Dynasty League 2023 Post-Draft Analysis
As usual let me start off by pointing out that what you will find below are my opinions, so don't take them to heart, because I’m far from 100% right, as evidenced from this annual article. What you will see is which pick from each team intrigued me the most and a brief analysis on that pick, or the team's draft as a whole, or maybe their season outlook because of the draft....who knows what my brain will come up with as I write, I certainly don't.
Bryar
Most Intriguing Pick: RB Tank Bigsby (4thRound)
Analysis: In many ways this draft will hinge on how far Lamar Jackson and Dallas Goedert can take him. Both are still decently young, so barring injury, there isn’t a time crunch. However, if Bijan Robinson immediately launches my team to the next level and Jackson and Goedert don’t do the same for Bryar it will drag this class down for him. Mayer in the third is interesting since he just added Goedert via the trade, but the most intriguing pick is definitely Bigsby. By all accounts he’s been tearing it up in Jacksonville’s training camp, but with Etienne in front of him, can he carve out a big enough role to be fantasy relevant?
Simon
Most Intriguing Pick: WR Zay Flowers (2ndRound)
Analysis: Trading pick 1.02 and 2.02 for Trevor Lawrence, Saquon Barkley and Mecole Hardman was a great move. His team needed a lot of help as soon as possible (thanks to Kamara’s suspension, and Hunt currently being team-less), and there wasn’t a player available in the draft at those spots that could have the impact Lawrence and Barkley will. Even after adding Barkley and Hardman Simon still needed immediate help at Running Back and Receiver. Adding Pacheco in the first should give him a Back that holds the starting role for his team right now that he can rely on while Kamara serves his suspension. Flowers offers the most intrigue though. He’s a rookie, but from what I’ve been reading, he should get first dibs over Rashod Bateman who has once again been hurt. If that’s the case Flowers has a chance to finish the year as Simon’s WR1. Of course, if you feel that could be the case you also have to believe that Baltimore is in fact going to throw the ball more.
Ryan
Most Intriguing Pick: TE Dalton Kincaid (2ndRound)
Analysis: A year ago we would have looked at Ryan taking Kincaid and wondered what he was up to since he already has Pitts and Okonkwo on his roster. However, the additional flex spot changes that. If Kincaid is as good as the beat reporters have been saying, then Ryan could be regularly running with a Tight End in one of his flex spots. Charbonnet in the first over JSN was interesting because JSN is widely viewed as an immediate impact player in dynasty circles and Charb will have to compete with Walker for touches. I get it though. Ryan doesn’t have an RB1, he has a mixed bag of Running Backs. If Charb can carve out a significant touch total in Seattle Ryan will be very happy with his decision.
Alex
Most Intriguing Pick: TE Sam LaPorta (2ndRound)
Analysis: Alex has to be thrilled JSN fell to him in the first. And I’m not the least bit surprised he decided to take LaPorta since, you know, Iowa (and for those who don’t know, that is Alex’s college team). But it definitely left me wondering what his plan is going to be at Tight End. He now has Pat Freiermuth (top ten TE, entering his third year), Cole Kmet (top ten TE, entering his fourth year), and the rookie.
Rob
Most Intriguing Pick: RB Tyjae Spears (4thRound)
Analysis: Addison in the first when he already has Justin Jefferson was a bold move. As a Vikings fan, I love the confidence he has in my team! Out of all of his rookies Addison should definitely have the biggest impact as a rookie. Roschon Johnson, his second-round pick, will need to get past D’Onta Foreman to earn the 1B role behind the presumed starter (Khalil Herbert). Given the current lack of buzz it might not happen right away, but I think he should be there before the end of the season. That leaves Tyjae Spears. On paper Spears has no shot of any fantasy production because the only time Derrick Henry’s backup is relevant is when he’s hurt. BUT there is a belief that if the Titans’ record around mid-season is bad, they may look to trade the 29-year-old RB, which would leave Spears in line for the RB1 role in a run happy offense.
Lance
Most Intriguing Pick: QB Bryce Young (Carolina)
Analysis: Bijan Robinson has a chance to be a franchise altering pick, it’s why I was willing to part with Lamar and Goedert to get the #1 pick. That said, Bryce Young could end up being my QB1 as a rookie. We haven’t had a rookie QB play that role for any team in our dynasty league to date. Back in 2020 Herbert and Burrow combined to be Cody’s QB1, but even then, Herbert only played 7 games while Burrow played 4. Depending on how quickly Young makes me feel comfortable starting him he could be in the running for OROY (a RB has won the award every year, and Herbert has had the best finish of any rookie QB [6th with 84 points]). The trade will likely lead to me taking a half step back (and out of the playoffs), unless Mac Jones makes a big leap under Bill O’Brien, or Young comes out firing from the start. Of course, if Bijan is as good as advertised I could be a legitimate threat heading into 2024.
Fred
Most Intriguing Pick: QB Anthony Richardson (2ndRound)
Analysis: Fred had one QB on his roster, Derek Carr. He’s not a topflight fantasy Quarterback, but for the most part he’s reliable. Enter Richardson. I’m not a Richardson fan at all, and I think there’s a good chance he’s out of a starting job in 3-4 years. I will acknowledge that in the meantime his rushing ability could very easily make him a valuable fantasy QB. Bonus for Fred, Richardson has already been named the week 1 starter for Indy.
