With the Super Bowl capping off the 2021 NFL season, the eyes of the dynasty community light up as 2022 rookie mock drafts begin to pop up. While we still have free agency, the NFL Combine, pro days, and even the NFL Draft still to come, there is no time like the present to dive into a fantasy football mock draft based solely on talent. While draft capital and landing spots will influence the order come April and May, here are where things currently shake out.
2022 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft | First Round
As the fantasy calendar turns to dynasty season, here is the latest rookie mock draft for 2022.
1.01. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas (WR1)
While I am not saying Treylon Burks will have the same rookie impact as Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson, I feel he is the most talented player in this draft class.
At 6’3″, 220 pounds, he has the mix of size and speed we covet in next-level alpha receivers. His hands require custom-made 5XL gloves, and the ball disappears when he holds it. Burks will have first-round draft capital and is one of the few players I can make a case to be the top pick in 2022 dynasty rookie drafts.
1.02. Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M (RB1)
Sure, this is not the class of 2020 or 2021 loaded with talent. With that said, there is high-end talent. I feel there are two backs to consider to come off the board first, and currently, I give the nod to Isaiah Spiller.
It is a coin flip between him and Breece Hall. Spiller was my highest-graded player on film. His vision is exceptional, as is his agility both between the tackles and in the open field. Add in his hands and versatility, and Spiller is everything you want in a modern NFL running back.
He won’t win any track meets, but there is enough speed in the tank for Spiller to quell any concerns of dynasty managers looking to take him as a top-two pick in 2022 rookie mock drafts. It’s also worth noting that Spiller will be just 20 years old when training camp begins.
1.03. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State (RB2)
Whichever running back goes first in 2022 Dynasty Rookie Mock Drafts, the other should be the next pick. In this case, that goes to Breece Hall. For the last several years, Hall was the RB1 of this class. Perhaps it is prospect fatigue, but he comes in as No. 2 for me.
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While he is 6’1″ and 215 pounds, Hall doesn’t always run like it. At times, he doesn’t break tackles you would expect him to. This is me being entirely too nit-picky. I will not argue with anyone who feels Hall is the RB1 or is deserving of the 1.01 overall pick.
1.04. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State (WR2)
For two seasons, Garrett Wilson has dominated college football, but he took it to another level in 2021. Playing in 11 games, Wilson had 70 receptions, 1,058 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Wilson posted five games above 100 yards in his final season at OSU.
Wilson is a route-running savant. His hands are impeccable, as is his ability to control his body along the sidelines or while in the air while high-pointing a ball. Wilson has WR1 upside in the NFL and should be drafted accordingly in 2022 Dynasty Rookie Mock Drafts. He is a Tier 1 prospect.
1.05. Drake London, WR, USC (WR3)
6’5″, 215 pounds of alpha mentality and play — that’s Drake London. Accounting for 27.7% of USC’s receiving share, London was as good as it gets in the Pac-12 and in the nation. He assumed an even larger role following the departure of Amon-Ra St. Brown.
A right ankle injury did end his season early after eight games, but not until London already had 88 receptions, 1,084 yards, and 7 touchdowns. London is a Tier 1 receiver and locked into first rounds of 2022 Dynasty Rookie Mock Drafts.
1.06. Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame (RB3)
I differ a bit from the consensus as Kyren Williams is my RB3 of this class. I stay away from player comps, but I can’t help it on this one. He is Austin Ekeler through and through.
Williams graded out as my No. 3-ranked back based on film. He played well above his size (5’9″ and 200 pounds), running behind his pads and bringing the physicality to defenders. That “want to” shows up in his pass pro, where he is head and shoulders above the rest — he’ll be one of the best blocking backs in the NFL from Day 1.
His between the tackles vision is incredible, as is his burst, hands, and route running. Among this class, Williams was without question my favorite player to watch on film, at any position.
1.07. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State (RB4)
From a pure rushing standpoint, Kenneth Walker III is arguably the best of the class. The difference in his footwork and attacking of daylight between his time at Vanderbilt and Michigan State is startling. Maybe it was how they coached their backs, but talk about a massive waste of talent.
Mel Tucker did no such thing. Even on his first play as a Spartan, Walker made his presence known with a 75-yard touchdown against Northwestern. There are questions about his receiving ability, but I am not as concerned, as Walker can do it. He actually had more receiving yards in high school than Hall.
Walker was No. 1 in the NCAA in yards after contact (1,169). He would have been 19th in the nation in rushing only using his after contact yardage. Walker was No. 1 in FBS in carries of 10+ yards (46) and 15+ yards (30). If Walker is drafted to a zone-style scheme, I could see him being the RB1 of the class, making his 1.07 pick in this 2022 dynasty rookie mock draft a complete steal.
1.08. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama (WR4)
No one took over college football last season like Jameson Williams. An Ohio State transfer, Williams was unquestionably the nation’s top receiver. Recording 79 receptions, Williams totaled 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.
The only concern is if you draft Williams in 2022 Dynasty Rookie Mock Drafts, odds are the full benefit won’t come until 2023, as he tore his ACL in the CFP National Championship Game against Georgia. He was on pace to be the No. 1 receiver selected in the NFL Draft but should still command first-round draft capital. Williams in the back end of the first is a no-brainer pick for dynasty, where receivers hold their value longer than anyone.
1.09. George Pickens, WR, Georgia (WR5)
If he hadn’t torn his ACL coming into the 2021 season, George Pickens would be a top-three pick in rookie drafts. Much like Hall at RB, Pickens was viewed as the WR1 in devy circles since his freshman season.
For some reason, it has become popular to pick holes in his game, but I don’t get it. At 6’3″ and 190 pounds, Pickens is a bit wiry, but from a skills and traits aspect, he checks every single box. I’ve said before if Pickens is selected in the second round of rookie drafts, he is the best value of any selection. However, that is not happening here. He is this year’s Tee Higgins — the receiver who is falling for no reason. In a year or two, everyone will be mad they missed out on a top-12 player at his position.
1.10. David Bell, WR, Purdue (WR6)
David Bell represents the start of the next tier of draft prospects, where things will begin to vary from mock draft to mock draft. Bell is dynamic. He has three seasons of high-level production, with 232 receptions, 2,946 yards, 21 TDs, and a three-year average of 25.7% reception share, all while playing with Rondale Moore (when healthy).
Bell is a prototypical X receiver who carries a high floor and high ceiling as a prospect. Purdue knew how special he was and manufactured touches to get the ball in his hands, as Bell is dynamic after the catch. He has a full route tree at his disposal and runs them all with not only a high level of precision and instincts, but with a knack for big plays and acrobatic catches.
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