Those deeply ingrained in the dynasty fantasy football world know there is no true offseason, nor is it ever too early to dive into the incoming batch of rookies as managers decide if they are contenders or if it’s best to invest in the upcoming rookie class.
As we approach the stretch run of the 2022 season, we have an updated rundown of the 2023 dynasty rookie rankings for fantasy football.
As with all rankings, it’s still early, and these will fluctuate quite a bit as college bowl games are played and pre-draft events unfold. I give players a complete tape evaluation as well. I always recommend using tiers rather than straight rankings this time of year. So please, don’t throw me into the fires quite just yet.
2023 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Rankings | 1-10
1) Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
Even in Superflex leagues, Bijan Robinson is the No. 1 pick. He has been for the last two seasons, and nothing has changed. Robinson is the best running back prospect we’ve seen come out of college since Saquon Barkley and is as complete of a back as you could ask for in today’s modern game.
He has a career average of 6.3 yards per carry, with 4.39 coming after contact, and in 2022, he has 104 missed tackles, which is miles ahead of the next closest RB on a per-game rate.
He also sits No. 1 amongst 2023 eligible RBs at 2.34 YPTP (yards per team play). Robinson rushed for 100 yards or more in nine of his 12 games while also averaging 2.11 YPRR (yards per route run) when split out. He checks every single box and is as close to a “can’t miss” prospect as you’ll find.
2) Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
There is a clear top two at quarterback between Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Each player has their own list of things they bring to the field, and the masses will be slipt on which one they prefer. However, it does feel that Young has a leg up. Size will be an issue, as Young has a slim frame, standing 6’0″ and weighing a buck-ninety after Thanksgiving, but outside of that, he checks a ton of boxes.
He is calm when the pocket gets messy, shows vast maturity when going through his progression, and can excel both on and off script inside and out of the pocket. While Young does not have the strongest arm in the class (Will Levis), he can make every throw, including corner hole shots and far hash to the numbers.
His touch and ball placement are already elite, and given that he’s the likeliest to go 1.01 in April during the NFL draft, there should be little surprise if Young goes as the QB1 in 2022 dynasty rookie drafts as well.
3) C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
When one goes, the other should be next. That’s also how I am ranking Young and C.J. Stroud as well. A 2021 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, Stroud has an impressive blend of size, mobility, and instincts as a passer. Similar to Young, there is not a throw he can’t make, and he showed significant growth from the start of his 2021 season all the way to today.
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There are some instances in his footwork that need to be addressed. Additionally, Stroud seemed more impacted by pressure or dirty pockets than Young, and in the NFL, dealing with pressure needs to be second nature. He won’t have a spread scheme to help spread out the field, and he’ll have quicker defenders coming after him.
With that said, I have full confidence that Stroud can be a top-tier QB in both the NFL and fantasy. He should be a lock to go inside the top 10 and comes in at No. 3 in my 2023 dynasty Superflex rookie rankings.
4) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
Brace yourself for the Alvin Kamara comparisons everyone will think they are the first to make. Not that they are wrong, mind you, because Jahmyr Gibbs has a very, very similar skill set with about 85% of the contact balance as the New Orleans Saints veteran. Kamara is the gold standard in my evaluations in this area.
Smooth is the best way to explain Gibbs’ style, but in an instant, he can hit someone with an electric cut. He also hits the measurables at just under 6’0″ and should come in right at or just north of 200 pounds. Depending on team need, scheme, and the draft capital at a given team’s disposal, I wouldn’t write it off that Gibbs could be the first RB selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
5) Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Now, this is where things will change from draft to draft. If in a Superflex league, this spot could be and likely will be for whichever QB gets first-round capital between Will Levis and Anthony Richardson. If they both do, then we’ll go with Robinson, Young, Stroud, Gibbs, and the two QBs. I feel relatively confident in saying that.
