Pat Fitzmaurice is back to provide his dynasty rookie draft outlook. After recapping Round 1, he’s here to provide you with his outlook for 2023 NFL Draft prospects that were selected on Day 2. Round 2 and Round 3 carried a TON of fantasy football implications. Here’s how Fitz saw it go down and what he’s expecting from the 2023 class of NFL rookies to help you prepare for your dynasty drafts.
Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook (2023 Fantasy Football)
Here are Fitz’s takes from Day 2.
Titans Draft Will Levis
Levis unexpectedly fell out of the first round of the draft, but the Titans stopped the slide by taking him with the second pick of the second round, trading up to get him. It’s like Levis will serve as Ryan Tannehill’s backup for at least the first half of the regular season before throwing him into the fire. There’s no question that sliding into the second round diminishes the dynasty value of Levis to some degree — it was the NFL collectively giving him a thumbs-down as a first-round value after all — but at least Levis landed with a team that views him as its quarterback of the future.
One of the more polarizing QB prospects in this year’s class, Levis has prototypical size (6-4,229), a cannon for an arm and good straight-line speed. With his impressive set of tools, Levis has been compared to Josh Allen, but Levis has a long, long way to go before he climbs to the heights that Allen has reached. Levis has some mechanical issues to clean up, and he hasn’t been very good at sensing pressure. And while Levis has the potential to add fantasy value with his legs, he ‘s basically just a straight-line runner, lacking the sort of niftiness and elusiveness that has made Allen one of the better running QBs in the game.
In dynasty leagues, second-round draft capital means that Levis will be a late-first-round pick at best in superflex rookie drafts, and he could slide into the second round in some drafts. With his appealing tools and worrisome flaws, Levis is the epitome of a high-risk, high-reward dynasty investment.
Lions Draft Sam LaPorta
Less than a year after getting rid of one Iowa tight end, T.J. Hockenson, the Lions added another, drafting Sam LaPorta with the 34th overall pick. The Lions clearly held LaPorta in high esteem since they took him ahead of Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer, who was thought to be a slam-dunk first-rounder. LaPorta should quickly become fantasy viable, particularly with Lions WR Jameson Williams having to serve a six-game gambling suspension at the start of the season and Detroit having few other pass-catching weapons other than WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Iowa has had some very good tight ends during Kirk Ferentz’s 24 years as the Hawkeyes’ head coach — Dallas Clark, Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson among them — but LaPorta has more career catches (153) and receiving yards (1,786) than any tight end in school history. FantasyPros college football and NFL draft analyst Thor Nystrom calls LaPorta “criminally underrated” and compares him to former Texans TE Owen Daniels, who had three seasons with more than 60 catches and more than 700 receiving yards.
LaPorta is a dangerous pass catcher who can line up in a variety of spots — in-line, in the slot or out wide. The 6-3, 245-pound LaPorta ran a 4.59 at the NFL Scouting Combine, giving him an 85th percentile speed score, according to PlayerProfiler.com. LaPorta plays fast, too, using his quickness and agility to create separation and make himself available to the quarterback. LaPorta is tough to bring down after the catch — he led all FBS tight ends with 20 missed tackles forced in 2022.
LaPorta is worthy of a late-first-round pick in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts — and maybe even a mid-first in TE-premium formats. In superflex leagues, he’s likely to come off the board in the top half of the second round.
Raiders Draft Michael Mayer
It was a surprise that Mayer fell out of the first round of the NFL Draft, but the slide shouldn’t significantly affect his fantasy value. The Notre Dame product landed in a reasonably good situation with the Raiders, who needed a replacement for the departed Darren Waller.
A true dual-threat tight end who excelled as both a pass catcher and blocker at Notre Dame, Mayer frequently draws comparisons to Jason Witten, who was a top fantasy tight end for more than a decade. PFF awarded Mayer the highest grade of any FBS tight end last year, as he had 67-809-9 despite playing most of the season with backup QB Drew Pyne after starter Tyler Buchner sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in September. Mayer finished his college career as the all-time leader at Notre Dame, a school known for churning out NFL tight ends, in TE receptions (180), receiving yards (2,099) and TD catches (18).
Mayer is a high-effort player likely to maximize his potential. The 6-4, 249-pound Mayer excels at body positioning at the catch point, boxing out his defender like an NBA big man trying to grab a rebound. Mayer has reliable hands and consistently makes catches is tight quarters. And since Maher is such a strong blocker, he’s going to play a high percentage of snaps, maximizing the potential to accrue fantasy points.
