Strategy Focused Content
Today, I’ll be walking you through my most recent dynasty startup draft that just wrapped up. If you know me or listen to the Always Be Scouting podcast, you know I’m always in a draft somewhere. This was my first dynasty startup of the year, and I wanted to break it down and walk through how I built this roster.
This is a 1QB, 16-team league, and the rookie draft is separate. The scoring setup matters a lot. Tight ends get a boost with 1.5 PPR, and first down points; wide receivers get full PPR, and running backs only get half. Passing touchdowns are also worth 7 points. So going in, I already knew wide receiver was going to be a big focus for me.
Draft Strategy / Team Build
I didn’t go in locked into one plan, but I knew I wanted to build around wide receivers and keep long-term value in mind. At the same time, I didn’t want to punt the season. I wanted a team that could compete now.
Quarterbacks
- Trevor Lawrence (5.7)
- Shedeur Sanders (13.7)
- Riley Leonard (17.7)
- Kenny Pickett (20.10)
In a 1QB league, I didn’t feel the need to force the position early. Lawrence ended up being my QB1, and I felt good getting him there. Lawrence had his best year under Liam Coen last year. I feel like he’s finally starting to live up to that #1 overall status from 2021. With passing touchdowns worth 7 points, that’s a solid value. After that, I waited and added depth. Sanders is more of a long-term bet, and Leonard and Pickett are just depth pieces.
Running Backs
- Ashton Jeanty (1.7)
- TreVeyon Henderson (3.7)
- Kyle Monangai (6.10)
- Kenneth Gainwell (8.10)
- Damien Martinez (16.10)
- Malik Davis (19.7)
- Xavier Scott (21.7)
I took Jeanty early to lock in a top option. That gave me a foundation at running back. Under new HC Kubiak, Jeanty is poised for a breakout year, especially with the Raiders addressing their QB situation with the Cousins signing, possibly drafting Mendoza with the #1 overall pick, and improving the O-line in the 2026 draft.
Henderson brings upside, but there’s some risk there. I think in 2026, we’ll see more of him in the backfield after coming off one of the most productive rookie seasons in a Josh McDaniels offense.
Kyle Monangai had an impressive rookie season and is pushing for more opportunities in 2026.
Make no mistake, Gainwell has shown he can still produce as part of a one-two punch. Now heading to Tampa Bay, he should continue to fill that passing-down role even with Bucky Irving there.
After that, I didn’t chase the position too hard. With only .5 PPR for RBs, I was fine adding depth and upside later instead of forcing picks.
Wide Receivers
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Gain an edge in dynasty with @force_fantasy’s WR1 model. We reveal the data-driven rankings for WR 11-15 in the 2026 rookie class.
Welcome back for another edition of Hit Rate by Rounds. In today’s article, we’ll be focusing on the running back position. The goal of this article is to see whether draft capital has become a stronger predictor of fantasy production for running backs over the past 14 seasons. I split the data into the first seven years and the last seven years, but I did not include 2025 because RBs typically take a couple of years to produce. Adding rookies to the equation would skew the numbers too much in favor of the older group. The charts below show the hit rate for running backs drafted in each round (1–7), measuring what percentage went on to post at least one Top-12, Top-24, or Top-36 fantasy season. This gives us a sense of how likely a back is to deliver meaningful fantasy value based on draft capital. Looking at Round 1, the same number of running backs have been drafted in Round 1 in both groups, but the success rates have decreased. It has become harder to identify elite first-round running backs in recent years. Rd 1 RB Total Top 12 Top 24 Top 36 2011 – 2017 9 = 8/9 = 89% = 8/9 = 89% = 8/9 = 89% 2018 – 2024 9 = 6/9 = 67% = 7/9 = 78% = 8/9 = 89% 2011 – 2024 18 = 14/18 = 78% = 15/18 = 83% = 16/18 = 89% Looking at Round 2, fewer running backs have been drafted in Round 2 recently, and the hit rates […]
In Dynasty Fantasy Football startups, the roadmap usually starts to crystallize around Round 9. By that point, I’ve generally established the direction of my roster and identified the players I want as long-term building blocks. It’s also the stage of most drafts where managers begin wheeling and dealing to refine their strategy. For this particular mock, however, we kept things strictly business. The DFF crew came together for a pre–free agency startup draft and ran it without trades, letting the board fall naturally. Below are some of my favorite selections from this team build.
