2023 Superflex Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft 2.0

Fresh off the 2023 NFL Combine, rookie values are all over the board, and dynasty managers are getting ready for their own rookie draft. A great way to prepare for any draft is to try a mock beforehand. Mocks can be a great way to attach value to picks and players while getting a better understanding of what's going on around you. Another great way to prepare for your rookie draft is to download our Rookie Guide with 120+ prospect profiles updated with the testing numbers from the NFL Combine.

Remember, a mock draft is not the same as ranking players. Mocks can mean many different things, so I want to set the precedent before I get started - I will be mocking what I would do at each pick, not necessarily what your league mates might do. Okay, less talking, more mocking - here is my two-round 2023 Superflex rookie mock draft.

Round 1

1.01 - Bijan Robinson (RB - Texas)

At this point, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that Bijan Robinson is not only the best running back in the class, but he's also the best skill-position player in this class. The Combine confirmed what everybody already knew - Robinson is a top-tier prospect, and his athletic testing - with a 9.81 Relative Athletic Score (out of 10) - matches his college production. I still believe that trading away the 1.01 pick for a haul could be the more valuable route, but if I'm stuck at the 1.01, I'll take Robinson 99% of the time.

1.02 - C.J. Stroud (QB - Ohio State)

There's certainly a case for a couple of other quarterbacks at this pick. But the safety of Stroud's floor, the likelihood of being a day-one starter, and the untapped potential of his rushing upside in the NFL are pretty tantalizing. When reporters at the Combine asked Stroud about his rushing ability, he said: "I'll be honest with you - I didn't do it a lot in college, and I feel like I should have. It's something I do regret. I feel like I could have done it a lot more." Remember when Justin Fields was strictly a pocket passer that didn't provide as much value with his legs? Yeah, I remember that too. We all saw Stroud's full spectrum of skills during his four-touchdown performance against Georgia in the CFB semifinal. After his impressive throwing session at the NFL Combine, Stroud has been getting a lot of comparison to Joe Burrow as a passer. With how well everything has gone for Stroud in the pre-draft process, it would not be surprising to see him selected in the first two picks of the NFL draft or rookie drafts.

1.03 - Bryce Young (QB - Alabama)

Young seems to have calmed a lot of concerns about his size after weighing in at 204 pounds at the NFL Combine. His weight still isn't ideal for the NFL, but his accuracy and ability to extend plays make him a top quarterback prospect in this class - maybe even the number one overall pick in the NFL draft. The durability concerns from NFL general managers will likely be echoed by dynasty fantasy football managers. Injuries are impossible to predict, no matter how hard we try, which is why I'm willing to bet on the talent and poise of Young winning out in the long run. He'll be a day-one starter that can command an offense and produce similarly to a young Russell Wilson at the next level.

1.04 - Anthony Richardson (QB - Florida)

If the NFL handed out awards at the Combine, Richardson would have been the gold medalist. He had a perfect relative athletic score (10.00 out of 10.00) after setting positional records in the broad and vertical jump while also posting the second-best 40-yard dash time by a quarterback since 2003. Richardson may have jumped into the top five of the NFL draft and even higher in Superflex rookie drafts. I'm fairly certain Richardson will go off the board within the first three picks in most Superflex rookie drafts. Dynasty managers love the potential of his athletic ability, but I'm not quite ready to put Richardson ahead of Stroud or Young... yet. We all knew that Richardson would be big, fast, and explosive - the Combine shouldn't have changed much for you. He does struggle a bit when he has to sit in the pocket and deliver a ball outside of the numbers - that's not enough to make me shy away from him and his potential. Now if Richardson does get top-five draft capital, his dynasty value will (and should) shoot to the moon.

1.05 - Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR - Ohio State)

I don't know that any prospect improved his draft stock more, without running a 40-yard dash, than Smith-Njigba. He showed off his incredible agility after posting the best 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle (3.93) times of any player at the Combine. To put these times in perspective, Smith Njigba's cone drill (6.57) was faster than Tyler Lockett's (6.89), and his shuttle time (3.93) was better than Odell Beckham Jrs (3.94). Many believed that Smith-Njigba would be limited by his speed, but it's important to remember that not all types of speed are created equal. This elite-level agility and the phenomenally smooth fieldwork certainly raised Smith-Njigba's draft stock. I don't believe that there's a player in this draft class with a better route-running ability or better hands, and after he proved his athleticism at the NFL Combine, I'd be shocked if JSN isn't selected in the top-15 picks of the NFL draft.

