Top-50 Rookie Draft Rankings For 2023 Dynasty Fantasy Football
It’s officially my favorite time of year—NFL Draft season. We’re just days away from getting to see where these players that we have endlessly debated for weeks (and months) will end up. Not long after that will be our 2023 dynasty rookie drafts. Of course, landing spots and capital during the actual NFL Draft will play a major role in where these players fall in our final rankings, but it’s important to understand who these guys are before we have that final piece of information. I have been constantly updating my 2023 dynasty rookie rankings at Yards Per Fantasy throughout the pre-draft process, but this is my time to actually put some context and analysis behind each player in my top-50.
I hope you enjoy. Even more-so, I want to hear your opinions on these players, so join us on Discord and let’s discuss! I’ll see you on the other side.
1. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
The hype is real. Bijan Robinson is truly a generational talent who will be one of the best running backs in the NFL, the second his name is announced on draft night. Robinson is built like a prototypical bellcow back with an incredible combination of size, speed, and explosion. His lateral agility, change-of-direction, and balance are unmatched. His vision and instincts help him exploit any and every hole in the defense. He offers the receiving skills to make him a legitimate three-down weapon. Not only does he have excellent hands, but his route running and ability after the catch will make him a chess piece that creative offensive minds can move around the formation and will create headaches for opposing defenses. His above average skill set in pass protection ensures he will never have to come off the field.
Robinson is the type of talent that a few years ago we would have been talking about as a top-5 or top-10 pick in the NFL draft. Instead, he’ll probably come off the board somewhere between pick 20 and pick 30. In dynasty, he is the no-brainer 1.01 in both single quarterback and superflex rookie drafts.
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2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
It is unfortunate we didn’t get to see Jaxon Smith-Njigba with his opportunity to be the clear WR1 in 2022 with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson out of the picture. But that doesn’t take away from how impressive his 2021 campaign was while playing alongside those two studs. JSN is a technically refined route-runner whose awareness and football IQ make him a quarterback’s best friend. He is a smooth operator with good hands and a few nifty moves to add yards after the catch. While lacking in deep speed and the explosiveness to take his game to another level, Smith-Njigba is able to use the other tools on his belt to create consistent separation.
JSN projects as a high-end second option in the NFL. He will likely be confined to the slot early in his career but he could develop the versatility to bounce outside at flanker. He is a lock to go off the board in the first round with a chance to be the first wide receiver to hear his name called. JSN is the uncontested top receiver in dynasty rookie drafts.
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3. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Jahmyr Gibbs may be the most dynamic receiving back we have seen enter the NFL draft since Christian McCaffrey. Not only does he have natural hands and the receiving production to back it up, but he can run just about any route, either out of the backfield or one-on-one with a cornerback on the outside. With over 100 receptions in three seasons at the college level, Gibbs is sure to make an immediate impact in the passing game in the NFL.
He will bring some juice as a runner as well, with excellent speed, explosion, and vision, and the elusiveness to make anyone miss in the open field. Gibbs will be a true “do it all” weapon whose incredible versatility will make for a constant mismatch for defenses to worry about. His size may prevent him from taking a true workhorse role, but it really won’t matter as long as he’s getting 12 to 15 touches per game. Gibbs will likely hear his name called early in the second round with a chance to slide into the back of the first if a team really falls in love with him. In dynasty, lock him in as the RB2 of the class.
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4. Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
Zach Charbonnet is built to be a workhorse back in the NFL. He runs with good vision and patience and is at his best when he’s working north and south. His lower body strength gives him the power to break through arm tackles with ease and move a pile in short yardage situations. Charbonnet is an upright runner who is stiff in the hips but has just enough wiggle to make defenders miss in the open field from time to time. In the passing game, he accounted for more than 12% of UCLA’s completed passes in 2022 and has amassed 61 receptions over the last two seasons. He can run a variety of routes out of the backfield and has decent enough hands to be serviceable on passing downs.
Charbonnet could hear his name as early as the end of the second round on draft weekend. In dynasty, he will be one of the safest picks in the class and should have a top-5 rookie ADP when the dust settles.
