Following on from last month’s writers’ mock draft, it is time to update how things have shaken out after the NFL Scouting Combine and the start of NFL Free Agency.
A collection of writers from the FantasyPros team have gotten together to do a full start-up dynasty draft, including rookies. Draft slots were selected at random. As you can see from the results below, there was a lot of strategies and different approaches that should make for some interesting strategy for when you do your start-up drafts this spring.
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FantasyPros Dynasty Mock Draft: 1QB, PPR
Here was the results of the startup draft:
Q1- What was your strategy going into the draft from a team-building experience?
If one of the big 4 players fell, then take one of those in Round 1; if not, then take Josh Allen to anchor my team at QB. Then grab a selection of producing RBs and top 20 WRs to form the basis of my team over the next 3-4 years. And then blend some youth and upside players. However, the rookies flew off the board earlier than expected so ended up pivoting to proven, older players who continued to fall down the board and then some upside players like Skyy Moore who slid to round 11.
Adam “Murf” Murfet (@Murf_NFL) – Draft slot: 5
I was hoping to get one anchor RB and then build around pass catchers.
Matt Terelle (@supermt) – Draft slot: 10
I was looking to build a solid young core in the first few rounds, with at least one RB, WR, and QB in the first four rounds
Jesse Garcia (@jesseg628) – Draft slot: 3
Heading into this draft, I had my usual strategy in mind. For the most part, that means taking advantage of any value that I might see, while making sure I build a team to win now. That being said, the goal is to always win now, and that was my strategy. Of course, you have to get some rookies too, but overall, winning now tends to get overlooked at times for the sake of posting a “sexy” roster with tons of youth on social media.
Aaron Schill (@aaron_schill) – Draft slot: 1
I was aiming to draft both proven and unproven younger players who project to be long-term contributors and who melded nicely with whoever I picked in the first round.
Seth Fisher (@sethfisher27) – Draft slot: 6
Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase made it to the fourth pick. They would have been my selection. However, I am more than happy to land Bijan Robinson with the 1.04 pick and go with a Hero-RB draft strategy. Thanks to my top-four pick, I was guaranteed one of the top two wide receivers or top two running backs. I let fate decide my draft strategy. Had Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase made it to the fourth pick, they would have been my selection. However, I am more than happy to land Bijan Robinson with the 1.04 pick and go with a Hero-RB draft strategy.
Mike Fanelli (@Mike_NFL2) – Draft slot: 4
Q2- If you had to pivot from your strategy during the draft, what caused you to and why?
With a lot of the rookies going earlier than I personally expected, I ended up having to take older and proven players who seemed to fall down the board for good value. Such as Mixon in Round 5, Hopkins in Round 7, and Evans in Round 8. Not the planned build but happy with the value.
Adam “Murf” Murfet (@Murf_NFL) – Draft slot: 5
Derrick Henry in the fourth. I think he has one more big season left in him. I wasn’t planning on taking a second RB so early, but I couldn’t pass up on Derrick Henry in the fourth. I think he has one more big season left in him.
Matt Terelle (@supermt) – Draft slot: 10
I was not planning on taking a second RB early, but couldn’t pass on having Taylor and Chubb as a tandem. I was happy with still getting a solid QB in the fourth round.
Jesse Garcia (@jesseg628) – Draft slot: 3
The number of quarterbacks that went off the board as early as they did.
Aaron Schill (@aaron_schill) – Draft slot: 1
I stuck to my strategy very well. All of the players I drafted are timeline fits, and some are already established studs.
Seth Fisher (@sethfisher27) – Draft slot: 6
I didn’t have to pivot from my draft strategy. After selecting Bijan Robinson in the first round, I loaded up on other positions before taking Cam Akers in the sixth round. Between my two running back picks, I drafted two high-volume No. 1 wide receivers, a superstar quarterback, and a top-five tight end.
Mike Fanelli (@Mike_NFL2) – Draft slot: 4
Q3- What is your overall assessment of the team you have built and your chances to win in the next couple of years with it?
I think this team is a playoff team for the next 2-3 years. However, it is an older team and will need to be blown up or traded for pieces in the next 2-3 years and rebuild. Hopefully, this team would win a title in the early window.
Adam “Murf” Murfet (@Murf_NFL) – Draft slot: 5
I’m pretty happy with the team I ended up with. I think it can compete in the 2023 season.
Matt Terelle (@supermt) – Draft slot: 10
I think my team is solid but probably a bit top-heavy. I have a lot of rookies that I drafted starting in the ninth round. I think I could compete in 2023.
Jesse Garcia (@jesseg628) – Draft slot: 3
Getting assigned the 1.01, the only two options that I had in mind were Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase. I was able to grab a few veteran running backs who will win now, such as Rashaad Penny in the 12th, which was great value. Overall, I’m confident that this team will compete for years while also having a fair amount of youth.
Aaron Schill (@aaron_schill) – Draft slot: 1
I think this team is destined for success. CMac singlehandedly keeps the team afloat in the short term while some of the younger players grow into their own. With any luck, there’s a world that exists for me where Javonte rebounds nicely from his injury, and Kyle Pitts begins catching passes from a star QB. In that instance, this team becomes a high-upside contending squad rather quickly.
Seth Fisher (@sethfisher27) – Draft slot: 6
Overall I like my team. However, my team’s future will depend on the rookie running back draft class. I picked seven running backs in this 20-round mock draft. Only two (Cam Akers and Elijah Mitchell) won’t be rookies this year. If my group of rookies succeeds, I will have an outstanding running back unit.
Mike Fanelli (@Mike_NFL2) – Draft slot: 4
Q4- What would you have done differently if you got to start all over again, and why?
I would have liked to have taken some younger players but didn’t like the rounds they were going in. Maybe be a bit braver and bite the bullet on some of those younger rookies and second-year players.
Adam “Murf” Murfet (@Murf_NFL) – Draft slot: 5
I was close to taking Travis Kelce in the first round but thought I had a better shot at getting him coming back around in the second. He went the pick before mine.
Matt Terelle (@supermt) – Draft slot: 10
I think I would have swapped positions in the fifth and sixth rounds, taking an RB instead of Pittman. I feel like my depth at RB suffered because I took a WR in the 5th round.
Jesse Garcia (@jesseg628) – Draft slot: 3
I would’ve waited a bit longer to take a quarterback. While I love having a versatile quarterback with immense upside like Justin Fields, there’s definitely some risk involved. That being said, I typically wait a bit longer than I did here to take a quarterback in 1QB dynasty startup drafts.
Aaron Schill (@aaron_schill) – Draft slot: 1
I have no regrets, but because the injury is such a question mark, maybe I wouldn’t have pulled the trigger on Javonte. For as talented as he is, there’s no telling how he’ll perform in the long term. Other than that, I’m more than pleased with how things went.
Seth Fisher (@sethfisher27) – Draft slot: 6
There isn’t much about my team I’m not happy with. Aside from getting sniped a few times, I love my team and think it could turn into a contender right away. However, I should have drafted a proven veteran running back over a rookie once or twice.
Mike Fanelli (@Mike_NFL2) – Draft slot: 4
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Adam Murfet is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Murf, check out his archive and follow him @Murf_NFL.