Monday Mocks: ‘What If’ Superflex Rookie Draft

Ryan McDowell Posted On February 15, 2022

Welcome to Monday Mocks, where I’ll bring you…you guessed it, a new mock draft every Monday during the offseason. In my opinion, drafting is the best part of fantasy football, so I do as much of that as I can. This series will be filled with all types of mocks. We’ll draft startups, rookies, devys and more.

This mock will be a little different than our previous editions. First, this is a one-man mock draft I completed based on a recent seven-round NFL mock draft from DLF’s own Shane Hallam. You can check out his full mock at Draft Countdown.

I try to do at least one of the types of mock drafts each year during the pre-draft season. There are many benefits I get from the process. First, I tend to focus more on the players’ fit with potential teams and team needs rather simply scouting the individual player. Also, studying deeper mock drafts like this one offers a better understanding of the potential draft capital players will eventually earn beyond the top prospects we usually see in one-round mocks.

With that in mind, here is a “What If” superflex rookie mock draft, projecting how the dynasty community might value players if Shane’s mock draft were to play out as written.

ROUND ONE

1.01 Malik Willis, QB WAS (1.11)

After a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, Willis is moving up boards so much so that he’s the first offensive dynasty-relevant player chosen in this mock draft. The uncertainty around how the quarterback position will shake out has kept non-signal callers atop many superflex rankings but I expect that to change. Landing in Washington, Willis could step in immediately as the starter with a group of solid playmakers already in place.

1.02 Kenny Pickett, QB PIT (1.20)

In this mock draft, Pickett gets to stay home as the Pittsburgh quarterback moves across town to take over for recently retired future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger. He took five years to make a real impact in college but he made his final year count, finishing as a Heisman Trophy finalist and placing himself in a position to be an early-round pick. With a strong collection of offensive playmakers for the Steelers, this landing spot would significantly boost Pickett’s superflex value.

1.03 Treylon Burks, WR CLE (1.13)

Currently considered the slight favorite to be the 1.01 in rookie drafts, this landing spot in Cleveland would not help Burks’ value. The good news is this comes with the Arkansas product being the first receiver drafted and would provide him the opportunity to be the top option in an offense from day one. There are obvious questions about the quarterback situation in Cleveland, but ultimately talent wins out over situation and Burks remains a top target in rookie drafts.

1.04 Matt Corral, QB NO (1.18)

After the surprise “retirement” of Head Coach Sean Payton, the Saints might be in position to tear it all down and start fresh. Using their first-round pick on a quarterback would fit that plan as well, especially considering Taysom Hill’s hype man Payton is no longer around. Corral can run and has a solid arm though there have been some questions about his size and durability.

1.05 Breece Hall, RB BUF (2.57)

This is where things get a little dicey. While most consider Hall the dynasty RB1 among incoming rookies, he is just the third back selected in this NFL mock draft. For better or worse, dynasty managers have a history of holding on tightly to their prior thoughts, so I stuck with Hall as the top rookie off the board. It also doesn’t hurt that he lands in one of the league’s top offenses that leaned heavily on the running game as the season wore down. It would be interesting to see how Hall or any rookie back worked with incumbent Devin Singletary, who looked like a legit RB1 late in the year.

1.06 Garrett Wilson, WR NE (1.21)

This is a difficult balance. The Patriots have a horrible history of drafting wideouts, especially in the early rounds. They also have a wide-open path for any top rookie to quickly ascend to the WR1 role. Wilson is a dynamic playmaker who can do it all of any NFL team and similar to Burks earlier, should be targeted based on his talent and regardless of landing spot.

1.07 Kenneth Walker, RB MIA (2.50)

Here is your RB1 from the class, based on this mock draft. There have been some rumblings that the NFL might like Walker slightly more than dynasty managers and that proves to be true here. With a new head coach seemingly committed to building a strong running game, Walker would be appealing in Miami but questions about his upside in PPR leagues remain.

