The end of the CFB regular season means one thing, it’s #MockDraftSZN! So, the Dynasty Nerds Staff Writers have put together our first of what will likely be many mock drafts. This format is a 12-team 1QB draft. It’s still way too early as many of these players have yet to declare their intentions to forego their remaining eligibility and enter the NFL draft. However, this is still a good exercise to see where people are valued now and how it changes throughout the pre-draft process. Let’s get to the mock draft!

Round 1

1.01 – Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State (5’10, 210) – Dr. Matthew Mitchell (@ReflipeWThenuz)

I am going to go with the hot ticket item right off the bat. Kenneth Walker III has seen his stock rise as much as any player in the 2022 class. The Michigan State star is clearly one of the best pure runners in the class. His 23/197/5 game will go down in history as one of the best efforts in the classic interstate rivalry with Michigan. At this early stage, my 1.01 may change multiple times. However, as a Big Ten fan, it is impossible to ignore the type of season Walker is putting on tape. Give me the Heisman Trophy frontrunner.

1.02 – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State (6’1, 220) – Tristan Cook (@tristancook_)

I have Hall as my top RB in the class, so I’m more than happy to get him after 1.01 in 1QB. I know there’s a lot of hype surrounding Kenneth Walker, so it’s natural for his stock to rise, but Hall is my guy. It appears that people are either souring on Hall a bit, so he might end up being a value pick of sorts come draft season. I think Hall is the best all-around RB in the class and will test well at the combine. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up moving to the top of more people’s RB rankings by the NFL draft.

1.03 – Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M (6’1, 225) – Keith Ensminger (@TheSmingDynasty)

Truth be told, I took Spiller here only because decent running backs will be much more scarce in this draft than wide receivers. Walker and Spiller are my 1A and 1B right now in this draft, so I am happy to get him with the third pick. Spiller is shifty, even if he seems to lack that “next” gear. Sort of a common theme to the running backs in this class – they’re good, maybe even great, but they definitely aren’t in the same elite class as rookie running backs in recent memory like Zeke, Barkley, or Taylor.

1.04 – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas (6’3, 232) – Joe O’Leary (@TheHQNerd)

I am excited to get my WR1 in the 2022 class at the 1.04 in this exercise. Treylon Burks is a freak. Burks has alpha size at 6’3 232. On top of being physically imposing, Burks is a down-the-field threat with solid speed for his size. NFL scouts will be salivating at the idea of drafting Treylon Burks for their teams this spring. Dynasty managers should be too.

1.05 – Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State (5’10, 210) – Dwight Peebles (@FFPeeblesChamp)

White is going to be a riser in the offseason as the rest of the world catches up to how good he is. White has some of the best contact balance I’ve ever seen, along with vision and enough speed to break off big runs. He is lethal as a pass catcher and a complete back. White is an older prospect, but his size and skillset will get him drafted on Day 2, and he’s going to ball out early on Sundays.

1.06 – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State (5’10, 192) – Jon Glosser (@Glosser13)

Garrett Wilson is as good as advertised. Wilson averages 15.6 yards per catch at Ohio State while scoring 20 touchdowns in three seasons. In 2021 Wilson has 10 total touchdowns and is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season. He’s going to be a valuable piece to any NFL offense as a rookie.

1.07 – David Bell, WR, Purdue (6’2, 205) – Matt Cooper (@Devy2DynastyFR)

David Bell might not wow anybody at the combine, and as a result, it would be easy for him to go overlooked. You should take advantage of this. There are plenty of athletic traits that the combine doesn’t show, and Bell has those in spades. He has produced at a high level since he got to Purdue, and I expect that to continue for your fantasy team.

1.08 – Drake London, WR, USC (6’5, 210) – DynastyPJ (@mastapj)

Drake London is a player that worries me, but I think I’d still take a chance at this point in the draft if he were available. London has an amazing weighted dominator rating of 40.38% this season, but he also leads the nation in contested targets and catches, and he hasn’t played since Week 9. Contested catch receivers like N’Keal Harry haven’t found NFL success lately, so they worry me more than some others, but I think London has the skill set to buck that trend, so I’d be fine taking a chance on him if he fell this far in a draft.

