The fantasy playoffs are fast approaching, and dynasty managers are starting to look ahead to rookie drafts. Which players will rise? Which ones will fall? The team here at Dynasty Nerds is getting you ready to crush your draft. We dropped Superflex 2.0 earlier this week, and you can find it HERE.
1QB Rookie Mock Draft 2.0 – Round 1
1.01 Bijan Robinson, RB, 6’0″ 220
University of Texas
Bijan Robinson may be the easiest top pick in rookie drafts since Saquon Barkley. He possesses all the size and speed measurables of an elite bell-cow back and has a strong history of college production to back it up. Many in the draft community find it hard to mock him outside the first round of the NFL Draft, making him a Day 1 top-ten dynasty running back. The tier gap from the first pick to the second pick is quite immense this year, and teams will be looking to trade a massive haul to get Bijan. –@DanT_NFL
1.02 Sean Tucker, RB, 5’10” 205
Syracuse
Syracuse junior RB Sean Tucker has special athleticism at 5-10, 210 lbs.
— Luca Sartirana (@SartiranaLuca) November 30, 2022
He can handle high-volume workloads and he's a threat to score big-plays anytime because of his burst and long speed. That's why he's a top-5 back in this draft class.pic.twitter.com/8E83ysavZQ
This pick may raise eyebrows, but I want to plant my flag here. Sean Tucker is an elite athlete whose stock will soar at the combine. He’s got three years of elite production as a runner and a very good receiving profile for a running back. I love his vision, his contact balance, and his explosiveness. And he’s proven he can handle a three-down bell-cow role. Every time I watch him play, I come away impressed. – @Devy2DynastyFR
1.03 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, 5’11” 201
Alabama
We far more often see top 12 running backs involved in the passing game than not. Gibbs’ reception abilities are the best in this class, in my opinion. He also has the size to be a three-down back at the next level. These two are often a rare find these days. He’s my clear RB2 in this draft and will likely remain there no matter where he lands. I firmly believe he will carve out a role wherever he is drafted. – @JohnnyBGoodeFF
1.04 Quentin Johnston, 6’4″ 215
TCU
To be honest, if any of the prior three guys were here, I’d snatch them up immediately. Since they aren’t, and this is 1QB, I’ve got to take my top WR1. I like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but he’s been injured the whole season and is becoming too unknown for me, even with an excellent 2021. Addison would be my preferred player, but I think Johnston has more success in the NFL. He’s got elite size and has been excellent this year. He has done everything I could’ve asked a top wide receiver to do in his platform year. – @DarthDbacks
1.05 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, 6’0″ 198
OSU
JSN burst onto the scene, catching 95 passes for 1606 yards his sophomore season. 2022 has been mired with injuries and not productive. Still, his combination of precise route running, great hands, and separation ability have him sitting atop the wide receiver group with Addison and Johnston. Rebuilding teams picking in the early/mid-round will have a bounty of options. I can see JSN being very productive in a role similar to Amon Ra St. Brown. – @Culture_Coach
1.06 Jordan Addison, WR, 6’0″ 174
USC
Getting JSN, Johnston, or Addison at this pick is a great value. Addison has been the top wide receiver since his true freshman season at Pitt and now at USC. My concerns are size (a la DeVonta Smith), ability to get open against press coverage, and sometimes drops on hand catches. Despite that, the potential reward is worth the risk. Addison is a problem in space and has good top-end speed. He can be a PPR monster from the slot with the potential to take the top off a defense. – @sportsguyscott
1.07 Zach Evans, RB, 6’0″ 215
Ole Miss
RB Zach Evans, Ole Miss
— Dirty Mike and the Boyds (@FF_DirtyMike) December 1, 2022
🔹6’/215lbs
🔹5⭐️/RB2
🔹Efficient in two separate systems
🔹Violent, almost to a fault
🔹Patient for the cut back lanes
🔹Bursty, Great in short area
2023 RB3, don’t be afraid of durability when if comes to a prospect of this talent. No major injuries. pic.twitter.com/WAh7yQ3V9G
The TCU transfer has been just as electric in the SEC as he was his first two years in college in the Big 12, which is great to see, considering the increase in talent in the defenses he has faced this year. Evans has blazing speed that he pairs with good vision and field awareness. His pass-catching is good enough to get screens and passes in the flat at the next level, but his real skill comes from hitting the hole hard and breaking away from defenders. If he gets a bit of daylight, he’s gone. He may not have a bell cow profile, but he is a dynamic player that will be a great asset for fantasy teams for years to come. – @timbmartens
1.08 Kayshon Boutte, WR, 6’0″ 205
LSU
There are some major questions with Boutte, so this is strictly an upside play based on his superstar potential. He projects as a complete playmaker who can impact all levels of the field. He has the alpha skill set and size profile in a class that lacks physical prototypes. When producing, Boutte’s film speaks for itself. His range of outcomes extends to dynasty WR1. We have to hope that his lackluster season is due to the nagging ankle injury or general disinterest. It’s also important to note that he will be one of the youngest rookies at 21 years old. – @FF_Hulsey
1.09 Bryce Young, QB, 5’11” 194
Alabama
With many tier 1 & 2 players from both skill positions gone, Bryce Young felt like a great value here at 1.09. The QB1 of this draft class, Young is poised to be a franchise quarterback for whoever holds the #1 overall pick. A dynamic quarterback with the arm talent and IQ to succeed in the NFL, Young’s improvisation skills will also be on full display, assuming he’s the top pick. If you don’t have a top 4-5 dynasty quarterback, take Young with confidence and watch him produce for years to come. – @FF_TJHernandez
1.10 Tank Bigsby 6’0″ 208
Auburn
A highly touted prospect who produced right away as a freshman in the SEC, Tank Bigsby was a devy darling. However, while he has been good in his sophomore and junior seasons, he hasn’t built on that freshman campaign the way people had hoped. The shine has certainly faded. But he’s a very good athlete with an impressive mix of physicality, contact balance, and explosiveness as a runner. I expect him to get Day 2 draft capital, and I believe he has three-down upside in the NFL. – @Devy2DynastyFR
1.11 Josh Downs, WR, 5’10” 180
North Carolina
Josh Downs clips vs. Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/G5IwqYLQTa
— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) November 28, 2022
Downs is undersized, but his production and his tape both speak for themselves: over 1300 yards as a true sophomore, nearly 1000 and 11 touchdowns as a junior, and a shifty, bursty playing style that echo perfectly the “new NFL WR” we see in guys like Hill, Waddle, or Devonta Smith. He’s a lock to be a productive NFL player and the safest pick on the board for me here at 1.11. – @ekballer
1.12 Zach Charbonnet, RB, 6’1″ 220
UCLA
Few players have elevated their draft stock as much as Charbonnet in 2022. His direct and one-cut style will instantly command touches on first and second down in the NFL. While not particularly explosive, Charbonnet is a battering ram between the tackles and nimble in open space. Presumed draft capital currently prevents Charbonnet from being valued as a top-5 back in this class. Like Dameon Pierce a year ago, he may go on Day 3 of the NFL draft. However, for contenders looking for back-of-the-class depth and RB2 production, Charbonnet is a good value at this spot. – @DynastyOasis
That closes out Round 1. Who was a reach? Who was a value? Let us know what you think. Round 2 will be out later this week.
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