The dynasty value of the QB position is already secure in a Superflex format, but how does a non-PPR scoring format impact the WR position on the draft board for your upcoming fantasy football rookie draft?
Here is a closer look at our 2024 dynasty rookie mock draft results in a Superflex non-PPR format.
Superflex Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
1.01) Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
Whether you are playing in a full, half, or non-PPR league, the answer remains the same as to who should be the No. 1 overall pick in a Superflex dynasty rookie draft. That would be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams.
To the chagrin of Justin Fields truthers out there, Chicago had a very busy offseason loading up this roster with dynamic playmakers. They signed versatile running back D’Andre Swift, traded for veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, and subsequently hit another home run by adding Rome Odunze at No. 9 overall in the NFL Draft. Adding these three playmakers to the duo of DJ Moore and Cole Kmet in this passing attack makes for an outstanding situation for Williams to step into his rookie year.
The overwhelming amount of elite talent at WR may prevent these pass catchers from becoming elite fantasy producers in 2024, but this does nothing but significantly boost Williams’ fantasy ceiling in the immediate future. The short-term optimism and his long-term pairing with Odunze gives fantasy managers very few reasons not to invest their top overall pick in rookie drafts in Williams.
The arm talent and off-script playmaking ability are both exceptional and could take offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s offensive scheme to a whole new level with the embarrassment of riches at his disposal in 2024.
As promising as some of the top names are at the receiver position in this class, it’s nearly impossible to have too many quarterbacks on your roster in Superflex formats. Williams isn’t a perfect quarterback prospect by any means, but the pros far outweigh the cons.
1.02) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
The Superflex non-PPR format isn’t enough to scare me off from selecting who I believe is a generational talent at WR.
In the spirit of talking about starting in an ideal situation entering the NFL, Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. joining Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals projects as another favorable landing spot for a top rookie prospect in this class.
Last year, TE Trey McBride led the Cardinals with 106 targets, 81 receptions, and 825 receiving yards after injuries sidelined Hollywood Brown and Zach Ertz. No disrespect to the breakout TE from 2023, but expect that to change with Harrison in town entering the 2024 NFL season. Quite frankly, there is certainly a situation where both players can ideally co-exist as fantasy producers in this offense.
McBride’s impressive 2023 season shouldn’t prevent Harrison from seeing an elite target share in this offense in 2024. Especially when you consider his target competition in the receiver room consists of Zay Jones, Greg Dortch, and Michael Wilson. Translation, I believe Harrison is in store for north of 130 targets as a rookie with Murray under center.
Harrison’s rare blend of size, speed, exceptional route-running nuance, and body control are common traits of the elite pass catchers who have entered the NFL recently. He can beat you with vertical speed, after the catch, or outright bully you at the catch point in contested-catch situations. A player like that will demand a huge target share in his rookie year and beyond.
If you want to draft Harrison at 1.01 in a Superflex format, you won’t hear a very big argument from me. But, ultimately, the positional value and extended shelf life of a top QB prospect slightly outshines even the best of receiver prospects.
1.03) Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
If we were playing in a full-PPR format, there is an argument to be made to select one of the other elite receivers at the 1.03. Yet, rookie quarterbacks who possess elite upside as runners simply have too much positional and long-term value to pass up in this format with no bonus points for receptions.
The list of dynamic dual-threat QBs having immediate fantasy success early in their NFL careers is probably lengthier than you realize.
Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III finished as top-five fantasy QBs in their rookie season (QB3 and QB5, respectively). If you expand that sample size to Year 2 in the NFL, Lamar Jackson finished as the QB1 overall in 2019.
Why is this relevant? Well, Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels has the type of dynamic playmaking ability with his legs that rivals some of the elite dual-threat quarterbacks mentioned above but comes with more college starting experience at the Division I level than Newton and Jackson combined.
The rushing production these playmakers provide simply gives them a higher weekly floor. Now, Daniels may have taken a bit longer than most to finally hit his stride as a passer in college, but his development and production during his two seasons at LSU shouldn’t be overlooked.
