TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Way Too Early Dynasty Mock Draft Analysis - Rounds 2-3

The Rotoballer fantasy football crew got together recently to run a mock dynasty startup draft. Here, I'll give some analysis of the second and third round selections. Make sure to check out yesterday's first-round recap as well.

The second and third rounds are, for me, the sweet spot where player values aren't quite as well defined as they are in the first round, but top-flight players are still available. Let's take a look at the selections, then I'll give some thoughts below the table.

Ed. Note: For continual coverage of NFL free agency news and its fantasy impact, keep tuned to RotoBaller!

Featured Promo: Looking for some more fantasy football action? Adopt a dynasty orphan team over at FFPC. Sign up today and get $25 off any FFPC league. Sign Up Now!

 

Rounds 2-3

For those keeping score at home, that's two tight ends, six running backs, and 16 wide receivers. The second round started with a big run. The first eight picks, and eight of the first nine, were receivers. Thereafter our selections were much more equitably split. Ten of the 16 WRs were the top target on their team last year. The rest are a mix of players in high volume offenses that can support multiple fantasy WRs (e.g. Davante Adams), and players expected to break out in 2017 (e.g. Corey Coleman). Five of the RBs were top 15 finishers last season, while one was a rookie. The TEs are two of the best, although both come with big injury concerns.

I really like the succession of T.Y. Hilton, Stefon Diggs, and Brandin Cooks. None fit the mold of a "traditional WR1," but all are real-life WR1s. I also liked getting Demaryius Thomas in the third round. He's gone over 220 PPR points in five straight seasons, including last year, when his quarterback situation was far from ideal. He's as close to a sure thing as there is.

Keep in mind this is subjective based on my perspective, and that I'm not privy to the overall strategy my colleagues employed. There are definitely arguments in favor of other players.

 

Best Picks

T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND) - Did you know Hilton has more 1,000-yard seasons (four) than either of the players taken ahead of him? Alshon Jeffery has just two, while Dez Bryant has three. Unlike the other two, Hilton has missed just two games in four seasons and is attached to Andrew Luck. He's as solid as they come, which is what you want in the early stages of any draft.

Davante Adams (WR, GB) - A top-10 WR a year ago, he lasted until WR 21 in our draft. He's still just 24 years old, has a great QB, and plays in an offense that can support multiple WRs. Speaking of those other WRs, Randall Cobb's performance has declined two straight years, Jeff Janis isn't happening, and Ty Montgomery switched positions. Adams should get all the work he can handle in 2017.

Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA) - He's older and has less of a draft pedigree than Adams, but there's no denying he's the top WR in Seattle. The Seahawks have been trending towards more passing volume, and there's not much threat behind Baldwin on the depth chart. Tyler Lockett's numbers were down before a major leg injury, and Jermaine Kearse is "just a guy." Baldwin may not score 14 TDs like he did in 2015, but coming off back-to-back 100 target / 1,000 yard seasons, he's a great pick at this part of the draft.

 

Biggest Reaches

I actually like all three of these players, just not at these prices.

Alshon Jeffery (WR, PHI) - Jeffery landed in Philadelphia where he'll arguably be the team's top WR and, if healthy, could earn a WR1 workload. The catch is that I'm not sure yet how good Carson Wentz is. I'm also not sure how healthy Jeffery will be. I think he can be very effective for the Eagles, I just think a few of the WRs taken later are more sure things.

Jordan Howard (RB, CHI) - Howard was insanely efficient (over five yards per carry) as a rookie, but efficiency isn't very sticky from year to year. It's reasonable to expect he'll be less efficent. The Bears may lose Jeffery and end up with a retread or rookie QB. That offense could be very bad, which means fewer drives, and fewer scoring opportunities. Add in the elevated positional injury risk, and I think safer options with similar upside can be found.

Dalvin Cook (RB, FA) - Without knowing how he tested (our draft was pre-combine) or where he'll play, I would go in a different direction. Not every great RB prospect is a hit. For every Ezekiel Elliott there's a Trent Richardson. Now that the combine has happened, and he tested poorly, there's a little more risk with this pick.

Look for the next segment of our dynasty draft recap tomorrow and stay tuned to RotoBaller for the rest of our mock recaps throughout the coming weeks!

 

More 2017 Mock Drafts & Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Joel Embiid

Expected to Play Monday
Christian Braun

Downgraded to Out
Jamal Murray

Cleared to Face Thunder
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Active Against Thunder
Craig Porter Jr.

Returns From One-Game Absence
Harrison Barnes

Rejoins Starting Lineup Against Magic
Victor Wembanyama

Good to Go Sunday
Blake Wesley

Back in Trail Blazers Lineup
Robert Williams III

Active Sunday
Kobe Sanders

Returns to Starting Unit Sunday
Stephon Castle

Out Sunday Against Magic
Josh Green

Listed as Probable for Monday
John Konchar

Unavailable Monday
Santi Aldama

Ruled Out for Monday
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Iffy for Monday
Julius Randle

May Miss First Game of the Season
Anthony Edwards

Dealing With Back Spasms, Questionable for Monday
Austin Reaves

Still Out Sunday
Kevin Durant

Won't Play Monday
Jalen Green

Out Against Clippers
James Harden

Unavailable Sunday
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Signs One-Year Deal With Reds
San Francisco 49ers

