The NFL preseason is 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.
We’re on to the eighth 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, No. 6 pick, No. 7 pick, Superflex)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 8: Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Round 2, Pick 5: Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Round 3, Pick 8: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Round 4, Pick 5: Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
Round 5, Pick 8: DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 6, Pick 5: George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Round 7, Pick 8: Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Round 8, Pick 5: Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills
Round 9, Pick 8: Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants
Round 10, Pick 5: Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 11, Pick 8: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
Round 12, Pick 5: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Denver Broncos
Round 13, Pick 8: Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears
Round 14, Pick 5: Joshua Palmer, WR, Buffalo Bills
Round 15, Pick 8: Kansas City Chiefs D/ST
Round 16, Pick 5: Chase McLaughlin, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Observations:
This might be my favorite mock of all so far because of the balance throughout the roster. Nico Collins and Drake London have the potential to lead the league in receiving. Both will finish with more than 100 receptions and be heavily targeted in the red zone. Each is a centerpiece to a receiving group, so landing both gives me a sizable advantage over the rest of the league.
I landed Kenneth Walker and Breece Hall in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. That’s why I feel comfortable going receiver-heavy in the earlier rounds. Walker and Hall are 24-year-old lead backs. Both are involved in the pass game as well, making each more valuable in a half-PPR setting. Draft both with confidence.
I took receivers in three of the next four rounds. Kyler Murray was the choice at quarterback in the seventh round. Murray’s running ability makes him an intriguing option after the top dual-threat quarterbacks are off the board. Devonta Smith, George Pickens and Stefon Diggs each have WR2 potential and can be drafted in the middle rounds.
I went the opposite direction with my next five choices, with four running backs sandwiched around Tyler Warren at tight end. A rookie has finished as TE1 the last two seasons. Warren has the physical attributes to do the same. This is a reminder that there are plenty of options at tight end this season, so if you are not landing one of the elite players, wait until the late rounds to do so.
Those four backs are all second on the depth chart for their teams, but each is in a unique situation. Rookie Cam Skattebo could take over the starting job by midseason. Bucky Irving is getting a lot of hype this summer, but Rachaad White is still in the picture. J.K. Dobbins was effective when healthy last year but does have rookie R.J. Harvey lurking. Roschon Johnson could have the same role as David Montgomery in Ben Johnson’s offense. An injury vaults each to the starting lineup as well. That is the upside we covet with late-round running backs.
The only change I would have considered making is taking another starting-caliber back in the fifth or sixth round. Having Smith and Pickens gives me great depth at receiver, but having Tony Pollard or Isiah Pacheco instead would have made this team perfect. This is otherwise the perfect way to build a roster this year. Find your quarterback in the middle rounds and wait to get your tight end.
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