X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Dynasty Rookie Draft Results and Analysis by Michael Florio

Drake London fantasy football rankings rookies draft sleepers NFL draft

Michael Florio recaps a 2022 fantasy football dynasty rookie draft for 2022 NFL rookies. His round-by-round analysis of each fantasy football rookie draft pick.

The NFL Draft is always a great time. We get to see players' dreams come true, while teams make decisions that will shape their future, as well as the fantasy landscape, for years to come. After the dust settles and the GMs are done making their selections, that's when fantasy players go to work. 

Of course, I am talking about rookie drafts! Dynasty leagues have become more and more popular every year. And a staple of any dynasty league is the rookie draft. While this class may not have the elite options like we saw last year with Ja'Marr Chase, Najee Harris, and Kyle Pitts, there are still players that can make a difference for years to come. Plus, there is more depth in this class, meaning that you can find values in the later rounds of your rookie draft. 

I am in a dynasty league with other fantasy football content creators and we just finished our 2022 rookie draft. I had the seventh pick and there were many trades made in this league, including one I made to trade Zach Ertz and the 2.7 pick for Kadarius Toney and 4.11. While I am pumped to get Toney on my roster, we are going to focus on the rookie draft and how to attack it! 

Editor's Note: Explore RotoBaller’s Dynasty Fantasy Football hub for year-round dynasty rankings, trade tips, rookie analysis, and long-term player outlooks. Dominate your league with our sleepers, stash targets, and dynasty draft advice. Click here for Dynasty rankings and strategy.

 

2022 NFL Rookie Draft Board

 

First Round Rookie Draft Analysis

There is no talking about any draft without discussing who should be the top pick. For me, and in this draft, that honor went to Drake London. He is a big-bodied receiver who the Falcons chose when they had their pick of the litter at the position. He can be utilized downfield and in the red zone and steps into a situation with a bunch of volume up for grabs. Some may say Kyle Pitts is the top target here and they wouldn’t be wrong, but there is so little target competition outside of him that it's possible for both to see a target share upwards of 25 percent. I would grab him with the 1.01 and not think twice.

Breece Hall went second in this rookie draft and I think that is the proper assessment. Hall was the clear-cut RB1 in this class and while he didn’t land in a wide-open backfield, he should still see the heavy side of a time split. Hall has the ability to see upwards of 200, maybe even 250 touches as a rookie and brings the most upside of any rookie in this class. 

The top-two options are pretty clear cut, but afterward there is a tough decision to be made. The next best options include Treylon Burks, Jameson Williams, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Kenneth Walker III. In this draft, we saw Walker go first of this bunch, and it makes sense if you are an RB-needy team. Walker, who Seattle took in the second round, can compete for touches right away with Rashaad Penny. Chris Carson’s future with Seattle is very much in doubt due to a recurring neck issue.

Williams went second, and it is hard to argue against him when looking long-term. Williams is the most explosive receiver in this draft and you can easily make the case that he brings the most upside of anyone in this class. The only knock is he is recovering from a torn ACL and has Jared Goff, so his Year One production may not be on par with some of the other options.

Burks went third in this group and he has the chance to be a huge contributor from the moment he steps on the field. Burks reminded me of a less athletic A.J. Brown, who he will now be replacing in Tennessee. Burks is my WR2 for 2022 purposes and should be London’s biggest competition for best year one rookie. Burks vs. Williams comes down to a short vs long-term approach.

I was able to nab Garrett Wilson with the seventh pick and was happy to do so. Wilson will now compete with Elijah Moore and Corey Davis to be the Jets' top target. He was a very productive college receiver and I have no concerns about his talent translating, it's just that there are other receiver options and he needs Zach Wilson to take the next step. Still, Wilson should go in the first half of the first round in rookie drafts.

Chris Olave went ninth overall and he brings similar upside and concerns as Wilson. Those were the two I debated at the seventh spot. Olave landed with the Saints and would be the clear-cut number two behind Michael Thomas if he is healthy, but there have been reports that Thomas is still working his way back from the foot surgery he underwent last summer. If Thomas misses time, Olave would become the top option in New Orleans and definitely would jump past Wilson in the rookie rankings. 

While those are the top options for me, we did not see them go in that order in this draft. James Cook, the Bills' latest running back, went sixth overall to some surprise by those in the draft. He certainly brings upside as he projects as the best pass-catching back in this class. The Bills have clearly prioritized that spot in the offense after trying to sign J.D. McKissic and then nabbing Duke Johnson. He should lead that backfield in targets and has a chance to steal groundwork from Devin Singletary. I would have taken the receivers over him, but if you are an RB-needy team, he is the RB3 in this class.

After Olave, that is when the talent drop-off hits. You can argue this class is about eight or nine deep when it comes to immediate impact players and after that, there are still useful options, but there certainly is a drop-off. David Bell went 10th here and the reasoning has to be that he has a chance to be the new Jarvis Landry in the Browns' system that is thin at receiver after Amari Cooper. But I would have taken either Skyy Moore or Christian Watson over him. To me, deciding between those two is the toughest decision in a rookie draft. On one hand, I liked Moore better as a prospect and he landed in an ideal situation, but he has Travis Kelce, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and others to compete with for targets. Watson on the other hand has a real shot at being Aaron Rodgers' top target, which is why I slightly lean his way. 

Kenny Pickett was the only QB to go in the first and that is telling because this is a SuperFlex draft. But it is hard to argue with the logic. Pickett, who went 20th overall, was the only QB selected in the first two rounds. He is going to start sooner rather than later as he was the most NFL-ready QB in this class. He does not bring the usual upside of the first QB selected, but he should be a starter for the foreseeable future. 

 

Second Round Rookie Draft Analysis

The second round was where we saw managers start to take a bet either on talent or on the landing spot. For instance, George Pickens kicked off the second round and there is a lot to like with that value. He has alpha-like qualities and can compete to be the second target in Pittsburgh. He did not fall into a spot where he will have an obvious Year One impact, but the opportunity is there and so is the talent.

We also saw Malik Willis and Desmond Ridder go here. Both are QBs that bring upside in fantasy, especially Willis, because of what they can do with their legs. But both have clearly lost some steam after free-falling in the NFL Draft. The early second round is the sweet spot to take the shot on their talent. Matt Corral went later in the round, who has a chance to start immediately considering his competition is Sam Darnold.

We also saw Dameon Pierce go this round and he has a chance to start immediately for the Texans, as his competition for touches in that backfield are Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead. No one was arguing for him being one of the top backs in this class, but landing spot matters and he could not fall into a better spot. The middle of the second round is a strong spot to take him. 

Rachaad White and Isaiah Spiller are talented backs that did not fall into a spot with obvious opportunity, but both are worth gambling on in the second round. Spiller figures to play the secondary role in the Chargers' backfield. Los Angeles has utilized a back behind Austin Ekeler, but they have never found someone who can consistently produce in that role. Spiller should be the answer to their problems and that means he could see upwards of 150 touches in year one. White will compete with Gio Bernard to be the pass-catching specialist for Tom Brady and the Bucs. That is a role that certainly provides value. 

Trey McBride and Wan’Dale Robinson were selected toward the end of the round. Neither figure to make a huge Year One impact, but this is a long-term gamble on talent. Meanwhile, John Metchie III and Alec Pierce are betting on a Year One impact due to falling to a favorable landing spot with targets up for grabs. Jahan Dotson is sort of in between taking a bet on volume and talent, but he certainly deserves to go no later than the middle of the second round. 

 

Later-Round Rookie Draft Dart Throws

After the first two rounds, many of the picks end up being dart throws. Tyler Allgeier kicked off the third round, but if we are being honest, he should have gone in the second. He has a chance to play a similar role as Spiller but on the Falcons. Cordarrelle Patterson is not going to go away but he also cannot man a backfield all by himself. The second back on Atlanta will be fantasy relevant and with them cutting Mike Davis, his biggest roadblock now is Damien Williams. After him, the players are more dart throws. 

With Tyrion Davis-Price, you are taking more of a bet on Kyle Shanahan and that run system, which is never a bad bet. Brian Robinson Jr., Zamir White, and Pierre Strong Jr. are all long-term bets that you are hoping can make an impact in Year One rather than right away. All step into a crowded backfield right away, but each situation can look very different in a year with some contracts set to come off the books. The third round still had some receiver talent worth taking a shot on.

Jalen Tolbert went one pick before me in the third round and taking him would have been very tempting. While he did not have a ton of pre-draft hype, he does bring size to the Cowboys and landed in a very favorable spot. With Michael Gallup recovering from a January torn ACL, he may not be ready to start the season and the Cowboys are suddenly thin at receiver behind CeeDee Lamb. An opportunity to start right away for Dallas is there, making him an easy shot worth taking at that cost.

Calvin Austin is one of my personal favorites, as he is an explosive slot option who is dangerous both as a downfield threat and with the ball in his hands after the catch. He was my pick in the third round of this rookie draft, but I was also considering Khalil Shakir and Romeo Doubs, who went right after I took Austin. Shakir has a bit of explosiveness to him and could see a slot role with the Bills, but his Year One usage is a big question. Doubs is just another bite at the Green Bay target apple.

Tyquan Thornton, who is a good athlete, and Velus Jones J., rounded out the third-round receivers. At that point, it is worth taking a gamble on their real-life draft capital, which is actually higher than some of the receivers that got drafted over them in this draft. 

The fourth round in rookie drafts this year is a complete dart throw. My favorite dart throws in this round are Keaontay Ingram, Hassan Haskins, Sam Howell, Tyler Badie, and Kyren Williams. Ingram only has Eno Benjamin to beat out to be the second back in Arizona, while Haskins could be in the mix as a long-term replacement for Derrick Henry. Howell is just an upside shot at QB in case Carson Wentz struggles and another team decides to give up on him. Badie could become the pass-catching back for the Ravens and that is a role that will certainly bring value. Lastly, Williams is a back that showed the ability to be a successful runner in college but then bombed the combine. The backs for the Rams have not proven to be the most durable so him playing a midseason savior role like Sony Michel had to last year is in the range of possible outcomes. 

Of course, every rookie draft is a little different, and need can change the order players come off the board, but if you follow this layout, you should come away fine from your draft. While the need is important, you should never reach and pull up a player that is ranked significantly lower. Remember, you are not just drafting for 2022, but for these players' careers, so you always want to gamble on talent as well as a landing spot in dynasty. 

Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Kyren Williams

Rams Not Willing to Pay Kyren Williams Top-Market Money?
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Christian Kirk

the No. 2 WR in Houston?
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Jerome Ford

the Likely Starter for Cleveland to Begin 2025
Chig Okonkwo

"Poised" for Best Season of Career
Xavier Watts

Falcons High on Xavier Watts
Xavier Restrepo

Training With Star Wideouts
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF