Mock Draft Review: Part Three

Ryan McDowell Posted On July 3, 2014

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As part of the June DLF dynasty mock draft series, I put together one mock filled only with DLF writers. With the blessing of the other participants, I dissected their drafts and the potential starting lineups each team could potentially send out in 2014. Each team has been assessed and ranked, mostly based on the first halves of each team’s draft, while also noting some potentially significant later picks. Hopefully, you’ll see a few different strategies and find the one that you prefer.

Here are the teams, in revers order of predicted finish in 2014.

Eric Olinger:

1.10     Alshon Jeffery, WR CHI
2.03    Montee Ball, RB DEN
3.10    Victor Cruz, WR NYG
4.03    Michael Crabtree, WR SF
5.10    DeSean Jackson, WR WAS
6.03    Roddy White, WR ATL
7.10    Toby Gerhart, RB JAX
8.03    Vernon Davis, TE SF
9.10    Tony Romo, QB DAL
10.03 Russell Wilson, QB SEA

Other picks of note: Pierre Thomas, Andre Williams, Steven Jackson

Draft Analysis: Eric has a nice mixture of youth and veterans, backs and receivers. Having Alshon Jeffery fall to 1.10 makes for a great start and what seemed like a bit of a reach with Montee Ball at the 2.03 spot will likely become the norm as the season draws near. Eric followed that up by hammering veterans who should be able to help him win now.

Potential Starting Lineup

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QB Tony Romo
RB Montee Ball
WR Alshon Jeffery
TE Vernon Davis
FLEX   Victor Cruz
FLEX   Michael Crabtree
FLEX   DeSean Jackson
FLEX   Roddy White

2014 Outlook: As I mentioned, Eric clearly was building his team for the present as he made each of his choices. Outside of Ball, there is really little mystery with any of his starters, barring injury. We know what they are and we know how they should produce. Even if Ball does flop, Eric has new Jaguars starter Toby Gerhart to take over at his running back position. Eric should easily make the playoffs and has a chance at a championship in 2014.

Predicted Finish: 4^th of 12

Long-Term Potential: While Eric did predominantly target players who can help him this year, the majority of those players have multiple season of top end production remaining, including receivers like Victor Cruz, Michael Crabtree and DeSean Jackson.

Brian Bulmer:

1.12 Le’Veon Bell, RB PIT
2.01    Doug Martin, RB TB
3.12    Julius Thomas, TE DEN
4.01    Pierre Garcon, WR WAS
5.12    Drew Brees, QB NO
6.01    Eric Decker, WR NYJ
7.12    Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE TB
8.01    Ray Rice, RB BAL
9.12    Marques Colston, WR NO
10.01 Kenny Stills, WR NO

Other picks of note: Andy Dalton, Martavis Bryant, Reggie Wayne

Draft Analysis: Brian went a little against the grain by choosing two running backs early on while many other teams were focusing on wide receivers. With that said, his overall wide receiver corps didn’t really suffer as he collected a good mixture of youth and veterans, even with some of his later round picks like Martavis Bryant and Reggie Wayne. Brian also locked down one of the top options at both quarterback and tight end with Drew Brees and Julius Thomas. Overall, this team is well balanced and Brian did a great job.

Potential Starting Lineup

QB       Drew Brees
RB       Le’Veon Bell
WR      Pierre Garcon
TE Julius Thomas
FLEX   Doug Martin
FLEX   Eric Decker
FLEX   Ray Rice
FLEX   Marques Colston

2014 Outlook:

Predicted Finish: 3^rd of 12

Long-Term Potential:

Ty Miller:

1.07 Jamaal Charles, RB KC
2.06 DeMarco Murray, RB DAL
3.07 Arian Foster, RB HOU
4.06 Vincent Jackson, WR TB
5.07 Golden Tate, WR DET
6.06 Kendall Wright, WR TEN
7.07 Matt Ryan, QB ATL
8.06 Rueben Randle, WR NYG
9.07 Greg Olsen, TE CAR
10.06 Hakeem Nicks, WR IND

Other picks of note: Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt

Draft Analysis: With a clear plan of attacking the running back position, Ty turned his team into an immediate contender for year one. He avoided the rookies and some other “hyped” players, grabbing veteran value as it fell into his lap. This is the opposite of my typical strategy, but this team is nothing to laugh at and will obviously be in the running for a 2014 title.

