DBro’s Must-Have Dynasty Startup Draft Picks (2023 Fantasy Football)

Check out a few of my must-have fantasy football players that I’m targeting in dynasty startup drafts. And you can find all of my must-have dynasty startup targets in this article.

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Dynasty Startup Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator

Must-Have Dynasty Startup Targets

Here are the fantasy football players I’m targeting in my dynasty startup drafts.

Daniel Jones (QB – NYG)

(May Startup ADP per DLF: QB16)

"He's constantly working. There's times where I gotta say, 'take a little break here' – he just wants to work, work, work. He's a true pro."

– Brian Daboll on Daniel Jones pic.twitter.com/cD0FytGofJ

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) May 31, 2023

Daniel Jones’ startup ADP is a gift. The market hates Jones, and I don’t understand it. Last year Jones was the QB10 in fantasy points per game with a patchwork group of receiving talent surrounding him. This offseason, the front office handed him a contract ensuring two-year certainty for his dynasty stock and continued to add talent to this roster. Is the Giants’ receiver room one of the best in the league? No, but the front office has taken a Kansas City Chiefs-like approach to building out their passing game. Darren Waller will operate as the clear number one option for Jones, with the rest of the group fitting in as role players. Brian Daboll can mix and match wide receiver talents again this year with a deeper and more diverse group to choose from. Jones’ top-five finishes last year in red zone carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns are all replicable in 2023. The big area where Jones can continue to show growth is in the passing department. With more competent weapons in-house from the start of the season, we should see this offense tilt to more passing. After Week 10 last season, the team was tenth in neutral pace, 14th in neutral passing rate, and 11th in play success rate. If everything coalesces for Jones in 2023, he could be a top 5-7 fantasy quarterback.

Kenny Pickett (QB – PIT)

(May Startup ADP per DLF: QB24)

This is me remaining liquid and adjusting to new info…

And with that I might have to change my tune on KENNY PICKETT 🧐👀

I was NOT expecting to find this when prepping for our latest pod ep BUT

Weeks 12-18 Pickett was:
(Min 50 dropbacks)

1st in PFF passing grade

4th in Big… pic.twitter.com/jsRP0gMZzW

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) April 4, 2023

Yes, I’ve been a known Kenny Pickett hater since he arrived in Pittsburgh. My disdain for Pickett has not centered around his ability to become a league-average quarterback but more along the lines of questioning his ceiling in the NFL. With new information, it’s time to adjust my thinking about that. Based on his end-of-season finish down the stretch, I could have been selling Pickett short. In Weeks 12-18 last year, Pickett ranked first in PFF passing grade, fourth in big-time throw rate, and first in PFF’s deep passing grade (minimum 50 dropbacks per PFF). During that span, the Steelers’ offense was third in EPA per play and passing EPA per play. Pickett should have more time in the pocket last year as the Steelers remade the left side of an offensive line that, as a whole, ranked 15th in PFF pass-blocking grade last year. Adding Broderick Jones and Isaac Seumalo (tenth in PFF pass-blocking grade among guards with at least 150 blocking snaps last year) to this front, five will pay massive dividends. Pickett is mispriced by the dynasty community and could see a big stock uptick this year. Invest now in startups before this happens.

Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)

(May Startup ADP per DLF: RB13)

miss me with Ty Montgomery worries pic.twitter.com/TsFlBJC2Xu

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) May 31, 2023

No matter how you slice it, Mondre is the man. He is one of the most efficient running backs in the NFL. Last year he was first in yards after contact per attempt, eighth in breakaway run rate, 18th in yards per route run, and tenth in target per route run rate (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets per PFF). Last year the Patriots leaned on Stevenson as he recorded 12 games with at least 60% of the snaps played, averaging 18.7 touches and 122.8 total yards over that timeframe. In those games, Stevenson had an outstanding 18.8% target share and a 60.1% route run rate. Bill O’Brien replacing the hapless defensive-minded duo of offensive ineptitude (Joe Jude and Matt Patricia) means only good things for this offense overall and Stevenson. During O’Brien’s last five years of leading an NFL offense, his starting running back saw at least a 58.7% opportunity share, with some backs earning up to 73.9% (ninth-best in 2016) of the backfield touches. Stevenson should eat this year.