It is indeed startup season. A few weeks ago, I put together a 14-round single-quarterback (1QB) startup mock to see where certain players were falling. This version is of the Superflex (SF) variety. SF is a format booming in popularity among experienced dynasty fantasy football managers, where an additional flex position can be filled with a second starting quarterback. The main reason for the rise in favor of SF formats is that it adds value to the quarterback position. Quarterbacks are exiled to later rounds in 1QB, especially in dynasty, because the per-game scoring difference between the elite quarterback and the mediocre replacement is minimal. SF forces a manager to lock in a top quarterback early or miss out and pray that his later options pan out.

This mock indeed yielded some intriguing results, especially early on. The run on elite quarterbacks was immediate and heavy, with seven going in the first round of this 12-team setup. I stretched this one out to 18 rounds to give more appropriate depth to the dynasty startup. Another notable difference in this mock is that the incoming 2022 rookies are included in the player pool instead of having placeholder picks for a separate rookie draft. Let’s go through it together.

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Round 1

1.01- Josh Allen (QB – BUF)

1.02- Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC)

1.03- Justin Herbert (QB – LAC)

1.04- Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)

1.05- Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)

1.06- Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)

1.07- Kyler Murray (QB – ARI)

1.08- Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN)

1.09- Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL)

1.10- Najee Harris (RB – PIT)

1.11- Dak Prescott (QB – DAL)

1.12- D’Andre Swift (RB- DET)

I took over the top spot in the draft and had the computer draft the other 11 spots based on the current ADP on Sleeper. What must be pointed out is that the recent trading and free agency frenzy in the NFL has not yet affected ADP significantly. This will undoubtedly ebb and flow as the dust settles, especially following the Draft. I, personally, have Justin Jefferson over Ja’Marr Chase in my dynasty rankings and would have also moved Jonathan Taylor slightly earlier. Lamar Jackson at 1.09?! Flip him with Joe Burrow, and we’re kosher.

Round 2

2.01- Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)

2.02- Javonte Williams (RB – DEN)

2.03- CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL)

2.04- Tyreek Hill (WR – KC)

2.05- Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR)

2.06- Trey Lance (QB – SF)

2.07- Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)

2.08- Mark Andrews (TE – BAL)

2.09- Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)

2.10- Deebo Samuel (WR – SF)

2.11- AJ Brown (WR – TEN)

2.12- Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE)

It goes without saying that if the league you are in has tight end premium scoring, Kyle Pitts is a mid-first round pick. Javonte Williams is a nudge above D’Andre Swift for me, but since this is PPR, it’s not uncommon to see an elite receiving back like Swift come off the board earlier. Christian McCaffrey is the steal of this round. I decided to jump the shark and double up with Allen and Watson as my quarterbacks to solidify the position with a decade of elite production.

Round 3

3.01- Davante Adams (WR – LV)

3.02- Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC)

3.03- Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI)

3.04- Joe Mixon (RB – CIN)

3.05- DK Metcalf (WR – SEA)

3.06- Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN)

3.07- Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)

3.08- Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX)

3.09- Derrick Henry (RB – TEN)

3.10- Russell Wilson (QB – DEN)

3.11- Justin Fields (QB – CHI)

3.12- Treylon Burks (WR – )

I was surprised to see Jalen Hurts fall to the third, but some dynasty players don’t entirely trust the Eagles to stick with him long-term. The next wave of elite-but-older running backs were selected here. Cook is higher than Mixon for me, but that’s a personal preference. If this is a 4-point per passing touchdown league, I prefer the more mobile Fields over Lawrence. Burks is the first rookie off the board to wrap up the third round, with more right behind him.

Round 4

4.01- Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR)

4.02- Stefon Diggs (WR – BUF)

4.03- Garrett Wilson (WR – )

4.04- Antonio Gibson (RB – WAS)

4.05- Breece Hall (RB – )

4.06- Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)

4.07- Travis Kelce (TE – KC)

4.08- Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG)

4.09- Cam Akers (RB – LAR)

4.10- Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT)

4.11- George Kittle (TE – SF)

4.12- Drake London (WR – )

Oh me, oh my. Travis Kelce is a fantastic bargain in the fourth. The lingering question all offseason will be stud rookie Breece Hall or blossoming vet Antonio Gibson. I love Diontae Johnson and would move him ahead of Garrett Wilson and Tee Higgins. Is Kittle a reach here, or is it just how far Kelce fell?

