NFL training camps are underway, 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 a Superflex league with half-PPR scoring. Superflex leagues allow you to start a second quarterback. I will be drafting from the No. 4 pick.
(See also: No. 1 pick, No. 2 pick, No. 3 pick, No. 4 pick, No. 5 pick, No. 6 pick)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 4: Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 2, Pick 9: Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Round 3, Pick 4: Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Round 4, Pick 9: Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
Round 5, Pick 4: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Round 6, Pick 9: Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
Round 7, Pick 4: Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Round 8, Pick 9: Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Round 9, Pick 4: Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Round 10, Pick 9: Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Round 11, Pick 4: Tucker Kraft, TE, Green Bay Packers
Round 12, Pick 9: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Denver Broncos
Round 13, Pick 4: Isaac Guerendo, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Round 14, Pick 9: Nick Chubb, RB, Houston Texans
Round 15, Pick 4: Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST
Round 16, Pick 9: Jake Elliott, K, Philadelphia Eagles
Observations:
The top four picks in most Superflex leagues are the elite quarterbacks: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts. You have an advantage over the competition if you can land one of these quarterbacks. I was a little surprised to see Justin Herbert fall into the third round, so it was an easy decision to make him my Superflex. I like to have three quarterbacks in a Superflex league. Matthew Stafford was the last of the final tier of signal-callers you want to rely on.
Skill position players drop to later rounds with quarterbacks going early. Drake London is a top-of-the-second-round choice in redraft leagues. He fell a few spots in the second round, and I was happy to land him. I can see London exploding in his fourth year in the NFL and has potential to finish as WR1 overall.
You can continue to stockpile talent in the middle rounds. Alvin Kamara is underrated in half-PPR leagues. Chuba Hubbard has no competition for touches. Aaron Jones is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. All three are in the RB2 range. They don’t have the elite upside of some other backs, but they are safe bets to finish where drafted.
I am targeting Courtland Sutton, Jameson Williams and Ricky Pearsall often in drafts. Sutton is the only fantasy-relevant receiver in Denver. Williams is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. Pearsall is the de facto No. 1 in San Francisco with all the injuries to his teammates.
What continues to blow my mind is how late you can find quality tight ends. Tucker Kraft is a great value pick in the 11th round, and there were still plenty of options other than him. Dalton Kincaid, Hunter Henry, Jake Ferguson and Kyle Pitts were all still available.
I was ecstatic to land my last three running backs. J.K. Dobbins is going to get his share of touches for the Broncos. Isaac Guerendo is arguably the best handcuff to own considering Christian McCaffrey’s injury history. Nick Chubb’s value rises as Joe Mixon continues to deal with nagging leg injuries. All three have RB2 potential but can be selected in the final rounds.
Having one more receiver would be nice, but this is a terrific Superflex team. If you can get one of the elite quarterbacks, you are set. This is the opposite approach I would advise in regular leagues, where quarterbacks are falling into the double-digit rounds. Some feel that if they draft one of those elite quarterbacks, they can wait for the second. I like to get aggressive and have a clear advantage at both QB1 and Superflex. Then, when everyone else is taking their second QB, take the skill position players who fall.
What do you think of this roster? Let’s discuss on Twitter @JoeSerp.
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Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox