With the NFL season quickly approaching, dynasty startup drafts are starting to come alive. Most dynasty managers enter these drafts with one of two goals: build a roster capable of winning immediately or punt Year 1 and focus on building a long-term powerhouse.
In this article, we’ll discuss the strategy of punting your first season in a dynasty startup. We’ll go over the advantages of taking a long-term approach, the types of players you should target throughout the draft, and how to position your roster to become a championship contender for years to come rather than chasing immediate success.
If patience is your strength, this startup strategy could help build a dynasty that competes for championships year after year instead of just taking one shot in Year 1.
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Early Rounds (1-5)
The early rounds of your startup draft are the foundation of your long-term success. Your goal should be to build around young players who have at least three to five seasons of elite production ahead of them. If you’re truly punting Year 1, you should avoid selecting players over the age of 26 within the first five rounds whenever possible. Instead, focus on building a young core that can develop together and peak at the same time.
The one exception is when a veteran falls well below their expected value. If an established player slips far enough, don’t be afraid to take advantage of the discount. Value always matters in dynasty, and acquiring an undervalued asset can give you flexibility later through production or trade value. The priority is building a young foundation, but you should never ignore exceptional value when it presents itself.
| QB | RB | WR | TE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | Jeremiyah Love | Malik Nabers | Brock Bowers |
| Jayden Daniels | Ashton Jeanty | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Tyler Warren |
| Caleb Williams | Omarion Hampton | Marvin Harrison Jr. | Colston Loveland |
| Jaxson Dart | TreVeyon Henderson | Tetairoa McMillan | Harold Fannin Jr. |
| Fernando Mendoza | Luther Burden | ||
| Emeka Egbuka | |||
| Carnell Tate | |||
| Jordyn Tyson |
You may disagree with some of the players I’ve listed, but if you can walk away from your startup draft with five of these players through the first five rounds, you’re off to a great start.
My ideal start would be 1-2 quarterbacks, 2-3 wide receivers, and one tight end. While you could take a shot on one of the running backs listed above, they are either rookies or entering just their second season. Running back simply isn’t a position you should prioritize if you’re punting Year 1.
In fact, I would avoid taking a running back within the first two rounds. Instead, invest in players you believe will still be cornerstone dynasty assets four or five years from now. Because running backs have the shortest career lifespan among fantasy positions, elite players like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs aren’t primary targets for me in a year one punt. If you do want to draft an elite back, I would recommend a Hero RB approach—select one difference-maker early and then wait several rounds before addressing the position again.
With the current dynasty landscape, you may even choose to draft only one quarterback if you’re able to acquire multiple 2027 first-round picks. The 2027 quarterback class is expected to reshape the NFL, making those picks extremely valuable. Startup drafts can be one of the best opportunities to acquire future firsts because many managers are focused on building the strongest roster for Year 1.
Don’t be afraid to trade down or trade picks for future draft capital. Even if you only come away with four core players after the first five rounds, securing what projects to be a top-six 2027 first-round pick could be more valuable than selecting another startup player. Since your goal is to punt Year 1, a lack of elite production should naturally position you for a top-three rookie pick in 2027, giving you another premium building block to accelerate your rebuild.
Middle Rounds 6-10
Your next five picks should continue building the foundation of your roster while filling out the rest of your starting lineup and adding your first few bench pieces. This is one of the trickiest parts of a startup draft if you’re committing to a Year 1 punt. You’ll likely see productive veterans slide well below their expected value, making it tempting to abandon your strategy for the short-term value they provide.
Instead, stay committed to your long-term plan. Prioritize younger players who can increase in value over the next several seasons, even if they don’t produce at an elite level immediately. Not every player selected in this range will develop into a cornerstone asset, but hitting on a few of these upside picks can accelerate your rebuild and give you a strong core heading into Year 2 and beyond.
| QB | RB | WR | TE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Ward | Jadarian Price | Brian Thomas Jr. | Kenyon Sadiq |
| C.J. Stroud | Bhayshul Tuten | Travis Hunter | Isaiah Likely |
| Jordan Addison | |||
| K.C. Concepcion | |||
| Makai Lemon | |||
| Omar Cooper | |||
| Denzel Boston | |||
| Parker Washington |
The direction you go in this range really depends on how you approached your first few picks. If you committed to a Year 1 punt early, your priorities here should continue to align with that strategy.
