We are less than a month away from the NFL Draft which, for dynasty league managers, is one of the most important events of the fantasy calendar. Rookie drafts are in full swing right now and the landing spots for rookies can move a player up or down draft boards. Today we took the FantasyPros Mock Draft Tool for a spin in a SuperFlex Dynasty Rookie Draft from the 1.04 position.
If you haven’t tried out our Mock Draft Tool, it is one of the most user-friendly resources we offer and you can do a mock draft for any type of format in just minutes. If you want to be a better fantasy manager, click the link below to check out the draft board for this mock and look around the site for the great tools we offer. Now, for the picks:
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- Derek Brown’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Sleepers
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Pick Trade Strategy & Advice
Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
1.04 – C.J. Stroud (QB – Ohio State)
I believe the 1.04 is the first inflection point of a SuperFlex Rookie Draft, although seeing C.J. Stroud’s name made this an easy choice. In most circumstances, the fourth selection will leave you with a choice between one of the remaining quarterbacks (most likely Anthony Richardson or Will Levis) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In that case, Smith-Njigba would be my preference but Stroud is a no-brainer here.
There is some uncertainty about where Stroud ultimately ends up, but I think he is the safest quarterback in this draft. Stroud put up some gaudy numbers in two years as the starter for the Buckeyes, throwing for over 8,000 yards and 85 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions. His 348-yard, four-touchdown performance against Georgia in the College Football Playoff nearly carried Ohio State to a historic upset as well. Stroud won’t blow anyone away with his athleticism but he has enough mobility to extend plays, adding 107 yards rushing last fall. Stroud is the most pro-ready quarterback in the draft and should be a Day One starter in the NFL. Getting him at the 1.04 seems like stealing as I would have taken him second overall.
Also considered: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Anthony Richardson
2.04 – Kendre Miller (RB – TCU)
After Bijan Robinson and Jahymr Gibbs, there is a sizable gap to what I would describe as the 3rd tier of rookie running backs. Of that group, Kendre Miller stands out as someone to target in the second round of rookie drafts. Miller was locked in a timeshare his first two seasons at TCU but rushed for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns last fall after being named the starter. He offers fantasy owners the opportunity to get a running back who didn’t accumulate a massive touch share in college, which should benefit him from a longevity standpoint in the NFL. The fact he will be just 20 years old on draft night is another plus.
Miller has a rock-solid 215-pound frame and does well to get downhill. He is above average in getting yards after contact so at the very least he could slot in as an early down hammer on the right team. He won’t pop off the page in the passing game, but he did catch 29 passes in his final two years at TCU and averaged a healthy 6.7 yards per carry in his career. I’d much prefer to take a shot on Miller, who has the size of a prototypical NFL running back, as opposed to hoping for the passing game involvement with someone smaller like Devin Achane.
Also considered: Dalton Kincaid, Jalin Hyatt, Zach Evans
3.04 – Darnell Washington (TE – Georgia)
Given the helium from Darnell Washington’s combine performance, it feels like a big value to see him last into the 3rd round. At this point of a rookie draft, capturing upside supersedes almost anything else in my eyes. At 6’7 and 264 pounds, Washington’s 96th percentile speed score and soft hands represent an opportunity to get a gamechanger at fantasy’s weakest position.
The biggest question with Washington pertains to his college production or lack thereof. In three seasons at Georgia, he only caught 45 passes and scored just three touchdowns. Washington was playing behind a Mackey Award winner in Brock Bowers, however, and his 17 yards per reception pop off the page. Washington is a strong blocker as well, routinely mauling defenders at the second level so he is another pick in this mock that should see the field early in the NFL. I’m all in on that in the third round.
Also considered: Roschon Johnson
4.04 – Jonathan Mingo (WR – Ole Miss)
I wrote this about Jonathan Mingo as a dynasty rookie sleeper:
“If you like big, physical wide receivers who can run, Mingo is your guy. At 6’1 and 226 pounds, he has the prototypical size for an X-receiver. His performance at Indianapolis has started to bump his stock a bit. Mingo had a great combine, running a 4.46 in the 40 and registering a 39.5-inch vertical jump. He ended up with a 110.2 athleticism score, which was second among all receivers.”
Mingo wasn’t ultra-productive in college, failing to record a single 1,000-yard season. That is a big reason why he is slipping so far down rookie boards but he was a four-year starter in Oxford. Still, Mingo is a physical presence who is one of the better blocking receivers in the draft. While he doesn’t have the pedigree of some other standout Ole Miss receivers (D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Brown), he could be a nice find for fantasy purposes.
Also considered: Mohamed Ibrahim
5.04 – Bryce Ford-Wheaton (WR – West Virginia)
When you get to the fifth round of a rookie draft, you are swinging for the fences. Bryce Ford-Wheaton might be the best representation of that process of any player in this year’s class. He blazed a 4.38 40-yard dash at the combine and his 112.3 Athleticism Score from PlayerProfiler.com ranks in the top-10 among receivers all-time. Ford-Wheaton never amassed more than 675 yards in a season while at WVU, but he was held back by mediocre quarterback play and even worse play calling. His speed alone makes him worthy of a selection at this stage in the draft.
Also considered: Stetson Bennett
More Dynasty Rookie Mock Drafts
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 10-Team, Superflex
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Superflex
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team Superflex (4 Rounds)
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Superflex (4 Rounds)
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 10-Team, Superflex (4 Rounds)
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 10-Team, Half-Point PPR
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Two Rounds
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 14-Team, Two Rounds
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Three Rounds
- Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 10-Team, Superflex
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Jason Kamlowsky is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @JasonKamlowsky.
