The NFL preseason is wrapping up, 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 follow your typical 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.
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 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’re drafting early, work the waiver wire to your advantage if any major injuries arise. If you are a fantasy nerd like me, turn on notifications for 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.
Unlike most of my mock drafts this summer in which I used the various fantasy platforms to construct a roster, this is the actual result from a 10-team draft I took part in this past weekend. I had the eighth pick in this draft and was able to keep Lamar Jackson in the third round. Let’s dive deeper into this draft where I am the defending champion.
(See also: No. 1 pick, No. 2 pick, No. 3 pick, No. 4 pick, No. 5 pick, No. 6 pick, No. 7 pick, No. 8 pick, No. 9 pick, No. 10 pick, No. 11 pick, Superflex)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 8: Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Round 2, Pick 3: De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
Round 3, Pick 8: Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Round 4, Pick 3: Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals
Round 5, Pick 8: Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans
Round 6, Pick 3: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
Round 7, Pick 8: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 8, Pick 3: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 9, Pick 8: Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Round 10, Pick 3: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders
Round 11, Pick 8: Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Round 12, Pick 3: Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 13, Pick 8: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns
Round 14, Pick 3: Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 15, Pick 8: Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST
Round 16, Pick 3: Tyler Loop, K, Baltimore Ravens
Observations:
This draft has had the same owners for almost two decades, so I knew the running backs would fly off the board quickly. It was still a real shock to see 18 backs drafted in the first five rounds, including one owner who used his first four picks at the position. Christian McCaffrey and Ashton Jeanty were already gone by the time the eighth pick came around, but I am satisfied with De’Von Achane as my lead back. He is arguably the best receiving back in the game. In Nico Collins and Achane, I have two players who could finish atop their respective positions when it’s all said and done.
Lamar Jackson is a cheat code for fantasy owners. He scored 49.4 more points than any other player in fantasy football last year. When Trey McBride, my TE1 entering the 2025 season, fell to the fourth round, I had to jump on the opportunity to take him. I have four players I strongly believe can lead their positions in scoring (Achane, Collins, Jackson and McBride).
I landed Tony Pollard as my second running back before going on a frenzy for some of the top rookies. Tuatara McMillan is the No. 1 receiver for the Panthers. Emeka Egbuka is an instant starter with the injuries to Buccaneers receivers. Kaleb Johnson will take over for Najee Harris in Pittsburgh. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the talk of the fantasy community. Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned, but I was willing to gamble in the 12th round.
The rest of the team is made up of veterans with upside. Ricky Pearsall will get most of the targets in San Francisco with the 49ers also navigating multiple injuries at receiver. Zach Charbonnet is one of the best handcuff running backs in fantasy football. I can stash Chris Godwin on the IR spot until he is healthy to contribute in the second half of the season. Getting Rachaad White — RB7 just two years ago — with one of my last picks is a draft-day steal.
I am putting a lot of faith in rookie backs and receivers living up to the hype. I have a huge advantage at quarterback and tight end every week, but I am a little weak at receiver. Collins is a star, but he has a history of injury issues. If he goes down, I am in big trouble at receiver. The same goes at running back. It’s possible Achane misses Week 1 with a calf injury.
This roster is a classic example of why it is important to be aggressive on the waiver wire. There is always that diamond in the rough that makes or breaks a season. All it takes is one more player to outperform their ADP, and this team is loaded by midseason.
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