DBro’s Must-Have Dynasty Rookies (2023 Fantasy Football)

Check out a few of my must-have dynasty rookies that I’m targeting in rookie drafts and beyond. And you can find all of my must-have dynasty rookies in this article.

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Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
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Must-Have Dynasty Rookies

Here are the players I’m targeting at the end of the first round of rookie drafts and beyond:

C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU)

How cool is this?

Very dope video for Bruce Young and CJ Stroud pic.twitter.com/v4wJV7KmXN

— Will Compton (@_willcompton) April 30, 2023

In 2021, Stroud was tenth in pressured adjusted completion rate and 12th in pressured PFF passing grade while facing the 16th-lowest pressure rate (23.8%, minimum 50 pressured dropbacks). Stroud has quiet feet against pressure and can make plays outside of structure. Stroud has effortless velocity on his throws. He has plenty of arm strength to fit any throw into a tight window. His accuracy is also sound on the move. He can layer throws against zone coverage with the best of them. His film is littered with special throws to the boundary that takes moxie to dial-up. He has no issues testing man coverage and tossing it up for his receiver to win. Stroud will sometimes hang on his first read, but there’s plenty of film of him performing full-field reads. He moves through his progressions quickly to find the open receiver. As the collegiate stats will show, Stroud isn’t a rushing threat, but that doesn’t mean he’s a statue in the pocket. He has plenty of maneuverability in the pocket, which he uses exceptionally well. He steps up in the pocket when necessary to avoid rushers and can get outside of structure when necessary and deliver an accurate throw on the run. Stroud won’t be a “rushing quarterback” at the next level, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have the wheels to grab an easy 5-7 yards when the defense is offering it up.

After the smoke screen of the NFL Draft cleared, C.J. Stroud was drafted second overall to the Texans to become the pillar of their rebuild process. Houston added Juice Scruggs and Shaq Mason to an offensive line that allowed the 12th-lowest adjusted sack rate last year. This line should give Stroud time in the pocket in his rookie season. While the offensive line won’t be among the best in the league, it should be at least average. The same can be said for Stroud’s receiving weapons. A starting pass-catcher unit of Nico Collins, Robert Woods, Dalton Schultz, and John Metchie or Tank Dell isn’t sexy, but it also isn’t a total dumpster fire. Woods’ box score numbers last year weren’t great, but if we dig deeper, he doesn’t look washed. Last year he was 15th in open rate (per ESPN), immediately behind Christian Watson. Stroud remains a top-three pick in Superflex rookie dynasty drafts.

Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)

I'm still scratching my head wondering how the NFL allowed Kendre Miller to be drafted ahead of Roschon Johnson.

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) May 4, 2023

Roschon Johnson is a north/south runner. He is at his best when he gets downhill quickly and into the second level. Johnson is patient at the line and scheme versatile. He has good lateral agility for his size, but he’s not a wiggle-back. However, Johnson has enough juice and good vision to work well on zone runs. Johnson quickly gets up to top speed but lacks that second “home-run” gear. He displays good contact balance. He’s able to shed arm tackles, and there’s plenty of film of him making the first would-be tackler miss. He was utilized on dump-offs in college. He displayed soft hands when called upon in the passing game.

Roschon Johnson is now a Chicago Bear. Chicago has sounded elated to the media about his fall to the fourth round of the NFL Draft. While D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert also reside on this depth chart, Johnson could carve out a role as soon as Week 1. After losing David Montgomery in free agency, the team has shown a lack of faith in Herbert by bringing in Foreman on a one-year deal and selecting Johnson in the draft. If we’re reading the tea leaves correctly, with these moves and the draft pick of Darnell Wright, the team could be moving to more gap scheme runs in 2023 and beyond. Johnson is a scheme versatile back, but his downhill and powerful running style will play well in a gap-oriented attack. Johnson could be the leader of this committee early, and if he gets a stranglehold on the work or at least the lead share, he might not let go. Johnson is a second-round rookie draft pick and my RB4 of this class.