Fantasy Football 2024: Dynasty Mock Draft, Rankings and Tips for Team Names

The wait for the 2024 NFL season is nearly over. The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are set to kick things off on September 5, and from there, the race to Super Bowl LIX will be on.

In the coming days, many fantasy enthusiasts will begin their own championship pursuits. We're in prime draft season for fantasy, and there is no shortage of formats from which to choose.

While not as popular as daily fantasy sports or traditional re-draft leagues, dynasty can be one of the most rewarding, albeit challenging, ways to enjoy fantasy. Of course, getting started in a dynasty league can be intimidating. Even minor mistakes during a start-up draft can leave a squad in the basement for multiple years.

Few things in fantasy, though, are as satisfying as building a perennial powerhouse.

Below, you'll find some dynasty tips and rankings for the 2024 season, along with a two-round point-per-reception (PPR) start-up mock and a few naming suggestions.

Round 1

1. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

2. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

3. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

4. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

5. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

6. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions

8. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

9. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

10. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

11. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

12. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Round 2

1. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

2. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants

3. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

5. Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions

6. De'Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

7. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

8. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

9. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams

10. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

11. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

12. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

You'll probably notice that older NFL veterans like Christian McCaffrey and Tyreek Hill didn't go as highly in our mock as they do in traditional season-long drafts. There's a simple reason for this. Players on the back end of their careers don't provide the same window as their younger counterparts.

A star like McCaffrey, Hill, Davante Adams or Travis Kelce might help you get a championship in Year 1 or 2, but they're likely to leave you rebuilding sooner than later.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with taking an older star in a start-up draft, but it's wise not to take too many or to ignore viable succession plans.

If, for example, you target an older quarterback like Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford or Aaron Rodgers, you should probably draft a first- or second-year quarterback highly too.

It can be worth targeting quarterbacks earlier in dynasty leagues than in traditional leagues too, since great ones can be long-term staples of success. Buffalo Bills signal-caller Josh Allen, for example, went in Round 2 of our mock. That's earlier than we'd recommend taking a quarterback in a traditional PPR draft, but it's not unreasonable for dynasty.

Managers should also typically value pass-catchers and quarterbacks higher than all but the most elite running backs. This is because running backs usually don't enjoy the NFL longevity of players at other positions.

In the early rounds of the NFL draft, teams are hoping to land players who can be difference-makers for the next decade or more. Fantasy managers should take the same approach.

While youth is important, managers shouldn't take rookies too aggressively because they remain unproven at the pro level. Arizona Cardinals wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. might end up being the league's best receiver within a season or two, but until he can prove it on the field, there's some level of risk.

Harrison may be worth a first-round gamble, but he shouldn't be drafted over more proven wideouts who still have youth on their side.

It's also worth keeping in mind that only so many positions can be reloaded in next year's rookie draft. That's a big reason why it's important not to load up on players in their 30s and, if possible, to study up on next year's rookie class.

The 2025 quarterback class, for example, lacks the top-end talent that this year's class featured. Georgia's Carson Beck and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders aren't slam-dunk prospects but are likely to be the best available next spring.

"From a skill perspective, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders isn't a top-10 prospect," Brent Sobleski of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department wrote. "...His status will be determined this fall based on how he performs with a better supporting cast, namely his offensive line."

If next year's class seems particularly weak at a specific position, managers should consider putting extra resources into that position during their start-up drafts.

Quarterback

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

3. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

4. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

7. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

8. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

9. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

10. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

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Running Back

1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

3. Breece Hall, New York Jets

4. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

5. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

6. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

7. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

8. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

9. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

10. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

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Wide Receiver

1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

2. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

4. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

5. Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

6. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

8. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

9. Malik Nabers, New York Giants

10. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

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Tight End

1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

4. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

5. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo bills

6. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

7. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

8. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

9. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

10. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars

Experienced fantasy enthusiasts should be quite familiar with the basics of naming teams. Generally, managers combine the name of one of their centerpiece players, combine it with a common phrase or pop-culture reference and stir.

In dynasty, managers should strive to use one of their younger players who are expected to stick around for the foreseeable future. Most leagues will allow for name changes, of course, but there's something satisfying about highlighting that rookie gem who went on to lead your squad to multiple fantasy championships.

The possibilities are endless, but here are a few suggestions based on players who will be 25 or younger entering the 2024 season:

Baby Back Gibbs (Jahmyr Gibbs)

Feel the Breece (Breece Hall)

For Those About to Brock (Brock Purdy)

Howdy, Nabers (Malik Nabers)

It's All About Love (Jordan Love)

Ja'Marr Wars (Ja'Marr Chase)

LaPorta Call (Sam LaPorta)

Pitts About to Get Real (Kyle Pitts)

Spicy Bijan (Bijan Robinson)

Stroud Control (C.J. Stroud)

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Looking for more insight to prep for your draft or make some tough roster decisions? Check out all the latest B/R Fantasy Football essentials here.