DBro’s Must-Have Dynasty Startup Draft Picks (2023 Fantasy Football)

Check out a few of my must-have fantasy football players that I’m targeting in dynasty startup drafts. And you can find all of my must-have dynasty startup targets in this article.

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Dynasty Startup Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator

Must-Have Dynasty Startup Targets

Here are the fantasy football players I’m targeting in my dynasty startup drafts.

Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)

(May Startup ADP per DLF: WR39)

Rashod Bateman

2022 Weeks 1-4:

19.5% target share
30.1% air yard share

4th in YPRR behind only Tyreek, Waddle, & AJB
1st in YAC per rec TIED with Deebo

Yes even if you take out his 75 yard back breaker against MIA – 1.80 YPRR would have been tied for 27th out of 72 WRs (min… pic.twitter.com/leMH1S1WV4

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) May 30, 2023

It’s not hard to figure out that Rashod Bateman was never fully healthy in 2022. In Weeks 1-4, he was only a 67.6% route per dropback player despite the wide receiver room around him being less than spectacular. This didn’t stop Bateman from commanding a 19.5% target share, a 30.1% air yard share, and being targeted on 24% of his routes. Over this four-game stretch, Bateman was ranked fourth in yards per route run behind only Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and A.J. Brown (minimum 20 targets). Bateman’s talent is real. He needs his health to comply for a monster breakout season to ensue. Odell Beckham is washed, and Zay Flowers is a rookie. Bateman should pace Mark Andrews for the team lead in targets this season. Buy in. NOW!

Jahan Dotson (WR – WAS)

(May Startup ADP per DLF: WR35)

Terry McLaurin's yard per route run rate with/without Carson Wentz in 2022:
(Rank among 87 qualified WRs)

2.71 (2nd) — no Wentz
1.39 (51st) — Wentz

Jahan Dotson's YPRR with/without Wentz:
1.97 (19th) — no Wentz
0.94 (78th) — Wentz

— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) May 30, 2023

The worries surrounding Dotson are tangible. How much will Washington pass the ball this season? Will Sam Howell be a league-average starter, much less the long-term answer for the Commanders? These questions, plus some underwhelming full-season numbers from his first year, push Dotson down into WR3 territory in startups. Dotson was the WR38 in fantasy with a 15.9% target share (56th), a 24% air-yard share, and 1.50 yards per route run (50th). Investing in Dotson is a bet on talent, and from what he showed after returning from injury, the talent is there for him to put these fears in the rearview after 2023. In Weeks 13-18 of last season, Dotson ranked 20th in target share (24%), third in end zone target share (50%), 17th in weighted opportunity, and 13th in yards per route run. The Washington hierarchy of targets could flip this year, with Dotson assuming the top role. Mclaurin could be gone after 2024, leaving Dotson as the team’s leading receiver.