Monday Mocks: Post-Combine Rookie Risers and Fallers
Welcome to Monday Mocks, where I’ll bring you… you guessed it, a new mock draft every Monday during the off-season. 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.
Last week, in anticipation of the annual NFL Scouting Combine, I shared a 1QB rookie mock draft, along with some of the tools and other information we offer that hopefully supported your Combine viewing experience. As it always does, the Combine gave us a new perspective and additional pieces to the puzzle for many key players.
This week, it’s time to take a new look at what a rookie mock draft might look like, with a focus on the players gaining or losing value following the events in Indianapolis.
ROUND ONE
1.01 Bijan Robinson, RB Texas
Last Week’s Rank- 1.01
No surprise here as Robinson easily maintains his grip on the top overall spot. Robinson captivated the media who crowded around him and then performed well in drills, highlighted by a 4.46 40 time. Still projected to be a top-five asset in dynasty startup drafts, Robinson is locked in as the top pick in rookie drafts.
1.02 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Ohio State
Last Week’s Rank- 1.03
Coming off a season in which he hardly saw the field due to a hamstring injury, everyone wanted to see Smith-Njigba run the 40 this week in Indianapolis. Ultimately, that was really the only thing he didn’t do. Smith-Njigba answered all questions about the circumstances around his injury and multiple missed games, then dominated the agility and pass-catching drills. I was hoping to find clarity at the top-heavy wide receiver position this week and that’s what Smith-Njigba offered. He’s locked in as the rookie WR1.
1.03 Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Alabama
Last Week’s Rank- 1.02
The main concern about Gibbs coming into the Combine was his size. If that had you worried, you might be concerned with the 5’9” and 199 pounds, but those numbers result in a BMI that is well within the range of other starters around the league. Often compared to Alvin Kamara, Gibbs told the media he was even faster than the Saints’ back. Gibbs then went out and proved it, easily besting Kamara’s 4.53 with his 4.36 performance. This comparison, along with Kamara’s off-field issues, makes it even more interesting that Gibbs listed New Orleans as one of his formal team meetings at the Combine.
1.04 Jordan Addison, WR USC
Last Week’s Rank- 1.04
USC’s Addison, a former Biletnikoff Award winner, had a very solid Combine week. Addison’s size was the main reason for worry entering the week and he did weigh in at just 173 pounds, but that is no real surprise. Drawing comparisons to Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith, Addison is still in line to be a first-round selection in the NFL Draft. Although the gap between Smith-Njigba may have widened, Addison has a firm hold on the fourth spot in 1QB rookie drafts.
1.05 Quentin Johnston, WR TCU
Last Week’s Rank- 1.05
Although Johnston opted out of the 40, his other drills were in the elite range, including a 40.5 vertical and 11’02 broad jump. Johnston is one of those size/speed wideouts that dynasty managers used to covet. Johnston could bring that back with the right landing spot. Johnston is almost certainly a top-five rookie pick in this format with room to grow.
1.06 Zay Flowers, WR Boston College
Last Week’s Rank- 1.08
This class is going to be remembered for the talent and volume of undersized wide receivers. Another one of those is Flowers from Boston College. Measuring 5’9” and 182 pounds, Flowers is a playmaker drawing comparisons to Tyler Lockett. With strong marks in the 40 and broad jump, Flowers has the requisite speed and athleticism to make a quick transition to the league. I love using a mid-first-rounder on Flowers, who shouldn’t last long into Day Two of the NFL Draft.
1.07 Josh Downs, WR North Carolina
Last Week’s Rank- 1.09
One of the differences when comparing dynasty rookie rankings to NFL Draft prospect lists is North Carolina’s Downs. Routinely showing up as a top-four receiver according to scouts, Downs was very impressive in the Combine drills, with a 38+” vertical jump and a good-enough 40 of 4.48 40. Downs is a possible first-round wideout who should only gain value. He could be this year’s version of Jahan Dotson.
