The NFL Draft is here! We made it through Round One and you want to know how your team is impacted by these rookies, but we all want to know: What players benefited in draft capital for your dynasty football team? We had four quarterbacks go in the first round, one running back, and six wide receivers. I’m going to do my best to tell you all how or if the destination they went to, will impact their fantasy impact. This article will address any fantasy impact through the perspective of 12 team, PPR Superflex leagues, but I will address 1QB formats as well.
The Cincinnati Bengals led off the draft and shocked absolutely nobody by taking Joe Burrow. Burrow is everything the Bengals want. A leader, accurate, able to make plays with his feet, and a winner. He is undoubtedly the 1.01 in super flex and has a chance to be a real impact player day one. In one QB Burrow still has value in rookie draft in the late second or early third.
The Miami Dolphins took the next quarterback at the number five pick in Tua Tagovaiola. Miami got maybe the best talent in the draft. Burrow is amazing but I believe Tagovaiola completely healthy should be an electric playmaker leading a Dolphins team in a wide-open division. Tagovaiola is a long-term piece and not necessarily the 1.02 in Superflex leagues but should not fall past 1.04. In 1QB leagues, he should be a third round pick.
The Los Angeles Chargers selected next at the number six pick and took the future at the quarterback position in Justin Herbert. Herbert has a lot to learn and suffered from decision-making lapses. Although he needs to develop, he is in a good position to succeed with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry and Austin Ekeler as his primary weapons, if you need a quarterback, take him in the first. In one QB leagues take him in the third.
With the 12th pick the Las Vegas Raiders selected the speedy WR from Alabama, Henry Ruggs. I’m not super high on Ruggs, I saw some real struggles in beating press coverage, but he will get a ton of opportunity and immediately will slot in as the speed guy Las Vegas needs. I question the overall success he will have, but his opportunity will be plentiful
With the 15th pick the Denver Broncos took my second-ranked wide receivers pre-draft. Jerry Jeudy was an absolute stud at Alabama and will fit in a Denver offense ready to compete in the AFC West. Jeudy is the slot receiver in Denver for a long time. I like the fit because it allows Sutton to still be the guy outside and Jeudy can take over the middle of the field. Top eight pick in rookie drafts,
My pre-draft WR1 is the University Oklahoma star, CeeDee Lamb. He got picked at pick 17 by the Dallas Cowboys. I love this move for the Cowboys in real football terms – Dak Prescott has weapons everywhere. Unfortunately for fantasy football purposes, Dak Prescott has weapons everywhere. CeeDee Lamb in his first year will have to share targets with Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and watch the Cowboys run the ball a lot with Ezekiel Elliott. He’s still a first round pick in rookie drafts, but more of a long-term investment.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Jalen Reagor, my WR4, with pick 21. I love the pick! I believe Reagor is a stud who can play outside or inside in Philadelphia and is in a good position to be targeted quite often. Reagor might have moved into the first round in Superflex dynasty drafts and a guaranteed first round pick in one quarterback leagues.
With the 22nd overall pick, the Minnesota Vikings selected Justin Jefferson to replace Stefon Diggs – who was traded to Buffalo. Jefferson was my sixth-ranked WR and primarily played slot at LSU. Watching Jefferson, he definitely has the ability to play outside, where I think Minnesota wants him, because of their already elite slot receiver Adam Thielen. Jefferson is an early second round pick in SF leagues, and a late first early second in 1QB leagues.
The 49ers traded with Minnesota to pick at #25 overall. San Francisco selected the electric Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk is a very good football player who will fit well into the Shannahan system. I believe he complements Deebo Samuel and will be a good player, but his landing spot keeps him at the end of the second round for me.
The Green Bay Packers decided not to give Aaron Rodgers a weapon at #26 which they traded into. Instead, the Packers drafted quarterback Jordan Love. This is the worst landing spot for Love in dynasty. He has no immediate path and was already a question mark for me. I’ll pass on him moving forward in rookie drafts.
The Super Bowl Champions picked Clyde Edwards-Helaire at pick 32. Edward-Helaire will fit in as the RB1 for the electric high-powered offense led by Patrick Mahomes. Edwards-Helaire has the ability ceiling of a Brian Westbrook type. If he can learn the system, he could be the 1.01 in non Superflex drafts.
The first round shaped many NFL teams and brought some exciting players available in the dynasty rookie drafts that are soon to follow. There is a lot of changes that will come in rookie average draft position, and there will surely be more changes to come.