Daniels was a true dual-threat weapon throughout his collegiate career and was exceptionally productive through the air and on the ground in 2023. He piled up 3,812 passing yards and 1,134 rushing yards, resulting in 50 total touchdowns in his fifth-year, Heisman-winning campaign.
Daniels is a bit more polished as a passing prospect entering the league, which should help him distribute the ball to competent playmakers like Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Ertz, and Austin Ekeler consistently. And he still possesses the explosive short-area burst, dynamic long speed, and contact balance to absolute torture defenses ill-equipped to handle his dual-threat ability.
Washington’s offense that Daniels is stepping into this year under offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury once helped Cardinals dual-threat quarterback Murray finish as the QB6 in his rookie year with 3,722 passing yards while throwing to a 36-year-old Larry Fitzgerald as his WR1. Murray produced just 544 rushing yards back in 2019. Personally, I see Daniels topping Murray’s rookie rushing production in 2024.
Additionally, the last full season we got with Kingsbury and Murray was back in 2021, when the Cardinals carried out 110 passing attempts on RPO concepts, second in the league. Assuming some of this offensive infrastructure translates to 2024, Daniels will be given some easy one-read completions to help simplify his transition and inflate his passing numbers.
Yet, Daniels proved he is fully capable of executing more complex full-read pro-style passing concepts at LSU, which gives him an exciting fantasy ceiling in this offense. The short-term upside paired with a decent long-term outlook in this Washington offense makes Daniels the runaway 1.03 in Superflex formats.
1.04) J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
This is likely the spot where investing in either Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze becomes a real discussion, even in a Superflex format. Yet, the non-PPR setting makes this decision a bit easier.
On paper, there is so much to get excited about with J.J. McCarthy‘s landing spot with the Minnesota Vikings. The weapons at McCarthy’s disposal fall into the borderline elite category. Justin Jefferson is arguably the best receiver in the league, Jordan Addison flashed big-play ability as a complementary second option, and T.J. Hockenson is in the top-three conversation at the TE position.
Now throw in a competent offensive mind at head coach with Kevin O’Connell and the situation doesn’t get much better for a rookie quarterback.
These same weapons helped Kirk Cousins finish as a top-10 QB in five of his seven full games in 2023. In addition, Joshua Dobbs had a QB3 and QB5 finish after joining the team midseason. Of course, McCarthy likely has a ways to go before hitting the level of fantasy consistency we saw from Cousins in this offense — but the upside still exists with collection of high-end weapons in the passing game.
It doesn’t hurt that McCarthy garnered plenty of experience running pro-style passing concepts during his days at Michigan, which should help ease his transition into a play-action-heavy Minnesota offensive scheme — which led the league by a wide margin with 191 play-action passing attempts in 2023.
McCarthy has the arm to make any throw in the NFL, is a criminally underrated athlete (he was utilized in QB run concepts as a Wolverine), and flashed the ability to operate within the structure of an offense and throw with anticipation over the middle of the field.
Granted, he may not be the sure thing that some of these top prospects project to be, but McCarthy’s ceiling and long-term outlook in this offense push him up the board significantly in this format.
1.05) Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
One could easily believe New England Patriots QB Drake Maye could be the next superstar under center in the NFL if you were to watch his highlight reel of superhuman throws during his days at the University of North Carolina.
As a pure NFL QB prospect, I believe Maye has the highest ceiling of any signal-caller in this class. Yes, that includes Williams. I’m aware that is a pretty bold statement considering some of the company he keeps with this crop of talented passers, but Maye’s exceptional athletic profile and “wow” flashes give us glimpses of a very high fantasy ceiling.
To further expand upon his measurables, Maye’s prototypical height (6’4”), weight (223 pounds), and arm strength check all the boxes. He also possesses plenty of fantasy upside as a ball carrier with surprising agility, acceleration, and contact balance.
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Yet, Maye’s overall lack of weapons in New England clouds his immediate — and long-term — fantasy ceiling and even presents some developmental risk early in his career.
Are we certain that the wide receiver trio of Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, and DeMario Douglas will help provide Maye with enough quality production and separation to make life easier for him in 2024 and beyond?
