2021 Dynasty Rookie Stashes
This article will focus on 2021 rookies that are worth drafting and holding for a return on value in dynasty leagues.
Criteria
In order to be a draft and hold candidate a player must fit some certain criteria:
First, the players’ ADP must be a mid-second rookie pick or later. Any player drafted at the 2.06 slot or higher should be drafted to produce right away. They don’t have to necessarily be a lock in starting lineups but they should be in a good position to put up some solid fantasy production in their rookie seasons.
Second, the player must have at least above average talent or athleticism. PlayerProfiler has made it pretty easy for fantasy football managers to measure athleticism. Talent is a little harder to evaluate and takes some time devoted to film study. A draft and hold type player can land on a terrible team as long as they have the talent or athleticism to rise above their circumstance at some point.
Third, the player has to have a chance to breakout in year two. As mentioned above, a player drafted in the mid-second round is probably not going to be a rookie of the year candidate. However, the player should have a realistic chance at starting for their team in their second season. A draft and hold can turn into Darrell Henderson real quick if the player doesn’t have a clear-cut route to starting for their team in their sophomore year.
Now that we have the criteria set, let’s look at some draft and hold candidates:
RB Elijah Mitchell, 49ers
Since Kyle Shanahan took over as head coach of the 49ers the team has never had a 1,000 yard rusher. Something about that has to eat away at the incredible offensive-minded coach. The team has struggled with injuries at just about every position and rotated running backs in a way that resembles the Patriots.
As for our draft and hold criteria Mitchell is a late second to early third selection in rookie drafts. He has an amazing athletic profile that comps him to former Niner Jerick McKinnon. His tape doesn’t scream RB1 but he has the speed and burst to have tremendous success in an outside zone run scheme.
Now, for the third criteria which is a second-year opportunity. Raheem Mostert will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2021 season and at 30 years old it’s hard to see why the 49ers would retain him. Jeffrey Wilson suffered a knee injury this offseason and could be an unfortunate cut candidate. This leaves Mitchell and third-round pick Trey Sermon as the dynamic duo in 2022 and beyond.
It’s likely that the Niners stick with the running back by committee in the future but if it’s just Sermon and Mitchell, then they will get enough touches to both be fantasy relevant.
It might not be the most riveting game tonight but anytime you get a chance to watch one of the top senior RB prospects you do it!
Elijah Mitchell has the size, speed and production to be on the radar of all dynasty managers. #2021NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/d6i4kDSKU4
— Ray G (@RayGQue) October 14, 2020
WR Nico Collins, Texans
The Texans are a mess of an organization looking to rebuild after Bill O’Brien ran them into the ground. The good news is that they are a prime candidate to receive the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Or at least a top five pick. This likely means a new quarterback.
Nico Collins was taken in the third round with the second pick that Houston had in this year’s draft. He is one of the first selections of a new regime which is always intriguing. First-year GM Nick Caserio doesn’t have any ties to any of the other receivers on the team besides Brandin Cooks.
Collins is another player with an outstanding athletic profile. His 6-4, 215-pound frame is bigger than just about every other top receiver in this draft class.
He is currently being drafted in the mid-to-late second round which could end up making him this year’s Chase Claypool.
Even if Collins doesn’t show out this season he will produce when the Texans find him a legitimate QB. Best case scenario is Deshaun Watson gets his off the field troubles sorted out and decides to stay in Houston. Worst case scenario is Houston drafts a new franchise quarterback in the 2022 draft which would lead to Collins being unlocked.
🦍.. pic.twitter.com/QXdpdbAoRc
— Nico Collins (@lbg_nico7) October 24, 2018
TE Pat Freiermuth, Steelers
Kyle Pitts is the talk of the fantasy football community and for good reason. He is arguably the best tight end prospect of all time. Pitts’ popularity has dwarfed all other TE prospects from the 2021 class including the talented Pat Freiermuth.
The Steelers are notorious for throwing their rookies into the fire. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool are pass-catchers that come to mind who stepped in and contributed for Pittsburgh right away.
Freiermuth is a tight end and there is obviously a steeper learning curve with his position but this shouldn’t stop fantasy managers from drafting and holding him. Eric Ebron is a free agent after the 2021 season and he has never lived up the hype. Freiermuth was drafted in the second round for a reason.
Freiermuth did not work out at a pro day so his athletic profile is incomplete. Looking at the film shows that he is a guy that can make plays after the catch. His 6-5, 250-pound frame, second-round draft capital and landing spot are all enough to take a chance on with an early third-round rookie pick.
