You can’t win multiple fantasy football titles until you win one!
Below is a PPR dynasty startup mock draft, but be aware that this format comes with a wide range of potential outcomes for every pick. The best advice I can give you is to pay attention to your opponents’ rosters throughout the proceedings.
Some managers will look to capitalize on value in a win-now build while others may punt this season in a long-term approach to dominate the league.
Depending on strategies, certain types of players will fall (or rise) in the rankings, and the manager who is best at taking the temperature of the room mid-draft will be the one positioned to succeed both this season and down the road.
2024 Dynasty Startup Mock Draft | PPR
1.01) Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase has averaged 6.7 catches per game over the past two seasons, and by scoring once every 7.6 catches through his first two seasons (I’m ignoring a lower rate last season that was the result of the Joe Burrow injury), this profile is nothing short of elite.
I don’t view having a strong WR2 by his side (Tee Higgins) as anything to worry about, especially when you consider that Chase is consistently Burrow’s first read in scoring situations.
Chase’s quarterback entered last season at less than full strength, so let’s cut him a break. After two games to ramp up, here are Chase’s rates over the next five contests:
- 37.3% reception share
- 48.5% reception yardage share
- 50% reception TD share
That sort of potential is rare, and the ability to go through the majority (if not the entirety) of his career with a single quarterback is appealing to me when splitting hairs at the top of the board.
Chase’s situation and one-year age gap make him my top pick in a very competitive battle with …
1.02) CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Is he the best receiver in the game? The debate could certainly be had, and with little target competition around Lamb, he’ll be a threat to lead the league in targets for years to come.
After hot-and-cold touchdown numbers throughout his career, at the end of 2023, we finally saw the Cowboys force-feed their alpha receiver in scoring situations. All he did was score 12 times in his final 11 games last regular season, and while he didn’t find paydirt in the playoff loss, he earned a 29.3% target share despite the Packers doing everything humanly possible to discourage Dak Prescott from going this direction.
Entering his age-25 season, Lamb deserves consideration at the tippy top of the board – no matter if your league is redraft or dynasty.
1.03) Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
The former Longhorn racked up over 1,400 yards from scrimmage and scored eight times as a rookie – in a season where we all complained about his usage and couldn’t wait to fire Arthur Smith.
Is it possible that will turn out to be the worst season of Robinson’s young career? Health is always going to be a concern for anyone who plays this position, but the raw ability that was flashed last season is enough for me to throw caution to the wind here.
Early talk out from the Atlanta Falcons is that the plan is to feature Robinson in Christian McCaffrey-like ways. I’m probably handcuffing him with Tyler Allgeier in the later rounds, but we could be looking at an outlier situation: a running back that can help a dynasty team sustain success over an extended period.
1.04) Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Hill turned 30 years of age in March, but if you watched him last season and walked away thinking that he had lost a step, then we weren’t watching the same thing. His speed will naturally decline with time, and it’s possible that last season was the best we will see from him, but there have been no signs of decline in any of his metrics.
There have also been no signs that defenses can stay in front of him or slow his connection with Tua Tagovailoa. He was quoted this offseason as saying that Jaylen Waddle is the future of the Miami pass game and if that has your leaguemates scared, embrace it.
He’s not wrong — Waddle is 3.5 years his junior — but that doesn’t mean Hill’s production falls off a cliff. I generally structure my dynasty roster to win now and remain competitive for the proceeding 3-5-year window.
I expect nothing but top-shelf production from Hill over that stretch. Thus, he is a locked-in first-rounder for me.
1.05) Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
The man has seen 310 targets over the past two seasons and his quarterback got inked to a four-year extension this offseason, positioning St. Brown to be among the reception leaders for the foreseeable future.
With the league well aware of his talents last season, St. Brown increased his yards per catch by 15.5% while posting easily his highest scoring rate of his career. His profile is very much in line with Lamb (unquestioned WR1 with an established QB who plays indoors) and Hill (a high-scoring offensive environment courtesy of explosive teammates), a tier that some people still fail to put him in.
Don’t make that mistake.
I’d still prefer those two to St. Brown (Lamb profiles as a player with more scoring upside, while Hill’s current QB is probably the last one he plays with for the remainder of his career), but the difference is slight.
Would it surprise me if St. Brown was the top overall scoring receiver at some point during the Jared Goff era? Nope, not one bit. It’s possible that managers in your league let him fall a handful of picks from this projection, and you should be foaming at the mouth for that potential discount.
