With the college football season now in the rearview mirror and the NFL playoffs getting into the second weekend, it’s time for us to continue pumping out the 2021 rookie content.
A few days ago, I asked our team to help me perform a lightning quick rookie mock draft on Slack, a platform we all use to communicate. The rules were simple – the mock was for a PPR league and non-Superflex (we’ll have one of those here soon, too). The only rule was you could not make two picks in a row. We will have countless versions of rookie mock drafts to follow, but it’s never a bad time to get a snapshot of some opinions.
Let’s get to it!
1.01 = Najee Harris, RB Alabama
My take: Harris is going to be one of the most popular picks at the top of rookie drafts this upcoming year. He ended his Alabama senior season with 1,466 rushing yards, 43 catches, 425 receiving yards and a ridiculous 30 total touchdowns. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry against elite competition in the SEC every week and projects as a three down back at the next level. He is likely going to find himself drafted in the late first or early second round. Depending on his landing spot, Harris is clearly in play to be the 1.01 in 2021 dynasty rookie drafts. He’d look great on a team like Pittsburgh or Miami.
1.02 = Travis Etienne, RB Clemson
My take: Etienne didn’t have the dominant season some may have expected, but in his defense, Clemson was in very few close games. In the end, Etienne closed out his Clemson career with 4,952 rushing yards, 1,155 receiving yards and 78 touchdowns, all while averaging over seven yards per carry. Etienne is a threat to score every time he touches the ball and would be an upgrade at the position for nearly every team in the league. An improving pass catcher, Etienne could clearly be in the mix to be drafted as the first overall running back taken in the NFL Draft and as such, is also in play for the 1.01 in rookie drafts.
1.03 = Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU
My take: With all the talk about the dominance of the Alabama offense this season, it’s hard to remember just how good LSU was last year. The problem is you’re going to need to activate your memory banks to remember the dominant season Chase put up in 2019. While he sat out this year, owners need to get in their time machine and remember 2019 when he posted a ridiculous 84/1,780/20 season for LSU. We know how good Justin Jefferson is (he posted a 111/1,540/18 line that same season) and there really wasn’t an argument from many saying Jefferson was a better prospect than Chase because he simply wasn’t – that’s enough to move him right towards the top of the board. Chase and DeVonta Smith are likely in the running to be the first receiver taken in the NFL Draft and likely in rookie drafts as well.
1.04 = Rondale Moore, WR Purdue
My take: To me, this was the biggest surprise of round one. I clearly belieive Harris, Chase, Etienne and DeVonta Smith are the top four prospects at this time and if there was another prospect to infiltrate that group, I’d expect it to be Jaylen Waddle or even a running back. Still, Moore is a special player with some serious upside and my argument here isn’t a line in the sand at all. While he only played in three games this season, we’ve seen enough of Moore in his three years at Purdue to know he’s a serious playmaker. His landing spot could vault him all the way up to this area.
1.05 = DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama
My take: There’s not much more you can say about DeVonta Smith, who posted 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the National championship game. Even more impressive, Smith recorded that ridiculous stat line in just one half of action before exiting the game with a hand injury. The Heisman winner ends the season with a ridiculous 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns. The interesting thing to me now will be how many draft “experts” start marking him down because of his size. While he doesn’t have the prototypical build for an NFL wideout, he simply makes play after play. We’ve seen players like DK Metcalf and Dalvin Cook get downgraded through the draft process – don’t let that happen to your opinion with Smith – he’s an elite playmaker and has a bright NFL future. Pass on him at your own peril.
1.06 = Kyle Pitts, TE Florida
My take: What!?! We have tight end in the top half of round one? Yes, indeed. Pitts is the best tight end prospect we’ve seen in some time and will likely begin to merit consideration here in the middle of round one. The tight end position seems to be Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Darren Waller, and everyone else. However, Pitts has the talent to possibly emerge into a player of the top tier’s caliber. Fresh off a 43/770/12 season, the uber-athletic Pitts looks like a top ten NFL Draft pick and first round rookie pick as well.
1.07 = Rashod Bateman, WR Minnesota
My take: Bateman’s junior season was impressive as he posted a 60/1,219/11 line. Unfortunately, he cut his senior season short due to COVID concerns and played in only three games this season, recording 36 catches for 472 yards and two touchdowns. Bateman is a complete receiver and if his timed speed comes up within an acceptable range, he’ll be a fixture in the middle of round one in dynasty rookie drafts.
1.08 = Jaylen Waddle, WR Alabama
My take: Waddle was simply dominant in his first four games this season as he caught 25 passes for 558 yards and four touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. Bad luck struck in game five as Waddle suffered a fracture in his ankle. While he was able to return for the National Championship game, it was clear to everyone he still needed time to heal. Waddle will be overshadowed by his teammate in most rookie drafts, but make no mistake, he has top 15 talent in the NFL Draft and anyone getting him in the middle of round one in a rookie draft could have a major steal.
1.09 = Chris Olave, WR Ohio State
My take: To me, this is where we see another tier break. I currently see tier one including Harris, Chase, Etienne, and Smith. The second tier consists of Waddle, Moore, Bateman and Pitts. Again, that’s just my initial opinion and not how this draft fell. However, I would currently put Olave here at the beginning of tier three, assuming he does enter the draft. Olave is a big play receiver who averaged a robust 16 yards per reception in his three years at Ohio State. While not the quickest or fastest receiver in this class, Olave is close to pro ready and should contribute early in the NFL and in fantasy leagues. He’s one of at least six receivers who are expected to go in round one of this loaded NFL Draft receiver class and has major upside.
1.10 = Kenneth Gainwell, RB Memphis
My take: The run on pass catchers ends here with Gainwell, who burst on to the scene with 1,459 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns for Memphis. When you consider he added another 51/610/3 line receiving last year, you can see why he’s intriguing. Memphis gave us Antonio Gibson last year. Could they give us another premier runner in back-to-back seasons? Time will tell and pre-draft workouts will be important. However, if Gainwell puts up solid “underwear olympic” numbers, he could be a day two selection and possibly go to a great landing spot and increase his value even more. Plus, “Gainwell” is a natural name for a runner. The only thing better would be a prospect named Tommy Runsalot.
1.11 = Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson
My take: The clear 1.01 in SuperFlex or 2QB formats, we find Lawrence in rarified air here at the end of round one of conventional drafts. While this is likely the ceiling for Lawrence, any owner who believes he’s the next Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers or Andrew Luck can easily justify snagging him here. In addition, a team with the 11th overall pick likely has the ability to take a chance with a luxury pick on an elite quarterback since they likely aren’t looking for too much immediate help as a league contender. Regardless, Lawrence is an elite prospect the likes of which come around only once every decade or so. If he does indeed end up in Jacksonville, he at least has some skill players to work with.
1.12 =Â Javonte Williams, RB UNC
My take: North Carolina was one of the bigger surprises of the college football season and the performance of Williams was a big reason why. He was solid last year with a 166/933/5 line on a robust 5.6 yards per carry, but exploded this season with 1,140 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 7.3 yards per carry. When you add in 25 catches for 305 receiving yards and three more touchdowns, that was one impressive season. Even better, he had some of his best games against ranked opponents like Miami (236 rushing yards), NC State (160 rushing yards) and Virginia Tech (169 rushing yards). He’s one of the top playmakers in this draft and his draft stock will be a huge measuring stick to see just where he gets taken in rookie drafts. At this point, the end of round one seems like the floor…or as his fellow UNC alum Michael Jordan would say, “The ceiling is the roof.”
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
Good stuff , will there be a rookie mock for SF leagues ?
great article, perfect that you just wrote some short sentences how do you think about each player! (long analysis and articles will published early enough)
best regards
I’m surprised people are sleeping on Trey Sermon. Kid is a stud in the making
Jason, that was my thoughts too. Maybe the injury accounts for him to sit out for the combine and pushes him back in drafts.
Only problem I see with him is he hasn’t shown very much at all in the PPR aspect. Likely not going to see him in the 1st rnd of many if any PPR mocks. Otherwise I agree.
Amazing there would be a 1 QB mock at all in the current dynasty landscape. Even doing a SF mock, 1 QB leagues can still figure it out, or can they?
I love how every year, a lot of you on here comment the same boring stuff, over and over, about “where’s the SF mock?!”…”1 QB leagues are for idiots!”
Especially after it’s CLEARLY stated in the beginning of this article that the Superflex mocks and info will be coming.
Honestly…you sound like a weak elitist group, thinking they are better than everyone, simply because you (can) start 2 QBs…lol.
I am in both Dynasty formats, and love and enjoy both. Different approaches and strategies. There ARE other leagues other than SF…and clearly the head people and lots of writers on this site are a part of non-SF leagues based on the content and articles.
And Lamont, can’t YOU figure out just to put the QBs at the top of the list for a SF rookie mock? Or can’t you? Lol…it’s not rocket science.
LOL Was going to say the same thing. Like scoring an extra 25pts a week is such a game changer. Seriously if anybody can’t figure out how to add QB’s and move the other players down. or remove the QBs and move the others up depending on the mock, you probably shouldn’t be playing in the 1st place.
I was thinking the same stuff. Couldn’t have said it better myself! LOL
Appreciate the mock. Would really love to see rounds 2, 3 & 4. If nothing else, it’d give us some names to research. As someone who sold my 1st & 2nd Rnd picks, I’m wanting to really hone in on the 3rd & 4th rounds. Looking for that diamond in the rough.
Noob here. What platform do ppl use for their dynasty mock drafting? Is there one that stands out?
If your looking to participate in the mocks then I’ll defer and let someone else suggest sites, as I don’t partake in doing them. Otherwise the content here at DLF is as good as you’ll get as anywhere else. Just remember this about mocks. They are a snapshot of how the people doing the mock felt about the players at that time. The same people could do the same mock a week or month from now and have a different result. But regardless of what mocks you look at, you probably won’t see any dramatic differences between similar types. A few players up or down a few spots but in general they’ll pretty much be in the same range. The biggest changes will happen after the actual draft when a player’s value can spike. I.E. Last year CEH going from a late 1st to the 1st overall in a lot of mocks.
I think I say this every year, but this draft fascinates me.
In a 1QB league I have the 1.01 and 1.04 and can’t wait to see who falls to me at the 1.04.
In a SF league I have no first round picks but have the 2.07 and 2.12 and once again, once you put all the QBs into the mix I am going to get someone decent at 2.07 or trading up could net me someone very valuable for my team coming off the championship win. Cant wait