Round 5

5.01- JK Dobbins (RB – BAL)

5.02- Nick Chubb (RB – CLE)

5.03- Kenneth Walker III (RB – )

5.04- Isaiah Spiller (RB – )

5.05- Mac Jones (QB – NE)

5.06- Aaron Rodgers (QB – GB)

5.07- Travis Etienne (RB – JAX)

5.08- Darren Waller (TE – LV)

5.09- Malik Willis (QB – )

5.10- TJ Hockenson (TE – DET)

5.11- Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)

5.12- Jameson Williams (WR – )

Aaron Rodgers will probably continue to tumble until the draft, with Davante Adams headed to Las Vegas. Mac Jones is a considerable reach here. He’s solid, but there are more mobile options at quarterback later. Darren Waller can’t be doubled as much now that he has the league’s best receiver on his team, so he will rise. Spiller might end up here with a nice landing spot, but it’s laughable that he’s going alongside Walker right now. Malik Willis might not be the best quarterback in the 2022 class, but for fantasy, he certainly is.

Round 6

6.01- Kenny Pickett (QB – )

6.02- DJ Moore (WR – CAR)

6.03- David Montgomery (RB – CHI)

6.04- DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)

6.05- Chris Godwin (WR – TB)

6.06- Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF)

6.07- Elijah Moore (WR – NYJ)

6.08- Josh Jacobs (RB – LV)

6.09- Calvin Ridley (WR – ATL)

6.10- Keenan Allen (WR – LAC)

6.11- Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL)

6.12- Michael Carter (RB – NYJ)

Running backs and wide receivers go on a significant run here in the sixth. Montgomery is a superb value in this round. I might be crazy, but I would have Carter be the next in line, leapfrogging Mitchell, Jacobs, and Elliott. The Ridley pick must be on some other planet right now, or they assume his appeal will result in a reduced suspension.

Round 7

7.01- DeAndre Hopkins (WR – ARI)

7.02- Aaron Jones (RB – GB)

7.03- Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – KC)

7.04- Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA)

7.05- Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND)

7.06- Chris Olave (WR – )

7.07- Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET)

7.08- Matt Corral (QB – )

7.09- AJ Dillon (RB – GB)

7.10- Mike Evans (WR – TB)

7.11- Dallas Goedert (TE – PHI)

7.12- Darnell Mooney (WR – CHI)

I’m smashing Nuk Hopkins every single time if he’s hovering down in this spot. Kliff Kingsbury finally came to his senses and moved Hopkins around the formation last season. He was a top-10 fantasy receiver yet again until his injury. I am often seeing AJ Dillon go ahead of his more versatile-but-older teammate, Aaron Jones. I like this better, with Jones still holding a massive advantage in the receiving department for PPR. I’m not on the Sun God hype train. Sorry, but he’s super inflated at the moment.

Round 8

8.01- George Pickens (WR – )

8.02- Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF)

8.03- Sam Howell (QB – )

8.04- Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT)

8.05- David Bell (WR – )

8.06- Rachaad White (RB – )

8.07- Zach Wilson (QB – NYJ)

8.08- Amari Cooper (WR – CLE)

8.09- Christian Watson (WR – )

8.10- Justyn Ross (WR – )

8.11- Jerry Jeudy (WR – DEN)

8.12- Marquise Brown (WR – BAL)

As much as I believe in Aiyuk, he should not have come off the board before Cooper, Jeudy, or Brown. This round was drunk and threw me off my game. I made a mistake at the turn here and took both Ravens receivers. I guess it’s a good thing I’m constantly firing trade requests from the hip! Value-wise, they were both hanging around too long. I expect the Ravens to transition into a more modern offense once Lamar Jackson signs his extension, which promises more balls in the air for his talented receiving corps.

Round 9

9.01- Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)

9.02- Damien Harris (RB – NE)

9.03- Jahan Dotson (WR – )

9.04- Michael Thomas (WR – NO)

9.05- Dawson Knox (TE – BUF)

9.06- Noah Fant (TE – SEA)

9.07- Leonard Fournette (RB – FA)

9.08- Kyren Williams (RB – )

9.09- Miles Sanders (RB – PHI)

9.10- Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – )

9.11- Dalton Schultz (TE – DAL)

9.12- Chase Claypool (WR – PIT)

At this point, with starting spots nearly filled, most managers are scooping “their guys.” After a terrible showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, I shudder to think Kyren Williams would go this early before his landing spot is determined.