1.08 Chris Olave, WR KC (1.30)

The general consensus is Olave hurt himself by returning to Ohio State for one more season but in this scenario, not only is he a first-round pick but lands in one of the league’s most desirable offenses, Kansas City. Despite their offensive prowess over the past five years, the team has failed to establish a solid WR2 behind Tyreek Hill. Many dynasty managers hoped Mecole Hardman could be that guy but he looks like a bust. Olave is a different type of receiver and would see his value boom with this landing spot and draft capital.

1.09 Sam Howell, QB DET (1.32)

It is becoming a trend over the past five years. A rookie quarterback, drafted in the first round, falls later than expected in rookie drafts. We’ve done it with Josh Allen, Daniel Jones, Justin Herbert and Mac Jones. This has often resulted in pain for dynasty managers who bypass the much-needed signal caller. Here, Howell just barely sneaks into Round One, being selected by the Lions with the final pick of day one. After their move to acquire Jared Goff last offseason, the Lions are still obviously in need of a quarterback and Howell could come in and give the former Rams quarterback competition as early as this coming season.

1.10 Isaiah Spiller, RB ARI (2.55)

We are still very early in the pre-draft process, but Spiller seems to be a prospect you either love or hate – that makes him difficult to project when considering dynasty value, as does his landing spot in Arizona. With both James Conner and Chase Edmonds set to enter free agency, there is much to be decided for the Cardinals. If both veterans walk, Spiller would likely be selected much earlier in rookie drafts, while just one of the impending free agents re-signing would push Spiller down to the later first-round range.

1.11 Drake London, WR PHI (1.19)

Although he’s the second wide receiver drafted in a strong wideout class, London’s landing spot of Philadelphia leaves a lot to be desired. The Eagles have burned multiple early-round picks on wideouts with little to show for it, requiring them to continue the trend until it works. Fortunately, last year’s selection of DeVonta Smith looks like a winner but there is almost no depth behind Smith. London would quickly contend for the WR2 role, if not more but in a Jalen Hurts offense, that is not a player dynasty managers should covet.

1.12 Jameson Williams, WR LV (1.22)

While Hunter Renfrow has been a nice surprise over the past two seasons, there is little else on the receiving depth chart in Las Vegas. A team known to focus on speed in the NFL Draft, Williams would fit the bill. He’s still recovering from a torn ACL, suffered in the National Championship game, but he’s expected to be fully ready by the start of the season and is widely projected to be drafted in Round One.

ROUND TWO

2.01 George Pickens, WR ATL (2.58)
2.02 Kyren Williams, RB ATL (4.110)
2.03 David Bell, WR JAC (2.33)
2.04 Jahan Dotson, WR NO (2.49)
2.05 Tyler Allgeier, RB HOU (3.80)
2.06 Trey McBride, TE GB (2.59)
2.07 Wan’Dale Robinson, WR HOU (3.68)
2.08 Carson Strong, QB MIN (3.77)
2.09 Jalen Tolbert, WR GB (3.92)
2.10 Jerome Ford, RB SEA (4.105)
2.11 Christian Watson, WR DET (2.34)
2.12 Dameon Pierce, RB TB (3.91)

Round two kicks off with a pair of players who could see their value climb as a result of landing in Atlanta. Depending on how the Calvin Ridley situation plays out, the rookie Pickens could have a chance at a significant role from day one. The same would certainly be true to Williams given the Falcons’ hole in the backfield. Even with Williams falling to Day Three, the landing spot would be enough to push him up the board. We’ve seen that in past years, most notably with Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Trey Sermon.

A trio of talented wideouts whom some consider potential dynasty rookie first-rounders fall down the board due to landing spot and others simply gaining value. This would make Bell, Dotson and Robinson easy targets in the second round of rookie drafts. Meanwhile, nice landing spots for three running backs give them value they may not otherwise have had. Allgeier is already a favorite of many and a possible day one starting job, even for Houston, is noteworthy. Ford and Pierce could also see early, meaningful roles with their new teams in this exercise.

Finally, Tolbert and Watson entered the off-season off the radar but both have quickly forced dynasty managers to take notice and their combination of draft capital and landing spot gets them into the second round of dynasty rookie drafts.

