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 four through six below, and each writer’s reasoning behind their pick.
4.01 – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Doc – @DocFFFN
This was a selection that was uncomfortable to make. There are two other QBs on the board that your author has ranked higher than Pickett, but they are far older than he is. Alas, the pick is in. Even though your author was not a fan of Pickett as a prospect and only liked some of what he saw from him last season, there is no denying his landing spot. Pittsburgh has always been the most stable and consistent franchise in the NFL. He has a top-tier head coach in Mike Tomlin, a full complement of young playmakers to support him, and an improving offensive line (finally Pittsburgh!). At age 24, the hope is to get 8-10 seasons out of this signal caller.
4.02 – Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Joe Memmolo – @DFF_JoeMem
At the time of this pick, I was questioning whether I should have gone with rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs or Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson because I believe there’s still some value at the QB position that can be found later in the draft. However, teams like the Lions and Seahawks saw their QB play rise but still aren’t the safest bets to not draft a QB if the draft falls a certain way. It’s also comforting to look at Cousins’ stats and see that he’s been a top-14 QB in seven of the last eight years, has two top receiving options in Jefferson and Hockenson, and every move the Vikings make leads me to believe he will be steering the ship in Minnesota for a while. The team will have major cap decisions to make soon, so extending a potential win-now QB in this window makes more sense than taking a chance on a rookie, especially since they’ve been too good to secure a top pick. Also, Cousins was QB6 last year and he’s my QB2 in a 14-team league. That’s building the high floor I’m looking for!
4.03 – Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
MR – @DFF_MR
This one felt a bit like a reach currently, but if QJ ends up somewhere between Tee Higgins and A.J. Brown we’re happy with our prototype WR1 for the next decade. I don’t typically love going with two pre-draft rookies in a start-up because it can certainly burn you – then again “scared money don’t make money!”
4.04 – Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama Crimson Tide
MG – @AlwaysBBuilding
Get your guy time. Gibbs is arguably the most dynamic multifaceted RB in this class with little tread. In a PPR format, he positions himself well within my youthful build.
4.05 – T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings
Devin Maney – @DevinManey
All great Dynasty teams are built around stud TEs. I was between Hock and Kittle here or waiting to grab my TE with my next selection, but Hockenson saw a massive upgrade after being traded to the Vikings. Hockenson is four years younger than Kittle, so I went with him, but they are very close for me.
4.06 – Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
Often dynasty owners forget the goal of dynasty fantasy football is to win championships, not just build teams that have the most dynasty value. In a 14-team league such as this if you employ the same roster build as 13 other owners your chances of winning a title diminish. I see two trends developing here. One is ageism. Two is running back-ism.
This opens a window for early title runs. Ekeler has been the most consistent running back outside of a healthy McCaffrey at an otherwise volatile position. Ekeler is also an elite receiver. This gives him career longevity. Elite receiving backs play effectively into their 30’s. He has four consecutive top-10 fantasy point-per-game finishes and finished the last two years at one and two overall.
4.07 – Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
Doug Harrelson – @DougHarrelson
After making the pivot towards a win-now roster I am seeing too much value at running back to ignore. Despite him getting older, having an injury history, and being a free agent, I am going to trust that Barkley is the outlier I believe he is. Since my build has pivoted into a win-now mode, I am less worried about taking a second contract running back. If this was not a mock but instead an actual startup I would be looking to move my 2024 1st to double dip on one of these rounds to really add muscle to my year one lineup.
4.08 – Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
At 4.08 the choice was pretty easy for me, I wanted to keep building out my WR room and who else do I have looking at me other than one of the best to do it over the last decade? It does not matter who Adams’ QB is, he is an elite fantasy asset that demands targets in any offense. Plus he still has some gas in the tank. At this point in the draft and as the WR18 off the board, I love getting a guy that can still realistically finish as the overall WR1.
4.09 – Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Malcolm Schultz – @716DFF
I had the choice here between Travis Etienne (RB – JAX) and Jacobs, so I gravitated towards the 2022 RB three. He’s coming off his most productive season ever posting 19.3 fantasy points per game, and he’s still only 25! I think his price is very reasonable, so I’m excited to have selected him as the ninth RB off the board.
4.10 – Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ben Winkler – @bensprinkler
Us DFFers seem to have a hive mind when it comes to draft strategy, as I too was hoping for Jacobs or Etienne to fall to me here at the back of the 4th. I’m definitely pro-robust WR, but I do believe having a stud RB1 is a necessary part of that strategy. I think Etienne is primed for a huge 2023 season as possibly the best skill position player in what looks to be a high-powered offense. He’s not a perfect player by any means, but he’ll likely have as good a role as anyone in the league next year. Snagging an RB1 here gives me a ton of flexibility going forward to fill out my WR room, so give me Etienne as the RB10 all day.
