Now that the 2023 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror, it’s officially rookie draft season. Yet, there is no wrong time to do a dynasty startup draft. However, practice makes perfect, and the best way to prepare is by using the FantasyPros Draft Wizard Mock Draft Simulator.
I did a 10-team, half-point PPR, superflex mock draft to help you prepare for your dynasty startup draft. I used a Zero-RB draft strategy in this mock draft. The starting lineup is one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, three flexes, and one superflex, plus 10 bench slots. Let’s see how things turned out drafting from the ninth spot.
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Pick Trade Strategy & Advice
Dynasty Startup Mock Draft
Pick 1.09 – Justin Herbert (QB – LAC)
While he had a disappointing 2022 season, Herbert is a superstar quarterback. He had 69 touchdowns compared to 25 interceptions over the first two years of his career. Last year doesn’t matter to me, as Herbert spent half of the year hurt and the other half with a limited supporting cast. With this being a superflex mock, I’m targeting quarterbacks early.
Pick 2.02 – Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAC)
Speaking of quarterbacks, I can’t pass up the value of Lawrence. The star quarterback had a rocky rookie season, but that’s what happens when Urban Meyer is your head coach. Thankfully, Lawrence broke out last year. He was the QB7, averaging 17.4 fantasy points per game. After throwing only 12 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions as a rookie, the star quarterback had 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season.
Pick 3.09 – Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)
Yes, Pitts had a disappointing 2022 season and missed seven games because of injury. However, he is still the dynasty TE1. The former Florida Gator had over 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie. Furthermore, he was the TE7 that year, averaging 8.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite having only one touchdown. Now that Marcus Mariota is in Philadelphia, quarterback play won’t hold Pitts back moving forward.
Pick 4.02 – Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)
While Kupp turns 30 in June, he is still a top-five dynasty wide receiver. He would have been the top-scoring fantasy wide receiver last year if not for a high ankle sprain injury. Furthermore, the superstar receiver has scored 12.7 or more half-point PPR fantasy points in all but one game over the past two years, removing the game he got hurt. The Rams didn’t add any wide receiver of consequence this offseason, which means Kupp should continue to see a massive target share.
Pick 5.09 – Davante Adams (WR – LV)
How Adams slipped to the end of the fifth round is beyond me, but I’ll happily snag the superstar receiver. He caught a career-low 55.6% of his targets last year. Yet, Adams had his second consecutive 1,500-yard receiving season. Furthermore, he led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns. Even with Jimmy Garoppolo under center, Adams is still a top-10 dynasty wide receiver.
Pick 6.02 – DJ Moore (WR – CHI)
Moore is a talented wide receiver but has been held back by awful quarterbacks. Yet, the star WR has totaled more than 1,150 receiving yards in three of the past four years. Furthermore, he had seven receiving touchdowns last season, a career-high. After five years struggling in Carolina, Moore will now catch passes from Justin Fields in Chicago.
Pick 7.09 – Marquise Brown (WR – ARI)
Everything is up in the air in Arizona, but Brown is one of my favorite value targets this offseason. The former Oklahoma standout averaged 11.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in 2021, a career-high. Last year his fantasy points per game average dropped to 10.2 per contest. However, Brown was the WR6 over the first six weeks last year, averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game, a higher average than A.J. Brown and Jaylen Waddle. Yet, those two got drafted in the second round of this mock draft.
Pick 8.02 – Cam Akers (RB – LAR)
Am I still a fan of Akers? You bet! The former Florida State star averaged 110.5 rushing yards and 21.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in his final two games before suffering the torn Achilles. While Akers struggled to start last season, he got better as the season progressed. The young running back averaged 102.5 and 18.3 fantasy points per game over the final four contests last season. He would have been the RB3 in 2022 over a 17-game pace with that fantasy points per game average. Meanwhile, the Rams didn’t add anyone of consequence to the backfield this offseason. I’m happy to have Akers as my RB1 when using a Zero-RB draft strategy.
Pick 9.09 – George Kittle (TE – SF)
Do I need Kittle after spending a high draft pick on Pitts? The answer is no, but the value is too good to pass up. Last year Kittle was the TE3, averaging 11.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he was the only tight end not named Travis Kelce to average more than 10.3 fantasy points per game in 2022 and 2021. Kittle has struggled to find the end zone in his career, averaging only four touchdowns per year in his career before last season. Meanwhile, the superstar finished second to Kelce in receiving touchdowns among tight ends in 2022 with 11, a career-high.
