Never in a Dynasty league are the stakes higher than in the initial draft. It's your one and only chance to lay the foundation for your team.

And there are a few different ways you could go about it. You could go prospect-heavy, taking your lumps in the short term in the hopes of growing a juggernaut. You could scoop up all the veteran talent that sneaks through, looking to secure a quick championship or two before an inevitable rebuild. Or you could look to strike the perfect balance between the two, giving yourself a chance to contend right away but not at the expense of your future.

Normally, I go for that third option, aiming to avoid any lose-on-purpose scenario. But the way this Dynasty start-up mock played out, I wound up with as many prospects as anybody -- eight in all, including Wyatt Langford and Junior Caminero in Rounds 3 and 4.

But you know what? I still think I'm positioned to contend right away. This being a Head-to-Head points league with a starting lineup featuring only nine hitters, you can afford to take some detours without the talent depleting too terribly. Compare my roster to that of Anthony Kates or Bob Elam, who didn't try for their prospects (everyone needed at least four) until late in the draft, and I think it stacks up well. I'm especially pleased with how my pitching turned out given that I didn't take a pitcher until Round 5.

No ad available

I've already mentioned two of the people who took part in this mock. Here's everyone:

1) Will Garofalo, "a great Dynasty player" -Frank Stampfl
2) Tim Kanak, Fantasy Aceball (@fantasyaceball)
3) Anthony Kates, SportsEthos (@akfantasybb)
4) Bob Elam, Patton & Company
5) Jesse Severe, Dynasty Sports Life podcast (@dynsportslife)
6) Scott White, CBS Sports (@CBSScottWhite)
7) R.J. White, CBS Sports (@rjwhite1)
8) Martin Sekulski, Pitcher List (@M_Ski22)
9) Jake Holland, formerly The Toss Up podcast (@jakebaseball17)
10) Michael Polidoro, The Can-Am Super Show (@CanAmSuperShow)
11) Dave Funnell, Prospects1500 (@sportz_nutt51)
12) Jake Wiener, Prospects1500 (@GatorSosa)

Of course, prospects aren't the only players who gain value in Dynasty leagues. Any up-and-comer could see a boost while any 30-something could slip. It's how Trea Turner lasted to the middle of Round 3 and why George Kirby (32nd overall), Tarik Skubal (40), Eury Perez (44) and Grayson Rodriguez (47) were all drafted ahead of Luis Castillo (48) and Zack Wheeler (49).

No ad available

We didn't go as far with avoiding veterans as I've seen in other Dynasty start-up drafts. Freddie Freeman still got his due as the 17th overall pick, and MIke Trout in Round 5 wasn't as discounted as he could have been. But the value of some picks will seem borderilne crazy if you're used to seeing things through a redraft lens, such as Adolis Garcia in Round 9, Nolan Arenado in Round 11 and Paul Goldschmidt in Round 15. Rightly or wrongly, those players weren't seen as having enough of a shelf life to pass up younger talent for them.

Between the emphasis on youth and all the prospects sprinkled in, there are so many picks worth remarking on that I couldn't possibly address them all. This sort of draft is genuinely one of a kind, so if building a Dynasty team from scratch is something that interests you, I encourage you to pore over the results. I did use my Dynasty rankings as a guide, though since they were made with 5x5 Rotisserie leagues in mind, I couldn't follow them to a tee. We'll do a Dynasty startup mock for that scoring format later on.

One last note before I turn you loose: remember that Shane McClanahan (Pick 104), Brandon Woodruff (124), Sandy Alcantara (125), Jacob deGrom (157) and Dustin May (304) still have Dynasty value even though they're expected to miss most, if not all, of 2024 due to injury. The same goes for Drew Rasmussen, though he went undrafted here.

No ad available
Round By Round
Round 1
Pos Team Player
1 Michael Polidoro
2 Will Garofalo
3 Anthony Kates
4 Dave Funnell
5 Scott White
6 Jake Wiener
7 Jake Holland
8 Bob Elam
9 Jesse Severe
10 R.J. White
11 Tim Kanak
12 Martin Sekulski
Round 2
Pos Team Player
13 Martin Sekulski
14 Tim Kanak
15 R.J. White
16 Jesse Severe
17 Bob Elam
18 Jake Holland
19 Jake Wiener
20 Scott White
21 Dave Funnell
22 Anthony Kates
23 Will Garofalo
24 Michael Polidoro
Round 3
Pos Team Player
25 Michael Polidoro
26 Will Garofalo
27 Anthony Kates
28 Dave Funnell
29 Scott White
30 Jake Wiener
31 Jake Holland
32 Bob Elam
33 Jesse Severe
34 R.J. White
35 Tim Kanak
36 Martin Sekulski
Round 4
Pos Team Player
37 Martin Sekulski
38 Tim Kanak
39 R.J. White
40 Jesse Severe
41 Bob Elam
42 Jake Holland
43 Jake Wiener
44 Scott White
45 Dave Funnell
46 Anthony Kates
47 Will Garofalo
48 Michael Polidoro
Round 5
Pos Team Player
49 Michael Polidoro
50 Will Garofalo
51 Anthony Kates
52 Dave Funnell
53 Scott White
54 Jake Wiener
55 Jake Holland
56 Bob Elam
57 Jesse Severe
58 R.J. White
59 Tim Kanak
60 Martin Sekulski
Round 6
Pos Team Player
61 Martin Sekulski
62 Tim Kanak
63 R.J. White
64 Jesse Severe
65 Bob Elam
66 Jake Holland
67 Jake Wiener
68 Scott White
69 Dave Funnell
70 Anthony Kates
71 Will Garofalo
72 Michael Polidoro
Round 7
Pos Team Player
73 Michael Polidoro
74 Will Garofalo
75 Anthony Kates
76 Dave Funnell
77 Scott White
78 Jake Wiener
79 Jake Holland
80 Bob Elam
81 Jesse Severe
82 R.J. White
83 Tim Kanak
84 Martin Sekulski
Round 8
Pos Team Player
85 Martin Sekulski
86 Tim Kanak
87 R.J. White
88 Jesse Severe
89 Bob Elam
90 Jake Holland
91 Jake Wiener
92 Scott White
93 Dave Funnell
94 Anthony Kates
95 Will Garofalo
96 Michael Polidoro
Round 9
Pos Team Player
97 Michael Polidoro
98 Will Garofalo
99 Anthony Kates
100 Dave Funnell
101 Scott White
102 Jake Wiener
103 Jake Holland
104 Bob Elam
105 Jesse Severe
106 R.J. White
107 Tim Kanak
108 Martin Sekulski
Round 10
Pos Team Player
109 Martin Sekulski
110 Tim Kanak
111 R.J. White
112 Jesse Severe
113 Bob Elam
114 Jake Holland
115 Jake Wiener
116 Scott White
117 Dave Funnell
118 Anthony Kates
119 Will Garofalo
120 Michael Polidoro
Round 11
Pos Team Player
121 Michael Polidoro
122 Will Garofalo
123 Anthony Kates
124 Dave Funnell
125 Scott White
126 Jake Wiener
127 Jake Holland
128 Bob Elam
129 Jesse Severe
130 R.J. White
131 Tim Kanak
132 Martin Sekulski
Round 12
Pos Team Player
133 Martin Sekulski
134 Tim Kanak
135 R.J. White
136 Jesse Severe
137 Bob Elam
138 Jake Holland
139 Jake Wiener
140 Scott White
141 Dave Funnell
142 Anthony Kates
143 Will Garofalo
144 Michael Polidoro
Round 13
Pos Team Player
145 Michael Polidoro
146 Will Garofalo
147 Anthony Kates
148 Dave Funnell
149 Scott White
150 Jake Wiener
151 Jake Holland
152 Bob Elam
153 Jesse Severe
154 R.J. White
155 Tim Kanak
156 Martin Sekulski
Round 14
Pos Team Player
157 Martin Sekulski
158 Tim Kanak
159 R.J. White
160 Jesse Severe
161 Bob Elam
162 Jake Holland
163 Jake Wiener
164 Scott White
165 Dave Funnell
166 Anthony Kates
167 Will Garofalo
168 Michael Polidoro
Round 15
Pos Team Player
169 Michael Polidoro
170 Will Garofalo
171 Anthony Kates
172 Dave Funnell
173 Scott White
174 Jake Wiener
175 Jake Holland
176 Bob Elam
177 Jesse Severe
178 R.J. White
179 Tim Kanak
180 Martin Sekulski
Round 16
Pos Team Player
181 Martin Sekulski
182 Tim Kanak
183 R.J. White
184 Jesse Severe
185 Bob Elam
186 Jake Holland
187 Jake Wiener
188 Scott White
189 Dave Funnell
190 Anthony Kates
191 Will Garofalo
192 Michael Polidoro
Round 17
Pos Team Player
193 Michael Polidoro
194 Will Garofalo
195 Anthony Kates
196 Dave Funnell
197 Scott White
198 Jake Wiener
199 Jake Holland
200 Bob Elam
201 Jesse Severe
202 R.J. White
203 Tim Kanak
204 Martin Sekulski
Round 18
Pos Team Player
205 Martin Sekulski
206 Tim Kanak
207 R.J. White
208 Jesse Severe
209 Bob Elam
210 Jake Holland
211 Jake Wiener
212 Scott White
213 Dave Funnell
214 Anthony Kates
215 Will Garofalo
216 Michael Polidoro
Round 19
Pos Team Player
217 Michael Polidoro
218 Will Garofalo
219 Anthony Kates
220 Dave Funnell
221 Scott White
222 Jake Wiener
223 Jake Holland
224 Bob Elam
225 Jesse Severe
226 R.J. White
227 Tim Kanak
228 Martin Sekulski
Round 20
Pos Team Player
229 Martin Sekulski
230 Tim Kanak
231 R.J. White
232 Jesse Severe
233 Bob Elam
234 Jake Holland
235 Jake Wiener
236 Scott White
237 Dave Funnell
238 Anthony Kates
239 Will Garofalo
240 Michael Polidoro
Round 21
Pos Team Player
241 Michael Polidoro
242 Will Garofalo
243 Anthony Kates
244 Dave Funnell
245 Scott White
246 Jake Wiener
247 Jake Holland
248 Bob Elam
249 Jesse Severe
250 R.J. White
251 Tim Kanak
252 Martin Sekulski
Round 22
Pos Team Player
253 Martin Sekulski
254 Tim Kanak
255 R.J. White
256 Jesse Severe
257 Bob Elam
258 Jake Holland
259 Jake Wiener
260 Scott White
261 Dave Funnell
262 Anthony Kates
263 Will Garofalo
264 Michael Polidoro
Round 23
Pos Team Player
265 Michael Polidoro
266 Will Garofalo
267 Anthony Kates
268 Dave Funnell
269 Scott White
270 Jake Wiener
271 Jake Holland
272 Bob Elam
273 Jesse Severe
274 R.J. White
275 Tim Kanak
276 Martin Sekulski
Round 24
Pos Team Player
277 Martin Sekulski
278 Tim Kanak
279 R.J. White
280 Jesse Severe
281 Bob Elam
282 Jake Holland
283 Jake Wiener
284 Scott White
285 Dave Funnell
286 Anthony Kates
287 Will Garofalo
288 Michael Polidoro
Round 25
Pos Team Player
289 Michael Polidoro
290 Will Garofalo
291 Anthony Kates
292 Dave Funnell
293 Scott White
294 Jake Wiener
295 Jake Holland
296 Bob Elam
297 Jesse Severe
298 R.J. White
299 Tim Kanak
300 Martin Sekulski
Round 26
Pos Team Player
301 Martin Sekulski
302 Tim Kanak
303 R.J. White
304 Jesse Severe
305 Bob Elam
306 Jake Holland
307 Jake Wiener
308 Scott White
309 Dave Funnell
310 Anthony Kates
311 Will Garofalo
312 Michael Polidoro
Team by Team
Michael Polidoro
Rd Pk Player
1 1
2 24
3 25
4 48
5 49
6 72
7 73
8 96
9 97
10 120
11 121
12 144
13 145
14 168
15 169
16 192
17 193
18 216
19 217
20 240
21 241
22 264
23 265
24 288
25 289
26 312
Will Garofalo
Rd Pk Player
1 2
2 23
3 26
4 47
5 50
6 71
7 74
8 95
9 98
10 119
11 122
12 143
13 146
14 167
15 170
16 191
17 194
18 215
19 218
20 239
21 242
22 263
23 266
24 287
25 290
26 311
Anthony Kates
Rd Pk Player
1 3
2 22
3 27
4 46
5 51
6 70
7 75
8 94
9 99
10 118
11 123
12 142
13 147
14 166
15 171
16 190
17 195
18 214
19 219
20 238
21 243
22 262
23 267
24 286
25 291
26 310
Dave Funnell
Rd Pk Player
1 4
2 21
3 28
4 45
5 52
6 69
7 76
8 93
9 100
10 117
11 124
12 141
13 148
14 165
15 172
16 189
17 196
18 213
19 220
20 237
21 244
22 261
23 268
24 285
25 292
26 309
Scott White
Rd Pk Player
1 5
2 20
3 29
4 44
5 53
6 68
7 77
8 92
9 101
10 116
11 125
12 140
13 149
14 164
15 173
16 188
17 197
18 212
19 221
20 236
21 245
22 260
23 269
24 284
25 293
26 308
Jake Wiener
Rd Pk Player
1 6
2 19
3 30
4 43
5 54
6 67
7 78
8 91
9 102
10 115
11 126
12 139
13 150
14 163
15 174
16 187
17 198
18 211
19 222
20 235
21 246
22 259
23 270
24 283
25 294
26 307
Jake Holland
Rd Pk Player
1 7
2 18
3 31
4 42
5 55
6 66
7 79
8 90
9 103
10 114
11 127
12 138
13 151
14 162
15 175
16 186
17 199
18 210
19 223
20 234
21 247
22 258
23 271
24 282
25 295
26 306
Bob Elam
Rd Pk Player
1 8
2 17
3 32
4 41
5 56
6 65
7 80
8 89
9 104
10 113
11 128
12 137
13 152
14 161
15 176
16 185
17 200
18 209
19 224
20 233
21 248
22 257
23 272
24 281
25 296
26 305
Jesse Severe
Rd Pk Player
1 9
2 16
3 33
4 40
5 57
6 64
7 81
8 88
9 105
10 112
11 129
12 136
13 153
14 160
15 177
16 184
17 201
18 208
19 225
20 232
21 249
22 256
23 273
24 280
25 297
26 304
R.J. White
Rd Pk Player
1 10
2 15
3 34
4 39
5 58
6 63
7 82
8 87
9 106
10 111
11 130
12 135
13 154
14 159
15 178
16 183
17 202
18 207
19 226
20 231
21 250
22 255
23 274
24 279
25 298
26 303
Tim Kanak
Rd Pk Player
1 11
2 14
3 35
4 38
5 59
6 62
7 83
8 86
9 107
10 110
11 131
12 134
13 155
14 158
15 179
16 182
17 203
18 206
19 227
20 230
21 251
22 254
23 275
24 278
25 299
26 302
Martin Sekulski
Rd Pk Player
1 12
2 13
3 36
4 37
5 60
6 61
7 84
8 85
9 108
10 109
11 132
12 133
13 156
14 157
15 180
16 181
17 204
18 205
19 228
20 229
21 252
22 253
23 276
24 277
25 300
26 301