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One of the questions I struggle the most with during draft season is "what's your draft strategy" and that's because, for the most part, I let the draft room determine my draft strategy. I'm as comfortable with Zero-RB as I and with Robust RB, and I think most managers should be if they want to optimize their chances of winning. And in a Dynasty start-up, there's another layer added on top of that. My first few picks also determine my strategy.

To better understand this, we can take a look at one drafter's team in our recent mock. Alfredo Brown started his team from the No. 2 pick with Ja'Marr Chase. Chase is the rare player who would fit perfectly as the best player on a rebuilding team or the best player on a contending team. But the next pick changed everything because he selected Travis Kelce. Kelce in Round 2 is too early for me, but Brown did exactly what he should have done after making that pick.

His next five picks were Austin Ekeler, Justin Fields, Derrick Henry, Tyler Lockett, and Keenan Allen. Suddenly, it looks like everyone else is playing for second place in 2023. Brown may be rebuilding his team as early as 2024, but he's established himself as the clear favorite for this year.

I took the opposite path with my squad, building a youthful team around CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Hurts, and Drake London. The one exception to my strategy was Joe Mixon, because I thought Round 5 was too far for him to fall. if my team surprises and competes in Year 1, I'll keep Mixon, if not, he should be easy enough to deal at the deadline and he may be worth more then to a contender than he is now. 

You don't have to be so married to a strategy that you eschew all value, but it should serve as a guide as you move through a start-up. It should be more than a tie-breaker, but it doesn't have to determine every single pick. Still, I'd like my roster better if I'd taken a younger player there.

The analysts who participated in this mock draft are:

Dave Richard, CBS Sports
Alfredo Brown, Footballguys
Cristian Crespo
Heath Cummings, CBS Sports
Adam Aizer, CBS Sports
Frank Stampfl, CBS Sports
Dan Schneier, CBS Sports
Chris Towers, CBS Sports
Jay Felicio, Front Yard Fantasy Sports
R.J. White, CBS Sports
Joel Cox, CBS Sports
Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports

And here are the full results:

Round By Round
Round 1
Pos Team Player
1 Dave Richard J. Jefferson WR MIN
2 Alfredo Brown J. Chase WR CIN
3 Cristian Crespo P. Mahomes QB KC
4 Heath Cummings C. Lamb WR DAL
5 Adam Aizer B. Hall RB NYJ
6 Frank Stampfl A. Brown WR PHI
7 Dan J. Taylor RB IND
8 Chris Towers J. Waddle WR MIA
9 Jay Felicio S. Diggs WR BUF
10 R.J. White A. St. Brown WR DET
11 Joel Cox S. Barkley RB NYG
