2024 Dynasty Startup Mock Draft: SuperFlex

I recently participated with the FootClan in a SuperFlex Dynasty startup draft and wanted to detail the ins-and-outs of the selections.

Looking for a 1QB Dynasty Startup Draft? On a recent Fantasy Footballers Dynasty Podcast, Betz, Mike, and myself participated in a dynasty startup mock draft discussing strategy and our preference for waiting on the RB position.

For this SuperFlex startup mock, we used the following settings:

• 20 Rounds, 3rd Round Reversal
• Roster Settings: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, SFLEX, 11 BENCH
• Scoring Settings: 6 pt passing, half PPR

SuperFlex Strategy

At the heart of thousands of people asking “why don’t you do more SuperFlex content?” is a desire for clarity. I get that. The real questions people want to know: “when should I take QBs? How should I value them rightly?”  We touched on that question on a recent dynasty podcast if you want more discussion on the topic.

As stated by many in the fantasy industry, the main change in a SuperFlex versus as 1QB league is the supply & demand. 75% of the NFL QBs will be starting in a 12-person SuperFlex league. You’ll hear everyone and their mama discuss how SuperFlex leagues create positional scarcity for the QB position. Effective rosters in Superflex dynasty leagues not only recognize the value of QBs but also the opportunity cost of not having one. This makes trading for QBs even harder. With the scarcity mentality, everyone is in the business of hoarding and playing it safe.

But, it does not change everything. You still are playing fantasy football and valuing players based on what players are perceived to be. Dynasty is a market and this is a key point: it is an inefficient market. You can win with so many different combinations and strategies just like with every other position. It’s worth repeating how much QB turnover there was year-to-year in the NFL. I wanted to get a better feel of the league and see if people were overvaluing low-end QB2s and QB3s in SuperFlex leagues. Over the last five years, at least 10 QBs (who were the Week 1 starters) were NOT that team’s starter a year later.

Dynasty SuperFlex Startup Mock Draft

Awarding the Draft

Instead of analyzing every single pick of every single roster, I’ll come up with a couple of categories to highlight team builds. Keep in mind the third round reversal on this draft board.

Favorite 2QB Start– thePaulRuddTouch

Richardson + Daniels feels like it has the potential to shatter fantasy football scoring. Rushing is the true equalizer at the position and I wrote about both players and their range of dynasty outcomes if you want to feel alive: last year for Anthony Richardson and this year for Jayden Daniels. The premise is simple: since 1990, every rookie QB that crossed 80 rushing attempts has not only been a fantasy force but maintained a top-10 QB per game pace. To give perspective, 80 rushing attempts is 4.7 per game in this new 17-game era. Based on our early season-long projections in the Ultimate Draft Kit, both Richardson and Daniels will fly by this marker. Adding Derek Carr late as a QB3 is such a great addition to this QB room. Daniels was on my radar at 3.04 but when he was sniped at 3.03, I had to change course. I tip my hat to you, good sir! This is a solid roster with a stud RB (Breece Hall) and a stable of veteran WRs and Brock Bowers at TE. All around, this might be my favorite roster… besides my own, of course.

The Thanos Award– akawallaby

“Perfectly balanced, as all things should be“.

Wallaby is one our moderators in our Ballers Discord (and all-around great guy). His start WR-QB-RB-TE-SFLEX is the only one of the board crossing out five different positions in the first five rounds. A balanced build can certainly work in any setting but as Mike discussed on the most recent Dynasty podcast, every team likely has a weakness and having “three brick walls is better than one or two made of sticks”. In other words, leaning into two or three areas of strength is often a preferred strategy. To add in another metaphor, as Bilbo Baggins once said, “Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can’t be right. I need a change, or something. ”

The “Oh, That’s Interesting” Build– IceH0le

Three QBs in the first five rounds was a zag compared to what the rest of the room did. The next team that selected their 3rd QB was foxworth07 at the end of the 9th round. For reference, our QB25 (Michael Penix Jr.) doesn’t show up in our consensus 2QB rankings until 139th overall (Round 13). While our overall rankings are not gospel by any means, we don’t recommend selecting your QB3 in startups until the double-digit rounds. This team certainly is in win-now mode with CMC and Saquon as elderstatesmen at RB and the WR room also having some aging veterans on the wrong side of the age curve.

