The 2022 NFL Draft has concluded and the writers here at King Fantasy Sports and myself have had time to let the dust settle and really dig into these landing spots and what they mean for these prospects. So, of course, we all came together to create an updated collaborative Superflex, TE Premium, Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft. This is version 2.0. There are some big movers from the last mock draft, most notably the quarterbacks. We all watched on draft weekend as all but one QB fell out of the first and then second round as well. But on top of quarterback landing spots, we also locked in where each of the top wide receivers landed, including a particular wide receiver seemingly falling right in place as the replacement to his most commonly comped to player. We also saw no running backs go in the first round, but that’s no discouragement to some of our writers, especially at the top of the draft! Finally, what do we do with the tight ends in this class? Even in tight end premium scoring formats, we pretty heavily fade this TE class…
Below each writer that participated had two picks in each round. The writer made their own selection in this mock draft and gives their reasoning and overview of their respective pick.
1.01 Kenneth Walker – RB – MSU – Seattle Seahawks
Writer – Ignacio Gilbert @IDP_Iggy
With the 1st selection, I went with Walker, which is a bit unconventional for some. Head Coach Pete Carroll has proven time and time again, that his philosophy is run first/control the pace of the game. Fellow RB Chris Carson may not ever play again, and RB Rashaad Penny has yet to stay healthy an entire season. This should lead to high volume for an explosive RB.
Walker III transferred to Michigan State from Wake Forest and it served him well. He amassed 1,636 rushing yards, and 19 total TDs, which earned him the nation’s highest honor for running backs (Doak Walker Award), as well as the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. The philosophy at Michigan State was a great fit, and the fit in Seattle is perfect.
1.02 – Breece Hall – RB – Iowa State – New York Jets
Writer – Lewis Wood @LewisWoodFF_UK
Breece Hall is my 1.01, so I was delighted to see him fall here. Breece seems to be the consensus top pick by ADP and amongst analysts. A mixture of talent, landing spot, and positional scarcity makes him an obvious pick right at the top. Hall slots in immediately as a top 10 dynasty back, and is talented enough to compete with Najee Harris and D’Andre Swift for the dynasty RB2 slot very soon!
1.03 – Treylon Burks – WR – Arkansas – Tennessee Titans
Writer – Tyler Moore @Tyler_FF_
Treylon Burks was slated as my WR1 in this rookie class before the NFL Draft and his landing spot did nothing to discourage my ranking. It seems easy to slate him into the AJ Brown role as he has been compared to AJ Brown since the end of last football season. But it just makes too much sense. He played a majority of his snaps out of the slot, provided big yards after the catch, and can take the top off the defense. He is less dynamic with the ball in his hands than AJ Brown is, but I think Burks can take the top off a defense better once he gets going. A lot of the knocks on Burks are the same ones that caused people to fade AJ Brown as well. I’m all in on Burks, but there are still other WRs in this tier that I do really like and I want to try to diversify between the top tier throughout my rookie drafts.
1.04 – Chris Olave – WR – OSU – New Orleans Saints
Writer – Corey Easley @CMoney52
Olave was my favorite receiver in the draft and landing with the Saints after all of what they gave up to get him, I don’t mind the landing spot. Olave slots in to play in an offense with an aging Michael Thomas and newly acquired Jarvis Landry. Both of those guys aren’t big-time playmakers which I believe Olave is. He gets to play with one of the best YOLO QBs in the league with Winston who isn’t scared to throw into coverage.
1.05 – Drake London – WR – USC – Atlanta Falcons
Writer – Tyler Moore @Tyler_FF_
Drake London is an uber-talented wide receiver that fell into a scenario where there are almost literally no other wide receivers to take targets from him. It could be argued that Kyle Pitts is more wide receiver than tight end, but regardless, the duo of Pitts and London will be a scary one for opposing defenses thanks to the sheer size of the two. Granted we’re looking at Marcus Mariota or Desmond Ridder throwing London the ball this season, but it’s more likely than not that the Atlanta Falcons are looking strongly at the 2023 quarterback class. London’s target volume could lead him to a big rookie year and hopefully a revamped offense next season will help continue his development to reach London’s extremely high potential.
