Fantasy Football: 2023 Rookie Mock Draft 2.0 – Rounds 2 & 3

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The League Winners are back with another fantasy football rookie mock draft. If you missed the first round of this mock, you can view that here. If you’d like to check out how our first mock draft went, you can view Round 1 here, and Round 2 here. For this exercise, we will be drafting based on PPR Superflex leagues.

2023 Rookie Mock Draft 2.0 – Round 2

2.01 (+13) – Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee (Sheldon Hand)

If Hooker gets first round capital he could creep up in rookie drafts. He’s an older prospect, which is one of two knocks on him. The second is the torn ACL he suffered last year. He was well on his way to a Heisman Trophy before the injury. His blend of athleticism and pocket presence makes him worth the risk here in SF leagues. In the right system, there is no reason he can’t become a starter.

2.02 (+1) – Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse (Nick Pellegrini)

The middle rounds are ripe with promising rookies this year. I would be thrilled to grab a guy like Sean Tucker. I probably would have gone with Josh Downs or Zay Flowers if they had slipped out of the 1st round due to the general devaluation of RBs; but Tucker should be able to step into an impact role right away and help any competing dynasty squad. He’s a fantastic athlete with solid vision and burst. For me, this pick came down to Tucker or Kendre Miller, both of which I absolutely love. I went with Tucker because he was a much more capable pass-catcher in college.

2.03 (+5) – Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn (Joe Arledge)

As an Auburn fan for the last 20 years, this pick might be slightly biased. While Tank Bigsby wasn’t as productive in his second and third years compared to his rookie season at Auburn, Bigsby still had an incredible college career. 

His rookie season marked him as one of the premiere prospects in this draft class. Unfortunately, the Auburn football program has been a mess for the last few years. If Bigby lands in the right spot, he will be considered a steal at the 2.03.

I like this spot in the draft to scoop up as many running backs as possible. A plethora of running back talent will immediately impact the NFL.

2.04 (-1) – Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame (Tanner Ward)

It feels like the Notre Dame product has lost some steam since the college season ended. He was the clear-cut TE1 for this class, but now it seems like the masses are no longer rushing to get their hands on him in rookie drafts.

Landing spot will be huge for Mayer on draft night; and I am seeing a majority of mocks having Mayer go in the first round of the NFL draft. If he can get to me in the second round of my rookie draft, I will happily fall for the trap of the TE with Day 1 draft capital.

2.05 (-1) – Kendre Miller, RB, TCU (Hunter Greene)

The more I watch film on Kendre, the more I wonder why he’s not going higher. If I told you that a running back the size of Zeke with the muscles of Derrick Henry was going in the 2nd round of rookie drafts, I’m sure you’d want more 2nd round picks! Kendre has the size and build to be a running back in the league like Zeke, Henry, or Brian Robinson. He may not be a pass-catching specialist, but he could carry the ball 12-15 times a game for 4 to 6 yards per carry and break off a long touchdown every couple of weeks.

2.07 (-1) – Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma (Thomas Christopher)

I didn’t expect to get sniped on five consecutive picks, but that’s the way it works sometimes in fantasy football. So, I went with someone who I thought could have plenty of potential in Marvin Mims. Mims is a crisp route-runner with an excellent college resume. In the second round I like to target high-upside players, and with my RBs off the board, I’m happy to go with Mims.

2.08 (-3) – Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M (Jeremy Shulman)

At 5’9, 188 pounds, Achane is all speed; his 4.32 4- yard dash and mile-long tape of mile-long runs at College Station. He’s proven he’s hard to bring down against the SEC’s top defenders and, while his testing didn’t stand out as elite, it is still hard to ignore the resume he’s put together. With only TE Dalton Kincaid tempting me here in the back half of the 2nd round of this mock draft, I’ll take the shot on upside with Achane. If he’s used in a way that cements him in a regular role, he should produce enough to become a viable RB3 with room to do much more damage if a staff believes in his talent. 

2.09 (+1) – Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah (Erika Brown)

I know he’s not the top TE on some people’s draft boards, but Kincaid is at the top of mine. He can go up and bully defenders to get 50/50 balls, and has the ability to find the ball in space. While he has some downsides (blocking and some medical concerns), he could find himself as a starter in his rookie season.

2.10 (-3) – Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee (Mikey Cannavo)

Jalin Hyatt is a projected top 50 pick in the NFL draft. Combine that with his elite speed and catching ability, and you get yourself a fashionable prospect. Contrarily, there are some holes in his game that need to be acknowledged. He doesn’t have a refined route tree, plus he comes from a peculiar offensive system. Fortunately enough, these worries can be addressed with proper development. I’ll lock him in at the back end of the 2nd round of this mock draft.

2.11 (-10) – Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss (Jesse Moeller)

Zach Evans was a highly touted running back out of high school, even holding the RB1 spot over Bijan Robinson for a time. If you want to bet on talent, Evans is the running back to do it on, as his natural ability stacks up against anyone. He generated chunk plays on the ground at an absurd rate, as he had the highest breakaway carry rate at 12.4%; but the real question is if he can get out of his own at the next level. The risk is all too real, but In the late second, the reward is worth it.

2.12 (+1) – Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane (Calvin Kirton)

Tyjae Spears put himself on the map with his Cotton Bowl performance against USC, where he was named MVP. Spears finished the game with a Cotton Bowl Classic record four rushing touchdowns and 205 rushing yards, the second-most in a New Year’s Six bowl game.