Round 10

10.01- James Cook (RB – )

10.02- Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)

10.03- Skyy Moore (WR – )

10.04- Mike Williams (WR – LAC)

10.05- Tyler Lockett (WR – SEA)

10.06- James Conner (RB – ARI)

10.07- Hunter Renfrow (WR – LV)

10.08- Brian Robinson (RB – )

10.09- Kirk Cousins (QB – MIN)

10.10- Mike Gesicki (TE – MIA)

10.11- Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG)

10.12- Trey McBride (TE – )

This is the latest I have seen Tony Pollard go in a long time. One thing to note is that dynasty startup drafts going on this time of year always puff up the rookies at running back and wide receiver. I would have loved to see Renfrow hanging out here until the Adams news dropped. Conner and Williams this late is delicious, even though they each have injury histories longer than a CVS receipt. McBride is the first rookie tight end off the board. I’d say this is an appropriate spot for that to happen.

Round 11

11.01- Zamir White (RB – )

11.02- Derek Carr (QB – LV)

11.03- Allen Robinson (WR – LAR)

11.04- Devin Singletary (RB – BUF)

11.05- John Metchie III (WR – )

11.06- Rondale Moore (WR – ARI)

11.07- Adam Thielen (WR – MIN)

11.08- Gabriel Davis (WR – BUF)

11.09- Kareem Hunt (RB – CLE)

11.10- James Robinson (RB – JAX)

11.11- Tyler Allgeier (RB – )

11.12- Brandin Cooks (WR – HOU)

The age-old paradox of established veteran versus exciting rookies/sophomores to fill out dynasty rosters is played out in the 11th. Expect Allen Robinson to climb dramatically with his arrival in LA. Singletary’s value dodged a major bullet with the McKissic heel turn back to D.C. I’m all over Kareem Hunt’s talent falling this far, especially in PPR.

Round 12

12.01- Cole Kmet (TE – CHI)

12.02- Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)

12.03- Alexander Mattison (RB – MIN)

12.04- JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – KC)

12.05- Jalen Tolbert (WR – )

12.06- Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN)

12.07- Rashaad Penny (RB – FA)

12.08- Alec Pierce (WR – )

12.09- Hunter Henry (TE – NE)

12.10- Jerome Ford (RB – )

12.11- Jalen Wydermyer (TE – )

12.12- Michael Gallup (WR – DAL)

Honestly, I have no idea how Gallup plummeted to the end of the 12th round. If you think he will be there in your draft, I have a bridge to sell you. Mattison is a massive reach here, as I expect him to be usurped by Kene Nwangwu in 2022. Sutton will also likely go earlier in some drafts with the addition of Russell Wilson in Denver. Rhamondre could shoot up boards very quickly in PPR leagues because his competition is the plodder Harris.

Round 13

13.01- Irv Smith Jr. (TE – MIN)

13.02- Odell Beckham Jr. (WR – FA)

13.03- Zach Ertz (TE – ARI)

13.04- Khalil Shakir (WR – )

13.05- Chase Edmonds (RB – MIA)

13.06- Robert Woods (WR – LAR)

13.07- DJ Chark (WR – DET)

13.08- Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)

13.09- Jerrion Ealy (RB – )

13.10- Melvin Gordon III (RB – FA)

13.11- Cordarrelle Patterson (RB/WR – FA)

13.12- Darrell Henderson Jr. (RB – LAR)

This round is on some good stuff. Edmonds and Gordon III are reliable fantasy options at RB in PPR formats, and, as much as I like Ealy’s potential, he should go later than this. Irv Smith Jr. is ranked much higher for me and would go ahead of any rookie tight end option. Even the elder-statesman Ertz would as well.

Round 14

14.01- Chris Carson (RB – SEA)

14.02- Christian Kirk (WR – JAX)

14.03- Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PHI)

14.04- Laviska Shenault (WR – JAX)

14.05- Brevin Jordan (TE – HOU)

14.06- Jakobi Meyers (WR – NE)

14.07- Dameon Pierce (RB – )

14.08- Tyler Boyd (WR – CIN)

14.09- Tyler Higbee (TE – LAR)

14.10- Khalil Herbert (RB – CHI)

14.11- Trey Sermon (RB – SF)

14.12- Nico Collins (WR – HOU)

The two Jacksonville receivers in the 14th round are like trains passing in the night, headed completely different directions. Trent Baalke has no business holding his job after his free agency spending debacle, but it has aided a boost in Christian Kirk’s value while tanking Shenault’s. Dameon Pierce is the steal in this round. I love his game, and so will whichever team drafts him. I felt mighty crafty drafting a high-upside sophomore stack of Texans here.