Quentin Johnston is the guy for you if you’re a fan of big-body wide receivers like I am. At 6’4″ and 210+ pounds, Johnston’s got a size advantage over 99% of corners and uses every inch of his frame to high-point with the best of them. But for a guy his size, Johnston has a surprising level of burst and acceleration. He’s also surprisingly agile out of inward routes like slants when he sells the outside move.
Of the top-ranked receivers of this class, Johnston might be having the most impressive season so far. Additionally, of the Tier 1 guys, he’s the only one who has truly broken out in 2022 and improved his draft stock compared to Jordan Addison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Kayshon Boutte. Hands are a bit of a concern, as the 13.1% drop rate raises a red flag, but the comp to Martavis Bryant literally writes itself.
6) Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Jordan Addison is currently my No. 2 WR in this class, but he is in a tier of four players that I will let landing spot and draft capital rearrange. Unfortunately, Addison’s stats likely won’t stand up to others in this class. He suffered a leg injury against Utah and was seen on crutches but luckily avoided a major injury. He did return to play in the final four games but saw varying usage.
Addison had 13 targets vs. UCLA in Week 12 but saw just 14 over the other three games combined. In the end, Addison caught 59 of his 79 targets (74.7% catch rate) for 875 yards (2.78 YPRR & 7.0 YAC/R) with eight touchdowns this season.
Addison plucks the ball out of the sky and explodes to the high point. He’s a twitchy runner who also is a serious threat after the catch. At 6’0″ and roughly 180 pounds, Addison profiles in a similar way to DeVonta Smith as a route-running technician but brings a bit more downfield verticality than the Eagles wideout.
7) Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
Between Will Levis and Anthony Richardson, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve gone back and forth on which one should come out on top. And it’s in each of their ceilings to become top three quarterbacks in fantasy, but they could also give us absolutely nothing at the same time.
Levis is one of those cats where you turn the tape on and just laugh at what he can do with what appears to be 20% effort. Even when off-platform, he has arm arrogance and as live of an arm as you could ask for. He has a Josh Allen- or Matthew Stafford-caliber arm when it comes to strength. Levis himself said he has 80 yards in him. Did I mention he tips the scales at 6’3″ and 230+ pounds?
Although we haven’t seen it as much in 2022, Levis had 516 yards and nine TDs on the ground in 2021, which brought his career total to 1,174 yards with 17 touchdowns on 211 carries. The issue is that he just hasn’t shown the level of consistency as a passer you’d need to move him any higher.
The timeline of Zach Wilson will be mentioned as a cautionary tale for QBs with big arms who lack consistency. We’ll see how much the toe injury was the culprit to his mechanical and ball placement issues. If those are cleaned up, Levis could be a star.
8) Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
Speaking of ceiling, Anthony Richardson might even have the highest of any QB in this class. He is a big QB (6’4″ and 230-plus) who can scramble with the best of them but do it in a physical manner while having the speed to run away from defenders. As a passer, there are questions.
He has a strong arm and can drive the ball with no issue. Velocity has never been a concern. Fitting it into the right window can be hit or miss, especially when flighting it over the underneath coverage. Also, his deep ball lacks consistency, which can be due to a combination of footwork and trajectory.
However, if he gets to a team with a great QB coach, they will drill Richardson every day on anticipatory throws and hitting them right at the end of his drop. If he puts it all together, he can be one of the best QBs in this class. If we are talking range of outcome comparisons, Cam Newton is one of them. But you could just as likely end up getting nothing from Richardson as a 2023 dynasty rookie draft pick.
9) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Recording 95 receptions, Jaxon Smith-Njigba set a Big Ten single-season record with 1,606 receiving yards. With Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave sitting out the postseason as they focused on the NFL draft, Smith-Njigba set a Rose Bowl record in 2021 with 347 receiving yards on 15 receptions and was named MVP.
Smith-Njigba has only played in three games this year, and it would appear his profile will be based on the previous two seasons. That’s not a bad case for the Buckeye, as his draft stock was already set in stone.
His hands and route running are phenomenal. He’s an elite separator, has sensational body control, and is as smart as it gets with how he operates over the middle of the field against zone coverage. The only thing missing from his skill set is top-end speed.
Rather than viewing him as an elite perimeter receiver as some do, I view Smith-Njigba as more of the Jerry Jeudy type who could see more work from the slot and dominate with his routes but can also split out wide when asked.
10) Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
Well, well, well, welcome back, Kayshon Boutte. After announcing he would be returning to LSU, Boutte shocked many in a reversal when he announced he was heading to the NFL. This is a great move. Not only does it allow Boutte to capitalize on a not-as-deep 2022 WR class, but dynasty managers get another top-tier asset in the first round.
At 5’10”, Boutee is an animal on the field and will blow right past you off the line with his track background. He will only get better — which is scary — and will end up as a first-round NFL Draft pick.
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His freshman and sophomore seasons were sensational. Boutte set an SEC record with 308 receiving yards and 3 TDs on 14 catches in a single game, totaling 45 catches and 735 yards in 10 games en route to 2020 Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American Honors. 2021 saw a continuation of this success, with Boutte recording a team-high 509 yards and nine touchdowns on 39 receptions despite missing the final seven games due to an ankle injury.
2022 was a lost year for Boutte, with only 538 yards and two touchdowns on 48 receptions, but he finished strong in the second half, including 107 yards receiving and a score in an SEC Championship Game loss to Georgia.
He is the wildcard among the tier-one receivers as the homerun hitter, but Boutte lacks consistency in his routes. At the same time, when he is in his element and going all out, his breaks are as crispy as it gets, and his ability after the catch will be a nightmare in the NFL. Boutte was my first No. 1 ranked WR of this class back in 2020, and while he is not there right now, he is still a tier-one option in 2023 dynasty rookie rankings at his position.
2023 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Rankings | 11-20
11) Zach Evans, RB, TCU
RB is so deep in this class. Landing spot and draft capital will shape things so much. I’m not sure we ever saw the best from Zach Evans, but what we did see was promising. Evans has legit breakaway speed, and after finding success at TCU, he made a surprising (at the time) transfer to Ole Miss.
Evans had an up-and-down season, statistically. Part of his has to do with him not even being the best RB on his own team. That honor goes to Quinshon Judkins, the SEC Freshman of the Year.
His 207 yards on 17 carries in Week 12 was another stamp on his already fantastic profile, and in 11 games, he had 136 carries for 893 yards and eight touchdowns. That said, he wasn’t able to showcase his receiving chops, with just 93 yards on eight receptions (13 targets). What is amazing about his game is you rarely, if ever, see a defender get a square shot on him. He finds a way to create odd angles, and it works very effectively.
If he lands in a zone-oriented scheme, Evans should remain firmly in the top four RBs in 2023 dynasty rookie rankings.
12) Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
It’s refreshing to have a quality tight end class again, and sitting at the top is Michael Mayer. He exudes athleticism with every rep and is an utter mismatch for LBs. His movement is fluid, but Mayer can put the shoulder down at 6’4″, 250 pounds, when needed. Plus, he wears No. 87.
He’s an in-line TE who is a darn good route runner and will be on the field from the word go. In fact, he leads the 2023 TE class with a 2.66 YPTPA and also sits No. 1 in reception share at 34.9%. Mayer is not the blocker of a Gronk or certainly a George Kittle. Still, he’s not a liability, either, and with the right coaching at the NFL level, Mayer is already a top-eight dynasty TE and stands alone in the first tier of the 2023 dynasty TE rookie rankings.
13) Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
No running back has risen more for me this year in my rankings than Kendre Miller. After waiting his turn behind Evans, Miller was unlocked and allowed to show off one of the best mixes of power, precision, and speed in the country.
At 6’0″ and 220 pounds, Miller hits all of the historical benchmarks for what size of RB works in the NFL. With that size comes natural power, which Miller has no issue handing out. That’s why he averages 3.61 yards after contact per attempt.
Miller is incredibly light on his feet and has an arsenal of weapons, from jukes to spin moves or even the hurdle. His contact balance is at a level where until he is down on the ground, he’s still a threat for additional yards. Together, they allow Miller to force a missed tackle on 31% of his runs (67).