1.06 - Jahmyr Gibbs (RB - Alabama)

Please don't overreact to Jahmyr Gibbs weighing in at 199 pounds. Gibbs is a speed demon, as confirmed by his 4.36 40-yard dash. It's important to note that Gibbs isn't your classic running back that will be given 20 carries a game right up the gut - he's a weapon and should be used as such. Luckily, the NFL has transitioned to a full-on committee approach, and receiving backs like Gibbs can be extremely valuable in PPR formats. A good pro player comparison for Gibbs is D'Andre Swift - a guy that can handle 15+ touches per game, but a good chunk of that work will be in the receiving game. He's easily the RB2 in this class and should be a top-six pick, even in Superflex rookie drafts.

1.07 - Will Levis (QB - Kentucky)

Will Levis has essentially become the Voldemort of rookie drafts - nobody wants him, and not many dare speak his name. Yeah he puts mayonnaise in his coffee and has a lot of mechanical issues to clean up, but Levis has the type of skill set that NFL general managers and coaches love. He's been widely regarded as a great locker room presence and strong leader with prototypical size and a "cannon" for an arm. Levis showed off that arm strength at the Combine in Indianapolis - a city many believe will become his future home on Day 1 of the NFL Draft. Levis doesn't make a lot of the easy throws that you'd expect him to, but every so often, he dazzles with a throw that nobody else in this draft class can make. He's a risky pick in the top-6, but most quarterback selections are. If Levis ends up in the right system with a QB-guru-style coach, like Indianapolis, he could be well worth this top rookie pick.

1.08 - Jordan Addison (WR-USC)

Addison is a guy who had a rough day at the NFL Combine. He came in at 5-foot-11 and 171 pounds while just barely getting under the 4.50 threshold on the 40-yard dash and turning in some average explosion numbers in the vertical and broad jumps. The good news is, Addison was never a guy that won his match-ups with his height, weight, long speed, or explosion - he did it with his route running. Combine testing tells a very small part of the story for these athletes. The numbers are relevant, but all they should do is compare to what you've seen on a player's tape. Addison had a lot of player comps to guys like DeVonta Smith and Calvin Ridley because of the smooth nature of his route running and his ability to manipulate defenders in open space. Don't let the Combine distract you from the fact that Addison is a smart player who will still likely be a top-20 pick in the NFL draft and a starting wide receiver on an NFL offense in 2023 and beyond - dude can ball, don't overthink it.</p

1.09 - Quentin Johnston (WR-TCU)

I struggled with this pick a little bit. I haven't been particularly high on Johnston throughout the draft process, but I'm starting to turn a corner on him. Every once in a while, in fantasy football, you have to be willing to take risks and see if those risks can pay off in a big way. Quentin Johnston (to me) is the Will Levis of this wide receiver class. He's got some excellent traits, but he's far from a finished product. Despite his size (6-foot-2 and 208 pounds) and vertical ability (a 40.5" vertical), Johnston struggles with contested catches - not something you want to see out of your alpha. It's no secret that Johnston is big and athletic. But if he can improve at the catch point and demonstrate a better route-running ability, he could certainly become a playmaking wide receiver in the NFL.

1.10 - Josh Downs (WR-North Carolina)

This is probably your first big surprise of the mock. I'm a big Josh Downs fan. Downs isn't very big (5-foot-9 and 171 pounds), but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in skill. Downs was an incredibly productive receiver at UNC, posting back-to-back seasons with at least: 90 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns. Downs is surprisingly great at contested catches, boasting the best contested-catch rate in the draft class (75%) in 2022. He showed off his explosive ability at the Combine with his 38.5" vertical jump and his 4.48 40-yard dash with a 10-yard split of 1.49 seconds, good enough for 5th best in the class. This athletic ability pops on the screen when Downs is running routes. He has the ability to win in all three levels of the field, but he thrives out of the slot, where he can be a target machine at the next level. Fantasy football has become filled with productive receivers like Christian Kirk, Chris Godwin, Jakobi Meyers, Keenan Allen, and CeeDee Lamb, who line up in the slot over 60% of the time in 2023. I get the concerns about Downs' size, but the league has been more comfortable veering away from the big-bodied prototype guys, which means Downs could very well be the next playmaker to thrive out of a slot receiver role in the NFL.

1.11 - Zay Flowers (WR-Boston College)

Another small-ish receiver who can win on all three levels of the field. While Josh Downs is the better receiver of the football, Flowers might be the most dynamic playmaker in the entire draft class. Flowers is being talked up as a potential top-15 pick in the NFL draft. If Flowers is selected that early, the rankings would need to be adjusted a little bit. Flowers' player comps are all over the place, from Tyreek Hill to Steve Smith to Darnell Mooney. It doesn't matter which comp you like best; the one thing that remains evident is that Flowers is dynamic. He can line up anywhere on the field but will likely end up as a moving Z-receiver on the next level and used on quick screens. He's everything that dynasty managers (and the Giants) wanted out of Kadarius Toney.

1.12 - Zach Charbonnet (RB-UCLA)

I was a bit surprised when Charbonnet returned to UCLA in 2022. In his final two seasons of college, Charbonnet posted top-four rushing grades in back-to-back seasons via ProFootballFocus. He's a big (6-foot-0 and 214 pounds) runner that isn't afraid to create contact on his end, but he's so much more than just a blunt instrument. As a senior, he showed off his ability to work on passing downs, catching 37 passes in just 10 games. Charbonnet has all the tools to be a three-down back at the next level, and his Combine testing numbers proved that he is athletic enough to do so. Draft capital is going to matter most for him. If Charbonnet gets selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, he'll be a lock as a top-12 pick in all rookie drafts.

Round 2

2.01 - Dalton Kincaid (TE-Utah)

The best tight end in the NFL will be 34 this season. I think it goes without saying that the tight end position in the NFL and in fantasy football is in desperate need of a facelift. Luckily, this draft class is full of talent at the tight end position - so much so, that we might see five guys drafted in the first 90 picks of the NFL draft. Dalton Kincaid is my favorite tight end in the class because of his route running and his athleticism after the catch. Amongst all CFB tight ends in 2022, Kincaid was third in deep catches, third in missed tackles forced, and seventh in contested catches. He's often been comped to Zach Ertz because of his sure hands and his ability to find soft spots in the secondary. At this point in rookie drafts, I'd much rather roll the dice on a top tight end with major potential over any remaining running backs or receivers.

2.02 - Michael Mayer (TE-Notre Dame)

Michael Mayer is a classic in-line tight end (6-foot-4 and 265 pounds) that can block, catch, and be a red-zone target. He earned the nickname "Baby Gronk" in 2021 after breaking out with 840 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. He's a high-floor tight end who compares favorably to the Steelers' Pat Freiermuth. Mayer will work his way into an NFL starting lineup on day one because of his ability to block. He likely won't be a big yards-after-the-catch guy, but he's a reliable target and, if drafted to an offense that lacks pass-catchers, could immediately become a redzone threat and a fantasy starter as a rookie.

2.03 - Tyjae Spears (RB-Tulane)

There's a lot of buzz surrounding Tyjae Spears, as there should be. There are very few play players that make me actually say "Wow!" when I'm watching their film - Spears is one of those players. In my evaluation, Spears has some of the best (if not the best) lateral movement in the running back class. he's an underrated route runner and very spatially aware in all aspects of the game. Spears absolutely blew up in 2022, totaling 19 touchdowns off of 1,837 yards from scrimmage. Despite his size (5-foot-10 and 201 pounds), Spears was 2nd in the nation in yards after contact per rush attempt and 6th in the nation in total yards after contact. Spears didn't test at the Combine aside from the jumps and bench press, but his stock was already pretty high after an electric week at the Senior Bowl. He'll likely be a Day 2 pick in the NFL draft and have an immediate role on passing downs.

2.04 - Devon Achane (RB-Texas A&M)

This is the part of the mock draft where I insert the elite track speed guys. Devon Achane is the fastest running back in this draft class, and he put that speed on display at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash. Achane is a more compact-sized runner (5-foot-9 and 188 pounds) but has the juice to be an NFL running back. In his first real season as the lead back at Texas A&M, Achane ran for 1,100 yards and 8 touchdowns. He's a quick-cut machine that bounces off defenders because they literally cannot tackle him fast enough. He's probably best suited in an efficient playmaker role in the NFL, where he can take 12-15 touches per game maximum.

2.05 - Jalin Hyatt (WR-Tennessee)

Another track guy that put his wheels on display for everyone at the Combine. Jalin Hyatt Is the 2022 Biletnikoff award winner after compiling 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns on just 67 receptions. Hyatt has game-breaking speed, but he's an incomplete prospect that will have some major adjustments to make entering the NFL. He thrived in Tennessee's spread offense by stacking behind other receivers and using a lot of pre-snap motion. Hyatt can work in the NFL as a second or third option in an offense that wants to stretch the field with his speed. But his lack of defined route-running and play strength are a serious concern at the next level.