1.06) Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
There is simply no way to nitpick what Jefferson has been able to do through 60 career games.
- 392 receptions
- 5,899 yards
- 30 touchdowns
He’s been the most productive receiver in the history of the game through four seasons, and while the shine is off of him a touch in redraft formats this season due to the uncertainty under center, don’t make that mistake in a long-term league.
The skills are no secret, and because of the extended shelf-life of receivers, a reset at the QB position is likely to occur at some point during the career of all elite receivers. What better way to do it than with a top-10 pick while Jefferson is approaching his prime?
His high-end skill set should help promote accelerated growth for J.J. McCarthy, something that, if all goes right, will benefit him in a massive way down the road.
Dynasty managers need to see the forest through the trees – the Vikings bottomed out last season and were able to grab one of the premier prospects at the draft, not a luxury that every team gets.
Think about the Rams or the Jets – both teams have an elite receiver on their roster and an aging signal-caller, but neither will (likely) be bad enough in the short term to lock up a promising prospect under center.
That’s not to say that McCarthy is a future Hall of Famer, but he carries the type of potential that gives me reason to think that any minor downtick for Jefferson won’t last long.
1.07) Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
Consider this – Hall finished fifth among running backs who played at least 12 games on a per-game basis in fantasy points despite just 25 touches in the red zone. The four RBs ahead of him averaged 56.
The Packers ranked fifth in average yardage per drive during the final two seasons of the Aaron Rodgers era. Even if that level of success doesn’t translate one-to-one for the 2024 Jets, Hall’s expected points per touch will increase, and his volume is unlikely to take a step back. He had 5+ catches or a rushing score in 10 of his final 13 games last season – this is a rare skill set that now gets the benefit of the doubt under center.
Investing in a running back during the first round, for me, requires access to a rare ceiling, and that’s the case here.
1.08) A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
- Six games with a 30+ yard catch.
- Eight games with double-digit targets
- Consecutive 1,400-yard seasons
I understand if you want to nitpick a bumpy road to the finish line last season (scoreless in his final six games and held under 60 yards in three of his last four games), but I encourage you to take a step back. This man has been nothing short of special since joining the Eagles, and there is no reason to expect anything different as long as this offense is constructed around him and Hurts.
Last season, there was one receiver in the NFL with 1,800 air yards and 100 yards after contact.
It was Brown … and he had 215 yards after contact. He’s a near-impossible tackle when he gets running downhill, something Philadelphia can scheme up, and he is as capable as any player at creating a poster moment in jump-ball situations.
Erase the slow finish – you can count on Brown as he enters his age-27 season as a foundational piece to a successful dynasty team. No question.
1.09) Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Remember when we had Hill and a young Mahomes? A tandem that we assumed would grow together and be unstoppable for upwards of a decade?
We might have that in Houston.
Years 4-6 Anquan Boldin: WR4 (17.5 PPG)
Years 4-8 Brandon Marshall: WR4 (17.6 PPG)
Years 4-5 Dez Bryant: WR4 (19 PPG)
Year 4 Michael Thomas: WR1 (23.4 PPG)
Years 4-8 Tyreek Hill: WR1 (20 PPG)Nico Collins enters Year 4 with a QB top-3 on betting boards for yards and TDs … pic.twitter.com/LJvhAMxUFV
— Kyle Soppe (@KyleSoppePFN) August 7, 2024
Collins ranked 13th at the position in target share (26.1%) last season while posting the second most yards per route run figure in the league (trailing, you guessed it, Hill).
The 3.11 yards per route that Collins averaged in his age-25 season is difficult to contextualize. Over the past decade, here are the top six seasons by yards per route run from a receiver who played 10+ games and saw 50+ targets.
- Nico Collins (2023): 3.11
- Brandon Aiyuk (2023): 3.06
- Deebo Samuel (2021): 2.98
- Justin Jefferson (2023): 2.91
- CeeDee Lamb (2023): 2.80
- Odell Beckham Jr. (2014): 2.75
The majority of those seasons coming last year speak to where the rules stand, but the point remains that what Collins did in 2023 was all sorts of special. And he did it with a quarterback in Stroud, who is only going to get better.
I think that the addition of Stefon Diggs, while it may take some food off of his plate in the short term, is a net gain for Collins’ fantasy value. He gets to pick the brain of a player who spent years navigating NFL coverages that were geared to stop him.