Dynasty Startup Season is often reminiscent of beginning a new romantic relationship. In many ways, you’ve learned valuable lessons about what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t. You promise yourself you won’t repeat old mistakes. You tell yourself you’ll stay patient, trust your board, and not reach for the shiny new thing just because everyone else is swooning. And yet, when you’re finally on the clock, emotions tend to creep back in.
Dynasty startup drafts are where leagues are won or lost. Not because of flashy picks. Not because you landed a superstar quarterback. They’re won through positional leverage — understanding where real weekly edges exist and where managers are paying for name recognition instead of production. After reviewing five Dynasty startup drafts and comparing positional scoring, one conclusion became impossible to ignore: Quarterbacks are being massively overdrafted in early rounds.
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@FatherDynasty covers his startup selections from Rounds 7-12 in the DFF Superflex Dynasty mock draft.
@DffFrankPanthro covers his selections from Rounds 7-12 in the DFF Dynasty startup mock draft.
@force_fantasy begins his Dynasty rankings series with a ~FREE~ sneak peak at his “Dynasty1” model, as well as his Top 10 ranked players in Dynasty, Superflex, PPR formats.
Dynasty teams, competing immediately or punting to the future, are built in what I like to call The Championship Rounds. Historically, you don’t lose leagues in the first three rounds, and you’re committing to a specific type of build in Rounds 4-6. When you hit Round 7,+ it’s about finding pieces that not only fill out your squad but present certain types of floor and upside, along with a combination of youth and veteran production. We finish off in this Superflex Format + PPR + TEP (.5) + three Flex spots.
@FatherDynasty discusses the thought processes behind his player selections in Rounds 4-6 from the DFF Dynasty startup mock.
DFF analysts @FFChalmers, @FFDelly, and @DffFrankPanthro continue coverage on their Dynasty startup mock draft, covering Rounds 4-6 in this ~FREE~ episode of the Always Be Building Show!
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After walking away from the first three rounds with Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty, and Baker Mayfield, I entered Day 2 of the startup draft ready to build around that elite foundation, locking in key contributors who offer immediate upside and long-term star potential. With the 4.02, 5.11, and 6.02 picks, I continued drafting with conviction and walked away with three players who each have league-winning upside.
The Always Be Building Show brought to you by @DFF_Dynasty continued Tuesday evening with @FFChalmers and @FFDelly adding @DffFrankPanthro to the livecast. Our DFF Analysts and Friends also returned for Rounds 4-6 in the Dynasty Fantasy Football Startup Mock Draft. This series can be followed on our YouTube Channel and Website as we progress in the coming weeks.
@FatherDynasty joins the Dynasty Football Factory crew in a Dynasty startup mock draft. Check out his early round selections in this ~FREE~ DFF article!
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DFF analyst Frank Schook covers the “why” behind his Dynasty startup selections in Rounds 1-3 in this DFF exclusive article.
Always Be Building Show Hosts @FFChalmers and @FFDelly returned from a brief hiatus Tuesday night, inviting numerous DFF Analysts and Friends to participate in a Dynasty Fantasy Football Startup Mock Draft. The purpose? Arm you, the subscriber, with everything you need to dominate any final startup drafts you might be joining as the NFL season approaches, but with a thought process to back up our selections. This series can be followed on our YouTube Channel and Website, and we’ll be updating as we progress in the coming weeks on the ABB Show brought to you by @DFF_Dynasty.