The completion of the 2021 NFL draft a few weeks back signaled the start of plenty of rookies-only dynasty drafts. That was the case in the Dirt Dynasty League, which is featured on my SiriusXM radio show , which you can catch Monday to Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Sirius 210 XM 87. The league, made up of friends and industry folks, is a full-point PPR format that starts one quarterback and four flex starters (RB/WR/TE).
PARTICIPANTSSandro Anello: SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio producerRichard Christy: , SiriusXMDave Dameshek: , , podcastsMike Dempsey: Cohost, and on SiriusXMBob Harris: Cohost, and on SiriusXMErik Luftglass: Senior Director, Talent Relations at SiriusXMScott Porter: Actor (, )Lindsay Rhodes: Host, podcastJason Smith: Cohost, on Fox Sports RadioMichael Harmon: Cohost, on Fox Sports RadioMark Wakefield: Manager, Alice in ChainsNathan Zegura, Cleveland Browns BroadcasterThe Miz, WWE superstar
Fantasy managers who already participate in a dynasty league (I recommend playing in one) and haven’t had their draft can use the results as a useful guide. The recap of the draft includes several trades, which can also help determine a player's value or a specific draft selection (present or future). As you’ll see, the draft is notable in part due to the player (or, more specifically, the position) who was taken with the top pick. Enjoy!
ROUND 11.1. Luftglass (trade with Harris): Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons1.2. Rhodes: Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers1.3. Fabiano: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals1.4. Dempsey (trade with Anello): Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars1.5. Harris (trade with Luftglass): Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos1.6. Anello (trade with Dempsey): DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles1.7. Luftglass (trade with Fabiano via Zegura/Mizanin): Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars1.8. Dameshek: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins1.9. Smith/Harmon: Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears1.10. Christy: Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens1.11. Wakefield: Trey Sermon, RB, San Francisco 49ers1.12. Porter: Michael Carter, RB, New York Jets
Many trades were made in this round. First, Harris dealt the Nos. 1 and 13 picks to Luftglass for the Nos. 5, 17, 29 and 41 selections and Blake Jarwin. With the No. 1 pick, Luftglass landed Pitts. It’s the first time in a long time a tight end is worth a top-five pick in a rookie-only draft, let alone the top spot. I dealt Antonio Gibson to Zegura/Mizanin for the No. 7 pick, which I then flipped in a deal with Luftglass. That trade saw me acquire his No. 13 pick in this draft and his 2022 first-round pick. With the No. 7 choice, Luftglass took Lawrence to be his franchise quarterback.
The other trade in the round saw Dempsey deal the Nos. 6 and 30 picks to Anello in exchange for the No. 4 selection. That selection turned into Etienne for Dempsey.
Aside from the trades, the first round was mostly chalk in terms of the selections. Harris went second to Rhodes; I chose Chase at No. 3, and Etienne and Williams came soon thereafter. Sermon and Carter, who could be prominent for their respective teams in the next season or two, also came off the board in this round. Smith, Waddle and Bateman followed behind Chase at wide receiver. At quarterback, Fields went behind Lawrence.
ROUND 22.13. Fabiano (trade with Luftglass via Harris): Trey Lance, QB, San Francisco 49ers2.14. Rhodes: Terrace Marshall Jr, WR, Carolina Panthers2.15. Fabiano: Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets2.16. Anello: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers2.17. Harris (trade with Luftglass): Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions2.18. Dempsey: Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets2.19. Zegura/Mizanin: Rondale Moore, WR, Arizona Cardinals2.20. Dameshek: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers2.21. Smith/Harmon: Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants2.22. Christy: Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Philadelphia Eagles2.23. Wakefield: Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots2.24. Porter: Dyami Brown, WR, Washington Football Team
The round started with the selection of Lance, who I selected to become my quarterback of the future. That move was made after I traded Deshaun Watson, T.Y. Hilton and a 2022 second-round pick to Zegura/Mizanin for Mike Evans, a '22 first-rounder, and a '22 third-rounder. I now have three first-round picks in '22. With the top running backs off the board, this was a heavy wideout round with six selected. I took Elijah Moore over Rondale and Toney since I see him as New York's slot man of the present and future. Yes, I'm guessing Jamison Crowder won't be there this season. Speaking of the Jets, Dempsey landed Wilson to back up his young No. 1 quarterback, Joe Burrow. Jones, the fifth quarterback selected, went to Wakefield. Dameshek took the first post-Pitts tight end in Freiermuth, who plays for his beloved Steelers.
ROUND 33.25. Harris: Josh Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers3.26. Rhodes: Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans3.27. Fabiano: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots3.28. Anello: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Seattle Seahawks3.29. Harris (trade with Luftglass): Javian Hawkins, RB, Atlanta Falcons3.30. Anello (trade with Dempsey): Mike Strachan, WR, Indianapolis Colts3.31. Zegura/Mizanin: Amari Rodgers, WR, Green Bay Packers3.32. Dameshek: Ian Book, QB, New Orleans Saints3.33. Smith/Harmon: Hunter Long, TE, Miami Dolphins3.34. Christy: Jonathan Adams, WR, Detroit Lions3.35. Wakefield: Gerrid Doaks, RB, Miami Dolphins3.36. Porter: Tutu Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams
I was hoping to land Palmer in this round, but Harris sniped me at the top. With Mike Williams, Tyron Johnson, and Jalen Guyton all entering contract years, I can see Palmer playing a big role in the Chargers' offense sooner rather than later. Collins could be a sneaky good pick for Rhodes, though the quarterback position in Houston is a mess at that point. More wideouts like Eskridge, Strachan and Rodgers came off the board. Christy took a chance on Adams because of Detroit’s wideout depth chart. The Packers have several wideouts, including Davante Adams, entering a contract year. That made Rodgers an interesting futures selection for the Zegura/Mizanin squad. Atwell, who is unlikely to make an immediate impact in Los Angeles, went to Porter.
ROUND 44.37. Harris: Dez Fitzpatrick, WR, Tennessee Titans4.38. Rhodes: Kyle Trask, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers4.39. Fabiano: Tylan Wallace, WR, Baltimore Ravens4.40. Anello: Chris Evans, RB, Cincinnati Bengals4.41. Harris (trade with Luftglass): Tre’ McKitty, TE, Los Angeles Chargers4.42. Dempsey: Elijah Mitchell, RB, San Francisco 49ers4.43. Zegura/Mizanin: Anthony Schwartz, WR, Cleveland Browns4.44. Dameshek: Brevin Jordan, TE, Houston Texans4.45. Smith/Harmon: Jermar Jefferson, RB, Detroit Lions4.46. Christy: Kylin Hill, RB, Green Bay Packers4.47. Wakefield: Davis Mills, QB, Houston Texans4.48. Porter: Kellen Mond, QB, Minnesota Vikings
When you're in the fourth round of a rookies-only draft, you're throwing darts, hoping to hit a bulls-eye. Harris took Fitzpatrick, who could push for targets as a rookie in Tennessee. I took a chance on Wallace as a futures pick, and the selections of McKitty, Mitchell, Schwartz and Jordan were made in the same vein. Mills could end up being a starter as a rookie whether the Texans lose Watson to a suspension or decide to deal him. Mond is an interesting fantasy prospect because of his skills as a runner, but the Vikings still have incumbent starter Kirk Cousins under contract for another two years.
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