Round 15

15.01- Davis Mills (QB – HOU)

15.02- Joshua Palmer (WR – LAC)

15.03- D’Onta Foreman (RB – CAR)

15.04- Ronald Jones II (RB – FA)

15.05- Gus Edwards (RB – BAL)

15.06- Sony Michel (RB – FA)

15.07- Isaiah Likely (TE – )

15.08- Jaret Patterson (RB – WAS)

15.09- Evan Engram (TE – JAX)

15.10- Russell Gage (WR – TB)

15.11- Corey Davis (WR – NYJ)

15.12- Ke’Shawn Vaughn (RB – TB)

Foreman is on the rise from this ADP after signing with the Panthers. He is a massive upgrade at RB2 over Chuba Hubbard behind McCaffrey. Another riser in this round is the new Tampa Bay receiver, Gage. Expect him to stand out in place of Chris Godwin for much of 2021. Patterson was the player most damaged by the re-signing of McKissic on the Commanders. Engram will quickly take a back seat to Dan Arnold in Jacksonville’s 12-personnel under Doug Pederson.

Round 16

16.01- Jamaal Williams (RB – DET)

16.02- Darrel Williams (RB – KC)

16.03- Rob Gronkowski (TE – TB)

16.04- Van Jefferson (WR – LAR)

16.05- Nyheim Hines (RB – IND)

16.06- Logan Thomas (TE – WAS)

16.07- D’Ernest Johnson (RB – FA)

16.08- Zack Moss (RB – BUF)

16.09- Myles Gaskin (RB – MIA)

16.10- Justin Jackson (RB – LAC)

16.11- Kenny Golladay (WR – NYG)

16.12- Marquez Callaway (WR – NO)

More depth gets filled in down here. In the darkest, murkiest depths lay some absolute creatures of prior fantasy relevance. Golladay’s fall from grace is stunning but might yield a windfall if he flourishes under Brian Daboll. I love Marquez Callaway’s silent ascent to stardom and can’t get enough of the 24-year old late in startups.

Round 17

17.01- Julio Jones (WR – FA)

17.02- Desmond Ridder (QB – )

17.03- Carson Strong (QB – )

17.04- Ryan Tannehill (QB – TEN)

17.05- Daniel Jones (QB – NYG)

17.06- Baker Mayfield (QB – CLE)

17.07- Carson Wentz (QB – WAS)

17.08- Jimmy Garoppolo (QB – SF)

17.09- Jared Goff (QB – DET)

17.10- Jameis Winston (QB – FA)

17.11- Jordan Love (QB – GB)

17.12- Matt Ryan (QB – ATL)

The 17th round saw a massive awakening on fringe veteran quarterbacks to round out some Superflex and reserve spots. I have Tannehill a tier above this and wouldn’t mind him as my QB2 earlier in the draft. Matt Ryan getting drafted after Jimmy Garoppolo and Jared Goff is disgusting. He is a weekly threat to the QB1 ranks, even if his off weeks are vomit-inducing.

Round 18

18.01- Terrace Marshall (WR –  CAR)

18.02- Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR – CLE)

18.03- Curtis Samuel (WR – WAS)

18.04- Adam Trautman (TE – NO)

18.05- Mecole Hardman (WR – KC)

18.06- Tom Brady (QB – TB)

18.07- Kj Osborn (WR – MIN)

18.08- Jarvis Landry (WR – FA)

18.09- Tommy Tremble (TE – CAR)

18.10- Kyle Trask (QB – TB)

18.11- David Njoku (TE – CLE)

18.12- Chris Evans (RB – CIN)

Believe it or not, the average SF Dynasty league I am in covers 30 roster spots. To spare you the cringe-worthy dumpster diving, we stopped the bleeding at 18 rounds. A healthy Curtis Samuel is an absolute rocket ship from this ADP. Tom Brady can’t keep getting away with this. His presumed backup was snatched only four picks later than the soon-to-be 45-year old. I was inconsolable when Njoku was sniped right before I made the final pick of the mock but settled for the ultra-athletic Bengal, Chris Evans.

Takeaways

Not everyone has time to do a mock draft of this magnitude to prepare for a newly-formed dynasty league. Hopefully, this is a more digestible way to spot trends and map out a strategy that fits your risk tolerance. Dynasty is just like the stock market, but for fantasy managers. You have stable commodities and volatile ones alike. Building out your portfolio to yield dividends requires careful planning and savvy transactions. The first slab of concrete foundation is your startup draft. If you don’t have your own tiered rankings, FantasyPros is the absolute best source to gain the edge in your leagues. My oft-updated dynasty rankings can be found alongside the best in the industry and within the FP Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR).

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