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5. Jordan Addison, WR, USC
We have seen a number of rookie wide receivers make a major impact in their first seasons over the last few years. Jordan Addison will be the next one. Addison has a well-developed game that will translate into immediate production in the NFL. He is a smooth route-runner who can tackle the full route tree, utilize a variety of release tactics, and create consistent separation. He has the versatility to line up out wide and in the slot, though his thin frame will keep him inside more often than not.
Addison may not be a barn-burner, but he has plenty of speed to get open vertically and the moves to create yardage after the catch. He checks all of the age and production-based analytical boxes as well. Addison is a candidate to be the first wide receiver drafted. It would be a shock to see him fall too far outside the top-20 selections.
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6. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Quentin Johnston is widely regarded as one of the top wide receivers in the 2023 draft class. He is an exceptional athlete with an impressive combination of speed, acceleration, and short-area quickness that allows him to win in all areas. Johnston is especially dangerous on vertical routes and is a force with the ball in his hands. His movement skills are impressive for a guy of his height. Unfortunately, he doesn’t always use that height to its full advantage. For example, he should have a higher success rate in contested situations. Instead, he tends to not high-point the ball, letting it come to him and open it up to be played by the defender.
Johnston’s production at TCU does not necessarily scream superstar at the next level. It was a slow progression to his 1,000-yard 2022 campaign and even that left a bit to be desired. Some want to crown him the next D.K. Metcalf, but his play style just doesn’t fit that comp. Still, Johnston is a lock to go in the first round of the NFL draft and will likely come off the board within the first 20 picks. In dynasty, he’s a top-5 wide receiver and a first rounder in rookie drafts.
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7. Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
Zay Flowers has an excellent combination of speed and explosion to win on all three levels and create plays after the catch or on rush attempts. He has the versatility to move all over the formation, though he could wind up taking a lot of his snaps in the NFL from the slot, considering his undersized frame. Flowers will be best deployed in an offense that utilizes a lot of pre-snap motion and spread concepts that will allow him to get the most out of his skill set. He will likely come off the board sometime late in the first round or early in the second of the NFL Draft. His ADP in dynasty rookie drafts will be about the same.
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8. Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
Roschon Johnson spent most of his career in the shadow of Bijan Robinson. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a legitimate NFL prospect of his own. Johnson has excellent size, with the patience to set up his blocks and the vision and instincts to take advantage of open lanes. He has the power to move a pile, though he runs with more finesse than you’d expect from a 6-2, 220lb back. He also isn’t the tackle-breaking machine you would think based on his size. His lateral agility leaves much to be desired. He’s more of a straight-line runner.
With that said, Johnson has the skill to be a significant contributor in the NFL, with the upside to develop into a team’s No.1. He even showed enough to think he may be able to add value on passing downs as well. Johnson will likely hear his name called sometime on Day Two of draft weekend. Between now and then, his ADP in dynasty rookie drafts is going to continue to climb.
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9. Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh
Israel Abanikanda is an athletic back with an excellent combination of size and speed. He has the acceleration and explosion to take advantage of any crease the defense gives him. Abanikanda leaves a bit to be desired between the tackles and in situations where he needs to generate some power to create additional yardage. He also won’t cause defenders any loss of sleep over his receiving skills. However, Abanikanda is an ideal fit for teams that run a lot of outside zone concepts. He can get to the edge with ease, and use his explosive one-cut to accelerate to the next level. Abanikanda will likely be a third or fourth pick in the NFL Draft. His ADP has been climbing and he may not qualify as a sleeper for much longer.
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10. Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
Kendre Miller took his opportunity and ran with it in 2022. He proved to be a workhorse back whose game should translate to immediate production at the next level. Miller is a between-the-tackles grinder who has the size, vision, and toughness to eat up yards on inside runs. He may not torch anyone with his wheels, but he has the requisite speed and explosion to be a productive NFL runner. Miller doesn’t offer much in the passing game but he should carve out a role as an early-down back who will get opportunities at the goal line as well.
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11. Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
Tank Bigsby was productive from day one at Auburn. He’s a tough between the tackles runner who wins with a unique combination of power and quickness. He will sometimes try to bounce runs to the outside more often than he should, especially considering he’s not known for his speed or explosiveness. He will also flash some indecisiveness when choosing a hole. Otherwise, Bigsby does typically exhibit good patience and vision.
While he did catch more than 50 passes over the last two seasons and has capable hands, Bigsby cannot be considered a difference maker in the receiving game. Instead, he’s more of a check-down or screen game option. On draft weekend, Bigsby will likely hear his name called early on day three by a team looking to add some depth between the tackles. Bigsby could compete for a starting job if he lands on a team without an established top dog.
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12. Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
If his more than 1,800 total yards in 2022 wasn’t enough to catch the eye of NFL scouts, his performance during senior bowl week surely did the trick. Spears was named the practice player of the week as he wowed scouts with his incredible combination of speed, agility, acceleration, and explosion. Even when the games count, Spears shows great vision and runs with decisiveness and purpose in a way that allows him to take full advantage of his athletic traits.
At Tulane, Spears displayed the versatility to line up anywhere on the field—even taking snaps as a wildcat quarterback. Spears operated in both gap and zone-blocking schemes at Tulane so he will be ready to contribute at a high level no matter where he lands. While he is a bit undersized and will need to improve in pass protection, Spears is one of the fastest risers at this point in the pre-draft process. He projects as a high-volume RB2 early on with the skill and just enough size to earn an opportunity to lead a backfield. He has locked himself into day two and will likely come off the board before the third round.
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13. Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Jalin Hyatt’s career took a minute to get going but he exploded up draft boards in 2022 about as fast as he is. Hyatt utilized his great speed to create separation on vertical routes. The concern is, he relied a bit too much on the offensive scheme and alignment in the slot to win on the rest. Hyatt will need to develop his route tree and release packages if he is to become a well-rounded weapon at the next level. If he can do that, though, he will become one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. Hyatt projects as a Z-receiver who can stretch the field from both the outside and the slot.
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14. Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
The first word that comes to mind when talking about Devon Achane is ‘speed’. The dude can run with the best of them and will not be stopped if he breaks into the secondary. That’s exciting. But what makes Achane special is that there’s more to his game than pure speed. He has good vision and patience as a runner. He’s not afraid to hit it up inside and we’ve already established he’s dangerous when he bounces it to the edge. When he gets a sliver of daylight, Achane can make defenders look silly with his elusiveness, propelled by incredible start/stop ability and change of direction. While he may not be the best option in short yardage situations, Achane does not fold easily on first contact, especially when in space. He has good hands out of the backfield and makes for a challenging cover for any linebacker.
The elephant in the room is his size. He just does not possess the frame needed to handle a full workload. So while Achane has the skills to lead a backfield, he will need to be paired with a bigger, more physical, north-south runner at the next level. With that said, his splash play ability will allow him to make the most of his opportunities, especially if he can carve out a role as his team’s passing-downs back.
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15. Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
Josh Downs is a dynamic player out of the slot. While he’s an excellent route-runner, he’s not boxed into the typical move-the-chains slot receiver mold. He’s more of the Tyler Lockett or Jahan Dotson type—someone who can make plays in the open field and threaten defenses with a bit of speed and explosion both before and after the catch. With that said, he will be best used inside where he can avoid physical press coverage. Downs projects as an early second round pick in the NFL draft and could push his way into the back-end of the first in single-quarterback dynasty rookie drafts if he lands in the right situation.
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16. Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Florida’s Anthony Richardson tested as the most athletic quarterback of all time. He is a playmaker with his legs and has the frame to be an unstoppable force in the red zone, a la Cam Newton. He has the arm strength to chuck it deep to his playmakers or to make tight window throws. His accuracy is inconsistent, but a lot of that can be attributed to poor mechanics and footwork. With some coaching, those issues can be cleaned up considerably.
Richardson is far from a sure-fire prospect, mostly due to the question marks around his passing, but he has the highest ceiling of any quarterback in the 2023 class. His upside projection is a lethal combination of Michael Vick, Cam Newton, and Jalen Hurts. That’s the type of quarterback we want in fantasy football. He won’t be the first quarterback drafted by the NFL, but he should be the top choice in dynasty.
