Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft (2021 Fantasy Football) (2024)

Summer is in full swing, and dynasty leagues are rounding the bend on the rookie draft season. After a cycle of OTAs, news to add context to rookies has begun to cycle. The FantasyPros Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator is a great tool to prepare for your draft. I decided to fire it up, randomized, and ended up with the second pick; the results are below!

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Round 1

• 1.01 – Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
• 1.02 – Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)
• 1.03 – Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)
• 1.04 – Travis Etienne (RB – JAX)
• 1.05 – DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
• 1.06 –Javonte Williams (RB – DEN)
• 1.07 – Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX)
• 1.08 – Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)
• 1.09 – Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)
• 1.10 – Elijah Moore (WR – NYJ)
• 1.11 – Terrace Marshall (WR – CAR)
• 1.12 – Michael Carter (RB – NYJ)

With the second pick, Kyle Pitts is an easy selection. The top position pick in the actual draft, he projects to provide longevity for a dynasty roster as a difference-maker at TE. I wrote about Pitts’ potential upside previously. He is my single QB 1.01 overall selection.

Najee Harris led off the draft, a departure from FantasyPro’s Andrew Hall’s mock draft a couple of months ago. The choice between Harris and Ja’Marr Chase is a stylistic and roster-need selection. Some swear by the WRs early in rookie drafts, while others will favor the top-end production of elite RBs.

Michael Carter’s inclusion is an interesting note. A day three selection who projects into a committee backfield is an aggressive move with several day-one players still available.

Round 2

• 2.01 – Rondale Moore (WR – ARI)
• 2.02 –Justin Fields (QB – CHI)
• 2.03 – Trey Lance (QB – SF)
• 2.04 – Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG)
• 2.05 – Zach Wilson (QB – NYJ)
• 2.06 – Trey Sermon (RB – SF)
• 2.07 – Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT)
• 2.08 – Dyami Brown (WR – WAS)
• 2.09 – Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET)
• 2.10 – Amari Rodgers (WR – GB)
• 2.11 – Nico Collins (WR – HOU)
• 2.12 – Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PHI)

Justin Fields was another easy selection and another player I have previously written. Fields features the rushing floor to foster a long career as a top 12 QB option despite the one QB format.

The WR runs here further solidifies the value in this class, with half the picks on the position. Nico Collins is screaming up draft boards. With positive camp reports, the uncertainty around Deshaun Watson is the only thing holding him back from overtaking some guys with more cloudy depth chart situations.

Amari Rodgers is another player facing QB uncertainty, but he fills a role in the GB offense (the Packers frequently run jet motion, previously performed by Tyler Ervin). If Aaron Rodgers returns to Green Bay, no WR in this range will be in a better offense.

Round 3

• 3.01 – D’Wayne Eskridge (WR – SEA)
• 3.02 – Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)
• 3.03 – Mac Jones (QB – NE)
• 3.04 – Javian Hawkins (RB – ATL)
• 3.05 – Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)
• 3.06 – Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF)
• 3.07 – Tutu Atwell (WR – LAR)
• 3.08 – Anthony Schwartz (WR – CLE)
• 3.09 – Tylan Wallace (WR – BAL)
• 3.10 – Josh Palmer (WR – LAC)
• 3.11 – Dez Fitzpatrick (WR – TEN)
• 3.12 – Brevin Jordan (TE – HOU)

Talent falls off sharply towards the end of the second round in this class. The third round’s composition is clear backup RBs or WRs who serve limited roles. Mac Jones is arguably the best selection here, even with the one QB format as the only 1st round pick, but the previous choice of Fields left a hole at RB with the options quickly disappearing.

Stevenson is a big back who could immediately play in goal-line situations. Compared to the other backs on the board, he possesses the highest draft capital and the frame to grow into a lead back.

Watch the training camp reports on Chuba Hubbard and Javian Hawkins. With Mike Davis out of Carolina, Hubbard could emerge as the clear handcuff for Christian McCaffrey. Hawkins is a player I previously identified as a sleeper. He is not as talented as Hubbard, but there is much more uncertainty in Atlanta, and he could emerge with a role without injury.

Round 4

• 4.01 – Jermar Jefferson (RB – DET)
• 4.02 – Hunter Long (TE – MIA)
• 4.03 – Khalil Herbert (RB – CHI)
• 4.04 – Kylin Hill (RB – GB)
• 4.05 – Seth Williams (WR – DEN)
• 4.06 – Tamorrion Terry (WR – SEA)
• 4.07 – Cornell Powell (WR – KC)
• 4.08 – Tommy Tremble (TE – CAR)
• 4.09 – Kyle Trask (QB – TB)
• 4.10 – Jaelon Darden (WR – TB)
• 4.11 – Chris Evans (RB – CIN)
• 4.12 –Kellen Mond (QB – MIN)

I did not double up last round, but I chose to this time. Hunter Long was the third TE taken in this year’s NFL draft. Long appears blocked by Mike Gesicki, but at 28%, the Dolphins frequently used two TE sets last year. Gesicki is essentially a large slot WR in a TE’s eligibility, while the Dolphins tried Durham Smythe and Adam Shaheen with disappointing results last year.

There are several players of interest still on the board. Kylin Hill presents as potentially the handcuff for the passing game work in Green Bay. Cornell Powell is a physical WR connected to Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, and I touched on more in-depth here. Jaelon Darden is an explosive WR who will serve in the return game and grow into a role in Tampa Bay. Lastly, Chris Evans could be the successor for Giovani Bernard’s passing game work in Cincinnati.

Round 5

• 5.01 – Davis Mills (QB – HOU)
• 5.02 – Larry Rountree III (RB – LAC)
• 5.03 – Demetric Felton (WR – CLE)
• 5.04 – Jaret Patterson (RB – WAS)
• 5.05 – Shi Smith (WR – CAR)
• 5.06 – Sage Surratt (WR – DET)
• 5.07 – Dazz Newsome (WR – CHI)
• 5.08 – Ihmir Smith-Marsette (WR – MIN)
• 5.09 – Marquez Stevenson (WR – BUF)
• 5.10 – Tre’ McKitty (TE – LAC)
• 5.11 – Simi Fehoko (WR – DAL)
• 5.12 – Jake Funk (RB – LAR)

The talent and fantasy opportunity thin once we hit round five. Rountree III is a player who does not stand out physically. Still, with Joshua Kelley’sdisappointing close to 2020 and Justin Jackson recovering from injury, the opportunity to work as Austin Ekeler’shandcuff is present.

Sage Surratt is worth monitoring, if only for the uncertainty in Detroit’s receiving rotation. Davis Mills is another player I have written up. If Watson does not play, he could find himself starting in Houston and create value as a very late pick.

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Footballguys.com and The Devy Royale. 20+ years of experience in fantasy football. 3x Girl Dad. Thank you for reading!