12 Jamey Eisenberg C. McCaffrey RB SF
Round 2
Pos Team Player
13 Jamey Eisenberg G. Wilson WR NYJ
14 Joel Cox K. Walker III RB SEA
15 R.J. White J. Jacobs RB LV
16 Jay Felicio T. Higgins WR CIN
17 Chris Towers J. Allen QB BUF
18 Dan D. Smith WR PHI
19 Frank Stampfl T. Etienne RB JAC
20 Adam Aizer C. Olave WR NO
21 Heath Cummings J. Hurts QB PHI
22 Cristian Crespo T. Hill WR MIA
23 Alfredo Brown T. Kelce TE KC
24 Dave Richard C. Kupp WR LAR
Round 3
Pos Team Player
25 Dave Richard D. Adams WR LV
26 Alfredo Brown A. Ekeler RB LAC
27 Cristian Crespo D. Metcalf WR SEA
28 Heath Cummings D. London WR ATL
29 Adam Aizer K. Pitts TE ATL
30 Frank Stampfl D. Samuel WR SF
31 Dan J. Williams RB DEN
32 Chris Towers C. Godwin WR TB
33 Jay Felicio N. Harris RB PIT
34 R.J. White M. Andrews TE BAL
35 Joel Cox N. Chubb RB CLE
36 Jamey Eisenberg R. Stevenson RB NE
Round 4
Pos Team Player
37 Jamey Eisenberg D. Moore WR CHI
38 Joel Cox T. Hockenson TE MIN
39 R.J. White G. Pickens WR PIT
40 Jay Felicio D. Swift RB DET
41 Chris Towers J. Jeudy WR DEN
42 Dan T. Burks WR TEN
43 Frank Stampfl J. Burrow QB CIN
44 Adam Aizer C. Watson WR GB
45 Heath Cummings D. Pierce RB HOU
46 Cristian Crespo D. Goedert TE PHI
47 Alfredo Brown J. Fields QB CHI
48 Dave Richard J. Dobbins RB BAL
Round 5
Pos Team Player
49 Dave Richard J. Williams WR DET
50 Alfredo Brown D. Henry RB TEN
51 Cristian Crespo T. Pollard RB DAL
52 Heath Cummings J. Mixon RB CIN
53 Adam Aizer T. Lawrence QB JAC
54 Frank Stampfl C. Ridley WR JAC
55 Dan M. Pittman WR IND
56 Chris Towers D. Hopkins WR ARI
57 Jay Felicio L. Jackson QB BAL
58 R.J. White J. Herbert QB LAC
59 Joel Cox B. Aiyuk WR SF
60 Jamey Eisenberg T. McLaurin WR WAS
Round 6
Pos Team Player
61 Jamey Eisenberg A. Jones RB GB
62 Joel Cox A. Cooper WR CLE
63 R.J. White M. Williams WR LAC
64 Jay Felicio M. Brown WR ARI
65 Chris Towers D. Cook RB MIN
66 Dan J. Dotson WR WAS
67 Frank Stampfl M. Evans WR TB
68 Adam Aizer T. Allgeier RB ATL
69 Heath Cummings E. Moore WR CLE
70 Cristian Crespo A. Dillon RB GB
71 Alfredo Brown T. Lockett WR SEA
72 Dave Richard C. Akers RB LAR
Round 7
Pos Team Player
73 Dave Richard I. Pacheco RB KC
74 Alfredo Brown K. Allen WR LAC
75 Cristian Crespo D. Johnson WR PIT
76 Heath Cummings J. Cook RB BUF
77 Adam Aizer C. Kirk WR JAC
78 Frank Stampfl R. White RB TB
79 Dan P. Freiermuth TE PIT
80 Chris Towers A. Kamara RB NO
81 Jay Felicio G. Kittle TE SF
82 R.J. White M. Sanders RB CAR
83 Joel Cox C. Sutton WR DEN
84 Jamey Eisenberg K. Toney WR KC
Round 8
Pos Team Player
85 Jamey Eisenberg G. Dulcich TE DEN
86 Joel Cox D. Jones QB NYG
87 R.J. White D. Montgomery RB DET
88 Jay Felicio D. Harris RB BUF
89 Chris Towers R. Bateman WR BAL
90 Dan D. Mooney WR CHI
91 Frank Stampfl J. Conner RB ARI
92 Adam Aizer K. Herbert RB CHI
93 Heath Cummings G. Davis WR BUF
