We are getting closer and closer to the NFL draft. Matt Bruening and Matt Fox will start bringing you weekly rookie mock drafts as the combine kicks off this coming week. For this mock draft, we will be doing two rounds and 1QB. You will see who we selected and why with an MB indicated for who Matt Bruening selected and an MF for who Matt Fox selected.
Round 1
1.01- Isaiah Spiller, RB Texas A&M
MF- RBs are a premium in fantasy and this draft. I am going with my RB1 to start things off. Spiller can be a three-down back in the NFL and should make an impact from day one. He’s got great size and power but also shifty enough to make people miss and a solid pass-catching option.
1.02- Treylon Burks, WR Arkansas
MB- Treylon Burks has the best chance to be an alpha WR. Typically wide receivers hold value longer than most positions in the NFL. Give me the guy who should dominate from year one, will have the draft capital, and has the best chance to be a top-scoring fantasy option at his position.
1.03- Drake London, WR USC
MF- This is a better WR Draft than RBs. I’m tempted toward Hall or Walker, but going with London, who may well be the top WR off the board. He had a dominant 2021 season cut short by injury but can be a WR1 in the NFL with size and great hands.
1.04- Breece Hall, RB Iowa State
MB- Hall is my RB1 in this draft by a slim margin over Spiller. Typically, RBs hold a ton of value in single QB drafts, as dynasty managers build around said position. Hall isn’t considered a “sexy” option, but he’ll be a player you’ll be happy to have in your lineup every week.
1.05- Kenneth Walker III, RB Michigan State
MF- I will grab the last of the top-tier RB options here, Walker burst onto the season with a massive 2021 and has many traits which could lead to NFL success. He’s got phenomenal vision and patience, contact balance, and the ability to make people miss.
1.06- Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State
MB- Wilson is the last of my tier one receivers in this class. I believe he has the safest floor of the group, and his ceiling is fairly close to Burks. He’s the best route runner in the class and a polished prospect. I’d be thrilled to get him at the sixth pick.
1.07- Trey McBride, TE Colorado State
MF- Too early? Perhaps, but it’s about talent and positional advantage at this point. McBride is a dangerous pass-catching TE, giving an offense the ability to stretch the middle of the field.
1.08- Jameson Williams, WR Alabama
MB- Williams, even with the ACL tear in the National Championship game a month ago, should be a first-round pick in the NFL. While I’m a bit worried about him only producing in one year, he’s a great deep threat with a well-rounded game.
1.09- Jahan Dotson, WR Penn State
MF- In this range, it will be about value and landing spot. For now, I am going Dotson. He’s a dangerous receiver with phenomenal run after the catch ability. Dotson can make great catches look routine and could see day one draft capital.
1.10- Kyren Williams, RB Notre Dame
MB- Williams is my RB4 in this class and sitting at the top of tier two. As mentioned earlier, dynasty managers love to build around the RB position. Williams has the upside of Austin Ekeler. He should be a day two pick, and outside of his size, he is a great running back.
1.11- Malik Willis, QB Liberty
MF- It feels like a spot to go upside, and Willis may offer just that at QB. He’s been on fire thus far in the offseason and should destroy the combine. Willis should go off the board early in the NFL Draft, and his value should continue to increase.
1.12- George Pickens, WR Georgia
MB- Pickens was the WR1 of this class after last season for some. He has the tools and athleticism to be a top fantasy player in the NFL. Pickens is a former 5-star who never produced at the level expected. He’ll likely be shooting up boards after a good combine week.
Round 2
2.01- Kenny Pickett, QB Pitt
MF- Someone with the top pick likely has issues all over the lineup. Pickett will probably go early in the NFL Draft with an opportunity to play early. He’s only had one season of elite production, but it was a phenomenal season. With WR getting thinner, they get Pickett to pair with Spiller.
2.02- David Bell, WR Purdue
MB- Tough pick for me here. I wasn’t sure I wanted to double up at receiver when I took Burks in the first round. However, I firmly believe in taking the best player on the board. Bell will be the Rashod Bateman of this class. He does everything well but isn’t exactly great. I believe Bell will be an excellent WR2 for fantasy.
2.03- Chris Olave, WR Ohio State
MF- Olave isn’t what he once was, but in the right system, there is potential. Staying in for his senior year seemed to raise more questions than answered. I still think he goes in a higher spot and could be an NFL producer early.
2.04- Wan’Dale Robinson, WR Kentucky
MB- Robinson is an offensive weapon. I’m a little worried about his actual size, so he could drop some after the combine. He can play all over the field, and in the right landing spot could be a fun player to roster. Pairing Robinson with the best RB in this class with my first pick, I like my draft so far.
2.05- James Cook, RB Georgia
MF- RBs are always a premium. Cook was a proficient pass catcher in college, one of the best, and showed the ability to run inside and out. I think someone grabs Cook, making him a decent option in this range.
2.06- Tyler Allgeier, RB BYU
MB- With a self-reported 4.3 40-yard dash, Allgeier could be an absolute stud at the position. I expect he runs closer to a 4.5 but still should be valued highly as he can do it all. Plus, I’m willing to grab an RB here with upside by taking a receiver in the first round.
2.07- John Metchie III, WR Alabama
MF- The value is still there at WR, and I will go back to the well and take the former Crimson Tide wideout. Metchie is a quick, elusive receiver with acceleration and dangerous after the catch. He has strong hands and tracks the ball well downfield.
2.08- Raachad White, RB Arizona State
MB- Since I went receiver here in the first round, I wanted to grab an RB with upside. White is the best RB left on my board. He’s a decent rusher – good vision and excellent burst – with receiving upside.
2.09- Jerome Ford, RB Cincinnati
MF- Another RB that figures to go someplace between the third and fifth rounds that’s worth a shot in this range. Ford is a former 4-star Alabama back that transferred to Cincinnati but hasn’t fully realized his potential.
2.10- Sam Howell, QB North Carolina
MB- Howell screams value at this point. He has a chance to be the first QB off the board and has a safe floor and decent ceiling. 2021 was a “down” season for him, but he still showcased the ability to pass to all levels of the field and also a rushing upside.
2.11- Christian Watson, WR North Dakota State
MF- At this point, it’s all going to come down to draft capital and opportunity. For now, going with a receiver that some have in the Top 10. Watson has capitalized on a huge Senior Bowl week and could destroy the combine.
2.12- Jalen Wydermyer, TE Texas A&M
MB- Wydermyer is considered by some to be the best TE in this draft. He fell short with college production, but Wydermyer looked like a complete TE in limited use. If he gets decent draft capital, I’m all in on him here at the last pick in the second round.
This concludes our Rookie Mock Draft 1.0. As mentioned above, the combine kicks off next week, so we should get some more confirmed numbers on these players. Will that change their values? Find out in Rookie Mock Draft 2.0. Coming next week will be Rookie Mock Draft 1.0 for Superflex leagues.
