The DFF Army banded together once again for another 2022 DFF Superflex Rookie Mock–post Draft! Now that we have seen where all of the top talent that college football has to offer has landed, it’s time to update those draft rankings. Check out every third-round selection below and each writer’s reasoning behind their pick.
3.01 – Matt Corral, QB Carolina Panthers
Joe Memmolo – @DFF_JoeMem
We now know that Matt Corral’s draft slide was due in part to off-the-field concerns. However, as a prospect, Corral is decisive and operates with an excellent release to challenge tight-window throws, and possesses the touch to drop in challenging throws in the short to intermediate. The Panthers’ brass stated they felt his game film was the best of all of the QBs in the draft. His biggest knock as a passer is on his deep ball, which sometimes hits brilliantly but can be inconsistent. Corral creates run-after-catch opportunities for his receivers with his pinpoint accuracy. Corral is an above-average runner but is currently too cavalier, and he is not built to take the pounding at the next level. The Panthers are about the best possible landing spot for Corral, as they have struggled to get consistent play from Sam Darnold. Additionally, Matt Rhule is known as a “players’ coach” who can relate and help get the most out of Corral.
3.02 – Tyler Allgeier, RB Atlanta Falcons
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
Tyler Allgeier was drafted to a wide-open backfield in Atlanta. He has no real competition aside from Cordarelle Patterson, who is said to be playing even more receiver, and Damien Williams. Who let’s face it, is not a young player anymore. I have Tyler Allgeier projected for 150 touches in 2022 and I think this is his floor. He will be a rotational flex player in 2022 and I love that here in the early third round.
3.03 – Zamir White, RB Las Vegas Raiders
Jared Hines – @Ship_Chaser
Zamir White is one of my most-owned rookie RBs at this point of the offseason. I have completed 23 rookie drafts in the FFPC dynasty format and took him in five of those. I believe he is fully recovered from earlier injuries in his career, as evidenced by his very strong showing in the combine this year.
The new regime in Las Vegas did not exercise Josh Jacobs‘ fifth-year option, and they drafted White, along with bringing in Ameer Abdullah and Branden Bolden. I don’t consider those last two to be anything more than warm camp bodies, and I think Jacobs is still the obvious starter. But there is plenty of room for White to come in as the handcuff on day one, with room to grow. If he flashes it is possible he takes over the lead role in 2023.
3.04 – Khalil Shakir, WR Buffalo Bills
JC – @JCJDynasty
Something I assumed following the NFL draft was that Shakir would end up finding his way into the 2nd round because of his landing spot. Shakir was most draft analysts’ crush heading into the draft, and many believed he’d be a Day 2 pick. He became a 5th round pick but landed with the Buffalo Bills on a roster that, if we’re being completely honest, has Stefon Diggs at WR and outside of one incredible playoff performance by Gabe Davis, has very little standing in the way of Shakir to see the field with an elite QB. At the 3.04, I don’t think anyone on the board presents the potential ceiling and return on investment Shakir could potentially bring my team. At cost, I’ve been snatching him up in the 3rd round in every rookie draft I’ve had so far and I’m very pleased with that. Even if I have to wait a year while Jamison Crowder plays out his one-year contract, I’ll gladly stash Shakir and it will pay dividends come 2023.
3.05 – Kyren Williams, RB Los Angeles Rams
Charles – @Heady_Football
Snapshot: Solid route runner, excellent pass blocking, will do the dirty work, history of fumble-itis.
The best option for any running back who gets drafted in the latter half of the third day of the draft is to go to a team with question marks all over their backfield roster. This is exactly what happened with Kyren Williams. He is firmly entrenched as the third running back on the depth chart and has two injury-prone runners in front of him in Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson. WHEN one of those guys is injured, not IF but when, the sky is the limit for his opportunity in LA. I forecast him to initially be a special teams player with the occasional third-down work. He won’t be worthy of a roster slot in standard-scoring leagues, but in all other formats, he needs to be on your roster. Once Cam or Henderson gets injured, if he isn’t on your roster, I would spend upwards of 30 percent of my FAAB on him because the potential is there.
3.06 – Tyrion Davis-Price, RB San Francisco 49ers
Carl – @RookieWhisper
In the third round, I am looking for upside and I believe the 49ers’ third-round pick, Tyrion Davis-Price fits the bill. Elijah Mitchell is likely “The Guy” in San Francisco, but he also has a hard time staying healthy, missing six games last year. This is where Davis-Price has his upside. Shanahan loves RBs with speed and Davis-Price has it, his 90th % speed score is actually higher than Mitchell’s 86th %. With Trey Sermon looking like a complete flop, I believe that Davis-Price is the next RB in line for the 49ers, and could find himself as the lead back in a handful of games this year, making him a startable fantasy player in those weeks.
