Everyone can draft top players reasonably well, but your dynasty fortunes can rise in a big way when you hit with your later-round picks. We asked our staff for their hard takes after the first two rounds of a dynasty rookie draft. See their answers below.
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You get one dynasty flag to plant on a rookie sleeper; who is your target after the first two rounds?
Ryan Weisse
I seem to be the only person not scared of Braelon Allen's landing spot with the Jets, and I have been actively trading backups to get him. The knock is he may be stuck for 3 or 4 years. He's only 20 and needed time to develop anyway; this could be his perfect situation. Also, running backs always get hurt; he could see the field before we know it. He was a second-round pick before the NFL draft, but I've been getting him late third and, occasionally, even in the fourth.
Matt Montgomery
Jaylen Wright must be on everyone’s radar if he’s available in this tier. He will be underdrafted due to the crowded backfield he is involved in, but he has the archetype that is precisely what Mike McDaniel wants in the Dolphins offense. If you can get him here, he’s a solid pick for the future.
Jeff Haseley
After the first two rounds, I'll say Ja'Lynn Polk. I don't love the landing spot, but he could see a boost in volume if he takes over the top receiver role in New England. Getting a team's WR1 is always a warranted pick, especially if you can get him in Round 3.
Leo Paciga
Jermaine Burton’s rookie ADP has been moving up consistently since the draft and will probably cost a mid-to-late second now. He’s a player I want to roster. He plays with Joe Burrow, fills the slot role for the Bengals in 2024, and potentially takes over for Tee Higgins in 2025.
If I have to pick a player outside of the first two rounds, it’s Luke McCaffrey. McCaffrey will use his size/in-line speed combination to carve out a nice big slot role in Washington.
Corey Spala
If you are lucky to have Washington's Ben Sinnott fall to the third round, he would be my flag plant. I have seen him go in Superflex rookie drafts' second and third rounds. Productive during college (22.5% dominator rating) and has the athletic measurables desired to translate to fantasy/dynasty success. He can claim the TE1 role in Washington, a similar situation to Sam LaPorta.
If not Sinnott, I am selecting MarShawn Lloyd from Green Bay.
Gary Davenport
Based on the post-draft Bloom 100 (shout-out to my guy), I’ll avoid the temptation (for now) to avoid an IDP answer and go with Chargers running back Kimani Vidal. J.K. Dobbins will break my heart at some point this summer. (Stop trying to kick the ball, Gary. Lucy is evil.), and Gus Edwards is, well, Gus Edwards. Vidal is the lead back by Halloween. Flag planted.
Zareh Kantzabedian
Adonai Mitchell. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds with 4.38 speed, Mitchell is a force to be reckoned with. His athletic ability and performance on the field are unparalleled. Mitchell's 2023 season could have been more productive, but he sacrificed for his family, moving to Texas to be closer to his daughter. This decision, however, led him to play with an inferior quarterback. Mitchell is poised for success as the primary X wide receiver for the Colts. The coaches in Indianapolis have a vision for Mitchell. Before drafting him, Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said, "I think he's a one-on-one winner in the league with some size at the outside, and that's rare. I see a top-level route runner. The way he changes direction off slants. The way he gets out of double moves and gets out of those things." Mitchell’s story is about determination and sacrifice. His potential is enormous in Dynasty and on the Colts.
Andy Hicks
I am looking at the running back position, which seems a weak class. Backs pop up in good situations every year and see significant playing time. The trend is running backs that would have previously been drafted in the first three rounds falling to the fourth. My choices are Trey Benson and Ray Davis. Only one? Benson. I have been fading James Conner for a while, but the Cardinals need a longer-term option. Conner misses four games on average every year; at age 29, that trend will only worsen.
Ben Cummins
This is probably cheating since he’s a riser, but I want to discuss Jermaine Burton. He’s a dog. Tough, competitive, and a trash talker. His elite quarterback speaks that language, making Burton a solid fit in Cincinnati. Burton tested well at the combine, is phenomenal at tracking the ball in the air deep down the field, has a knack for making big plays, has reliable hands, makes strong contested catches, is quick, has an impressive change of direction, and is a versatile and nuanced route runner.
I don’t see how Burton is kept on the sidelines much right out of the gate as a rookie. In fact, Burton projects as an upgrade over Tyler Boyd in the slot in 2024 as he has experience there, lining up in the slot 41.3% of the time in 2022. Burton played most of his snaps on the outside in college, making him a more electric and versatile weapon than Boyd. That will allow the Bengals offense to get creative with their formations, moving Ja’Marr Chase into the slot more and pushing Burton to the outside sometimes, even as a rookie. And, of course, Burton projects to take over for Tee Higgins in 2025 after he leaves in free agency.
