NFL training camps have begun, and 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 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 Superflex and non-PPR (standard) drafts.
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 who could end up starters in the event of an injury. However, for the sake of this exercise, I’ll 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’re a fantasy nerd like me, 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 have reached the middle of the first round with 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: Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Round 2, Pick 7: Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Round 3, Pick 6: De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
Round 4, Pick 7: Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
Round 5, Pick 6: George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 6, Pick 7: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Round 7, Pick 6: Brian Robinson, RB, Washington Commanders
Round 8, Pick 7: Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers
Round 9, Pick 6: Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Round 10, Pick 7: Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Round 11, Pick 6: Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Round 12, Pick 7: J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Round 13, Pick 6: MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
Round 14, Pick 7: Taysom Hill, QB/TE, New Orleans Saints
Round 15, Pick 6: New Orleans Saints D/ST
Round 16, Pick 7: Jason Sanders, K, Miami Dolphins
Observations:
Best ball leagues are in full swing, and one thing I have noticed in drafts is how important it is to land an elite running back. Bijan Robinson is my No. 2 RB this season and has a realistic shot of surpassing Christian McCaffrey in the rankings a year from now. Robinson should be the focal point of a Falcons offense that will be much improved with Kirk Cousins under center. Robinson can do it all as a running back and is the perfect cornerstone for any fantasy team.
The quarterback situation has not improved for the Raiders, but it does not matter who is throwing passes to Davante Adams with his large workload. Adams was second in the NFL with 175 targets, including two games with more than 20. The Raiders didn’t make many changes other than drafting tight end Brock Bowers, making Adams one of the safest bets in fantasy football.
If Adams is a conservative pick, De’Von Achane is a prime example of a high-risk, high-reward selection. He’s not a workhorse or the clear top running back for the Dolphins, but he is as electric as it gets with the ball in his hands. Raheem Mostert is still around after scoring 21 touchdowns a year ago. Miami also added Jaylen Wright to the backfield, so there is reason for concern. Achane should get 12-15 touches a game in one of the league’s most explosive offenses. As such, I will target him often.
Let’s go for a home run again in the fourth by adding Malik Nabers to the lineup. The rookie wideout landed in an ideal spot to contribute immediately in a weak Giants receiving corps. Rookie receivers are expected to produce early in today’s NFL, and Nabers has all the talent in the world to be an impact player. Through four rounds, I have two elite players at their positions and another two who have potential to finish as top-five players.
The next four selections are players I’ve been happy to select in this range in drafts thus far. I cannot help but show my love for George Pickens this year. I think he is going to break out in a big way, so I want him on as many of my teams as possible. Rhamondre Stevenson and Brian Robinson are two of my favorite targets in the middle rounds because I do not believe in their backfield mates, Antonio Gibson and Austin Ekeler. Pickens’ former teammate, Diontae Johnson, is the No. 1 receiver for a Panthers team that figures to trail a lot this year.
Rounds 8-10 are where I like to grab my quarterback and tight ends. Someone other than CeeDee Lamb has to catch passes in Dallas, and there is no reason Jake Ferguson should not be second on the team in targets. I am much higher on Jared Goff than the consensus. ESPN inexcusably has him ranked as QB21 after he finished second in the NFL in passing. He will be a top-10 fantasy QB again this season.
Stacking Jameson Williams with Goff was an easy choice. Williams is destined to break out in 2024. J.K. Dobbins could be the Chargers’ starter at any time. MarShawn Lloyd is one of my favorite rookie running backs to stash in the later rounds. Taysom Hill is one of the hardest players to rank in fantasy, but his usage in the Saints’ offense makes him always fantasy relevant.
This is the most balanced team I’ve selected in my first six mocks. It was not my intention to alternate between WR and RB throughout the draft, but I did an excellent job of mixing safe picks and high-upside choices. If Achane and Nabers excel, this is a championship team.
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