs when discussing Christian Watson’s outlook, which becomes more apparent for Doubs as a fourth-rounder.
But he checks off the exact three requisite boxes I need in a Day 3 sleeper wide receiver: high-end college production, a solid breakout age and a vertical element to their game.
The Wolfpack wide receiver broke out at age 19, so his top-tier production in the two years that followed should not have shocked anybody. He wrapped a bow on his college career with a top-10 dominator rating in the 2022 Draft Class, headlined by a 36% score in 2020.
As a consistent downfield threat — 55 targets of 20-plus air yards the last two seasons — Doubs has an archetype that fits well with Rodgers.
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- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 1QB, 10-Team
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team 2QB/Superflex
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 10-Team 2QB/Superflex
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