Dynasty Mock Draft Strategy: The Blend

Ryan McDowell Posted On August 23, 2016

I recently debuted a new series focused on the six different strategies I tried out in the recent August DLF Dynasty Mock Drafts. Check out the first part of the series for a full explanation.

In DLF Dynasty Mock 2, the strategy I used was a total blend of the previously discussed Productive Struggle and the popular “win now” game plan. Entering the draft, I knew this meant I would still target some of my favorite young wide receivers, but would also need to balance those picks with veterans who could make me a contender in 2016.

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In this league, I drew the 1.08 draft slot and began the draft as I typically would, selecting Tampa receiver Mike Evans. While he is one of my favorite young players and could be the cornerstone of a Productive Struggle team, he can also be a key component on a championship contender.

With this strategy, I knew I wouldn’t be afraid to target some of the former top tier players who are beginning to slip and that made Dez Bryant an easy selection with my 2.05 pick. Just as I always do, I wanted to heavily focus on building my team around wide receivers. The Cowboys star should be in for another big season and now I have two top-ten dynasty receivers.

With this strategy, I am basically looking for the best falling value, almost regardless of age or position. I found that in the third round with Jordy Nelson, a player I wouldn’t normally draft due to his age and recent injury history. Nelson is just now getting back on the field as he returns from a torn ACL and that pushes him in the third round range. I balanced that pick with a stab on a young, high-upside player, new Eagles receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. This draft took place a little over two weeks ago and the continued negative reports and the subsequent trade involving DGB would likely cause me to change my pick, looking back. Nonetheless, he is a young receiver with promise and I’ve now started my draft with four consecutive pass catchers.

Entering the draft, I expected to grab a running back earlier than normal with a hope of building a team that could win now, but would also be stocked with some up and coming talent. In the fifth round, I grabbed Tampa Bay back Doug Martin. I expect a bit of regression for Martin this season, but he is still a respectable RB1 and a solid value as the eleventh back off the board. I kept it going in the sixth round with another veteran back, Jamaal Charles. Of course, Charles is coming off a season-ending injury, but he’s still one of the most talented players in the league and my team is feeling very much like a team primed to compete in 2016.

Through six rounds, my team looks like this:

QB:

RB: Martin, Charles

WR: Evans, Bryant, Nelson, Green-Beckham

TE:

My balanced team was leaning slightly towards the veteran side, so in the seventh round, I added Dolphins rookie receiver Leonte Carroo. While he’s likely the WR3 on his own team, I still love his upside and I had enough depth at the position to wait on him, if needed. I continued my flip-flop with the addition of veteran Michael Crabtree in the eighth round. He’s an every week starter, though he does come with a low ceiling.

In the ninth round, I made another pick I suddenly regretted, Steelers tight end Ladarius Green. Recent news will greatly affect his dynasty value and ADP, but this represented solid value for the former Charger, until recent reports that he is considering retirement. After locking up my tight end spot (or so I thought) I did the same at quarterback by taking veteran Drew Brees in the tenth round.

With my draft at the halfway point, I am very pleased with my team, but the second half of the draft is also very important when trying to build a competitive team. Here are my next ten picks.

11.08: DeAndre Washington, RB OAK

12.05: Tajae Sharpe, WR TEN

13.08: Pharoh Cooper, WR LA

14.05: Karlos Williams, RB BUF

15.08: Jason Witten, TE DAL

16.05: Charcandrick West, RB KC

17.08: Zach Miller, TE CHI

18.05: Paxton Lynch, QB DEN

19.08: Rueben Randle, WR PHI

20.05: Daniel Lasco, RB NO

After my first ten picks were predominantly veterans who could help me win in the short-term, I leaned on youth in the second half, grabbing five rookies. I didn’t see the news coming regarding my starting tight end Green, but things worked out well for this team as I also added Jason Witten and Zach Miller as reserves. Considering Witten has never finished outside of the top 12 fantasy tight ends in any season, he should be able to pick up the slack.

Here’s my final depth chart after 20 rounds.

QB: Brees, Lynch

RB: Martin, Charles, Washington, Williams, West, Lasco

WR: Evans, Bryant, Nelson, Green-Beckham, Carroo, Crabtree, Sharpe, Cooper, Randle

TE: Green, Witten, Miller

In this format, we start just eight players and while my starters look solid, I am not fond of the depth on this team. My starters would likely include Brees, Martin, Charles, Evans, Bryant, Nelson, Crabtree, and Witten. Other than Evans, my goal of building a balanced team of youth and veterans didn’t exactly work out. While I could be a strong contender in 2016, I am not confident that this team is built for the long haul, especially considering the recent negative news surrounding both Green-Beckham and Green, two of my top nine picks.

As I mentioned in the previous article, I collected rankings from other dynasty players, and the results were very positive for this squad. Of the more than 100 people who ranked the six teams I drafted, 34% of them ranked this team as my top group. Also, another 31% ranked this as the second best team. Here are the full results.

Ranked first of the six: 34%

Ranked second: 31%

Ranked third: 16%

Ranked fourth: 9%

Ranked fifth: 7%

Ranked sixth: 3%

I’ll share the full results at the conclusion of the series, but with 65% of respondents considering this one of the top two teams, the approval rate is very high, even though it didn’t meet my own expectations.

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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.