Your own dynasty rookie draft is just around the corner, and we’re starting to see where rookies are being valued. Even though the NFL draft is still more than a month away, players are being evaluated and ranked according to their talent alone.
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Expert Consensus 2023 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Draft Rankings: Top-50 
Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Players to Watch (2023 Fantasy Football)
Undervalued Rookies to Watch
Here are some players that I think could see a massive jump in value for a number of reasons. Therefore these are players in the FantasyPros’ current rookie ECR that I’m looking at taking ahead of their current ranking.
Tucker is one of those running backs that can do serious damage in the right system. He’s explosive enough to hit the hole but is patient enough to pick the right one. Sometimes that patience can be a downside, though, and if he goes to a team that doesn’t have a strong line, it could be a liability. Tucker could be a stud in the NFL and in fantasy leagues, but it’s all about where he lands.
This is why I’m fine taking him above his RB7 ranking. It’s entirely possible that he goes somewhere that needs a primary running back, like Atlanta or Carolina, and gets to shine, even if he doesn’t get a lot of the passing work. His current ADP on most sites is the early second round, and I’m fine with that, but I’d probably be okay taking him at the end of the first just because of his upside. He’s definitely someone who could edge his way into the RB2 discussion and be worth starting by September.
Ah, what could have been? A year ago, Bigsby was in that top tier of running backs about to enter the league. He was one of the reasons that the 2023 class looked so outstanding. Now, however, he’s fallen to RB8 and is well outside that top tier. It’s not that his talent disappeared; it’s more that the shine wore off. But, to me, the talent is still there, which is what makes him such an intriguing target with his RB8 ranking.
You’ve probably heard it before: Tank runs angry. He looks like someone slapped his momma before the snap, and he’s out for blood. That can be awesome to watch but difficult to grade. His lateral quickness is average or better, but his north-south ability is still there. I love his drive and engine and would be happy snagging him at the back of the first, given his early second-round ranking in most mocks. He’s someone I’m fine taking the discount on with the mindset that whenever he gets a team, they’ll fall in love with him as I have.
In a loaded WR class, running backs like Abanikanda can fall further than they should. I’ve seen some rankings that have him in the top 4 running backs in the class. I’ve also seen some that have him outside the top 15 or so. He’s somewhat polarizing, without a doubt. Playing at Pitt this season, he led the ACC in rushing with 1,431 yards. That’s not to be taken lightly and something that shows me he can carry a large workload.
On top of all of that, he’s still really young. He turns 21 in October, meaning he’ll be 24 or so by the time his first contract runs out. However, I think his talent and age give him a lot of future potential in the NFL and, therefore, in dynasty. If he gets picked by the right team who knows how to use what he brings to the table, I think Abinikanda could be the steal of your rookie draft in the early second round. His name is hard to forget, but keep him in mind when you watch day 2 of the NFL draft.
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but Spears has been someone I’ve watched with anticipation for the last few months now. I’ve seen some NFL mocks that have him going in the third or fourth rounds to teams that don’t need a starting running back, and it confuses me. I think Spears is overflowing with starting RB talent. He’s ranked 11th in PFF’s elusive rating and was fifth in yards after contact per attempt. What do the draft scholars see that I’m not?
Perhaps it’s his issue with pass protection. NFL teams are looking for running backs who can protect their best asset, and that’s usually the quarterback. Spears is a solid 205 pounds, but he’s built more to run than to block. That being said, I think there’s a team or two out there that could take Spears and let him develop into a solid flex play for fantasy in the next year or two. His current ranking is a 3rd round pick, but I’m fine taking the risk at the back of the 2nd in most formats. As with all of the running backs I listed here, the landing spot will matter so much to his post-draft value. I’m just fine taking the risk on his talent eventually shining through wherever he ends up.
Receivers are tough for me, largely because I think most of them are valued too high in relation to other positions or because I agree with a lot of the rankings out there. The only receiver of note for me that feels like a steal is Addison, who is ranked at WR3 in ECR at the moment. I think Addison could easily become this year’s DK Metcalf. By that, I mean he is someone going at the top of some drafts but not all, much like how N’Keal Harry was ranked ahead of Metcalf in 2020. I think Addison is the real deal, much like Metcalf was the real deal.
Don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not comparing the two in terms of style or ability, just in how underrated they both are. Addison played the slot before moving to the outside in 2022, and I think that versatility is what most NFL teams are looking for in today’s receivers. Smaller, quicker, more athletic receivers tend to get looks more often as windows get tighter and defenses get faster. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Addison land somewhere that vaults him into the top 12 WR in dynasty discussion, so grabbing him as the third WR off the board feels like a steal to me early in the process here.
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Andrew Hall is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, follow him @AndrewHallFF.