1.10) Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
Gibbs ran for 10 scores and caught 52 balls as a rookie, statistics that only become more impressive when you see the list of rookie backs to hit both of those thresholds in the 2000s:
- Saquon Barkley (2018)
- LaDainian Tomlinson (2001)
I’m not ready to put Detroit’s playmaker in that class quite yet, but it’s not far off. If he can eat into David Montgomery’s role now that he has established himself as an elite option, we might be having serious RB1 overall conversations in 12 months.
Investing in the running back is scary in a dynasty setting whenever you do it, but by grabbing Gibbs, you solidify your RB1 slot for the next handful of years and allow yourself to play the volume game to round out your starting roster.
1.11) Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
After a historic rookie campaign, Nacua’s production floor is as high as any 23-year-old in recent memory. We know the path to dynasty success is through the receiver position, and nothing he did last season suggests that this is a risky investment.
It only took Puka Nacua one season to make all of these spectacular catches 😳@AsapPuka | @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/sMPeoggC8C
— NFL (@NFL) June 9, 2024
Of course, the age/health of Matthew Stafford is something Nacua will need to navigate with time, but receivers with a varied skill set like what we saw in 2023 have a way of overcoming uncertainty under center.
With the world aware of Nacua’s talent, he still posted a 9-181-1 stat line on 10 targets in the playoff game against the Lions. This is not a flash in the pan – this is the first flash of a fire that will burn for years to come.
1.12) Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
Rookies who open their careers with consecutive 80-catch 1,000-yard seasons are rare. Receivers who do it as a member of a bottom-of-the-barrel offense are borderline unheard of.
What Wilson has overcome since being the 10th overall pick in 2022 cannot be overstated. And while there are still long-term concerns under center, we should get a glimpse of what his true upside is in the short term with Aaron Rodgers healthy.
You’re still buying a prospect profile at this point because the environment around him isn’t as stable as the others residing in the top 10 at the position, but with 34 NFL games of proof, there isn’t much risk involved – feel confident that you have a WR1 on your hands for both 2024 and moving forward.
2.01) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
If you were going to create a rookie receiver to garner first-round consideration in a dynasty startup, wouldn’t it be Harrison? From bloodlines and route versatility to a clear path to elite volume, he has it all.
Kyler Murray is entering his age-27 season and figures to give Harrison stability at the quarterback position as he develops, and this offense is built to not only improve in 2024 but be one of the better offenses (assuming health) over the next five seasons given the youth of their primary options (Trey Benson was drafted in the third round to give them upside at the running back position in the post-James Conner era).
Three of the top four all-time receiving yardage seasons by a rookie receiver have come in the past four years, and while projecting Harrison for the 1,400+ yards that those stars (Puka Nacua, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson) produced is ambitious, he’s ready to earn targets at a high rate from Day 1 and for a very, very long time.
2.02) Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
It feels as if Taylor has been in our lives for a while, but I checked – he’s just 25 years of age. Yes, he’s missed at least half a dozen games in consecutive seasons, but a 925-carry sample of 5.0-yard-per-carry production is enough for me to buy this talent after the first round is complete.
Some will worry about the athleticism of Anthony Richardson sapping the upside of Taylor, but I’m taking an optimistic view of this situation. With a franchise QB under center, this team figures to be in scoring position on a regular basis. I’ll take that for a player who has scored 44 times in 53 games.
Not all running back profiles are stable enough to invest this sort of dynasty draft capital in: Taylor isn’t like most running backs.
2.03) Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Aiyuk has seen his production over expectation improve with each passing season, and that gives me confidence he can succeed wherever he takes his talents. From the sounds of the potential suitors, status quo is what Aiyuk investors should be rooting for, though I’m not hesitating to pull the trigger at this point, regardless.
Entering 2023, Aiyuk had never had a season in which he averaged 2.0 yards per route run – he cleared 3.0 in his true breakout season.
His aDOT is trending up, giving him the sort of upside profile that it takes to be a dynasty building block, given that we know he can win quickly off the line of scrimmage.
2.04) Saquon Barkley, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley is certainly nearing, if not at, the peak of his physical powers and now he joins the best offense of his career. In starring for a pitiful Giants team last season, Barkley overcame overwhelming attention from defenses and managed to gain 1,242 yards and 10 scores in 14 games.
