Welcome back, DFF Army! Our Devy Players of the Week series has come to a close for the 2024 season, but we have another valuable article for you today. We’re all familiar with the big names in the 2025 draft class. But who should we target in the late rounds of our Superflex rookie drafts this upcoming offseason? Hitting on a third or fourth-round rookie pick can pay massive dividends and put your Dynasty team in a great position for years to come. Are there any Puka Nacuas to keep an eye on? Maybe a Tyrone Tracy? I’ll be answering those questions for you below, so sit tight, and let’s get ready to create some Dynasty superteams!
Brashard Smith (RB – SMU)
In a draft class with all kinds of RB depth, Brashard Smith has received little recognition in Devy circles. Smith started his career at Miami as a wide receiver, playing three seasons for the Hurricanes and never truly breaking out. This year, Brashard transferred to SMU and made a positional change to RB, which has made all the difference in the world for his NFL draft stock. Smith has been integral to this Mustang offense, rushing for over 1,200 yards and adding 35 receptions for 303 yards on the year. Smith has found the endzone 18 times this season, averaging 23.1 PPR points per game. An easy player comp that comes to mind is Tyrone Tracy, who took a similar college path to Smith, finding success after a final-season positional change. At 195 pounds, Smith is slightly undersized but highly athletic and incredibly versatile. I believe Smith will go around Round 5-6 in the NFL draft and will be available in the fourth round of our Superflex rookie drafts. He’s a player I will likely target in this range in the right situation.
Jalen Royals (WR – Utah St)
Jalen Royals was on an incredible pace this season for Utah State before a foot injury sidelined him back in October. Following this injury, Royals announced he was done for the year, effectively ending his college career. Through seven games, Royals was sitting with 81 targets, 55 receptions, 839 yards, and six touchdowns. Over a 12-game season, this equates to 138 targets, 94 receptions, 1,438 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Those are some big-time numbers, even in the G5. If you want a more in-depth look at Jalen’s resume, you can check out his Devy Profile article here. To summarize, this kid looks great on film. He has breakaway speed, is a vertical threat, and has the physicality to fight through contact and create yards after the catch. Analytically, he’s very solid as well. Royals should be a Day 2 NFL Draft pick, and I see him going in the early-to-mid third round of our Superflex rookie drafts. I think he has what it takes to be a reliable WR2 for an NFL team.
Woody Marks (RB – USC)
Woody Marks is a fifth-year senior, playing his first four seasons at Mississippi State before transferring to USC this year. Marks was a consistent producer for the Bulldogs but has really broken out this season, compiling 1,133 rush yards, 321 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. Marks is arguably the best receiving back in this draft class, and this has been his calling card from Day 1. In his college career, Marks has totaled 261 receptions, 1,546 yards, and five receiving touchdowns. He has the potential to be a quality third-down back for an NFL team. Marks has some quickness and explosion to his game, but physicality may be a concern. While Marks will never have a full three-down workload on Sundays, he may be a potential flex option in PPR formats if he lands in the right situation. He’s someone I’ll likely be looking at in the early fourth round of our rookie drafts.
Jaylin Noel (WR – Iowa St)
The WR duo of Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel may be the best WR duo in college football, and they are the only duo in the country to surpass 1,000 receiving yards on the season. Higgins has gotten more attention in Devy circles, as he is your prototypical X receiver and projects to go earlier in the 2025 NFL Draft. Higgins is an excellent prospect, but Noel could be the steal of the draft. Jaylin has steadily improved all four seasons for the Cyclones, posting his best season as a senior this year. He finished with 109 targets, 72 receptions, 1,076 yards, and seven touchdowns. At 5’11” and 200 lbs, Noel is primarily a slot receiver but can line up out wide as well. He’s a nuanced route runner with soft hands and a high football IQ. Noel won’t be someone who racks up a ton of yards after the catch, but I can see him being a very fantasy-friendly asset in PPR formats at the next level. While I think he’s most effective in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field, his 12.1 ADOT this season proves he has become quite versatile (his prior season-best ADOT was 7.7). I expect Noel to go somewhere between Rounds 4-6 in the NFL Draft and have a feeling he’ll be overlooked in most Dynasty rookie drafts. Don’t sleep on this young man; he has the skill set to earn every-down role in the NFL.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you got some valuable information you can use for your fantasy team! If you’d like additional insight into Dynasty Football news and analysis, please follow me on Twitter at @jim_DFF. Until next time, keep grinding out there, DFF family! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
