2024 Dynasty Startup Mock Draft: 1QB
On a recent Fantasy Footballers Dynasty Podcast, Betz, Mike, and myself participated in a dynasty startup mock draft discussing strategy and our preference for waiting on the RB position.
Looking for a SuperFlex Dynasty Startup Draft? We got you covered here including some superflex strategy thoughts.
Dynasty Startup Mock Draft
For this startup mock, we used the following settings:
- Roster Settings: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, FLEX, 11 BENCH
- Scoring Settings: 6 pt passing, half PPR
We only went through 14 rounds on the podcast and 17 rounds here for the sake of this mock draft. Obviously, we’d love to draft all 25 rounds on a podcast but our dynasty startup rankings will hopefully suffice for now.
Mike’s Team
QB– Anthony Richardson (5.04), Tua Tagovailoa (11.04)
RB– Jonathon Brooks (4.09), Zack Moss (8.09), Kendre Miller (9.04), Raheem Mostert (10.09), Ty Chandler (13.04), Braelon Allen (14.09), Rasheen Ali (17.04)
WR– Ja’Marr Chase (1.04), Jaylen Waddle (2.09), Brandon Aiyuk (3.04), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6.09), Jayden Reed (7.04), Brandin Cooks (16.09)
TE– Pat Freiermuth (12.09), Greg Dulcich (14.04)
Review: Starting with a heavy WR approach, Mike’s team leaned on proven production with WRs in the prime of their careers. There was no guessing on potential as Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and Brandon Aiyuk all look locked in as top-15 options for 2024. Waddle received an extension, Chase is going to reset the market, and Aiyuk is currently in the midst of contract negotiations with San Francisco. It is a strong foundation to build. Jonathon Brooks is someone the Ballers are higher on than most dynasty startup rankings (especially Sleeper) as we’ve discussed multiple times on the show the fact his value should increase heading into 2025. Anthony Richardson went as QB7 off the board but Mike has him ranked as QB4 in his startup rankings. JSN and Reed look like perceived values at this point on the board heading into Year 2 although we admitted JSN’s range of outcomes feel more narrowed than a year ago. The RB position was a hodge podge of short-term starters (Zack Moss), old dudes (Raheem Mostert), committee backs (Ty Chandler) and young potentials (Kendre Miller, Braelon Allen, & Rasheen Ali). The collective approach given his early WR start makes a ton of sense hoping a couple of these guys stick for 2024 and beyond. Mike was the last team to take a TE so finding Pat Freiermuth in the 12th round feels like a steal. Greg Dulcich is one of the later TE fliers we like and one of Mike’s trade targets in the Dynasty Pass.
Borg’s Team
QB– Jayden Daniels (8.06), Jared Goff (11.07)
RB– Trey Benson (6.06), Alvin Kamara (7.07), MarShawn Lloyd (9.07), Gus Edwards (10.06), Kimani Vidal (13.07)
WR– Marvin Harrison Jr. (1.07), Chris Olave (2.06), Nico Collins (3.07), Deebo Samuel (5.07), Jermaine Burton (12.06), Marvin Mims Jr. (14.06), Javon Baker (15.07), Rashod Bateman (16.06)
TE– Mark Andrews (4.06), Theo Johnson (17.07)
My team also jumped in with a low-T approach not selecting a RB until Round 6. Compared to the other two hosts, my first three WRs emphasize potential more than past production although ADP-wise Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, and Nico Collins all were right in line. I sided with Nico over D.K. Metcalf given the connection with C.J. Stroud. Mark Andrews is criminally undervalued in dynasty startup rankings on Sleeper. As the 50th overall player in their rankings, he was an easy selection comparing that with him being the TE2 and Mike’s 30th overall player on his board. Deebo Samuel might’ve been a misstep but in my goal to “win the flex”, I felt like bludgeoning my opponents with a 4th WR was worth it. His age might concern some but for at least the next two years, I feel comfortable. My approach with RBs was having a blend of youth (Trey Benson & MarShawn Lloyd) with immediate starters (Alvin Kamara and Gus Edwards). If you take WR early, the board will often have veteran RBs available in Rounds 6-10 that you can scoop to plug in right away. I try not to swing the pendulum too much at RB preferring cheaper veterans and young, hopeful studs that can grow into a role in Year 1 or 2. I wrote a rather lengthy discussion on Jayden Daniels (Range of Outcomes & Recent Dynasty History) sharing his upside while also recognizing there is room for error. Pairing the mystery man with the dependable in a dome Jared Goff felt like a tandem I’d love to have in dynasty. Mix-and-matching those two might give me a higher floor than other teams who went all-in on an earlier QB. This is a strategy I encourage people to employ in 1QB leagues. Reflecting on this team, it is a bit rookie-heavy with 8(!) guys on the roster taken in the 2024 NFL Draft. In hindsight, I’d probably add more RBs to this mix rather than some of the flier WRs I added in Rounds 12-16.
Betz’s Team
QB– Kyler Murray (6.02), Deshaun Watson (15.11)
RB– Jaylen Warren (8.02), Brian Robinson Jr. (9.11), Jerome Ford (10.02), Rico Dowdle (14.02)
WR– Puka Nacua (1.11), A.J. Brown (2.02), D.K. Metcalf (3.11), Tank Dell (4.02), George Pickens (5.11), Christian Kirk (7.11), Ja’Lynn Polk (11.11), Rashid Shaheeed (13.11), Curtis Samuel (16.02)
TE– Ben Sinnott (17.02), Hunter Henry (17.11)
Picking at the 11 spot, Betz also decided to exclude RBs from his thinking waiting to take his first one in… Round 8! Clearly, Betz is in love with WRs taking them with five of his first six picks! He has a nice mix of youth (Puka Nacua, Tank Dell, George Pickens) with established WR1s for their teams (A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Christian Kirk). Consider his 2 WR and 2 FLEX spots to be permanently occupied by WRs. Kyler Murray is one of the better values in dynasty right now and someone Jason is higher on than the consensus.
Betz’s theory is finding cheaper, younger starting RBs who still can contribute RB2 weeks. Jaylen Warren, Brian Robinson Jr., and Jerome Ford all are entering just their third years in the NFL. Rico Dowdle is a dice roll late but he also could end up being the starting RB of the Dallas Cowboys. In dynasty, building with a ton of WRs who will certainly see 2nd contracts is a better bet than investing early in RBs who might not having a starting job in a year or two. He also waited until Round 12 to take a TE selecting podcast favorite Ben Sinnott and pairing him with veteran Hunter Henry. The core of Betz’s team is built to last while he could certainly utilize draft capital or WRs in trades to get a RB.