NFL training camps are set to begin in July, and just like the players on the field, the key to any successful season is preparation.
The same can be said for fantasy football. Whether you have the first overall pick or the last of the first round, having a sense of who will be available in each round is key.
I’ll be doing mock drafts throughout the summer, offering scenarios and feedback for each position, starting with the No. 1 pick. The point of these mocks is to prepare for the unexpected.
The mock drafts will assume that 12 teams are in the league with the following roster construction: quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, tight end, a flex (running back, wide receiver or tight end), defense, kicker and seven bench spots. It is a 16-round snake draft in a half-point-per-reception (half-PPR) league. We will mix in 10- and 16-team drafts at some point, as well as a Superflex and non-PPR (standard) draft.
If you read my draft guide, you know I’m not a fan of drafting kickers and defense if it’s not necessary. I’d rather add a few running backs that could end up being a starter in the event of an injury. However, for the sake of this exercise, I’ll round out each draft by doing so. Remember, do not draft either before your final two picks!
Most important of all, be creative with your mock drafts. Do not take the same players in every mock. Your favorite sleeper is probably someone else’s, too.
The draft is just the start of the season. If you’re drafting early, work the waiver wire to your advantage if any major injuries arise. If you’re a fantasy nerd like me, turn on notifications from your favorite NFL insider for breaking news around the league. But the draft is where you build the foundation of your roster, and the goal is to have as deep a roster as possible.
This mock is for the third pick with a lot more fantasy analysis upcoming.
(See also: No. 1 pick, No. 2 pick)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 3: Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Round 2, Pick 10: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Round 3, Pick 3: De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
Round 4, Pick 10: Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Round 5, Pick 3: James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Round 6, Pick 10: Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
Round 7, Pick 3: Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Round 8, Pick 10: Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans
Round 9, Pick 3: Marquise Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Round 10, Pick 10: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
Round 11, Pick 3: Evan Engram, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 12, Pick 10: Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
Round 13, Pick 3: Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Round 14, Pick 10: Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Round 15, Pick 3: Cleveland Browns D/ST
Round 16, Pick 10: Jake Moody, K, San Francisco 49ers
Observations:
Tyreek Hill led all receivers in points per game last season, including a mind-boggling six games with more than 20 fantasy points scored in a half-PPR setting. He is coming off of career highs in targets and yards, and he has made it clear that 2,000 yards is a goal of his. Hill is one of the most explosive players in the NFL and a lock as a top-5 pick in all formats.
Brandon Aiyuk has made headlines this offseason by saying the San Francisco 49ers do not want him. That has lowered his value in recent weeks, but whether he stays in the Bay Area or moves on, Aiyuk has the talent to be WR1 for most fantasy teams. Depending on the landing spot, not having to share targets with Deebo Samuel will be beneficial.
Taking receivers with the first two picks allowed me to focus on the running back group with my next three choices. De’Von Achane did not get a ton of touches last season, but he was one of the game’s best with the ball in his hands. An expanded role in his second season could lead to a top-5 finish. Aaron Jones and James Conner will each lead their teams in touches and have little competition for touches behind them.
The next four selections happened to be the best player available at some discounted rates. Malik Nabers is the rookie wide receiver I’m coveting this year. Cooper Kupp was available with my prior pick so it was an easy decision to end his slide. Calvin Ridley and Marquise Brown both figure to lead their team in targets. I now have six high-quality receivers and three starting backs to build around.
Tua Tagovailoa and Evan Engram were my two fantasy darlings last season, and yet, they are still available in the same range as a year ago. Tagovailoa got off to an explosive start until weather and higher competition became a factor. Engram led all tight ends in receptions a year ago. The all-time leader in receptions in a single season for a tight end is Zach Ertz. His coach that season? Jaguars coach Doug Pederson. Another season of high targets is on the way.
Dameon Pierce is a terrific handcuff to Joe Mixon in the event of an injury. Keaton Mitchell is someone I feel comfortable stashing on my bench that could be a high reward if he’s able to return to action this season. I’ve made an emphasis on taking a backup QB with one of the final picks in the event Tagovailoa repeats last season’s struggles. Jared Goff is going to be on a lot of my teams this year.
This mock draft has three consecutive picks in what many call the “running back dead zone.” I don’t buy into that notion. There are several backs I feel comfortable taking in this range and the key is hitting on at least one of them. The abundance of receiving options gives me plenty of ammunition to make a trade if the backs don’t pan out. The strategy of waiting on QB and TE is my go-to plan this season, and if I land my duo again from a year ago, it’s the start of another championship push. Finding some diamonds in the rough at running back might be necessary for this squad, but it’s got major firepower with the Tagovailoa-Hill stack leading the way.
What do you think of this roster? Let’s discuss on Twitter @JoeSerp.
You can do your own mock draft in seconds by clicking here.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox