NFL training camps are underway for most teams, 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 will 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 draft.
If you read my draft guide, you know I am not a fan of drafting kickers and defense if it’s not necessary. I would rather add a few running backs who could end up being a starter in case of an injury. However, for the sake of this exercise, I will 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 are drafting early, work the waiver wire to your advantage if any major injuries arise. If you are a fantasy nerd like me, make sure to 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 fifth pick with a lot more fantasy analysis upcoming.
(See also: No. 1 pick, No. 2 pick, No. 3 pick, No. 4 pick)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 5: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Round 2, Pick 8: Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers
Round 3, Pick 5: Garret Wilson, WR, New York Jets
Round 4, Pick 8: Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 5, Pick 5: DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 6, Pick 8: Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Round 7, Pick 5: Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
Round 8, Pick 8: Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos
Round 9, Pick 5: Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 10, Pick 8: Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
Round 11, Pick 5: Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
Round 12, Pick 8: Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Round 13, Pick 5: Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
Round 14, Pick 8: Tre Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Round 15, Pick 5: Seattle Seahawks D/ST
Round 16, Pick 8: Matt Gay, K, Washington Commanders
Observations:
The middle of the first round allows you to build your roster anyway you’d like. If you want to go Zero RB, the receiving options are endless in the early rounds. If you prefer to double down at running back, you can go that route as well. I went with neither. I have CeeDee Lamb fifth overall in my rankings and went the best player available in the second round with Josh Jacobs. Both players are strong foundations of any roster.
A trend I have noticed is Jalen Hurts falling into the fourth round of drafts. If that happens in your draft, pounce on the Eagles quarterback, especially in leagues that offer just four points for passing touchdowns. It might be the final year of the Tush Push, and I am fully expecting Hurts to rack up the rushing touchdowns again this season.
I did go receiver-heavy in this mock, taking Lamb, Garrett Wilson, DeVonta Smith, Rome Odunze and Keon Coleman in my first 10 picks. My starting lineup was also complete early in this draft, compared to previous mocks in which I passed on addressing quarterback or tight end (or both) until the late rounds. With the selection of Hurts in Round 4 and Evan Engram in Round 8, my running back group seemed light early on. Aaron Jones is not the high-upside player from years past but still can be a solid RB2.
I dedicated the rest of the draft to running backs. I might be in the minority in believing that Travis Etienne is destined for a bounce-back season. Jerome Ford is still the starter for the Browns. Second-year backs Trey Benson and Braelon Allen are an injury away from being must-start players. There is a deep class of rookie running backs who could make an impact this season as well.
The result is a team that I believe is championship-worthy. While I am light at running back, I have one of the top quarterbacks and a receiving group that should have an advantage each week. If you are looking to go Hero RB, this is the type of roster build you are looking for.
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