If you simply can’t wait until August to start another fantasy football league, then entering a startup dynasty draft is one of the best options to scratch the fantasy itch until we arrive at the start of the 2024 NFL season.
Managers can deploy an abundance of strategies for these dynasty startup drafts, but selecting players who are about to head into free agency or have seen a significant amount of changes to their organization can make it very difficult to know which players to invest your valuable draft capital into before the start of the NFL offseason.
Here is a six-round mock draft for a 12-team, 1QB league in a PPR scoring format to help you formulate a strategy of where to target players entering the month of February.
2024 Dynasty Mock Draft | Round 1
1.01) Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
The greatness we have seen from Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson through the first four years of his NFL career can’t be understated. He has the most receiving yards before the age of 25 in NFL history with 5,899.
The Vikings will have to decide whether or not they will bring back QB Kirk Cousins, but Jefferson’s historic production entering the prime years of his career makes him a worthy selection at the top of the draft.
1.02) Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Fantasy managers who were expecting a potential WR1 overall performance in 2023 from Ja’Marr Chase came away a bit disappointed, but his WR11 finish last year with an injury to QB Joe Burrow and battling injuries of his own should not be held against him as a negative.
Who is the WR1 for years to come? The Ja'Marr Chase dynasty fantasy football value involves a few moving parts — how high does he rank? https://t.co/T4Z9pS6Vfl
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 10, 2024
In fact, he set a career high with 100 receptions last season and still managed to top 1,200 yards receiving in a tumultuous campaign. Chase is still positioned to be an alpha target-earner with an MVP-caliber quarterback for the foreseeable future. Chase still represents one of the best dynasty assets a manager can build the foundation of their team around heading into 2024.
1.03) Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
The expectations surrounding Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson were simply through the roof entering his rookie year. Sure, he didn’t see the overwhelming bell-cow volume many expected in 2023, but his RB9 finish while ceding a frustrating amount of work to Tyler Allgeier actually provides plenty of room for optimism moving forward.
Robinson still flashed his elite playmaking ability at the RB position in his first year, proving the high praise surrounding his prospect profile heading into the NFL was well warranted.
In addition, the Falcons brought in a brand new coaching staff which could see the Atlanta unleash Robinson this year and beyond.
1.04) CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
For all of the great seasons we saw from the WR position in 2023, it was the Dallas Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb who finished the year as the WR1 overall.
His 135 receptions, 1,749 yards, and 12 TDs were all career highs, which has been a common theme throughout his entire career. He has seen his receptions, yards, and touchdown production all climb in four consecutive years. If that trend continues, then he should probably be the 1.01 in startup drafts.
1.05) Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
Speaking of receivers who simply keep getting better and better, Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown also took another big step into elite production territory in 2023.
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I’m aware this is going to sound like a broken-record repeat of what we saw from Lamb, but St. Brown has seen his receptions, yards, and receiving scores increase in three straight years.
The return of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson means St. Brown should have one of the highest floors at the WR position heading into the upcoming season, which makes him one of the best investments to build your dynasty team around in a PPR format.
1.06) Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
The New York Jets may have fallen catastrophically short of their expectations for the 2023 NFL season, but the season dynasty managers got from RB Breece Hall was nothing but encouraging.
Considering he was coming off of a torn ACL, split time with Dalvin Cook through the first four games, and played in an offense that ranked 31st in total yards and 29th in scoring last year, Hall’s RB2 overall finish is incredibly impressive.
His 1,585 yards and nine TDs were certainly solid, but his PPR floor was elite with 76 receptions, leading all running backs in 2023.
We saw him enter elite RB territory with Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Trevor Siemian under center last year, which means he could be even more dangerous with competent quarterback play under center, assuming Aaron Rodgers takes the field in 2024.
1.07) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs missed two games and lost a considerable amount of work to David Montgomery during his rookie campaign, and he still finished as the RB10 in 2023.
Gibbs was exceptional on a per-touch basis and topped 50 receptions in his rookie year. He saw a considerable and consistent jump in rushing work over the back half of the season, which points his arrow up heading into the 2024 season in a high-powered Detroit offense.
1.08) Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
This ranking of Jets WR Garrett Wilson feels like the aggressive projection of what type of fantasy impact Rodgers will have for the talented receiver entering his third NFL season.
