For us dynasty players, we are always looking at next year and beyond. Both college and the NFL seasons are well underway and regardless of your team’s record, you’re looking to trade for picks or trade picks away for players. Many in the dynasty community know that the 2023 rookie class appears to be loaded with talent.
Looking at the 2023 rookie draft class, we have no idea of their NFL landing spots but can only assume based on teams’ records at the time of this writing. Depending on how the season plays out we’ll see who has what pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and how sportsbooks change their Super Bowl odds.
However, figuring out who could pick 1, 7, and 12 should give you an idea of what you could be gaining. Also, if you’re throwing in the towel for the 2022 season, this will give you an idea. If you’re a playoff team, here’s an idea of what you’re potentially losing if you trade away said first-round pick. Many of these players could be moving up, down, and even out of the first round of rookie mocks based on how the college season goes from here on out.
Let’s get right into it with this 2023 NFL Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft.
1.01 – Bijan Robinson, Running Back, Texas
This one just seems too easy as many of us have compared Bijan Robinson to Saquon Barkley, or as many will say, a generational talent. He has what it takes at the next level and is a well-known name in the Devy community who I have already seen mocked in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. If you were paying any attention to the Texas versus Oklahoma game you will see many game highlights of Robinson including a high-point catch from Quinn Ewers. Robinson went on to finish with 21 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns along with two catches for another 15 yards.
Coming in at 6 foot flat and 215 pounds, Robinson has what you look for in a three-down running back who has patience and the vision to find the hole. Once he gets through that hole though, good luck trying to get him down as he has that second gear that gets him to that next level. He can bounce the ball outside, and score from anywhere on the field. Many will knock his pass-blocking but as I have been watching him this season, he’s been improving and will be coached at the next level too.
Finally, as I stated about his catch in the Oklahoma game. This kid can catch the ball and is very versatile in the passing game. He can line up in the slot or even go deep. Robinson is a fun player to watchmaking him the easy 1.01 for me in upcoming 2023 rookie drafts.
1.02 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Last season at Ohio State with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba put up 95-1,605-9 as a Sophomore! That’s just crazy to see that kind of stat line, especially when you had two 2022 NFL Draft first-round picks playing ahead of you. The 2022 season has been nothing for him as he has only appeared in two games and has four receptions for 36 yards. We were able to see a nice 21-yard reception against the Toledo Rockets but has been out ever since that game.
This is where Smith-Njigba excels the most, stretching plays downfield. With his athleticism at 6 foot and 199 pounds, his size is made for the NFL. He can locate and track the ball on deep plays and also excel on the screen game where he can catch and go.
1.03 – Jahmyr Gibbs, Running Back, Alabama
The Alabama product looks the same as he did before he transferred from Georgia Tech. Jahmyr Gibbs had a fantastic 2021 season for Georgia Tech, finishing the season third in the country in all-purpose yards, averaging 150.4 per game. Gibbs finished the 2021 season with 746 rushing yards and four rushing scores while adding 465 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns, along with 589 yards on kick returns.
Now at Alabama, Gibbs has improved his rushing average by 3.6 yards (5.2 to 8.8), thanks to two 70-plus runs against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Gibbs went from a Georgia Tech line that ranked 65th overall to now a 48th-ranked offensive line in Alabama where he already has 64 rushes for 532 yards and two touchdowns. He is still that same elusive running back and has the look to that of Alvin Kamara as a New Orleans Saint and not a Tennessee Volunteer.
Gibbs is a perfect running back to be used as a dump-off back as he’s been used many times this season and has the jets to go from a dead stop to full speed in no time. That agility and burst help him get to the next level, just like he did against Arkansas, and is just hard to catch. Speaking of catches, he already has 22 on the season, looking like he will easily break his record of 35 from last season. His pass-catching ability is second to none and he will be a PPR machine at the next level.
1.04 – Jordan Addison, Wide Receiver, USC
You’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it many times that a USC wide receiver is making a big impact. You were probably expecting to see Jaxson Smith-Njigba here, but he’s been out since early in the first game against Notre Dame and has only played one game since. One player who is really making a name for himself in the 2023 rookie class here is Jordan Addison. You may be wondering why you have heard this name before, and that’s because he was playing with Kenny Pickett at Pitt before transferring for this season. Last season, Addison finished with 100 receptions for 1,593 yards and 17 touchdowns along with seven rushes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Addison is picking up right where he left off. He has quite the chemistry with Caleb Williams and has gone for 29 catches, 442 yards, and six touchdowns. The speed, the hands and just making those hard-to-make catches look easy are why I currently have Addison as my WR1 in the 2023 class for dynasty fantasy football purposes.
1.05 – Zay Flowers, Wide Receiver, Boston College
When you see a Boston College player, the last thing you would expect to see is a pass catcher on a team that usually runs the ball heavily. Zay Flowers was one of those early in his Boston College career who carried the ball, but now he is just more used in the passing game as he is now 14 catches away from his career-high 56. He’s a versatile playmaker who can stretch the field. Once that ball is in his hands, he’s just electric with his maneuvering and speed to break away from the defender.
