Navigating Your Dynasty Rookie Draft: Late 3rd

Brandon Haye

Dynasty rookie draft season is the time of year when those teams who missed the playoffs turn their attention to the incoming rookie class, and delusions of grandeur take over until the games kick off. Rebuilders are full of glee as they hoard their picks, while contenders are scheming how they can pry some of those picks away, and dynasty players everywhere are champing at the bit to draft their favorite prospect.

This 12-part series will use the latest Superflex Rookie ADP data available at Dynasty League Football. We will focus on the player or players likely to be available in that specific range we’re covering, and will also include options based on the 1QB rookie ADP, whenever actionable, for those who play in that format.

The first round of rookie drafts includes the players we’ve been hearing about for months if not years, but difference-makers can also be found in the second round and beyond. Each section will encompass four picks, and we will go four rounds deep to help you be as prepared as possible.

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Superflex 3.09 – Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE CAR

The former Texas tight end provides great size and speed. He put together back-to-back seasons with over 45 catches and 600 yards. His touchdown production did decrease from five to two in 2023 though. He is a matchup nightmare and has great hands. He is good up the seam against linebackers or safeties. When I watched Sanders’ film, I saw inconsistency in blocking and difficulty getting good leverage with his size. He will have to improve on that to stay on the field.

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College Stats – Sports Reference College Football.

Options/Strategy

I try not to pick tight ends until about this point in my rookie drafts unless they are selected in the top 50 picks of the NFL Draft. Tight ends are so difficult to find early production and you do not know how they will translate to the NFL.

Sanders fell to the fourth round, but I think he ended up in a good landing spot. There is not much competition for the top spot, and they need playmakers on the offense. The Panthers have not had a strong tight end since Greg Olsen so this could be great value at this spot. He can make big plays and can be a big, target for the red zone.

Pivots

If Sanders is gone or you do not want a tight end at this spot I would target Jalen McMillan. I know the Buccaneers have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but they don’t have a set third wide receiver. Evans is getting up there in age and Godwin is moving back in the slot so there could be some immediate flex consideration this year for McMillan.

He is a great route runner, which helps rookies in their transition into the NFL. In 2022 he had over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. Last year, he battled nagging injuries which is part of the reason production fell and he was drafted later. Baker Mayfield works best with well-timed routes and McMillan fits that.

Superflex 3.10 – Tyrone Tracy Jr, RB NYG

Tracy was a three-star running back out of high school, but Iowa played him at receiver for two years. In 2022, he transferred to Purdue and changed to running back. I was excited about this move and thought he could make a big impact. I was just a year early. He did little in 2022 but in 2023 had 716 yards on just 113 carries.

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College Stats – Sports Reference College Football.

Tracy is not an everydown back but he is new to the position but already shows good promise. He had good moves in the hole and has the receiving ability that NFL teams love. As you can see below his RAS scores are great except for size.

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Data courtesy of RAS.

Options/Strategy

Late in the third round, another way I like to go is getting secondary running backs that can be a passing option. Examples would be a James White or a Darren Sproles. These backs will not get all the carries but will get touches and can be very important, especially in PPR leagues.

Injuries happen so much to running backs, I always want depth at the position to get me through a rough patch. Tracy has already moved ahead of Eric Gray and has been impressing coaches in camp. If he can continue to improve on pass protection, he could lock up the second-string running back spot behind Devin Singletary.

Pivots

If Tracy is gone and you still want a similar back, I would look at Will Shipley out of Clemson. He is a player I liked coming out of college and I thought he could be utilized like Alvin Kamara. Shipley is not a player who will get 20 carries but is elusive in open space and can be lined up at wide receiver. He had over 1,000 all-purpose yards in each of his last two years at Clemson.

When the Eagles picked Shipley, I thought his value would not be very high. They already had Kenneth Gainwell there and just signed Saquon Barkley. In camp reports, it looks like Shipley has been impressive and could be passing Gainwell for the backup running back spot. The Eagles have always liked to use multiple running backs so Shipley could have weeks of flex value even with a healthy Barkley.

Superflex 3.11 – Audric Estime, RB DEN

Estime is a throwback to the traditional type of running back. He is a downhill runner with great size that does not go down easily. He has enough speed to break off big chunk plays but is not a home run threat. He was part of a shared backfield but started to take the lead late in the 2022 season. It was his show in 2023 and he had a huge season and scored 18 touchdowns.

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College Stats – Sports Reference College Football.

I did not think Estime would have great test numbers, but the speed was slower than I thought. On film, he lacked explosion through the hole and against better defenses struggled to get steady production. Estime would be a great complement type back but I do not see him being a three-down starter.

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Data courtesy of RAS.

Options/Strategy

As I stated earlier, I do like to take chances on running backs late in the third round, but Estime is not the type I usually go with. His receiving potential is limited, and he would need to be a goal-line back that gets touchdowns. The Broncos have Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin ahead of Estime. I am not sure how good the Broncos will be with a rookie quarterback, so the opportunities even for touchdowns could be lower for Estime.

Pivots

If you wanted to stick with a more physical running back, I would much rather take Braelon Allen. I know Breece Hall is the starter and Allen will not be overtaking him. I see much more potential in Allen and think he could eventually be a three-down starter somewhere. In camp, he has shown good hands, and the Jets could use him as a good change of pace to Hall.

Superflex 3.12 – Luke McCaffrey, WR WAS

McCaffrey has football in his blood, and it took a while but finally found success in college. He started as a quarterback at Nebraska but eventually transferred to Rice after throwing under 100 passes in two years. After his first year at Rice, McCaffrey changed positions to wide receivers and saw success in 2022. He continued to improve in 2023 with 71 catches for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns. At the senior bowl, McCaffrey impressed in drills and had his stock moving up with his route running ability.

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College Stats – Sports Reference College Football.

Options/Strategy

The end of the third round is a great time to take some shots on wide receivers that have the potential to get playing time right away. The Commanders have two receivers ahead of McCaffrey in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, but he should slot into the third wide receiver. Curtis Samuel moved on to Buffalo leaving the slot open. Jayden Daniels should provide a more high-powered offense this year and McCaffrey could see five to seven targets a game which is enough to be in flex consideration.

Pivots

If McCaffrey is gone or you want to find a sleeper tight end, then I would target Theo Johnson. When watching his film at Penn State I was underwhelmed with his receiving tape but his blocking was amazing. It is some of the greatest blocking I have seen from a tight end in the five years I have started to watch film. Now blocking does not give you fantasy points, but it will get him more snaps on the field. He is competing with Daniel Bellinger but so far in camp he has been turning heads. He may share time this year, but I think by next year he will have that starting spot.

Brandon Haye