  • 39″ Vert, 10’05” Broad
  • Elusive Rating – 145.8
  • Yards After Contact – 4.55
  • Senior Bowl Practice Player-of-Week
  • Rushed for more than 1,500 yards w/ 19 TDs

Stylistic Comparison: Brian Westbrook

I’m ecstatic to get Spears on the back-end of Round 2 in this rookie mock draft.

Rookie Mock 2.0 – Round 3

3.01 (-15) – Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU (Sheldon Hand)

Getting my WR 4 at the top of the 3rd is awesome! Boutte’s a former five star recruit that dominated his first two years of college. He suffered a gruesome ankle injury midway through his sophomore year, which could have lead to a down year in 2022. It seemed at times his head wasn’t in it or maybe he wasn’t fully recovered. I believe if fully healthy he can push to be a teams WR1. If you can get him here, smash away!

3.02 (+6) – Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee (Nick Pellegrini)

Watching Tilllman fall this far single-handedly inspired me to go trade for some more 2023 3rd round picks in my dynasty leagues. He’s one of the only prototypical, physical WR prospects in this year’s draft. He has the size and athleticism to contribute immediately depending on his landing spot. He was on track to outperform teammate and rookie 2nd round pick Jalin Hyatt before injuries derailed his 2022 campaign. I’ll be snatching up Tillman everywhere I can this offseason. Had he not made it to me in the 3rd in this mock draft, I also would have been happy to get Chase Brown or Israel Abanikanda with this pick.

3.03 (+1) – Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt (Joe Arledge)

I want to lean toward the upside, especially later in the draft. Israel Abanikanda is incredibly explosive and could take the ball to the house on any given carry.

Like Bigbsy, Abanikanda has the size and speed to succeed in the NFL. Something that Abanikanda needs help with is lateral mobility. Still, if he gets drafted into a system that makes him a one-cut-and-go running back, I can see him being very productive throughout his rookie season. 

These late second/early third-round picks have more value this year than last. Players like Abanikanda, Zach Evans, and Tajae Spears are all drafted in this range and will all look like steals down the road.

3.04 (-7) – Rashee Rice, WR, SMU (Tanner Ward)

Rice is one of those names that I have had to learn this offseason. Let’s just say, I’m glad I learned it. I’m always swinging for upside in the 3rd round of rookie drafts, and he has that. In a class that is full of smaller wideouts, Rice’s 6’1” 204 pound frame led him to 1,355 receiving yards his final year at SMU, breaking the school record. Don’t leave your rookie drafts without a side of Rice.

3.05 (-2) – Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State (Hunter Greene)

Musgrave put on a show at the Senior Bowl! He’s built like an NFL Tight End already and has plenty of room to grow. He was one of, if not the, focal point of Oregon State last season. At 6’6”, Musgrave uses his frame well on blocking assignments and event better on routes. Lance Zierlein, NFL Analyst, has him compared to Dallas Goedert at the NFL level. As the fourth TE in most rookie mock drafts, Musgrave is my favorite value pick for TEs in this class.

3.06 (+7) – Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State (Aaron St. Denis)

Another guy who has been slowly gaining steam up draft boards. Jayden Reed was once easily draftable outside of round 3 and was falling outside WR10. He has since picked up steam with a profile of solid size and speed. He’s a pretty solid bargain in round 3, where it’s largely tight ends and under-sized running backs on the board.

3.07 (-2) – Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia (Thomas Christopher)

At this point in the mock draft, I went with a RB that I think has the ability to at least make a name for himself at the next level. McIntosh can run well, and is an even better pass-catcher. Those tools should help him land somewhere with an opportunity to get touches.

3.08 (-2) – DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB (Jeremy Shulman)

McBride can’t catch. Maybe you’ve heard; but I don’t really care. Late in the 3rd, I’ll take the shot on one of the best pure runners in the class, with unmatched contact balance. At the next level, he’s likely to be a bruiser around the goal line; but outside of TE Sam LaPorta and maybe RB Evan Hull, there wasn’t much else worth taking the swing on, in my opinion. If McBride lands in the right spot with an entrenched pass-catcher to share the field, he could find value down the line.

3.09 (-9) – Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State (Erika Brown)

Maybe it’s my Big 12 college football bias, but I love Deuce. At Kansas State, he had almost 5,000 total yards and 43 touchdowns. He’s shifty in the open field, and has the hands to be a great pass-catching back. While his small size (5’6”) may not translate well on the NFL field, if he sees playing time, defenders are going to pay.

3.10 (-3) – Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia (Mikey Cannavo)

Darnell Washington was a showstopper at the combine. He’s projected to go Day 2 in the NFL draft and at 6’7 270 pounds, he’s a freak of nature. I’m thrilled to get him this late in a mock draft. Expect him to potentially be apart of a high powered offense.

3.11 (+2) – Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa (Jesse Moeller)

Stetson’s Bennett beat Brock’s 10-yard split time and dominated the NFL Scouting Combine. His performance was arguably the best among the QB participants. Stetson’s Combine Numbers (RAS Score)

  • 40-yard dash – 4.67 (85th Percentile)
  • 10-yard split – 1.59 (94th Percentile)
  • Vertical – 33.5″ (83rd Percentile)
  • Broad Jump – 9’10” (88th Percentile)
  • Short Shuttle – 4.20 (86th Percentile)
  • QB Velocity Throw – 59 MPH (Same as Will Levis & CJ Stroud)

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