3.07 – Brian Robinson, RB Washington Commanders
Paul Patterson – @fantasyfreezer
In a real rookie draft, I would make more of an effort to trade up and down the board for *my guys*. But in a mock draft, I’m happy to just soak up value. As the last Day 2 RB on the board, Robinson was absolutely the best player available. With workhorse size, receiving ability, and decent production at Alabama, Robinson has everything you could want in a late-round rookie outside of immediate opportunity. However, we learned from Khalil Herbert, Chuba Hubbard, and Rhamondre Stevenson last year that opportunity is often difficult to foresee. Stash Robinson on your bench or taxi squad and rest assured that he can provide a stretch of RB2 production if anything happens to Antonio Gibson.
3.08 – Hassan Haskins, RB Tennessee Titans
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
Standing at 6’2″ and 229 lbs., Hassan Haskins is a sensible backup for Derrick Henry and what the Tennessee Titans like to do. Though he only had a single season as a lead runner in the Michigan offense, Haskins displayed the ability to be a workhorse. He is limited laterally and athletically, but what you see is what you get. He will get what is blocked and even break some tackles along the way. As we saw, Derrick Henry is not impervious to injury, so there is an opportunity for Haskins to get some run right away in 2022.
3.09 – Jelani Woods, TE Indianapolis Colts
DocFFFN – @DocFFFN
Jelani Woods is the kind of player your author always targets in the middle-to-late rounds of rookie drafts. Loading up on athletic TEs that didn’t necessarily receive first-round or second-round draft capable is a move that has paid dividends many times over, as it has brought the likes of George Kittle, Mark Andrews, etc. to rosters.
Jelani Woods played quarterback in high school and was recruited as one to Oklahoma State. The handwriting was on the wall, so he moved to TE early in his college career. He was never able to stand out, given the offensive system and the circumstances, so he transferred to Virginia for his senior season. At Virginia, he recorded 44 receptions for 598 yards in 11 games played, for which he earned first-team All-ACC honors. Woods has the measurables and speed desired to target with a mid-to-late round pick in your dynasty drafts. His hands are solid and he has an elite catch radius, standing at 6’7″ and 259 lbs. He also hit 4.61 in his 40-yard dash, which was impressive for a player of his size. He offered a large margin for error for a QB and is willing to make contested catches and absorb contact.
Though he is not a great blocker, he does show good football IQ with the ability to read coverage and work to get open (being a former QB). Woods needs to develop strength and volume in his legs, which will help with blocking at the next level and improving his run-after-catch abilities. But at this stage of your dynasty rookie drafts, there is not another player offering more upside.
3.10 – Pierre Strong, RB New England Patriots
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
The Patriots were clearly looking to upgrade their speed in this draft selecting both the fastest wide receiver, Tyquan Thornton, and the fastest running back Pierre Strong.
While the Patriots backfield looks crowded with Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, and James White, Strong does bring a different element than them. He is explosive with his 4.37 forty speed and can break a long run. I can see the Patriots grooming him for the James White role. Over the 2 years from 2018 to 2019, James White was the RB8 overall in PPR. Tom Brady is no longer with the Patriots but Bill Belichick is and he is renowned for his role specialization. At the back end of the third round, I’ll take that kind of upside.
3.11 – Sam Howell, QB Washington Commanders
Andrew – @fantsyforecast
After receiving tons of hype for some gaudy statistics over his collegiate career, Sam Howell ended up falling in the NFL Draft. He landed in a good spot, but his fifth-round draft capital leaves a lot to be desired. Howell was ranked a top-100 player coming out of high school, but he was never able to win the big games, despite being surrounded by NFL talent. Washington is trying the Carson Wentz experience now, so if he flops again (in terms of play on the field or locker room/team morale) then Howell may have a chance to compete for the starting job before the 2023 season.
3.12 – Tyquan Thornton, WR New England Patriots
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
DFF Draft Profile: Tyquan Thornton
There is a significant tier break in the third round of this year’s rookie drafts. The overall value of rookie picks past the 3.01/3.02 spots is minimal. Every player passed the second round of rookie drafts blends as one gigantic risk-laden tier. With that being said, Jelani Woods represents an excellent value at 3.09, as does Tyquan Thornton at the 3.12 spot.
Thornton was one of many surprise picks by the Patriots during the 2022 NFL Draft. The burner from Baylor was selected 50th overall in Round 2 as the tenth wide receiver off the board. The Patriots were in desperate need of a legitimate deep-threat at wide receiver, one that can take the top off defenses at the drop of a hat. Thornton fits that mold perfectly. He possesses unheard-of straight-line speed, even for an NFL athlete, recording a 100th percentile 40-time with his 4.28s 40-yard dash.
Sadly, athletic testing has a relatively low predictive rate when it comes to the success of NFL wide receivers. However, if Thornton can string together a complete route-running tree, he has the allotted draft capital and potential to be one of the Patriots’ primary outside receivers.
Make sure to come back tomorrow when the final round drops!