Not all managers approach their dynasty start-up draft in the same way. Barkley is more of a win-now piece, but all titles count the same, and this manager is in a position to position well for the next few seasons – if this is your style, I encourage you to go all in.
We play to win the game: select Barkley with confidence and build a roster that is set to peak today around him.
2.05) Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr isn’t going to give Olave access to the type of ceiling that we all believe the raw talent gives New Orleans’ WR1 the potential to have, but this isn’t a 2023 Jets situation, and that means Olave should still be counted on for stable production.
In each of his two seasons, Olave has averaged over 1.65 PPR fantasy points per target and 2.00 yards per route run. The efficiency metrics highlight the elite skill set and point to a ceiling that could be worthy of Round 1 consideration with time.
What you’re buying here is a top-shelf talent that has yet to explode. You’re getting a reasonable price for a player who could join the top five at the position if he eventually finds himself in a situation with an above-average signal-caller.
2.06) Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
Much like Taylor, I’m viewing Pittman as a bet on Richardson. With very ordinary quarterback play, Pittman caught a career-high 109 passes in 16 games last season, continuing to show us the ability to find space to operate on a consistent basis.
The hole in Pittman’s fantasy profile up to this point is a lack of touchdowns (15 in 62 career games), but that could be corrected in a big way if the Colts deliver a top-10 offensive season.
In a dynasty setting, I want stability (88+ catches in three straight seasons) with reason for optimism. As Richardson levels up the offensive environment in Indy, it’s very fair to assume that we’ve yet to see the best from his WR1 – and he was pretty darn good in 2023.
2.07) Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
If you’re accustomed to looking at redraft boards or non-Superflex situations, seeing this name this low is jarring. McCaffrey has been fantasy royalty and has led many a fantasy championship to glory. Heck, he could well do that again this season.
That said, a startup dynasty draft is as much about building a juggernaut as much as it is about succeeding in the here and now. Generally speaking, I try to hop off of running backs a year or two early rather than risk being a year late.
History has taught us that is the play, especially when it comes to RBs that produce at such a level that we are willing to reach for them in this sort of environment.
- Marshall Faulk: after consecutive seasons north of 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, he never again ran for 1,000 yards or scored more than 11 touchdowns.
- LaDainian Tomlinson: after averaging 5.0 yards per carry and scoring 49 times over a two-season stretch, he scored just 33 times and averaged 3.8 yards per carry over his final four seasons.
- Todd Gurley: he hung it up after just six seasons, the last two of which didn’t feature a single touch gaining more than 35 yards.
I’m not forecasting a cliff for CMC. I’m just pivoting to other options if I can within the first two rounds of a league set-up like this.
2.08) Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Just ask Tyreek Hill and he will tell you that the 25-year-old Waddle is the future of the position in Miami. After all, we already have proof of Waddle being able to win at the professional level in a variety of ways (his aDOT was 7.0 as a rookie and sits at 11.3 since).
Waddle gets the benefit of the doubt of having his franchise QB on the roster and a coaching staff that excels at maximizing its pieces. The Dolphins are positioned to be a top-five scoring offense for the foreseeable future, and it’s pretty clear that the pride of Alabama is going to see his star ascend with time.
We know that Waddle can churn a fantasy profit next to Hill, and with this being a dynasty format, you’ve put yourself in a position to improve down the road.
2.09) Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions
“The next Travis Kelce” is a dangerous label, and I don’t think LaPorta is that in terms of NFL standards. But his stranglehold on the top of the position could well resemble what the peak Kelce run looked like.
At just 23 years of age and playing for one of the best offenses in the game, LaPorta should be able to dominate the position starting today and running through the next five or more seasons. The Lions inked Goff to an extension, and that allows his TE1 to have stability under center as he continues to develop.
In his introduction to the NFL, LaPorta had six games with a 25+ yard catch. Detroit has itself a reliable chain mover who has rare downfield upside for the position.
With this pick, you’ve locked in an advantage for years to come over the rest of your league mates.
2.10) Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
This profile is an interesting one. London’s age makes us believe that his best seasons are a little down the road, but could the next two seasons prove to be the best we see from him?
London finds himself in the perfect situation (a proven quarterback who isn’t a threat to chew up fantasy production with his legs) right now and has the potential to double his career yardage and touchdown totals this season alone.
The moving piece here is how you view Michael Penix Jr. If you believe he will be a starting quarterback in the NFL for a long time, you could justify taking London where his raw talent suggests he should go – inside the first 20 overall picks.
This manager is betting big on the Falcons by pairing London with Robinson. This isn’t a common strategy, but it does elevate the floor of this team, and sometimes our game is decided not by the team with the most upside, but by the one with the highest production floor.
If the Falcons are a top-10 unit with Cousins under center, this manager is going to be involved in the playoffs. This is a highly concentrated offense that should lean heavily on its stars.
I wouldn’t script this two-pick start, but the more I look at it, the more I think this manager could be onto something.
2.11) Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
This is buying a profile, and I think that’s sharp. Etienne averaged 5.1 yards per carry as a rookie and 3.4 catches per game as a sophomore. It feels inevitable that he will eventually put everything together for a monster fantasy season.
In theory, this offense is stable. Trevor Lawrence is still viewed by the organization as the franchise centerpiece and if he proves worthy of that label, Etienne at this point in the draft is a bargain.
This versatile skill set is not easy to find, and at just 25 years of age, Etienne projects as a top-10 running back over the next few seasons. Jacksonville doesn’t have proven depth behind its starter, allowing me to project high usage seasons ahead as his rookie contract comes to an end.
This pick may not grab the attention of your draft mates the way a flash rookie receiver would, but that doesn’t make it a bad pick. Getting stability at the most unstable position is valuable, and I fully support locking in such a player in the late second round.
2.12) De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
Slight backs with some durability concerns aren’t often an early target of mine in dynasty leagues, or any format for that matter. But there is an exception to every rule, and after 130 touches for 997 yards and 11 TDs as a rookie, it’s certainly reasonable to think Achane is that.
Is Achane Jamaal Charles 2.0? If he is, this is a bargain. The Miami offense is going to be potent for years to come, and with Raheem Mostert turning 32 in April, it’s fair to think this could be Achane’s backfield sooner than later.
Many view the addition of Jaylen Wright in the draft as a negative for Achane, but I’m not worried. Achane doesn’t profile as a running back who is ever going to win with volume, and a viable secondary option actually allows him to be maximized.
This manager has locked in pieces to elite offenses and has layered in upside with an elevated floor in an elite way. When it comes to roster construction, I think this manager nailed it.
Read through the next four rounds, but if I had to pick one team from this mock to have the most success over the next five seasons, team 1.01 would get my vote!
2024 PPR Dynasty Startup Mock Draft Rounds 3-6
3.01) Rashee Rice, WR, KC
3.02) Malik Nabers, WR, NYG
3.03) Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC
3.04) Isiah Pacheco, RB, KC
3.05) Josh Allen, QB, BUF
3.06) Rome Odunze, WR, CHI
3.07) DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI
3.08) Jalen Hurts, QB, PHI
3.09) Tank Dell, WR, HOU
3.10) Jayden Reed, WR, GB
3.11) Trey McBride, TE, ARI
3.12) Kyren Williams, RB, LAR
4.01) Anthony Richardson, QB, IND
4.02) DK Metcalf, WR, SEA
4.03) Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL
4.04) C.J. Stroud, QB, HOU
4.05) Derrick Henry, RB, BAL
4.06) James Cook, RB, BUF
4.07) Zay Flowers, WR, BAL
4.08) Dalton Kincaid, TE, BUF
4.09) Mike Evans, WR, TB
4.10) Davante Adams, WR, LV
4.11) Amari Cooper, WR, CLE
4.12) Joe Burrow, QB, CIN
5.01) Kenneth Walker III, RB, SEA
5.02) Jordan Love, QB, GB
5.03) Travis Kelce, TE, KC
5.04) DJ Moore, WR, CHI
5.05) Josh Jacobs, RB, GB
5.06) Jayden Daniels, QB, WAS
5.07) Tee Higgins, WR, CIN
5.08) Brian Thomas Jr., WR, JAX
5.09) Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, SF
5.10) Xavier Worthy, WR, KC
5.11) Kyler Murray, QB, ARI
5.12) Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR
6.01) Rachaad White, RB, TB
6.02) Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC
6.03) Zay Flowers, WR, BAL
6.04) Jonathon Brooks, RB, CAR
6.05) Joe Mixon, RB, HOU
6.06) Stefon Diggs, WR, HOU
6.07) Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS
6.08) George Pickens, WR, PIT
6.09) Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA
6.10) D’Andre Swift, RB, CHI
6.11) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, SEA
6.12) Jordan Addison, WR, MIN