As the dynasty league offseason is now in full swing, there are many upcoming NFL events to anticipate. Coming up on the calendar we have the likes of the NFL Scouting Combine, Free Agency, and the NFL Draft. In the fantasy football world, there is ample opportunity for value shifts for individual players and entire position groups. What better time to test the water than the end of February with a mock draft?
The DFF Army is together for A HUGE analyst-only dynasty start-up mock draft, our first of the 2023 off-season! Here we randomly selected draft positions and then ran the draft in snake order–the settings are Superflex, TE Premium, and PPR. Hopefully, this can help give you an early sense of where you should be targeting players in your upcoming start-up drafts. Check out every selection from rounds 13 through 15 below, each writer’s reasoning behind their pick, as well as an image of the draft board, as we concluded the mock at round 15!
13.01 – Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland Terrapins
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
Rakim Jarrett at his ceiling could be one of the nastiest RAC receivers in the entire 2023 draft class. Statistical regression from his sophomore to junior seasons has managers and draft analysts rightfully questioning the Maryland product’s ability to maintain a high-volume target role in the NFL. Jarret’s peak potential will undoubtedly rely on a positive landing spot on an offense that prioritizes creating yards after the catch on a low depth of target.
13.02 – DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB Dragons
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
McBride is one of the toughest runners in the 2023 class. He lacks some finesse but I could see NFL teams falling in love. There isn’t much left and with the current running back transition we seem to be in I think it’s smart to grab some of the incoming rookies.
13.03 – Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas Longhorns
Jagger May – @FantasyBluechip
Since I missed out on many of the top-tier rookies and mostly faded RBs, I’m rolling with the late rookie gambles. Roschon Johnson was a talented back with size, who was unfortunately behind Bijan Robinson. He made a name for himself before his injury at the senior bowl and is worth the risk at ADP.
13.04 – Noah Fant, TE, Seattle Seahawks
Paul Patterson – @FantasyFreezer
Noah Fant is a young, athletic starter in a functional offense–that’s really all you can ask for in a TE2. He scored 7.2 PPG in his first season in Seattle, which lands him squarely in the “irrelevant” tier. But I need someone to back up Mark Andrews and Fant was by far the best of the remaining options.
13.05 – Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State Beavers
Ben Winkler – @bensprinkler
Time to do a little upside chasing here as the draft comes to a close. The 6’6 250-pound tight end from Oregon State is a nice place to start. Musgrave has the perfect frame to be a dominant force as a tight end and has some growing buzz in the draft community.
13.06 – Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Malcolm Schultz – @716DFF
I find Gallup to be a fine fourth wide receiver addition in the 13th round, despite making a habit to not fill up my bench with middling wide receivers. He’s contractually tied to Dak for the next 4 seasons, a contract I doubt the Cowboys will want to move on from judging by the current wide receiver market. Along with that, he’s perhaps the last receiver on the board this young who has previous production, posting over 1000 yards in 2019. If he returns to that 20% target share level we once saw (last season posting a 17% TS) coupled with a healthy Dak Prescott, Gallup should be a usable final flex spot if I need him.
13.07 – Elijah Mitchell, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
Christian McCaffrey may have taken over the backfield but Mitchell was not erased entirely. He saw 23 carries and two targets over the team’s two playoff games. The main point of this pick is that we all know CMC has a lengthy injury list and if he were to be injured again Mitchell is an instant weekly top-15 RB.
13.08 – Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders
Doug Harrelson – @DougHarrelson
With new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy out to prove that the offense in KC was successful for more reasons than just Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, he will definitely look to utilize one of the most underrated talents in football. I am not even worried about who is playing quarterback since Samuel works so close to the line of scrimmage generally.
13.09 – Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pittsburgh Panthers
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
Abanikanda burst onto the scene this year with 1431 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He has nice size at 215 pounds and we should see him in the 4.4s for the forty. Abanikanda has been a late riser in analyst mock drafts.
13.10 – Chase Brown, RB, Illinois Fighting Illini
Devin Maney – @DevinManey
Chase Brown is a fun RB coming out of Illinois. He’s my RB6/7 coming into the draft and is likely to end up irrelevant in the NFL, but taking a chance on the young talent is worth a shot at this point of the draft. Some folks have Brown as high as RB4, others as low as RB12, regardless, draft capital will control his future.