Curt
Most Intriguing Pick: WR Quentin Johnston (2ndRound)
Analysis: I thought about putting Stroud, but Johnston beats him out just barely. Like Richardson, I’m not a Johnston fan. But he is tied to a high-powered offense with established vets at Receiver to take away the coverage attention and a top five QB. The real intrigue comes from the string of drops he’s dealt with going back to his final season at TCU (he had 8 drops, an 11.8% drop rate). Most recently he dropped two passes in his first preseason game. Some people are saying calm down, this is what Chase was going through too, but I would like to point out that Chase had taken the 2020 college season off before getting drafted and he only had a 5.6% drop rate at LSU in 2019. Can Johnston earn Herbert’s confidence and take targets away from Williams and Allen?
Trey
Most Intriguing Pick: WR Jalin Hyatt (1stRound)
Analysis: Hyatt in the first is surprising but is likely a result of the multitudes of hype coming out of Giants camp. He’s reportedly been burning people, and his route running is a lot further ahead than people thought (that was the #1 knock against him coming out). It’s a weirdly stocked Receiver group for the Giants though, so will Hyatt be able to earn a big enough spot in year one? Not that it much matters for Trey though, he has Chase, Hill and Adams as his big three, plus London, Moore and Pickens behind them, so he can afford to stash Hyatt.
Nathan
Most Intriguing Pick: WR Rashee Rice (3rdRound)
Analysis: Having said what I said in Simon’s section above about the trade, I will add here that the trade wasn’t a bad move for Nathan either. Lawrence was a surplus, and Barkley’s trade value may never again be higher. Since he already traded his first and second to Simon last season, this trade gave him a first and second back (at a higher spot) to add some youthful depth to a top-heavy roster. Gibbs figures to be an immediate starter for him. Love in the second was a surprise. Green Bay is his team, and he’ll add competition for Nathan’s QB2 spot, but was additional depth behind Josh Allen a bigger need than more youth at Receiver or Running Back? Which brings us to Rashee Rice. By all accounts Rice should be in a good situation, but that was the thinking for Skyy Moore last season too. Fred stuck it out with Moore, who appears to be the favorite to take over the WR1 role for KC this year. Nathan may need to show Rice that kind of patience too.
As you already know I don't give out grades, but I do like to speculate on who I think had the best draft. If I were to give that achievement to anyone this year it would be Bryar. When I added in the value he got in Jackson and Goedert with the potential steals of Mayer and Bigsby, I really liked it…even if I did think pick 2.01 was too early for a defense. Thank you all for another amazing draft and I wish you all the best this season!
Here’s a look ahead at week 1:
Fear Itself (0-0) vs Space Rangers (0-0)
The reigning champs lead this series 5-3. When counting last year’s playoffs, we come into this game on opposite ends of the spectrum. I lost three games to close out last year, while Nathan won both his playoff games. To add further intrigue, there’s a chance three rookies will play in this game (Robinson, Young and Gibbs), maybe more with the extra flex spot.
ay_Bilat (0-0) vs Noobmaster69 (0-0)
In the four matchups these two have had, Trey has never lost to Simon. However, Simon ended last year on a three-game win streak (including the consolation bracket), and he just added some potential major firepower with Lawrence and Barkley. Perhaps he can pull one over on Trey. Fun fact, Trey has never lost a week 1 game (he is the only one who can claim that stat).
Kade’s Dawgs (0-0) vs Fantasy Fairies (0-0)
Curt won both matchups in Ryan’s first season. Ryan also enters this game on a 3-game regular season losing streak, so a lot on the line for the second-year coach. Charbonnet is Ryan’s first, first-round pick in the league, maybe he can help him get over the hump. Curt ended last year on a two-game losing streak, and despite being top three in the league in win percentage, he holds a 1-3 record in week 1 (excluding Ryan, that is tied for the worst with Fred and Alex). Yes Ryan, I’m saying there’s a chance.
Ferocious Felines (0-0) vs NUKEM (0-0)
These two have played each other 10 times which is tied for the second highest matchup total in the league (tied with Lance vs Simon; first is Fred vs Trey at 11). Pastor Dad leads the series pretty easily, 7-3, but Fred comes into this game with the longest active win streak having won five straight to close out the regular season last year.
Michael Style (0-0) vs Shenron’s Wish (0-0)
Fun stat that I did not realize until I started writing this article. Last season these two met in week 1 with Alex winning. It was the first time Alex won a game in week 1, and it was the first time Bryar lost a game in week 1. Bryar still has the leg-up in the series though at 5-4. Bryar also has the longest active losing streaks, with 6-straight regular season losses, 8-straight if you count the postseason. After back-to-back losing seasons, he’ll be hoping Lamar Jackson and Dallas Goedert can get him out of the hole. Meanwhile, Alex tasted the playoffs for the first time two years ago before dropping off again, he’ll hope for a strong start to get his team back to the postseason.