1.08 Zach Charbonnet, RB UCLA
Last Week’s Rank- 1.07
UCLA’s Charbonnet looks like a post-Combine faller, and technically he is, down one spot from last week. Don’t let that impact your view of the well-rounded back who mentioned he went back to school last offseason so he could work on his pass-catching skills. That paid off as he nearly doubled his career reception total from his previous three seasons. Charbonnet showed off his explosiveness with very strong jumps and ran a respectable 4.53 40, given his 6’0”, 214-pound frame.
1.09 Devon Achane, RB Texas A&M
Last Week’s Rank- 1.10
The dynamo Achane only moved up one spot from last week, which doesn’t seem fitting coming off the Combine. Achane blazed a 4.32 40 and while there is some reason for concern about his size, coming in at 188 pounds is actually very good for his 5’8” height. Achane also noted to the media that he would be taking part in wide receiver drills, calling himself the best receiving back in the draft class. I expect Achane to battle Charbonnet to be the third back selected in both the NFL Draft as well as dynasty rookie drafts.
1.10 Jalin Hyatt, WR Tennessee
Last Week’s Rank- 1.06
I was above consensus on Tennessee’s Hyatt entering the Combine, but that is no longer the case. Hyatt brushed off concerns about his limited route running, say that he “played in the SEC.” A bit smaller than expected at just 176 pounds, Hyatt’s drills were quite impressive, including a 4.41 40 and a 40” vertical. The problem is expectations were even higher for the deep-ball specialist. First-round draft capital could help Hyatt recoup some value and move back up into the middle of the first round.
1.11 Marvin Mims, WR Oklahoma
Last Week’s Rank- 2.08
Others stole the Combine headlines, but my personal favorite player of the week was Oklahoma’s Mims. Speaking eloquently about his college career, Mims explained he was versatile, playing all over the field and consistent, producing throughout his time with the Sooners despite changes on the coaching staff and at quarterback. Mims showed off elite speed and explosion during the on-field workouts, helping him to leap nearly a full round since last week.
1.12 Anthony Richardson, QB Florida
Last Week’s Rank- 2.09
Yes, a quarterback in the first round of a 1QB rookie mock draft. Hear me out…Richardson put on a show at the Combine, as expected. He ran a 4.43 and the comps to Cam Newton, including the one Richardson himself made, don’t seem to be good enough anymore. A week ago, dynasty managers were concerned about the Malik Willis floor for Richardson, and now can only see the Justin Fields ceiling. While we knew Richardson would dominate in this athleticism-focused setting, it was his impressive work in the passing drills that won me over. This is a rare case in which I’d prefer some of the other quarterback options in a superflex league, but gamble on Richardson’s upside in the 1QB format.
ROUND TWO
2.01 CJ Stroud, QB Ohio State
Last Week’s Rank- 2.05
Although Richardson drew all of the headlines, multiple scouts suggested it was Ohio State’s Stroud who was the most impressive quarterback of the week. Stroud was already my QB1, and remains that way in my superflex rankings, and the ease with which he went completed passing drills made me more confident in that position. Stroud is still my pick to be the first player selected in the NFL Draft.
2.02 Bryce Young, QB Alabama
Last Week’s Rank- 2.02
We didn’t see Alabama’s Young run the 40 or participate in other on-field drills, he did command the crowd during interviews and plans to work out at the Crimson Tide’s Pro Day on March 23rd. In a tightly-packed group of top quarterback prospects, Stroud and Richardson, and even Will Levis to a degree, helped themselves by performing at the Combine, while Young was on the sidelines.
2.03 Roschon Johnson, RB Texas
Last Week’s Rank- 2.11
Robinson’s understudy at Texas, Johnson was one of the underrated winners of the week, based on what I saw. His interview was impressive as he made a case for why the Eagles would make a great landing spot, while noting Philadelphia was one of his two formal meetings on the week. Johnson’s testing was all over the board as he excelled in the broad jump but had a very poor vertical. Regardless, at his size of 6’0” and 219 pounds, he has the potential to be an every-down back in the league.
2.04 Tyjae Spears, RB Tulane
Last Week’s Rank- NR
One of my favorite players from the Combine was Spears, who was also one of the stars of Senior Bowl week. It was easy to see why as Spears lit up the interview room and quickly drew a large crowd. Zipping one-liners right and left, Spears also shared he’d met formally with the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the week. Still just 20 years old, Spears is in a good position to be a Day Two draft pick, which could solidify his spot as a top-five back in the class.
2.05 Sean Tucker, RB Syracuse
Last Week’s Rank- 2.06
Another player who chose not to participate in the 40 and other drills was Syracuse’s Tucker. There were some slight concerns about his size and Tucker measured in at 5’9” and 207 pounds. Questions about Tucker’s potential to be a lead back will persist following his limited activity this past week. Tucker was very successful in college but will need to be selected on Day Two to give dynasty managers the confidence to use a mid-second-rounder on him, and I’m not confident that happens.
2.06 Kendre Miller, RB TCU
Last Week’s Rank- 2.03
We didn’t see much from TCU’s Miller at all due to a late-season knee injury. Although he did suggest he’d be fully healthy by the start of the season, Miller wasn’t eager to go into detail about his injury, which kept him out of the National Championship game. Miller’s ultimate draft capital will tell us what teams think about him and the untimely injury.
2.07 Israel Abanikanda, RB Pittsburgh
Last Week’s Rank- 2.12
One of my personal favorites is Pitt’s Abanikanda. Although he did not run the 40, he did come in at a rocked-up 5’10” and 216 pounds. A well-rounded back with very good speed and elusiveness, the upcoming pro day will be huge after Abanikanda opted out of the on-field portion of the Combine. He’s a possible Day Two pick in the NFL Draft.
2.08 Tank Bigsby, RB Auburn
Last Week’s Rank- 2.10
Auburn’s Bigsby comes in as a riser, up a couple of spots from last week. Unfortunately for him, this is really only due to the process of elimination. Similar to his final college season, Bigsby didn’t really stand out in any way this week. Like the other running backs in this range, Bigsby’s ultimate value and ADP will be determined by draft capital and landing spot. Bigsby did mention he had met formally with Dallas, New Orleans, Jacksonville, and the Giants.
2.09 Zach Evans, RB Mississippi
Last Week’s Rank- 1.11
One of the bigger disappointments of the week was Mississippi’s Evans. The former top-ranked back in his recruiting class, Evans was already sliding down dynasty rankings as the realization that he would likely be a Day Three pick was setting in, but now that seems to be nearly a lock. Evans was unimpressive in media interviews, came in much smaller than expected, and opted out of the 40 due to an injury.
2.10 Darnell Washington, TE Georgia
Last Week’s Rank- NR
What a freak! We knew Georgia’s Washington was a mountain of a man, but he showed the complete package in Indy, running a 4.84 40, an elite 4.08 short shuttle, making multiple impressive catches, and blocking the sled with ease. Sometimes we just shouldn’t overthink it and this is one of those cases. Washington has climbed to the top of a deep and talented tight end group and looks like a first-round NFL Draft selection following an overall impressive Combine showing.
2.11 Will Levis, QB Kentucky
Last Week’s Rank- NR
In the media session, Kentucky’s Levis explained that he had chosen to throw at the Combine because he had “a cannon and wanted to show it off.” When Levis was throwing the ball in the first group of passers, there was a clear difference in the zip on the ball compared to the others in his group. Unfortunately, that did not include any of the other top prospects. Levis clearly took something off multiple throws when he should’ve been showing off his arm strength as he had planned. Levis is still set to be a top-ten draft pick and should have the opportunity to play right away.
2.12 Rashee Rice, WR SMU
Last Week’s Rank- 2.07
Rice has been underrated and overlooked through the early part of the NFL Draft process and that actually continued in Indianapolis as there was seemingly no buzz about the SMU receiver. I was hoping to see Rice run a bit faster than his 4.51 40 but both his vertical and broad jump were elite and he came in at 6’0” and over 200 pounds, checking the boxes on his size. If Rice can snag Day Two draft capital, which is the expectation, he’ll have a chance to regain some of that lost value and climb back up to the middle of the second round of rookie drafts.
We’ll be back next week with another Monday Mock Draft!
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