While he may be underrated now, from what I’ve seen over the last six weeks, including games against Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Louisville, that top-end speed showed. Not only that, but it is just looking better and better week in and week out. He should hear his name early in the 2023 NFL Draft.
1.06 – Josh Downs, Wide Receiver, UNC
Yes, I am very high on Downs as he continues to put up stats at a fast rate. With North Carolina playing six games, Josh Downs has played in the last four and had 28 receptions for 299 yards and five touchdowns. In his first two games this season he had back-to-back two touchdowns and had another against Miami where he went 6-69-1.
North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye has eyes for Downs and it’s obvious. Maye throws the ball and Downs is right there in a deep pass, a comeback, or even down the middle of the field. If he improves his route tree, he could be a well-known name in this class.
1.07 – Zach Charbonnet, Running Back, UCLA
Last season I had Zach Charbonnet as a highly-ranked running back for the 2022 rookie draft class, and an easy first-round dynasty pick just to see him return for his Senior season. Was it a smart move for him as he wanted to improve in the passing game? He is improving over it as he’s averaging 13 yards per reception but also has two games with no catches at all. Overall though, he is almost at the halfway point in receptions (11) compared to what he finished last season with (24).
I love what we’ve seen out of Charbonnet this year. His leg strength is so powerful and he’s had several games with 22 carries turning that into 322 yards, two touchdowns along with three receptions for another 56 yards. If he keeps continuing playing like this, we could see him move up in your 2023 dynasty rookie drafts.
1.08 – Sean Tucker, Running Back, Syracuse
Wow, just wow. Sean Tucker is pushing to be one of the best running backs in this class, but putting him as my RB3 seems pretty good. His initial burst cuts through the hole and the second-level speed is second to none. Last season, Tucker had 246 attempts for 1,496 yards, 12 touchdowns, 20 receptions, and another two touchdowns.
To think that he couldn’t be any better than the previous, has us all shaking our heads now. Just playing in five games this season, Tucker has 110 attempts for 546 yards, five touchdowns, 19 receptions for 184 yards, and another touchdown. Many have already moved on from his previous two games against Purdue and Virginia. We will remember his most recent game against Wagner where he ran for a career-high 232 yards and three touchdowns. In the first half. Yes, it was against an FCS team, but still.
Running over defenders has been his go-to as he is just so hard to stop once he gets past the linebackers. He reminds me of a poor man Barry Sanders as he’s shifty with his feet, and can juke and take off like no other.
1.09 – Blake Corum, Running Back, Michigan
Michigan was running a 1-2 punch last year with Hassan Haskins and Blake Corrum, but this season it’s all Corum this year. Last season, Corum made a name for himself not only at Michigan but also in the FBS with 144 rush attempts for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with 24 receptions for 141 yards and another touchdown. This year it’s Corum’s backfield and I am all here for it. After seeing 21 carries over the first two games, Corum has 84 carries in his last three, with no less than 25 over that span.
With this offensive line, Corum has had no problem with moving this ball as he’s been averaging 6.2 YPC. He hasn’t had the receptions he did last season, but that’s okay as we know he can catch and go whenever the ball is thrown to him. He has elite speed, but can get burnt out near the end and caught. I won’t put that as a negative towards him as he just gets the ball over and over again. He’ll be a top pick in your 2023 dynasty rookie drafts.
1.10 – Kayshon Boutte, Wide Receiver, LSU
Kayshon Boutte has announced he will be returning to LSU for his Senior year. Look for him to be one of the top wide receivers in the 2024 rookie draft class.
— Kayshon Boutte (@KayshonBoutte1) December 5, 2022
1.11 – Zach Evans, Running Back, Ole Miss
The former TCU back has picked up right where he left off being a tandem back with standout Freshman Quinshon Judkins. They have a nice split, and that’s why I have dropped Zach Evans down here to pick 10. His efficiency is really good, as the number of carries he loses to Judkins shouldn’t scare you off. He has a three-down skill set along with the size at 5’11 and 220 pounds that NFL teams look for.
Looking over Evans’ tape so far, the one negative I’ve noticed is that he runs into holes that are not there. Sure the play has him schemed to go there, but he doesn’t have the vision to bounce it out and take off to the next level. The positive of this though is when he gets tackled, he falls forward. When the play does work, it’s off to the races.
1.12 – Devon Achane, Running Back, Texas A&M
Looking at a player like Devon Achane, you can see why he and Isaiah Spiller split time. Watching him playlist crazy as he plays bigger than his 5’9, 185-pound frame shows. Elite speed, shifty feet, great hands, and a zero to full speed back who even is electrifying as a kick returner. Being the lead back at Texas A&M this season has shown well, even with a somewhat down game against Alabama, but turning 16 carries for 62 yards is nothing to shrug your shoulders at.
This was a good game to see how good Achane could be at the next level. He did a pretty good job, but that pass-blocking needs some work. Improve this and we could be looking at the next Darren Sproles in the league. Just like Sproles, start as a kick returner, and then eventually used as a change of pace back.
Check out all of our final, updated 2023 rookie outlooks, here.
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