2018 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
With the college football season more than halfway over and the NFL season nearly at the midway mark, Dynasty owners are beginning to decide whether to go all in for 2017 and sell their assets in preparation for the 2018 draft. But before you decide to go buying all the draft picks you can get your hands on, it is important that we look at the players that may be available to you. This mock draft will be a standard 12 team league and is PPR scoring format.
Round 1:
1.01: Saquon Barkley, RB Penn State
Shocker, I know. This wasn’t too tough of a decision. I’m not sure we have had a 1.01 pick be as easy as this one is. Zeke was perhaps the closest, but landing spot played a major part in that. Barkley shows elite skills in all facets of the game and is the best RB prospect in the past decade.
1.02: Courtland Sutton, WR SMU
Courtland Sutton may have started the season rather slow, but lately, has shown the level of talent many expected. Sutton has the size and athleticism NFL teams drool over and has begun to show the route running to make him a complete WR. Combo that with strong hands and the ability to win on jump balls and Sutton has the ability to be an elite WR1 in the NFL.
1.03: Derrius Guice, RB LSU
Derrius Guice has dealt with some injury issues throughout the season which has led to a decrease in production and playing time. With that said, Guice still shows high-level ability with excellent athleticism and burst with good strength to boot. Guice still has the skills and upside to be an RB1 in the NFL, and if he is drafted on day 1 or 2, it will be hard to pass him up with this selection.
1.04: Bryce Love, RB Stanford
This may be the surprise pick thus far, but if you have been paying attention this season, then it shouldn’t be. Bryce Love has put up unreal production as he leads CFB in rushing yards and has only seen one game with less than 150 yards rushing. He shows elite vision, patience, and burst. Love should find his way into the 1st round come draft time which will also vault his draft value.
1.05: Nick Chubb, RB Georgia
After a serious injury left his future in question, Nick Chubb has quickly erased nearly all doubt from peoples mind; Chubb is back! While not quite fully back to where he was a few years ago, the athleticism Chubb shows for a man his size is rare. His low pad level gives him elite balance and his change of direction is top notch. If Chubb can continue to show elite traits and stay healthy, he will be considered one of the top players come 2018.
1.06: Auden Tate, WR Florida State
Auden Tate hasn’t put up the gaudy numbers week after week that most would expect from a top WR, but that is to be expected when your starting QB is replaced with an inexperienced one. Still, Tate shows some massive upside with potential to be a WR1 at the next level. He has excellent size, good movement for that size, and good route running. He does a great job high pointing the ball and using his strong hands to reel it in. I fully expect Tate to be a 1st round pick in the upcoming draft which will make his value go through the roof.
1.07: Kalen Ballage, RB Arizona St
This pick may be a bit of a shock to most especially considering the production he has thus far. But make no mistake, Kalen Ballage has all the tools to be a top notch RB. His physical profile combined with his speed and athleticism is rare. He has the strength to run over defenders and even has the pass catching ability to make him a threat through the air. If Ballage gets even close to reaching his true potential, we will have a star on our hands.
1.08: Ronald Jones, RB USC
Coming into the season, there were plenty of mixed reviews on Ronald Jones. So far, he has silenced his critics with his high level of play. Jones has been running with more tenacity than ever before and isn’t shying away from contact, which was his biggest weakness. Add in the agility and speed he already had, and Jones has turned himself into a force that is tough to stop.
1.09: Jaylen Smith, WR Louisville
Jaylen Smith is a name going way under the radar but will quickly make a rise come draft time. Smith has excellent size and strength which helps him fight through press coverage and battle DBs at the catch point. At the same time, Smith has deceptive speed and the ability to beat defenders over the top. Smith also has above average route running which makes him a matchup nightmare for defenses. By the time 2018 rolls around, Smith will be a name every draftnik is talking about.
1.10: James Washington, WR Oklahoma State
Admittedly, I have not been the biggest fan of James Washington, but at this point, it’s hard to ignore the numbers he has put up so far this season as he is currently 2nd in receiving yards. Washington shows elite speed to take the top off defenses and excellent ball tracking ability. All of which makes him a threat every time the ball is snapped. Regardless of the team he lands on, he will be a big-time playmaker at the next level.
1.11: Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama
Calvin Ridley’s place in rookie drafts, and the NFL Draft, is still highly debated. Some don’t think his talent matches his hype, but I tend to disagree. Ridley is a high-level route runner on every level of the route tree. He does a great job setting up defenders and has the quickness and long speed to be a homerun hitter. I firmly believe that Ridley is still one of the top WRs in this draft and will be very effective at the next level.
1.12: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Notre Dame
Unfortunately, Equanimeous St. Brown hasn’t quite lived up to his preseason hype. Regardless, St. Brown has all the tools you look for when evaluating WRs for the NFL. His length makes him a tough matchup and allows him to go up and over defenders on jump balls. He has solid route running and good hands to go along with it. There may be other players with the production you look for here, but the upside and potential St. Brown brings is too hard to pass up here.
Round 2:
Find rounds 2 and 3 at the below link
https://dynastyfootballfactory.com/2018-dynasty-rookie-mock-draft/
