We have rookie landing spots! (Well, a few at least.)
Here’s a two-round rookie mock for dynasty superflex leagues that incorporates results from Night 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft.
- Thor Nystrom’s Best Remaining Day 2 Prospects
- NFL Draft Day 1 Winners & Losers
- Round 1 NFL Draft Picks: Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook
- Dynasty Rookies: Best Remaining Day 2 Picks & Predictions
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
Post-Round 1 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Mock Draft
1.01 RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons
Bijan has been the 1.01 in rookie drafts since the earliest mock drafts came out, and nothing about his landing spot with the Falcons changes that. The best RB prospect to come into the league since Saquon Barkley in 2018, Bijan figures to handle a big workload right away. He offers an exotic blend of speed, power, vision, elusiveness and pass-catching ability. Bijan isn’t just the top rookie running back, he’s the top dynasty running back, period.
1.02 QB Bryce Young. Panthers
Young’s selection with the first pick in the draft solidifies his status as the top rookie QB target for dynasty managers. Anthony Richardson has a higher ceiling, but Young has the much safer floor. He’s a quick-thinking playmaker — a gridiron point guard who always seems to make the right decision. Young’s small frame ratchets up the injury risk. He doesn’t have a big arm. And while he has the mobility to escape pass rushers and occasionally pick up a first down, Young’s rushing output isn’t going to move the needle in fantasy. But Young should develop into a rock-solid NFL starter, and it shouldn’t take long for him to achieve maximum potential.
1.03 QB Anthony Richardson, Colts
Richardson landed with the Colts, who figure to have him holding a clipboard for at least the first few weeks of the 2023 season before throwing him into the maelstrom. Richardson is a high-risk, high-upside fantasy proposition. He tested like Superman at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.43 at 6-4, 244 pounds, and posting a perfect-10 Relative Athletic Score. Richardson’s rushing ability is going to float his fantasy value early in his career. As long as he’s on the field, Richardson figures to be a useful fantasy asset even if his passing doesn’t develop as hoped. But if Richardson’s NFL completion percentage doesn’t climb much higher than his 53.8% completion rate in his final season at the University of Florida, he won’t be an NFL starter for long. Arm strength certainly isn’t the problem — Richardson has a rocket launcher — and some evaluators insist that he’s a more advanced processor than he’s commonly credited for. If he clicks as a passer, Richardson could end up being an elite fantasy quarterback.
1.04 QB C.J. Stroud, Texans
After being put through the spin cycle of the NFL’s predraft rumor mill, Stroud wound up going No. 2 overall and is now the Texans’ quarterback of the present and future. He’s a promising pocket passer with advanced touch, timing and accuracy. Stroud isn’t going to provide much value with his legs, but he has the potential to develop into a top-tier NFL passer. Don’t expect much production in his rookie year, however, as the Texans have an extremely lackluster group of wide receivers.
1.05 RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions
On one hand, it’s exciting that Gibbs was picked 12th overall — at least 10-12 spots earlier than anyone expected him to go. On the other hand, it’s strange that he went to the Lions, who already have a talented young RB in D’Andre Swift, whose skill set isn’t entirely dissimilar to Gibbs’. With his 4.36 speed and advanced pass-catching ability, Gibbs should be able to make a smooth transition from Alabama to the NFL. At 199 pounds, he’s probably not cut out for heavy-duty usage. That’s fine. Gibbs has often been compared to Alvin Kamara, who had fewer than 200 carries in each of his first four NFL seasons but had a massive fantasy impact as a pass catcher. Gibbs could have a similar path to fantasy stardom.
1.06 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
Seattle isn’t an ideal landing spot for Smith-Njigba in terms of immediate production, but it shouldn’t dampen our long-term enthusiasm for JSN. The consensus No. 1 receiver in the Class of 2023, Smith-Njigba had a dazzling sophomore season at Ohio State, catching 95 passes for 1,606 yards and 9 touchdowns while sharing targets with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. JSN’s junior year was largely a washout due to a hamstring injury, but dynasty managers didn’t forget that stunning 2021 campaign. Smith-Njigba’s smooth route-running and video-game shiftiness should help him quickly become a productive NFL slot receiver.
1.07 RB Zach Charbonnet
A well-built runner capable of carrying a heavy load, Charbonnet offers intriguing upside and could be an immediate difference-maker if he lands in the right spot on Night 2 of the draft. According to PFF, Charbonnet has forced 122 missed tackles over the last two seasons, third-most among any college running back over that span.
1.08 WR Zay Flowers, Ravens
A lid-lifter with 4.42 speed and ball skills that belie his 5-9, 182-pound frame, Flowers put up a 78-1,077-12 stat line at Boston College last season despite a subpar supporting cast. With his competitiveness, route-running skills and explosiveness after the catch, Flowers has the potential to become a productive fantasy starter. Granted, the Ravens gave traditionally been a run-heavy team, but with Flowers’ big-play capabilities, he doesn’t necessarily need to be a high-volume receiver to return substantial fantasy value.
