2016 Dynasty Rookie Rankings: Consensus Third Round
Editor’s Note: Make sure you’re ready for your dynasty league rookie draft by checking out our rookie draft guide, rookie rankings, rookie draft cheat sheet and mock draft rooms. There are simply no better resources out there for dynasty fantasy football enthusiasts.
We brought you the consensus first round earlier this week and the consensus second round yesterday. Now it’s time for the free for all known as round three!
You take major chances in this round (and beyond) and simply hope for the best. The hit rate on these players is very small, but you have to look no further than last year when you saw Tyler Lockett, Jeremy Langford, Stefon Diggs and Matt Jones on this list for round three. Sure, they were joined by underwhelming players like Vince Mayle, Josh Robinson, Tre McBride and Mike Davis, but the point is you can find a hidden gem this deep in your drafts and need to take as much care with these selections as you do with your highly coveted first round picks. Simply put, you just never know.
Let’s continue our rundown with round three.
3.01 = Malcolm Mitchell, WR NE
Mitchell is a very intriguing prospect. His college production is lacking as he posted just 174 receptions for 2,350 yards with 16 touchdowns in his four seasons at Georgia. He also experienced a torn ACL and there seem to be lingering concerns about the health of his knees. In addition, there’s even talk he could be moved to defensive back.
So, why all the fuss?
With Mitchell, you’re getting a truly elite athlete who dominated at the scouting combine and looks to have an amazing amount of untapped potential. The Pats haven’t had a really dominant figure in their receiving corps for a while and Mitchell could be a real steal in the draft. In addition, I’d suggest reading up on his story as he’s an easy player to root for. In short, here’s a kid who had trouble reading when he entered college and left as a children’s book author. Finding players with talent who you really pull for are perfect selections late in drafts.
[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]
3.02 = Alex Collins, RB SEA
Tabbed as “just a guy” or a “two down plodder” by many scouts, Collins fell to the Seahawks, who took him with pick #171. He looks to be in a battle with Christine Michael for the last spot on the roster, but I wouldn’t bet against a player who had three straight 1,000 yard seasons in the SEC and averaged over five yards per carry in each of those three years at Arkansas. In addition, plodders with a complete inability to separate don’t have two different 80-yard touchdown runs in their career. This late in the draft, you’re just looking for players who have a chance and Collins fits the bill.
3.03 = Paxton Lynch, QB DEN
At 6’7″ and 244 pounds, Lynch is a monster at quarterback, reminding some of a younger Ben Roethlisberger. The problem with Lynch has absolutely nothing to do with his physical ability and everything to do with his mechanics, maturity, inaccuracy and maddening inconsistency. It would be best for him to sit for a season (or more), but it remains to be seen if that can happen with Mark Sanchez at the helm. Dynasty owners should hope Lynch doesn’t see the field immediately because he simply doesn’t look ready yet and could get his confidence rattled prematurely. He’s a very high upside and high risk selection.
3.04 = Keith Marshall, RB WAS
Speaking of high upside, we now get to Marshall. Of every prospect in this draft, I’m most confident he will either be a star in the making or out of the league in six months – there will be no middle ground. None. Marshall looked like a Dynasty Diaper Dandy as a Freshman, but a torn ACL, limited action after and a severe case of lost confidence has sent his stock plummeting. His combine numbers were off the charts, though. If Marshall can get back to where he was physically and mentally, the Redskins have a hidden gem and you would have an absolute dynasty steal on your hands. There are major doubts this can happen and it’s more likely he flames out quickly. Still, we’re at pick #28 here, so you can weigh your risk tolerance.
3.05 = Daniel Lasco, RB NO
Make sure you don’t confuse him with that weird informercial guy with the question mark suits, Matthew Lesko. Daniel Lasco is a totally different guy. Lasco is a bit of a one-hit wonder as he posted a great 2014 at Cal with 1,115 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns, 33 catches and 356 more receiving yards. However, his career has been littered with injuries and there are major questions about his durability after last season was a lost one. Still, this kid has amazing athleticism, explosive ability and could be a real steal for the Saints if he can stay on the field. Simply put, the question mark jacket actually fits him, too.
