Dynasty Startup Mock Draft: 12-Team (2024 Fantasy Football)

Today, we are back with another mock draft, as I will again use the FantasyPros Simulator to complete a 14-round dynasty startup draft. In my previous article, I completed a mock draft that focused more on winning in the short term. That team came together nicely to capitalize on some veteran discounts that dynasty formats can offer.

In this article, I will take a different approach to give you an idea of where the opposite strategy would get you. Once again, I will talk about my plan and touch on individual picks for the first 10 rounds. As I mentioned previously, using the mock draft simulator is something I have done in the last two seasons with FantasyPros, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive for my season-long and dynasty leagues. If you haven’t signed up for our in-season package yet, I encourage you to do that today.

Dynasty Startup Mock Draft

In my past dynasty startup mock draft article, I discussed my preference for picking a more veteran team because of the value you can build in your picks. Today, however, I took the polar opposite approach and did not draft a player over the age of 25. This is not a strategy I have used much in real dynasty startups, so this was a bit out of my comfort zone. I have a few observations from this exercise:

It should go without saying that this team would need a lot of breaks to win the league this year.
Some deficiencies in key positions (most notably at running back) will hold this roster back in the short term. Following this strategy means drafting many rookies and second-year players who didn’t break out in their rookie season. You can still get studs with this strategy, but when building a roster this way, you are creating a young nucleus that won’t fall off.
I think this strategy is viable, but future rookie drafts take on an added importance, and you have to hope you hit on some second-year players.
My personal preference is still to draft a more veteran team to win now, mostly because I think the idea of rebuilding in the dynasty format is overrated. You can continue to stockpile your roster with good players even if you don’t draft in the top three of a rookie draft.

1.09 — Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN)

This is a SuperFlex league, so quarterbacks get a boost (I was hoping Anthony Richardson might get to this spot), but Jefferson is the dynasty WR1. Jefferson is averaging 6.5 catches and 98.3 yards per game for his career. He is a slam-dunk pick at the 1.09 position.

2.04 — Jordan Love (QB – GB)

Love was available three picks after Justin Herbert, something that will correct itself over time. The Packers have one of the league’s best young offenses, and Love showed he was more than capable of running the show. I have been high on Green Bay’s offensive pieces all offseason, so I am happy to have Love as my quarterback.

3.09 — Chris Olave (WR – NO)

Olave is a star in the making, and he has the look of a future top-10 fantasy receiver. In his second season, Olave was a target hog (8.6 per game), which led to increases in catches and receiving yards over his terrific rookie season. The only downgrade to Olave is the uneven quarterback play in New Orleans, but he is one of the league’s fastest-rising players.

4.04 — J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN)

McCarthy is not a player I am actively looking to draft this year, but for this mock, he fits for a couple of reasons. Minnesota swapped picks to get him, and he gets to play for Kevin O’Connell, who has a great track record with quarterbacks. McCarthy will also have a lot of weapons at his disposal, and this pick stacks him with Justin Jefferson for my team.

5.09 — Zay Flowers (WR – BAL)

I thought about George Pickens here, but Flowers looks like a potential breakout candidate heading into his second season. He garnered a 24% target share in 2023 and now has even less competition for targets in Baltimore. In his final seven games (including the playoffs), Flowers had target counts of eight, 10, 13 and eight. Flowers is set to ascend, and his dynasty average draft position (ADP) could be a round higher a year from now.

6.04 — Jonathan Brooks (RB – CAR)

In hindsight, I don’t love Brooks at this spot. He is coming off an ACL injury and still has to contend with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders. This roster is playing the long game, so from that lens, you can justify the pick, but Trey Benson a round later is better value for a similar player in a better offense. Benson also has a clearer path to playing time, as James Conner has never played a full NFL season without missing a game.

7.09 — Jayden Reed (WR – GB)

I continue to stockpile receivers here with Reed, who set Green Bay’s franchise rookie records with 64 catches for a team-high 793 yards in 2023. Reed also tied for the team lead with eight receiving touchdowns, establishing a strong connection with Jordan Love. The Packers are flush with talent at receiver, so Reed will have competition for targets, but he got rave reviews this offseason, and he heads into 2024 as their WR1. This is another pick that allows me to stack a QB with their top target, which I try to do in startups.

8.04 — Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAC)

In a vacuum, Thomas is a solid dynasty pick, and he profiles as Jacksonville’s likely WR2. Playing with Trevor Lawrence puts Thomas in a good spot, and the Jacksonville offense is good enough that there is reason to think he could be a bit of a sleeper Offensive Rookie of the Year pick. However, looking back on things with this mock, both Keon Coleman and Trey Benson were still here with this pick. While I have already touched a bit on Benson, Coleman is in a better offense and tied to a significantly better quarterback with a clear path to targets. I know a lot of analysts see bust potential there, but there is a lot of boom potential as well. I should have left Thomas and gone a different direction, but that is why we do mock drafts.

9.09 — Blake Corum (RB – LAR)

I know the Rams have Kyren Williams, and Sean McVay has never been a fan of splitting workloads, so this pick may not pan out for 2024. Still, I think McVay is smart enough to realize he overextended Williams last year, and in the short-term, Corum at least fits the bill as a short-yardage and goal-line back. In redraft leagues, I don’t think I will be drafting Corum much (if at all), but he makes a nice dynasty target right at this point of a start-up draft.

10.04 — Cole Kmet (TE – CHI)

I missed Jake Ferguson by a round, so Kmet was in a tier of tight ends I liked that included Pat Freiermuth and Luke Musgrave. I went with Kmet, who, despite a lot of competition for targets, has a rookie quarterback who should lean on him. He’s coming off a season where he caught 73 balls and averaged over 10 PPR points per game. If he can approach those numbers in what should be an improved Chicago passing game, he will be well worth a pick this late in drafts.

The Rest

11.09 — Kendre Miller (RB – NO)

12.04 — Josh Downs (WR – IND)

13.09 — Bucky Irving (TB – RB)

14.04 — Gabe Davis (WR – JAC)

Miller and Downs are two of my favorite late-round targets, especially Downs, who was very good as a rookie. With Anthony Richardson back, Downs will be even better in 2024 and could be a breakout candidate. Miller and Irving are two running backs that could pop, though it might take an injury for Irving to be relevant. Miller seems like a decent bet for touches, even without taking Alvin Kamara‘s situation into account. Davis is still just 25, so maybe a change of scenery will help him to unlock his potential.

Check out my draft results here.

Jason Kamlowsky is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @JasonKamlowsky.

Mock Drafts NFL Justin Herbert J.J. McCarthy Justin Jefferson George Pickens Chuba Hubbard Miles Sanders Trey Benson James Conner Jordan Love Trevor Lawrence Keon Coleman Kyren Williams Jake Ferguson Alvin Kamara