Behold, The 2017 RotoUnderworld Dynasty Superflex Start-up Mock Draft

Several members of the RotoUnderworld Staff were recently joined by a number of our favorite analysts from the across the fantasy football landscape for a 12-man dynasty superflex start-up mock draft.

We have 288 picks to review, so let’s get right to it and meet the contestants!

Round 1

In a recent episode of RotoUnderworld Radio, we discussed the first several rounds of this draft. We concurred with his selection of Amari Cooper in the eight spot and on the majority of these first round picks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA8MPJq2VsQ

Prior to the start of the draft I pre-ranked my top-seven players. Julio Jones was seventh and — sure enough — that’s exactly who I got in the first round.

On its face, Ezekiel Elliott falling to sixth overall is a pretty surprising sight. But that’s going to happen when you have three RotoViz alums drafting consecutively near to the top of the draft.

Round 2

The biggest surprise of the draft was seeing Melvin Gordon slide to 17 overall.  Now, I can’t really complain about being sniped by the Podfather here, because Gordon became a great value as soon as he dropped out of the first round.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-oer84r3-8

Sitting here at pick 18 — slightly bitter and Gordon-less — I was first pulled toward Jameis Winston because of the superflex format. Not surprisingly, Winston was taken with the very next pick by Patrick Daugherty. Allen Robinson was also a strong consideration; although he went 22nd to Pat Kerrane. What a difference a year makes for Allen Robinson, an early-to-mid-first rounder in 2016 dynasty startups.

Allen Robinson Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

The decision for me was Todd Gurley, who I’ll have in zero redraft leagues this year. However, in dynasty let’s go fishing for some big Gurley seasons in the very near future. The offense is surely bound to improve under Sean McVay. Fingers crossed. If Jeff Fisher was the football equivalent to a VHS tape, McVay can at least be Crackle. Maybe even Hulu.

Round 3

At the conclusion of the first two rounds, Rich Hribar is packing a fierce 1-2 combo of initialed wide receivers with A.J. Green and T.Y. Hilton prior to adding Alshon Jeffery at the end of the third.

After three rounds, Pat Kerrane is also packing a trio of explosive wide receivers with Odell Beckham, Allen Robinson, and now Sammy Watkins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrR9-w5JaS0

Ryan McDowell is the first to lock up two quarterbacks. First, by taking Andrew Luck at 2.02 and then Cam Newton near the end of the third.

Round 4

While I’m very high on the prospect of Derrick Henry becoming the featured back in Tennessee for 2018, this is a pick I quickly regretted because of how this draft unfolded. Instead of seeing the value in veteran players I got caught chasing youth in this spot.

Derrick Henry Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

While it’s true that DeMarco Murray can be cut without any salary cap ramifications after this season, he could always end up restructuring his deal, a la Jonathan Stewart.

Jamison Crowder is also a prime target of mine and — in retrospect — really should have been my selection. As was the case with Winston in the second round, RotoPat was reading my mail once again and immediately takes the other player I had in mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlfyfjxTFkY

Round 5

Just look at the terrific windfall of veteran players JJ Zachariason scored in the early stages of this draft: Jordy Nelson in the fourth, LeSean McCoy here in the fifth, and shortly Emmanuel Sanders in the sixth.

Tyreek Hill Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

Round 6

Pairing Tom Brady and Drew Brees in the fifth and sixth rounds was my course correction to capture some of the value remaining from the higher-end veteran players. This is where waiting on significant contributions from Henry really stings.

Check out Mike Williams & Jordan Matthews on the Updated PlayerProfiler Dynasty Rankings:

Round 7

As you can see, with Willie Snead in the sixth and now Ty Montgomery in the seventh, the Podfather is staying very much on brand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgJfrkH3Cxg

Round 8

Theo Riddick is a player I want to own everywhere. So when the e-mail from MyFantasyLeague comes in saying I’ve secured him as a Pick made based on Pre-Draft List, I’m pumping my first in the air. That, of course, is followed by an awkward look and an accompanying eye roll from the wife. “But honey, this is a running back that’s seen 6.5 targets per game over the last two years! He missed six games and still saw more red zone targets than Amari Cooper.”

I don’t think she understands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pYrEBpcp44

Round 9

Shortly after these picks were made, Matt and Nate discussed the decision-making process behind selecting Jimmy Graham over Greg Olsen on the Sonic Truth Podcast. Nate is locking Graham into 100 targets, while Matt is writing down 10 touchdowns. Graham is a little younger, and was better in 2016 (95 targets, 65 catches, 923 yards, 6 TDs) than most can recall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoXqWaZW0Is

Round 10

Jacob Rickrode goes full Zero RB and takes his first running back (C.J. Anderson) in the 10th round. Over his next 14 picks, eight will be at the running back position. I just so happened to bet against Anderson in Round 17 with Devontae Booker. Averaging 3.5 yards per carry as a rookie is pretty bad, but Le’Veon Bell did the same. Even though Booker floundered in his six starts, he ended on high note by scoring a rushing and a receiving touchdown in Week 17.

