Dynasty Rookie Risers and Fallers: April

We are less than a day away from the NFL draft, and I am super pumped for Thursday night and the whole weekend! We over at the Faceoff Sports Network have been running rookie mock drafts in both 1QB and 2QB/Superflex and have drafted about 50 times in each. Many times seeing the same players going at the same spot along with the “Reaches” and “Wow, I can’t believe how far he’s falling!” Last month’s risers and fallers were a hit! If You missed it, check it out here! You guys loved the idea of seeing what player’s stock is doing, because like you, I too have some rookie drafts before the actual NFL Draft.

1QB ADP

2QB/Superflex ADP

Now before we get started, Yes players like Isaiah Spiller and Kyren Williams have dropped, along with wide receiver Treylon Burks. It’s amazing the effects that a combine and pro-day can have on one’s rookie ADP. Here, I look at the biggest risers and fallers and try to understand and relate to you the “why” aspect of it.

Risers

Pierre Strong Jr.

RB, South Dakota State: Up 8.3 spots in 1QB. Up 4.44 spots in 2QB/SF

Was it because he was the fastest running back at the 2022 NFL Combine? Recently over the years, FCS running backs have made a name for themselves in the fantasy community. From the recent James Robinson and last year’s RB2 in Austin Ekeler. I can’t forget my favorite one from the past in David Johnson. 

Reading more into him and seeing the tape, the speed shows as he breaks through tackles and is gone. Not only that but his vision, explosion to go north, and physicality are up there to have a future in the NFL as a potential three-down back. He has the catching ability like Ekeler, and that may be where he starts. A player on my radar, and will for sure pay close attention to where he goes this weekend.

Damien Pierce

RB, Florida: Up 8.01 spots in 1QB. Up 6.43 in 2QB/SF

This one I’ve been noticing more and more, especially when I saw him go at the end of the first round recently. So what’s the hype about? Outside of his final two games for Florida, Pierce never saw more than nine carries a game and saw 10 or more in only nine of his career games. 

What gives is the underutilization at Florida itself because if he could have gotten the ball more, he could have done more. Nevertheless, teams like him because he shows the traits to be a capable running back at the next level and shows well with his hand when catching the ball. He may not have breakaway speed but should hear his name early on Day 3.

Alec Pierce

WR, Cincinnati: Up 5.57 spots in 1QB. Up 4.18 spots in 2QB/SF

One of my favorite sleepers in this year’s draft class and he has been moving up draft boards. After the combine, his name started coming up slowly, but now he’s moving up. 

I have him compared to a Jordy Nelson type of profile because he can get the ball from any point in the air. We as a fantasy community have been sort of sleeping on him, but lately, he is moving up not only the NFL draft boards but also our rookie mocks. Let’s prepare for this to continue as it comes down to him and Khalil Shakir.

Greg Dulcich

TE, UCLA: Up 6.79 spots in 1QB

When it comes to tight ends this year it’s Trey McBride and you can draw the rest from a hat. McBride is no Kyle Pitts, and no tight end in this class stands out more than the other. But maybe one can be added to the pile after McBride in Dulcich. Looking at his playing style, he plays similar to that of a George Kittle. Let’s remember he went in round five years back and look at what he is today. Dulcich is more than likely going to need to prove himself to a team to get bumped. It could take a year or two, but patience with tight ends is key.

D’Vonte Price

RB, FIU: Up 4.17 spots in 1QB. Up 3.33 spots in 2QB/SF

He hasn’t jumped up much in the mocks but has been creeping up the fourth round. Going from a mid-to-late “dart-throw” to now an early-to-mid fourth-rounder isn’t a huge jump. This point of the draft is where we’re guessing who we think is good. Price isn’t anything special as a talent. Just showed that 4.38 combine speed and helped get his name in the draft community. He’s more of a deep bench stash than anything else. If he gets drafted to the right team/scheme, he may have a chance.

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Fallers

Jerrion Ealy

RB, Ole Miss: Down 7.28 spots in 1QB. Down 3.63 in 2QB/SF

The electric player out of Ole Miss is falling down the mock drafts and sometimes at all, not being drafted. The reason I’ve been getting from the drafts is his size. He was going as an early fourth-round pick too late and undrafted at the time of this writing. What will this weekend bring? He may turn into a waiver wire add for bench depth.

Tyler Allgeier

RB, BYU: Down 6.99 spots in 1QB. Down 3.63 spots in 2QB/SF

His poor Combine showing could be more of the reason why he is falling. So many running backs in this draft class, he could be easily overlooked in general. A running back we were high on at the start of the mock drafts in February is falling to the late-fourth round right now. 

Jalen Wydermyer

TE, Texas A&M: Down 4.52 spots in 1QB. Down 4.95 spots in 2QB/SF

Running a 5.02 40-yard dash at his pro-day is pushing the athletic tight end down the boards. Considering it’s only a handful of spots down the draft, he’s still going around the end of the third round. A good place to start grabbing a tight end if you don’t have one.

Carson Strong

QB, Nevada: Down 3.3 spots in 1QB. Down 5.33 spots in 2QB/SF

In one QB, this makes sense as quarterbacks should be falling, because they are not a must unless you think you need one. But in 2QB/SF? What’s going on? For starters, his inconsistency from the Senior Bowl didn’t help along with a poor combine. Hearing well-known draft experts saying stuff too about Strong doesn’t help either. All in all, I was never high on Strong, even with the big arm. He’ll be more of a backup if anything else. 

Abram Smith

RB, Baylor: Down 4.75 spots in 2QB/SF

After a mediocre combine, Smith has been falling down NFL draft boards from a seventh-round pick to being a UDFA. In 1QB he rose one spot but is still in that fourth round lottery ticket range as a mid pick where 2QB is different. Smith was going as an early to mid pick but has dropped too late to sometimes not even drafted. 

I know this will change once the draft comes and goes, but who doesn’t like to see what’s going on now? There are many risers and fallers as I called out at the beginning of this writing. If you want to know, hit me up on Twitter @RyanMiner_FFBat or send me a message in the comments below. Also, follow Faceoff on Twitter @FFfaceoff and never miss a thing!

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