Potential Starting Lineup

QB Matt Ryan
RB Jamaal Charles
WR Vincent Jackson
TE Greg Olsen
FLEX   DeMarco Murray
FLEX   Arian Foster
FLEX   Golden Tate
FLEX   Kendall Wright

2014 Outlook: Barring injury, there are no holes in this lineup, assuming the projections of wide receiver Golden Tate stepping up and becoming a reliable fantasy starter with his arrival in Detroit come to fruition. Ty does lack some upside at the receiver spot. Vincent Jackson and Kendall Wright have proven to be solid fantasy starters, but he could be at a deficit against other teams’ receiver corps in most weeks.

Predicted Finish: 2^nd of 12

Long-Term Potential: The future is not so bright for Ty’s team, based on what we know now. Jamaal Charles and Arian Foster are two running backs who have seen way too many touches in recent years to be able to be counted on for much longer and almost the entirety of Ty’s starting lineup is over 30 years old. Even his key late round depth is older. Consider Ty’s likely early dynasty success with this team, he also won’t be sporting an early rookie pick to begin replenishing and replacing some of his aging players. I hope Ty can take a title in year one, because he has a small window with this squad.

Karl Safchick:

1.02 AJ Green, WR CIN
2.11 Mike Evans, WR TB
3.02    Adrian Peterson, RB MIN
4.11 Alfred Morris, RB WAS
5.02    Bishop Sankey, RB TEN
6.11 Joique Bell, RB DET
7.02    Davante Adams, WR GB
8.11 Robert Woods, WR BUF
9.02    Peyton Manning, QB DEN
10.11 Brian Hartline, WR MIA

Other picks of note: Martellus Bennett, Blake Bortles

Draft Analysis: After selecting two wide receivers with his initial picks, Karl chose to focus on the running back position. While this greatly differs from my strategy, it clearly works for this team, especially considering the ability to start as many as five runners in this league. Say what you will about the aging Adrian Peterson, but he’s a great value in the third round for a “win now” team, and if you’re not sure which way you’re leaning, drafting Peterson basically makes your team focus on the present. He followed that up with some other value picks at running back. I especially like the choice of rookie Bishop Sankey in the early fifth round as I expect his ADP to soar over the next couple of months. Karl then took a couple of shots on young, unproven wide receivers before going back to his comfort zone with the veterans.

Potential Starting Lineup

QB Peyton Manning
RB Adrian Peterson
WR AJ Green
TE Martellus Bennett
FLEX   Alfred Morris
FLEX   Joique Bell
FLEX   Bishop Sankey
FLEX   Mike Evans

2014 Outlook: As I said, this team is clearly built to take home a title in the league’s inaugural season, given the selections of Peterson and Peyton Manning especially. Personally, I expect big years from the two rookies in Karl’s starting lineup, Sankey and Mike Evans. Considering the advantage he’ll have over most teams at quarterback and running back positions, Karl is my choice to win it all.

Predicted Finish: 1^st of 12

Long-Term Potential: I love Karl’s first two picks of AJ Green and Evans, but after that, there are some major question marks when considering what this team might look like in a couple of years. While I like Sankey and he is obviously young, I’m not sure he’s a building block type player that can be counted on for the next few years and Manning, Peterson and others may not have many productive years left. Karl will have to be active with trades and nail some draft picks to keep his team at the top of the heap.

There you have it. That’s how I see things going for both 2014 and the long-term for these 12 DLF writers, myself included. The great thing about dynasty leagues is that this is a long-term investment, if you’re doing it right, and there is more than one way to be successful and win a title.

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Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.