The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books. With the NFL Draft comes dynasty rookie draft season! We have you covered with our dynasty rookie draft coverage, and of course, you can complete fast and FREE dynasty rookie mock drafts using our mock draft simulator. While you take that simulator for a spin to prepare for your dynasty rookie mock drafts, check out our latest dynasty rookie mock and analysis from our analysts.
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Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
1.11 – Will Levis (QB – TEN)
It’s not hard to see how an NFL team could be enamored with Levis. When he’s on, he’s a playmaking dual-threat quarterback tossing lasers all over the field with touch into tight windows. Levis has arguably the strongest arm of this quarterback draft class. He can flick the ball 40 yards down the field with ease. His deep ball can produce some wow moments.
The issue for Levis is those moments can be fleeting. His play-to-play consistency has to improve to be an average to above-average starter in the NFL. The eye-popping moments for Levis also need some context. Levis was a one-read pony in college. If his first read wasn’t open, in many cases, he was struggling or attempting to fit an ill-advised throw to the receiver anyway. Asking him to go through progressions is a project. Corners in college had no problems reading his eyes and jumping routes as Levis continually stared down his first read. His footwork gets sloppy at times, which hurts his accuracy at every level. This is most easily seen with his Jekyll and Hyde short area accuracy. His ball placement can also be scattershot, with him sailing passes, underthrowing receivers and putting balls behind them.
Levis has some rushing ability, with at least 216 rushing yards in three of his last four collegiate seasons. I’m curious how much of that transfers to the NFL level. Levis is a straight-line runner with little wiggle to his game. He will deploy the occasional spin move, but he’s mostly a charge straight-ahead type that occasionally lowers his shoulder. His invitation for contact with defenders could be problematic long-term for his health despite his sturdy 6’3″ frame. Levis is the ultimate “traits-based” draft pick. If he hits, he could be a franchise-changing signal caller that carves a spot out among the league’s best. He also carries massive bust potential.
Dynasty Outlook: After the NFL attempted to pull the wool over dynasty GMs’ eyes, Levis fell like a stone through the first round of the NFL draft before settling in as a second-round pick. The fall from Draft capital grace hurts his potential hit rate as a fantasy asset. I was already divided on his murky outlook as an NFL-caliber quarterback, but this slippage will cause me to fade him more than some. Levis still has possibly a year behind Ryan Tannehill before he sees the NFL field, so there’s a waiting period for fantasy points here. The waiting game might not be worth it in the end. Levis is a late first-round or high second-round pick in Superflex dynasty rookie drafts that could blow up in your face.
2.11 – Roschon Johsnon (RB – CHI)
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.
Dynasty Outlook: 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.
3.11 – Israel Abanikanda (RB – NYJ)
Israel Abanikanda is a patient runner with electric burst. When he sees a crease, he moves like lightning. He’s tailor-made for an outside-zone team. He’s a natural moving down the surveying for a hole or cutback lane. He sets up his blocks in the second level well before exploding to daylight. He’s a linear runner who has some hip tightness. He is likelier to spin move a defender to avoid a tackle than move laterally or jump-cut. Abanikanda has house-call type of speed. Any touch can go for 50 yards if he gets a crease. He looks the part of a 4.3 speedster. His spindly lower half doesn’t lend itself to many broken tackles. He more than makes up for what he lacks in power with speed.
Dynasty Outlook: Abanikanda didn’t go early on day three or day two as many dynasty GMs had hoped with his stellar testing. He was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round and now slots in as the RB3/4 on this depth chart. After Breece Hall, the running back work for New York could get divided up in many ways. With the combination of landing spot and draft capital, Abanikanda has been reduced to a round-three dart throw in rookie drafts.
4.11 – Puka Nacua (WR – LAR)
Puka Nacua might not get the hype of some of his prospect brethren because he attended BYU, but he deserves all the praise. Nacua ranked second and sixth in yards per route run over his final two collegiate seasons (minimum 50 targets, per PFF). He flashes good footwork and a varied release package at the line of scrimmage. Nucua also adds subtle nuances to his routes with pacing in his routes and head fakes. He’s strong after the catch.
While he’s not a jitterbug, he’s tough to bring down with the ball in his hands because of his physicality and vision in traffic. He is a magician near the boundary as his film is littered with tough grabs near the sideline with impressive footwork. Those strong hands have also served him well in contested situations. He ranked 17th in contested catch rate in 2021 (minimum 10 contested targets per PFF). BYU tried to get the ball in Nucua’s hands in any way possible. He was utilized on jet sweeps and on the ground in 2022, finishing as the fifth-leading rusher on the team, with 8.4 yards per carry and five rushing scores. Nucaua has that dog in him.
Dynasty Outlook: My man crush on Puka Nacua remains strong. Yes, I know he fell to the fifth round before the Rams selected him, but the wide receiver depth chart after Cooper Kupp is putrid. Los Angeles only has Ben Skowronek, Van Jefferson, Lance McCutcheon, Tutu Atwell and Austin Trammell to compete with Nacua for starting reps in Week 1. Sean McVay stated that when he called Nacua to tell him they were selecting him in the draft, he loved his versatility. Do I smell a possible Robert Woods role for Nacua with the Rams? You bet I do. Nacua’s 9.2 yards per carry and 357 rushing yards at BYU scream that the jet sweeps that the former Ram received could become a part of this offense again with Nacua. Nacua won’t cost much in rookie drafts as he consistently falls to the fourth round or later. It wouldn’t shock me to learn that he will go undrafted in smaller dynasty leagues. Nacua could be the diamond in the rough of this class. I’m trading into every rookie draft late to select him where I can.
5.11 – Derius Davis (WR – LAC)
Early on, Derius Davis’ biggest impact will come as a returner. He excelled in punt returns in 2022, ranking sixth in return average and fourth in overall punt return yards (minimum 15 returns). TCU used Davis creatively with jet sweeps, screens and pop passes. The name of the game was to get him in space and let him burn people with his speed. Davis also played slot receiver at TCU. He flashes early separation on slants and the ability to stretch the field. A double move or subtle jab step can give a decent cushion for a player with his raw speed.
Dynasty Outlook: The Chargers took Davis in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Davis is lightning in a bottle that new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore could use creatively. A gimmicky player who likely contributes mostly in the return game isn’t worth a roster spot at this point. Davis will have some splash weeks, but they aren’t worth chasing because those big plays probably come in the return game or on a trick play.
Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft Results & Board
More Dynasty Rookie Mock Drafts
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- 12-Team, PPR, 3 Rounds
- 12-Team, PPR, 2 Rounds
- Superflex, 5 Rounds (Early Pick | Middle | Late)
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