Wilson has managed to produce back-to-back top-30 fantasy WR finishes while catching passes from the aforementioned Wilson, Boyle, and Siemian last year and Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White, and Chris Streveler during his rookie season.
He has caught 80+ passes for 1,000+ yards in both of his first two years, which already gives him a high fantasy floor entering 2023, but if Rodgers does have a couple of quality seasons left, then Wilson could make a huge jump heading into his third season.
1.09) A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles stumbled into the playoffs after a 10-1 start to the 2023 season. Part of their fast start had to do with the outstanding production from WR A.J. Brown, who rattled off six straight games of 6+ receptions and 120+ yards during a stretch that started in Week 3.
Assuming Brown is still catching passes from QB Jalen Hurts next year and beyond, Brown offers a WR1 overall ceiling with one of the highest floors at the position.
1.10) Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
There is simply no player who has a higher fantasy ceiling at the running back position heading into the 2024 campaign than San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey.
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He is perfectly positioned to be the featured player in one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league, which is orchestrated by one of the best offensive minds in the NFL.
His age and injury history gives him a much smaller window of elite production than the other players selected in the first round, but his 2,023 total yards and 21 total TDs in 2023 prove he still has plenty left in the tank for more elite production in the next few years.
1.11) Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Similar to McCaffrey, Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill may be approaching the end of his prime productive years, but his elite numbers make him hard to leave on the board.
Hill has produced a minimum of 119 receptions, 1,700 yards, and seven scores in each of his first two seasons wearing a Dolphins uniform.
His role in this Dolphins’ offense — which features one of the best offensive schemers in the league — makes him a fantasy football cheat code. His elite speed isn’t going to last forever, but there have been no signs of him slowing down — figuratively and literally — which makes him an elite dynasty asset heading into 2024.
1.12) Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
If you managed to acquire Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor at a discount this August when he was in a public spat with the front office about his contract, then congratulations.
Taylor had plenty of moments of his former RB1 overall season from two years ago through his 10 games on the field in 2023.
The return of Anthony Richardson under center should help this offense reach its true potential under Shane Steichen, even if it could lead to Taylor getting a few more rushing touchdowns vultured away by having a dual-threat dynamo under center.
2.01) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
To be honest, I’m having a really hard time not ranking Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. higher on this list. Harrison feels like a surefire stud the day he walks into the NFL, boasting one of the most complete prospect profiles we have seen come into the league over the last 10 years.
The one hesitation with ranking him aggressively would be if he lands with the New England Patriots, who currently hold the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This kid is the real deal and could catapult into the first round with a favorable landing spot.
2.02) Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Speaking of the real deal, there are still plenty of non-believers out there trying to dismiss Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua’s productive rookie year.
Check that, it wasn’t just a productive rookie year … it was historic.
Nacua rewrote the record books with the most receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) by a rookie wide receiver in NFL history.
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Cooper Kupp did miss the first four games of the season, but using that narrative to dismiss Nacua’s exceptional first year in the NFL feels really lazy.
Kupp and Nacua appeared in 12 games together this year, and Nacua caught more passes and had more yards collectively than Kupp over those dozen contests.
Nacua is well positioned for another productive season with a quality quarterback and gifted offensive mind heading into 2024.
2.03) Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
The tight end position can be a bit difficult to invest top draft capital into, but when you finish the year as the TE1 overall in your rookie season, then you may be the exception to the rule.
Lions TE Sam LaPorta’s 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 TDs in a high-powered offense may be just scratching the surface of his future production. As a pure pass catcher, LaPorta is already in elite company at the TE position, which makes him well worth being the first TE off the board in dynasty drafts.
2.04) Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints’ passing game certainly had its ups and downs in Derek Carr’s first year under center, but once he and Chris Olave got on the same page, the results were what many fantasy managers were hoping for from this duo.
Olave went for 5+ receptions and 90+ receiving yards in four of the last eight games and should be the primary focal point of the Saints’ passing attack again heading into 2024 and beyond.
2.05) Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
After a disappointing first two seasons in the NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. finally had his breakout season in 2023 with 1,484 total yards and 12 TDs.
The Jags’ offense certainly was a bit of a disappointment collectively with QB Trevor Lawrence dealing with injuries and the inconsistent production from WR Calvin Ridley, but that doesn’t change the fact Etienne is positioned as the bell cow back in an offense that still could take a big step forward in the next few years.
