Dynasty draft strategy: Picking seventh overall, what to do when Chase, Jefferson, and Taylor are gone

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It’s impossible to tell any fantasy manager exactly what strategy to implement in a dynasty fantasy football startup draft. How you construct your roster is heavily influenced by your draft position and fellow league-mates. Here’s a potential draft strategy for managers picking from the No. 7 spot.

Dynasty draft strategy: Picking from the seventh overall draft slot

For this draft, we will be using a 12-team league with PPR scoring and a starting roster of QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, and Flex. This draft will include rookies. Depending on your league settings, you might need to tweak your draft strategy to match your scoring format and roster requirements.

1.07) D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

I typically prefer to build the core of dynasty rosters around wide receivers. It’s just too difficult to pass up a 23-year-old D’Andre Swift in this spot.

Swift was second amongst running backs in target share last season at 18.4% and fifth in routes run. The Lions could have a sneaky-good offense this season and their all-purpose running back will be at the center of it. Swift projects to be a fantasy RB1 for the next several years.

2.06) Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

Davante Adams turns 30 years old this season and is now away from Aaron Rodgers for the first time in his career. With that said, this is one of the most talented wide receivers of the past half-decade. Adams has been a top-six wide receiver for the past four seasons. He’s not going to suddenly collapse now that he’s with Derek Carr and is 30 years old.

Adams should still have three quality years left, if not more. A common mistake dynasty managers make is thinking too far into the future. I’m confident Adams is elite for at least three more seasons. That’s enough for me.

3.07) Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

This pick was always going to be a WR given the available names at running back. Just like in my previous mock draft from the No. 7 spot, it came down to Diontae Johnson vs. DJ Moore. The analysis as to why is exactly the same as it was in that draft.

Both of these wide receivers are very talented. Johnson is one year older than Moore, but I went with Johnson because he’s the more proven commodity.

I have no doubt that Moore’s numbers would look much better if he didn’t have to deal with some of the worst quarterback play in the NFL. With that said, Johnson just posted a WR1 season with the remnants of Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback.

Johnson has improved every year he’s been in the NFL. He averaged 9.8 ppg as a rookie, 14.8 ppg as a sophomore, and 17.2 ppg last season. His 28.5% target share was the fourth-highest in the league. The man commands targets because he gets open.

Volume is king, and even with a new QB, I don’t expect it to change much. If anything, Johnson’s 80th-ranked 6.9 yards per target should improve as just about any quarterback, including Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, is an upgrade on Roethlisberger in terms of downfield ability.

There’s a realistic chance Johnson leaves Pittsburgh next season. Even if he does, he’ll be going somewhere to be a team’s WR1. Johnson’s not yet viewed as one of the truly elite wide receivers in the NFL, but after this season, I suspect he will be.

4.06) Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In my last mock draft, I passed on Leonard Fournette in the fourth round, hoping to get him in the fifth. He didn’t make it back. I won’t make the same mistake again.

Fournette led all running backs in targets per game last season. He was a true three-down back. We know Fournette has Tom Brady for at least one more season. Even if Brady does retire, Fournette isn’t going to just be done at age 28 in 2023. I think we get three more years of elite Fournette. That’s enough for me.

5.07) Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

This is exactly what I was hoping would happen after taking Fournette. 21-year-old rookie Drake London fell right into my lap.

The Falcons haven’t figured out their quarterback of the future yet, but London is poised to be their WR1 for the next decade. He’s a true alpha and has a WR1 ceiling. Even if he’s merely a WR3/4 as a rookie, he should be second on the Falcons in targets behind Kyle Pitts.

They will presumably figure out their quarterback position sooner rather than later. As long as London gets competent QB play, his ceiling is as high as anyone’s.

Dynasty draft strategy from the seventh overall spot | Rounds 6-15

Projected Week 1 roster

QB – Jalen Hurts
RB – D’Andre Swift
RB – Leonard Fournette
WR – Davante Adams
WR – Diontae Johnson
WR – Drake London
TE – Dalton Schultz
Flex – Amon-Ra St. Brown