With the NFL Playoffs and season ending in a couple of weeks, the focus for most fan bases switches to the NFL Draft. For those who are obsessed with fantasy football, that means doing some dynasty rookie mock drafts.
Here is my first rookie mock draft of the season, completed via Sleeper. This draft was a superflex, PPR dynasty rookie draft consisting of five rounds.
See the full results here.
2024 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team Superflex
Which Picks Surprised You in Round 1?
The big question at the 1.02 spot will be Drake Maye or Marvin Harrison Jr. In this draft, Maye was selected at the 1.02. While this isn’t a big shock, team need will determine which way this draft goes.
The biggest shock for me was Brock Bowers at the 1.05. While Bowers has the potential to be an elite tight end, passing on Troy Franklin and Malik Nabers seems to be a very bold strategy. Personally, I’d be putting Bowers toward the end of the first round, and I think 1.05 is a significant reach for him here.
I was also surprised by Bo Nix going at the end of the first round. This could change depending on when he gets drafted and to where. However, I struggle to see where Nix will go and compete for the starting job on day one. Therefore, it feels like that pick is a bit of a reach.
Which Picks Provided the Best Value in Round 2?
The one that stands out in this format is Michael Penix Jr. His leadership skills and ability are undervalued by the community so far. However, there is a good chance he could be drafted ahead of J.J. McCarthy and Nix if a franchise falls in love with him. Come May, I don’t believe you will see Penix Jr. going with the 22nd pick of a rookie draft. He will be in the high teens at the latest.
Adonai Mitchell falling to the second round also seems to be a shock. His body type and contested catch ability mean he could be selected in round one of the NFL Draft in April. If that happens, Mitchell will not be a second-round pick in rookie drafts. He is one to really keep an eye on at the combine.
The last player is Blake Corum. It is extremely rare that there are no running backs in the first round of a rookie draft. It feels like Corum will shoot up boards come May due to a position scarcity in fantasy football. I fail to see there being no running backs in the first round when rookie drafts start in May.
Which Players in Round 2 Can Create a Splash in Fantasy Football?
Other than the three players mentioned, there are two other players that fantasy managers should look at more closely regarding their rookie drafts.
The first is Bucky Irving. His tape is fun to watch, and he will exploit space better than any running back in this draft. If you had fun rostering De’Von Achane in fantasy football this past season, you will love Irving just as much. He might have a low floor, but he has arguably the highest ceiling of all the running backs in this draft.
The other is Ladd McConkey. McConkey screams of someone in a PPR format who can garner a lot of targets as a slot receiver at the next level. While it would be unfair to compare him to Cooper Kupp, he certainly possesses a lot of the same traits. There is a clear pathway for McConkey to be a key slot receiver in the NFL and become a target monster in the right scheme.
Are There Any Players in Rounds 3-5 That Should Be on Radars?
Xavier Legette in round three seems to be a great value. His size and speed can really only be compared to D.K. Metcalf in recent times. And, while he does have some things to work on, with his body type and speed, he can be an extremely useful weapon to teams. It would be a surprise if he was not selected on the second day of the NFL Draft. Legette is an exciting prospect who could see some significant buzz if he produces his best time at the NFL Combine.
Audric Estime is the other player who I doubt will be in this range when rookie drafts start in May. Estime is a back who has proven that he can carry a large workload and is incredibly powerful. He is extremely prolific around the goal line. This could allow Estime to thrive in the NFL. Either way, he went too late in this draft, and fantasy managers should be looking to mop him up in the second round of drafts come May.
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @Murf_NFL.
