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. Below is the breakdown from every author on the final round!
4.01 – Jerome Ford, RB Cleveland Browns
Joe Memmolo – @DFF_JoeMem
Jerome Ford committed to Alabama as a four-star recruit where he played two seasons for the Crimson Tide but was buried behind Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris, Najee Harris, and Brian Robinson Jr. on the depth chart. He was given minimal work during those years but then transferred to Cincinnati heading into his junior season. As a junior, he split the backfield with Gerrid Doaks (a seventh-round pick last season) and recorded 483 yards and four TDs on just 73 carries. This past season, he was the lead back for the Bearcats, garnering first-team All-American Athletic Conference accolades with a team-high 1,319 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns, helping lead Cincinnati to the college football playoff for the first time in school history.
A talented back who boasts NFL-ready size, strength, and speed, Jerome Ford landed in a decent spot with Cleveland. Though his fifth-round draft capital is lower than desired, he will have an opportunity to learn behind a talented stable of RBs in Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and D’Ernest Johnson. Ford does have more than adequate hands, so he could potentially be used in a change of pace, two-minute, or third-down role this season if there is an injury or two ahead of him. He will most likely never serve as a lead back in the NFL, but pass-catching backs who garner 10-15 touches a game (which could be in his future as early as 2023) carry fantasy value.
4.02 – Keaontay Ingram, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
Keaontay is not anything special. But, this is the fourth round, no one is special. Ingram did get drafted to a very nice spot though, where he has an easy path to a lot of production. I think he could step in and take the backup job from Eno Benjamin as early as day one. If this happens and James Conner, who has a long injury history, gets injured Keaontay could see a lot of work as a rookie. In these late rounds, it is unlikely anyone even hits at all so we should be drafting players with the most chance to see production early and either insulate or gain value. Keaontay Ingram is one of those guys.
4.03 – Velus Jones, WR Chicago Bears
Jared Hines – @Ship_Chaser
There is no shortage of jokes and negative criticism at the expense of the Chicago Bears in terms of the help they gave Justin Fields in the NFL draft and FA period this year. The hive-mind narrative seems to be that all Bears pass catchers not named Darnell Mooney are to be faded. But they moved up to draft Velus Jones on day two and clearly have some belief in him. There were reports of other GMs calling to congratulate them on a good pick, though who knows if that is sincere.
Bottom line Velus Jones is 25 years old and never really broke out in college. It really is a head-scratcher and in the end, the haters may be right. But he has good size at 6’0”, 205 lbs. and ran a 4.31 forty at the combine and in my opinion looked just as fast on film. He is expected to be more mature and pro-ready than your average rookie and I think he can easily win the outside role across from Mooney in his rookie season, making a very nice compliment there. If that happens, then Jones is severely undervalued right now. For as much discussion as there is about how much draft capital means (and rightly so), it is odd that this prospect is sliding to the end of rookie drafts and even going undrafted after being selected 71st overall by a team with an open depth chart on an ascending offense.
To show I am putting my money where my mouth is, here is my current FFPC WR dynasty rostership now that all 23 of my rookie drafts are complete. I don’t expect to necessarily roster him on all these teams unless he flashes during the preseason but I have a lot of time to weigh that decision. I typically was able to draft him in the 5th-7th rounds although I occasionally dipped into the 4th as I did in this mock.
4.04 – Justyn Ross, WR Kansas City Chiefs
JC – @JCJDynasty
At this point in rookie drafts, particularly the 2022 class, we’re throwing darts at the board. Two guys I usually target in the 4th are Jerome Ford and Keaontay Ingram. They were both taken at 4.01 and 4.02. So I opted for the sharpest dart in the entire set and took Justyn Ross. The former Clemson standout saw his NFL stock drop significantly following a neck surgery for a degenerative spinal condition. NFL teams were simply concerned that if Ross gets hit wrong one time, his career could be over. For us as dynasty managers, we have to look for upside in portions of our drafts whether it be rookie drafts or startups, and project what a player could potentially become. The way you win multiple championships is by being a year early on guys like Deebo Samuel last year.
Justyn Ross held out after going undrafted and found the right situation for him to be as successful as possible. He went to Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. I can’t help but see some parallels between Justyn Ross this year, and Trey Smith during last season’s draft. Smith went back for his senior year at Tennessee even though he received a 1st round pick for the 2020 draft. He then developed a blood clot condition that hampered his ability to practice during the season and took him off many teams’ boards because of these medical concerns. The Chiefs were able to grab him in the 6th round and Smith helped revamp their entire offensive line that we all saw ravaged by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during that Super Bowl blowout. Sometimes the NFL brings it on themselves. Justyn Ross was an elite prospect at one point. I’ll take the upside here in the 4th round over guys that simply never were and never will be elite options.
4.05 – Romeo Doubs, WR Green Bay Packers
Charles – @Heady_Football
Snapshot: Very productive college player, Alpha-type demeanor on the field, limited route runner
The Packers have a thing for wide receivers from lower-end conferences and forcing Aaron Rodgers to develop them into something he can work with. Enter Romeo. While Christian Watson is getting all the press and rightfully so, Romeo just gives me good vibes. Fantasy managers will be using their first-round pick on Christian Watson but not me, I will quietly sit back and take Romeo in the third round or later in all my rookie drafts…but only after I take Julius Chestnut. Why? Because Aaron Rodgers plays favorites and whichever rookie gains his trust first will end up being the dude he targets more and I think it could just as easily be Romeo. Between his 10-inch hands, deep threat ability, and alpha personality, I am going to say this VERY quietly..he could be the replacement of Adams that Rodgers so desperately needs if he takes the time to hone his craft as Adams did. Take him and throw him on the taxi squad this year. Won’t cost you a dime, but he could end up being worth way more.
