Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Five-Round, Superflex, Early Pick (2022 Fantasy Football)

The 2022 NFL Draft has come and gone, and that means it’s time for dynasty rookie and startup drafts to really take off. We’ll have you covered throughout the draft season. You can find our full dynasty startup, dynasty rookie, and dynasty superflex rookie rankings that will be updated through draft season.

You can also practice and prepare for your dynasty rookie and startup drafts using our FREE dynasty mock draft simulator. Let’s take a look at a dynasty rookie mock draft.

1.03 Treylon Burks (WR – TEN)
Treylon Burks finished first in his class in yards per route run (3.57) while also ranking No. 1 in yards per route run when lined up outside (6.08) among all receivers. It’s an encouraging sign that a size-speed specimen delivered when aligned on the perimeter, as he spent 77% of his career in the slot. The rookie’s 8.5 yards after the catch rank 14th among 169 qualifying wide receivers (92nd percentile) over the past two seasons. His elite college production and top-notch 32% dominator rating speak for themselves. And the best part is, he should produce from Day 1 after being drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. There’s hardly any competition for targets outside of Robert Woods), who is coming off a torn ACL. And with a similar YAC-ability to A.J. Brown, Burks should be able to step on the field on day one and offer immediate fantasy football appeal as a top-30 fantasy option.

2.03 Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU)
If you liked Dameon Pierce before the NFL Draft, then you should be thrilled about his landing spot in Houston. There’s a chance that PFF’s highest-graded running back from the FBS (92.0) in 2021 carves out a role on early downs even though the team added Marlon Mack this offseason. News flash, people – Mack signed a one-year, $two-million deal with Houston, and it’s less than the team is paying Rex Burkhead..1 million of Burkhead’s $2.35 million contract is fully guaranteed. We could easily see Mack released as much as we could see Pierce become the team’s starting running back. Although my one reservation with Pierce is that traditionally New England has been very stingy about featuring rookie running backs historically – especially ones drafted late. During Nick Caserio’s tenure with the Patriots, Stevan Ridley’s 87 carries were the most for any non-first-round rookie running back. It wasn’t until Caserio left New England for Houston, that Rhamondre Stevenson broke that mark with 133 carries in 2021. Not to mention, there’s clearly an affinity with veteran running backs that Texans can’t seem to quit. They force-fed David Johnson and Mark Ingram II among other veterans last season, despite having some younger players they could give reps to. Caserio’s post-draft press conference cited Pierce as someone that needs to earn a role and be a factor on special teams. So pump the brakes on Pierce RB1 szn ever so slightly. The fact Pierce never fully took over Florida’s backfield does raise red flags. His 12% career dominator rating is eerily similar to Trey Sermon (12%) from last season, and Sermon struggled to separate himself from the pack in his rookie campaign. Even during his breakout senior season, the 5-foot-10 and 218-pound running back earned just a 22% dominator rating while sharing the backfield alongside fellow draft-eligible running back Malik Davis. However, I am willing to offer some benefit of the doubt after Pierce never topped 106 carries in college. There may have been some underlying issue with former Gators head coach Dan Mullen that prevented Pierce from seeing a more featured role. Case in point: Pierce only had two games with double-digit carries in 2021, both of which came after Mullen was fired toward the end of the season. Pierce’s lackluster dominator rating doesn’t capture his coach’s potential ineptitude. The fact Pierce competed with NFL talent like Jordan Scarlett and La’Mical Perine very early in his college career paints a better picture of how his impact will be felt in years to come. But from the get-go, I doubt we see Pierce be a major fantasy factor to start the 2022 season.

3.03 Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL)
Desmond Ridder falls in the same third-round bucket as Malik Willis and Matt Corral from this class. Marcus Mariota might have been signed as the team’s bridge quarterback option, but that doesn’t wipe Ridder off the map to possibly win the job out of camp. The draft capital doesn’t ensure he’ll be given that shot, but Arthur Smith knows Mariota quite well from their time in Tennessee. If Smith thinks Ridder can bring something more to the table or operate similarly to Mariota, he could win the starting call. Smith’s love for play-action passing will help Ridder. Last year Matt Ryan ranked 11th in play-action dropback rate (minimum 200 dropbacks, per PFF). In 2021, Ridder was tied for 17th in play-action passing touchdowns out of 121 qualifying quarterbacks (minimum 200 dropbacks, per PFF).

4.03 Jelani Woods (TE – IND)
Jelani Woods now resides with tight end committee zealot Frank Reich. While the Colts have utilized the position regularly in the passing game and in the red zone, they have religiously done so with multiple players. This shrapnels the target share into obscurity. This easily could be the fate for Woods. The upside hope for Woods resides in his insane athleticism taking over the room and the Colts not wishing to take him off the field. He also has the fact that Mo Alie-Cox will be 29 this season and is on a team-friendly deal that they can get out of with no dead cap hit as soon as 2024 in his corner.

5.03 Carson Strong (QB – PHI)
NFL teams passed on Carson Strong in the NFL Draft over concerns about his knee, but it didn’t take him long to land on a roster. Strong signed a “lucrative” UDFA deal with the Eagles. This is a low-cost and no-risk signing by the Eagles to bring Strong in for a look-see. He’s likely competing with Miami Dolphins cast off Reid Sinnett for third quarterbacking duties. Strong is a late-round rookie draft dart throw or a waiver wire pickup at best.

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Dynasty Mock Drafts NFL Rookies Treylon Burks Robert Woods A.J. Brown Dameon Pierce Marlon Mack Rex Burkhead Rhamondre Stevenson David Johnson Mark Ingram II Trey Sermon Malik Davis Jordan Scarlett La’Mical Perine Desmond Ridder Malik Willis Matt Corral Marcus Mariota Matt Ryan Jelani Woods Mo Alie-Cox Carson Strong Reid Sinnett