SuperFlex Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft part I

  Dynasty Football 101

     Rookie SuperFlex Mock Draft

               February 12-14, 2021

When I first played fantasy football over thirty years ago, the NFL dropped from the fantasy fanatic’s radar during the month of February. Sports diehards would spend their time watching NCAA basketball and preparing for fantasy baseball drafts…no longer. Now, the last month of the meteorological winter is the start of the Dynasty fantasy football season.

The NFL news cycle never ends, and the league is a year-round captivation. It is nearly a full-time occupation keeping up with all of the offseason turnover: coaching and staff changes, free-agent acquisitions and the NFL Draft. It is an amazing era to be alive and a football fan.

Like many Dynasty zealots, I am gearing up for my upcoming drafts by studying and assessing the incoming college prospects. Having scouted numerous rookies in detail over the past six months, I am kicking off the Dynasty campaign with a Rookie SuperFlex Mock Draft for the fifth year in a row.

In order to acquire insight into the value of prospects in 2021, I asked eleven other football mavericks to join me. The results are provided below along with analysis and insight provided by the participants…I love Dynasty football!

Avengers Assemble: Mock Drafters

Draft Order and Participants

1. Michael Lavery, @mike__lavery

2. Patrick Sullivan, @cfbdfs

3. John Laub, @GridironSchol91

4. Dennis Michelsen, @DmicMedia

5. Anthony Corrente, @DynastyDrive

6. Luke Thompson, @xXLT24Xx

7. Rich Maletto, @BodaciousBeer

8. Jeremy Miller, @Miller88Jeremy

9. Mitch Hardt, @aceholesrule

10. Ryan Stern, @rstern33

11. Coach Schepps, @CoachSchepps

12. Benjamin Cunningham, @BenC1357

First-Round Recap and Analysis

1.01 QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

Fantasy footballers know the story. As the QB No. 1 out of high school, Trevor Lawrence wins it all as a true freshman, and loses only two games his entire career. But who cares about reality when we want fantasy points! Lawrence not only offers an incredible floor with his accuracy, touch, arm strength, and size but he has hidden Konami Code potential. Lawrence totaled 1,033 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing the past two seasons (eliminating the sack yardage). Don’t overthink the 1.01.

Michael Lavery, @mike__lavery

1.02 QB Justin Fields, Ohio State

Sitting in the on-deck circle with 1.02, my thinking was not to think. Just take Fields. He's an outstanding prospect, who is NFL ready and will see playing time early. Big arm, pro system (at Ohio State, and before at Georgia), plus some dynamic dual-threat ability. Need more convincing? Pop in the tape of the National Semifinal versus Clemson: six touchdowns on 22-of-28 passing and five yards a carry against a not-too-shabby Tigers’ defense. Moving on!

Patrick Sullivan, @cfbdfs

1.03 RB Najee Harris, Alabama

In the RB Class of 2021, Najee Harris is the best pass catcher: It is not discussed sufficiently in the fantasy community. The Alabama sledgehammer caught 80 passes during his tenure and scored 11 times in the air. He runs stunning wheel routes, crossing patterns and screen passes. As a runner, there is no question that his blend of size, speed and strength warrant the attention of scouts and organizations. Nevertheless, Harris’ ability in the passing game propels him as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. I am beyond happy to snag him after the stellar signal callers are off the board in a SuperFlex draft.

John Laub, @GridironSchol91

1.04 WR Ja’Marr Chase, LSU

Fantasy Football is a weekly game that needs weekly statistical tools. Consistency is the best characteristic of a fantasy football player and very few college wide receivers have been more consistent than Ja’Marr Chase, making him the logical choice with the fourth pick in the draft. We all saw what Justin Jefferson did last year, and it was a consensus during LSU’s Championship run that Chase was even better than Jefferson. 

Dennis Michelsen, @DmicMedia

1.05 RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

With the top two options at quarterback off the board, I will opt for my running back No. 2 in the Class of 2021. After Najee Harris and Travis Etienne, there is a bit of a cliff at the running back position, and I like the value of landing a player who has the potential to be a fantasy superstar. A home run threat every time he touches the ball, Etienne has grown enough as a receiver that I like his odds of being featured as a three-down running back at the professional level.

Anthony Corrente, @DynastyDrive

1.06 QB Zach Wilson, BYU

Zach Wilson threw for 3,692 yards, 33 touchdowns and only three interceptions against a softer schedule, but these are still excellent numbers that have rocketed Wilson into the QB No. 2 conversation. He has all of the tools that teams covet in the modern NFL, with the ability to escape the pocket and make throws from any platform using his strong arm. Teams will love the fact that he can run when needed, and it gives defenses one more thing to have to defend.  As fantasy footballers all know, a dual-threat quarterback can be gold for fantasy purposes.  “Leadership council” or not, this kid can play and has a high ceiling…lock him in at 1.06 for me in SuperFlex drafts.

Luke Thompson, @xXLT24Xx

1.07 TE Kyle Pitts, Florida

Kyle Pitts is one of the most electrifying prospects that I have ever seen. There are times Pitts reminds me of Calvin Johnson. I get the comp to Darren Waller, and Waller also played receiver at Georgia Tech, as Megatron did. I don't believe Pitts is Calvin Johnson, but they are similar in size, and I don't believe Pitts has Johnson's speed. My fear with Pitts is he too small to play inline tight end. He has reliable blocking technique but tends to get run over by defenders that are over 250 pounds. That said, he's a receiving mismatch all over the field.

Rich Maletto, @BodaciousBeer

1.08 WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Let me start by saying I was very happy to draft the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner with pick 1.08. With this being a SuperFlex fantasy draft, I was torn between DeVonta and his college teammate Mac Jones. I decided to pick DeVonta because I have him ranked as my No. 2 wide receiver in this draft class, and he comes with less risk than most players in this crop of playmakers. In my opinion, he is the closest thing to a complete receiver in this draft class. He catches everything, is always open, and so dangerous with the ball in his hands. I will be looking to draft him with a mid-to-late first-round pick of my fantasy rookie drafts this year.

Jeremy Miller, @Miller88Jeremy

1.09 RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina

In Javonte Williams, I see a perfectly sized NFL ball carrier with the skill set to be a three-down back immediately. I see Alvin Kamara like production running the ball where Williams is the 65 in a 65/35 split. He is big enough and good enough to be the goal line back in that committee. Having been in a committee throughout college, Javonte has shown that he checks his ego at the door and this trait will help him in the NFL. A 1,200-yard season as a rookie is doable and he could be a Top 5 back in short time. His skills will fit in any system, but Arizona would be a great landing spot for Williams.

Mitch Hardt, @aceholesrule

1.10 WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

I was thrilled to get Waddle here. His ankle injury has caused his stock to slip to the consensus No. 3 wide receiver amongst most draft gurus. But what I remember is Waddle being the more talked about Crimson Tide pass catcher over the past two years, overshadowing DeVonta Smith. Being a SuperFlex league, Trey Lance was in the discussion, but I got a Top 5 talent at pick #10.

Ryan Stern, @rstern33

1.11 QB Trey Lance, North Dakota

Coming out of North Dakota State, Trey Lance has limited experience but from what I’ve seen on tape, he has the ability and frame to be a long-time starter in the NFL. Right now, it’s expected that he’ll be the fourth QB off the board in the NFL Draft, but I doubt he makes it out of the Top 10. An elite dual-threat field general at pick #11 in SuperFlex? Sign me up.

Coach Schepps, @CoachSchepps

1.12 WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

Bateman checks all of the boxes we look for in a rookie wide receiver—size, speed, early college production, high-market share of team receiving yards, leaving college early, and one would presume high draft capital. Then when you turn on the tape, he looks the part as well, dominating college defenders with ease. I personally have Bateman as the No. 2 WR in this class only behind Chase, getting him this late in the draft was a nice value.

Benjamin Cunningham, @BenC1357