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17. CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State
CJ Stroud is the likely bet to go first overall to the Panthers. Stroud is incredibly accurate with his throws and he has the arm strength to get the ball out to the boundaries or down the field on a deep shot. He’s a natural thrower of the football with good decision-making, anticipation, and processing of information. While he didn’t use his legs often at Ohio State, Stroud does have the athleticism to be a threat to take off and pick up chunks as a tactical scrambler. Stroud will step in and be ready to take the QB1 job from day 1. He is the best real-life quarterback in the 2023 class and should come off the board shortly after Anthony Richardson in dynasty.
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18. Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
Marvin Mims is one of the most exciting wide receiver prospects in the 2023 class. He is an explosive playmaker with 4.38 speed and a career yards per reception average of nearly 20 yards. While he didn’t run a wide array of routes at Oklahoma, Mims proved to be a smooth operator and has the looks of a guy who can develop his tree further at the next level. Mims will likely take a lot of his reps from the slot where he and his undersized frame can avoid physical press coverage. After the catch, Mims has the speed and quickness to be a true threat to gain additional yardage.
For the NFL, Mims profiles as more of a splash play guy as opposed to a high-volume target, much like he was at Oklahoma. If you like the Jalin Hyatt archetype, Mims will give you the same traits and upside, at a cheaper cost.
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19. Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
Rashee Rice draws a lot of comparisons to 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Stylistically, they have some similarities, but Rice isn’t quite as athletic or dynamic as the former first round pick. That’s not to say Rice doesn’t have some exciting traits. Rice is a versatile receiver with good size, excellent ball skills and body control, and just enough speed for defenses to have to respect his vertical game. He’s a threat to eat up yards after the catch, as well. Rice will need to work on refining his route running while also expanding his tree beyond what was asked of him at SMU. He projects as a team’s WR2 or, at best, a 1b. Rice will likely draw draft capital on Day Two and will make for a solid second round selection in dynasty rookie drafts.
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20. Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
Jayden Reed is a versatile athlete who uses his quickness and impressive body control to make plays as a receiver, a rusher, and a kick returner. He’s on the lighter side so he does struggle vs some of the more physical defenders, but that hasn’t stopped him from consistently winning along the boundary. With that said, he will take the majority of his NFL snaps from the slot, where he can maximize his skill set, both before and after the catch. Reed is ready to make an immediate impact for whichever team calls his name on draft weekend as a contributor on offense and in the return game. That will likely happen sometime in the third round. His rookie draft ADP will fall somewhere around the middle to late second round in single quarterback leagues.
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21. Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Will Levis has all the physical traits. Big arm, athletic, stands at 6-4, 229 lbs. He even has experience in a pro-style system. Levis can kill you with a strong throw down the field or run you over at the goal line. However, his accuracy, footwork, and overall mechanics are inconsistent. He will have a lot of fundamentals to clean up at the next level. He will also need to improve his decision-making and take better care of the ball. If he can do that, Levis has as much upside as anyone. There’s a good case to be made that he should be the QB3 off the board in dynasty rookie drafts, ahead of Bryce Young. It’s at least a reasonable consideration. We’ve seen guys like Levis be successful in the NFL, whereas Young is an outlier. The question is, is Levis Josh Allen? Jay Cutler? Or Zach Wilson?
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22. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Bryce Young has a bunch of traits that teams look for in a franchise quarterback: accuracy, decision-making, pocket presence, poise in the face of pressure, a strong enough arm to make all the throws, etc. Where he falls short—literally—is his size. Young stands at just 5-10, 204 lbs. That makes him a major outlier. In fact, according to NFL.com, no quarterback weighing in at fewer than 207 lbs at the NFL Combine has been drafted in the first round going back to 2003. If it weren’t for that, though, we would be talking about Young as the likely No. 1 pick. Instead, we’re wondering if he can realistically make it in the NFL as a franchise quarterback.
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23. Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse
Sean Tucker is an explosive runner who has the speed and acceleration to be a true home-run threat. He runs with great patience, though sometimes can hesitate too much and lose the opportunity to hit an open hole. While he did catch passes at Syracuse, Tucker doesn’t have consistent enough hands, nor the ability in pass protection to be able to project as a true three-down threat at the NFL level. He will likely find draft capital early on day three of the NFL Draft and will make for a good pick in the second round of dynasty rookie drafts.
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24. Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
Chase Brown is a speed back with enough vision, patience, and willingness to embrace contact to be a productive runner at the next level. His excellent burst and acceleration make him a dangerous threat if he finds a crease in the defense. While he did receive over 300 carries in his final season at Illinois, Brown lacks the frame to take on that type of workload in the NFL. His size will also keep him on the sidelines during short yardage and goal-line opportunities considering he doesn’t quite have the power and strength to consistently succeed in those situations.
He is not highly regarded as a pass-catcher, either, but he proved capable with a near 10% reception share in 2022. Brown projects as a committee back who will work best in heavy outside-zone running schemes. He will likely come off the board late in the third round or early on Day Three.
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25. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
The consensus is Michael Mayer is the No. 1 tight end in the 2023 draft class. His production backs up that claim as he racked up over 2,000 receiving yards and 180 receptions during three seasons at Notre Dame. The knock on Mayer is that he isn’t an elite athlete. That’s not to say he’s not athletic, but he’s more of the Jason Witten/Zach Ertz type who will win more with size and nuance as opposed to speed and explosion. Like Witten and Ertz, Mayer won’t come off the field much. He will provide value as both a receiver and an in-line blocker. Mayer has a real shot to go in the first round of the NFL draft and is the safest tight end in dynasty rookie drafts.
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26. Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss
Zach Evans was never able to seize the starting role at Ole Miss, but he showed us enough to think he could be an effective runner at the NFL level. He is a smooth runner with an excellent combination of speed, acceleration, and explosion. Evans compliments his athletic traits with some flashes of physicality and power. He does not possess the receiving skills, nor the pass blocking to warrant three-down usage, however. Instead, Evans projects as a two-down back who will fit best in a zone-blocking scheme that will allow him to get north and south and into space where he can let his explosiveness get to work. He will likely be a Day Two selection in the NFL Draft. For dynasty, I will be out unless his ADP comes down considerably.
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27. Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
It took a long time, but Trey Palmer finally got his shot in 2022. He took full advantage, showing off his speed to consistently win on his routes down the field. He did so while commanding targets at a high volume. While we have to knock him for not being able to crack the lineup at LSU, we have to consider the studs he played with. Luckily, he was able to show off his skills in the return game while he waited for his chance. He turned his opportunity into a record-setting season at Nebraska and became a legitimate NFL prospect.
With his track speed and ability to win vertically, Palmer projects as a field-stretcher at the next level. He’ll be boxed into a one-dimensional role unless he can develop his route tree, gain more reps on the outside vs physical defenders, and improve his win rate in contested situations. If he can do that, he will become a complimentary weapon who can deliver splash plays. Palmer would be best fit in an offense that relies on chunk plays and vertical passing. He will likely hear his name called some time in the third or fourth round.
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28. Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
Evan Hull is a downhill, between the tackles grinder. Hull displays good vision and has enough power to get the job done in short yardage situations. However, his bread and butter comes in the passing game where he racked up 88 receptions and more than 800 receiving yards over the last two seasons. He has good hands and a route package that can be built upon at the next level. With that said, Hull will need to improve in pass protection if he is going to become a reliable option on passing downs. He projects as a day three pick in the NFL Draft who will start his career as a core special-teamer and rotational back. For dynasty, he is a late-round sleeper in hopes that he develops into a high-end backup and third down option.
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29. Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
There is no doubt that Tyler Scott has the athletic traits to develop into a weapon in the NFL. He is exceptionally fast and wastes no time reaching his top speed. He is an explosive threat both before and after the catch. His smaller size limits his catch radius and makes him a bit vulnerable vs physical cornerbacks and in contested catch situations. While he is a quality route runner, there is room to refine that area of his game. With that said, Scott creates consistent separation and is a threat to win on all three levels. Scott projects as a starting Z-receiver who will spend time in the slot as a team’s WR2 or WR3. He will bring some versatility to an offense as an option on jet sweeps and screens as well.
On draft weekend, Scott is likely to come off the board sometime in the late third or early fourth round. He could go even earlier if a team falls in love with his speed. In dynasty, Scott will be one of the best wide receiver options in the third round of rookie drafts.