4.11 – Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
Paul Patterson – @FantasyFreezer
Assuming Aaron Rodgers returns to Green Bay, this selection has tremendous potential for immediate returns. However, even if he doesn’t, I have a young WR that should still produce at the WR3 level, who gets to grow with a new franchise QB in Jordan Love, as his number one option.
4.12 – D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions
Jagger May – @FantasyBluechip
I somewhat hate this pick but I’m not ready to quit Swift just yet. I have to use what the board gives me and my entire Queue was sniped (wanted Anthony Richardson and all the elite receivers were gone). So that leaves me to pull the trigger on an RB earlier than I want. Swift has been disappointing, but I’m betting on him coming into the new season completely healthy and without Duce Staley because of the big play upside.
4.13 – Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
Christian Watson going before Deebo is something. Ageists are a real thing, but Deebo is still just 27 years old. I certainly could’ve gone with Jordan Addison but we aren’t even sure he will be successful. I went with a reliable fantasy stud with a top-five upside at the wide receiver position.
4.14 – Jordan Addison, WR, USC
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
Jordan Addison gets falsely labeled as being just a slot receiver. He has played 1,102 snaps in the slot and 757 snaps out wide, with over 1,200 yards at both positions, per PFF. For perspective, Addison ranks well above the collegiate career percentages for snaps out wide than his fellow draft mates.
•Addison
57.9% Slot Rate
41.6% Wide Rate
•JSN
88.6% Slot Rate
11.1% Wide Rate
Simply put, Addison has been one of the best receivers in college football over the last two seasons. Well-rounded and polished, he is an NFL-ready prospect who will make an immediate impact wherever he lands.
5.01 – Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
Friendly reminder, before being injured Marquise “Hollywood” recorded 43 receptions (7.2 REC/G) on 64 targets (10.7 TGT/G) for 485 receiving yards (80.8 REC YDS/G) while averaging 18.3 PPR PPG (WR8). He was on a pre-injury pace of 122 receptions 1374 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The Cardinals are rumored to move on from veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins, leaving Hollywood to feast as the team’s top receiving option.
5.02 – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
I love snagging Jeudy in the fifth round coming back from the turn. After going with two elder statesmen I chose to get slightly younger but to still chase the upside. Jeudy was WR9 from Weeks 13 through 17 last year and is still just 23 years old. He’s one of the best route runners in the NFL and I want him on my team.
5.03 – Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jagger May – @FantasyBluechip
Difference-making TEs are rare and I didn’t get Andrews, Pitts, or Kelce, but Patty F has the talent to make the leap if the Steelers, or Kenny Pickett for that matter, take a step forward. Freiermuth isn’t sexy, but he’s in the second tier of TEs and I’d rather take him too early than be left with the scraps late.
5.04 – Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans
Paul Patterson – @FantasyFreezer
Burks seems like an extreme value here he is the WR1 on his team and possesses some elite size and athleticism characteristics (some that rival A.J. Brown‘s). Granted, the Titans are a run-first team, but that could be changing very soon once the wheels fall off of Derrick Henry. Ryan Tannehill is heading into his age-35 season, but he will surely last more seasons than teammate Derrick Henry, which will create targets for Burks as time goes by.
5.05 – Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
Ben Winkler – @bensprinkler
Probably the least pretty pick of my draft so far, but in TE premium, locking down a top 8 guy is pretty crucial. Dallas Goedert was rock solid this year for Philly and showed out in their playoff run. He showed good rapport with Jalen Hurts, and at the age of 28, should be a reliable producer in my Tight End slot for the next few years. This pick definitely feels like a reach, but with the scarcity at the position, sometimes you have to make an ugly call.
5.06 – Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Malcolm Schultz – @716DFF
I go more into depth regarding Harris in my rationalizing lingering injuries article, but whatever your opinion of Harris is, he’s still a first-round RB, who have had excellent hit rates. Although he no longer benefits from Ben Roethlisberger dump-offs, his price has been driven so low that it is now very attractive as RB11 (not including rookie RBs) on KeepTradeCut and RB12 in this startup.
5.07 – Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
With my 5.07 I have selected my third wide receiver in Jameson Williams. Jameson Williams did not play much this season but that was to be expected after he tore his ACL in the college football playoffs. I still have great faith in Williams because I had him rated very highly as a prospect and he has done nothing to lower my opinion of him. We even already saw some good flashes in his limited play time in 2022. Jameson is a player that I am still high on and have good hope for.