Are we certain we can trust offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and the rest of New England’s staff to put Maye in the best position to succeed and accelerate his development under center early in his career? Time will tell.
Even though the landing spot isn’t ideal, Maye has the physical tools to be an elite fantasy asset in the near future if this young New England offense can develop together into a formidable unit.
1.06) Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
Given the amount of top-end talent at the QB position and the absence of reception bonus points, an elite talent in Malik Nabers falls all the way to the 1.06.
Nabers has light-speed-type suddenness and possesses the type of formation versatility, size, and separation ability to make him a moveable weapon for a New York Giants offense that is devoid of consistent playmakers.
To give you an idea of how badly this offense needs a productive pass catcher on the perimeter, the Giants haven’t had a receiver top 70 receptions or 800 yards in a season since Odell Beckham Jr. back in 2018 … when Eli Manning was still the quarterback.
Those numbers aren’t exactly encouraging from a fantasy perspective, but I believe that to be an indictment more so on Daniel Jones and the collection of middling receivers — namely Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, and Darius Slayton — than a certainty that a Giants receiver can’t be fantasy relevant.
Nabers is flat-out electric after the catch. His weak target competition should make him an instant target funnel in his rookie year.
1.07) Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Nabers, Rome Odunze lands in a great long-term situation with a young franchise QB in Williams, but he has an insane amount of target competition with the aforementioned Moore, Allen, and Kmet in Chicago.
The Bears may have found themselves the next great QB-WR combination, but Odunze’s short-term fantasy outlook may require dynasty managers to be more patient than they would like to admit.
I love the long-term pairing with Williams under center, but competing with Moore and Allen could cap Odunze’s fantasy ceiling in 2024. To further accentuate that point, Moore and Allen combined for 204 receptions, 2,607 yards, and 15 TDs in 2023 — which helped them both finish as top-10 fantasy WRs last year. How this target share will shake out in 2024 is bit unknown at the moment.
Not to mention, Williams is a rookie who needs some time to adjust to the pro game. The list of signal-callers who didn’t see elite fantasy success in their first year is lengthy. Expecting him to make three receivers reliable fantasy producers is a big ask.
Odunze is still an exceptionally athletic receiver prospect. He regularly dominates at the catch point and can move all over the formation, which gives him an extremely high long-term ceiling. Yet, tempering fantasy expectations early in his career is the proper course of action.
1.08) Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
If there’s one top prospect who possibly landed in a worse fantasy situation than Maye entering his rookie year, it is the immensely talented TE Brock Bowers going to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Try not to overthink this. Bowers still possesses exceptional RAC ability and has the elite athleticism to be a mismatch against the vast majority of linebackers and safeties trying to check him in man coverage. He still has a higher long-term ceiling of elite fantasy production ahead in dynasty formats than anyone at the position.
Yet, competing for targets Davante Adams and the underrated Jakobi Meyers from the uninspiring QB options under center with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew II in 2024 doesn’t exactly scream a breakout rookie fantasy season.
It’s worth mentioning that Michael Mayer — who the team selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft — caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two scores over 14 games as a rookie with O’Connell under center for the majority of the year.
If new Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy prefers to have Mayer on the field in 11-personnel sets with an inline TE (only one tight end on the field), then it could further cap Bowers’ immediate fantasy ceiling in 2024.
I still believe in Bowers’ elite talent, but his immediate fantasy outlook drops him below both Nabers and Odunze in this mock.
1.09) Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
The conversation gets interesting after Bowers with the other two quarterbacks who earned first-round draft capital and the top running backs still on the board, but the talented Ladd McConkey falling into a perfect situation is simply too good to pass up.
The short-term outlook is outstanding. The departures of Allen, Mike Williams, Gerald Everett, and Ekeler mean that 320 targets, 229 receptions, and 2,339 yards worth of opportunities and production are suddenly vacant, putting star QB Justin Herbert in search of a new go-to option in the passing game entering the 2024 NFL season.
It also doesn’t hurt McConkey’s fantasy outlook that his current competition for targets include Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, and Hayden Hurst — none of whom can hold a candle to McConkey’s elite separation abilities, formation versatility, or run-after-catch (RAC) ability. Not to mention, McConkey adds additional value through manufactured touches, which he saw plenty of during his collegiate days at Georgia.