1.06 – Garrett Wilson – WR – OSU – New York Jets
Writer – Alastair Cook @FFDynastyGrill
Garrett Wilson is my Rookie WR2 so I am extremely happy to grab him at the 6th pick. Wilson to me is the safest of all the top WRs to come into the NFL this season, landing on a vastly improving Jets offense and receiving fantastic draft capital being selected with the 10th overall pick.
An extremely well-rounded receiver, Wilson can win all over the field and showed his blazing speed with a 4.38 40 time at the NFL combine. I think Wilson has WR1 upside (top 12) and can take over as the team’s number one target as early as year
1.07 – Christian Watson – WR – SDSU – Green Bay Packers
Writer – Ignacio Gilbert @IDP_Iggy
Christian Watson could not have been placed in a better situation. He goes to a winning organization, has arguably the greatest passer to ever play the game dropping him dimes, and could be the #1 WR for the Green Bay Packers. At worst he finishes as WR 48 this season, which would be a consistent flex in a 12-team, 3 WR team. At best he could be WR 1…
Watson’s father was drafted by Green Bay and became a defensive backs coach for the Scottish Claymores. Christian’s football IQ is elite. 914 total yards and 8 TDs last year, look for him to have huge games on long bombs from Rodgers, a Jordy Nelson 2.0 if you will.
1.08 – Kenny Pickett – QB – Pitt – Pittsburgh Steelers
Writer – Lewis Wood @LewisWoodFF_UK
Most years, SuperFlex drafts mean a QB is guaranteed to go 1.01. This year’s weak class means you can normally get one towards the middle of the 1st round. Although there’s only one QB I’m considering drafting until at least the middle of the 2nd round. Pickett was my QB3 pre-draft, and I’ve never been particularly in on the talent. However, he’s landed in a great spot and should be starting day one for the Steelers. Knowing that starting quarterbacks are gold dust in SuperFlex leagues, Pickett felt the obvious choice here for me.
1.09 – Jameson Williams – WR – Alabama – Detroit Lions
Writer – Tyler Moore @Tyler_FF_
The NFL loves speed, and Williams brings just that to the football field. But he’s more than your run-of-the-mill speedster you see light up the combine (e.g., John Ross, Henry Ruggs, Marquise Goodwin, etc.). Williams brings control to his speed that creates separation that just his route running isn’t able to do yet. He has sky-high potential if he can develop more as a pure route runner and pair that with his speed. And that isn’t to say his route running is bad right now, it’s enough to get by thanks to his physical traits. Additionally, he lands with Detriot where it looks like they’re really building something with the buy-in to Dan Campbell’s culture, a very solid supporting cast on offense, and a young and developing defense. Watch out for Williams and the Lions.
1.10 – Skyy Moore – WR – Western Michigan – Kansas City Chiefs
Writer – Corey Easley @CMoney52
Moore fell to KC Chiefs and you have to be happy with the landing spot and getting Skyy at the end of a 1st round rookie draft. MAC receivers have done well in the NFL and if he can carve in a role in the newly revamped KC offense and looks like some version of Jeremy Maclin or Golden Tate. I will be thrilled with this selection. Taking Skyy before Dotson or Pickens was a no-brainer for me.
1.11 – Jahan Dotson – WR – Penn State – Washington Commanders
Writer – Tyler Moore @Tyler_FF_
Dotson didn’t land in a great situation, but with his talent, draft capital, and film, he shouldn’t be falling to the 2nd round of rookie drafts. His situation with the Washington Commanders isn’t great as he slots in as at best the 2nd option in a Carson Wentz led offense. But it’s been obvious with the free-agent signings and draft selections the last couple of years that the Commanders have been actively trying to fill the WR2 role behind Terry McLaurin. Dotson has the tools to do that and we could see Wentz flourish back to his MVP caliber play with a legitimate supporting cast around him for the first time in a long time. I wouldn’t bet on it, but it’s in the realm of possibilities. But we do bet on talent, not situations. This offseason and draft night alone showed us how quickly the landscape for a fantasy player can change.
1.12 – George Pickens – WR – Georgia – Pittsburgh Steelers
Writer – Alastair Cook @FFDynastyGrill
George Pickens was safely in my top tier of WRs coming into the pre-draft process and it was a shock to me to see him drop to pick 52 when I thought he could go in round 1. Landing with the Steelers, some see the spot to be a difficult one with plenty of competition in Diontae Johnson & Chase Claypool. But looking further forward I think it could become a match made in heaven.