5.08 – Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
Doug Harrelson – @DougHarrelson
Since my roster is definitely in a win-now mode, I love scooping up this value here at runningback with a guy I loved coming out of college and his first year in the NFL. His injury was early in the year so I am not concerned about him missing time next year and hopefully, the Broncos’ offense looks better next year.
5.09 – George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
This pick worked out nicely. Kittle was the last of the top-tier tight ends available and fits perfectly in my 3 to 4-year title window build. Incredible value in the fifth round of a TE premium league. He has finished as a top-four tight end in fantasy pts per game for the last five years.
2018-3
2019-1
2020-3
2021-4
2022-2
5.10 – D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers
Devin Maney – @DevinManey
Adding DJ Moore as my second WR felt like a selection I had to make here. DJM is an exciting young player who feels like we’ve been promised an upgrade at QB for the past decade but he’s still just 25 years old and is poised to be an anchor on my roster for years to come.
5.11 – Will Levis, QB, Kentucky Wildcats
MG – @AlwaysBBuilding
The most polarizing QB prospect in the 2023 draft. Draftniks and pundits love him while Dynasty owners are more hesitant to give their seal of approval. Regardless, in terms of staying with my young gun build, he fits the profile and rounds out my QB2.
5.12 – Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
MR – @DFF_MR
We’re going a little off the youth script here locking in our second QB. I expect Stafford to bounce back after a strange Super Bowl hangover season that was drenched with uncertainty at RB, injuries coupled with a lack of depth at WR, and a terrible Offensive Line–not to mention Matthew’s own spinal cord contusion.
5.13 – Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Joe Memmolo – @DFF_JoeMem
People are starting to put too much value into the youth bucket at this point, which is allowing me to add another stud receiver to my team that’s in his prime. Brady may not be there, but Godwin didn’t lose his talent. He’s finished as a top-20 WR three of the past four years while missing two or three games each of those seasons. I will gladly sit this 26-year-old WR into my third receiver spot.
5.14 – Michael Pittman, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Doc – @DocFFFN
Sticking to the plan of the build, we continue to hammer quality WRs on the turn. Your author’s only regret thus far: initially being too determined to draft an all-age-25-or-under roster. For that reason, Pittman went over Diontae Johnson. Your author immediately rebuked his pick in our DFF group chat. Pittman is a fine player, as the WR1 of the Colts, and he will embrace a new QB this offseason. However, it was a failure to miss out on the opportunity to stack Diontae and teammate George Pickens with their young QB Kenny Pickett, who your author already has rostered. At least for the time being, the team is still age-25-or-below, as Pittman is at least a year younger than Diontae Johnson.
6.01 – George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Doc – @DocFFFN
For a rookie WR who just put up over 800 receiving yards and 4 TDs in just 12 starts and played well enough for the franchise to send a veteran receiver ahead of him on the depth chart packing in a midseason trade, George Pickens sure doesn’t get much love from the dynasty community. Pickens will play in a 1A-1B role with Diontae Johnson (whom your author should have chosen with his previous selection) for the next 3+ seasons as the primary targets in an improving Pittsburgh offense. It is reasonable to assume he’ll receive 30-40 more targets next season which will put him well over 1000 yards receiving when all is said and done. Who knows, he may even increase his TD output.
6.02 – Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Joe Memmolo – @DFF_JoeMem
Going into the turn, I was hoping Johnson or Pittman would make it back to me here. Pittman went next, but Doc surprised me by taking the younger Steelers receiver in Pickens, allowing Johnson to fall right into my hands! An easy selection for me, another very talented receiver entering his prime at the age of 26. He finished as the WR30 last year, but that is with 0 touchdowns despite 146 targets. With Pickett entering year two, the touchdown regression will come, and Johnson can only go up from there.
6.03 – Darren Waller, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
MR – @DFF_MR
This pick was rough. Waller hurt me in a lot of TEP leagues last season and the fact that Derek Carr is gone makes it even more uneasy, but locking down a TE1 still capable of being a Top-5 producer at the position was essential.
6.04 – Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina TarHeels
MG – @AlwaysBBuilding
One of the few landing-spot-proof receivers in the 2023 class. Downs can be a lethal weapon underneath and after the catch. He may not get many TDs at the next level initially, but he’ll have plenty of PPR value.