13.11 – David Bell, WR, Cleveland Browns
MG – @AlwaysBBuilding
He has a Rookie year under his belt. Working as the WR3 there was zero pressure to produce while just being able to learn, and of course, welcoming the return of a (rusty) Deshaun Watson. It was a perfect storm for a second-year leap. Expect the unexpected.
13.12 – Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Carl – @RookieWhisper
Oh, how the mighty have fallen… the once Rookie 1.01 by some “analysts” is now a late-round flyer in start-ups just a few years later. I’m not sure it is entirely justified though. In the first four games of the season, CEH averaged 18.9 PPR points per game, then the emergence of Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon, paired with the injury CEH sustained, led to the collapse of his value. That said, even if Pacheco retains his role in 2023, McKinnon is set to walk in free agency, and we saw down the stretch that his pass-catching role in the Kansas City offense is very lucrative for fantasy owners. The hope is CEH will step into that role this upcoming season.
13.13 – Isaiah Hodgins, WR, New York Giants
Joe Memmolo – @DFF_JoeMem
Hodgins popped towards the end of the season after reuniting with Brian Daboll. The Giants will definitely bring in more talent but there should be hope that the player/coach connection and Hodgins’ developing rapport with Daniel Jones have earned him a long-term role on the team.
13.14 – John Metchie, WR, Houston Texans
Doc – @DocFFFN
This time last year John Metchie was one of the hottest names in the dynasty rookie ranks. Perceived to be an early-2nd round rookie pick in dynasty drafts, Metchie had the proven production at Alabama and the athletic scores to back up the tape. He also earned early Round 2 draft capital in the actual 2022 NFL Draft. However, then tragedy struck when Metchie was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Fast forward to now, 11 months later, and all of the reports out of Houston are encouraging, and we could see Metchie return to the team this season.
14.01 – Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Doc – @DocFFFN
Brandin Cooks cannot do it forever, and he is in the last year of his contract. Expect to see him traded either during the 2023 NFL Draft or prior to the NFL trade deadline during the season. When he departs, somebody has got to be the Texan’s primary target for their new rookie QB. If it’s not Metchie, it may be Nico Collins, who came on strong during his sophomore season before suffering an injury.
14.02 – Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
Joe Memmolo – @DFF_JoeMem
We’ve seen enough of Gerald Everett to know what he is and this is a flier in hopes that he can build on a mostly successful season and see steadier production with new OC Kellen Moore.
14.03 – Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carl – @RookieWhisper
Fournette is a 28-year-old bruiser and a potential cap casualty, but he is also still a goal-line back who can be a productive pass-catcher as well. Whether he stays in Tampa Bay or finds a new home, I believe he will have a role in whatever offense he fits in for 2023. I view him as a solid bench player for my roster, and a potential flex play with upside on certain weeks.
14.04 – Parker Washington, WR, Rookie
MG – @AlwaysBBuilding
A return to the Rookie Well suits me fine as I fill out my WR room. A do-it-all receiver built for any formation. At this stage, the goal is to “get your guy”. P-dub just got, got.
14.05 – Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets
Devin Maney – @DevinManey
The former number 2 overall draft pick. The Jets don’t seem to care too much about that statement, but the rest of the league does. Even if the Jets decide to move on from him he’ll certainly get more opportunities, and I’m ok with waiting to see if the 22-year-old pans out.
14.06 – Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston Cougars
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
Nathaniel “Tank” Dell is consistent with the new wave of undersized wide receivers recently ushered into the NFL. Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith, Justin Jefferson, Chris Olave, Rondale Moore, and Elijah Moore are redefining what it means to be a “prototype” wide receiver. Route running and the ability to create separation are being prioritized over physical size.
Dell is a chronic separator with lethal open-field moves. He was been one of the hot names at the Senior Bowl in Mobile consistently breaking ankles. Dell was a mega producer his last two years for the Houston Cougars. He eclipsed 1300 yards receiving both years to go along with 90 and 109 receptions.
14.07 – Kareem Hunt, RB, Cleveland Browns (Free Agent)
Doug Harrelson – @DougHarrelson
Having been stuck behind Nick Chubb for the past few years, the upside on Kareem Hunt this offseason is being undervalued. His ability both between the tackles and pass-catching means that he likely would never need to leave the field. For the last few years he has been in a timeshare and not getting a ton of mileage on his tread so there is a good chance that we have a multiple-year window left here with Kareem Hunt.
14.08 – Daniel Bellinger, TE, New York Giants
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
Bellinger was the leading tight end on the Giants last season and at points, he was the leading receiver overall. I do not expect anything crazy for his future but I could see him being one of those guys that catch a few touchdowns and have a few five-to-six reception games that make him relevant enough to play and feel ok about on a bye week. At TE26 in the draft that is all I can really ask for.
14.09 – Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Malcolm Schultz – @716DFF
Penny is another film add I feel comfortable taking a shot at in the 14th round. While we’ve seen almost nothing from Penny over the last five seasons, the very small sample size we do have shows an incredibly talented rusher who is allergic to targets. His YPC, while an incredibly flawed statistic, has been over six in the last two seasons. The silver lining to the small sample size issue is the fact that he has little tread on the tires, though the evidence I’ve read is unclear whether or not RBs “fall off” after a certain number of carries or a certain age. Penny at age 27 will give us the answer soon, presumably in a new backfield.
14.10 – Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane Green Wave
Ben Winkler – @bensprinkler
Spears got a little hype train rolling after an impressive senior bowl. He’s impressive in open-field situations, a good receiver, and a gifted athlete overall. I have concerns about his weight, but he handled more than a full workload this past season at Tulane. Spears is a nice high-upside stash for me behind my already solid RB core.
14.11 – Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans Saints
Paul Patterson – @FantasyFreezer
I have found a ton of value at the QB position in early startups this off-season. There are so many guys hanging around in these later rounds that could easily find themselves atop a depth chart in August. Based on the lackluster options at other positions, I am happy to take my swings on players like Jameis Winston who simply need to start a few games to pay off their price.
14.12 – Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State Cyclones
Jagger May – @FantasyBluechip
I’m still gambling on youth and Xavier Hutchinson is a skilled player with decent route running and so-so athleticism, so I hope he can carve out a role as a team’s WR3 at best. I’d likely hope that he hits so I can flip him for a better prospect or future pick.
14.13 – Tyquan Thornton, WR, New England Patriots
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
Former second-round pick Tyquan Thornton in the 14th round? Don’t mind if I do. Even if I don’t fully believe in the talent, the Patriots do. Buying in this late doesn’t really cost much so why not?
14.14 – Matt Corral, QB, Carolina Panthers
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
Fading QB2 all the way until my last two picks was an admittedly poor decision, but that’s what mock drafts are for. The Panthers organization has voiced significant confidence in Matt Corral as the starter of the future. If Corral can land a starting gig he can easily put up serviceable QB2 numbers.
15.01 – Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
Every single time Alexander Mattison is afforded the starting gig he performs well above expectations. If the long-time handcuff to Dalvin Cook can find a three-down workload, his production will surely outweigh his cost.
15.02 – Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots (Free Agent)
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
I didn’t realize how much of a homer I was until I reviewed these last two picks. Either way, Harris is likely out in New England and I think he has a chance to be the 1A/1B in another backfield. Really a no-brainer this late.
15.03 – Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia Bulldogs
Jagger May – @FantasyBluechip
Again, if you miss rookie and fade RB you better grab some late. McIntosh could be James Cook, meaning he’ll ride my taxi squad and I’ll plug him in as flex when I have to or trade him after a big game to somebody who likes him just because he’s a rookie who had a big game.
15.04 – Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma Sooners
Paul Patterson – @FantasyFreezer
At this point in the draft, I’m just looking for certain player archetypes. I have to ask myself, does this player have the necessary traits to make a difference if an opportunity arises? With Eric Gray, I believe the answer is yes. It remains to be seen when and where he will be drafted, but his 210-pound frame and 87th-percentile college target share suggest he has the size and receiving ability to succeed in a starting role.
15.05 – Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints
Ben Winkler – @bensprinkler
Although he’s an older rookie, Shaheed flashed some game-breaking speed this past season with New Orleans. He made the most of his special teams touches and eventually played himself into a full-time WR2 role alongside Chris Olave. With Michael Thomas and his 60 million dollar cap hit likely on the way out the door, there is a universe where Shaheed actually becomes a solid fantasy contributor. He has the tools to produce even on limited touches–I liken him to a Mecole Hardman type of boom-or-bust guy.
15.06 – Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Malcolm Schultz – @716DFF
With my final pick, I’ll select my second tight end of the draft after Kelce, with Higbee. Higbee demanded a surprising amount of targets last season, posting 108, the most of his career, and a 20.9% target share, good for fourth in the NFL amongst tight ends. He very quietly posted the best numbers of his career, but the gap between TE1 and TE13 in terms of PPG is huge. With a few more touchdowns maybe he could be usable, but with Cooper Kupp returning next season, I can’t imagine Higbee tops this season. Still, in TEP, I’m looking to add just one more tight end, even with his outlook looking somewhat bleak.
I don’t tend to put too much stock into tight ends, because if you don’t have one of the top three options, it’s usually not worth spending significant draft capital on one. Luckily, I already have one of the top three.
15.07 – Malik Willis, QB, Tennessee Titans
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
It’s the fifteenth round and there are not many “high-upside” options left but I do believe Willis is one of them. We have seen Willis play, but in a limited fashion, so it is hard for me to conclude one way or another if he is truly good or bad yet. With this being said, let’s assume he is bad. I wasted my fifteenth-round pick where my opportunity cost was third-string running backs and fourth or fifth-string wide receivers, I won’t be losing any sleep over that, no big deal. Now let’s assume Willis is good. He has a good rushing ability and his ceiling is a top-three-round startup pick, but more realistically, he becomes an average starter with rushing upside that keeps him fantasy relevant for a few years. So, at this cost, I love getting a piece of the upside that Willis carries.
15.08 – DJ Chark, WR, Detroit Lions
Doug Harrelson – @DougHarrelson
I once again attack a player from the 2023 free-agent class. Chark had a great start to his career but a bad ankle injury in the last year of his rookie deal forced him to take a one-year prove-it deal with Detriot. He will be a bit more landing spot dependent than a lot of the free agents as he is at his best as either a deep threat or a red zone threat where he can use his body and physicality to get the ball at its highest point.
15.09 – Kyle Trask, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
Wait what? How did I get a starting quarterback in the 15th round of a 14-team league 5 rounds after the last starter was taken? I am going to chalk this one up to people just forgetting about him. Think of Trask what you will but right now the starting job is his and Tampa doesn’t have great draft capital to take someone better.
15.10 – Zay Jones, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Devin Maney – @DevinManey
Zay Jones showed a lot of big play ability in the past few years with the Jaguars and the Raiders the previous seasons. Zay will service my team as a spot start in a flex position and should create the opportunity to score some big points.
15.11 – Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford Cardinals
MG – @AlwaysBBuilding
My lone dark horse at QB in this class. Just a dart throw. At this stage why not just take a chance right?
15.12 – Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carl – @RookieWhisper
A young, consistent, backup TE for my roster who maybe continue to develop and earn stand-lone value… at the end of Round 15? Yes, I’ll take Cade Otton, the kid didn’t test well at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2022, but he’s just a football player. His film was outstanding and the Buccaneers selected him with the very first pick of Day 3, which essentially gives him Day 2 draft capital from last season. Getting Otton this late in the draft feels like a steal.
15.13 – Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota Golden Gophers
Joe Memmolo – @DFF_JoeMem
Ibrahim is a late-round RB grab that was a productive college player but an older prospect. He’ll likely be a Day 3 NFL pick and somebody worth trading after a pop.
15.14 – Zamir White, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Doc – @DocFFFN
Just a few years ago Zeus was a respected devy asset and commanded respect all throughout the SEC. Multiple knee injuries led to him being drafted in the fourth round of last year’s NFL Draft. Furthermore, he landed in an unfortunate spot behind Josh Jacobs on the Raiders. However, the Raiders as a franchise, in and of itself, is one of the best landing spots for an RB. The Raiders always value their running game and they always commit to their running game. As such, nearly all of their primary RBs throughout history produced solid and consistent numbers. Zamir White looks to be the next in line to assume lead-back duties in Vegas if Josh Jacobs departs in free agency.
Here are the links to previous rounds of this DFF Mock Draft!
The DFF Dynasty Start-Up Mock Draft: Part 1
The DFF Dynasty Start-Up Mock Draft: Part 2
The DFF Dynasty Start-Up Mock Draft: Part 3
The DFF Dynasty Start-Up Mock Draft: Part 4
Click Here to view the complete draft board!
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