3.06 = Mike Thomas, WR LA
A lot of folks don’t know much about Thomas since he wasn’t invited to the NFL Draft Combine this season. However, he’s a name you should tuck away. Many dynasty league enthusiasts believe he’s a better player than fellow Ram Pharoh Cooper after seeing him tear up the field at Southern Miss last year. He’ll have a chance to prove it on the practice field in LA because draft slots simply don’t matter any longer. The battle between Cooper and Thomas this off-season will be a very interesting one to watch this Summer. I’ve already seen a number of drafts where Thomas has been taken higher than Cooper and this position battle is just beginning in both fantasy and reality.
3.07 = Austin Hooper, TE ATL
This year’s tight end class isn’t overly enticing, but Hooper should not be dismissed. He landed in a great situation in Atlanta and has just Levine Toilolo and Jacob Tamme to beat out for playing time. You may need to exhibit some patience since rookie tight ends are rarely productive and Hooper only played two years at Stanford. Still, the Falcons have been looking for a primary option since Tony Gonzalez retired and Hooper has the skill-set to be that player.
3.08 = Keyarris Garrett, WR CAR
Don’t start combing the draft sheets to see where Garrett was picked because he wasn’t. After surprisingly going undrafted, he apparently had 15 different offers and wisely took the one from Carolina. He led college football with 96 receptions for 1,588 yards and eight touchdowns last year at Tulsa as a 24-year old fifth-year Senior. Garrett is no sure thing to make the roster, but you can also see an explosive athlete who should have been taken on day three. There are worse dart throws out there at this point in rookie drafts.
3.09 = Charone Peake, WR NYJ
Peake’s collegiate production isn’t going to blow anyone away, but you can see some raw ability here. He’s a receiver who is going to take some time to develop behind the starters of the Jets, but he could turn out to be a steal if he can really refine his athletic ability and put everything together. In short, he’s very raw and is a big-time project. He’ll learn from some of the best in New York, though.
3.10 = Kenny Lawler, WR SEA
A classic case of situation over talent, Lawler has a chance to carve out a role on a team that really didn’t do much to address the position this off-season. He’s a player to monitor as he fits the mold of a possession receiver, but I personally see a few players like DeAndre Washington who missed the cut here as better prospects.
3.11 = Tyler Ervin, RB HOU
Ervin is likely going to make his hay on special teams, but he has some explosiveness to his game and proved it by tearing up the combine this year. The Texans are going to give Lamar Miller the bulk of the work, but their depth chart is pretty underwhelming behind him. Ervin is a player who could surprise as a swiss army knife type of athlete who can line up in multiple spots.
3.12 = Chris Moore, WR BAL
Moore was met with skepticism from his own fans after the Ravens selected him in the fourth round of the draft. That really shouldn’t be the case because his vertical ability should fit perfectly with Joe Flacco. The problem is he’s squarely behind Breshad Perriman and Mike Wallace already occupies that role in the offense. Moore’s upside is ironically that of Wallace in his prime – a player who can take the top off the defense, but offers major inconsistency in fantasy leagues.
Just missed the cut: Tyler Higbee, Christian Hackenberg, DeAndre Washington, De’Runnya Wilson, Cardale Jones, Marquez North, Devon Cajuste, Demarcus Robinson, Wendell Smallwood, Roger Lewis, Ricardo Louis, Peyton Barber, Jordan Payton, Byron Marshall.
[/am4show]
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
- My Dynasty Off-Season: Ten Rookie Draft Thoughts - May 11, 2025
- Derek Carr Retires: The Dynasty Fantasy Football Impact - May 10, 2025
- 2025 Dynasty Superflex Rankings: Consensus Third Round - May 9, 2025