If you didn’t land an elite tight end in the early rounds, Kenyon Sadiq becomes a must-target. First-round tight ends have historically gone on to have successful NFL careers, and Sadiq is unlikely to produce at an elite fantasy level as a rookie. That slower Year 1 production actually benefits a rebuilding roster by helping you secure another high rookie pick while investing in a player with long-term upside.
If you leave the early rounds with only one quarterback, Cam Ward is an excellent QB2 target for a rebuilding roster. The 2026 season will tell us whether Ward has what it takes to become a long-term NFL starter. If he succeeds, you’ve landed a young franchise quarterback. If he doesn’t, you’ll be in a strong position to attack what projects to be a talented 2027 quarterback class.
Wide receiver is where this range really shines. Brian Thomas Jr. stands out as one of the best young established options available, while any of the top four rookie wide receivers from the 2026 class are strong selections. My favorite target, however, is Makai Lemon. If you can draft him in this range, I think he’s a must-have player with legitimate WR1 upside for future fantasy seasons.
This is also one of my favorite spots in the draft to trade back. If you can move your sixth-round pick along with a later selection—such as a 12th-round pick—to acquire a 2027 or 2028 first-round rookie pick, that’s an outstanding move for a Year 1 punt. Adding another future first gives your rebuild even more flexibility and another premium asset to build around.
Early Late Rounds 11-16
These rounds are all about adding quality depth and targeting players who could develop into future stars. Many of the best values come from the 2026 rookie class, giving you the opportunity to continue building a young core without sacrificing long-term upside.
This is an ideal range to add a healthy mix of running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. You’re looking for players whose value can appreciate over the next year or two, even if they aren’t immediate fantasy contributors. Hitting on just a couple of these prospects can significantly accelerate your rebuild.
| QB | RB | WR | TE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ty Simpson | Jonathan Brooks | Germie Bernard | AJ Barner |
| Bryce Young | Nicholas Singleton | Chris Bell | Mason Taylor |
| Dylan Sampson | Jalen Coker | Eli Stowers | |
| Jaylen Wright | Jalen McMillan | Gunnar Helm | |
| Emmett Johnson | Khalil Shakir | ||
| Blake Corum |
If you decided to punt either your QB2 or TE2 earlier in the draft, this is a great spot to address those positions. Ty Simpson is an intriguing quarterback stash with the potential to earn a starting role, while Eli Stowers offers developmental upside at tight end. Neither player needs to produce immediately, making them excellent fits for a Year 1 punt while still giving you long-term upside.
Jonathan Brooks and Blake Corum are two running backs who could see a significant jump in value heading into the 2027 season. Whether it’s due to improved health, an expanded role, or a favorable change in their backfield situation, both have the upside to develop into reliable fantasy starters.
At wide receiver, Germie Bernard and Chris Bell are excellent long-term investments. They may not make an immediate fantasy impact in 2026, but both possess the talent to emerge as their team’s WR1 by 2027 and beyond. For a rebuilding roster, these are exactly the types of players worth targeting—young, inexpensive assets whose value has a realistic chance to appreciate over time.
Late Round Picks
In the last later-round picks of your draft, it’s all about finding young players who have some upside. Also, look into taking backup quarterbacks who could potentially start in 2026, as that is a great way to collect future draft picks. The same goes for running backs if you can find some with upside.
| QB | RB | WR | TE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cade Klubnik | LeQuint Allen | Tory Horton | Theo Johnson |
| Carson Beck | Adam Randall | Ted Hurst | Cole Kmet |
| Demond Claiborne | Jack Bech | Elijah Arroyo | |
| De’Zhaun Stribling | Michael Mayer | ||
| Skyler Bell | Oscar Delp | ||
| Isaac TeSlaa | Max Klare |
Some players I like in the later rounds are Adam Randall, who is a young, raw running back that could become the Ravens’ RB1 in 2027. There are also some good later-round tight ends to add depth who could become good sell-high candidates in a few seasons. At wide receiver, there are some later-round players from the 2026 class who can make for good end-of-the-bench depth pieces with upside.
While every startup draft ADP is a little different, I think this is a good way to punt Year 1, especially right now.
Year 1 startup draft strategy:
Early Rounds – Keep everyone under 26 years old and try to avoid running backs if you can.
Middle Rounds – Continue adding talent and look for players who could gain enough value to be flipped for future first-round picks.
Early Late Rounds – Build up your roster depth.
Late Rounds – Add players you can sell high on during the season and build around players who have the potential to gain value in future seasons.
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