The biggest knock on Mayer is that he has ordinary speed, unlike some of the other top tight ends in this class. He’s not a seem splitter who’s going to score many long touchdowns. Mayer’s overall athleticism is lacking as well. PlayerProfiler.com gives him an athleticism score of 99.0, which ranks 464th out of the 466 tight ends the site has ever graded.
In dynasty leagues, Mayer is worth considering at the end of the first round or early in the second round of 1QB rookie drafts (slightly higher in TE-premium formats, of course), and in the middle part of the second round in superflex rookie drafts. In redraft leagues, consider Mayer a high-end TE3. Although it’s not unprecedented for a rookie tight end to produce useful numbers in his rookie year, that is the exception rather than the rule.
Panthers Draft Jonathan Mingo
Few dynasty managers regarded Mingo as a top WR prospect before the NFL Draft, but his dynasty stock is on the rise after the Panthers took him with the 39th overall pick, substantially earlier than he was expected to go. With Terrace Marshall and D.J. Chark projected as Carolina’s starting outside receivers (with Adam Thielen in the slot), Mingo has a path to immediate playing time. He’ll likely be competing with Marshall for a starting job in training camp.
The 6-1, 226-pound Mingo is a big-bodied receiver capable of bullying smaller cornerbacks and rampaging through defensive backfields after the catch. His style is reminiscent of Anquan Boldin, one of the most physical NFL receivers in recent memory. But while Boldin had 4.71 speed, Mingo clocked a 4.46 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Mingo also has huge 10 3/8-inch hands. Mingo isn’t a great separator, and he wasn’t wildly productive at Ole Miss, where he never recorded a 1,000-yard season and was the only the second-most-productive wide receiver last year behind unheralded WR prospect Malik Heath.
Mingo projects as a late-first-round pick or early-second-round pick in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts, and as a mid-second-rounder in superflex rookie drafts.
Packers Draft Luke Musgrave
Lofty draft capital? Check. Good landing spot? Check. Luke Musgrave is ready for liftoff.
The TE-hungry Packers, who had Josiah Deguara at the top of their TE depth chart before the NFL Draft, grabbed Musgrave early in the second round, with the 42nd overall pick. He figures to step right into the starting lineup and should immediately carve out a significant role for a team that went into the draft woefully short on pass catchers. It’s mildly concerning that the Packers also spent a third-round draft pick on TE Tucker Kraft, but Musgrave would seem to be the favorite for a starting role.
Musgrave might have more pass-catching upside than any tight end in this class — and this is a very good TE class. The 6-5 1/2, 253-pound Musgrave has a huge frame and wingspan, but he has speed that belies his size. Musgrave ran a 4.61 at the NFL Scouting Combine, which at his size gives him a 94th percentile speed score, according to PlayerProfiler.com. At the Senior Bowl, Musgrave was measured at a top speed of 20.05 mph — the fastest speed recorded by any tight end in the five years since Senior Bowl officials started recording top speeds. Musgrave, the nephew of former NFL QB and current Browns assistant coach Bill Musgrave, has the potential to become a downfield playmaker — a rare quality for an NFL tight end.
The big question is whether Musgrave can stay on the field. He missed 11 games for Oregon State in 2022 with a knee injury, and he missed two games with a concussion in high school. Musgrave hasn’t shown much elusiveness after the catch. According to PFF, he has broken only two tackles in his college career.
In dynasty rookie drafts, Musgrave is likely to go in the late first round or early second round in 1QB leagues, and in the early-to-mid second round in superflex drafts.
Packers Draft Jayden Reed
A speedy playmaker who was a three-year starter at Michigan State and also excelled as a punt returner, Reed will have a chance to immediately contribute as a pass catcher in Green Bay, where the Packers have little at wide receiver beyond second-year men Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.
Reed had 59 catches for 1,026 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior before an injury-marred senior season in which he sustained foot, hip and back injuries. Reed’s 4.45 speed shows up on tape, and he’s a sudden mover able to gain separation with his sharp cuts and instant acceleration.
The 5-11, 191 pound Reed doesn’t break many tackles and isn’t built for high-volume usage. He occasionally had issues with drops during his time at Michigan State.
Reed is likely to go in the middle part of the second round in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts, and in the late second round or early third round in superflex drafts.
