2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Undervalued Players, Round One
Executing mock drafts are some of my favorite activities to do in the off-season. Rather than focusing on traditional 10-team or 12-team mock drafts you can find anywhere, I like to bring something different to the table as well. This week, I started another mock draft with a simple concept – choose the player on the board you think is undervalued in terms of their ranking, ADP or overall status within the dynasty community. While these players certainly don’t belong on any kind of “draft no matter what” list, they could represent players who are simply deemed as a value where you currently have to select them. In other words, the risk seems to be well worth the reward. The rules for this exercise were simple – you can take any player (rookie or veteran) and not worry about format (2QB, 1QB, etc.). Simply choose a player you believe is taken too late in drafts. No participant could make two picks in a row so we could get some variety as well. I asked each person to justify their selection and I’ll add my own commentary as well. Make sure you check out overvalued mock drafts from earlier in the month as well.
With all that in mind, let’s get to it.
1.01 = Christian Kirk, WR JAX
Commentary given: It feels as though he is being treated as an aging asset yet he is only 27 and routinely produces quality numbers. His role within the offense is secure, allaying fears Brian Thomas Jr. or Gabe Davis will eat into targets significantly. You can land him as your WR4 and rest easy.
My thoughts: Kirk as your WR4 is an easy yes for me. He didn’t have a great year but Ridley is gone and if he’s healthy, he could put up numbers similar to his 84/1,108/8 2022 season. While that may be asking a little too much, he still has more value than most are giving him credit for and Trevor Lawrence is steadily improving.
1.02 =Chris Godwin, WR TB
Commentary given: Coming off three consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, another year recovered from his ACL/MCL, in his prime at 28, and slotting into the Cooper Kupp slot god role? Sign me up at WR37 price tags. Doesn’t hurt that he has been productive in the past with a WR2 overall finish on his resume.
My thoughts: I think Godwin and Mike Evans are both being undervalued, honestly. While he may not put up elite-level numbers, there’s something to be said for the consistency Godwin brings to the table. Touchdowns are the most unpredictable stat in fantasy football and you just have to believe he’s going to have more than the five he’s had in the last two years combined, which would boost his value even more.
1.03 = Nick Chubb, RB CLE
Commentary given: At this point, criminally undervalued and can be for next to nothing. No, you’re likely not getting the vintage version of him but I have this feeling he could be a league difference maker for savvy owners picking him up on the cheap right now.
My thoughts: This was my selection but I’ll double down anyway. The reports on Chubb’s recovery have been nothing short of amazing and he’s about as tough as they come. He’s a great target for contending teams because the price outweighs the risk.
1.04 = Diontae Johnson, WR CAR
Commentary given: One of the best pure separators on the league and could command 150 targets with the panthers. He has such a reliable bankable floor for the next two seasons.
My thoughts: Bryce Young needs to make some steady improvement to be able to maintain value for both Johnson and Adam Thielen. However, I wouldn’t put it past him to do just that. A year under his belt should do wonders and Johnson is uber-talented. I like the value here as well.
1.05 = De’Von Achane, RB MIA
Commentary given: Currently the RB8 in ADP, Achane should be the fourth RB off the board after putting up the most efficient season by a rookie RB in history. In dynasty, there’s no reason Travis Etienne, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, and Christian McCaffrey should be going ahead of him.
My thoughts: I don’t see any way Raheem Mostert has the kind of season he did last year again. It’s just not feasible to think he could stay healthy and produce that much. I’m not as bullish as some but I’d certainly take him over someone like Etienne.
1.06 = Najee Harris, RB PIT
Commentary given: Harris is going at an ADP of RB26. That’s criminally low for a player that has run for over 1,000 yards in every season in the NFL. Pass receptions have been his problem as far as overall scoring in fantasy but I think he can have 40-45 catches this season. The offense should be much better, making it easier for Harris to eat this year.
My thoughts: Harris is labeled as one of the biggest busts of the last few years but he’s really not. Is the the player many wanted or hoped for? No. However, he has been productive and looked a lot better once Jaylen Warren started threatening his playing time. As the RB26, you could do a lot worse.
1.07 = Cooper Kupp, WR LAR
Commentary given: I find it hard to believe there are now 32 other wide receivers I’d rather have than Kupp at the moment. While the injuries and emergence of Nakua are legitimate concerns I still believe Kupp has 1-2 “Kupp-like” seasons left in him, even at 31. We’ve seen put up some crazy numbers and win leagues nearly by himself. His fifth round ADP is worth it. Load up on young players early, then go for it.
My thoughts: Reports from Rams camp indicate Kupp looks like his old self. While there’s some injury risk here, a vintage Kupp could be huge for dynasty managers. He’s on my short list of targets for any contending dynasty team I have.
1.08 = TJ Hockenson, TE MIN
Commentary given: I understand why managers might be a little skittish when it comes to Hockenson between last season’s injury and the loss of Cousins to Atlanta (and now McCarthy out for the year). However, I think the hate has gone too far, with his ADP dropping from 42nd overall in December of 2023 to 68th overall in the latest ADP. He was the TE2 at the time of the injury and is now being valued as the TE8. As soon as he gets back on the field, we should see his value rise a few spots, making him a buy in dynasty leagues.
My thoughts: There’s a nice buying window here for Hockenson. While others are likely paying through the nose for riskier players like Brock Bowers, I’m much more interested in a player who could honestly have a 100-catch season at some point. He may not be as exciting as some others but in the 60s? Sign me up.
1.09 = Michael Penix Jr, QB ATL
Commentary given: QB28 in July SF ADP, too low for a player guaranteed to be worth a first round dynasty pick when he gets the opportunity to start for the Falcons. The market appears certain it will be 2026 – but many factors could lead to an earlier spike in value (Cousins injury, Falcons miss playoffs, Cousins retirement etc)
My thoughts: I’m certainly bias here because of my connection to the University of Washington. Still, Penix is being vastly underrated. He’s a top ten quarterback being drafted as if he was a second rounder. You can argue he was taken too highly by Atlanta but it’s irrelevant. Anyone with Penix is going to have to be really patient but they could really be rewarded. He needs to prove he can be durable but he’s a serious talent.
1.10 = Justin Herbert, QB LAC
Commentary given: The trendy thing to say is that new HC Jim Harbaugh and new OC Greg Roman run the football everywhere they go, and they’ll run it in LA too. And that is why July’s superflex ADP has Herbert as QB10. That’s generous for a QB who will never throw another pass!Here’s the reality: two coaches who know how to win games just inherited one of the best pure passers in the league. How do you win games with this roster? Justin. Herbert. Throwing. The. Ball. And they acknowledge it; they just gave him the best left tackle and the best slot receiver in the draft. Rumors of Herbert’s demise are GREATLY exaggerated.
My thoughts: I’m not quite so high on Herbert. The losses of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are legitimate and I do have concerns about the offense. He’s a solid option and while he could be a “buy,” I think he may actually go down in value a touch before rising again in a year or two.
1.11 = Tony Pollard, RB TEN
Commentary given: Pollard was overhyped last season and destroyed some people’s dreams but he was recovering from a serious injury that he admits took him a long time to recover. Once he was fully healthy he was a different player who looked explosive. He lead RB in PFF rushing grade from that point on and the Titans paid up to bring him to town. RB28 is far too cheap for a player with top 5 RB upside.
My thoughts: I’m just not sold on Pollard and think Tajae Spears may actually emerge as a better option, This is interesting because Pollard’s name came up in both the overrated and underrated discussions by different people – this means he’s clearly one of the most polarizing players in fantasy at the moment.
1.12 = Amari Cooper. WR CLE
Commentary given: WR43 in July SF ADP, a player who is the clear cut WR1 in his offense, spent most of last season without his top quarterback and has a top 12 season in his range of outcomes.
My thoughts: You just know what you’re going to get with Cooper – he’s the most hit or miss receiver in fantasy football. Last year, his first game featured three catches and 37 yards and his last one was good for 11 catches, 265 yards and two touchdowns. That really sums up his career as we see peaks and valleys all the time. If you can handle the good with the bad, he’s a good buy as well.
I’ll be back with round two later this week!
Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
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