Through 13 games (including the Big 12 Championship), Miller had 1,342 yards (16th) on 216 carries (6.2 ypc) with 17 touchdowns. The receiving work is nothing spectacular at 16 of 20 for 116 yards in 2022, but he can catch the ball just fine. Miller went from a relative unknown to jumping some of the most highly anticipated running backs in this class. I’ll put his tape up against anyone else in 2023 rookie drafts.
14) Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
Blake Corum might be 5’8″, but the guy is rocked up. If Corum does weigh in at 200 pounds or a bit more, which is expected, the sound you’ll hear is his draft capital exploding. He should have been in New York on that Heisman stage as a finalist.
With fluid hips and a low center of gravity, Corum can break a home-run play at any time. In fact, Corum’s 17 touchdowns are fourth best in the country despite him missing the Ohio State game and the Big Ten Championship game. His vision and movement between the tackles are superb and some of his best traits.
Corum had 24 receptions in 2021 (ten in 2022 – 5.3% reception share), but receiving isn’t the defining trait of his game. His receiving stats have more to do with Michigan’s scheme and the team having Donovan Edwards, who excels in open space. Corum won’t see the 20+ touches he did nearly every game in 2021, but he does profile as a starting RB, likely with a complementary back alongside him in a committee.
15) Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
No receiver has helped their case in the 2023 NFL Draft and 2023 dynasty rookie rankings more than Jalin Hyatt. In fact, his sensational 2022 season earned Hyatt the Biletnikoff Award, which recognizes the top receiver in the nation.
Despite ranking t-34th in receptions (67), Hyatt led all college football wide receivers in touchdowns (15), which also set a new Tennessee school record. Hyatt sits No. 4 in receiving yards at 1,267 with a bonkers 18.9 yards/rec and 3.28 yards per route run despite playing over 90% of his snaps from the slot. Additionally, Hyatt sits No. 1 in YPTPA at 3.22.
Hyatt’s hands have been great with just one drop, and he seems to be consistently open despite everyone in the whole darn stadium knowing the ball is going toward him. Oh, by the way, he’s fast. Not only did he record a 10.46 in the 100m and 21.14 in the 200m, but he also ran a verified 4.31 40-yard dash and 34.5″ vertical. He’s got the size (6’1″ and 180 pounds), wheels, and body of work worthy of a high-end draft pick in the 2023 dynasty rookie rankings.
16) Josh Downs, North Carolina
A Biletnikoff Award semifinalist in 2021, Josh Downs’ 1,335 yards and 101 receptions allowed North Carolina to lose four 1,000-yard players and still have a bowl appearance. While 2022 has been a “down” year thanks to three missed games (left knee), Downs has hauled in 81% of his targets (94 of 116) for 1,029 yards and 11 TDs. He had 70 receptions in the first eight games alone. Downs also had six games of 100+ yards, including four straight against Duke, Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Wake Forrest.
Downs will be one of those guys that “pops” at the NFL Combine. While he’s slightly smaller at 5’10” and 170 pounds, he clocked in at 4.47 in the 40 and jumped 42″ as a junior… in high school. He’s a nuanced route runner who has spent over 90% of his snaps in the slot, which is precisely where he profiles at the next level.
17 ) Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
Zach Charbonnet, in roughly the middle of the second, goes to show just how deep this class of rookies is in 2023. Initially at Michigan, Charbonnet transferred to UCLA prior to the 2021 season and never looked back. He was a true workhorse for the Bruins, rushing 204 times for 1,153 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first season with the team. He backed it up with an even more efficient season in 2022.
Rushing 194 times, Charbonnet averaged a whopping 7.0 ypc for 1,358 yards (15th) with 14 touchdowns (T-14th). He’s a brutal assignment for a would-be tackler at 6’1″ and 220. He runs behind his pads and will lay the wood.
Charbonnet averaged 4.15 yards after contact per attempt, with 26.8% of his attempts generating a missed tackle and over 22% of his carries going for 10+ yards. Rounding out Charbonnet’s game is his receiving skill, as he caught 60 of 69 targets at UCLA for 501 yards.
If he would have came out last year as was initially expected, he would have been the RB3 in last year’s class behind Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III. Now fantasy managers get all that talent at a fraction of the price in 2023.
18) Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh
The later the year gets, the more time I have for film and to give players full film grades. I can tell you already I’ll be higher on Israel Abanikanda than most, and through my preliminary run, he’s graded out way higher than I thought he would.
By no means should this come as a massive shock. Just look at what he did this year: Abanikanda was 12th in yards with 1,426 on 241 carries (5.9 YPC) with 20 touchdowns that tied him with Mohamed Ibrahim for the NCAA lead. Abanikanda averaged 2.46 yards after contact per attempt with 46 missed tackles and 38 carries of ten yards or more.
But that doesn’t do it justice. His film is fun to watch. Not only does Abanikanda have 4.3 speed, but he might be the best in the nation in how quickly he can get to full speed. He just obliterates angles. His tape vs. Virginia Tech (37 for 322 yards and six TDs) is a master class in speed, vision, contact balance, patience, acceleration, and power.
He’s going to surprise many when they see him test and land in the NFL Draft, as teams may like him more than the fantasy or draft community would indicate. Abanikanda would be my current pick for the best value at RB, even though I am rankings him vastly higher than his current ADP.
19) Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
There are levels to being fast. Take whatever you think is fast and put it on 2x, and that’s Devon Achane. How is this, for example? Achane’s 200m time of 20.20 was the same time as Jamacia’s Yohan Blake ran this year, and he’s a two-time Olympic and World Champion. The 40-yard record is 100% in danger, as will be every defense when Achane touches the ball.
Achane rushed for 1,100 yards with eight touchdowns in 2022 and averaged a missed tackle on over a quarter of his runs. But that doesn’t even account for the number of defenders that couldn’t even get that close because of his ability to hit the edge and burn angles.
The elephant in the room is his size. Achane is 5’9″ and listed at 185 pounds. But if he measures in at 190 and holds that weight while he plays, he could go berserk. Smaller-stature RBs do not have a good hit rate, but none of them had Achane’s speed. I am going to let his landing spot dictate his final ranking for fantasy football, but he could be a dangerous weapon in the NFL.
20) Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
At 6’3″ and 206 pounds, Rashee Rice ticks the boxes you want from a feature receiver in an NFL offense. He just makes everything look easy. His ability to track the ball in flight is among the best in the nation, as is his ability to make the first defender miss and gain chunk yards after the catch. Teams will also love him for his willingness to be a downfield blocker.
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Not only is Rice a Senior Bowl invitee, but he is the best senior-eligible receiver in the nation. His 1,344 yards were third-most in the country, and he sat second in targets (156) with 96 receptions and ten touchdowns and was top-10 in YPRR at 3.05 (minimum 40 targets).
Similar to what Christian Watson did last season, watch how fast Rice shoots up draft boards during the Senior Bowl and testing process. If I was going to plant my flag on a player outside of the elite core of rookies that becomes a star in the NFL, it’d unquestionably be Rice.
2023 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Rankings | 21-60
21) Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse
22) Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
23) Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
24) Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
25) Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
26) Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
27) Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
28) Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
29) Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
30) Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
31-40
31) Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky
32) Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
33) Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia
34) Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland
35) Jaren Hall, QB, BYU
36) Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
37) Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
38) Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan
39) Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
40) Cornelius Johnson, WR, Michigan
41-50
41) Tyjae Spears, Tulane
42) Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
43) Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
44) DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB
45) Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia
46) Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
47) Camerun Peoples, RB, Appalachian State
48) Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
49) Xazavian Valladay, RB, Arizona State
50) Zakhari Franklin, WR, UTSA
51-60
51) Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
52) Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston
53) Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton
54) Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama
55) Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
56) Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
57) Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
58) Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
59) Tavion Thomas, RB, Utah
60) Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska