Welcome back to the final instalment of my strategy series! In this episode, I’m going to be taking an early TE, trying to show the value of how this affects your team. This strategy is commonly used amongst dynasty players; it is one I use myself, but it is one I can easily steer away from. This strategy is based on value – if the value doesn’t fall to you, then it’s easy to change the way you draft. I must point out that this mock was started 2 days before the draft and a lot of players taken in this draft have been taken differently because of landing spots in the draft. I will highlight when rookies are taken as I think it’s interesting to see where they went.

Episode 1: QB-Heavy
Episode 2: RB-Heavy and fade WR
Episode 3: WR-Heavy and fade RB
Episode 4: TE Early

As in all the other episodes, I have decided to go from the 1.05 in a 12 Team SF with a 3rd round reversal.

Pick 1.05: Kyler Murray

Murray is my dynasty QB3 – it’s a steal at the 1.05 and a very easy pick. With the addition of Marquise Brown, which I see as a bit of an olive branch as Brown is one of Murray’s good friends and college teammates, I’m hoping he doesn’t sit out and decides to actually play this year.

Pick 2.08: Kyle Pitts

Here it is – my first share of Pitts this year and as my dynasty TE1 was an easy steal at 2.08. Pitts is a generational talent that will be a dominant player in this position for years to come. As i said in the description, if value doesn’t drop this is an easy strategy to stay water with.

Pick 3.08: Saquon Barkley

Loved getting my elite RBs in episode 2, leading me to lean towards RB picks again. So here I am, trying to see what I can build and by getting my RB9 in round 3 it was an easy pick for me. Through 3 rounds, still no other TE has been chosen.

Pick 4.05: J.K. Dobbins

Dobbins was plan B, I was hoping that Stafford would have dropped to me but he was chosen at 3.11, so I decided Dobbins was the best player on the board. Now to build the WR core, Mark Andrews was selected at 4.01 who is my TE 3 in dynasty and if you were willing to wait a few rounds he would have been a smash play for me.

Pick 5.08: Garrett Wilson

This draft happened during the NFL draft so landing spots have been decided. I think I got a bit of rookie fever – this is probably a bit of a reach as WR17 off the board and WR22 in my rankings – but I love the outlook of Wilson and will embrace the pick. In the last 12 picks, I have seen Kelce and Kittle taken. If I was taking an elite TE, this would be the cut off point for me now; I would be fading TE.

Pick 6.05: Cam Akers

This team is shaping up to be something special and now I have another young RB in Akers, who has a lot to prove this season. Akers is currently my RB15 and was taken as RB19, so the value was there. Now I need to focus on building my ultimate team. Other players taken in the last few picks were Drake London at 5.09 and Treylon Burks at 5.12.

Pick 7.08: Amari Cooper

Cooper, who is now at Cleveland, may not be the player you want for the first 8 games but after Watson’s ban is over he will be the number 1 WR in that team with an elite QB. 2 more TE taken in the last set of picks – Darren Waller, my TE7, and T.J. Hockenson, my TE5. Also saw a few more rookies taken – Jameson Williams at 6.07 and Chris Olave at 6.10.

Pick 8.05: Kirk Cousin

Time to get my QB2 and one I’m very happy with. Cousins is a popular choice for me if I don’t go back to back QBs in the first 2 or 3 rounds. Cousins is a solid QB2 and in my rankings QB18. So far this team is shaping up to be something special and may even be my favourite of the series. In the last round, Dalton Schultz was taken at 8.03 and that makes it 6 TEs off the board.

Pick 9.08: Clyde Edwards-Helaire

In my opinion, CEH was one of the biggest winners of the latest draft as the Chiefs didn’t draft a RB. This has arrows up for CEH, it has bumped up my rankings to RB20 and is a great pick up as my RB4 in my team. The latest round saw another TE drafted in Pat Freiermuth. Also a lot of rookies taken in Ridder, Sky Moore, Watson and Pickett.

Pick 10.05: Robert Woods

Love Woods as a WR3 in any team, he is easily WR2 at the Titans and possible 1b this season after the Titans traded away AJ Brown. The last round saw George Pickens at 9.10.

Pick 11.08: Michael Gallup

Another person who has benefited this offseason, with the Cowboys trading Cooper away he now steps up as WR2 in the Cowboys offence. I loved Gallup last season as WR3 in this offence, so now he is WR2 I’m all in at this price. A lot of receptions on offer and Gallup will be soaking them all up this season. There are so many rookies being taken in this draft, it’s awesome. Another run saw Bell, Cook, Pierce and Dotson.

Pick 12.05: Kenneth Gainwell

Stocking up on RBs while I still can, not much value left and Gainwell could be a 1b in this Eagles committee – or at least have a role in the receiving game. He will also have a point to prove with Sanders being UFA in 23.

Pick 13.08: Rondale Moore

I can’t stop drafting Rondale – I need help!!!!

Pick 14.05: Albert Okwuegbunam

So I saw the value in Albert O here – to have him as my back up TE is awesome and even better, he is my TE10 and was actually drafted as TE17. People taken before him were Irv Smith, Trey McBride and Zack Ertz, so to me it’s a smash pick here. I would 100% be taking Albert O over rookie McBride. Other rookies taken in the last round were Spiller, McBride and Zamir White.

Pick 15.08: Darrell Henderson

I liked the look of Henderson here and with Akers on my team, I worry about his injury or if they reduce his workload, so having the back-up here is of value to me.

TEAM

QB – Murray and Cousins
RB – Barkley, Dobbins, Akers, CEH, Gainwell and Henderson
WR – Wilson, Cooper, Woods, Gallup and R Moore
TE – Pitts and Albert O

Conclusion

I have learnt to love this strategy and, as I said, think I actually favour this more than zero RB. One thing that was pointed out recently was that most teams making playoffs have an elite TE on their team. After seeing what Kelce and Andrews have done the past couple of seasons, it’s like drafting a WR in a TE spot, so I can see the value in getting one of the elite players on your team. In conclusion, of all the episodes, I think this one is my favourite team as I feel that I have awesome players in all positions.

What did you think of my final team and, the more important question, what do you think of the TE early strategy? You can follow Paul on Twitter @paul_picken to keep up with his work. Keep your eyes peeled for more articles from our great Dynasty team, coming soon. Remember to tune into the 5 Yard Dynasty livestream every Tuesday at 8 pm (GMT).