6.05 – Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
Devin Maney – @DevinManey
Interesting how Scary Terry is basically the DJM of the Commanders and I selected them in back-to-back rounds. McLaurin as my WR3 felt far more appealing than grabbing one of the aging RBs, or what feels like a bit of a reach for one of the few youthful RBs left. Terry and DJM add some volatility to the WR position, but should easily be leveled out by Cooper Kupp. I expect to add another WR and RB over the next two rounds, but as always, we’ll see how things shake out. I’ve been known to grab a 3rd QB here before…
6.06 – Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Chris Museezer – @force_fantasy
Goff went from a trade throw-in piece to the Lions’ quarterback of the future in a couple of years. The front office has built around Goff and his $30m per year contract suddenly looks reasonable. With elite weapons like Amon Ra- St. Brown, D’Andre Swift, and Jameson Williams and a strong offensive line set up around him, he is set to build upon his QB12 overall finish last year. He is just 28 years old and was the last stable QB left. Goff was the perfect piece for this win-now build.
6.07 – Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
Doug Harrelson – @DougHarrelson
I am starting to get an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach and wishing I had been drafting more WRs here because I’m not super thrilled with Amari Cooper as my WR2 if I’m completely honest. If I could go back I would take Davante Adams over Saquan Barkley and then still table RB a couple more rounds. This is why knowing who you are drafting with is so key.
6.08 – Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Chris Miles – @ChrisMiles1017
I took Geno for a few reasons here, the first, is slightly evil. I saw that coming up after me were four teams that still only had one QB. And in a 14-team Superflex having two competent QBs is a must. I was also the first team to draft a third QB and with the top options being the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, and Mac Jones I think the scarcity could force some of these teams into picking a QB. Second, I also felt there were a good number of TEs, WRs, and RBs available that aren’t much different from each other so I will have good flex options at my next pick. These strategies actually compound together because potentially forcing some teams on the turn to take QB when they might not have will push down for flex options to me next round.
6.09 – Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Malcolm Schultz – @716DFF
With my QB2 being Trey Lance (QB – SFO), I figured I’d select his WR2 to be my WR1. First-round wide receivers have a great hit rate and Aiyuk seemed to finally break out of the Shanahan doghouse this season and was one of the last young wide receivers on the board. After producing 13.4 fantasy points per game in 2022 on a 24% target share with three different QBs, stability under center should allow Aiyuk to continue producing as a fantasy WR2 with a low-end WR1 upside.
6.10 – Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Ben Winkler – @bensprinkler
After watching my top target Brandon Aiyuk come off the board just one pick before mine, I follow an ugly fifth-round pick with another ugly-ish sixth-rounder. Pollard is far from a perfect dynasty RB asset, but he has all the makings to be an elite performer at least for the 2023 season. Pollard is in line to receive a slightly more-than-reasonable long-term contract somewhere, likely as a clear lead back. His performance in 2022 has me excited at the prospect of a full workload for Pollard. I might be drafting him at his ceiling here, but with all my young WR targets flying off the board, I’ll take the win-now upside with an uber-talented back in Pollard.
6.11 – Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Paul Patterson – @FantasyFreezer
Without context, the thought of taking your RB1 at pick 6.11 is a little concerning, but given how this draft has unfolded there is value on the board. Rhamondre Stevenson finished as the RB8-RB10 across almost all types of scoring formats last season. With Damien Harris departing in free agency, he looks to have the role of a workhorse back locked down for the 2023 season.
6.12 – Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
Jagger May – @FantasyBluechip
I will die on the “Mac Jones is a Good NFL QB” hill. He’s not the sexiest QB due to his lack of rushing upside, but I’ll take a young Kirk Cousins-like player that I can buy as my QB2 for a long time. Yes, Jones had a bad year, but negative regression can be expected when a failed DC shares offensive duties with another failed coach to DBZ Fusion into more failure. But now Bill O’Brian is back (who served as Alabama’s OC during Mac Jones’ Heisman campaign) and I’d bet on improvement.
6.13 – Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Billy Beaman – @WillieBeamanDFF
Continuing to bang the wide receiver drum with Christian Kirk and my “Hero RB” build. This is another younger wide receiver rounding out my core and balancing the roster in terms of age. I think he is one of the better high-ceiling options left considering he should be the 1a target for Trevor Lawrence, who looks like he’ll only improve with time.
6.14 – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Matt Ward – @PsychWardFF
DeAndre Hopkins is someone I’m willing to let retire on my dynasty rosters. In his 10th year in the league, at 30 years old, Hopkins allotted 64 receptions on 96 targets for 717 yards and three touchdowns in only nine games played. The perennial WR1 averaged 16.9 PPG (WR9) in 2022 and will likely continue to produce at an above-replacement level until he decides to hang up the cleats.
Here are the links to previous rounds of this DFF Mock Draft!
The DFF Dynasty Start-Up Mock Draft: Part 1
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