Here are the full results from Shane’s mock draft, listing all offensive dynasty-relevant players with landing spot and draft capital.

First Round

Malik Willis, QB WAS (1.11)
Treylon Burks, WR CLE (1.13)
Matt Corral, QB NO (1.18)
Drake London, WR PHI (1.19)
Kenny Pickett, QB PIT (1.20)
Garrett Wilson, WR NE (1.21)
Jameson Williams, WR LV (1.22)
Chris Olave, WR KC (1.30)
Sam Howell, QB DET (1.32)

Second Round

David Bell, WR JAC (2.33)
Christian Watson, WR DET (2.34)
Desmond Ridder, QB NYG (2.36)
Jalen Wydermyer, TE LAC (2.48)
Jahan Dotson, WR NO (2.49)
Kenneth Walker, RB MIA (2.50)
Isaiah Spiller, RB ARI (2.55)
Breece Hall, RB BUF (2.57)
George Pickens, WR ATL (2.58)
Trey McBride, TE GB (2.59)

Third Round

Isaiah Likely, TE NYG (3.67)
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR HOU (3.68)
Rachaad White, RB WAS (3.73)
Bailey Zappe, QB ATL (3.74)
Carson Strong, QB MIN (3.77)
Skyy Moore, WR LAC (3.79)
Tyler Allgeier, RB HOU (3.80)
Cole Turner, TE DAL (3.88)
Khalil Shakir, WR TEN (3.90)
Dameon Pierce, RB TB (3.91)
Jalen Tolbert, WR GB (3.92)
Alec Pierce, WR DET (3.97)

Fourth Round

Jerome Ford, RB SEA (4.105)
Charlie Kolar, TE NYJ (4.107)
Kyren Williams, RB ATL (4.110)
James Cook, RB DEN (4.111)
Romeo Doubs, WR NYJ (4.113)
Jeremy Ruckert, TE NO (4.116)
Slade Bolden, WR IND (4.118)
John Metchie, WR MIA (4.121)
Calvin Austin, WR TEN (4.127)
Grant Calcanterra, TE TB (4.129)
Abram Smith, RB NO (4.134)
Zamir White, RB BAL (4.136)
Cade Otten, TE BAL (4.138)

Fifth Round

Brian Robinson, RB NYJ (5.144)
Bo Melton, WR NYG (5.145)
Erik Enzukanma, WR CHI (5.146)
Danny Gray, WR MIN (5.154)
Greg Dulchich, TE JAC (5.155)
Pierre Strong, RB LAC (5.158)
Kyle Phillips, WR LV (5.163)
Jeremiah Hall, TE PHI (5.164)
Jelani Woods, TE TEN (5.167)
Reggie Roberson, WR TB (5.168)
Dontario Drummond, WR DAL 95.174)
Jake Ferguson, TE IND (5.177)

Sixth Round

Kaleb Eleby, QB JAC (6.179)
Tyler Badie, RB NYG (6.181)
Connor Heyward, TE HOU (6.182)
Justyn Ross, WR MIN (6.183)
Velus Jones, WR CHI (6.185)
Keaontay Ingram, RB KC (6.190)
Hassan Haskins, RB JAC (6.197)
Kennedy Brooks, RB MIA (6.200)
Daniel Bellinger, TE BUF (6.203)
Zonovan Knight, RB PHI (6.206)
Tay Martin, WR HOU (6.207)
Jerrion Ealy, RB NE (6.210)
ZaQuandre White, RB IND (6.217)

Seventh Round

Jack Coan, QB JAC (7.219)
Aqeel Glass, QB CLE (7.220)
Dareke Young, WR PIT (7.222)
Lucas Krull, TE MIN (7.227)
James Mitchell, TE SEA (7.228)
Jashaun Corbin, RB PIT (7.238)
Kevin Harris, RB CAR (7.244)
Makai Polk, WR GB (7.246)
Tyquan Thornton, WR KC (7.248)
Ty Chandler, RB LAR (7.250)
Jalen Nailor, WR SF (7.254)
Sincere McCormick, RB GB (7.256)

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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.