Fantasy Football Advice: Rookie-Only Draft for Dynasty Leagues

If you’re in a dynasty league, use this recent industry experts draft to see which first-year players are worth adding to the roster.

Fantasy fans who are committed players and want to have a long-term squad are probably already playing in a dynasty league. And if you’re not, you might want to give it a try with a startup draft. If you’re unaware, dynasty leagues have an initial draft that encompasses the entire NFL. Rosters are larger (20-plus players) and you have the same team every year going forward. After the initial startup, the yearly drafts include rookies only, though some leagues incorporate free agents.

In an effort to give you insights into how your dynasty draft might look, let’s check out the results of the recent rookies-only draft in the Dirt Dynasty League, which is featured on my SiriusXM show, Fantasy Dirt (Monday-Friday, 2-4 p.m. ET on channel 87). The league, which is made up of friends and industry folks, features a full-point PPR format with a starting lineup of one quarterback, two running backs, three wideouts, one tight end, four flexes (RB/WR/TE), a kicker and a defense.

• 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit

The draft itself consists of four rounds. Here are the participants (besides myself):

Sandro Anello: SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio producer
Richard Christy: The Howard Stern Show, SiriusXM
Dave Dameshek: Minus Three, Extra Points, Daves of Thunder podcasts
Mike Dempsey: Co-host, FootballDiehards, SiriusXM
Bob Harris: Co-host, FootballDiehards, SiriusXM
Eric Luftglass: Senior Director, Talent Relations at SiriusXM
The Miz, WWE Superstar/Nathan Zegura, Cleveland Browns
Scott Porter: Actor (Friday Night Lights, Ginny & Georgia)
Lindsay Rhodes: Co-host, Fantasy Dirt, SiriusXM
Jason Smith: Host, The Jason Smith Show, FOX Sports Radio
Mark Wakefield: Manager, Alice in Chains

Fantasy managers who already participate in a dynasty league and haven’t had their rookie draft to this point can use these results as a useful guide. The recap includes several trades, which can also help determine the value of a player or a specific draft selection (either present or future).

Quentin Johnston of the Chargers was a surprise pick as the first receiver off the board :: Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

ROUND 1

1.1. Smith: Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons
1.2. Rhodes: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions
1.3. Anello: Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers
1.4. Smith (trade with Luftglass): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks
1.5. Christy (trade with Fabiano): Jordan Addison, WR, Vikings
1.6. Smith (trade with Harris): Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts
1.7. Wakefield: Bryce Young, QB, Panthers
1.8. Porter: C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans
1.9. Smith (trade with Christy): Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills
1.10. Miz/Zegura: Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens
1.11. Dameshek: Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seahawks
1.12. Dempsey: Devone Achane, RB, Dolphins

Notes: To the surprise of no one, Robinson went first overall to Smith. It was the first of four picks Smith made in the round after a busy offseason of trades. In all, he ended up with a strong haul in Robinson, Smith-Njigba, Richardson and Kincaid. Gibbs went second overall to Rhodes, who needed running back help, and Anello surprised the group slightly when he took Johnston as the top receiver over Smith-Njigba and Addison. In what was a weaker field, both Young and Stroud went in the first round. Flowers, Charbonnet and Achane finished up the round.

ROUND 2

2.13. Smith: Kendre Miller, RB, Saints
2.14. Rhodes: Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions
2.15. Anello: Rashee Rice, WR, Chiefs
2.16. Wakefield (trade with Wakefield): Michael Mayer, TE, Raiders
2.17. Dempsey (trade with Harris via Fabiano): Tank Bigsby, RB, Jaguars
2.18. Harris: Roschon Johnson, RB, Bears
2.19. Harris (trade with Harris): Luke Musgrave, TE, Packers
2.20. Dempsey (trade with Porter): Jonathan Mingo, WR, Panthers
2.21. Harris (trade with Christy): Marvin Mims, WR, Broncos
2.22. Miz/Zegura: Jayden Reed, WR, Packers
2.23. Dameshek: Chase Brown, RB, Bengals
2.24. Dempsey: Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans

Notes: Rookie-only drafts are linear, so Smith had the top pick again and took Miller. Rhodes went with another Lion, LaPorta, who went ahead of Mayer. The rest of the round includes players who have outside chances to make an impact as a rookie like Rice, Mayer, Johnson, Musgrave and Mingo. Still, it’s hard to see a lot of Year 1 options in this round unless injuries open up more opportunities.

Titans rookie will Levis was the fourth quarterback taken in the rookie-only draft :: (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

ROUND 3

3.25. Harris (trade with Smith): Michael Wilson, WR, Cardinals
3.26. Rhodes: Josh Downs, WR, Colts
3.27. Anello: Zach Evans, RB, Rams
3.28. Luftglass: DeWayne McBride, RB, Vikings
3.29. Dempsey (trade with Harris via Fabiano): Tank Dell, WR, Texans
3.30. Fabiano (trade with Harris): Jalin Hyatt, WR, Giants
3.31. Wakefield: Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Cowboys
3.32. Porter: Chris Rodriguez, RB, Commanders
3.33. Harris (trade with Christy): Puka Nacua, WR, Rams
3.34. Miz/Zegura: Israel Abanikanda, RB, Jets
3.35. Dameshek: Will Levis, QB, Titans
3.36. Dempsey: Sean Tucker, RB, Buccaneers

Notes: Things started to get a bit thinner in this round, as our managers took a few chances on players who could have long-term value. In dynasty leagues, that’s very important (obviously). I made my first pick of the draft (I traded my first two picks, including a deal that landed me Josh Allen) and selected Hyatt. In all, five wideouts and four running backs were picked, none of whom will likely make a Year 1 impact. Dameshek finished the round with Levis, who could be a future bargain.

For the record, here’s the deal I made during the offseason: I sent Nick Chubb, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2023 third-round pick for Allen and Brandon Aiyuk.

ROUND 4

4.37. Wakefield (trade with Smith): Cedric Tillman, WR, Browns
4.38. Rhodes: Charlie Jones, WR, Bengals
4.39. Anello: Eric Gray, WR, Giants
4.40. Luftglass: Deuce Vaughn, RB, Cowboys
4.41. Fabiano: Tucker Kraft, TE, Packers
4.42. Harris: Stetson Bennett, QB, Rams
4.43. Wakefield: Deneric Prince, RB, Chiefs
4.44. Porter: Hendon Hooker, QB, Lions
4.45. Miz/Zegura: Darnell Washington, TE, Steelers
4.46. Miz/Zegura: Tyler Scott, WR, Bears
4.47. Dameshek: Kayshon Boutte, WR, Patriots
4.48. Harris (trade with Dempsey): Zack Kuntz, TE, Jets

Notes: The fourth round didn’t have a whole lot of what I would call “sexy” picks. It started with Tillman, who could earn a big role for the Browns in the future. The Cowboys honk in me wanted Vaughn, but another Dallas fan, Luftglass, took him one spot ahead of me. Oh well. I audibled and took Kraft, who’ll battle Musgrave for tight end snaps in Green Bay. Two quarterbacks, Bennett and Hooker, came off the board as potential future starters for Harris and Porter, respectively.