Here's our latest mock dynasty rookie draft for 2013.
If you are a fantasy football veteran, then chances are you've broken off from the standard redraft leagues and dove into keeper leagues, dynasty leagues or both. Keeper leagues are leagues where you keep a certain amount of players from year to year, while dynasty leagues allow owners to keep all players for as long as they want. One of the best things about dynasty leagues is the ability to draft players who may not pan out in in their rookie year, but could be your roster's stars of the future.
With the Cleveland Browns expected to use Trent Richardson as their workhorse, Richardson has been the slam-dunk No. 1 fantasy rookie in this year's rookies-only drafts.
With dynasty leagues comes the rookies-only draft, which usually takes place AFTER the NFL Draft. The biggest obstacle with this type of draft is that if you don't have a top 5-6 pick, then you really have to do your homework on those offensive players who were drafted beyond the first round. Everyone knows Browns RB Trent Richardson is going to make some noise in 2012, but no one knows what a guy like Ravens RB Bernard Pierce will do in his rookie season.
Below is a pick-by-pick summary of the first round in one of my dynasty leagues that started Sunday night. For a full view of the rookie draft, check out the TROFF Draft Room. And for a better idea of what all twelve teams' rosters look like, make sure to check out our rosters page. It will definitely help seeing what everyone had to work with before the draft started. This would be an excellent base for your own rookie rankings.
1.01 Bozo's Mad Bombers: Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland
No surprise here. Unless Bozo had 4 starting worthy running backs already on the roster, taking Richardson is a slam dunk pick. This kid could easily reach 300 carries in 2012.
1.02 The Rotties: Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington
Andrew Luck or RG3 will still be debated, but I like RG3's ability to make plays with his legs. And I also like the quality of the players around him.
1.03 The Birds of Prey: Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay
Martin will be in a battle with LeGarrette Blount for touches, but Martin is an all-around better athlete than Blounte, whose eventual role will likely be in short-yardage situations.
1.04 Scrip Club Rebellion: Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis
Getting Luck at No. 4 is great value. Luck will find the road bumpy in 2012. But his career as a whole should be just as good, if not better, than Griffin's. Good job on Scrip's ability to draft a top rookie option at No. 4.
1.05 Cnefarious Cnidarians: Kendall Wright, WR, Tennessee
Wright has been dealing with a minor shoulder injury, but he figures to be ready for training camp. I love the Titans offense right now. Kenny Britt coming back, Chris Johnson set for a bounce-back season and along with Wright, this offense could make great strides. Wright is set for a big role in 2012, even with Nate Washington still lingering around. However, I wish they would go with Jake Locker over Matt Hasselbeck to start the season. Let these young guys grow.
1.06 The Watchers: Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona
Coming out of the draft, I loved Floyd's upside over guys like Justin Blackmon simply because he was playing across from Larry Fitzgerald. But it sounds like Andre Roberts and Early Doucet could battle for the No. 2 spot, with Floyd taking his time as a possible No. 4 on the depth chart. But with this being a dynasty league, Watchers can sit on Floyd for a year or two until he is ready to make a name for himself. I wouldn't be surprised to see him eventually make noise this year.
1.07 Bay Area Breakers: Justin Blackmon, WR, Jacksonville
Drafted right around where I thought he would go, Blackmon's 2012 season might not be as good as his other fellow rookie receivers simply due to Blaine Gabbert. I don't like Gabbert at all in this offense, but that doesn't mean Blackmon won't eventually shine. Although that DUI charge didn't exactly make himself welcome in the league.
1.08 DESTINATION DOMINATION: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
A questionable pick with David Wilson still on the board, but not the worst pick I've seen. Reggie Bush is in the last year of his deal. And if he doesn't at least come close to the numbers he put up last year, Miller could be the guy who shares with Daniel Thomas in 2013. Miller won't see much time behind Bush and Daniels, but his 2013 season could be the start of something special.
1.09 Convicts: David Wilson, RB, New York Giants
Pretty much the last sure-fire fantasy running back left among the rookies. Wilson will get his feet wet in 2012 and might also get a couple starts under his belt with Ahmad Bradhsaw's propensity for dealing with nagging injuries.
1.10 C. Summit Wolverines: Brian Quick, WR, St. Louis
MY PICK. Coming into the draft I had figured I'd either have to go with Quick or Isaiah Pead, both of whom I would have felt comfortable with. Not only will Brian Quick likely be the starter, but many in the St. Louis media believe the Rams will lean on him heavily. I like that outlook a lot. Considering my team was lacking in receiver depth, Quick might quickly vault up to one of my starters on a weekly basis.
1.11 Indiana Stonecutters: Stephen Hill, WR, New York Jets
Hill will work in the spot Braylon Edwards had manned across from Santonio Holmes. There is no doubt that Hill has the talent to be a starter, but the current quarterback situation and the team's announcement that they want to go back to the ground-and-pound mentality makes me skiddish on Hill's immediate value.
1.12 Scrip Club Rebellion: Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver
Hillman is a bit of a wildcard. While some believed the Broncos reached for him in the third round, others like ESPN's Scouts Inc. Matt Williamson believe Hillman could take over for Willis McGahee as the team's starter during the season. Having a late first in a rookie draft is rough, but taking Hillman here is definitely worth the risk.