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30. Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
Kayshon Boutte gets up to speed quickly with the ability to change direction on a dime. That makes him incredibly difficult to defend because he’s a threat to beat defenses vertically, as well as cut off his routes and win in the short and intermediate areas. Not only that, Boutte made a name for himself with his ability to rack up yards after the catch. He has good hands, though he could improve on catching in traffic. He could also use some work getting off the line better.
While his junior season leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth, we have to love Boutte’s early career production and age 18 breakout. Boutte projects as a starting Z-receiver who will also get a lot of work in the slot at the next level. His range of outcomes in the NFL is all over the place. While he could be out of the league in three years, he also has the upside to be a team’s top possession receiver.
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31. Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
Xavier Hutchinson has both the size and versatility to play both outside and in the slot. His lateral agility and quickness allow him to be a quality route runner as well as a threat after the catch. He may not be a burner, but his size and strong hands make him a reliable target in one-on-one contested situations. Despite starting his college career at the JUCO level, Hutchinson enters the NFL Draft with one of the more productive resumes among the 2023 wide receiver class. He will likely hear his name in the middle rounds and is atop the list of sleepers to consider in the third round of dynasty rookie drafts.
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32. Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
Cedric Tillman is a big-bodied wide receiver who wins with size, strength, and toughness. He out-physicals smaller defenders to the football, using his frame and strong hands to dominate in contested situations. Tillman’s game is particularly built around a vertical tree with limited experience on other route concepts. At the NFL level, Tillman will need to focus on developing a wider array of routes as well as a more well-rounded arsenal of release tactics versus press coverage.
While it’s easy to get excited about his physical tools, we have to question why he wasn’t able to produce earlier in his career. Tillman totaled just eight receptions over his first three years at Tennessee. He didn’t breakout until he was nearly 21 ½ years old which is well past the breakout age threshold we look for. It’s a major blemish on his profile. Even so, Tillman projects as a third round pick in the NFL Draft to a team that will hope to deploy him as a starting X-receiver. In dynasty, we have to be cautious if his rookie draft ADP rises above the third round.
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33. Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
Luke Musgrave may have the highest ceiling of any of the 2023 tight ends. He’s super athletic with great speed and explosion while standing at 6-6, 253 lbs. Musgrave is a good route runner with the versatility to line up in-line or as a move tight end in the slot. He comps somewhere on the Dawson Knox/Dallas Goedert line. Musgrave has a chance to be a late first round pick.
34. Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
Darnell Washington gets a lot of attention for his run blocking, to the point where some have suggested he move to offensive tackle. That might be a waste of his full talent profile, though, as he’s one of the better athletes at the tight end position. Standing at a massive 6-7, 264 lbs, Washington ran a 4.64 at the NFL Combine. He was moderately productive as a pass-catcher at Georgia which is really all we ask for from these tight ends coming out of college. He can be a versatile playmaker, dominant run blocker, and red zone threat at the NFL level.
35. Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
Jonathan Mingo is a big, strong receiver who wins with size and physical toughness. He struggles to create separation down the field and relies a bit too much on contested catches. Mingo’s production at Ole Miss was underwhelming, to say the least, including his breakout 2022 campaign. In the NFL, Mingo projects as a big slot receiver who will get on the field in large part thanks to his willingness and ability to block in the run game. He will also take a few manufactured touches and turn them into positive yardage by running both around and through defenders. Mingo will likely hear his name called late day two or day three of the NFL Draft. He may end up being over-drafted in dynasty.
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36. Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, WR, Houston
Tank Dell is an incredibly gifted athlete with all the speed, quickness, explosion, and agility you could ever ask for. He is a playmaker with the ball in his hands and has the versatility to become involved in a number of ways. The problem is, he is just 5-8, 163 lbs. That is severely undersized. If he becomes a consistent producer in the NFL, he will do so as a major outlier. His impressive contested catch rate is unlikely to translate to the NFL. The same could be said about his track record of beating press coverage. However, if he is drafted by a team with some creative minds on the offensive staff he will have a chance to maximize his potential.
Dell could become a slot receiver who lines up all over the formation, is put in motion often, and schemed into space to allow his natural run-after-catch abilities to take over. Either way, Dell will be one of the most fun players to watch on Sundays, even if his role doesn’t amount to anything we can rely on in fantasy. Dell will likely come off the board on day two of the NFL draft. He will be a “stay away” in dynasty rookie drafts if his ADP gets too high.
