It feels like the NFL season just ended. Meanwhile, the 2025 NFL Draft is now behind us and the landscape of the league is mostly set for the upcoming season. Over the next few months, fantasy football leagues are going to have their dynasty startup drafts. For this mock draft, we are going to conduct the draft from the No. 3 spot.
This dynasty startup mock draft is for Superflex PPR leagues. To do your own mock, head over to PFN’s brand new fantasy football mock draft simulator.
1.03) Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
If I pick anywhere in the top half of a dynasty startup, I am taking a quarterback first. It’s the most important position in Superflex leagues. If you end up with a QB problem, it’s exceedingly difficult to fix it.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you force a QB after the first-round worthy ones are gone. By my count, there are six, and I will take one of them before I consider another position.
Jayden Daniels is 24 years old and coming off the greatest real-life performance by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. He is very much worthy of being the cornerstone asset of your dynasty roster.
2.10) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
This will undoubtedly be the most difficult selection of this mock. I have the option to choose between double-tap QB, which is always my preference. I could have gone with the flashy new rookie in Ashton Jeanty. But the toughest part was passing up on Puka Nacua.
My preferred method of building dynasty rosters is around wide receivers. It’s much easier to find running backs in rookie drafts or via trade. With that said, the goal is to score as many fantasy points as possible while having your assets maintain elite value for as long as possible.
Nacua has said he wants to retire at 30. That gives him 6-7 potentially elite years left. Removing positional concerns, Gibbs is a better fantasy asset than Nacua. He’s only 23 years old. In all likelihood, the difference in number of high-end years from each will be negligible, if it exists at all. Therefore, even though Gibbs plays running back, he’s a justifiable selection over the top wide receiver available.
3.03) Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
It was very tempting to go Jeanty here, but I need to secure a wide receiver. Drake London is 24 years old and fresh off a WR1-caliber season where he averaged 16.5 fantasy points per game.
London showed great rapport with Michael Penix Jr., and these two are set to be together for several years.
If you want to go with Nico Collins or Jeanty here, that’s perfectly fine. I am not thrilled with leaving the first three rounds with only one quarterback, but I feel there is enough depth at the position that I can get someone trustworthy in a couple of rounds.
4.10) Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
I am gambling on ADP with this one. Rashee Rice is the top WR on my board. However, Tetairoa McMillan is the top WR available. By taking the rookie first, I am maximizing my chances of securing both.
McMillan was the second wide receiver off the board, going at No. 8 overall. He’s 22 years old and could not have less in the way of target competition. If Bryce Young continues to improve, McMillan could be a fantasy WR1 by 2026.
5.03) Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Sadly, my gamble did not pay off. That’s okay. Let’s continue with the youth movement by adding Travis Hunter to the squad. So far, no one on this roster is over the age of 24. Yet, everyone is capable of producing immediately.
This is perfect execution of the productive struggle strategy. My roster is clearly set up for future success, but it also has a chance to compete if I get an accelerated timeline of development on the rookies.
Head coach Liam Coen said Hunter would primarily be an offensive player first. He should play enough to at least return WR2 value.
6.10) Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
I officially waited a bit too long at quarterback. Jared Goff almost made it back to me. With him gone, I cannot justify taking a QB just to fill the spot. It is what it is.
Taking a third-year former fifth-round running back isn’t the safest move. However, the Bengals’ commitment and willingness to use Chase Brown as a three-down back last year, combined with their lack of investment in the running back position in the 2025 NFL Draft has me supremely confident in Brown as an elite fantasy RB. Getting him at the end of the sixth round is grand larceny.
7.03) Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Obviously, I don’t love Emeka Egbuka’s short-term outlook. Landing on a good offense with a great QB in Baker Mayfield is fantastic. However, Egbuka is buried behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Plus, the Bucs have Jalen McMillan, who was a legitimate WR1 over the final month of his rookie season. It’s a crowded receiving corps.
But this is dynasty, and we are thinking long term. Situations change. Evans is 32. Godwin is 29 and coming off another devastating knee injury. Egbuka could be the WR1 of this team as early as 2026. Plus, he’s really talented. It’s hard to see this pick failing.
8.10) Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
Colston Loveland also finds himself in a crowded pass-catching room. But I need a tight end, and Loveland is an elite prospect playing for an innovative head coach who knows how to use athletic tight ends.
9.03) Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
No, I do not love doubling up on Bears pass-catchers. But when drafting players for possibly their entire careers, we must prioritize talent and upside over everything else.
Luther Burden III is a polarizing prospect with a wide range of outcomes. He could be Deebo Samuel 2.0. He could be Malachi Corley 2.0. In the ninth round, I have no issue taking a wide receiver with early second-round draft capital who has a Deebo Samuel ceiling.
10.10) Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
I passed on Tua Tagovailoa twice already. He’s still here. Tua certainly isn’t a safe QB2, as his career could be over at any moment. But injury is the only way I see him not being startable. At worst, he should be a stable mid-QB2, which is all I need to pair with an elite talent like Jayden Daniels.
11.03) Byashul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
One of the most explosive runners in this draft class, Byashul Tuten, is the rare Day 3 pick who could make an immediate impact. The current regime did not draft either Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby. Most importantly, neither of those backs is particularly talented.
Tuten may be the RB3 right now, but he can absolutely take over this backfield. With two trustworthy backs already on the roster, Tuten could solve my RB depth problem before it even materializes.
12.10) Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
I’m not sure how much I believe in Jaxson Dart. Fortunately, he’s a first-round QB joining a team that is guaranteed to give him a chance.
The Giants traded up to draft Dart. He joins a QB room that features 36-year-old declining Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston, who is fun for fantasy, but not great for winning football games.
At minimum, Dart is very likely to maintain his dynasty value throughout the season, and I can trade him if I don’t think he is a long-term starter. Now, despite waiting too long on QB2, I have three quarterbacks who should be starters in 2026.