The 4th of July is right around the corner, and marking that infamous mid-dry spell will be on top of us before we know it. You know the one. The break between the early summer and camps can be so long. So this is for our diehards who are looking for the top first-year-based Rookie IDP Dynasty Rankings.
There isn’t any doubt you’re in the right place for the old-school tackle-based formats. For the majority of the newer balanced formats, we split the hairs in our deep dives on the top current options, with both dynasty appeal and favorable first-year IDP production upside as a bonus. This is your update and early NFL preseason rookie IDP dynasty rankings for 2023.
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2023 Rookie IDP Dynasty Rankings
IDP Dynasty Rankings – Tier 1
Jack Campbell – Lions, Inside Linebacker
After letting the dust settle, it’s pretty clear the best option for any combined tackle numbers lies with Jack Cambell. The Lions ILB was a monster in that category at Iowa. He lit up the stats with 265 in total over 27 games in the last two years of college. Campbell was touted by many as our top inside linebacker prospect pre-draft.
The intention should be to start Campbell as soon as possible but keep in mind “should” could take a moment. Although it’s highly likely we see more in the preseason. Campbell and Alex Anzalone will start the season as the main duo, but those latest coach quotes are in. The staff expects an open competition no matter what. But Detriot does have a history of using their best linebackers in a rotation.
Jack Campbell might be our first option, but he’s going to need a little help. Anzalone, Malcolm Rodriguez (Q), and even Derrick Barnes are getting love from the staff. Campbell, on paper, has less traffic and more to offer as a starter than any other ILB ranked right now. So pending any changes or injuries, this he’s our best early dynasty payoff NFL rookie.
“If Jack isn’t the top two or three, Jack will continue to go through the process of rookie development until he’s hit that mark … That’s why it’s hard for me to speak on what it might be, what it will be. We haven’t even put on pads on yet, and the position I coach, it all starts there.” – Linebacker Coach Kelvin Sheppard
Will Anderson Jr. – Texans, Pass Rusher
In a big-play dynasty scoring format, there is no doubt edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. would be number one on this NFL rookie rankings. The defensive end hit major recognition from the moment that Houston traded up to select him.
QB CJ Stroud was off the board via the Texans with the second pick of the draft, ending the chances Anderson would end up in Houston as speculated by many.
Then as a shock to many, the Texans traded with the Cardinals for back-to-back draft picks, selecting who they hope are the offensive and defensive anchors of the near future.
Anderson landed fifth in the Heisman in 2021-22, recording 17.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss. He finished his collegiate career as Alabama’s number two all-time sack leader, right behind the great NCAA and NFL Hall Of Famer Derrick Thomas. Anderson also took home the Bronko Nagurski Award twice and the 2022 Chuck Bednarik title.
Anderson will see a massive amount of snaps. He leads a deep class of solid defensive linemen and edge rushers. What also stands out as being true? As a rookie before the draft, Anderson was never touted as the next Nick Bosa or even Chase Young. Or did we miss that part about a generational player somehow?
In tackle or balanced leagues, any pass rusher has to record a balanced ratio of sacks to tackles to matter. That’s a very tall order for any rookie. Especially one with a rookie head coach. Clearly, the Texans are a team under a full-blown reconstruction.
Unlike last year’s two standouts, Aidan Hutchison and Trayvon Walker, who had a luxury coming in when their teams had already jumpstarted their rebuilds by a couple of years and were ahead of the game.
Drew Sanders – Broncos, Inside Linebacker
There’s one important thing that’s appealing about Bronco’s ILB, Drew Sanders. He may not be slated as a day-one starter or even as much of a rotation player all season. What he does have, is a starter in front of him that’s injury prone, and no real solid talent behind that on this roster. Since entering the league, his game counts the following.
As an NFL rookie, Josey Jewell started nine contests and played every game. Then in since then, in 2019, he started three in 15 games played, to parlay off that with a bounce back of 16 for 16 in 2020.
He finally broke out after a lot of expectations, only to follow that up with only two games in 2022. He did hit 13 of 13 in 2023. We know consistency is everything in IDP, so there is a pretty solid chance that Drew Sanders sees the field more than we would expect on paper.
This is simply based on the trend Jewell is coming off one of his better years. So will we see an injury-filled down year next, according to his recent history? Granted, this isn’t much to go on.
The overall consensus is there weren’t any instant starters at ILB in this class, to begin with. Well, other than Jack Campbell, which we explained even that’s in question as a rookie.
So there’s no doubt Sanders makes the top-tier NFL rookie IDP dynasty rankings. It does show this class didn’t have the open job ILB opportunities that existed from time to time this year.
Myles Murphy – Bengals, Pass Rusher
Myles Murphy landing somewhere else might have had some year-one production appeal. Unfortunately, he is stacked on a veteran depth chart. He sits behind high-quality guys like Sam Hubbard, Trey Hendrickson, B.J. Hill, and D.J.Reader.
We should expect some early down work if everyone else is healthy. Along with the occasional pass-rush opportunities as the season progresses. Murphy has a bright-looking dynasty outlook with Logan Wilson, Joe Burrow, and company. It will likely take two to three years before anything pays off.
Jalen Carter – Eagles, Interior Defensive Lineman
We haven’t had a rookie DT do much of anything since Aaron Donald won the DROY in 2014. This might help explain why Jalen Carter isn’t higher on this list.
It’s pretty simple, even if he is Donald, the odds are stacked against Carter. He has one huge dynasty upside named Jordan Davis on the team. The two former higher-profiled Georga teammates are the future Eagles’ interior D-line. This sets a very high bar in the near future. The same kind of rookie bar set by many for high-profiled teammate Davis last year. Davis only landed 26% of the available defensive snaps last season. I’m expecting a similar number for Carter.
IDP Dynasty Rankings – Tier 2
6. Tyree Wilson – Raiders, Pass Rusher
Suppose Wilson can overtake the longtime Pro Bowl-caliber and former sack monster, veteran Chandler Jones. This would be impressive, though not impossible. Consider Jones’ total body of work with the Raiders and the top-end draft stock spent on Wilson. Not to mention there was zero depth behind Crosby and Jones last season.
So just like our next edge rusher drafted by Green Bay, Tyree Wilson will likely be seasoned to start as soon as next season. Hopefully, the Raiders allow their rookies to develop at their own pace with a rotational trial by fire.
7. Lukas Van Ness – Packers, Pass Rusher
Known as a pure higher-end athlete at Iowa, pass rusher Lukas Van Ness is the rawest prospect in the top top 10. Playing his last two seasons as a rotational starter, he did have success and flashed. With such little experience, the big question is consistency. Van Ness recorded 70 combined tackles, 19.5 for a loss, and 13 sacks, all with an average of 6.5 in those two seasons. Hence his 2023 first-round selection. However, Van Ness is far from a lock in year one.
Van Ness might be a special athlete who has great stats. He’ll also arguably be higher on other 2023 rookie IDP dynasty rankings. Unless things go his way, Van Ness will sit behind solid veteran Preston Smith and a healthy Rashaan Gary in 2023.
At best, projecting him as the third in the rotation seems a bit steep. When history has also shown, the Packers do not rotate the main two staters very much at all. So Tyree Wilson had the edge over Lukas Van Ness but not because of any potential, but more on flat-out experience on the gridiron.
8. Daiyan Henley – Chargers, Inside Linebacker
In a class that didn’t need to produce surefire starters based on the majority of the team’s needs, the Chargers’ Daiyan Henley might be the one that’ll end up as a sleeper. Opportunities are everything in the NFL, as we know. The Chargers have one failed first-rounder they were already fading on and are hoping Henley can boom!
Kenneth Murray Jr. wasn’t this staff selection, nor has he ever managed to live up to his expectations. Then add the lackluster depth beyond newly signed and solid veteran Eric Kendricks. Who’s not to say that Henly can’t be a starter by default as soon as mid-season, if not before? It also feels like his future dynasty stock is only based on his failure.
9. Nolan Smith – Eagles, Pass Rusher
With a little sketchy-looking contract at the moment with pass-rush star Hasaan Reddick, his reported future dynasty replacement is their 30th overall pick, Nolan Smith. An underdeveloped but highly motored edge rusher. That’s also reportedly a mirror image of Reddick coming out of college.
We aren’t as confident looking at what the Eagles did in the rotation last year. Veterans like Brandon Graham, who’s clearly lost a step, will have a really hard time keeping up the pace from last year. This is without Javon Hargrave putting huge pressure up the middle. Hence perhaps leading to more trial by fire than normal. This is also when the Eagles will let us know if they’ve exercised the out in Reddick’s contract or not.
10. Brian Branch – Loins, Safety
We typically don’t hold huge stock in defensive backs. However, we can’t ignore what being a starter for the Lions at safety brings to the table. A multitude of players has put out higher DB numbers in the last few years in this Lions system. They actually look like they prioritize the roles using DBs in three-man sets often and all over the field. So this is your chance to hit that higher-end defensive back in your league. We have no problem this year cracking Brian Branch wide open in our top 10 rookie IDP dynasty rankings.
Rookie IDP Dynasty Rankings – Tier 3
11. Dorian Williams – Bills, Inside Linebacker
Williams could have been considered for the top five just based on one huge way of thinking. The ILBs in line right now to potentially start next to Matt Milano this year, though be it slim, has to be recognized. Noting one thing even more important here. It’s the same dynasty line that has produced two very solid LB1 plays for the last four or five years.
12. Sydney Brown – Eagles, Saftey
Brown will be competing to start right away. The Eagles haven’t had a proven and constant contributor at safety for some time now. It is very possible Brown can unseat end-of-the-season default starter Reed Blankenship or even newly signed veteran Terrell Edmunds. We’ll need to review our possible pre-season rookie IDP dynasty rankings update if this is the case.
13. Will McDonald Jets Pass Rusher
If it wasn’t for McDonald’s tangibles, it was tough to rank him this high, considering we’ve already been waiting some time now on the other high-profile picks. So we aren’t in McDonald’s line if the line is very deep until something breaks the routine.
Rookie IDP Dynasty Rankings – Honorable Mentions
Jordan Battle – Bengals Defensive Back
JL Skinner – Broncos Defensive Back
Calijah Kancey – Buccaneers Interior Defensive Lineman
Bryan Bresee – Saints Interior Defensive Lineman
Trenton Simpson – Ravens ILB