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37. Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
When debating who is the best tight end in the 2023 class, Utah’s Dalton Kincaid surely needs to be in the conversation. At 6-4, 246 lbs, Kincaid is a move tight end who has speed, runs good routes, and dominates in contested catch situations. Kincaid can win in all areas of the field and has the ball skills of a wide receiver. He will need to improve his blocking and play strength if he’s going to become a more well-rounded tight end, but otherwise he is one of the top players at the position in this class.
38. Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
Deuce Vaughn has one of the better production profiles among the 2023 running backs. He ran for nearly 3,000 yards over his last two seasons at Kansas State while scoring 34 touchdowns. He also caught 91 passes over that span and commanded a target share above 15% in all three of his collegiate seasons.
But when we consider his 5-5, 179 lb frame, it feels like throwing a giant tub of ice water onto a flame. For Vaughn to be successful in the NFL at that size, he would have to prove to be the outlier of all outliers. The size is going to affect his draft capital, it’s going to affect his touch distribution, and it’s going to affect his durability. It’s too bad, because he does have a lot of positive traits—vision, versatility, toughness, elusiveness, receiving skills, etc. He’ll be a fun pick at the end of rookie drafts but it’s hard to invest anything more into a guy that has no realistic comps.
39. Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
Charlie Jones put himself on the radar with a breakout season in 2022 and an equally impressive performance at the NFL Combine. He has some appealing traits, like his strong hands, an ability to win in contested situations, and his knack for exploiting zone coverage. His strength is in the quick passing game on routes such as slants and crossers. With that said, Jones struggles to create consistent separation, especially versus tight man coverage.
His lone season of meaningful production in college came during his age 23 season and five years after first stepping onto a college campus. There’s really no excuse for not being able to produce sooner. It’s not like he was playing at Alabama or Ohio State where he was stuck behind world class wide receiver talent. He couldn’t get on the field at Buffalo. He couldn’t get on the field at Iowa. Jones’ NFL outlook is that of a career special teams ace who will provide depth at the wide receiver position. There is little reason to consider him in dynasty rookie drafts.
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40. Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
Sam LaPorta is a jack of all trades, master of none. He’s a solid receiver, decent route runner, and an okay blocker. However, he has the size, athleticism, and college production to think he can develop into a starting tight end in the NFL. LaPorta went over 600 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons at Iowa, with a target share over 21% in each of the last three. He is projected to come off the board in the late second round of the NFL draft. He’s another tight end worth taking a shot on in the third round of dynasty rookie drafts.
41. Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion
Zack Kuntz is an athletic freak at 6-7, 255 lbs. Not only did he run in the mid-4.5s, but he tested with elite burst and agility as well. In fact, he scores as the most athletic tight end when adjusted for size according to PlayerProfiler.com’s new Athleticism Score metric. While the importance of athleticism varies position to position as far as correlating to fantasy football production, it’s most important for tight ends. Kuntz had a highly productive season at Old Dominion in 2021 before missing most of 2022 due to injury. He could take some time to develop into his raw talent at the NFL level
42. Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford
It’s unfortunate that Michael Wilson’s career at Stanford was so plagued by injuries. He was on the verge of breaking out before he was cut down to just 14 games in the last three seasons. Based on what we were able to see from him, Wilson projects as a versatile depth wide receiver who can line up at any spot on the field. He uses his size, physical strength, and body control to create separation. He has the athleticism to add value after the catch. Wilson could begin his career as a team’s core special teamer while he refines his game as a route runner. That potential value on special teams plus his above average skills as a run blocker should get him drafted in the middle rounds. In dynasty, he will be a sleeper to watch in the third round of rookie drafts.
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43. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
Hendon Hooker is a 25-year old quarterback prospect who is coming off a torn ACL. However, prior to the injury, Hooker was in the conversation as a possible 2022 Heisman Trophy contender. He had the Tennessee offense operating as one of the best units in the nation. Hooker’s efficiency was outstanding, with a 69.6% completion rate and nearly 10 yards per attempt. He set school records by throwing 261 passes without an interception and tossing a touchdown in 20 consecutive games (NFL.com).
