Dynasty Rookie Watch: 9 Players To Watch For

Dynasty Rookie Watch

If you’re an avid dynasty football fan, you’re well aware of just how fun the off-season is. Between the NFL Combine, free agency, and the NFL Draft, there are plenty of exciting events to look forward to. Not to mention the most important one of all, your dynasty rookie draft. Here are a few key dates to keep in mind as the off-season progresses, as well as nine players that I’m keeping an eye on as the Combine and NFL Draft get closer. 

Important Off-Season Dates

• Franchise/Transition Player designation period: February 22nd – March 8th
• NFL Scouting Combine: March 1st – March 7th
• 2021 NFL league year ends/2022 NFL league year begins (4 PM ET) – March 16th
• Off-season workouts for teams with new head coaches – April 4th
• Start of off-season workouts for teams with no head coaching changes – April 18th
• Last day of restricted free agent signing period – April 22nd
• 2022 NFL Draft – April 28th – April 30th

9 Players To Watch For

Kenny Pickett QB Pittsburgh

I’ll mention some of the most popular names that you should get to know, as well as a few lower-end rookies that I personally like. More than likely, you’ll see Kenny Pickett and Matt Corral as the top two quarterbacks in this year’s class. I like Pickett more, and currently, have him as my QB1 in this class. Pickett threw for 4,319 yards last year for 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is very accurate and has a solid frame with great pocket presence. He has solid mobility and is able to make throws well even while he’s on the run. Overall, Pickett has all the traits that you want out of a top quarterback prospect, and I’m banking on him being the first quarterback to get drafted, and a potential top-five pick. 

Malik Willis QB Liberty

One of the more popular quarterbacks in this class that you should keep an eye on is Malik Willis out of Liberty. Willis spent two years at Auburn before transferring to Liberty, where he started in 23 games, throwing for over 5,000 yards in just two seasons. Personally, I love the upside that Willis offers. For dynasty purposes, we’re more concerned about long-term fantasy production than anything and Willis has a lot of upside for fantasy football. The upside mainly is going to come from his involvement in the rushing game, as he totaled over 2,000 rushing yards in his four years. 1,822 of his rushing yards came while at Liberty, adding 27 rushing touchdowns. Willis has a fantastic arm, isn’t necessarily the most accurate thrower, and adds a ton of upside on the ground. He’s easily the most physically gifted quarterback in this class in my opinion and is someone you absolutely need to keep an eye on. 

Jack Coan QB Notre Dame

A lower-end quarterback that I am keeping an eye on this off-season is Jack Coan out of Notre Dame. He is not someone that I’d expect to be drafted that high, likely in the 5th round or later. Coan is much more of a project quarterback that I think would need to sit somewhere for a couple of years before he’d be ready for a larger role. I mention Coan because I like what I saw out of him at Notre Dame, after transferring over from Wisconsin. In 2021 he played in 13 games, throwing for 3,150 yards and 25 touchdowns. He protects the ball well and doesn’t turn it over much, with just 14 interceptions in his entire college career of 35 starts. He doesn’t have the biggest arm out there, but he’s solid and accurate enough. Don’t expect a ton, but he’s someone I think could see an increase in value as the off-season progresses. 

Breece Hall RB Iowa State

Next up is arguably the best running back in this class, the 6’1 running back out of Iowa State, Breece Hall. Hall is my favorite running back in this class and has just about everything you want in an NFL running back. He blocks well which will help him see the field early on, assuming he lands with a team where he will get some usage. He runs smooth, breaks tackles well, and has good burst. He won’t be someone that amazes anyone with his athleticism, but he has all the tools to be a three-down running back in the NFL. Hall is the complete package, maybe not “elite” at anything in particular, but very solid all around. It’s hard not to compare him to another former Iowa State running back, David Montgomery, who was also very well-rounded, but not necessarily “elite”. Hall also set the all-time NCAA record with 24 straight games with a rushing touchdown. 

Isaiah Spiller RB Texas A&M

The other running back that you’ll likely see ranked up there with Hall is Isaiah Spiller out of Texas A&M. Before you start looking, no he is not related to the former Buffalo Bills running back, CJ Spiller. That being said, Isaiah’s father is Fred Spiller who was also a standout player at Texas A&M. Unfortunately, his football career was cut short due to injuries. Either way, Isaiah Spiller is one of the top rookie running backs in this class and is also very talented. He runs extremely physically and is great in between the tackles. He’s powerful as well as smooth in the open field, with the ability to make defenders miss. He wasn’t quite as involved in the receiving game, with 74 catches in three seasons. Spiller is fully capable of being a three-down back in the NFL. 

Brian Robinson RB Alabama

A lower-end running back that I was a bit torn on when watching his film, was Brian Robinson out of Alabama. There isn’t anything that jumps out as extraordinary by any means, but he’s pretty solid all around. Robinson runs well between the tackles, blocks well, and was able to be just “fine” when he was called upon. As a 5th year senior, he really didn’t get a chance to do anything until 2021. He wasn’t exactly efficient with his touches either and was pretty up and down week in and week out. Overall, I’m interested to see where Robinson gets drafted, but probably going to be lower on him than most. If he ends up being a third or fourth-round rookie draft pick in dynasty leagues, I’ll be interested in drafting him. Much higher than that, I’ll be passing on him. If he ends up getting drafted to a team with no reasonable path to a decent workload, I’ll be avoiding him.

Jameson Williams WR Alabama

One of my favorite wide receivers in this class has got to be Jameson Williams out of Alabama. He is very explosive and is one of those players who just has the ability to rip off a big play at any time. He can stop and start very well, and in my opinion, he can create his own separation better than just about any other wide receiver in this class. The one question mark that surrounds Williams is why didn’t he start at Ohio State? He transferred to Alabama and started immediately, putting up 75 catches and over 1,500 yards. Regardless of why he didn’t start or get a ton of playing time at Ohio State, I think transferring to Alabama of all places and immediately producing, speaks for itself. 

George Pickens WR Georgia

Another one of my favorite wide receivers in this class is George Pickens out of Georgia. When he was a true freshman, he was the best wide receiver at Georgia, hands down. Between tearing his ACL and sitting out due to a Covid year, there is a fairly limited amount of tape on him. In three years, he played in just 24 games, racking up just 1,347 and 14 total touchdowns. In 2021, he only played in four games catching five balls for 107 yards and no touchdowns. Pickens is the perfect example of loving someone’s tape, despite their total production over the years. In terms of pure physical ability, I think he’s one of the top wide receivers in this class. 

Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State

The last name on this list of players to watch for this off-season is Garrett Wilson out of Ohio State. This guy is very athletic and versatile, lining up out wide as well as in the slot. One of the best traits you’ll see when watching him play is his body control. He can go up and turn his body around to get the ball. He gets great separation at the top of his routes and just overall does a great job of going up and getting the ball. He had just six carries in his time at Ohio State, but ran for 143 yards and a touchdown. We all know just how valuable a player can be if they are versatile and able to be used on the field in all sorts of ways, and I think Wilson is totally capable of being that type of weapon. He’s one of my favorite players in this class and definitely someone to keep an eye on this off-season.