The “I Hate You” Award– matthewbetz

Betz is annoying to draft with because he knows my thought processes so much after talking on podcasts with him for so many years. This shows up especially in the later rounds as guys like MarShawn Lloyd, Jahan Dotson, and Dallas Goedert look like values to me. I also despise the fact his team could actually work… if Drake Maye holds up.

My Team

Oh, you wanted to know how I felt about my team? Those first 3 WRs (CeeDee Lamb, Marvin Harrison Jr., Tyreek Hill) feel like a dream as all three are ready to give WR1 production in 2024. It rivals manderson’s 3WR build (Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, Drake London) for sure. Waiting on QB might make some nervous but I think there is a fine blend of youth (J.J. McCarthy), locked-in and undervalued starter (Deshaun Watson), hopeful upside (Justin Fields), and backups (Sam Darnold and Drew Lock) that I could make this work in a SuperFlex. Selecting stud RB Jonathon Brooks in the 5th to pair with Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara, and Jaylen Warren gives me a solid RB room in my opinion. I likely could’ve added stronger WR4/5 selections but Keenan Allen is a soft spot for me 🙂 Kyle Pitts was the last of a tier of TEs so waiting until the middle of the 7th round for a young TE in his prime on a new look offense felt like a homerun for me. (I promise that wasn’t a Falcons homer pick) The rest of my roster could use some work as Quentin Johnston and Rashod Bateman are dart throws at failed former 1st round picks. Maybe one of them is lightning in a bottle?

“Steals” of the Draft (according to our Dynasty Startup Rankings & some of my favorites)

We’ll go round-by-round looking at some of the values that jump off the board. I likely missed a few when reviewing so feel free to spot your own. One of the common themes was RBs being scooped up at perceived values thanks to the run on QBs in the 3rd and 4th rounds.

• Bijan Robinson– 2.05
• Jahmyr Gibbs– 2.11
• Tyreek Hill– 3.04
• Rome Odunze- 4.05
• Travis Etienne Jr.- 4.06
• Jonathon Brooks- 5.04
• Kyren Williams– 5.06
• Kenneth Walker– 5.07
• James Cook– 5.08
• Xavier Worthy- 6.02
• Isaiah Pacheco- 6.04
• Mark Andrews– 6.05
• Rachaad White– 6.07
• Ladd McConkey- 6.11
• Keon Coleman- 7.02
• Trey Benson- 8.01
• David Njoku– 9.09
• Najee Harris– 10.01
• Kendre Miller– 11.02
• Zack Moss– 11.10
• Jahan Dotson– 12.04
• Jakobi Meyers– 13.01
• Raheem Mostert– 13.08
• Dallas Goedert– 14.04
• Rashod Bateman– 15.04
• Ty Chandler– 16.10
• Greg Dulcich– 17.02
• Jaleel McLaughlin– 17.03

“Reaches” of the Draft (according to our Dynasty Startup Rankings)

I’ll just list a few here through the first 10 rounds to not overly embarrass, especially myself. As I’ve shared before with dynasty rankings, much of the value is arbitrary and artificially given from dynasty managers. Who knows if a year from now this list looks bad and the “steals” end up looking like reaches? Our consensus rankings for SuperFlex will reveal a common theme: QB2s are often pushed up the board. It is more a philosophical view and while some might contend, realize that any strategy can work in dynasty.

• Caleb Williams- 1.08
• Sam LaPorta– 2.12
• Brock Purdy– 3.06
• Trevor Lawrence– 3.10
• Dak Prescott– 3.11
• Jared Goff– 4.07
• Kirk Cousins– 5.10
• Baker Mayfield– 5.12
• Terry McLaurin– 7.03
• Deshaun Watson– 8.09