2.01 Bozo's Mad Bombers: Coby Fleener, TE, Indianapolis
The best tight end in one of the weakest draft classes for tight ends, Fleener could be starter-worthy in 2012 as he is not only reunited with his old college teammate (Luck), but figures to be the quarterbacks safety net in 2012. If the stars align, Fleener could easily be a TE1 by midseason.
2.02 Scrip Club Rebellion: Rueben Randle, WR, New York Giants
While many predicted Randle being one of the most "Pro Ready" amongst the other rookie receivers, news has come out that he hasn't caught on with the offense like the Giants had hoped. He has looked good in OTAs, but it's a whole different story once the pads go on. If Randle looks out of sorts come the middle of August, he could be finding it difficult to climb over guys like Ramses Barden and Domenik Hixon for the No. 3 spot behind Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.
2.03 DESTINATION DOMINATION: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Cincinnati
I love this pick because I love Sanu. He may not have great speed, but he has solid football speed, great hands and is physical. The No. 2 spot is up for grabs across from A.J. Green and I believe Sanu will beat out Marvin Jones and Brandon Tate. I know that the offense also has Jermaine Gresham and Jordan Shipley. But getting a possible starter this late is good value.
2.04 DESTINATION DOMINATION: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami
Tannehill won't get the starting job coming out of training camp. But lets face it, it's not like David Garrard and Matt Moore are good enough to be 16-game starters. We could start hearing Tannehill's name by midseason. And with so many rookie quarterbacks getting their lumps in in their first year, Tannehill may be the next in line.
2.05 Cnefarious Cnidarians: Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle
I like Wilson as a sleeper option. Many believe Matt Flynn will be the starter hands down, but it's not like he has a strong enough resume' to keep the job. He could wind up being another Kevin Kolb. And Tarvaris Jackson simply isn't good enough to be a starter in the NFL. His ceiling is as a backup at best. Wilson was knocked off many draft boards because of his height (5'11). But according to the National Football Post, Wilson only had two batted-down passes in 2011, compared to Robert Griffin's 9 and Andrew Luck's 2. Wilson's accuracy and anticipation in the pocket have also drawn him in comparisons with Drew Brees. The race for the Seahawks' starting quarterback spot isn't as shut and closed as some may think.
2.06 Bay Area Breakers: Ryan Broyles, WR, Detroit
Coming off ACL surgery, Broyles might wind up spending the first part of the regular season on the PUP list. But it does sound like there is a chance that he will be a full go by the start of training camp. With the Lions wanting Broyles to be the eventual guy in the slot, Broyles could be a diamond in the rough in PPR leagues.
2.07 Scrip Club Rebellion: Isaiah Pead, RB, St. Louis
I was hoping Pead would have fallen to my 2.10 pick. Pead is smaller than most running backs at 5'10'/197, but he has a great burst and figures to not only be the change-of-pace back behind Steven Jackson, but his heir apparent to the starting job. Rebellion has definitely gotten one of the steals of this draft if that plan comes to fruition.
2.08 DESTINATION DOMINATION: Bernard Pierce, RB, Baltimore
The only thing that is holding Pierce back from being an NFL starter is his pass-catching abilities, but that won't stop the team from using him as soon as 2012. He has nice speed for a kid his size and he could have a chance at a nice chunk of the goal-line carries, making him a possible stand-alone option in touchdown-heavy leagues. I wouldn't be surprised to see Destination try and pull off a trade with the Ray Rice owner (Scrip) since Pierce figures to be Rice's backup by Week one.
2.09 Convicts: Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago
There is only one thing separating Jeffery from mediocrity and fantasy worthiness: Devin Hester. The love for Hester is still something that makes me scratch my head. Currently penciled in as the backup to Hester, Jeffery will need an injury to garner any fantasy value this year. And with Brandon Marshall taking up double-team coverage from defenses, that No. 2 spot could be fantasy gold. But while Hester might have a stranglehold on a starting job, don't be surprised to see the Bears come to their senses once they see what Jeffery can do with the chances he gets on the field. The team didn't trade up in the second round to use Jeffery sparingly.
2.10 C. Summit Wolverines: A.J. Jenkins, WR, San Francisco
MY PICK. And I hate it, but he was the best wide receiver left on my board. And with this being a dynasty league, I can sit on Jenkins and hope he comes around and vies for a starting job once Randy Moss is shown the door. The news out of 49ers practices hasn't been good. I've read everything from Jenkins showing up overweight to the kid not being able to stay on his feet after a play. I doubt highly I will ever have Jenkins in my lineups at all this year.
2.11 Indiana Stonecutters: Brandon Weeden, QB, Cleveland
Kudos to Stonecutters for getting Weeden this late in the draft. Weeden has about a better than 50-50 chance of cracking the starting lineup this year. He will still have to outplay Colt McCoy, which he has done in OTAs. And it sounds like Weeden shouldn't have a problem being named the started a few weeks before the regular season. The biggest problem I have with Weeden is he is going to be working with one of the worst offenses, outside of Trent Richardson, in the league. That doesn't bode well for his early fantasy value. But it's hard to say anything bad about the pick since getting a starting-caliber player this late is tremendous value for the Stonecutters.
2.12 The Rotties: LaMichael James, RB, San Francisco
James can either be the next Darren Sproles or the next Dexter McCLuster. He has the skills to be a force, especially around the goal-line. But with a crowded backfield, I don't expect many fantasy points. At least not for this year. But you have to figure that everyone else past Frank Gore haven't exactly proved themselves to be bonafide backups worthy enough to be a full-time starter when Gore was injured. So James may very well make a name for himself by 2013.