49ers Set to Name Raheem Morris Their Defensive Coordinator
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Close to Naming Klint Kubiak the Next Head Coach
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Finalizing Deal to Make Mike LaFleur the Next Head Coach
Breece Hall

Jets Want to Re-Sign Breece Hall, Could Use Franchise Tag
Shohei Ohtani

Won't Pitch in the World Baseball Classic
Luis Arraez

Signs One-Year Deal With Giants
Troy Terry

Ready to Return Sunday
Victor Hedman

Set to Return Sunday
Connor McMichael

Out Week-to-Week
Kris Letang

Out for Four Weeks
Nico Hischier

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Jack Hughes

Won't Play Saturday
Linus Ullmark

Returns to Action Saturday
Blake Snell

Dodgers Plan to Have Blake Snell Ready for Opening Day
Shohei Ohtani

Will be Ready to Pitch to Start the 2026 Season
Francisco Lindor

Won't Play in WBC After Elbow Surgery
Charlie Coyle

Pots Second Career Hat Trick
Filip Hronek

Expected to Play Saturday
Pavel Zacha

Not Traveling With Bruins
Elias Lindholm

to Miss at Least Two More Games
William Nylander

on Track to Return Saturday
Kris Letang

Misses Practice, Uncertain for Saturday
Evgeni Malkin

Iffy for Saturday
Vinnie Pasquantino

Royals Agree on Two-Year Contract
Jacob Wilson

Signs Seven-Year Extension
Diego Lopes

An Underdog At UFC 325
Alexander Volkanovski

Set For UFC 325 Main Event
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Dan Hooker

Set For UFC 325 Co-Main Event
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Rafael Fiziev

Returns At UFC 325
CFB

Texas Lands Wake Forest Transfer Sterling Berkhalter
Samuel Ersson

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Pavel Zacha

Exits Early Thursday
Charlie Lindgren

Hurt Versus Red Wings
Jack Hughes

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Brad Marchand

Suffers New Injury Blow
Patrick Kane

Becomes NHL's Highest-Scoring U.S-Born Player
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Expected to Miss a Week
Tommy Edman

Will Have Delayed Start to Spring Training, Could Miss Opening Day
Kirk Cousins

Falcons Expected to Release Kirk Cousins
Chase Brown

Working on Extension With Bengals
Michael Penix Jr.

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1
Isaac Paredes

Not a Lock for Opening Day Lineup?
Dalton Kincaid

Doesn't Need Offseason Surgery
Josh Allen

Undergoes Foot Surgery
Josh Allen

on Crutches, Wearing Walking Boot
Corbin Carroll

a Top Fantasy Outfielder After Joining 30-30 Club
Jonah Tong

Won't Pitch in the World Baseball Classic
CFB

Michigan RB Bryson Kuzdzal Withdrawing from Transfer Portal
Aaron Judge

Appears to be Past his Elbow Issues
Bo Nix

Expected to Resume Training in 4-6 Weeks
Michael Penix Jr.

Thinks he'll be Ready by April
Evan Carter

Establishes a Goal to Steal 30 Bases
Edouard Julien

Traded to the Rockies
Cleveland Browns

Browns Hiring Todd Monken as Next Head Coach
Sahith Theegala

Off to Much Better 2026 Start
Gary Woodland

an Intriguing Option at Torrey Pines This Week
CJ Abrams

Giants Offer "Aggressive Pitch" for CJ Abrams
Andrew Putnam

Hopes to Keep Momentum Rolling This Week
Matthieu Pavon

Seeks to Return to 2024 Form at Torrey Pines
Luke List

Still Looking For Birdies at Torrey Pines
Jake Knapp

Faces Stiff Challenge at Farmers Insurance Open
Rasmus Hojgaard

Needs to Play Better at Torrey Pines
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Could Struggle at Farmers Insurance Open
J.J. Spaun

A Steady Option At Farmers Insurance Open
Andrew Novak

Looking For More Success At Torrey Pines
Denny McCarthy

A Wild Card At Farmers Insurance Open
Max Homa

Looks To Keep Resurgence Going At Torrey Pines
Joe Highsmith

Struggling Heading Into Torrey Pines
Wyndham Clark

Looks To Carry Momentum Into Farmers Insurance Open
Tony Finau

Aims To Turn Things Around At Torrey Pines
Akshay Bhatia

Looks to Bounce Back at Torrey Pines
Paul Goldschmidt

Yankees Expressing Interest in Re-Signing Paul Goldschmidt
Bo Bichette

Won't Play in World Baseball Classic
NFL

Bill Belichick Won't be First-Ballot Hall of Famer
Carlos Correa

Won't Play for Puerto Rico in World Baseball Classic
Si Woo Kim

Looks to Continue Incredible Run at Torrey Pines
Jason Day

has a Good Chance to Keep Momentum This Weekend
Keegan Bradley

has Good Course History at Torrey Pines
Billy Horschel

Isn't a Great DFS Option at Torrey Pines
Aaron Rodgers

Mike McCarthy Says he Wants Aaron Rodgers to Return
Will Zalatoris

Has a Shot to Challenge at the Farmers Insurance Open
Drake Maye

Expected to be Fine for Super Bowl
Tennessee Titans

Titans Set to Hire Brian Daboll as New Offensive Coordinator
Buffalo Bills

Bills Promote Joe Brady to Head Coach
CFB

Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi Signs with Michigan
CFB

Darian Mensah Reaches Settlement with Duke, Expected to Land at Miami

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP