We’re dynasty mock drafting!
As always, I’m leveraging the FREE mock draft simulator.
I used a standard roster format, point per reception (PPR) scoring and 10 bench slots for this startup mock draft.
As for strategy, I’m going in with the same mindset I have in redraft leagues: Be flexible and take advantage of your league mates’ errs.
The simulator dealt me the eighth selection — let’s go pick-by-pick! Here’s a link to the full draft board.
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Dynasty Startup Mock Draft (2023 Fantasy Football)
1.08
- Who I took: Jaylen Waddle (RB – MIA)
- Who I considered: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Breece Hall, Tyreek Hill
I was really torn between Waddle and St. Brown here. This was a prime spot to grab a WR1 to hang my hat on for the next 5+ seasons. I ultimately went with Waddle because of his advantage in the “home run threat” category. Waddle’s ability to produce after the catch will transcend quarterbacks, offenses and any other variables you throw at him.
2.05
- Who I took: Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
- Who I considered: Tyreek Hill, Austin Ekeler
According to expert consensus ranking (ECR), I reached here. However, here’s my logic: Najee Harris, in two seasons in the NFL, has produced nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards in a rather middling offense. Assuming Pittsburgh’s offense keeps taking even incremental steps forward, I landed a 25-year-old three-down RB. Taking an older playmaker such as Hill or Ekeler definitely crossed my mind here, too.
3.08
- Who I took: DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
- Who I considered: Derrick Henry, Patrick Mahomes, Davante Adams, Terry McLaurin
I nearly went with Davante Adams here. However, he’s turning 31 in December. Last season, only five players age 30 or older finished top 49 in receiving yards: Adams (30), Travis Kelce (33), Tyler Lockett (30), Keenan Allen (30) and DeAndre Hopkins (30). I don’t doubt Adams will have another great year, but I’ll take the 24-year-old with 2,112 receiving yards through his first two seasons.
4.05
- Who I took: Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)
- Who I considered: Jordan Addison, Jameson Williams, T.J. Hockenson
McLaurin’s been dealt some of the worst quarterback play in the league four years in a row and is still essentially a perennial 1,000-yard lock. He’ll be 28 this season, so there’s still plenty of time to see what a prime McLaurin could do in a better situation, assuming he doesn’t finish his career in Washington.
5.08
- Who I took: Jameson Williams (WR – DET)
- Who I considered: Jerry Jeudy, Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson
This is a total ceiling pick, and it could just as easily burn me as it could propel me to the top of the league for years to come. His first professional year-and-a-half hasn’t gone to plan, but there’s no doubting his absurd talent.
6.05
- Who I took: George Kittle (TE – SF)
- Who I considered: Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert
He scored 11 touchdowns on 60 receptions last season. That probably regresses a bit, but he’ll be a centerpiece of the 49ers’ offense whenever he’s on the field. In his last five seasons, he’s averaging nearly five-and-a-half receptions per game. The 49ers under Kyle Shanahan will likely remain high-scoring and efficient, making Kittle a high-floor option at a position that’s pretty frustrating to navigate from a fantasy perspective.
7.08
- Who I took: Dalvin Cook (RB – FA)
- Who I considered: Calvin Ridley, AJ Dillon, De’Von Achane
Wherever he lands, the 27-year-old will likely be, at worst, the more favorable half of a timeshare. He’s talented, and he’s not ancient yet. I’m banking on at least a few more seasons of his being a viable RB2.
8.05
- Who I took: AJ Dillon (RB – GB)
- Who I considered: De’Von Achane, Mike Williams
I bolstered my RB room here with the 25-year-old Dillon. With Aaron Jones, he’s a 50/50 split in a run-heavy offense. Should Jones miss time or ends up on another team eventually, Dillon’s stock will rise significantly.
9.08
- Who I took: Anthony Richardson (QB – IND)
- Who I considered: Kyler Murray, Chase Brown, Dalton Kincaid
Let’s take another swing with young upside here. We’ll definitely snag another QB or two who are likely older, safer options, but Richardson’s ceiling is salivating from a dynasty startup perspective.
10.05
- Who I took: Dalton Kincaid (TE – BUF)
- Who I considered: Elijah Mitchell, Chase Brown, Brandin Cooks
Was my plan going into this to take two TEs in the first 10 rounds? No, but that’s the way it ended up. I think Kincaid’s ceiling is spectacular. He’s a pure receiving TE prospect on a team with Josh Allen throwing the ball. As rookie TEs do, Kincaid will surely take time to develop, but I have Kittle and don’t need to sweat out Kincaid’s progress because I’m all but sure he will get to where we need him to be.
11.08
- Who I took: Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
- Who I considered: Brandin Cooks, Alec Pierce, Wan’Dale Robinson
This was probably too early, but with how often RBs get injured, I wanted some insurance. In the short term, Brown is a Joe Mixon handcuff. After all, his competition for playing time is Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams. Long-term, I really like Brown’s potential. He flashed as a home run threat who was also more than capable of taking on the lead back role at Illinois.
12.05
- Who I took: Alec Pierce (WR – IND)
- Who I considered: Brandin Cooks, Bryce Young, Wan’Dale Robinson
Pierce finished with nearly 600 yards in his rookie season despite playing >69% of snaps just eight times AND dealing with the disaster that was the 2022-23 Colts’ quarterback situation. However, Pierce played >69% of snaps in six of his last seven games and was drafted in the second round. He’ll get more than a few shots to prove he can become a staple of the Colts’ receiving corps.
13.08
- Who I took: Zamir White (RB – LV)
- Who I considered: Wan’Dale Robinson, Tyler Boyd
My RB room needed bolstering, and White was atop my dynasty draft rankings here. Josh Jacobs is in a one-year deal, leaving the door open for White in the future. In the meantime, he’s the Raiders’ RB2 and a solid handcuff option.
14.05
- Who I took: Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE)
- Who I considered: Wan’Dale Robinson, Kenny Pickett, C.J. Stroud
Right now, there’s an opening for the second-most targets in a Deshaun Watson-led offense. I don’t necessarily think it’s Tillman this season, but the third-round selection implies the Browns have some plans for him.
15.08
- Who I took: Jared Goff (QB – DET)
- Who I considered: Tyler Boyd, Keontay Ingram
He’s 28 years old, fresh off a career resurgence in Detroit and has a young offensive core around him. I’ll gladly play the matchups with Richardson and him.
16.05
- Who I took: Tyler Boyd (WR – CIN)
- Who I considered: Keontay Ingram
I went Boyd over Ingram simply because I think Boyd will be startable this season. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will each miss a couple of games with nagging injuries, and Boyd will have his games. High ceiling? Nope, but startable a few times this season. What more can you ask for in round 16?
17.08
- Who I took: Tyrion Davis-Price (RB – SF)
- Who I considered: Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Keontay Ingram
TDP was a third-round pick last year and is playing in the 49ers’ offense behind two injury-prone backs (Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell). Connect the dots, and you have your Round 17 pick.
18.05
- Who I took: Washington Commanders D/ST
- Who I considered:
We’re still streaming defenses over here.
19.08
- Who I took: Younghoe Koo (K – ATL)
- Who I considered:
We’re still streaming kickers over here.
Here’s the final draft board! Hit me up on Twitter and let me know what you think and where you’d go a different route.
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