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 sixth pick with a lot more fantasy analysis upcoming.
(See also: No. 1 pick, No. 2 pick, No. 3 pick, No. 4 pick, No. 5 pick)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 6: Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Round 2, Pick 7: Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Round 3, Pick 6: James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
Round 4, Pick 7: DK Metcalf, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 5, Pick 6: Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
Round 6, Pick 7: Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans
Round 7, Pick 6: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
Round 8, Pick 7: Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 9, Pick 6: Javonte Williams, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Round 10, Pick 7: Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Round 11, Pick 6: Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Round 12, Pick 7: Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns
Round 13, Pick 6: Kyle Williams, WR, New England Patriots
Round 14, Pick 7: Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 15, Pick 6: Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST
Round 16, Pick 7: Jason Sanders, K, Miami Dolphins
Observations:
This ended up being an interesting mock draft. Puka Nacua is an easy decision in the middle part of the first round. I decided to shake things up in the second round and see how a roster looks when investing in Brock Bowers. Nacua missed the first half of last year but only trailed Ja’Marr Chase in fantasy points from Week 8 to Week 17. Bowers is coming off one of the greatest seasons ever for a tight end. Both have potential to catch 100-plus passes, and I have a massive leg up on the competition at tight end.
James Cook is falling a bit in drafts as some fantasy owners worry about a potential holdout. I will gladly take Cook, who finished tied for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns. That number is sure to go down, but he is the starting running back for one of the NFL’s top offenses.
The next three picks were again about value as I watched clear No. 1 receivers fall to me. DK Metcalf, Courtland Sutton and Calvin Ridley each have little competition for targets for their respective teams. I have three of my favorite wideouts to fill my WR2 and FLEX spots.
Going heavy at receiver early left me at the bottom of the barrel for running backs with four consecutive choices. I have said in previous mocks how high I am on Travis Etienne Jr., but I have to acknowledge he was a major disappointment last year. Brian Robinson Jr. is not flashy but should get the early-down and goal-line carries for a potent Commanders offense. Javonte Williams has the chance to revive his career as the lead back for the Cowboys. Tyjae Spears has standalone FLEX value if necessary and is one of the top handcuffs to have in fantasy. This is not the strongest group of backs, but I only need one of them to fill the RB2 spot.
Though quarterbacks went earlier than usual in this mock, I was still able to wait 11 rounds before selecting Dak Prescott. Quarterback is deeper than it’s ever been, and I am comfortable using my first 10 picks on skill position players. Prescott was the choice, but Jordan Love and Jared Goff were also available to me here. I would not fault anyone if you even double dipped at quarterback and drafted two of these guys and played the matchups at this stage of the draft.
My final three choices are the high-upside players we are looking for late in drafts. Cedric Tillman got an opportunity to shine when the Browns traded Amari Cooper. Third-round rookie Kyle Williams joins a lackluster Patriots receiving group and could make an instant impact. Will Shipley looks to be the backup to Saquon Barkley in Philadelphia.
The end result is a team that is a little weak at running back but loaded with receiver talent. I only need one of those running backs taken in the middle rounds to live up to being a RB2 to make this team a championship contender. I am also going to keep passing on quarterbacks until the double-digit rounds if I am not drafting one of the elite players.
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