Hooker is a rhythm-based pocket passer but he does have the athleticism to be a tactical scrambler. He is projected to be an early second round pick in the NFL Draft, but he has gone as high as top-10 in mock drafts. Either way, he deserves to be a top-50 pick in single quarterback dynasty rookie drafts and should at least be considered at the end of the first in superflex.
44. Will Mallory, TE, Miami
Will Mallory is a move tight end who is 6-5 but a bit undersized as far as weight. He’s super athletic and had enough production at Miami to think he could develop into a starter at the NFL level.
45. Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
Parker Washington is a slot receiver who thrives after the catch. For that reason, he was fed a lot of manufactured touches and short passes to take advantage. He’s better versus zone coverage as he tends to struggle to separate against tight man coverage. Washington won’t beat you with speed or explosiveness either but his ball skills are excellent.
He has the toughness and hand strength to hang onto contested catches. Washington is flying under the radar but he could find higher draft capital than expected and could become one of the “safer” choices in the later stages of dynasty rookie drafts.
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46. Puka Nacua, WR, BYU
Puka Nacua is a big, physical outside receiver. He’s not the best route runner, the best separator, or particularly explosive off the line. Instead, he uses his big frame, strength, and ability to out-leap defenders to create a target for his quarterback and dominate in contested situations. His route tree consists of mostly vertical patterns that allow him to play to his strengths. He looks a bit stiff when he runs, but that didn’t stop him from gaining over 300 yards on the ground during his two seasons at BYU. But rather than leaning on agility and quickness, Nacua uses his physicality to eat up yards on rush attempts and run-after-catch opportunities.
In the NFL, Nacua projects as an outside receiver who will play both the Z and X positions. His speed and toughness could make him a candidate to play on kick coverage units early in his career while he develops his route running and release tactics.
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47. Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati
Tre Tucker is a dynamic athlete with the speed, explosion, and elite quickness to be a play-making threat. However, his offensive production in four seasons at Cincinnati did not line up with his athletic traits. He never commanded a significant share of the passing offense and despite his elite athleticism, never managed to average more than 13 yards per reception in a season. Instead, he benefited from a lot of schemed touches on screen passes and free releases from the slot in a spread offense.
Where Tucker will surely add value in the NFL, though, is on special teams as both a return and a key member on coverage units. On the offensive side, he will need to find a team that lets him play to his strengths and is willing to scheme up opportunities to get him in space. For fantasy football, Tucker is a dart throw in the fourth round of rookie drafts, betting purely on his athleticism with the hopes that he can do more in the NFL than he did at the college level.
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48. Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
Tucker Kraft is a versatile tight end who can play in-line or split out into the slot. He’s a quality blocker with size, strength, and athleticism. As a pass-catcher, Kraft utilizes his size well to get physical before and after the catch. His route-running can use some refinement for the next level, but there’s little reason to think he can’t improve. Kraft will be a priority target on draft weekend for teams who play in a lot of two tight end sets and want to utilize his versatility.
49. Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
Eric Gray is an all-purpose running back who may not have elite speed or size, but he has enough tools to be productive at the NFL level. He is a decisive runner with elite lateral agility, great vision, and a variety of moves to make anyone miss in the open field. His soft hands and receiving skills will make him a true three-down threat. Prior to his pro day, Gray was looking like a top-24 player in dynasty. However, after running in the 4.6s at under 210 lbs, he barely cracks the top-50. I won’t be touching Gray anywhere near his current ADP.
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50. Camerun Peoples, RB, Appalachian State
Camerun Peoples is an upright runner who runs with good power and patience but lacks any elite athletic traits. He’s not particularly fast or explosive, and his lateral agility leaves much to be desired as well. With just 11 career receptions in five years at Appalachian State, it’s safe to say he won’t bring much value on passing downs. What he can bring to the table, though, is a solid depth piece in a backfield looking to add another big-bodied runner. He projects best to a zone-blocking scheme. His best chance at becoming fantasy relevant is a rash of injuries ahead of him that thrust him into a short-term starting job.
Full 2023 ROOKIE PROFILES
Jordan Addison Roschon Johnson
RANKINGS | DYNASTY | Rookies
