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.
1.02 Drake London (WR – ATL)
Drake London boasts all the skills to be an alpha possession receiver for the Atlanta Falcons. The 6-foot-4 and 219-pound towering USC wide receiver only played in eight games due to an ankle injury but made every game count. He commanded a 38% target share, and led all WRs in contested catches (19) and in receptions per game (11.0). London concluded the year third in yards per route run (3.52) in his draft class. Even if London’s final 2022 stat line doesn’t turn heads based on potential shoddy quarterback play from Marcus Mariota /Desmond Ridder, a high target share will provide London a solid weekly floor.
2.02 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.
3.02 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.
4.02 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.
5.02 Kyle Philips (WR – TEN)
I’m disappointed to report that I acquired zero of Titans wide receiver, Kyle Philips, in my rookie drafts. First, he was taken one spot before me by FantasyPros’ own Pat Fitzmaurice after I waxed poetic about him on Pat’s Fitz on Fantasy podcast. Then he got swept up right before my pick in another dynasty rookie draft. I believe he has some sneaky Hunter Renfrow-like slot skill that most will overlook, but NFL teams like the Titans will love. Philips commanded a 30 percent target share in 2021 at UCLA and could potentially become a top underneath option for Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee.
Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft Results
- 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, 10-Team, Early Pick
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Four-Round Superflex, 10-Team, Early Pick
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2022 Dynasty Rookie Rankings
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