1.09 WR Jordan Addison, Vikings
A route-running maestro who had a 100-catch, 17-TD season at Pittsburgh as a sophomore before transferring to USC for his third and final college season, Addison has the makings of a high-quality NFL slot receiver. His 5-11, 173-pound frame and ordinary athletic might limit his upside, but the dude simply knows how to get open and should offer a sturdy fantasy floor. The presence of Justin Jefferson will limit his early-career ceiling, however.
1.10 WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers
In a WR class loaded with Smurfs, Johnston is a 6-3, 208-pound X receiver with a big catch radius and extraordinary leaping ability. (He recorded a 40 1/2 -inch vertical jump at the combine.) Poor catching technique led to issues with drops at TCU, but Johnston has the sort of size and speed that dynasty managers covet in wide receivers.
1.11 TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills
In a strong TE class, Kincaid is the best pure pass catcher of the bunch. He unexpectedly landed with the Bills (who traded up to get him no less) and will get to catch passes from Josh Allen. But Kincaid isn’t a strong blocker, so he might not play as many snaps as his investors would like.
1.12 QB Will Levis
Yeah, there are a lot of warts here, which is why Levis unexpectedly fell out of the first round. Levis lacks pocket awareness and has some mechanical issues to deal with, but his skill set is nevertheless impressive. With his 6-4, 229-pound frame, bazooka arm and impressive straight-line speed, Levis has everything you’d need for a Josh Allen starter kit. Let’s be honest: The odds are long that Levis will ever have the sort of fantasy value that Allen has. Still, Levis has a chance to become a solid NFL starter, making him an attractive commodity in superflex leagues.
2.01 QB Hendon Hooker
The beginning of the second round in a rookie superflex draft feels like the right spot for Hooker, a 25-year-old prospect who tore his ACL in late November and might not see the field at all in his rookie year since he’s unlikely to take part in his first NFL training camp. Hooker’s NFL-caliber arm and rushing ability make him an intriguing option in rookie drafts for patient fantasy managers. Hooker is a good decision-maker who threw only five interceptions in his two seasons as Tennessee’s starter. Aside from age and injury, the downside with Hooker is that Josh Heupel’s simplified offensive system at Tennessee might not have adequately prepared Hooker for the gauntlet that NFL defenses will throw down.
2.02 RB Devon Achane
With his 4.3 speed and slick moves, Achane is a nightmare for defenders. He won’t be an NFL workhorse, but his explosive playmaking can make him fantasy-viable even in a committee role.
2.03 RB Tyjae Spears
After a superb senior season for Tulane (1,581 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns), Spears impressed NFL coaches and execs at the Senior Bowl. His slashing style should quickly earn him a role.
2.04 WR Josh Downs
In his final two seasons at North Carolina, this shifty slot receiver racked up 195 catches, 2,364 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. At minimum he’ll be a Jamison Crowder clone, but the ceiling is higher.
2.05 WR Jalin Hyatt
Speed is Hyatt’s calling card. He’s a legitimate 4.4 blazer. Hyatt is somewhat one-dimensional, but NFL teams crave the sort of speed that he brings to the table. The question is whether he’s the next DeSean Jackson or the next John Ross.
2.06 TE Michael Mayer
The most complete tight end in the draft, Mayer has been compared to former Cowboy TE Jason Witten. But no one expected Mayer to slip out of the first round, which tamps down enthusiasm for him just a bit.
2.07 WR Cedric Tillman
The 6-3, 213-pound Tillman is a big-bodied playmaker who might have even more upside than Tennessee teammate Jalin Hyatt.
2.08 RB Roschon Johnson
Bijan Robinson’s backup at Texas is a big, bruising runner who could be ticketed for goal-line duty at some point. Don’t sleep on this guy. He’s very likely to be a Night 2 pick.
2.09 RB Israel Abanikanda
Abanikanda had a breakout season at Pitt in 2022, rushing for 1,431 yards and 20 TDs while averaging 6.0 yards per carry. His exceptional burst, good vision and quick feet give him intriguing NFL upside.
2.10 TE Sam Laporta
The underrated LaPorta was named the Big Ten TE of the Year in 2022 after catching 58 passes for 657 yards in one of the worst offenses in FBS. He’s a terrific all-around athlete who should quickly become fantasy-viable in the NFL.
2.11 WR Jonathan Mingo
The 6-1, 226-pound Mingo is a beast after the catch, reminiscent of Anquan Boldin. But while Boldin had a 40 time of 4.71 when he went to the NFL Scouting Combine 20 years ago, Mingo ran a 4.46. He also has one of the biggest pairs of hands in this year’s WR class.
2.12 TE Luke Musgrave
Yes, it’s another tight end. Hey, it’s a really strong TE class. The 6-5 1/2 , 253-pound Musgrave has a huge frame and wingspan, and he runs like a gazelle, clocking a 4.61 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
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