2.06 - Kendre Miller (RB-TCU)

The TCU Horned Frogs had a dream season in 2022 due in large part to Kendre Miller. He led TCU with 1,399 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Miller has the necessary size (5-foot-11 and 215 pounds) to be a bell-cow at the next level, but I do wonder if he has the explosiveness and the pass-catching chops to fully take over a backfield. Miller is more fluid than shifty, but he maintains a really good contact balance through the first level of the defense and shows enough speed to break some long runs. He reminds me a bit of Melvin Gordon mixed with Khalil Herbert - I think he'll likely be a high-end committee back (with potential) selected in round 3 of the NFL draft.

2.07- Marvin Mims (WR-Oklahoma)

This guy is one of my sleepers in the draft. I'm a big fan of what Marvin Mims does on tape. He's a very explosive athlete that can work underneath in the slot or outside on a deep route. He played with three different starting quarterbacks throughout his career and managed to breakout as a true freshman. Mims capped off his junior season with 54 receptions for 1,083 yards (20.1 ypr) and 6 touchdowns. I truly believe that if Caleb Williams had stayed at Oklahoma, we might be talking about Marvin Mims in the same breath as guys like Josh Downs and Zay Flowers. Mims showed off his speed at the Combine, running a 4.38 40-yard dash and posting a nice 39.5" vertical leap. I originally thought that Mims might get drafted in Round 3 of the NFL draft, but at the rate that receivers are getting selected and the lack of top-tier free agents, Mims could get pushed up into the back of round 2. He reminds me of a poor man's Brandin Cooks, who can win with deep speed and his ability to find gaps in zone coverage.

2.08 - Tank Bigsby (RB- Auburn)

I really wanted to like Tank Bigsby more. He has a cool name, he wears a cool number, and he went to Auburn like on of my favorite all-time Miami Dolphins, Ronnie Brown. The problem with Bigsby Is that nothing really stood out on tape as special. He can get tough yards, he can catch passes, and he can break off the occasional long run, but nothing about his prospect profile is ultra-impressive. Bigsby did go up against some tough competition in the SEC and had to overcome a bad Auburn offensive line, so I can give him a little benefit of the doubt. He's got three years of solid production in the SEC and graded out as a fairly elusive runner, according to ProFootballFocus. Overall, Bigsby seems like he can contribute in a committee role in the NFL, but he'll need to get some good draft capital to be afforded the opportunity.

2.09 - Roschon Johnson (RB-Texas)

Roschon Johnson is another sleeper of mine. Johnson shared a backfield with the drat top running back prospect, Bijan Robinson - the fact that Johnson could steal 100+ touches for himself is impressive. He's a big guy (6-foot-0 and 219 pounds) who runs surprisingly nimble. While he's not shifty enough to make too many defenders miss, he actually graded out as ProFootballFocus' most elusive running back in college football. Johnson might be the best pass-blocker in the class, so he'll have an easy avenue to get in on passing downs. Plus, his obvious size makes him a great option for short yardage. My player comp for Johnson is Ravens running back Gus Edwards.

2.10 - Cedric Tillman (WR-Tennessee)

Cedric Tillman is the lesser-known teammate of Jalin Hyatt. Tillman actually broke out in 2021 as a junior with over 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Injuries and a switch to a new offense limited his production in 2022. Tillman has the size and speed to play on the outside - a bit of Nico Collins to his game.

2.11 - Luke Musgrave (TE-Oregon State)

A player like Musgrave would be the top tight end in most draft classes - that speaks to the strength of this year's class. He is an excellent athlete (4.61 40-yard dash) who struggled a little bit with injuries in his college career. when you turn on the tape, Musgrave looks a heck of a lot like Dallas Goedert - he's really tall and fast for a tight end. He's as smooth as Dalton Kincaid, but Musgrave's production profile remains limited due to injury.

2.12 - Darnell Washington (TE-Georgia)

A size-athleticism freak by all means. There is no player comp because there is nobody like Darnell Washington. He stands at a massive 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds while running a 4.64 in the 40-yard dash and the third-fastest shuttle time (4.08) of any Combine participant. To put that shuttle drill time in perspective, Washington had the same recorded time as Cooper Kupp while weighing 60 pounds more. Washington isn't just a workout guy either, he looked good during the field drills - he even came down with one of the nicest one-handed catches of the entire event. Unfortunately, we didn't see much of Washington at Georgia because he shared the field with next year's rookie TE1 and potential savior of the tight end position, Brock Bowers. Washington could easily get Day 2 draft capital and find a role early on as a rookie with major potential to grow.