McConkey’s exceptional route-running nuance and explosiveness as a ball carrier after the catch make him a real threat to lead all rookie receivers in receptions and receiving yards in 2024. His long-term outlook with Herbert from the moment he steps on the field this season and beyond gives him an exciting amount of upside.
1.10) Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
In a non-PPR format, a strong case can be made for the big-play dynamo Brian Thomas Jr. going ahead of McConkey, but there is some real competition for targets in Jacksonville, even with the losses of Calvin Ridley and Jones this offseason.
The Jags also added Gabe Davis to a WR room that already has slot dynamo Christian Kirk and great pass-catching TE Evan Engram.
Yet, Ridley’s departure vacates 136 targets, 76 receptions, 1,016 receiving yards, and eight TDs heading into 2024. Call me an optimist, but I strongly believe Thomas is a prime candidate to become QB Trevor Lawrence’s new favorite deep threat fairly quickly. It also doesn’t hurt he is playing with the one-time No. 1 overall pick for the foreseeable future.
1.11) Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Superflex enthusiasts who swear by investing in quarterbacks with first-round draft capital may scoff at this ranking of a smaller WR. Even worse, I am still ranking Xavier Worthy ahead of the remaining quarterbacks in a non-PPR format because I truly believe the fantasy ceiling is too high to ignore.
Worthy easily gives Patrick Mahomes the best deep threat he’s had since Tyreek Hill was on the roster.
We saw the fantasy football magic those two produced during their time together. In that same light, don’t expect Worthy to be catching 50-yard bombs from Mahomes this year. He added plenty of value in the screen game during his days with the Texas Longhorns.
Worthy’s elite speed (4.21-second 40-yard dash time), savvy route-running ability, and production as a RAC threat make him a moveable weapon that could make this a fantasy match made in heaven for years to come.
Yes, Worthy is tiny by all NFL standards at 5’11” and 165 pounds, but depending on how Rashee Rice‘s off-field situation plays out this offseason, and with an aging Travis Kelce waning, don’t think this is just a long-term dynasty play.
Worthy has plenty of Flex value upside in 2024, which could shoot up even higher if Rice serves any sort of lengthy suspension this upcoming year.
1.12) Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
As tempting as it is to go with one of the running backs at the tail end of the first round in this format, I’m still going to prioritize the last rookie quarterback who has a legitimate shot to start under center in 2024 with Bo Nix at the 1.12.
The flashes of processing skills and playing on time when getting to his primary read are encouraging. Sean Payton values that type of skill set and believes he can be the future face of his franchise.
At the moment, Nix doesn’t have a ton of great weapons at his disposal though. Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. are projected as Denver’s top two options heading into next season. The addition of Nix’s favorite receiver at Oregon, Troy Franklin, instantly gives him a familiar face and explosive playmaker to feed the ball to early on — but doesn’t make me feel a whole lot more optimistic Nix has the type of supporting cast around to help make his job exponentially easier his rookie year.
Nix’s draft capital and a potential path to playing time in 2024 make him a worthwhile investment in the back half of the first round in Superflex dynasty rookie drafts, but the collection of weapons and the holes in his prospect profile push him down the board a bit.
2.01) Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
The former Florida State Seminole is the first running back to come off the board. Trey Benson has first-round rookie draft talent with his 4.39 speed on a compact frame, but the presence of productive James Conner doesn’t give him the best fantasy situation entering his rookie year.
However, I do like his long-term outlook in an Arizona offense that could return to the ranks of a top-10 unit with a healthy Murray and the dynamic Harrison operating on the outside.
Benson was the best running back on my board heading into the draft process and fell into the Cardinals’ laps in the third round. He could see plenty of run as a rookie, but he’s far from guaranteed a feature role in 2024.
Fantasy managers should temper expectations for Benson’s rookie campaign, but should reap the benefits in 2025 and beyond with Conner on a contract year.
2.02) Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers
Investing in top prospects entering the NFL with a devastating knee injury always feels a bit unsettling for me.
Don’t get me wrong, Jonathon Brooks is a very good RB prospect entering the league and finds himself joining a winnable backfield with an investment of a second-round pick from a brand new coaching staff.
Brooks doesn’t feel like a lock to be available for the start of the season quite yet and could be eased into action through training camp — which does cloud his immediate fantasy outlook. From a long-term perspective though, Chuba Hubbard is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the selection of Brooks certainly suggests Carolina believes he has the potential to be a featured RB under new head coach Dave Canales.
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Canales featured Rachaad White last season in Tampa Bay, which led to White finishing as the RB4 overall despite averaging just 3.6 yards per carry behind a pretty average offensive line.
Ultimately, if Bryce Young reverts back to the QB we saw at Alabama and gives this offense new life… then Brooks could return great value on this pick in 2025 or even sooner if his knee proves ready to go at some point during his rookie year.
2.03) Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons
Allow me to be brutally honest about this landing spot for a second. I’m having a really hard time figuring out exactly what to do with Michael Penix Jr. after the Atlanta Falcons created a fantasy disaster of a situation by picking him at No. 8 less than two months after signing Cousins to a four-year deal worth up to $180 million.
From a long-term perspective, Penix’s upside playing with talents like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson is certainly ideal. Yet, we have no guarantee of his short-term value with Cousins on the roster.
Can we confidently say Penix will even be the starter in Atlanta heading into 2025? I don’t believe we can. How about in 2026? Maybe … but not a certainty either. Not to mention, he’ll turn 24 years old before the start of his rookie year, meaning there’s a real possibility Penix doesn’t see legitimate playing time until he’s … 26 years old!
Penix is a talented prospect. His production at Washington over the final two years of his college career was outstanding. Still, his medical red flags and competent QB competition make him a very risky investment in the first round and make me feel much more comfortable drafting him if he falls to Round 2.
2.04) Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Excitement about Ricky Pearsall’s fantasy outlook in this San Francisco 49ers offense was on cue with the trade rumors swirling around Brandon Aiyuk this offseason.
There is no doubt this was a bit of a surprise pick at No. 31. The Niners, who already had a strong collection of pass-catching playmakers, added him as a third receiver toward the end of the first round.
The target competition early in Pearsall’s career looks brutal to overcome. Predicting a huge fantasy campaign in his rookie season with a limited target share working behind Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey as the fifth option in the passing game would be pretty unreasonable. Yet, the trade rumors suggest he could be in line for a larger role in 2024 than originally expected.
Pearsall is among the best route runners in the class — plenty of nuance with his tempo variation and technique — with some of the best hands and ball skills. That will give him a role early in his career with the Niners, but one that is unlikely to make him a reliable fantasy option in your standard leagues.
The lack of overall passing volume from San Francisco’s offense paired with exceptionally tough target competition could make for a slow fantasy start.
I’m tempted to give Pearsall a bump in the rankings, but with Aiyuk still on the roster … I can’t quite put him in the first round in a Superflex format quite yet.
2.05) Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Entering the 2024 NFL Draft, there was some buzz that Adonai Mitchell could sneak into the back end of Day 1. Yet, he slid a bit to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 52 overall. Whether it was character or medical concerns that saw Mitchell slide during the draft, Indianapolis got itself a very intriguing receiver to add to this improving offense.
Frankly, the slight slide down the board did make me question my ranking of Mitchell entering the NFL. Yet, the more I look closer at this landing spot, the more optimistic I become.
Mitchell’s pairing with young franchise QB Anthony Richardson provides an intriguing long-term outlook, but he’ll be competing with alpha target-earner Michael Pittman Jr. and dynamic slot specialist Josh Downs for looks early in his career.
The role Mitchell will likely assume from the jump is that of Alec Pierce, who produced just 32 receptions for 514 yards on 65 targets despite playing over 90% of the offensive snaps in all but one game last year.
To give you an idea of how disappointing Pierce’s production was compared to his ample opportunity, he ranked 91st amongst wide receivers with just 0.87 yards per route run.