Pick 10.02 – Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – DET)
Will Gibbs slide to the 10th round in most startup drafts? Probably not, but sometimes things break your way. While many thought the Lions reached on draft night for the former Alabama running back, Gibbs landed in an excellent situation. Detroit traded away D’Andre Swift during the NFL Draft. The former Lions running back averaged 5.1 targets per game during his three years in Detroit. Furthermore, he was targeted once per 6.6 snaps with the Lions. More importantly, Gibbs isn’t made of glass like Swift, meaning he should hold up with a larger snap share.
Pick 11.09 – Devon Achane (RB – MIA)
When using the Zero-RB dynasty draft strategy, I tend to target multiple rookie running backs in the double-digit rounds. Achane was a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and the sixth running back selected. However, he became the RB3 in rookie drafts after landing with the Dolphins. The team re-signed Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. this offseason, but that won’t stop Achane from taking the starting role as a rookie.
Pick 12.02 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)
When I saw Smith-Njigba was still on the board, my jaw dropped. Sometimes wild things happen in dynasty startup drafts, as every player has fans and critics. The rookie wide receiver didn’t land in the best spot possible with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett under contract through the 2025 season. However, Smith-Njigba will be a star in the NFL. Furthermore, the rookie spent his college career playing next to Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr., so he is no stranger to sharing the targets.
Pick 13.09 – Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)
Despite being the fourth wide receiver drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Addison landed in the best short-term landing spot. The former USC star will replace Adam Thielen opposite Justin Jefferson. Thielen averaged 6.9 targets per game over the past three years. Those targets now belong to the rookie. Furthermore, Addison will consistently see one-on-one coverage with opposing defenses focused on Jefferson.
Pick 14.02 – Aaron Rodgers (QB – NYJ)
After using my first two picks on young star quarterbacks, I can afford to draft an older QB3. Rodgers’ yearly offseason is full of retirement talk and other crazy stuff. However, he sounds committed to the Jets past the 2023 season. More importantly, Rodgers had 26 passing touchdowns last year, the seventh-most in the NFL. Yet, that was considered a down year for the future Hall of Famer. Even if I only get one year of production from the veteran, he’s worth a pick this late. If Herbert or Lawrence miss time, Rodgers can fill the void in my starting lineup.
Pick 15.09 – Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)
While he was the eighth running back drafted and a fourth-round pick, Johnson is a massive sleeper this year. Chicago made significant changes in the backfield this offseason, as David Montgomery left in free agency. The Bears signed D’Onta Foreman as a replacement. However, Johnson will have the featured role by midseason. The front office and coaching staff love the rookie running back and have high expectations for him.
Pick 16.02 – Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)
Everyone in the fantasy football community hates Pete Carroll after Seattle used a second-round pick on Charbonnet. Not only is it an awful landing spot for the rookie, but it also impacted Kenneth Walker III‘s fantasy value. However, there is a scenario where the Seahawks have their version of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Charbonnet should have some stand-alone value over the next few years and has become the top handcuff in fantasy football.
Pick 17.09 – Juwan Johnson (TE – NO)
After spending two of my first nine picks on a tight end, drafting Johnson is a luxury. However, I love the New Orleans tight end. He had seven receiving touchdowns, the third-most among tight ends last season and a career-high. More importantly, the Saints traded away Adam Trautman during the NFL Draft while spending only a sixth-round pick on a pass catcher. Meanwhile, Michael Thomas is arguably the most injury-prone wide receiver in the league. Johnson could finish second on the team in targets in 2023. If that happens, I could flip the young tight end for a prime 2024 rookie draft pick. Johnson is not a need, but such a value at this point in the mock draft.
Pick 18.02 – Zach Evans (RB – LAR)
Many thought the Rams would use a Day 2 draft pick on a running back. Instead, the team waited until the sixth round to add the former Ole Miss star. However, Evans is a solid player who should get some work behind Akers. More importantly, I secured the handcuff to my RB1 in the 18th round. If Akers misses time with an injury, Evans has low-end RB2 value.
Pick 19.09 – Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
Cincinnati lost Samaje Perine in free agency. Yet, the team waited until the fifth round to draft a running back despite Joe Mixon‘s off-the-field issues this offseason. Not only is Brown now one of the top handcuffs in fantasy football, but he should take over the Perine role and have some stand-alone value during bye weeks. Last year, Perine was the RB37, averaging 7.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
Pick 20.02 – Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL)
Last year the Falcons didn’t play Ridder until the final four games. While he wasn’t a productive fantasy player, the former Bearcat was without his star tight end. More importantly, Ridder ended his rookie season on a high note, throwing two touchdowns and scoring 15.9 fantasy points in Week 18. Meanwhile, Atlanta did not draft a quarterback this year despite rumors they wanted Will Levis. I will happily use my final pick in this mock draft on Ridder, hoping he becomes a franchise quarterback.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.