The DFF Army got together for its first analyst-only mock draft of the 2023 off-season. Here we randomly selected spots and then ran the draft in a linear order; the settings are Superflex and PPR. Hopefully, this can help give you an early sense of the players you should consider at the top of your draft and the gems you will want to target later. Check out every fourth-round selection below and each writer’s reasoning behind their pick. Click here to see the previous round. It’s the final round!
4.01 – DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB
Paul Patterson – @FantasyFreezer
At this point in the draft, I’m always targeting RBs. We have seen late-round options like Rhamondre Stevenson and Khalil Herbert have success in recent seasons due to the fragility and volume-driven nature of the position.
Without draft capital to factor in, DeWayne McBride felt like the best choice here. He was dominant and efficient—albeit at a small school—and he has ideal size at 5’ 11” and 215 lbs.
4.02 – Stetson Bennett, QB Georgia
Carl Churchill – @RookieWhisper
Disclaimer, this pick was made before the public intoxication arrest. This is likely to affect his draft stock, but I’ll give a quick analysis of him anyway.
As a 25-year-old and undersized (5’11” 190 lbs) player, he was never going to be highly coveted. However, it is hard to deny his ability to show up on the biggest stages: as seen here.
Stetson is a competitor and I wouldn’t be surprised if an NFL Franchise decides to take a gamble on him late day two or early day three of the draft. No one is expecting him to be an opening-day starter but all it takes is the right opportunity for a QB to show his chops, like Brock Purdy. So I felt pretty good taking a QB with Stetson’s resume in round four of a Superflex draft.
4.03 – Mohamed Ibrahim, RB Minnesota
Doug Harrelson – @DougHarrelson
The late rounds this early in the process are always subject to change. Let’s start with the obvious issues with Mohamed Ibrahim. The Achilles tear in 2021 immediately comes to mind. The fact that he had a productive 2022 season does help but the concern is still real. There is also his age to factor in. This is not a pick for a long-term fix at running back. This is a pick that could end up as a rotational piece or backup that I can potentially flip for a better draft pick down the road if someone gets light at the running back position. While he lacks big-time explosion, Mohamed Ibrahim does a great job of finding the hole and getting positive yards. Vision, patience, and the ability to fight through contact are how he will make his pay.
4.04 – Luke Musgrave, TE Oregon State
Jagger May – @FantasyBluechip
This is another pick that will likely look like a steal come draft time. This TE class is deep and Musgrave fits the mold of the move-TE that can work as a big slot or flex out wide. The Oregon State product has a 6’5” frame that he’s comfortable adjusting on the fly for off-target throws and has some of the best ball skills in the entire rookie class. His level of competition is concerning but is a must-draft after the second round with TE being such a need in fantasy and Musgrave’s potential upside.
4.05 – Evan Hull, RB Northwestern
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
I talked about it in my previous pick at 3.05 but, I will reiterate it here. Late in rookie drafts, I am almost always going RB because you are more likely to find a player that will become useful that way. That does not mean we are drafting players we expect to be elite here, no one is. I drafted Hull because he is a running back with a decent size that has shown he can catch the ball. He had a very high, 22.5% best season reception share in college and is currently listed as 5’11” and 210 pounds. He has workhorse size and a three-down skillset. This is the ideal late-round RB.
4.06 – Chris Rodriguez, RB Kentucky
Jonathan Smith – @DFF_sjonathan02
Rodriquez is a solid but unspectacular fantasy prospect. At 5’11” and 225 pounds, he is a bruiser who runs angrily. That said, he has got quick feet for his frame and enough speed to create points for your fantasy team. Let’s see where he lands when the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine are over.
4.07 – Nathaniel “Tank” Dell, WR Houston
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
Let’s rip the band-aid off and just come out with it. Dell is skinny. He makes Devonta Smith look like D.K. Metcalf. Ok, that is perhaps a stretch but you get my point. But the aforementioned Devonta Smith along with players like Chris Olave seem to be paving the way for Dell in the NFL. Tank is having a great Senior Bowl in Mobile gaining consistent separation from aspiring NFL cornerbacks. He also produced at a high level in college. He led all receiving prospects in college PPR PPG while positing a stellar 2.90 RYPTPA (Receiving yards per team pass attempt).