1.09 – Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA (6’1, 220) – Jared Wackerly (@JaredWackerlyFF)

Charbonnet projects as a workhorse for the next level. His 6’1, 220-pound build mixed with his speed gives him a special skill set. Chip Kelly said Charbonnet has the best vision out of any RB he’s ever coached. Zach doesn’t get enough credit for the athlete he is. He breaks tackles with ease and catches the ball well out of the backfield. I’d be ecstatic to get Charbonnet here come May.

1.10 – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State (6’1, 187) – Bobby Bishop (@imbobbybish)

Chris Olave is this season’s Devonta Smith. Depending on the landing spot, he will most likely get faded in dynasty drafts because he doesn’t have the build to be an alpha. Don’t listen to that noise. Chris Olave is the best route runner in the draft, and he gets separation. He’s going to be a PPR monster.

1.11 – Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame (5’9, 210) – Justin Hulsey (@FF_Hulsey)

Selecting a running back here was a no-brainer. The position is pretty shallow this year, and Chris Olave was the end of a tier at wide receiver. Kyren Williams plays much bigger than his 5’9″ 199 lbs frame. He has great patience and anticipation. His film is full of plays where he is creating yards efficiently and shedding tackles. He is very advanced as a receiver and shifty, instinctual as a runner.

1.12 – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama (6’2, 189) – Dan Toomey (@DanT_NFL)

Jameson Williams has had an amazing breakout junior season after transferring from Ohio State to Alabama. He was recently named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, the top wide receiver in the county. He has played his way into the second tier of receivers for me in this draft class and, depending on the landing spot, can find himself moving up to tier one.

Round 2

2.01 – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State (5’11, 184) – Dr. Matthew Mitchell (@ReflipeWThenuz)

Here in the second round, I will go with one of my favorite WRs in the class. Jahan Dotson has been an electric weapon for the Penn State offense. As a PSU season ticket holder, I might be a little biased, but Dotson has star potential written all over him. He has gotten better every season. Dotson has also shown up in the biggest games. He has back-to-back excellent games against Ohio State. He is the type of WR who easily gains separation with his quickness and route-running, which is at a premium in today’s game. I see some T.Y. Hilton in his game and would be happy to land him in the second round.

2.02 – John Metchie III, WR, Alabama (6’0, 194) – Tristan Cook (@tristancook_)

I didn’t particularly like my options here. I really wanted Jahan Dotson to fall to me; that would have been the ideal pick. I’m not upset about taking Metchie, but I’m not stoked about the pick either. I considered going with Corral or Zamir White, but I think Metchie is a much safer pick, with a significant upside still. I’m not sure that he offers a ton of elite potential, but he should be a solid fantasy contributor in the right situation.

2.03 – Zamir White, RB, Georgia (6’0, 215) – Keith Ensminger (@TheSmingDynasty)

Given his injury history (two serious knee injuries) and age (he will be 23 next September), Zamir White projects to me as a “hashtag two to three-year window” running back in the NFL. I see White having an immediate NFL impact for the team who drafts him. If he gets Day 2 draft capital, I am all-in on White at this point in the rookie draft. I think the NFL is going to like White a lot more than the dynasty community currently expects they do.

2.04 – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky (5’11, 184) – Joe O’Leary (@TheHQNerd)

A change of scenery has done wonders for Wan’Dale Robinson in 2021, transferring from Nebraska to Kentucky. Finally, being appropriately utilized, Robinson is lighting up the stat sheet collecting 77 receptions for 886 yards and seven touchdowns through ten games in 2021. The dynamic Robinson has also added 111 yards rushing. He can be utilized all over the field. Get the ball in Robinson’s hands, and good things happen. Wan’Dale Robinson is on the fast track to solid draft capital and landing on our dynasty rosters.

2.05 – Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss (6’2, 205) – Dwight Peebles (@FFPeeblesChamp)

At this point, I didn’t love any of the RBs and WRs left. So I went with the QB1 of the class and who I predict to go first overall in the 2022 Draft. Corral has a great arm, mobility and has cleaned up his decision-making. He’s a QB that can take over a game and build a franchise around – something a team picking at first overall needs.

