Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Trey Benson, Bucky Irving, Dylan Laube, Emani Bailey (Fantasy Football)

It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie FEVER SZN is HERE! The NFL Draft will come and go before we know it, and rookie drafts will start flying daily. Before you dive head first into our Draft Simulator and run 3,000 rookie drafts in preparation, please read up on this talented prospect class as I roll through my quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end positional primers.

Motrin and Tylenol can’t quell this fever. The only medicine is more rookie mock drafts.

DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers: WR | QB | RB
2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
2024 NFL Draft Guide
2024 Draft Scouting Reports

Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice

Trey Benson (Florida State)

Stats:

2023 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 55th
- Breakaway percentage: 10th
- PFF elusive rating: 42nd
- Yards per route run: 27th

2021 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 6th
- Breakaway percentage: 3rd
- PFF elusive rating: 1st
- Yards per route run: 1.15 (only 15 targets*)

Scouting report:

Benson wins with leg drive and build-up speed with home run ability (4.4 40-yard dash) once he gets into the second level of a defense. Benson’s burst is average overall, but he showed more juice immediately after the handoff in 2022 versus 2023. I expect his short area agility numbers to be ok but not amazing and his 10-yard split to be average.
Benson has no problem fighting for extra yards after first contact with his powerful legs. He can shed arm tackles with ease as he always keeps his legs churning. He’s a more linear runner with the ability to juke defenders in the second level once he’s built up some steam.
Benson can get in trouble behind the line of scrimmage when he’s forced to string multiple moves together to avoid defenders as his burst comes into question. Overall, he has decent vision and follows his blocks well, but Benson can hesitate at times when his gap is plugged, and he’s forced to run the quick math of other options around him. Benson is more willing to barrel forward and take what a defense gives him rather than try to bounce a run outside, even when bouncing the run is the best course of action. He’s a tough interior runner where his power shows up, but he’ll miss cutback opportunities in the second level.
Benson’s ability to handle a heavy workload should be questioned despite his size. His frame would suggest that he should be able to, but he hasn’t had more than 156 carries over the last two seasons and logged only one game in that period with at least 20 carries.
Benson is a screen or chip and check-down option only in the passing game. He was tasked with the occasional angle route, but overall, he’s a functional but not outstanding receiving threat.

Player Comp: Ryan Mathews

Bucky Irving (Oregon)

Stats:

2023 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 17th
- Breakaway percentage: 62nd
- PFF elusive rating: 8th
- Yards per route run: 48th

2022 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 9th
- Breakaway percentage: 65th
- PFF elusive rating: 5th
- Yards per route run: 16th

Scouting report:

Irving gets up to top speed quickly, as exhibited in his 90th percentile 10-yard split. He’s more quick than fast. He doesn’t have “run away from you” long speed, which also shows up in his 4.55 40-yard dash (68th percentile).
Once Irving gets into the second level of a defense, he can do damage. With a head of steam, he can break arm tackles, and defenders can slide off him at times. He has issues breaking tackles immediately if contacted in the backfield or in the hole.
His lateral agility is a plus, as he displays smooth footwork moving horizontally. However, he does have choppy steps when asked to change direction or string multiple moves in the open field together. He can get himself into trouble in the open field when he should be hitting the accelerator, but instead, he slows up to vary his pace or tries to juke a defender.
Irving is just a check-down option in the passing game. He was a screen and swing pass target at Oregon. Irving would line up on the perimeter and then be motioned toward the quarterback, and as soon as the ball is snapped, he would speed horizontally to receive an elongated handoff.

Player Comp: Justin Forsett

Dylan Laube (New Hampshire)

Stats:

2023 (all FBS/FCS RBs minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 237th
- Breakaway percentage: 150th
- PFF elusive rating: 188th
- Yards per route run: 11th

2022 ( all FBS/FCS RBs minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 205th
- Breakaway percentage: 87th
- PFF elusive rating: 108th
- Yards per route run: 53rd
Career
- 197 collegiate targets
- 1,654 receiving yards with 1.81 YPRR

Scouting report:

Laube has average burst. He’s more quick than fast, but he gets up to top speed in a hurry. His quick feet and short-area agility are his strong suits as he is a one-speed runner. Solid jump cut and change of direction in the open field without losing much steam, but he gets caught from behind far too often.
His pass game usage will be his calling card in the NFL. In two of the last three seasons, he has had 14.1% and 16.8% snap rates in the slot/out wide. He ran a variety of routes in college to the occasional wheel to check downs and lined up outside and was even asked to run go routes.
Laube is a solid pass protector and should be able to carve out the passing-down role in a committee. He squares up defenders nicely and anchors well in pass pro. His leg strength shows up more here than it does when he is utilized as a rusher.

Player Comp: Duke Johnson

Emani Bailey (TCU)

Stats:

2023 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 41st
- Breakaway percentage: 40th
- PFF elusive rating: 24th
- Yards per route run: 96th

2021 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 85th
- Breakaway percentage: 106th
- PFF elusive rating: 70th
- Yards per route run: 1.70* (only 16 targets*)

Scouting report:

Bailey runs like a mini Isiah Pacheco. He runs like an over-caffeinated hedgehog. Max effort at all times. Bailey wins with straight-line speed and operates best with inside zone or gap runs that allow him clear lane options and the ability to get upfield immediately.
His feet can get choppy at the line at times. His burst is adequate. Bailey’s low center of gravity, combined with his constantly churning legs, allows him to break arm tackles, but he’ll never be confused as a pile pusher.
He has soft hands but a limited catch radius due to his size. He is serviceable as a receiver but will likely never be his main calling card.

Player Comp: Kerwynn Williams