Before you know it, it will be fantasy football draft time. During the next month or so, I will be conducting several mock drafts. During the drafts, I will pick in all 12 positions, with all sorts of scenarios.
As a rule, I prefer to draft three starting running backs within the first four rounds. It is a tried-and-true strategy, which has done me well for 20-plus years. The mock drafts I do will all assume 12 teams are in the league (unless otherwise noted) with the following positions: quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, tight end, a flex (running back, wide receiver or tight end), kicker, team defense and six bench spots. It is a 16-round snake draft.
Here is scenario No. 10. (See also: Scenario No. 1, Scenario No. 2, Scenario 3, Scenario 4, Scenario 5, Scenario 6, Scenario 7, Scenario 8, Scenario 9, 16-team scenario, superflex scenario, 10-team scenario and a unique format scenario.)
I have the tenth overall pick; let’s see how it all works out. In this format, I am playing in a half-point-per-reception league (half-PPR), which means that every reception is worth a half-point.
You can see the entire draft by clicking here.
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 10: Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers
Round 2, Pick 3: Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
Round 3, Pick 10: Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington Football Team
Round 4, Pick 3: Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Round 5, Pick 10: Mike Davis, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Round 6, Pick 3: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions
Round 7, Pick 10: Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots
Round 8, Pick 3: Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
Round 9, Pick 10: Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills
Round 10, Pick 3: Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Round 11, Pick 10: Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 12, Pick 3: Phillip Lindsay, RB, Houston Texans
Round 13, Pick 10: Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants
Round 14, Pick 3: Indianapolis Colts DST
Round 15, Pick 10: Harrison Butker, K, Kansas City Chiefs
Round 16, Pick 3: Darrynton Evans, RB, Tennessee Titans
Some Observations:
My overall strategy in a half-PPR league is to treat it like a PPR league. You get a slight bonus for players who are double-digit TD players, but not enough to overhaul the rankings a bunch. Derrick Henry-type players may get an uptick in this format, for example.
The ZERO RB draft! Everyone has a definition of ZERO RB. Selecting no running backs in the first six rounds is one. Some say you have to wait until all other positions are filled. Others may say if you only have one back in the first 10 rounds it counts as a ZERO RB draft.
For me, this is as close as I will ever come to one, with no running back selected until the fifth round. You know what, don’t tell anyone … but I kind of like this team.
I have four top-15 receivers. I was still able to grab a top-20 back in Mike Davis and built enough running back depth along the way that if, for example, Javonte Williams breaks out, this team will as well.
Picking Matthew Stafford and Jalen Hurts in Rounds 10 and 11 is near-perfect if you like to wait for quarterbacks like I do.
Getting a top-five tight end in Round 6 works for me as well.
Hmm, maybe I have to rethink my entire existence now.
So what do you think of this team? Let me know at @FansFantasy.
Please try a mock yourself as practice makes perfect. You can mock in minutes by clicking here.
Ken Zalis ranked No. 3 in FantasyPros’ 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Accuracy Rankings.