The middle of April is a time of anticipation across the NFL. We’re within two weeks of the 2023 NFL Draft, and the rumors are starting to swirl. But other than the one-off signing, nothing is really happening right now as we await the Carolina Panthers to officially go on the clock in Kansas City.

This spring holding pattern is a good time to begin preparations for a dynasty startup draft. Aside from draft uncertainty, we have a pretty strong idea of what each team will look like heading into 2023. And there’s no harm in doing some prep work if you’ve got a startup draft coming soon.

In this piece, I’ll walk you through my strategy and picks for a dynasty startup draft in a 1QB, half-PPR format. I was randomly assigned the ninth pick. I used our free mock draft simulator to quickly complete this mock draft.

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Dynasty Startup Mock Draft (1QB) Half-PPR Format (2023 Fantasy Football)

Pick 1.9: Kenneth Walker (RB – SEA)

My first pick leaves me with an interesting choice between Walker and two more established but risky tailbacks: Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. Walker probably wouldn’t be in this conversation if this was a redraft league. But the key to a successful dynasty startup draft is to find impact players for today and tomorrow. Of course, Walker is no guarantee to stay healthy (he’s already dealt with injuries in his first season), but he felt like the safer long-term bet over CMC and Barkley.

Pick 2.4: Stefon Diggs (WR – BUF)

I’m always happy to add Stefon Diggs as my anchor and WR1 in dynasty startups. Had I not selected Walker in Round 1, I likely would’ve taken the younger D.K. Metcalf. But I didn’t want to over-commit to the Seahawks’ offense. Diggs is the definition of stable. When healthy, he’s a safe bet for 90 catches, 1,200 yards and double-digit touchdowns. Sure, he’s 29, but wide receivers age much slower than tailbacks. And with Josh Allen under center, there’s no reason to believe Diggs won’t prosper for years to come.

Pick 3.9: Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)

Kupp feels like a steal in the back end of Round 3. Everything that could go wrong for Kupp and the Rams did a season ago. But as far as I know, Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay will both be back. At age 29, Kupp has a game that should age just fine, and he’s my WR2 after being a top-five dynasty wideout this time a year ago. How quickly we forget.

Pick 4.4: J.K. Dobbins (RB – BAL)

Dobbins is an injury risk, just like any other running back. But I loved how he finished the 2022 season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on the left knee after he tore his ACL, LCL and meniscus two years ago. Dobbins finally looked close to himself. The Lamar Jackson saga is concerning, but I’m excited to see what Dobbins looks like after a full offseason.

Pick 5.9: Cam Akers (RB – LAR)

This is where the draft gets interesting. My top choices on the board are Michael Pittman and Treylon Burks. Pittman is a player I’ve loved since he came out of USC, but I just can’t get behind him right now without knowing who’s under center in Indianapolis. Burks flashed his potential from November on, but I need to see more. And Tennessee’s QB situation is also up in the air.

There are some other WR2s on the board who I’m not totally enamored with. And it feels too early to go with Justin Herbert. So I turn to running back, where I’m left with a tough choice. I immediately toss out Dalvin Cook and Aaron Jones, two aging and depreciating tailbacks. I also throw out Miles Sanders, who feels like the regression candidate of the year after leaving Philadelphia for Carolina, where he’ll be with a rookie QB, a much worse offensive line and no viable pass catching threats.

Ultimately, my choice comes down to Rachaad White and Cam Akers. There’s plenty of intrigue with White, especially now that Leonard Fournette won’t be in town. But the void left by Tom Brady is real, and there’s just too much uncertainty on April 14 to make him my RB3.

Plus, I am higher on Akers anyways, even if it gives me two Rams. Like Dobbins, I was highly impressed by how Akers finished a tumultuous 2022 campaign. He went from the doghouse to the trade block to finishing the year with three straight 100+ yard performances on a Rams offense that was completely decimated.

This is all a long way of saying there’s a lot to like about Akers coming into 2023, and he’s only 23 years old. When in doubt, I draft for upside.

Pick 6.4: Justin Fields (QB – CHI)

Speaking of drafting for upside, I chose Fields over Herbert and Lamar Jackson to be my franchise QB. Fields proved he has the ability to be the next great dual-threat QB. Now in 2023, the hope is that better weaponry and protection will help unleash his potential as a pocket passer. While I typically don’t take a QB this early on, with 17 picks between my sixth and seventh-round picks, I decide to get ahead of a potential run at the position. Plus, the skill position options weren’t overly appealing.

Pick 7.9: Calvin Ridley (WR – JAX)

I timed my Fields pick perfectly, as three QBs wound up getting taken after that pick. With two proven commodities as my starting wide receivers, I decided to shoot for the moon with Ridley. The former Falcon, now Jaguar, is a total unknown after he was suspended for the entire 2022 season for betting on games. But as long as Ridley returns in shape, he could emerge as a WR1 with Trevor Lawrence.

It’s easy to forget that Ridley caught 90 balls for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020. His suspension was ridiculous and hypocritical, and I don’t think it will have much of an impact on Ridley in 2023.

Pick 8.4: Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)

Khalil Herbert would’ve been my pick here, as I believe he’s poised for a breakout season with David Montgomery out of town. However, he was rudely taken a pick before me.

Running back gets pretty ugly at this point in the draft, and I’m looking to add one more viable player before filling out my bench with upside shots. I decide to take the plunge and snag Kamara. There’s a legitimate chance Kamara is suspended for part of the year. And he’s coming off a rather disappointing season in which he scored only four touchdowns.

However, Kamara still put up more than 1,200 yards and caught 57 passes. That was with Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton under center. Derek Carr is now the man in NOLA, and I actually love him for Kamara, as Carr is hardly afraid to check the ball down if he can avoid a hit.

Kamara is only 27 and has a game that should age well. The looming suspension and threat of Jamaal Williams is why he’s ranked this low, but this still feels like a buy-low, especially as my RB4.

Pick 9.9: Jamaal Williams (RB – NO)

I would 100% be trading out of this pick if that was a possibility, as the options for my choosing are miserable. I opt for the conservative play and handcuff Kamara with Williams. Now I’m covered in case Kamara gets suspended.

Pick 10.4: Brandin Cooks (WR – DAL)

I really like Cooks as a depth receiver with weekly WR2 upside. Concussions are a definite concern, but Cooks could thrive as a complement to CeeDee Lamb in what should be a really good Cowboys offense. Cooks has also thrived as the WR2 or 1B in an offense. Just look at what he did alongside Michael Thomas in New Orleans, Rob Gronkowski in New England and Kupp and Robert Woods in L.A. I’d much rather take him than Kadarius Toney or Skyy Moore. Darnell Mooney would be an option, but I am trying to diversify my roster after taking two Rams and Saints.

Pick 11.9: Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR – CLE)

Peoples-Jones is simply a player I’ve always liked. He offers big-play ability and could benefit from an offseason to build chemistry with Deshaun Watson. DPJ is a guy I don’t mind starting in an injury or bye-week pinch. The addition of Elijah Moore could hurt his volume potential, but I expect Moore to primarily play in the slot with the Browns.

Pick 12.4: Bryce Young (QB – FA)

I’m frankly surprised Young is still on the board. After initially thinking I’d target a veteran QB, I opt for the longer-term play with Young. The hope is that one of Fields or Young breaks through. And if both high-upside QBs develop into stars, then I have a wonderful problem on my hand down the road.

Pick 13.9: Dalton Kincaid (TE – FA)

I’m obligated to pick a tight end, so I’ll take a stab at Kincaid, who some draft experts project as the first tight end taken in this year’s draft. While I don’t expect a ton out of a rookie tight end, this is more of a long-term play that I can get out of easily should it not pan out.

Pick 14.4: Skyy Moore (WR – KC)

I’m not overly optimistic about Moore, but I’ll take a stab at a player with Round 2 draft pedigree who could become a bigger factor in his second season.

Mock Draft Grade: B- (82/100)

The Draft Wizard gave me a decent grade, and I understand why. I played the long game with many of my picks, but there’s plenty of talent on my roster to contend for a title in 2023.

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