2.06) Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
This is easily the toughest player to rank heading into the 2024 NFL season. Rams RB Kyren Williams exploded with 1,350 total yards and 15 TDs in just 12 games and led all running backs on a touches-per-game basis in 2023.
Is Williams a one-hit wonder? Is he ranked far too low in this mock? Will the Rams address the RB position this offseason? The answers will vary greatly, but if he is slated to be the leading man in Los Angeles next year, then he is very worthy of this selection at just 23 years old.
2.07) Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Another rookie receiver goes in the second round of this rookie mock. Harrison may be the top prospect at the WR position heading into the draft, but LSU WR Malik Nabers has a chance to be just as productive at the NFL level.
Nabers is an instant separator and dynamic playmaker after the catch who you can’t touch at the line of scrimmage. If he manages to join forces with QB Justin Herbert in Los Angeles … then get your popcorn ready.
2.08) Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Speaking of instant separators, some may be surprised to see WR Jaylen Waddle drop to the back half of the second round — but hear me out. The Dolphins offense has been very productive ever since Mike McDaniel was named the head coach, but I’m not sure I can confidently say what the future of the quarterback will be for the team.
In addition, the presence of Hill certainly caps the fantasy ceiling of Waddle over the next few years. Waddle is immensely talented and would jump into the first round if Hill wasn’t in the mix in Miami, but the limited ceiling bumps him slightly down the board at this time.
2.09) Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs clearly had a receiver problem through the first month of the 2023 NFL season. Well, that changed drastically once rookie WR Rashee Rice started to emerge over the back half of his rookie campaign.
From Week 12 through the rest of the season, Rice was the WR8 with 43 receptions, 518 yards, and three scores. Keep in mind that he missed Week 18 after the Chiefs secured the three seed in the AFC playoffs.
When you earn the trust of Patrick Mahomes in your rookie season, you have the chance to become a fantasy force for the next five years and potentially beyond.
2.10) Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens offense is likely to boast the 2023 NFL MVP after an outstanding year from QB Lamar Jackson. Part of Jackson’s jump in passing production was due to the improved weapons on the outside.
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His best weapon was WR Zay Flowers, who generated 77 receptions for 858 yards and five scores in his rookie year. Flowers is a dynamic and versatile weapon in the passing game who looks like the clear-cut alpha target earner at the WR position with an MVP-caliber quarterback moving forward.
If Jackson and Flowers continue to improve, then Flowers’ ceiling could be much higher than this ranking.
2.11) DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Another undersized receiver who is capable of putting up elite production is Eagles WR DeVonta Smith. He may have been a bit more volatile than most fantasy managers like, but he still finished with 81 receptions, 1,066 yards, and seven scores in 2023.
Despite the disappointing year from the Philly offense, Smith is still positioned to be a productive and reliable fantasy option paired with Hurts for years to come. One thing worth monitoring that could help Smith’s fantasy value will be Brown’s surrounding status with the team.
If Brown and the Eagles decide to part ways, then Smith would get a huge boost up the dynasty rankings.
2.12) Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Frankly, this ranking feels a bit too low for Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen. He has finished the last four years as either the QB1 or QB2 overall … that is absolutely absurd.
Some can definitely argue whether or not Mahomes should be the QB1 off the board in dynasty formats, and I completely see the argument. However, if we remove the exceptional NFL playoff success from the equation with Mahomes — which doesn’t come into play in fantasy football — then Allen has earned the right to be the first QB selected in dynasty formats.
2024 Dynasty Mock Draft | Rounds 3-6
3.01) Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
3.02) Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
3.03) Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
3.04) Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3.05) De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
3.06) DJ Moore, WR, Chicago Bears
3.07) Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
3.08) Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
3.09) James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
3.10) Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
3.11) Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
3.12) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
4.01) Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
4.02) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
4.03) Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
4.04) Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans
4.05) Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
4.06) Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
4.07) Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
4.08) Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
4.09) Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
4.10) Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
4.11) Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
4.12) DK Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
5.01) Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
5.02) Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
5.03) T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings
5.04) Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
5.05) Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
5.06) Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
5.07) Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
5.08) Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
5.09) Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
5.10) C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
5.11) Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
5.12) Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
6.01) Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
6.02) Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
6.03) Caleb Williams, QB, USC
6.04) Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
6.05) Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
6.06) George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
6.07) Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
6.08) Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
6.09) Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6.10) Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Commanders
6.11) Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
6.12) Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