4.06 – Daniel Bellinger, TE New York Giants
Carl – @RookieWhisper
Daniel Bellinger is a favorite sleeper of mine in Rookie Drafts. He has good, not great, Draft Capital, selected in the early fourth by the Giants, but I believe his opportunity in year one is often overlooked. Seating ahead of Bellinger on the Giants depth chart are journeyman and converted WR Ricky Seals-Jones and fifth-year TE Jordan Atkins. Both of these players have flashed potential but are far from proven players. Bellinger is the biggest of the group at 6’5” 250 lbs. and likely has the most experience as an in-line TE and blocker. When the Giants need a “traditional” TE, the rookie Bellinger will likely be the guy called upon, so I see plenty of opportunity for Bellinger in Year 1. The hope is Bellinger expands his role and uses his 4.63 40-yard dash speed to also become a receiving option for Daniel Jones. His 88th % Speed Score could make him a weapon of the seam and his large frame makes him a safe target in the short to intermediate routes.
4.07 – Isaih Pacheco, RB Kansas City Chiefs
Paul Patterson – @fantasyfreezer
Isaih Pacheco is the classic late-round dart throw. As a seventh-round RB, the likelihood that Pacheco ever breaks out in the NFL is quite low. However, he will have the chance to secure a roster spot on one of the league’s best offenses behind a pair of running backs that have missed expectations in their careers thus far. With the fastest weight-adjusted forty among this year’s RB class, Pacheco has the necessary explosiveness to provide boom weeks in the event of an injury.
4.08 – Jeremy Ruckert, TE New York Jets
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
Jeremy Ruckert was an easy selection for me in the fourth round. He was severely underutilized at Ohio State yet still fairly productive for the little work received. Ruckert caught 26 targets for 309 yards and three touchdowns in his senior year. The Jets do have a few tight ends already in place, including C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin, two very capable veterans.
While we should be excited about Ruckert based on his athleticism and third-round draft capital we’re going to have to temper expectations in year one and maybe even year two. Tight ends take a few years to truly breakout but I believe Ruckert has the size and all-around skill set to make an NFL and fantasy impact. He’s a strong blocker, has reliable hands, and is more athletic than he gets credit for.
4.09 – Greg Dulcich, TE Denver Broncos
DocFFFN – @DocFFFN
Greg Dulcich is a player that your author has actually known about for a few years, having been tipped off by a former coaching colleague. Already owning one share of Dulcich via a deep devy league, your author likes the TE as a natural receiver and pass catcher. While he may be lesser of an athlete than most “receiving specialist” TEs, he is adept at finding openings in zone coverage and has smooth, natural hands. While his 40-time was disappointing and slowing than expected, Dulcich will have the opportunity to develop into the “move TE” role as an NFL player. He is undersized to be a traditional TE and lacks in-line block ability, but I believe he can be taught to block in space and out of the backfield.
It will be interesting to see how his role develops over time in the Broncos’ offense with Russel Wilson now at the helm. The Denver offense is undeniably stacked at the skill positions, so it may be a few years (like it is for most TEs) before we see any worthwhile production out of Dulcich. This makes him a prime candidate for the taxi squad. My plan to draft Jeremy Ruckert again in the final round (who I prefer over Dulcich) was foiled by my esteemed colleague Billy Beaman. Still, Dulcich is a good value pick here and should help fantasy teams sometime after the 2022 season.
4.10 – Isaiah Likely, TE Baltimore Ravens
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
Likely was a major cog in leading Coastal Carolina to 22 wins the last two years. His testing wasn’t elite which “likely” dropped him a few spots lower for those in this mock draft. Receiving yards per team pass attempt is a highly predictive metric to forecast future fantasy success. Likely posted a 2.83 RYPTPA which was a top ten score since 2004.
Many look at the situation in Baltimore and see it tanking Likely’s fantasy value. Mark Andrews is a bonafide stud and they also drafted Charlie Kolar with the selection before Likely. However, with Likely the Tight End designation is simply window dressing. Likely will play the big slot role for the Greg Roman offense which features a lot of 12 formation. The Ravens are thin at wide receiver so look for them to capitalize on Likely’s playmaking skills to supplement the pass-catching role.
4.11 – Danny Gray, WR San Francisco 49ers
Andrew – @fantsyforecast
Your prototypical speed guy to take the top off of a defense, Danny Gray boasts round three draft capital and will be paired with one of the most exciting young arms in the game in Trey Lance. Typically, these types of players are more valuable in real football than they are in fantasy football, but at this late in the draft, taking a flyer on a player who could develop into a potential big-play threat that can win you a week with one play seems enticing. Gray may not see the field much in 2022, but as he develops strength, endurance, and his route tree, he could become a mainstay in the 49ers’ lineup, which means there could be potential for that home run play each week in the future.
4.12 – Cade Otton, TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
If you’re holding onto the final pick of your rookie drafts and are looking for a stash with upside, consider the Buccaneers’ newest tight end acquisition. Cade Otton is an unconventional roster addition that could yield tangible value down the road. Rob Gronkowski has not committed to the 2022 season and has dealt with a wide array of injuries throughout his career, missing five games last season. Otton is in a positive situation to see extra snaps during training camp and preseason. His developmental path will be one worth watching.
The 4.12 selection holds virtually no value. It is essentially a pick to be used as the first waiver acquisition post-rookie drafts. Otton is a low-risk addition with a potential payoff as the Buccaneers’ future starter.
That’s all folks! That wraps up the Post-Draft DFF SF Rookie Mock Draft! Please continue to come back for more up-to-the-minute dynasty, redraft, devy, and IDP content here at DFF!
