At long last, Spring is finally in the air. With the long winter, the combine and the frenzy of activity stemming from the onset of free agency in the rearview mirror, it is finally draft season. With just two weeks until Commissioner Roger Goodell walks to the podium (under a chorus of boos) in Las Vegas to announce the first selection, this is the time of year that Dynasty Mangers need to be in full blown scouting mode.
Some Context:
- Player ages reflect the age each player will be at the conclusion of the 2022 fantasy season
- Rankings are based on a combination of college game tape, production and combine metrics
- NFL draft results will impact the order in which players are selected in dynasty rookie drafts
Tier 1
Trey McBride – Colorado State (Age 23)
Before I dive head-first into McBride and the rest of the 2022 Tight End pool, there’s something I need to say off the top. This is not the best crop of TE’s we’ve ever seen. That said, if there is anyone in this class who has a chance to be a productive fantasy asset for years to come its Trey McBride. The 6’3” 249lb Colorado State product lead all TEs in receiving yards during the 2021 campaign with a whopping 1,121. This mark was good for the most in single season since 2013. While McBride’s 90 receptions also popped off the page, his lone TD is a bit of a head scratcher. Declining to run at the combine, he posted a 33” vertical jump and 117” broad jump. Consider McBride to be a safe TE prospect who has a chance to land on the TE1 radar as he enters his prime, but don’t expect him to be the second coming of Travis Kelce. If you’re looking for some depth, or youth to plug into your pipeline at a position that dries up quickly, McBride is a safe selection in the mid-late second round of a rookie draft.
Tier 2
Jalen Wydermyer – Texas A&M (Age22)
While McBride brings what should be a safe floor to a dynasty roster, Wydermyer is the upside play at tight end in this draft class. While his 2021 stat line of 40 receptions, 515 yards and 4 TDs appear pedestrian, he was named a finalist for the Mackey award and received 2nd team all SEC honors for the third consecutive season. An underwhelming 5.03 40-yard dash time at his pro day will likely hurt his draft stock, but he demonstrated an ability to win with athleticism on tape in the nation’s most competitive conference. His struggles with run blocking responsibilities during much of his career as an Aggie is a trait that won’t go over well with NFL GMs. Consider Wydermyer a project type of player that will likely take a few seasons to develop. Barring an NFL team reaching to take him on day 2, he should be on a dynasty manager’s radar in the 3rd round of rookie drafts.
Greg Dulcich – UCLA (Age 22)
A solid producer in his final season with the Bruins, Dulcich posted 42 receptions for 725 yards and 5 TDs in his 4th season at UCLA. At 6’4” and 243lbs, his 4.7 40-yard dash time was good for 5th at his position among those who elected to run at the combine. He also received praise for his performance during blocking drills, a part of his game that is lacking on film. The consensus on Dulcich is that he needs to improve in the blocking department to register most snaps at the pro level. Another true project player, he should only be on a fantasy manager’s draft radar in leagues at the end of the 3rd round, or in formats that have 4+ rounds in their annual draft. If you play in a format with deep benches, he may be worth investing a few FAAB dollars on if you have the space on your roster and the patience to see if he pans out.
Tier 3
Charlie Kolar – Iowa State (Age 23)
At 6’6” and 252lbs, Kolar is a jumbo tight end who used his size to put up two 600+ yard seasons and 3 campaigns of 6+ TDs in his 4 Iowa State career. Despite his large frame, Kolar struggled with consistency in his college career, and even his highlight tapes rarely show him creating separation against college defenders. The fear among the scouting community is that he’ll be type casted as a blocker at the next level. Kolar is a player who could really benefit from landing with a team with little competition in the tight ends room. Based on his tape, he remains in this tier for me strictly based on his size. Admittedly, his massive size is the only thing keeping him in tier 3. A poor landing spot and poor draft capital investment could see him fall off the dynasty rookie draft radar completely.
Isaiah Likely – Costal Carolina (Age 22)
If the idea of finding a diamond in the rough from a small program is appealing to you, then it’s more than “Likely” that you’re already a fan of the Costal Carolina product. Okay, no more puns going forward. In his senior season for the Chanticleers, Likely made his presence felt, posting a line of 59 receptions for 912 yards and 12 TDs. If you’re going to make a name for yourself playing outside of a power conference, this is the type of season that you have to produce. The 6’4” 240lb tight end elected not to run at the combine but did run a 4.8 40-yard dash at his pro day to go along with an underwhelming 7.33 second 3-cone time. A former WR, Likely showed flashes of being able to put up big plays, scoring 5 TD on receptions of 50 yards or more in his college career. With any small school prospect, it’s fair to wonder if his dominance on the gridiron was a result of the inferior level of competition he went up against. The tape shows a physically gifted player that is able to win with physicality, but struggled to consistently create separation from FCS defenders. It’s difficult to project just how much NFL teams will hold this against Likely on draft day, but the assumption is he’ll hear his name called on day 3. For now, consider him to only be on the rookie draft radar in leagues that run deeper than 3 rounds.
Tier 4 – Honorable Mentions
Jeremy Ruckert – Ohio Stats (Age22)
Cade Otton – Washington (Age 23)
Jake Ferguson – Wisconsin (Age 23)
Jelani Woods – Virginia (Age 24)
Chigoziem Okonkow – Maryland (Age 23)