4.08 – Jadon Haselwood, WR Arkansas
Drew Pettiford – @puma_drew
In the most RB-heavy draft class in the past five seasons, I have decided to zag instead of zig. With my fourth receiver, I will snatch up Jadon Haselwood. It seems like yesterday when we thought that he was the next Mike Evans coming out of high school. A 6’3” and 200 pounds jump ball savant with deceivingly good route running ability screams upside. Haselwood was the number one WR in the class of 2019 but hasn’t lived up to the hype since. An injury-laden sophomore season and an eventual transfer from Oklahoma to Arkansas didn’t help his college production. Especially trying to fill the shoes of first-round talent Treylon Burks. If Haselwoood can find a decent landing spot, he will carve out a role for himself in an offense in need of a big target.
4.09 – Keaton Mitchell, RB East Carolina
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
Hi, me again. I am writing up a second slot in this round because unfortunately the pick was not able to be made and I took over. I took Keaton Mitchell here because he meets most of my requirements for a late-round pick. First, he is a running back. Second, he has a good analytical profile (which you can find here). This late in the draft, before the NFL draft has occurred, my main priority is taking running backs because you never know who will get drafted on day two or to a good situation. It is not a high probability but if Mitchell got drafted on day two he is immediately a mid-third-round pick in rookie drafts at the minimum.
4.10 – Max Duggan, QB TCU
Ben Winkler – @bensprinkler
Hoping to find some late-round upside here, I’m taking a shot at the 2022 Heisman finalist who is currently projected to be a day three pick or UDFA. The odds of Duggan providing any value next season are low, but I will take the shot on a depth QB who has beaten all odds before.
4.11 – C.J. Johnson, WR ECU
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
We are at the end of the fourth round and it is slim pickings. C.J. Johnson is 6’2” and 222 pounds so why not? He appears to be a late bloomer but has a breakout age of 18. He posted 908 yards and four touchdowns on 54 receptions as a freshman at ECU. Unfortunately, Johnson was unable to recapture the magic of his first year until his final season in which he finished with 67 receptions, 1,016 yards, and nine touchdowns. This is a super long shot but also could be a diamond in the rough if an NFL organization sees the same thing and takes a swing at C.J. Johnson.
4.12 – Cameron Latu, TE Alabama
Doc – @DocFFFN
I simply do not understand why the rest of the dynasty and devy community are not higher on Cameron Latu. It is rare and difficult for a prospect to move from the defensive side of the ball to offense, and it is even harder to do so at a skill position. Latu looks like one of the exceptions in this situation. Arriving at Alabama as an edge rusher, Latu has only played TE for three seasons. Box score scouts will not like his statistical output, but when you put on the game film you see a fluid athlete with length and physicality.
Contrary to what you might expect, his hands are solid and he can adjust to make out-of-frame catches. He is an extremely hard worker who gives maximum effort whether running routes, blocking downfield, or hammering in the trenches. He also shows great football IQ and is adept at finding openings against zone coverage. Being a late-declare senior is excusable in this instance given his dramatic positional change.
Latu’s primary deficiencies come from being a little underweight and new to his position. He needs to develop as a route-runner, and gain weight and strength to become stouter in the run game, however, these are generally not traits that affect fantasy football production directly (though we’d like to see improvements so he can remain on the field for as many snaps as possible). Consider Latu the best-kept secret of the 2023 dynasty rookie draft, most Twitter analysts have not recognized him yet. Remember, it was Latu who forced Jahleel Billingsley, a dynasty community sleeper favorite, to transfer by taking his starting position at Alabama two seasons ago. Take advantage if you play in leagues where your rookie draft occurs before the real NFL Draft, as I plan to do. Latu will sneak into the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, as the third or fourth TE to come off the board–you heard it here first!
You can find Round 1 of this draft here!
You can find Round 2 of this draft here!
You can find Round 3 of this draft here!
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