Taking a look at the top 10 fantasy football rookies for dynasty play. Which rookies do you need to be prioritizing on your pre-draft boards?
Ok, I’ll admit it. Dynasty really isn’t my thing. Don’t misunderstand, I know what I am doing from a fantasy perspective. I’ve been playing this game for far too long to not know-how.
However, I cut my proverbial teeth on redraft and keeper. Dynasty is a somewhat new thing, at least relative to the year I started, 1990.
Dynasty is all about the long game. Some of these names may not contribute much, if anything in 2022, but could fall into a starting gig In 2023 or even earlier if injuries strike.
When that happens, you will want to be sitting on some of these guys, waiting. Much of fantasy relevance is about opportunity, and despite what might look on the surface to be not the most savory spot, 225 carries, even on a bad team is extremely valuable.
So let’s go! Here are my top 10 rookies for dynasty for 2022.
Fantasy Football dynasty ranking no. 10: Dameon Pierce RB- Houston Texans
Here ya go kids, what was I JUST talking about? Pierce may only be a fourth-round pick, and he may never have topped 106 carries at Florida, but Pierce also never had the backfield to himself there either.
Forget all of that. Pierce squats 705 pounds, benches 390, has a 37-inch vertical, and ran a 4.5.
This dude has all the tools. He was simply a casualty of the Dan Mullen era at Florida. He has tons of tread on the tires and almost no competition in Houston.
Does anyone think Rex Burkhead is going to stay healthy, or Marlon Mack is going to own this backfield? Nope.
Take Pierce and be prepared to get good carries on a bad team in 2022.
Fantasy Football dynasty ranking no. 9: Skyy Moore WR- Kansas City Chiefs
Typically, I’m just not a fan of the small school guys. Probably because as a Bengal fan I still have Jerome Simpson poisoning.
Skyy Moore may change that mindset.
Despite being only listed at 5’10″, let’s be honest he is probably closer to 5’8″, Moore has outrageously large mitts, the largest in the class, in fact. Folks, big hands are important for a receiver.
Moore was also insanely productive at Western Michigan, catching 95/1,292/10 last year. That’s elite production no matter where you play.
Guess what he didn’t have at Western Michigan. Patrick Mahomes.
Moore has the opportunity to slot in as the immediate WR 1. There is a decided lack of talent at the receiver position in Kansas City, with just holdover Mecole Hardman at the position of any note.
This should equal a healthy target share for a guy that SHOULD slide right into a role similar to the departed Tyreek Hill. Moore has potential down the road to be a top 10 receiver in the league.
Fantasy Football dynasty ranking no. 8: George Pickens WR – Pittsburgh Steelers
Ok, fine. I know there are a ton of questions surrounding this Pittsburgh offense, particularly at the quarterback position.
How good can the receiving corp be if no one can get them the ball? Well, at least Mitch Trubisky can get the ball down the field!
Enter George Pickens. Pickens is a tall, lanky guy with a mean streak that could fit right in with Pittsburgh.
Can he stay out of trouble, and mesh with his enigmatic running mate, Chase Claypool?
That remains to be seen, but if they can work together, with Dionte Johnson eating targets short and across the middle, Pickens has the potential to put up very nice first-year numbers.
The first-year floor for Pickens could be modest, something around 55/700/6, but the ceiling is spectacular.
Watching the guy on tape, you see a guy that attacks the ball, is very good at high-pointing catches and plays with attitude.
There is potential for him to be another Plaxico Burress, but if he lays low and keeps his nose clean he has elite potential down the road.
Fantasy Football Dynasty Ranking no. 7: Chris Olave WR- New Orleans Saints
See a trend here? This was a historically deep receiver class, and every team is searching for the next Ja’Marr Chase.
There is a LOT to like with the first-year player from Ohio State, minus his alma mater (I’m a hater, fine), including a healthy Michael Thomas.
It’s being reported from minicamp that Thomas is already taking Olave under his wing. That’s a very good thing.
The Saints also added Jarvis Landry recently. Also another good thing. Any attention that can be pulled away from the talented rookie, especially underneath is a good thing.
It should also be noted that the team has already anointed Jamies Winston the starter. Say what you want about Winston, but he isn’t afraid to throw downfield, and it’s always a positive when the position is settled well before training camp.
Olave has real potential, barring injury to himself, Winston, or Thomas, to post very solid year one numbers in an underrated Saints offense. 75/875/7 would not shock me at all and would be a welcome WR3 on any fantasy squad.
Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings no. 6: Treylon Burks WR – Tennessee Titans
So I know Burks is generally ranked in the top 5 of almost every dynasty ranking. I say slow your roll.
It’s expected that Burks will step right into a slew of targets following the trade of AJ Brown, but so what?
This offense runs through Derrick Henry. Always will.
The Titans also are ostensibly entering their last season with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. The alternative for 2023 is Malik Willis, the rookie from Liberty College.
Willis is a project, does anyone expect him to be a 4,000/30 touchdown guy in 2023? Doubt it.
So where does that put Burks’ ceiling? Well, Burks should be utilized in much the same way Deebo Samuel has been in San Francisco, but with Henry eating carries, how many chances will Burks really get?
There is precious little at the position besides Burks, and if Willis develops as a passer rather than a one-read-and-run quarterback, then Burks possesses all the skills to be a top-end asset.
However my fear is a run-heavy offense in 2022 will cap his potential, and long-term struggles at the quarterback position won’t help either. High upside, but draft with caution.
Fantasy Football dynasty ranking no. 5: Jameson Williams WR – Detroit Lions
The overall 12th pick in this year’s draft, Jameson Williams might have gone much higher had he not tore his ACL in the national championship game.
Do not let that dissuade you, however, from adding Williams to your fantasy squad.
Williams has a chance, maybe not in 2022, but down the road, to be an all-pro.
Extremely productive at Alabama, averaging a touchdown a game, and rolling up over 1500 yards receiving, Williams is fast, has long speed, and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
The downside, or two as is the case here, is the injury, and Jared Goff, who is a hamstring in his own right.
However if there is hope for 2022, it’s that Goff did manage to make Amon-Ra St. Brown fantasy relevant.
If Williams can find some semblance of health, and Goff can just be average, Williams could find a second half of the season burst that a fantasy manager could ride right into the playoffs.
Fantasy Football dynasty ranking no. 4: Drake London WR – Atlanta Falcons
Look, I really, really wanted to have London higher. I swear I did. But my goodness, what a train wreck Atlanta is.
Will Calvin Ridley ever return? Is Marcus Mariota the answer? My feeling is no to both, so where does that leave London?
The dude is an elite athlete, and at 6’4″, 220 pounds has all the physical skills to dominate in the NFL. Problem is, someone has to throw him the ball, and Matt Ryan is in middle America now.
If the Falcons go full tank mode this year to get their franchise quarterback in 2023, where does that leave London, or the fantasy manager that snagged him early in their dynasty rookie draft?
Hard to say, but likely looking to swing a deal after his first big game.
Dynasty is a long game, and London might work out way down the line, but my feeling is you are going to have a Chase Claypool-like level of frustration as Atlanta’s quarterback situation figures itself out.
Draft London for his enormous ceiling, but also be prepared to have the patience of Job if you want to see him to fruition.
Fantasy Football dynasty ranking no. 3: Garrett Wilson WR – New York Jets
What’s not to like with Garrett Wilson? The 10th overall pick in the draft, Wilson is insanely fast, running a 4.3 at 6’0″, 183 pounds, but more impressive is his speed off the line in terms of his separation ability.
His ability to start, stop, and restart is next level.
However, the questions remain about the rest of his game. His route running isn’t as polished as his running mate at OSU in Chris Olave, but his other traits are what elevates him this high.
Here’s the question. Can the Jets develop him? He doesn’t have to be pressed into 100+ targets in year one, as the Jets still have Corey Davis and last year’s prized rookie Elijah Moore.
If Wilson can ease in, smooth out his route running, and adjust to NFL caliber cornerbacks without getting frustrated and pressing, the second half of his season could be league-winning for fantasy owners.
Of course, much of this will hinge on the development of Zach Wilson, but at this point, we should assume Wilson will take a step forward, and with him, drag this offense far enough along to make Wilson a very valuable asset for the second half of 2022.
Fantasy Football dynasty ranking no. 2: Breece Hall RB – New York Jets
This is tough. Breece Hall has all the physical skills and intangibles to be an absolute stud. Perhaps the Jets’ best back since Curtis Martin.
I don’t think anyone would be disappointed drafting Hall to their fantasy squads, but one thing keeps me from having him at one. Michael Carter.
Carter was very good at times last season. In fact, Carter was the reason Javonte Williams was never the bell cow at North Carolina.
Carter is a very good back, and frankly, I was shocked they took Hall. Personally, I think Robert Saleh has a “thunder and lightning” type plan for Hall and Carter.
Think Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Jones and Dillon are an outstanding duo, but they tend to bleed each other, especially last season.
The problem that may be lurking is the organization. The Jets aren’t a good organization, and if they struggle again in 2022, Saleh may be out, leaving Carter, Wilson, Hall, etc to a new staff. That usually isn’t good.
Let’s focus on the good here, though. Short term, Hall should be a lock for at least 200 touches, which should yield RB 2 numbers, so at the very least, feel comfortable taking Breece Hall and if necessary, flipping him in the 2022-23 offseason.
Fantasy Football dynasty ranking no. 1: Kenneth Walker RB – Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker is the perfect back, falling into the perfect situation. The 5’9″, 211-pound bowling ball possesses sprinters’ speed and has a nose for the end zone as well as underrated receiving chops.
The perfect situation is Seattle. Pete Carroll loves nothing more than to run, run, and run some more. That was with Russel Wilson at quarterback. Now that Drew Lock is the potential starter, expect even more running.
So who is going to help Walker shoulder the possible 300+ carries in 2022? We likely can rule Chris Carson out, as his neck injury probably has ended his career.
Rashaad Penny? Maybe. Oh, wait, Penny just pulled a hamstring as I wrote this.
My point is, Walker is positioned to inherit an elite-level workload. As I stated at the beginning of this list, an elite workload, even on a bad team is extremely valuable.
A Pete Carroll team will be competitive, so the offense won’t even be as bad as a Drew Lock offense should be.
Kenneth Walker is the clear top dog for wise dynasty owners in 2022.
So there you go sports fans. One man’s stab at the top ten dynasty rookies. Will I be wrong? Maybe? Will I hit on a few, almost certainly, but the point of lists like this, much like fantasy is to have fun. I did!