2.06 – Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma (5’9, 206) – Jon Glosser (@Glosser13)

Eric Gray has solid receiving upside, and I’m excited to take a chance on him in the 2nd round. Gray has produced well in both the SEC and Big 12 conferences. Gray has the potential to be a Day 2 or Day 3 RB that can come in and compete for touches. His landing spot will determine how high dynasty managers are willing to take him in rookie drafts.

2.07 – Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson (6’4, 210) – Matt Cooper (@Devy2DynastyFR)

I still remember watching him dominate Alabama in the national championship game as a freshman en route to 6 catches for 153 yards and a TD on the biggest stage in college football. I was salivating over the idea of drafting him in dynasty one day. Here was a guy that had everything you’d want in a prospect like he was built in a lab, showing it all off as a true freshman in primetime. Since then, a lot has happened that has stopped the hype train in its tracks and made this a risky pick. Still, I’m happy to get a guy with this much upside in the back half of the second round.

2.08 – Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama (6’1, 225) – DynastyPJ (@mastapj)

Brian Robinson is the latest RB out of Alabama that should find himself with good draft capital, and given the success they’ve had in the league, I’d be comfortable taking a shot on him at this point in the draft. One of the main questions I had about him coming into the season was how he would operate in the passing game in the NFL. This season he has answered those questions by more than doubling his targets and receptions for his first four seasons while putting up 23 receptions for 205 yards and 2 TDs. If he gets day two draft capital, he has a chance to push for a starting job in the NFL. So I’d be ecstatic to get him at this point in the draft.

2.09 – George Pickens, WR, Georgia (6’3, 190) – Jared Wackerly (@JaredWackerlyFF)

George Pickens, unfortunately, hasn’t played yet this year due to tearing his ACL in the fourth spring practice heading into this season. If he declares, he will present a major value in rookie drafts due to not playing in the 2021 season. I think people in this mock draft forgot about him because getting him at 2.09 is crazy. He’s currently my WR5 in this class. He has springs in his feet and has some of the best body control in the class. He can be a legit WR1 for an NFL team.

2.10 – James Cook, RB, Georgia (5’11, 190) – Bobby Bishop (@imbobbybish)

James Cook has good hands and a great burst of speed. Depending on where he ends up, he could end up a part of a committee as a third-down back with PPR upside. When you watch the tape, the potential is clearly there. Not to mention, he has a Pro Bowl running back as his brother. James can call up Dalvin anytime he needs help adjusting to the NFL.

2.11 – Sam Howell, QB, UNC (6’1, 220) – Justin Hulsey (@FF_Hulsey)

I was not a fan of the options at running back and wide receiver with this pick, so I felt comfortable selecting my QB1 of the class. People love to forget that Sam Howell lost his top four skill position players and much of his offensive line from last season. Yes, there has been a dip in his statistical production, but he continues to show all of the traits of a good pro. He throws with velocity to all levels of the field, displays good accuracy on intermediate-long passes, processes information quickly, and has a nice release.

2.12 – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty (6’1, 225) – Dan Toomey (@DanT_NFL)

At the end of the second round, we are looking at per upside. Malik Willis is the definition of upside in this 2022 quarterback class. He has all of the athletic traits of a Konami code quarterback. The hesitation comes from the fact that he plays at a small school against limited competition. With that, you sometimes get a Zach Wilson or Carson Wentz, but you also sometimes get a Josh Allen. With the last pick of the second round, that is a gamble I am willing to take.

That’s the end of the mock draft. Don’t forget to check out the tape on some of these guys in the Dynasty Nerds’ Film Room. And, if you’re interested in joining the #NerdHerd? Use the code “tcook” for 15% off any membership. Sign up here and get an edge on all of your league mates today! You can get access to the DynastyGM tool (including our Trade Calculator and new Trade Browser), the Prospect Film Room, an extra weekly podcast, full rankings, and much, much more!