Not to mention, if Shane Steichen sees Mitchell as a potential option to fill a DeVonta Smith-type role in his offensive scheme, the fantasy upside can certainly flirt with high-end WR2 territory.
2.06) Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, New England Patriots
The Patriots quickly went from one of the worst collections of offensive skill-position players in the league to having an intriguing long-term QB-WR fantasy stack by selecting Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round after selecting Maye in the first.
Polk enters a WR room with just Douglas currently locked into a starting role, which could make him a candidate to return production as a top-25 WR as a rookie and potentially become Maye’s go-to guy for years to come.
Polk’s exceptional ball skills, sticky hands, and ideal formation versatility make him one of the biggest draft winners at the position from a fantasy perspective. Sure, there could be some limitations to Polk’s effectiveness in threatening defenses vertically without elite top speed, but he should provide plenty of production working the short-to-intermediate portion of the field.
2.07) Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
Former FSU WR Keon Coleman has turned into a social-media gold mine for the Buffalo Bills, which makes him a dynasty asset I want to see succeed in the NFL.
The situation Coleman is stepping into is certainly one that could lead to a large target share to start his career. The exodus of starting wide receivers from the Bills’ roster — Stefon Diggs and Davis — vacates 241 targets from last year, which momentarily left Allen with Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel as his top two receivers entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
Coleman has the size (6’3”, 215 pounds) and strength to win in contested-catch situations on the outside, which could be his projected role in Buffalo’s offense with Shakir, Samuel, and TE Dalton Kincaid all expected to see a significant amount of work in the slot next season.
Coleman’s profile certainly has some potential red flags, most notably his ability to create consistent separation against man coverage and a lack of top-end vertical speed. The ability to threaten defenders vertically and then sink his hips effectively at the breakpoint needs some serious work.
Yet, Coleman’s contested-catch ability gives Allen an elite red-zone threat for a team that consistently struggled to cash in last season when they got inside the 20-yard line.
If Coleman plays primarily outside, then you’ll have to expect some growing pains early in his career, but he does possess an elite ceiling if he can improve his release package and route-running consistency to win at a higher rate on the perimeter.
2.08) Malachi Corley, WR, New York Jets
Malachi Corley may not be a complete prospect like some receivers below him on this list, but he should be an exceptional complement to what top receiver Garrett Wilson does at a high level.
Corley is a RAC monster who could be a great safety valve and manufactured-touch option for Aaron Rodgers in a Jets offense that could vastly outperform last season’s production across the board. Pitfalls in his profile do exist, though.
Rodgers isn’t exactly renowned for his track record of peppering younger wide receivers with targets early in their career. And Corley doesn’t necessarily have the most expansive route tree in the world, nor does he possess a great catch radius (5’11”, 215 pounds with just 32 1/8” arms). That places a question mark on what else he can do outside of being a dominant RAC threat.
The opportunity to emerge as a great second option to Wilson is there, but we’ll have to see how quickly Corley gets up to speed with Rodgers and if the team views him more as a manufactured-touch threat in personnel packages or if they consider him a full-blown WR2/3 in this offense.
2.09) Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers
After Young threw for just 11 touchdowns through his first 16 NFL games with the Panthers, it was very clear Carolina needed to add some dynamic playmakers on the perimeter to help him get back on track.
Well, the team did exactly that by trading up for an exceptionally athletic outside receiver in Xavier Legette.
Legette possesses exceptional vertical speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash) and explosiveness (40” vertical) for a 6’1”, 221-pound receiver. His impressive play strength makes him a bully at the catch point, a consistent RAC threat with great contact balance, and a difficult player to rough up at the line of scrimmage against press coverage.
Legette’s one year of great production over his five-year college career is a bit head-scratching with his elite athletic profile, but the context of his personal life explains some of the inconsistent production and his late breakout at South Carolina.
Legette should make for a great complement to the effortless separator Diontae Johnson and reliable-but-aging Adam Thielen in the passing attack. If Carolina makes it a point to get him manufactured touches and Thielen is quickly phased out, Legette could be an outstanding value at this point in the second round.
2.10) Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
After the top two backs come off the board, the conversation gets really interesting as to who the RB3 in this class. Well, one could make an argument Jaylen Wright fell into a perfect offensive scheme for his skill set in Miami.
Now, we don’t have to pour one out for dynasty shareholders of De’Von Achane quite yet, but Wright certainly projects as a potential threat down the road in this Dolphins’ offense.
One gripe about Wright’s prospect profile was the frequency at which he faced light boxes during his days as a Volunteer. Yet, he fell into the one NFL offense that could regularly afford him opportunities to face soft seven-man fronts with both Hill and Jaylen Waddle consistently threatening opposing defenses vertically.
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Sure, Wright may not be guaranteed a huge volume of work in 2024 while working with Achane. Wright doesn’t possess the elite pass-catching skills to keep Achane or Raheem Mostert off the field immediately. Yet, just as Achane proved last year, it doesn’t take many touches from an explosive runner to make a big fantasy impact in Miami’s wide-open offense.
All that stands in the way of Wright and split duties in this backfield is the 32-year-old Mostert, who has played a full NFL season just once in his nine-year career.
2.11) Roman Wilson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers may have waited a while to address wide receiver in the draft, but they managed to find a pretty intriguing candidate to replace Johnson by selecting Michigan’s Roman Wilson in Round 3.
Wilson has all of the explosive athletic tools to be a great vertical complement to George Pickens, but he’ll have to beat out Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson to get on the field early in his career. Doesn’t sound all that difficult, right?
However, the target competition isn’t my biggest concern for Wilson’s dynasty outlook. I’m actually far more concerned with his QB situation — with both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields set to be free agents next offseason — and the uninspiring offensive scheme of Arthur Smith for wide receivers.
The fantasy ceiling for WR2s in Smith’s offensive scheme hasn’t exactly been exciting. In fact, you have to go back to his OC days with the Tennessee Titans during the 2020 NFL season to find a year where two receivers in his offense finished inside the top 30 at the position in the same season, with A.J. Brown and Corey Davis finishing as the WR12 and WR30, respectively. That’s not encouraging.
The uncertainty at quarterback doesn’t exactly do the rookie WR’s immediate or long-term outlook any favors, either. Still, Wilson has the explosive playmaking ability and ideal playing time opportunity to warrant this ranking.
2.12) Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos
The pre-draft process was nothing short of brutal for Oregon WR Troy Franklin, who swiftly went from a potential late first-round pick to a fourth-round selection.
Franklin fell so far down the 2024 NFL Draft board he almost needed a parachute to deploy for safety purposes. Fortunately, he eventually landed in a very fantasy-friendly spot with the Broncos, who selected his college teammate Nix earlier in the draft.
Despite a set of disappointing testing numbers and physical measurements at the NFL Combine, Franklin is still an exceptional vertical threat with plenty of juice as an underneath separator and RAC threat. He could eventually become the top pass-catching producer in Denver.
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To reach his true potential, I’d love to see Franklin get hit with the NFL peanut butter program and add about 10 pounds of muscle. That could help him become a more effective winner against press coverage, a better fighter through contact at the top of his route, and a winner in contested-catch situations.
If Franklin can replicate the chemistry and production he enjoyed with Nix over the last two seasons, then he could be a great value at this point in the rookie draft.
Rookie Mock Draft | Rounds 3-4
3.01) Jermaine Burton, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
3.02) Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3.03) Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants
3.04) MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
3.05) Javon Baker, WR, New England Patriots
3.06) Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
3.07) Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills
3.08) Ben Sinnott, TE, Washington Commanders
3.09) Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
3.10) Audric Estimé, RB, Denver Broncos
3.11) Luke McCaffrey, WR, Washington Commanders
3.12) Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4.01) Rasheen Ali, RB, Baltimore Ravens
4.02) Isaac Guerendo, RB, San Francisco 49ers
4.03) Dylan Laube, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
4.04) Devontez Walker, WR, Baltimore Ravens
4.05) Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins
4.06) Johnny Wilson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
4.07) Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
4.08) Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers
4.09) Jaheim Bell, TE, New England Patriots
4.10) Blake Watson, RB, Denver Broncos
4.11) Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
4.12) Tahj Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins