Dynasty season enters its prime after the Super Bowl ends. NFL teams begin to piece together their roster for the upcoming season through the free agency period in March and the NFL Draft in late April. This is a time when we, as dynasty players, get serious about who we will target in our upcoming rookie drafts.
Before each rookie prospect has been drafted or found their team, the Footballguys staff has compiled a list of top prospects who we feel will make an impact in the dynasty landscape. Below is a four-round, pre-NFL Draft, one-quarterback rookie mock draft to help you become more familiar with each potential NFL prospect.
The staff has provided their thoughts on each player picked to give you an indication of their ability and talent before they are matched with a team.
The Draft Participants
Slot 1 - Adam Wilde
Slot 2 - Pat Fitzmaurice
Slot 3 - Dan Hindery
Slot 4 - Jeff Tefertiller
Slot 5 - Matt Carey
Slot 6 - Jeff Haseley
Slot 7 - Jason Wood
Slot 8 - Sigmund Bloom
Slot 9 - Daniel Simpkins
Slot 10 - James Brimacombe
Slot 11 - Troy King
Slot 12 - Chris Allen
Scoring format - PPR
Like most rookie dynasty drafts, the draft setup is linear, meaning the picks are 1-12 for each round, as opposed to a snake draft that we commonly see in season-long fantasy leagues. This emphasizes the teams picking earlier in the draft. These are also commonly the teams who finished in the bottom in the league, barring any draft pick trades. This format gives the struggling teams more of an advantage come draft time. If you have picks in the top of each round, or in some cases, multiple picks, especially in the first round, it behooves you to be prepared to select the best possible players to improve your dynasty squad. Below are the results of the staff one-quarterback rookie mock.
Round 1
1.01 Adam Wilde
RB Najee Harris, Alabama
At 6’2” weighing 230lbs, Harris’ speed is incredible. He led his backfield in touches, caught over 40 passes, and scored 30 total touchdowns. A WR warrants consideration here but I’ll always lean RB in rookie drafts based on their acquisition cost and shorter windows of opportunity. Harris is a slam dunk.
1.02 Pat Fitzmaurice
WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU
The clear No. 1 receiver in a strong class, Chase is a nearly foolproof prospect. He had 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 TDs as a 19-year-old sophomore at LSU, outshining teammate Justin Jefferson, who's now an NFL star. It's hard to find flaws in Chase's game. He's a crisp route runner with terrific hands, he's a maestro at the catch point, and he's a beast after the catch. Najee Harris is an exciting RB prospect to be sure, but I would have taken Chase at 1.01.
1.03 Dan Hindery
RB Travis Etienne, Clemson
In the past, I had two questions about Etienne. 1. Could he improve as a receiver? 2. Could he add a little bit of weight and retain his elite burst?
The strides he made as a pass catcher over the last two years have been incredible. In fact, he improved so much that receiving is now a strength of his game. He also recently showed up at his pro day at 215 pounds and ran a 4.40, so he checked that size/speed box as well.
1.04 Jeff Tefertiller
RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina
This was a choice between Williams and WR2, so the Tar Heel ball carrier was the pick. Williams has a chance to be a fantasy starter.
1.05 Matt Carey
WR Devonta Smith, Alabama
Devonta Smith is a great route runner who is ready for the next level. He should shine in a pro passing game offense. He could use more muscle to toughen up, but he has the tools to make an immediate impact.
1.06 Jeff Haseley
TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
Great tight ends don't come along that often. Exceptional ones are even rarer. Kyle Pitts is in that range between great and exceptional and I wanted to secure that player profile on my dynasty roster. Alternative options here include Rashod Bateman or Jaylen Waddle.
1.07 Jason Wood
QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
While it's unusual for a quarterback to go this high in a rookie draft, I'm part of the majority who believe Lawrence is worth the exception. There's no such thing as a can't miss prospect, but he's the closest thing to it since Andrew Luck. This move may not help me win in 2021, but it'll set me up to win for years to come.
1.08 Sigmund Bloom
WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Jaylen Waddle vs Rashod Bateman is a tough call, but if you're holding 1.8 you have to love it if that's your choice. Waddle is a big play receiver who will add value in return yardage leagues. His ceiling is as high as any receiver in the draft, now we just have to hope that he ends up with a good downfield passer.
1.09 Daniel Simpkins
WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota
I was hoping that Jaylen Waddle would fall to me here, but Sigmund wisely scooped him up before my pick. I will have to settle for Rashod Bateman. He is not a bad consolation prize. Bateman is nice in that he can win from any of the three receiver positions. He has very sticky hands and makes very difficult catches away from the body, even when he sees a corner closing downhill on him to make a big hit. While not a speedster, Bateman possesses a variety of release moves and breaks at the route stem that will help him gain separation at the pro level. Where Bateman will need marked improvement is on tracking deep throws. He was not asked to block much in college, so his ability there is somewhat of an unknown. All and all, Bateman is a heady player that will appeal to many teams around the league. Hopefully, his team fit will include an anticipatory quarterback who can maximize his value.
1.10 James Brimacombe
WR Rondale Moore, Purdue
Drafting at the end of the first round can be tough in these rookie drafts as you never know who is going to fall to you. I feel like I got lucky as I prefer to go with a wide receiver in this spot and Rondale Moore fell to me at 1.10. His size is his only downfall when it comes to scouting his game, everything else is positive and best of all he has an all-around explosive athleticism that could easily lead to him becoming a game-changing type of player.
1.11 Troy King
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Memphis
Kenneth Gainwell is an excellent, versatile, and explosive pass-catching back who I believe can play all three downs.
1.12 Chris Allen
RB Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State
It comes down to the landing spot, but Jefferson has shown he can compete with this class. His size, speed, and power showed he has the athleticism to break tackles at the first level along with breaking away from defenders at the second level. His main problem for fantasy purposes is the lack of receiving work. Folks will look at his 18 total receptions over the last two seasons as a red flag which is fair. If he finds the right home, he can be a hit.
Round 2
2.01 Adam Wilde
QB Justin Fields, Ohio State
Whether he’s second off the board or not Fields provides incredible upside. In any other year, I’m not taking a quarterback anywhere near this pick, but with an underwhelming second round, I’ll take my only chance at landing a fantasy stud as I typically would be rolling out Derek Carr or Sam Darnold tier quarterbacks in 1QB leagues.
2.02 Pat Fitzmaurice
WR Terrace Marshall, LSU
After taking Ja'Marr Chase at 1.02, I'm doubling up on LSU receivers. Overshadowed by Chase and Justin Jefferson in 2019, Marshall blew up in 2020 with 48 catches for 731 yards and 10 TDs in only seven games. In a WR class laden with pint-sized dynamos, Marshall is a 6-3, 200-pound receiver who takes advantage of his size. This is what an X receiver in the NFL should look like.
2.03 Dan Hindery
WR Elijah Moore, Mississippi
This decision was down to Elijah Moore and Kadarius Toney. Both have the potential to be major playmakers and potentially volume pass catchers from the slot. Toney is probably a bit more explosive but he has had a few off-field incidents, which was the tie-breaker that tipped the scales to Moore.
2.04 Jeff Tefertiller
WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State
Wallace is a strong fantasy option who would be drafted much higher most years.
2.05 Matt Carey
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Southern California
I was expecting St. Brown to go in the first round, so I'm pleased to see him available here. He can play both outside and in the slot. He has the toughness to win balls against defensive backs but he lacks blazing speed. He is a good route runner with great hands and he has a nose for the end zone.
2.06 Jeff Haseley
QB Zach Wilson, Brigham Young
Zach Wilson will most likely be the #2 pick in the NFL Draft. He has the tools to be a mainstay in the league for several years provided he stays healthy. I'd most like to see him flex his deep-ball accuracy in an offense that allows him to be a downfield passer. With Mike LaFleur running the show with the Jets, we may see that. Expect a fast-paced, innovative offense with plenty of wrinkles.
2.07 Jason Wood
RB Michael Carter, North Carolina
I cannot believe my good fortune in landing Carter -- who could be a first-round fantasy pick in 2022 if things go right -- in the second round of the rookie draft. Color that as people being overly skewed toward the receiver class, and thus allowing an every-down back who can thrive in either zone or gap schemes. Whereas Trevor Lawrence was a 2022 and beyond pick, Carter can help win leagues this year.
2.08 Sigmund Bloom
WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
Toney is a weapon who will get lots of manufactured touches and should operate mainly out of the slot. He is an athletic wonder and natural with the ball in his hands. If he can develop as a route runner and add polish to his game, he should be one of the most productive receivers from this class. Toney has a chance to go in the first round of the NFL draft and should go significantly higher than this in rookie drafts that happen in May and later.
2.09 Daniel Simpkins
QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Zach Wilson going off the board a few picks before my selection was my cue to take Lance. Frankly, Lance is an overlooked talent, one that NFL evaluators and fans alike will not see coming because of his small schooler label. Lance has everything you could want in a modern NFL quarterback— accuracy, mobility, toughness, unflappability under duress, and an uncommon maturity in his decision-making. He also has the best chance of any first-round signal-caller to go to a competent organization that won’t screw up his development. I think that will be the problem with Lawrence and possibly Fields. Lawrence will likely land with the Jaguars and Fields could very well be a Jet. Those are two teams that have yet to demonstrate they have a culture and a vision that will set up players for success. I’ll gladly take Lance over either of those guys if his landing spot is right.
2.10 James Brimacombe
RB Chuba Hubbard, Oklahoma State
Finding a landing spot for Chuba Hubbard will be key. He was dominant in college and at one point was the top running back prospect. Drafting him in the late second round feels like a win as it is always hard to find a potential starting back in the late second round in rookie drafts. Hubbard has great vision that allows him to find open holes and is all around a smooth runner.
2.11 Troy King
RB Trey Sermon, Ohio State
Trey Sermon is a strong, physical runner who I believe can make an early contribution where he lands. He was very productive against tough competition in college and looked impressive on the film I’ve seen, which I believe will translate well to the NFL.
2.12 Chris Allen
WR Tamorrion Terry, Florida State
I am somewhat surprised he didn't declare after his second season at Florida State. Regardless, his 6'4", ~215 lb. frame is intriguing. He looks thin for his height and looks he favored off coverage versus press, but his ability to win contested catches and separate from defenders with his speed is impressive. If I'm looking to swing for the fences, Terry fits the bill for a wide receiver in this part of the draft.
Round 3
3.01 Adam Wilde
TE Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
Pat Freirmuth is a solid consolation prize for both dynasty managers and NFL teams that miss out on Kyle Pitts. Pitts is incredible but this is the range I’m comfortable grabbing a TE prospect; not the mid 1st. Freiermuth only participated in four games in 2020 but averaged 77 YPG and was a focal point of the Penn State offense. He has the size to succeed at the next level.
3.02 Pat Fitzmaurice
RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma
A polarizing prospect, Stevenson piled up 876 yards from scrimmage and seven TDs in only six games last year after a marijuana suspension before the 2019 Peach Bowl stretched into 2020. He's a big back who weighed 227 at the Senior Bowl but played in the 240s at Oklahoma. I'm hoping Stevenson is more Le'Veon Bell than T.J. Duckett, with nifty footwork, pass-catching skills, and the patience to let his blockers set him up. Want to get excited about Stevenson? Go watch the tape of him trampling Florida in the Cotton Bowl.
3.03 Dan Hindery
RB Khalil Herbert, Kansas
I considered going with another slot receiver here but decided to roll the dice on a running back who might sneak into the third round instead. Khalil Herbert doesn't have any one trait that wows you but he is a solid all-around back with good speed who should at least earn a rotational role in the NFL.
3.04 Jeff Tefertiller
TE Brevin Jordan, Miami
Jordan is the top TE prospect most any other year. He is explosive, with great hands, and the ability to make plays after the catch. He should be considered a steal in the 3rd round of rookie drafts.
3.05 Matt Carey
QB Mac Jones, Alabama
Mac Jones is a pure drop-back passer who has produced well at the quarterback position in his time at Alabama. On the right team, he could become a decent starter.
3.06 Jeff Haseley
RB Kylin Hill, Mississippi State
Kylin Hill has adequate skills to make a difference in the NFL. He comes into the draft playing only three games in 2020 after opting out. He's out of sight and out of mind, but he is no stranger to production, scoring 22 touchdowns in 40 career games and 24% of Mississippi State's touchdown share. His 1.81 yards per team play is better than both of the North Carolina backs in this draft. Hill may not immediately see a three-down role in the league but he has the athleticism and skills to shine if and when his number is called for more output.
3.07 Jason Wood
WR Seth Williams, Auburn
Seth Williams is an imperfect prospect, but everyone in the third round of a rookie draft has question marks, it's the nature of draft prospecting. He's a big receiver (6'2", 225 lbs.) with an attacking style to win contested catches. He'll be a natural red zone threat and is possibly best suited as a big slot receiver. The issue will be whether he can maintain consistency at the pro level, something he struggled with at Auburn.
3.08 Sigmund Bloom
WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson
Amari Rodgers has vertical speed and the ability to defeat tacklers in the open field. He should fit in an offense as a slot with deep speed and punt returner, in addition to getting touches on plays like screens and jet sweeps. If he's a second-day pick, which is possible, he should go a lot higher than 3.8 in rookie drafts.
3.09 Daniel Simpkins
WR Dyami Brown, North Carolina
Dyami Brown is a work in progress, but in the late third round of rookie drafts, that is all one can expect. He is a budding vertical threat, one that is great at tracking the ball downfield. He is also surprisingly good for his size in contested situations. He will need subtle improvement to his catch technique and to add functional strength to defeat press at the line of scrimmage. If he can do those things, he could develop into a WR2 or WR3 option for his team.
3.10 James Brimacombe
RB Javian Hawkins, Lousiville
In the third round, you are looking for players that have a ceiling to their game and maybe an NFL team sees that and moves them up their draft board. Hawkins could very well be a late-round NFL pick and maybe not even get drafted but he also could be a fourth-round pick that a team believes in and will be part of running back committee right from the get-go. I see his draft stock rising as the NFL Draft approaches and I love getting him in the late third round here.
3.11 Troy King
WR Nico Collins, Michigan
At 6’4 , 215- Collins is a big body who was known for his big-play ability at Michigan.
3.12 Chris Allen
WR Tutu Atwell, Lousiville
He broke out at 19 with usage from the slot and out of the backfield. Hopefully, he doesn't get typecast into a gadget role that limits his snaps but he profiles as a dynamic deep threat worth monitoring.
Round 4
4.01 Adam Wilde
WR D'Wayne Eskridge, Western Michigan
D'Wayne Eskridge has blazing speed which set up a lot of the home run plays we see from him on film. NFL teams seem to be trying to add this type of player to their receiving corps so I’ll add Eskridge to my rosters.
4.02 Pat Fitzmaurice
WR Sage Surratt, Wake Forest
A 6-3, 215-pound brute who won't be daunted by NFL press coverage, Surratt had a big redshirt sophomore season for Wake Forest in 2019 before opting out in 2020. Tough call here between Surratt and Jaelon Darden, but I'm going with size over speed.
4.03 Dan Hindery
RB Demetric Felton, UCLA
In PPR leagues, Demetric Felton is a great late-round upside pick. He began his career at UCLA as a wide receiver and is a mismatch when motioned out to the slot. If he lands in the right offense, he could catch a lot of passes.
4.04 Jeff Tefertiller
RB Jaret Patterson, Buffalo
Jaret Patterson is explosive with upside as a pass-catching back.
4.05 Matt Carey
TE Hunter Long, Boston College
In 2020, Long led all tight ends in college football with 89 targets, 22 more than the second-most targeted tight end. Long led the nation with 57 receptions and collected 685 receiving yards with five touchdowns. Long is a sound route-runner with good hands and average ball skills.
4.06 Jeff Haseley
WR Anthony Schwartz, Auburn
Anthony Schwartz has good high-twitch speed and has shown that he can be effective on deeper routes. His separation skills are adequate for the NFL level when he's in open space, but breaking a jam is still in development.
4.07 Jason Wood
WR Dazz Newsome, North Carolina
Dazz Newsome could be a ready-made NFL slot receiver in the right landing spot.
4.08 Sigmund Bloom
WR Cornell Powell, Clemson
When in doubt, take a Clemson receiver. Powell was blocked from playing time by a long line of NFL-bound talents but came into his own in 2020. He impressed with a 4.47 40, 36.5" vertical, and 10'8" broad jump at his pro day, which indicates that he might have more to offer in the pros that he contributed at Clemson.
4.09 Daniel Simpkins
WR Jhamon Ausbon, Texas A&M
The board was very picked over by this point and I wasn’t happy with my options. I will take a player that I’m not convinced can separate from defensive backs, but one that has excellent focus when catching in tight quarters. He also has a great understanding of how to come back to the ball when his quarterback is in trouble. I could see him end up being a guy the Packers bring into camp that endears himself to Aaron Rodgers and earns playing time because he’s a reliable target.
4.10 James Brimacombe
WR Trevon Grimes, Florida
Trevon Grimes is the perfect fourth-round pick I would look for in these rookie drafts. He was a five-star prospect coming into college but disappointed to start out. He came on strong in his senior season and showed glimpses of what his potential can be on the next stage.
4.11 Troy King
WR Jaelon Darden, North Texas
He is known for being explosive and versatile. Has the ability to be a home run hitter on any given play
4.12 Chris Allen
WR Simi Fehoko, Stanford
Fehoko will likely wind up being one of those sleepers or Day 3 guys that go unnoticed in the draft. His size (6'4'', 227) lines up with what we'd want for a perimeter receiver. His per-catch stats (23.6 YPR in his breakout season) also hit some of the minimum thresholds for consideration. He just never cracked 600 yards in a single year so the buzz on him will be limited. I'd like to see where he lands.
Draft by position
Quarterback
1.07 Trevor Lawrence - Jason Wood
2.01 Justin Fields - Adam Wilde
2.06 Zach Wilson - Jeff Haseley
2.09 Trey Lance - Daniel Simpkins
3.05 Mac Jones - Matt Carey
Running Back
1.01 Najee Harris - Adam Wilde
1.03 Travis Etienne - Dan Hindery
1.04 Javonte Williams - Jeff Tefertiller
1.11 Kenneth Gainwell - Troy King
1.12 Jermar Jefferson - Chris Allen
2.07 Michael Carter - Jason Wood
2.10 Chuba Hubbard - James Brimacombe
2.11 Trey Sermon - Troy King
3.02 Rhomondre Stevenson - Pat Fitzmaurice
3.03 Khalil Herbert - Dan Hindery
3.06 Kylin Hill - Jeff Haseley
3.10 Javian Hawkins - James Brimacombe
4.03 Demetric Felton - Dan Hindery
4.04 Jaret Patterson - Jeff Tefertiller
Wide Receiver
1.02 Ja'Marr Chase - Pat Fitzmaurice
1.05 Devonta Smith - Matt Carey
1.08 Jaylen Waddle - Sigmund Bloom
1.09 Rashod Bateman - Daniel Simpkins
1.10 Rondal Moore - James Brimacombe
2.02 Terrace Marshall - Pat Fitzmaurice
2.03 Elijah Moore - Dan Hindery
2.04 Tylan Wallace - Jeff Tefertiller
2.05 Amon-Ra St. Brown - Matt Carey
2.08 Kadarius Toney - Sigmund Bloom
2.12 Tamorrion Terry - Chris Allen
3.07 Seth Williams - Jason Wood
3.08 Amari Rodgers - Sigmund Bloom
3.09 Dyami Brown - Daniel Simpkins
3.11 Nico Collins - Troy King
3.12 Tutu Atwell - Chris Allen
4.01 D'Wayne Eskridge - Adam Wilde
4.02 Sage Surratt - Pat Fitzmaurice
4.06 Anthony Schwartz - Jeff Haseley
4.07 Dazz Newsome - Jason Wood
4.08 Cornell Powell - Sigmund Bloom
4.09 Jhamon Ausbon - Daniel Simpkins
4.10 Trevon Grimes - James Brimacombe
4.11 Jaelon Darden - Troy King
4.12 Simi Fehoko - Chris Allen
Tight ends
1.06 Kyle Pitts - Jeff Haseley
3.01 Pat Freiermuth - Adam Wilde
3.04 Brevin Jordan - Jeff Tefertiller
4.05 Hunter Long - Matt Carey
Questions, suggestions, and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com
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