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. 12. (See also: Scenario No. 1, Scenario No. 2, Scenario 3, Scenario 4, Scenario 5, Scenario 6, Scenario 7, Scenario 8, Scenario 9, Scenario 10, Scenario 11, 16-team scenario, superflex scenario, 10-team scenario and a unique format scenario.)
I have the 12th 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 12: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Round 2, Pick 1: Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Round 3, Pick 12: D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions
Round 4, Pick 1: Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Round 5, Pick 12: Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 6, Pick 1: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Detroit Lions
Round 7, Pick 12: Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Round 8, Pick 1: Damien Harris, RB, New England Patriots
Round 9, Pick 12: Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills
Round 10, Pick 1: Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 11, Pick 12: Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 12, Pick 1: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
Round 13: Baltimore Ravens DST
Round 14, Pick 1: Harrison Butker, K, Kansas City Chiefs
Round 15, Pick 12: Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants
Round 16, Pick 1: Jakobi Meyers, WR, New England Patriots
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 touchdown players, but not enough to overhaul the rankings a bunch. Derrick Henry-type players may get an uptick in this format, for example.
Drafting at the turn … you either love it or hate it. I usually love it, but the waiting is the hardest part (cue Tom Petty).
Will I regret passing on Tyreek Hill? I may, but I did not want to wait 23 picks before taking my RB2 … and I still got one of my receiver targets in Round 4 with Robert Woods.
At wide receiver, Woods and Chase Claypool are solid, as is Tyler Boyd. I seem to love Terrace Marshall Jr. more than most.
At quarterback, wait … wait … then wait some more, unless someone like Lamar Jackson is available in the seventh round. I want to be the last one to take a quarterback.
I seem to get a top-five tight end in every draft this year. My running backs are studly.
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.