Devontae Booker Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

Round 11

Round 11 was a not a running back selection for Rickrode, but I like the selection of Eric Ebron nevertheless. At just 24 years old, Ebron has already completed three professional seasons and has made steady improvements year over year in targets, receptions, yards, and catch rate.

Two of the Zero RB picks made by Rickrode in the later rounds that really stand out are DeAndre Washington in the 16th and Shane Vereen in the 19th. Washington was very efficient with his limited rookie touches, rating fifth in Breakaway Run Rate (rate of rushes 15 yards or more).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCE2Fgljpbc

Round 12

JJ Zachariason keeps crushing it with his redraft-style approach by taking Larry Fitzgerald here in round 12. Turning 34 years old does not mean Fitzgerald is a year or two away from retirement. Just last year we saw other outliers at the position: Anquan Boldin — 36 years old and looking for work in 2017 — and Steve Smith, who played at age 37.

During his age 39 and 40 seasons, Jerry Rice averaged over 1,100 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Why not Fitzgerald?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uOHLoF2DvU

Round 13

Dynasty is all about collecting a war chest full of good players. So I’m fine taking a second tight end here with Kyle Rudolph, who’s coming off a career year at age 27. If Eifert remains unlucky and misses more games there’s a safe floor to fall back on with Rudolph.

Kyle Rudolph Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

Editor’s Note: Eric seems to think very highly of his own picks.

Round 14

Even at 32 years old, Danny Woodhead in the 14th round could really pay off. Like Riddick, he’s a running back that could see 90-100 targets without needing to squint your eyes very much. Last year, fullback Kyle Juszczyk nearly reached 50 targets. In the same Baltimore backfield, Terrance West and Kenneth Dixon were each targeted more than 40 times a piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13uFin4Tekk

Round 15

Robert Woods is entering his age 25 season as a pretty clear cut WR1 for his team; even though it’s only the Rams. Woods scored 32 touchdowns in 38 career collegiate games, and I’m not convinced the limited volume he saw in Buffalo is enough to issue on a firm judgment on his talent just yet. If you don’t mind some small sample size theatre, check out Woods against last year on the road against the Seahawks. He caught 10 of 13 passes for 162 yards in a very close game. Woods also came up inches shy of a touchdown on one play, and made a spectacular sideline catch on another.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hwxOmBJQb4

Editor’s Note: Someone at PlayerProfiler has a crush on Jacob Rickrode, and his name is Eric McClung.

Round 16

After seeing nearly 200 carries last year, Terrance West was re-signed by Baltimore during the offseason. He now gets a four-game head start on Dixon to cement himself as the early-down grinder that concedes to Woodhead in the passing game.

Terrance West Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

Round 17

Speaking of veteran values, Ted Ginn and Jason Witten were taken in the previous round and certainly fit the bill. Here in the 17th, it’s Frank Gore. And even more surprisingly, Allen Hurns was a sixth-round pick in redraft last year. He nearly fell outside the top 200 picks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLQDlGPX9rE

Round 18

During the offseason, Carolina restructured Stewart’s contract in order to reduce his salary cap number for this season. The deal also gives Stewart a very realistic opportunity to stay with the team in 2018 at age 31.

Jonathan Stewart Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

Round 19

In 2015, Vereen was targeted 81 times in his first season with the Giants. Last year, he was the featured back for two games before a triceps injury placed him in IR. His role in the passing game looks very secure. As a rookie, Paul Perkins was never targeted more than three times in a game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0kL5RBcEWs

Round 20

Using PlayerProfiler’s Data Analysis Tool, you can see that Brett Hundley‘s Athleticism Score is nearly identical to that of Andrew Luck and Colin Kaepernick. With two years remaining on his rookie contract, Green Bay nearly traded Hundley on day two of the NFL Draft. There is also reason to believe he could be dealt by 2018.

Brett Hundley Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile

Round 21

Could Ishmael Zamora be better than Mike Williams?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWbuiyi6d4s

Round 22

Speaking of Matt staying on brand, Dion Sims is looking more and more like the tight end of both the present and the future in Chicago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM6EkgDpgNM

Round 23

As was the case for five of the 10 games he played in last year, Jacquizz Rodgers could again find himself as the lead back in Tampa Bay. Doug Martin is coming off an abysmal season (2.9 yards per carry in eight games) and will miss the first three games of 2017 servings a suspension for PEDs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ghq8uXJ714

Round 24

The final selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, Chad Kelly (wrist, knee) likely won’t be cleared for action until August, but enters a suspect quarterback depth chart in Denver. Denver is currently starting a fellow seventh-round pick (Trevor Siemian) and may have a bust on their hands with Paxton Lynch.

View the full rosters here.

Follow @EricMcClung