Mock Draft Series: Rookie Re-Draft

Welcome back to the Mock Draft Series. Training camp is (hopefully) just around the corner so let’s dive into some re-draft strategy for the remainder of the series. Lets continue where we left off with rookie evaluations, this time looking through the re-draft lens. Rookie mania shouldn’t be as rampant in re-draft but they are still viable gambles to help bolster your squad.

These are based on a 12 team league, PPR scoring. Roster composition is 1 QB, 2 RB’s, 3 WR’s, 1 TE, and 1 Flex with 6 bench spots (we will ignore K and DEF). I will comment on QB’s depending on SuperFlex or 1-QB format. As always, if you have ideas for other mocks, feel free to send me a message on twitter (@HodgesHotTakes).

Quarterbacks

In 1-QB leagues, Joe Burrow might make for a late round dart throw as your backup QB you hope you never have to play. I wouldn’t touch any other rookies in this format. However, in Superflex, Burrow makes a back end 2^nd QB for your squad and can be targeted in the round 8 area. Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert are the only other rookie QB’s in the conversation and have some merit as your 3^rd QB but understand you might need to be patient as they might not the first month. I would prefer to wait on them until the 14^th/15^th round but owners with rookie fever have been grabbing them as early as round 12, so be warned.

Running Backs

I have Clyde Edwards-Helaire as a high end RB2 and would be happy to take him towards the end of round 3 or early 4^th, but I have to be honest he isn’t making it that far. He is the one rookie it appears everyone is willing to overpay for, mainly because he is tied to the 450-million-dollar man Patrick Mahomes. If you want him, you will have to get him in the 2^nd, that’s a price I am not willing to pay.

Jonathan Taylor should be the next rookie back off the board. Due to his perceived timeshare, he is being drafted as a high end RB #3 and I am actually more inclined to reach on him than CEH. I think he starts the season in a timeshare but could be the workhorse by the end of the year as the Colts try to make the playoffs. I would rather have him than Melvin Gordon, Le’Veon Bell, and David Johnson and willing to reach in round 5 for him.

Starting in round 9, I would be fine with Cam Akers or D’Andre Swift (in that order) and then in round 10 one can target Ke’Shawn Vaughn or J.K. Dobbins. Personally, I prefer Dobbins at the cheapest price and hope I can store him as my RB4 until he hopefully steals touches from Ingram.

Rounding out the final few rounds you can throw some darts on potential contributors this year. My favorite is Zach Moss but arguments can be made for A.J. Dillon, Antonio Gibson, Darrynton Evans, or Anthony McFarland.

Wide Receivers

There is a logjam in the first tier of rookies WR’s and all should start going off the board between the end of round 9 through round 11. Its all about personal preference in this spot and I will list them in my preferred order:

–Jalen Reagor

-CeeDee Lamb

-Justin Jefferson

-Jerry Jeudy

– Henry Ruggs

Starting in round 14, and lasting until the end of the draft you will get the 2^nd tier of rookie WR talent. Once again, this tier is based solely on personal preference so go get your guy. For me, I rank them as follows:

-Brandon Aiyuk

-Denzel Mims

-Michael Pittman Jr.

-Tee Higgins

-Laviska Shenault Jr.

Only in deeper leagues will you have to consider dipping lower than this.

Tight Ends

In re-drafts, there is approximately 30 TE’s you would consider before considering a rookie. Tight End’s typically take the longest time to develop so leave the rookies on the waiver wire for now.

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