I recently had the pleasure of joining Paul Patterson (@fantasyfreezer) in a dynasty startup mock draft in preparation for new leagues this offseason. The draft order was appointed by each user rather than randomized. Usually, I prefer to draft in the 1.10-1.12 range and stack two top-tier dynasty assets on the short turn. Choosing to select from the 1.03, I deliberately put myself in a position of unfamiliarity to understand the draft board with a different view. Here’s what I found out.
1.03 – Josh Allen, BUF, QB2 OVR
Josh Allen was a no-brainer pick for me here. I currently have Allen ranked as QB1 overall and my 1.01 pick in Superflex startup drafts. I fully expected to be drafting Justin Hebert at 1.03. However, Jonathan Taylor surprisingly went first overall, pushing Patrick Mahomes to 1.02 and allowing me to grab Allen at a discount.
2.10 – Trey Lance, SF, QB8 OVR
Locking in two young quarterbacks with upside early on in your Superflex startups is a tried and true strategy for sustained success. Trey Lance has unmatched athleticism and potential. Now that Jimmy Garoppolo’s tenure in the bay area is ending, Lance’s stock has risen into the top-24 players. After mocking the 1.03 draft position once before, I hoped to draft Kyle Pitts in this spot and draft a similarly valued QB in the third round (Jalen Hurts or Justin Fields). I am taking an admitted gamble drafting Lance at QB8 overall, but the potential of an elite dual-threat quarterback in an established offense was too good to pass up.
3.3 – Deebo Samuel, SF, WR9 OVR
Deebo Samuel’s 2021 season virtually broke the internet as it was unfolding. Samuel catapulted himself into a tier of his own after playing his multifaceted WR/RB role for the 49ers. As good of a rusher as a pass-catcher, Samuel is an excellent choice in the early third and holds slightly more value to this roster as a stack with Trey Lance.
4.10 – J.K. Dobbins, BAL, RB13 OVR
Seven running backs were selected before my turn at 4.10. Understanding the year-to-year volatility of the running back landscape is crucial to having a successful startup. I am not overly keen on drafting one of the so-called “top-tier” options in dynasty unless they have a clear path to league-winning success for a 2-3 year window. J.K. Dobbins fits the Hero RB build that I am aiming for and gives me a young option that could sneak into the top ten at his position in 2022.
5.3 – Elijah Moore, NYJ, WR17 OVR
Elijah Moore’s rookie season was cut short due to injuries. Despite being limited by the poor play of fellow rookie Zach Wilson, Moore stood out as one of the NFL’s brightest young stars at wide receiver. With an entire offseason to heal and develop, Moore should hit the ground running in 2022. I believe he will be valued much higher than WR17 once we see a return to action.
6.10 Dallas Goedert, PHI, TE7 OVR
Only two tight ends were selected in the top 55 players in this mock draft. Kyle Pitts (1.07) and Mark Andrews (3.02). After those two players, three rounds passed before another tight end was chosen (George Kittle, 5.05). Kittle’s draft spot began a chain reaction as four more tight ends would be selected before my next pick at 6.10. I currently have Goedert ranked as my Dynasty TE7 and was more than happy to select him at perceived value before the position became desolate.
7.3 Brandon Aiyuk, SF, WR23 OVR
Eight wide receivers were selected consecutively in the 7th round. Completing my 49ers WR stack, I reached on Brandon Aiyuk. I decided to pass on Mike Evans, Marquise Brown, Darnell Mooney, Rashod Bateman, and DeAndre Hopkins, who were still on the draft board. Despite a disappointing 2021 season, I still like Aiyuk as a growing asset on dynasty rosters. Adding him as my third wide receiver mitigates some of the perceived risks in the cost of acquisition.
8.10 Damien Harris, NE, RB27 OVR
After rounds five and six, the options for a top-ranked RB2 were all off the board. Damien Harris is coming off of a stellar 2021 season where he finished as the RB14 in PPR scoring. At 25 years old, entering his fourth season, Harris will act as a stop-gap RB2 on this roster while we await the potential breakouts of some later coin flip picks.
9.3 Rondale Moore, ARI, WR38 OVR
My selection of Rondale Moore at 9.3 certainly turned some heads in the draft discord. Moore flashed incredible potential as a rookie but could not connect his talents consistently on a game-to-game basis. I am willing to gamble on Moore’s future potential in this spot as I do not believe he would have fallen to me in the 10th round.
10.10 Chase Edmonds, ARI, RB35 OVR
Chase Edmonds finished as RB34 overall in 2021, despite playing only 12 games for the Cardinals. Edmonds recorded 11.4 PPG (RB24) with excellent efficiency per touch. Entering his 5th season, Edmonds will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent. If Edmonds is afforded a similar role and can stay healthy, he can fill the position of a weekly RB2 on your roster for a fraction of the cost.
11.3 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI, RB37 OVR
Towards the back end of my drafts, I like to roll the dice on young, undervalued running backs with massive PPR potential. Kenneth Gainwell is a polished pass-catcher with the upside to become a reception machine. Gainwell averaged 1.73 yards per route run, ranked 11th amongst running backs in the NFL. He scored 1.05 fantasy points per opportunity, ranking 8th. Gainwell could soon emerge as a short-yardage receiving stud for the Eagles.
12.10 Khalil Herbert, CHI, RB42 OVR
The other side of our late-round running back coin flip is bruiser Khalil Herbert. My affinity for Herbert is well documented, and I will have a high exposure at his current cost per ADP. When David Montgomery went down with an MCL sprain, Herbert relished in an increased workload, averaging 15.6 PPG from Week 6 through Week 8. I expect the Bears to utilize Herbert more often in his sophomore year and think he’s an excellent back-end target for Hero RB builds.
13.3 Nico Collins, HOU, WR57 OVR
The Texans didn’t give Nico Collins much chance to develop during his rookie season. He ranked 65th in total routes run and had just 61 targets (13.6% share). Collins showed some admirable big-play ability in his limited opportunities. Collins likely won’t be more than a boom-or-bust flex play, but there is always hope for a sophomore breakout.
14.10 Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR65 OVR
With the last draft pick, I was hoping to take a shot on Kyle Trask as my QB3 after Tom Brady announced his retirement. Trask was sniped from me at 14.08, and I quickly went to work looking through my queue for an all-upside dart throw. Donovan Peoples-Jones gave us a glimpse of his potential after Odell Beckham Jr. was released from the Browns. Peoples-Jones had five games with five catches and 70 yards or more. Injuries and inconsistent quarterback play capped the production of all pass-catchers on the Browns. At 22 years old and entering his third season, Peoples-Jones has a legitimate chance at becoming the WR1 in Cleveland.
Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.
Check out the DFF Dynasty SF PPR Mock Draft Review: Positional Breakdown by Paul Patterson.
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