Seahawks Draft Zach Charbonnet
The Seahawks’ selection of Charbonnet in the second round of the NFL Draft is a grim development for RB-hungry dynasty managers. In the right landing spot, Charbonnet might have been a heavy-duty runner with the sort of role that could make him an every-week fantasy starter and a potential difference-maker. Instead, he’s likely to beging his rookie year as Kenneth Walker’s backup. Charbonnet is good, but Walker was a better prospect and proved to be a high-quality NFL running back as a rookie.
A powerful north-south runner with a body built for heavy-duty usage, Charbonnet could have ample upside in the right situation. The 6-0, 214-pound Charbonnet thrives running between the tackles, patiently waiting for creases to develop and then getting downhill quickly. According to PFF, Charbonnet has forced 122 missed tackles over the last two seasons, third-most among any college running back over that span. Once Charbonnet finds a hole, he has the acceleration to get through it quickly and find daylight. With 4.53 speed, Charbonnet isn’t a true burner, but he has enough juice to break off his fair share of long runs.
While Charbonnet isn’t an exceptional pass catcher, he is at least competent in that facet of the game, with 61 catches for 518 yards in his two seasons at UCLA. Charbonnet doesn’t necessarily need to come off the field on passing downs.
In dynasty rookie drafts, Charbonnet figures to come off the board in the 1.07 to 1.11 range in 1QB leagues and early in the second round in superflex leagues.
Chiefs Draft Rashee Rice
Now THIS is a landing spot we can get excited about. The Chiefs traded up in the second round to select Rice, an exciting playmaker from SMU. He’ll be a popular target in dynasty rookie drafts since he’ll have a chance to earn substantial playing time right away and will be paired with Patrick Mahomes, the best pure passer in the NFL. Rice’s competition for WR snaps in Kansas City includes the perennially disappointing Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the oft-injured Kadarius Toney and the unproven Skyy Moore.
Rice had a superb senior season for SMU, catching 95 passes for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns. Rice is a downfield playmaker with exceptional body control, ball skills and leaping ability. At 6-0 and 200 pounds, Rice has good size to go along with 4.51 speed.
At 23, Rice is a slightly overaged prospect, and he only had one year of high-level production at SMU.
After landing in Kansas City, Rice could be taken as early as the late first round in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts, although he’ll probably go early in the second round most of the time. In superflex rookie drafts, Rice figures to be a mid-second-round pick.
Cowboys Draft Luke Schoonmaker
The NFL Draft was kind to Schoonmaker, whose dynasty stock is on the rise after being selected by the Cowboys in the second round. Dallas is looking for a replacement for TE Dalton Schultz, who left for Houston in free agency. Schoonmaker was a well-regarded TE prospect, but second-round draft capital was a pleasant surprise.
An overaged prospect who’ll turn 25 in September, Schoonmaker was a late bloomer at Michigan who didn’t really factor into the Wolverines’ passing game until his fifth and final year in Ann Arbor. Schoonmaker has NFL size (6-5, 251), speed (4.63) and athleticism (9.85 RAS). However, Schoonmaker had only 54-637-7 over 44 career games at Michigan and might need time to gain traction at the next level.
Broncos Draft Marvin Mims
The Broncos didn’t have a pick until late in the second round, so their selection of Mims with that pick is a noteworthy endorsement. Denver already has Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton at wide receiver, although both were rumored to be on the trading block during the offseason. If they’re both around in 2023, it’s hard to see Mims having an immediate impact. But if either of them is traded, Mims could end up being a Week 1 starter.
Mims is a versatile downfield playmaker who lined up both inside and outside during his college career at Oklahoma. With 4.38 speed, a 39.5-inch vertical jump and terrific body control, Mims is a big play waiting to happen. In his two seasons as a college starter at Oklahoma, Mims averaged 20.8 yards per catch. He holds the Texas high school record for career receiving yardage, and in his senior year of high school he had 2,626 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns.
The 5-11, 183-pound Mims is going to face more physical cornerbacks in the NFL and will have to learn how to consistently defeat press coverage.
In dynasty leagues, Mims will probably come off the board in the early-to-mid second round in 1QB rookie drafts and late in the second round in superflex drafts.
Lions Draft Hendon Hooker
If the Lions eventually decide that Jared Goff isn’t their quarterback of the future, Hooker could get a chance to lead an exciting, up-and-coming offense that includes WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and TE Sam LaPorta. Some people thought Hooker had a chance to be a first-round draft pick. He fell into the early part of the third round, which isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of his NFL future, but it’s mildly encouraging that the Lions traded up to get him.
Hooker has an NFL-caliber arm and is an aggressive downfield thrower willing to take his shots and give his receivers a chance to make a play. In his two seasons at Tennessee, Hooker threw 58 TD passes and only five interceptions, averaging an impressive 9.6 yards per pass attempt. Hooker has good mobility and isn’t shy about taking off and running, which could be a boon to his fantasy value.
Hooker tore his ACL in November, so he’s going to miss his first NFL training camp and might not see the field at all in his rookie year. At 25 years old, Hooker is also an overaged prospect. He’s older than Tua Tagovailoa and only a few months younger than Kyler Murray. Tua has already played three NFL seasons and Murray has played four. Perhaps the biggest knock on Hooker is that he played in a simplified, ultra-QB-friendly offense under Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, whose quarterbacks are only required to read half the field.
Hooker has virtually zero redraft value for 2023 as he recovers from his knee injury. In dynasty, he’ll be a mid-second-round pick in most superflex rookie drafts.
Texans Draft Nathaniel Dell
Nathaniel “Tank” Dell played at the University of Houston and won’t have to move very far as he begins his professional career since the Houston Texans selected him in the third round. Dell is tiny (5-8, 165), but he’s an explosive playmaker who topped the 1,300-yard mark in each of his final two college seasons, and had 17 TD catches as a senior.
Dell is human mercury, using lethal quickness and razor-sharp cuts to leave defenders in his wake. Dell’s 4.49 speed isn;t exceptional for a 165-pound receiver, but his game is more about quickness than straight-line speed. The question is how Dell will be used. As small as he is, he isn’t likely to be an every-down player, but he could be dangerous in sub-packages.
In dynasty rookie drafts, expect Dell to go in the latter part of the second round or perhaps the early third round in 1QB leagues. In superflex drafts, he’ll likely go in the late third round or early fourth.
Saints Draft Kendre Miller
The Saints selected Miller in the third round of the NFL Draft, and New Orleans is an interesting landing spot for him. With Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams ahead of him on the depth chart, Miller doesn’t have a clear path to playing time, but a looming suspension for Kamara could change that. Kamara faces assault charges for an incident in Las Vegas during the 2022 Pro Bowl weekend.
Miller ran for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns in his final season at TCU, helping the Horned Frogs make it all the way to the National Championship Game. The 5-11, 215-pound Miller is a tough inside runner who rarely gets taken down by arm tackles. His physical style could him a candidate for goal line duty at some point, and his big TD total in his final college season suggests that he has a nose for the end zone. Miller has good vision and impressive acceleration.
With only 16 receptions last season, Miller hasn’t shown much as a pass-catcher and could be limited to early-down work. He didn’t become a starter until his junior year.
Look for Miller to go in the early-to-mid second round in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts and in the late second or early third round in superflex drafts.
Giants Draft Jalin Hyatt
The Giants were in need of a dynamic outside receiver, and they found one when they spent a third-round pick on Hyatt.
Elite speed is Hyatt’s calling card. He clocked a 4.4 at the NFL Scouting Combine and averaged 18.9 yards per catch last season at Tennessee, where he had 67 catches for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns. Hyatt has some serious jets and above-average ball skills. He could be a dangerous downfield playmaker in the NFL.
The question is whether Hyatt is just a one-trick pony. He’s 6-0, 176 pounds, so he probably won’t be asked to work the middle of the field very often and isn’t likely to be a high-volume receiver. Hyatt wasn’t asked to run a diverse route tree in Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel’s offense, and Hyatt rarely had to deal with press coverage. And as FantasyPros college football and NFL Draft analyst Thor Nystrom has noted, Hyatt’s junior-year breakout was largely concentrated in five huge games — one against Alabama, and four that were either against pushover opponents or games that Tennessee’s other star wide receiver, Cedric Tillman, missed due to injury.
In 1QB dynasty rookie drafts, expect Hyatt to come off the board sometime in the second round. In superflex drafts, he’s likely to go late in the second round or early in the third.
Browns Draft Cedric Tillman
The Browns got another pass catcher for Deshaun Watson, grabbing Tillman in the third round of the draft. It’s not an ideal spot for Tillman from a dynasty perspective, as he’ll find himself behind Amari Cooper, Donovan people-Jones and Elijah Moore on the Browns’ WR depth chart.
In a WR class loaded with smaller receivers, the 6-3, 213-pound Tillman stands out as a classic big-bodied X-receiver type. With 4.54 speed, Tillman isn’t a burner, but his exceptional ball skills and body control ed to 16 catches of 25+ yards over the last two years, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic.
The knocks on Tillman are that he’s an overaged (23) prospect who had just one noteworthy college season (64 catches for 1,081 yards and 12 TDs in 2021). It’s also mildly concerning that Tillman played in a simplified offense at Tennessee in which he only lined up on the right side of the field.
With the somewhat disappointing landing spot, Tillman might only be a late-second-round or early-third-round pick in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts and a third-rounder in superflex drafts.
Packers Draft Tucker Kraft
The good news: Kraft was a Day 2 draft pick, confirming that he’s a well-regarded TE prospect. The bad news: Kraft wasn’t even the first tight end drafted by the Packers, who selected Luke Musgrave in the second round before taking Kraft in the third.
Kraft probably would have been a top-three tight end in most draft classes. He might slip through the cracks in dynasty rookie drafts because this year’s TE class is so good and because it’s not clear how he’ll divide snaps with Musgrave.
A breakout season in 2021 (65-780-6) put Kraft on NFL teams’ radars, and he remained there even after his final season at South Dakota State was partially derailed by a high-ankle sprain in the Jackrabbits’ 2022 season opener against Iowa.
The 6-5, 254-pound Kraft is agile and athletic. He tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine, and his 4.69 speed shows up on the field. But Kraft needs some technical refinement, and the jump to the NFL could be a daunting one for him after facing a low level of competition at SDSU.
Cardinals Draft Michael Wilson
Wilson could be an intriguing dynasty asset, but he has to be considered a major injury risk. He sustained a Jones fracture in his foot in late 2020, then sustained another Jones fracture the following summer. Both injuries required surgery. Last year, Wilson’s season ended after only six games due to an undisclosed injury.
Despite the worrisome injury history, the Cardinals spent a third-round pick on Wilson, who could have a chance to earn immediate playing time if the Cardinals trade DeAndre Hopkins, as they’re expected to do at some point. As landing spots go for rookie receivers, Arizona is a good one.
The 6-1, 216-pound Wilson is a big, physical, athletic receiver who posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.55. He’s a fluid move with admirable body control and reliable hands. As noted by FantasyPros college football and NFL Draft analyst Thor Nystgrom, Wilson put on a show during Senior Bowl week, eliciting “ahhs” from the crowd when he would escape a cornerback’s coverage with a particularly violent cut. Wilson is also said to have exceptional football character, with a deep devotion to his craft.
Wilson was an intriguing rookie sleeper, but third-round draft capital is going to attract attention. He’s still a risky investment due to his troubling medical history, but Wilson is worthy of a late-second-round pick in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts and an early-to-mid third-round pick in superflex drafts.
Steelers Draft Darnell Washington
Once considered a possible first-round draft pick, Washington fell into the late third round, where the Steelers took him with the 93rd overall pick. It’s a suboptimal landing spot for Washington, who’ll play behind Pat Freiermuth and might be relegated to blocking duty when he’s on the field.
An athletic marvel with extraordinary size and strength, the 6-7, 270-pound Washington ran the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine (good for a 96th percentile speed score according to PlayerProfiler.com) and navigated the 20-yard short shuttle in 4.08 seconds, the fastest time among TE prospects and the third-fastest time among all combine prospects. With his huge frame and 34 3/8-inch arms, Washington has the wingspan pf a pterodactyl. That remarkable size-strength combo could eventually make Washington a serious red-zone threat.
The big question with Washington is whether he’ll ever be a true two-way tight end or a blocking tight end who occasionally catches a pass. He caught only 45 passes in 36 career games at Georgia, topping out at 28 catches in his third and final college season. It’s possible that Washington’s career will look a lot like that of Marcedes Lewis, and exceptional blocker who also turned in some fantasy-relevant seasons, including a 10-TD season for the Jaguars in 2010.
With his slide in the draft and the poor landing spot, Washington will be an afterthought in most dynasty rookie drafts. In 1QB leagues, Washington probably shouldn’t be considered until the late third round. In superflex leagues, he’s probably ticketed for the fourth round.
