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 startup mock draft.
1.12 James Cook (RB – BUF)
Rookie running back James Cook has immediate sleeper fantasy appeal across all PPR formats based on his second-round draft capital, pass-catching prowess, explosiveness, and offensive situation. The 5-foot-11, 199-pound running back has more than enough heft to manage a decent workload, especially as a receiver out of the backfield. The 5-foot-7, 203-pound Devin Singletary was the RB3 over the last six weeks of the regular season when the Bills entrenched him as the featured guy. Cook with an ECR of RB44 seems priced closer to their floor than his ceiling considering Round 2 running backs have finished as top-36 running backs more than half the time (55%) since 2013.
2.12 Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG)
The high second-round draft capital commitment from The New York Giants is going to get Wan’Dale Robinson on the field sooner rather than later. Considering the same can’t be said for guys like Kadarius Toney or any other leftover Giants skill players from the previous regime, we could see Robinson step in Day 1 and offer an immediate impact.
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 and Isaiah McKenzie in Buffalo. And the Giants don’t seem overly concerned about listing him at 5-foot-11 after he measured at 5-foot-8 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Go figure.
In his first season playing wide receiver, Robinson finished second in the FBS in yards per route run (3.56). The Kentucky product also owns PFF’s No. 1 career receiving grade (93.4) in the 2022 draft class.
3.12 Calvin Austin (WR – PIT)
The Pittsburgh Steelers paired their earlier selection of George Pickens with the Mighty Mouse-like Calvin Austin. Austin is the same receiver archetype as a Rondale Moore, but his route-running prowess is more advanced. This offers Austin the potential to play the slot and man the boundary at times. If the Steelers don’t invest in pending free agent Diontae Johnson long-term, Austin could crack the starting lineup weekly in 2023.
4.12 Tyler Badie (RB – BAL)
Tyler Badie tied Kenneth Walker III in rushes of 10-plus yards (46) to lead the 2022 Draft Class. The undersized explosive running back enjoyed a breakout season in his final season at Missouri stepping out of Larry Roundtree’s shadow. His 916 yards after contact ranked fifth-best in the class.
Quite the feat for a sub-200 pound running back. But what’s more impressive is Badie’s 124 catches during his four-year tenure in college – capped off by 52 receptions in 2021. That was the highest mark among all 2022 draft-eligible backs.
There’s no guarantee that either J.K. Dobbins or Gus Edwards will come out the gates hot coming off torn ACLs, so the 2021 sixth-rounder could see a larger role than many would expect from a Day 3 selection. At worst, he’d be my favorite to emerge as the No. 3 RB because I have zero faith in either Mike Davis/Justice Hill maintaining any consistent role on the Ravens offense.
5.12 Bo Melton (WR – SEA)
The Seattle Seahawks have an unhealthy obsession with speedy receivers with questionable analytical profiles. They went down the D’Wayne Eskridge rabbit hole last year only to land on Bo Melton this year. The investment in Melton is slight as it only cost the team a seventh-round pick. Melton’s a late flier only. He’s currently blocked from the starting lineup by Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and either D’Wayne Eskridge or Freddie Swain. If Eskridge flames out again this year, it’s not impossible that Melton could get some run late in the season. His 4.34 speed, 93rd percentile college target share, and 81st percentile college dominator make him a shiny dart to toss at the board.
Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft Results
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 11 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 10 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 9 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 8 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 7 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 6 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 5 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 4 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 3 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 2 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, No. 1 Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, Superflex, Late Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, 12-Team, Early Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, Superflex, Middle Pick
- 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, Superflex, Early Pick
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2022 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
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