Pickens talent alone could see him displacing Chase Claypool for the WR2 spot but then factor in that Diontae Johnson is crowing about a big new contract, the Georgia receiver could be the No.1 target in 12 months’ time. The Steelers organization doesn’t typically pay big money to WRs so maybe the Pickens pick is a forecast for next season when they lose Diontae? Pickens is a beast and happy to take the discount on him at the back end of the 1st round.
2.01 – Desmond Ridder – QB – Cincinnati – Atlanta Falcons
Writer – Ignacio Gilbert @IDP_Iggy
Desmond Ridder will be the starting QB of the Atlanta Falcons… but when is the question. The former 2x AAC Offensive Player of the Year is a poised leader and dynamic QB. The 4-year starter amassed 10,239 passing yards, 2180 rushing yards, and 116 total TDs for the Cincinnati Bearcats… One-hundred and sixteen TDs, just so it really sinks in. He could be the best of the draft class, and possibly a generational QB.
2.02 – James Cook – RB – Georgia – Buffalo Bills
Writer – Lewis Wood @LewisWoodFF_UK
I’ll start this off by saying that I’ve never been particularly in on James Cook. I think he’s a stellar pass catcher but I worry that’s all he profiles to be – and I worry that’s all the Bills see him as. After JD McKissic went back to Washington, I think Buffalo selected Cook purely to fill that role. However, with all my top WRs off the board, I felt comfortable having the dart throw on Cook at this point. I’ve seen him go as high as 1.05 in rookie drafts, which I really can’t get on board with. 2.02? I’m fine with it just in case he hits.
2.03 – Rachaad White – RB – ASU – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Writer – Tyler Moore @Tyler_FF_
Rachaad White seems like the perfect long-term replacement for Leonard Fournette. White is a do-it-all back that can run between the tackles or to the outside effectively and is a more than capable 3rd down back as a receiver. He needs to improve on his pass protection if he’s going to earn Brady’s trust which is paramount to him getting on the field. I expect Fournette to get the majority of the work early in the season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if White is the one taking the majority by the end of the year. Fournette was already only getting about 50% of the running back touches last season. If we do see White start to really overtake Fournette, we could see Brady peppering White with targets as Tampa Bay runs their pseudo run game. In the early 2nd, White is an easy player to take a bet on with a high upside.
2.04 – Dameon Pierce – RB – Florida – Houston Texans
Writer – Corey Easley @CMoney52
Took the Florida Gator here as the 5th RB off the board. He seems like a ho-hum guy that can do a little bit of everything. His landing spot in Houston gives me Arian Foster vibes who also didn’t jump out athletically. Texans needed some youth at the position and while it may be a slow roll until he gets his feet under him. He should get a significant opportunity to show what he has. Worth a dice roll.
2.05 – Isaiah Spiller – RB – TAMU – Los Angeles Chargers
Writer – Tyler Moore @Tyler_FF_
Isaiah Spiller landed in an okay landing spot. Austin Ekeler is clearly the lead back in front of him, but with Joe Lombardi from the Saints taking over as offensive coordinator we could see a Mark Ingram/Alvin Kamara type backfield. Spiller would be a great fit for the Ingram role that takes the short-yardage and goal-line touches but is still versatile enough to stay on the field in other situations when needed. Then Ekeler provides an explosive role out of the backfield catching passes but also versatile enough to run between the tackles. Ekeler is getting up there in age and I’m sure the Chargers don’t want to run him into the ground like they’ve been forced to the past few seasons. They want to preserve Ekeler and Spiller is the key to doing just that.
2.06 – Alec Pierce – WR – Cincinnati – Indianapolis Colts
Writer – Alastair Cook @FFDynastyGrill
My rookie WR sleeper pre-draft landed in a terrific spot to produce right from week 1. The Colts were one of the big WR needy teams and they grabbed Pierce 1 spot after George Pickens in round 2 at 53.
Pierce possesses a large frame but also blazing speed for a guy (4.41) who’s 6 foot 3 giving new QB Matt Ryan a great vertical threat. Pierce working alongside Michael Pittman could sneakily be in the conversation for the most productive rookie so to grab a guy with that upside in the middle of round 2 (where dart throws territory begins) feels great.
2.07 – Jalen Tolbert – WR – South Alabama – Dallas Cowboys
Writer – Ignacio Gilbert @IDP_Iggy
Jalen Tolbert went to a great situation; a Pro-Bowl QB, pass aggressive head coach. And a void of 3 pass catchers leaving in the off-season. WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. signed with the Dolphins, WR Amari Cooper was traded to the Browns, and TE Blake Jarwin is a free agent. Tolbert should see his fair share of targets with Jarwin, Lamb, and Gallup.
The 2021 Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the year averaged 18 yards per reception, 1,474 receiving yards, and had 8 TDs. He has the potential to have a 1,000-yard season with 5 TDs in his rookie year.
2.08 – John Metchie III – WR – Alabama – Houston Texans
Writer – Lewis Wood @LewisWoodFF_UK
Metchie is my guy in this year’s class. I’ve targeted him everywhere I can and this felt around the right spot for him – I’ve taken him at 2.06, 3.04, and a few places in between that range. Metchie is a great route runner with a veterans’ release package, and profiles to succeed in the short to intermediate game with easy separation and solid hands. He’ll come in day one as the Texans WR2 and slot starter and has an easy path to PPR relevancy as a flex immediately.
2.09 – David Bell – WR – Purdue – Cleveland Browns
Writer – Tyler Moore @Tyler_FF_
I’m personally not a huge fan of David Bell, but at 2.09 the value is too good to pass up. His tape worried me, yet his production profile is just ridiculously good. If it weren’t for the shortened COVID season, we could have seen David Bell post 1,000+ yards in all 3 of his seasons at Purdue including his true freshman season. He was a target hog in college and he lands in Cleveland where the only wide receiver of note is Amari Cooper who is also new to the offense. Bell has the opportunity to get on the field immediately, and in the late 2nd, I’m going to take a shot on him.
2.10 – Tyler Allgeier – RB – BYU – Atlanta Falcons
Writer – Corey Easley @CMoney52
Allgeier when we talk about disappointing athletic capabilities should come up in conversation. That being said the kid has worked hard to get where he is today from a zero star prospect in H.S. to an NFL running back. I wish I could spin some wonderful story about Allgeier however I would be lying. His situation in Atlanta is ideal for competition because there isn’t much. Can he be a meat and potatoes runner getting what’s asked every down? I think he has a chance to do that. Draft Allgeier with the chance he gets a nice opportunity alongside Patterson. However, he comes with a warning sign and a chance he results as he did in H.S. as a zero.
2.11 – Trey McBride – TE – Colorado State – Arizona Cardinals
Writer – Tyler Moore @Tyler_FF_
McBride is the clear-cut TE1 in this class as a prospect right now. He may not have the highest potential, but he should develop into a solid tight end. He lands in a really good spot as well in Arizona. They have Zach Ertz there, but he is aging and McBride’s game is very similar to Ertz’s. Ertz looks to be the perfect mentor to McBride as McBride develops and is ready to take over in a couple of years. The contract Ertz received this offseason has an out following the 2023 season with minimal dead cap and at that point, Ertz will be 33 years old. McBride is a wait-and-see player as he will have to develop, but again, at the back end of the 2nd, I’m willing to take a shot on him, especially in tight end premium formats.
2.12 – Malik Willis – QB – Liberty – Tennessee Titans
Writer – Alastair Cook @FFDynastyGrill
This is definitely one of the lowest spots I’ve seen Willis drop to in my rookie drafts so I have to take a swing on the upside at the back of round 2. We saw the hype there was for Willis with plenty of the NFL Draft media guys mocking him with solid round 1 draft capital and some as early as pick 2 overall!
That didn’t end up the case and Willis’ slide was dramatic as were all the rookie QBs not named Kenny Pickett. Willis finally landed on the Tennessee Titans and behind starting QB Ryan Tannehill who enters a critical year as last season’s AFC No.1 seeds look to go further in the playoffs. If Tannehill cannot guide the team to the promised land then Vrabel won’t hesitate to turn to the exciting Konami code style QB and with it would see Willis’ value skyrocket. I’m all about choosing upside already at this stage in rookie drafts with the focus on flipping Willis if he landed a starting job down the line.
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Image Credit: Raj Mehta – USA TODAY Sports
