Post-Combine Superflex Rookie Rankings: Round One
With the NFL Scouting Combine over, the rookie pecking order is beginning to take shape and settle as draft capital expectations are known. It is a waiting game for the NFL Draft to finally know the landing spots as well, but a pre-draft ranking that takes into account the process can help formulate rookie rankings after the draft.
With the value of quarterbacks in superflex leagues, they are the headliners of my top 12 along with the strong wide receiver class.
1.01 – Caleb Williams, QB USC
Believe the hype. Williams is indeed an excellent QB prospect and an easy 1.01 in superflex drafts. The arm angles, zip, and ability to improvise when the play breaks down while still keeping his eyes downfield are elite traits that Williams brings to his new team. He is on par with players like Andrew Luck and Trevor Lawrence as a prospect. While others with ‘prospect fatigue’ try to tear him down, Williams performed while trying to match the points his awful defense at USC was giving up. Add in underrated rushing ability, and he has the make-up of a top-five fantasy QB.
1.02 – Marvin Harrison Jr, WR Ohio State
As an advocate for going QB-heavy in SF rookie drafts, it is hard to rank Harrison here. But, he checks all the boxes despite a refusal to work out at all publicly before the NFL Draft. Good size, top speed, and incredible precision on every route in the route tree make Harrison dangerous. He is drawing comparisons to AJ Green, who was a WR1 in fantasy for seven straight years. His skill set and upside are enough for you to choose the safety of Harrison over the other QBs in this class.
1.03 – Jayden Daniels, QB LSU
Daniels had a roller coaster college career. After his freshman season at Arizona State, he was viewed as a potential fantasy stud when he hit the NFL. But, he fell back to earth when the offensive scheme changed. A transfer to LSU solved Daniels’ issues and led to a Heisman-winning season this past year. The dynamic rushing ability is what fantasy owners dream of. If Daniels can hit his potential, he could be the second coming of Lamar Jackson for fantasy owners. The floor is low, however, as Daniels did have an all-star cast around him at LSU, including two WRs in the top ten of my rankings.
1.04 – Drake Maye, QB North Carolina
Physically, Maye is how you draw up a QB at over 6’3 and 223 pounds. As a sophomore, he got the nod to start for North Carolina and had an incredible season with good blocking and weapons like Josh Downs. His throwing velocity and pocket navigation were NFL-level at a young age. He took a slight step back this past season due to a worse offense around him, but someone with Maye’s size and arm has unlimited NFL potential. He also has the ability to pick up chunks of yardage with his fit and will be a goal-line TD fiend with the QB Sneak. There may need to be some development, but his upside is right there with the rest of the class.
1.05 – Malik Nabers, WR LSU
Nabers is only the eighth SEC WR since 2010 with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons, joining players like Amari Cooper, DeVonta Smith, AJ Brown, and Mike Evans. His separation ability off the snap is so smooth. Paired with excellent body control, he is pretty unstoppable. A definite top-ten NFL Draft pick, Nabers has the potential to be one of the best WRs in the league. If you are in need of WR help over QB help, there is no shame about taking him over Daniels or Maye as well. If he ends up in a better situation than Harrison, there will be plenty of scuttlebutt to bump Nabers as the top wideout in rookie drafts.
1.06 – Brock Bowers, TE Georgia
Back in September of 2022, I tweeted this:
Brock Bowers is going to be what Kyle Pitts was supposed to be
— Shane P. Hallam (@ShanePHallam) September 24, 2022
Though Bowers certainly doesn’t have Pitts’ size, his quickness and athleticism will shine in an offense built to create space. Coming in over 6’3″ and at 243 pounds at the Combine was a win for Bowers. Not only can he be a receiving TE, but he was used on reverses and in the screen game. A creative offense could unlock his potential like we saw the Lions do with Sam LaPorta last year. Even without a premium in TE scoring, Bowers is worth a high pick as a plug-and-play TE fantasy starter.
1.07 – JJ McCarthy, QB Michigan
This is currently a high ranking for McCarthy, but others will be catching up soon. After a Combine where he was by far the best passing QB, McCarthy is locked in as a top 12 NFL Draft pick. Though he lacks the passing volume and experience, his quick release, excellent footwork, and pocket navigation are right up there with the top QBs of the class. Any QB drafted high in the NFL Draft is worth a high rookie pick in SF, just for the value alone. With a bit of rushing upside mixed in, McCarthy will be tempting for teams who need more QB depth on their fantasy roster.
1.08 – Rome Odunze, WR Washington
Odunze just oozes with potential. The size and speed combination along with his production in the last two seasons gives him the ultimate upside. It is easy to see how he could fit into a traditional X WR role. The major issue is he is coming from the Washington offense that was built on creating stacks for easy separation and reads. If the NFL is high enough on Odunze to take him in the top ten of the NFL Draft, then there will be a clear tier break after him in rookie drafts.
1.09 – Brian Thomas Jr, WR LSU
Thomas is likely to be the fourth WR drafted in April, but he will be the ultimate boom-or-bust pick for dynasty players. Having only started playing football in tenth grade, Thomas is still extremely raw. His size and athleticism are great, and his red zone abilities to catch fades and find spacing were unmatched this season. But Thomas’ understanding of how to get off the line, how to cut in routes, and other finer points of the position are lacking. In the late first round, the upside is worth the risks.
1.10 – Xavier Worthy, WR Texas
The NFL is starting to value smaller speed WRs who have special skills after the catch. Worthy is the next line as a Marquise Brown type of player. Not only did he break the 40-time record with a 4.21, but he knows how to beat zone coverage and make defenders miss. It is possible that Worthy’s new team won’t use him in a fantasy-friendly way, but peppering a top weapon with targets is likely the smart approach. Worthy will have to clean up his drops and stay healthy, but buy the dip if others are scared away by the size.
1.11 – Adonai Mitchell, WR Texas
Mitchell transferred from Georgia to Texas and absolutely took off in the Longhorns offense. He led the team with 11 receiving TDs and has the size to be a prototypical NFL X WR, along with crazy athleticism. He went off for a 4.34 and has a monster athletic profile. He is physical off the line and can make contested catches, especially in the red zone. There were certainly stretches where the lack of separation caused Mitchell to disappear for long stretches of games, and just never had the production profile you look for. With development, he could end up a real stud. If he does get first-round draft capital, he may be even more of a rookie draft riser.
1.12 – Troy Franklin, WR Oregon
Franklin is on the first/second-round border, but his downfield ability makes him an intriguing fantasy option in the right situation. As a former 5* recruit, Franklin offers more upside than just being the deep guy. He had some utilization in the screen game and even across the middle a bit. He lit up the Combine with a 4.41, though struggled a bit in the gauntlet drill. With a good QB and offense, it is possible Franklin unlocks a new level of play and is a better pro than college player.
- 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Dynasty Rookies In The Top 100 - April 14, 2024
- Post-Combine Superflex Rookie Rankings: Round Three - March 8, 2024
- Post-Combine Superflex Rookie Rankings: Round Two - March 7, 2024
