Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Rome Odunze, Troy Franklin, Drake Maye (Fantasy Football)

Until the 2024 NFL Draft, we are left with little to do in regards to rookies but to complete dynasty mock drafts or select them in best ball leagues. This article will compare rookie average draft position (ADP) from our mock draft simulator and rankings with the current best ball data from Underdog to see how they compare.

Analyzing Rookie ADP Data

1.04: Rome Odunze (WR – WAS)

Depending on where you look, you might see Brock Bowers ahead of Rome Odunze. Odunze’s impressive combine performance, competing in all drills, brought him closer to the big two wide receivers at the top of draft boards in both best ball and dynasty. Odunze is pick 47 in best ball, WR26 overall in a very similar range to where Ja’Marr Chase was drafted in his rookie year. As a late breakout player, who really got going in his third year and then exploded in his fourth year, there is a wider range of outcomes with Odunze than the receivers ahead of him.

1.08: Troy Franklin (WR – Oregon)

The speedster out of Oregon was viewed as someone who could be a solid contributor right out of the gate but after a disappointing NFL Combine performance, the 176-pound receiver sat just inside the top 100 at pick 98.4. Troy Franklin struggles to create separation if he doesn’t have a free release and sometimes struggles with more physical corners, which doesn’t spell great things for his adjustment to the NFL. Franklin is going between Diontae Johnson and Jakobi Meyers, both more appealing options.

1.12: Drake Maye (QB – UNC)

In single-QB formats, it won’t be uncommon to see just one quarterback make it off the board in the first round. When a second does, it may well be Jayden Daniels, who is drafted 20 picks ahead of Drake Maye on Underdog, with Daniels at 124.1 and Maye at 144.1. Maye doesn’t possess the same dual-threat abilities Daniels does but he rushed for almost 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns over his final two seasons in college. Maye is a more polished passer than Daniels and should be able to sustain hits better. At pick 144.1, Maye is in a similar range to where CJ Stroud went last year, who was also largely ignored by drafters. Lightning might not strike twice but some exposure to Maye sounds sensible.