Colts Draft Josh Downs
A slippery slot receiver who racked up 195 catches, 2,364 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns over his final two college seasons at North Carolina, Downs figures to make a smooth transition to NFL slot duty. The ultra-athletic Downs combines 4.48 speed with crisp route-running. He also has reliable hands, with only three drops of catchable targets last year.
Downs is only 5-9, 171 pounds, and he’s strictly a slot receiver. The easy NFL comparison here is Jamison Crowder, who’s been a productive NFL slot receiver for years but hasn’t been particularly impactful as a fantasy performer.
The Colts took Downs in the third round, and he’ll compete with Isaiah McKenzie for slot snaps. Expect Downs to come off the board in the back half of the second round in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts and in the third round of superflex drafts.
Titans Draft Tyjae Spears
Derrick Henry’s tank eventually has to hit empty, right? Right? The Titans spent a third-round pick on Henry’s new backup, Tyjae Spears of Tulane. As long as Henry is healthy, Spears won’t get much work — maybe a small handful of touches each game while Henry takes a short breather. But if Henry were to go down this year, or if the Titans were to move on from Henry, Spears’ dynasty value would soar.
Spears really put his best foot forward over the last eight months. He had a spectacular senior-year campaign for Tulane, rushing for 1,581 yards and 19 touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. (He also had 22-256-2 receiving.) He made a strong impression at the Senior Bowl, with NFL executives and scouts naming him Senior Bowl Practice Player of Week. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Spears had the second-best vertical jump and third-best broad jump among running backs.
Spears is an electric slasher whose quick cuts can leave defenders grasping at air. Spears is good at making defenders miss, but the play isn’t over if defenders get their hands on him — he averaged 4.52 yards after contact per carry for Tulane last season. Although his college pass-catching numbers were nothing special, Spears showed during the predraft process that he’s at least competent in that area.
At 5-10 and 201 pounds, Spears is probably better suited for committee usage than for a heavy-duty role. Although he plays fast, Spears’ 4.59 time in the 40-yard dash gave him a 30th percentile speed score. (He ran a slightly faster 4.54 at his pro day.) He didn’t do enough as a pass catcher in college to suggest that he’ll be used on passing downs.
Expect Spears to go in the early-to-mid second round in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts and in the mid-to-late second round in superflex drafts.
Dolphins Draft Devon Achane
There were some terrible landing spots for rookie running backs in this year’s NFL Draft, but the Dolphins’ selection of Devon Achane in the third round should bode well for Achane’s dynasty value. Miami’s other running backs include 31-year-old Raheem Mostert, 27-year-old Jeff Wilson, and bit players Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. Achane has a good chance to carve out a meaningful role in the Dolphins’ backfield right away.
An electric runner with 4.3 speed and a bagful of cuts, jump stops and stutter steps, Achane is a headache for defenders. He has impressive contact balance and tackle-breaking ability for a 5-9, 188-pound running back and was surprisingly successful running between the tackles at Texas A&M. Achane wasn’t necessarily a high-volume pass-catcher for the Aggies (60-457-4 receiving over his last two seasons), but he’s a good receiver who could end up with a passing-down role.
At 5-9 and 188 pounds, Achane isn’t cut out for a workhorse role and will likely be a committee back. Blocking isn’t Achane’s forte, which might make his coaches think twice about using him on obvious passing downs.
Achane could come off the board at the tail end of the first round in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts, but he could also sllip into the second round. In superflex leagues, he’s likely to be taken in the early-to-mid second round.
Jaguars Draft Tank Bigsby
Travis Etienne is going to be the lead RB for the Jaguars, but Bigsby, a third-round draft pick, has a chance to be Etienne’s primary backup. Jacksonville might not be an ideal landing spot for Bigsby, but it was unlikely that any team would have drafted him with the intention of making him a lead back.
A productive three-year performer at Auburn who led the team in rushing in each of his three college seasons, Bigsby is an effective insider runner with a nice blend of vision, lateral agility and contact balance. The 6-0, 210-pound Bigsby runs with power, and he often needed to create his own holes in his final season at Auburn, where he was operating behind an offensive line that ranked 93rd in the country in run blocking, according to PFF. But don’t mistake Bigsby for a straight-line runner — his cuts are sharp and highly effective.
Bigsby caught 30 passes for Auburn last season but has had problems with drops, so he might not be cut out for third-down duty in the NFL.
The latter part of the second round seems like the right time to consider Bigsby in a 1QB dynasty rookie draft, and he’s a worthy third-rounder in superflex rookie drafts.