94 Cristian Crespo J. Meyers WR LV
95 Alfredo Brown R. Doubs WR GB
96 Dave Richard B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS
Round 9
Pos Team Player
97 Dave Richard Z. White RB LV
98 Alfredo Brown C. Claypool WR CHI
99 Cristian Crespo A. Lazard WR NYJ
100 Heath Cummings C. Kmet TE CHI
101 Adam Aizer W. Robinson WR NYG
102 Frank Stampfl A. Pierce WR IND
103 Dan S. Moore WR KC
104 Chris Towers D. Waller TE NYG
105 Jay Felicio B. Cooks WR DAL
106 R.J. White E. Elliott RB DAL
107 Joel Cox L. Fournette RB TB
108 Jamey Eisenberg K. Murray QB ARI
Round 10
Pos Team Player
109 Jamey Eisenberg N. Collins WR HOU
110 Joel Cox E. Engram TE JAC
111 R.J. White J. Smith-Schuster WR NE
112 Jay Felicio K. Gainwell RB PHI
113 Chris Towers A. Gibson RB WAS
114 Dan T. McBride TE ARI
115 Frank Stampfl D. Schultz TE HOU
116 Adam Aizer R. Moore WR ARI
117 Heath Cummings D. Peoples-Jones WR CLE
118 Cristian Crespo A. Mattison RB MIN
119 Alfredo Brown J. Williams RB NO
120 Dave Richard D. Watson QB CLE
Round 11
Pos Team Player
121 Dave Richard T. Lance QB SF
122 Alfredo Brown K. Hunt RB CLE
123 Cristian Crespo M. Thomas WR NO
124 Heath Cummings D. Njoku TE CLE
125 Adam Aizer D. Knox TE BUF
126 Frank Stampfl J. Palmer WR LAC
127 Dan I. Hodgins WR NYG
128 Chris Towers C. Edwards-Helaire RB KC
129 Jay Felicio M. Valdes-Scantling WR KC
130 R.J. White M. Gallup WR DAL
131 Joel Cox P. Campbell WR NYG
132 Jamey Eisenberg D. Foreman RB CHI
Round 12
Pos Team Player
133 Jamey Eisenberg K. Osborn WR MIN
134 Joel Cox R. Wilson QB DEN
135 R.J. White D. Singletary RB HOU
136 Jay Felicio O. Beckham Jr. WR LAR
137 Chris Towers J. Warren RB PIT
138 Dan T. Thornton WR NE
139 Frank Stampfl E. Mitchell RB SF
140 Adam Aizer D. Prescott QB DAL
141 Heath Cummings D. Chark WR DET
142 Cristian Crespo T. Higbee TE LAR
143 Alfredo Brown C. Samuel WR WAS
144 Dave Richard C. Okonkwo TE TEN
Round 13
Pos Team Player
145 Dave Richard J. Metchie III WR HOU
146 Alfredo Brown C. Hubbard RB CAR
147 Cristian Crespo J. Goff QB DET
148 Heath Cummings T. Tagovailoa QB MIA
149 Adam Aizer P. Strong Jr. RB NE
150 Frank Stampfl D. Slayton WR NYG
151 Dan A. Rodgers QB GB
152 Chris Towers I. Likely TE BAL
153 Jay Felicio D. Carr QB NO
154 R.J. White J. Wilson RB MIA
155 Joel Cox C. Austin III WR PIT
156 Jamey Eisenberg K. Shakir WR BUF
Round 14
Pos Team Player
157 Jamey Eisenberg I. Spiller RB LAC
158 Joel Cox B. Scott RB PHI
159 R.J. White M. Jones QB NE
160 Jay Felicio R. Penny RB PHI
161 Chris Towers M. Hardman WR NYJ
162 Dan M. Carter RB NYJ
163 Frank Stampfl R. Shaheed WR NO
164 Adam Aizer K. Williams RB LAR
165 Heath Cummings C. Otton TE TB
166 Cristian Crespo J. Kelley RB LAC
167 Alfredo Brown G. Smith QB SEA
168 Dave Richard Z. Jones WR JAC
Round 15
Pos Team Player
169 Dave Richard T. Hill TE NO
