DLF and Friends 2021 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

Ryan McDowell Posted On November 30, 2020

This is the time of year where friends and family gather to reflect on the past year and ponder what lies ahead. No, I don’t mean the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s time to start looking at the upcoming 2021 rookie class.

In the spirit of all that 2020 has been, I (virtually) hosted a DLF and Friends 2021 rookie mock draft. With fantasy playoffs quickly drawing near, many dynasty players may already be looking ahead at the upcoming rookie class and if you’re not, you should be.

Here are the 12 participants, listed in draft order, for our superflex rookie mock draft:

Ryan McDowell, DLF
Bruce Matson, DLF
Curtis Patrick, Rotoviz
Joseph Nammour, DLF
Travis May, Rotoviz
Frank Gruber, DLF
Ray Garvin, Destination Devy
Scott Conner, DLF
Kyle Francis, Devy Watch
Rob Willette, DLF
George Kritikos, 4for4
Alfred Fernandez, DLF

Round One

1.01 Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson

One of the easiest picks a dynasty player could ever make comes at the top of the draft. Lawrence has been the presumed top pick since he took over the job in his freshman season and led the Tigers to the 2019 national title. While some might nitpick concerns with his likely destination, the Jets will almost certainly be a team under new leadership.

1.02 Justin Fields, QB Ohio State

As great as Lawrence is, Fields is not far behind. Ultimately, I expect Fields to be the second player drafted in both dynasty rookie drafts as well as the NFL Draft. Also, like Lawrence, Fields has both the arm strength and running ability to fit in immediately as one of the top-ten dynasty assets at his position.

1.03 Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU

The favorite to be the top-pick in single-QB leagues, Chase built up his resume in the Tigers’ record-setting 2019 campaign before opting out of this season. Despite the year away from the field, this was ultimately the best decision for Chase, who is still widely projected as a top-ten pick and the first receiver off the board. Curtis Patrick, who made this pick, called Chase one of the best wide receiver prospects of the past decade.

1.04 Travis Etienne, RB Clemson

Most dynasty players assumed Etienne would be part of the current rookie class before he surprisingly opted to stay in school. While the back hasn’t been as impressive as a ball carrier this season, he has set a new career-high with 491 receiving yards, showing off chops that will make him the top back selected in dynasty rookie drafts.

1.05 Devonta Smith, WR Alabama

Another player who turned down the 2020 NFL Draft in favor of returning to college was Smith and that has shown to be the right call. Smith has become the top option for the Crimson Tide, in part due to injury, and is now in the conversation to be the top receiver drafted.

1.06 Rondale Moore, WR Purdue

It was not so long ago that Moore was in the running to be the top player in this class. An injury ruined his sophomore season and then he opted out due to the uncertainty of this season. Moore eventually returned to the team but missed the first several games. He made his season debut just last week and picked up where he left off, catching 15 passes for 116 yards and a score. He’ll have a chance to recoup some value in the rest of the season.

1.07 Najee Harris, RB Alabama

Like his teammate Smith, running back Harris also bypassed the NFL Draft a year ago in order to stick with Alabama. Harris will take advantage of a weak running back class to lock himself in as a top-two back in the draft. Due to the position scarcity, Harris will be a hot asset in the middle of the first round of dynasty rookie drafts.

1.08 Trey Lance, QB North Dakota State

Lance will be the wildcard of the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite playing at the FCS level, Lance became a hot name when he was praised early last off-season by some of the top draft analysts. He famously threw 28 touchdown and no interceptions in his breakout 2019 season. With just one game of action this season, the gap between Lance’s ceiling and floor could not be wider.

1.09 Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama

Waddle, an electric playmaker and the third member of the Crimson Tide drafted here, was on his way to a monster season before suffering a nasty ankle injury. He needed surgery and was presumed to be out for the year, though both Waddle and head coach Nick Saban have recently hinted that the wideout could return to the field by the end of the year. Noted Bama fan Kyle Francis grabbed Waddle here, calling him one of the most explosive wideout prospects in years.

1.10 Zach Wilson, QB BYU

In the midst of a breakout season, Wilson has his BYU Cougars undefeated and is a strong Heisman Trophy candidate. He has also put himself in contention to be the third quarterback drafted and is essentially a lock to be selected in the top-half of the first round. Wilson, a big-bodied and strong-armed passer, is second in the nation with 26 touchdowns and third in passing yards, with over 2,700.

1.11 Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota

Minnesota’s star wideout Bateman is another player who first opted out and then back in when the season’s schedule was confirmed. He’s been the Gophers star but has not lived up to expectations. In a stacked class, Bateman’s stock has dropped, though he’s still an excellent target in the back-half of the first round.

1.12 Kyle Pitts, TE Florida

Even in a strong tight end class, there is no doubt who the top option will be. Pitts has simply been one of the best players on a college field this season. Alfred Fernandez made this pick and noted is a potential difference-maker at the tight end position and the wide receiver depth helped make this decision.

Round Two

2.01 Seth Williams, WR Auburn

Auburn’s top target, Williams, is a big-bodied target who could be a force in the red zone. Overall game speed and agility are the knocks against the productive Williams, though in the second round, he’ll be worth the risk.

2.02 Mac Jones, QB Alabama

Replacing Tua Tagovailoa was a tall task for anyone and even though Jones had success last year when Tua went down, there was some uncertainty about Jones’ ceiling and long-term outlook. He has answered all of those questions this season for the top-ranked Crimson Tide and now he has himself in the conversation to be a first-round NFL Draft pick. If it plays out that way, Jones would be a steal in round two of dynasty rookie drafts.

2.03 Terrace Marshall, WR LSU

After losing their quarterback, offensive coordinator, top running back and top two wideouts, LSU faced plenty of questions. While the season has been a disappointment, Marshall has shined and given his NFL Draft stock a huge boost. Curtis Patrick drafted Marshall here and called him a size/speed specimen and also pointed out that he will be just 20 when he is drafted next spring.

2.04 Chris Olave, WR Ohio State

It seems as if there is an underrated wideout coming out of Ohio State every season. This year, it will be Chris Olave, the do-it-all Buckeyes wideout who is finally getting the attention he deserves. There are some concerns about Olave’s size at 6’0” and 185 pounds. He’s widely projected as a second-round pick in the NFL Draft.

2.05 Javonte Williams, RB North Carolina

While a couple of the presumed top running backs in the class have endured disappointing seasons, Williams has flourished for the Tar Heels. Williams runs with both strength and explosiveness, and he’s also shown off solid receiving chops with 20 receptions for over 250 yards and three scores this year. I expect him to be an off-season riser.

2.06 Chuba Hubbard, RB Oklahoma State

After bypassing the NFL Draft last year, Hubbard was hoping for a strong final college season with a chance to emerge as the RB1 in the class. Instead, he has been banged up much of the season followed up his 2,000 yard, 21-touchdown season a year ago with just 625 rushing yards and five scores on the ground through seven games. Hubbard’s draft and dynasty stocks are tumbling, though in an overall subpar class, he will have a chance to bounce back with a strong off-season or primo landing spot.

2.07 Kyle Trask, QB Florida

Trask has the Gators running through the SEC East and is drawing Heisman talk as he leads the nation with 34 passing scores. Paired with tight end Pitts, the duo is among the best in the nation. Like the other second tier quarterbacks, Trask has a strong chance to be drafted in the first round, which would make him a bargain this late in rookie drafts.

2.08 Kenneth Gainwell, RB Memphis

Suddenly, Memphis has become a go-to spot to find talented, NFL-ready running backs and Gainwell is the next in line. After opting out of the 2020 season, Gainwell has seemingly fallen down the ranks as we near the off-season but he’s another dual threat back and could be selected on day two of the NFL Draft.

2.09 Elijah Moore, WR Mississippi

Moore has been one of the true breakout stars of the 2020 season. Kyle Francis made the selection and pointed out that while Moore’s 2020 season has been most impressive, he had solid production entering this year, too. Moore is not a “one-hit wonder” and is an ideal fit in the slot.

2.10 Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR USC

Yes, you know the name. Wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown hopes to improve on his older brother’s NFL showing and the expectation is St. Brown will be a day two pick. Likely to be used in the slot, St. Brown is a balanced receiver who shows just enough strength and quickness to succeed. He’s one of the great examples of the wide receiver depth in this class.

2.11 Tylan Wallace, WR Oklahoma State

Many expected Wallace to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft but a torn ACL ended his season and he opted to return to college. Wallace has dealt with other injury issues this season, which have slowed his production. It will be crucial for Wallace to prove he is healthy during off-season workouts.

2.12 CJ Verdell, RB Oregon

Although Verdell has been a productive back for Oregon, he doesn’t have any standout skills to separate him from the pack. Again, in this weak running back class, that may not hurt him as much as other years. Verdell’s NFL upside is someone like Devin Singletary, certainly not a bad pick late in the second round.

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Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.