170 Alfredo Brown T. Boyd WR CIN
171 Cristian Crespo G. Everett TE LAC
172 Heath Cummings D. Bell WR CLE
173 Adam Aizer J. Robinson RB NE
174 Frank Stampfl J. Woods TE IND
175 Dan K. Cousins QB MIN
176 Chris Towers C. Davis WR NYJ
177 Jay Felicio M. Gesicki TE NE
178 R.J. White H. Renfrow WR LV
179 Joel Cox T. Chandler RB MIN
180 Jamey Eisenberg M. Davis RB DAL
Round 16
Pos Team Player
181 Jamey Eisenberg K. Pickett QB PIT
182 Joel Cox J. Watson WR KC
183 R.J. White S. Perine RB DEN
184 Jay Felicio L. Shenault Jr. WR CAR
185 Chris Towers J. McKinnon RB KC
186 Dan N. Fant TE SEA
187 Frank Stampfl C. Patterson RB ATL
188 Adam Aizer T. Brady QB TB
189 Heath Cummings T. Marshall Jr. WR CAR
190 Cristian Crespo H. Henry TE NE
191 Alfredo Brown Q. Watkins WR PHI
192 Dave Richard D. Gray WR SF
Team by Team
Dave Richard
Rd Pk Player
1 1 J. Jefferson WR MIN
2 24 C. Kupp WR LAR
3 25 D. Adams WR LV
4 48 J. Dobbins RB BAL
5 49 J. Williams WR DET
6 72 C. Akers RB LAR
7 73 I. Pacheco RB KC
8 96 B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS
9 97 Z. White RB LV
10 120 D. Watson QB CLE
11 121 T. Lance QB SF
12 144 C. Okonkwo TE TEN
13 145 J. Metchie III WR HOU
14 168 Z. Jones WR JAC
15 169 T. Hill TE NO
16 192 D. Gray WR SF
Alfredo Brown
Rd Pk Player
1 2 J. Chase WR CIN
2 23 T. Kelce TE KC
3 26 A. Ekeler RB LAC
4 47 J. Fields QB CHI
5 50 D. Henry RB TEN
6 71 T. Lockett WR SEA
7 74 K. Allen WR LAC
8 95 R. Doubs WR GB
9 98 C. Claypool WR CHI
10 119 J. Williams RB NO
11 122 K. Hunt RB CLE
12 143 C. Samuel WR WAS
13 146 C. Hubbard RB CAR
14 167 G. Smith QB SEA
15 170 T. Boyd WR CIN
16 191 Q. Watkins WR PHI
Cristian Crespo
Rd Pk Player
1 3 P. Mahomes QB KC
2 22 T. Hill WR MIA
3 27 D. Metcalf WR SEA
4 46 D. Goedert TE PHI
5 51 T. Pollard RB DAL
6 70 A. Dillon RB GB
7 75 D. Johnson WR PIT
8 94 J. Meyers WR LV
9 99 A. Lazard WR NYJ
10 118 A. Mattison RB MIN
11 123 M. Thomas WR NO
12 142 T. Higbee TE LAR
13 147 J. Goff QB DET
14 166 J. Kelley RB LAC
15 171 G. Everett TE LAC
16 190 H. Henry TE NE
Heath Cummings
Rd Pk Player
1 4 C. Lamb WR DAL
2 21 J. Hurts QB PHI
3 28 D. London WR ATL
4 45 D. Pierce RB HOU
5 52 J. Mixon RB CIN
6 69 E. Moore WR CLE
7 76 J. Cook RB BUF
8 93 G. Davis WR BUF
9 100 C. Kmet TE CHI
10 117 D. Peoples-Jones WR CLE
11 124 D. Njoku TE CLE
12 141 D. Chark WR DET
13 148 T. Tagovailoa QB MIA
14 165 C. Otton TE TB
15 172 D. Bell WR CLE
16 189 T. Marshall Jr. WR CAR
Adam Aizer
Rd Pk Player
1 5 B. Hall RB NYJ
2 20 C. Olave WR NO
3 29 K. Pitts TE ATL
4 44 C. Watson WR GB
5 53 T. Lawrence QB JAC
6 68 T. Allgeier RB ATL
7 77 C. Kirk WR JAC
8 92 K. Herbert RB CHI
9 101 W. Robinson WR NYG
10 116 R. Moore WR ARI
11 125 D. Knox TE BUF
12 140 D. Prescott QB DAL
13 149 P. Strong Jr. RB NE
14 164 K. Williams RB LAR
15 173 J. Robinson RB NE
16 188 T. Brady QB TB
Frank Stampfl
Rd Pk Player
1 6 A. Brown WR PHI
2 19 T. Etienne RB JAC
3 30 D. Samuel WR SF
4 43 J. Burrow QB CIN
5 54 C. Ridley WR JAC
6 67 M. Evans WR TB
7 78 R. White RB TB
8 91 J. Conner RB ARI
9 102 A. Pierce WR IND
10 115 D. Schultz TE HOU
11 126 J. Palmer WR LAC
12 139 E. Mitchell RB SF
13 150 D. Slayton WR NYG
14 163 R. Shaheed WR NO
15 174 J. Woods TE IND
16 187 C. Patterson RB ATL
Dan
Rd Pk Player
1 7 J. Taylor RB IND
2 18 D. Smith WR PHI
3 31 J. Williams RB DEN
4 42 T. Burks WR TEN
5 55 M. Pittman WR IND
6 66 J. Dotson WR WAS
7 79 P. Freiermuth TE PIT
8 90 D. Mooney WR CHI
9 103 S. Moore WR KC
10 114 T. McBride TE ARI
11 127 I. Hodgins WR NYG
12 138 T. Thornton WR NE
13 151 A. Rodgers QB GB
14 162 M. Carter RB NYJ
15 175 K. Cousins QB MIN
16 186 N. Fant TE SEA
Chris Towers
Rd Pk Player
1 8 J. Waddle WR MIA
2 17 J. Allen QB BUF
3 32 C. Godwin WR TB
4 41 J. Jeudy WR DEN
5 56 D. Hopkins WR ARI
6 65 D. Cook RB MIN
7 80 A. Kamara RB NO
8 89 R. Bateman WR BAL
9 104 D. Waller TE NYG
10 113 A. Gibson RB WAS
11 128 C. Edwards-Helaire RB KC
12 137 J. Warren RB PIT
13 152 I. Likely TE BAL
14 161 M. Hardman WR NYJ
15 176 C. Davis WR NYJ
16 185 J. McKinnon RB KC
Jay Felicio
Rd Pk Player
1 9 S. Diggs WR BUF
2 16 T. Higgins WR CIN
3 33 N. Harris RB PIT
4 40 D. Swift RB DET
5 57 L. Jackson QB BAL
6 64 M. Brown WR ARI
7 81 G. Kittle TE SF
8 88 D. Harris RB BUF
9 105 B. Cooks WR DAL
10 112 K. Gainwell RB PHI
11 129 M. Valdes-Scantling WR KC
12 136 O. Beckham Jr. WR LAR
13 153 D. Carr QB NO
14 160 R. Penny RB PHI
15 177 M. Gesicki TE NE
16 184 L. Shenault Jr. WR CAR
R.J. White
Rd Pk Player
1 10 A. St. Brown WR DET
2 15 J. Jacobs RB LV
3 34 M. Andrews TE BAL
4 39 G. Pickens WR PIT
5 58 J. Herbert QB LAC
6 63 M. Williams WR LAC
7 82 M. Sanders RB CAR
8 87 D. Montgomery RB DET
9 106 E. Elliott RB DAL
10 111 J. Smith-Schuster WR NE
11 130 M. Gallup WR DAL
12 135 D. Singletary RB HOU
13 154 J. Wilson RB MIA
14 159 M. Jones QB NE
15 178 H. Renfrow WR LV
16 183 S. Perine RB DEN
Joel Cox
Rd Pk Player
1 11 S. Barkley RB NYG
2 14 K. Walker III RB SEA
3 35 N. Chubb RB CLE
4 38 T. Hockenson TE MIN
5 59 B. Aiyuk WR SF
6 62 A. Cooper WR CLE
7 83 C. Sutton WR DEN
8 86 D. Jones QB NYG
9 107 L. Fournette RB TB
10 110 E. Engram TE JAC
11 131 P. Campbell WR NYG
12 134 R. Wilson QB DEN
13 155 C. Austin III WR PIT
14 158 B. Scott RB PHI
15 179 T. Chandler RB MIN
16 182 J. Watson WR KC
Jamey Eisenberg
Rd Pk Player
1 12 C. McCaffrey RB SF
2 13 G. Wilson WR NYJ
3 36 R. Stevenson RB NE
4 37 D. Moore WR CHI
5 60 T. McLaurin WR WAS
6 61 A. Jones RB GB
7 84 K. Toney WR KC
8 85 G. Dulcich TE DEN
9 108 K. Murray QB ARI
10 109 N. Collins WR HOU
11 132 D. Foreman RB CHI
12 133 K. Osborn WR MIN
13 156 K. Shakir WR BUF
14 157 I. Spiller RB LAC
15 180 M. Davis RB DAL
16 181 K. Pickett QB PIT