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’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 10th 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, Superflex, No. 7 pick, No. 8 pick, No. 9 pick)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 10: Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
Round 2, Pick 3: Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 3, Pick 10: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Round 4, Pick 3: Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
Round 5, Pick 10: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
Round 6, Pick 3: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Round 7, Pick 10: Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
Round 8, Pick 3: Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
Round 9, Pick 10: Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Round 10, Pick 3: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Round 11, Pick 10: Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Round 12, Pick 3: Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills
Round 13, Pick 10: Gabe Davis, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 14, Pick 3: Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Round 15, Pick 10: Philadelphia Eagles D/ST
Round 16, Pick 3: Evan McPherson, K, Cincinnati Bengals
Observations:
I hit the jackpot with my top two picks. I was tempted to take Saquon Barkley with my top pick since I have him ranked inside my top 10 players this season. That ranking is slightly higher than the consensus, and after doing so many drafts this summer, I’ve noticed a trend of Barkley slipping into the second round. I took full advantage of that knowledge, landing Garrett Wilson, WR6 in my rankings, and then Barkley in the second. Call me crazy, but I like both players’ potential to finish as the scoring leader at their positions.
Jaylen Waddle and Joe Mixon are ideal targets in the third and fourth rounds. Waddle battled injuries much of last season, but when healthy, he’s a fantasy asset. Mixon is as reliable as it gets at the running back position and joins a Texans offense that should be one of the league’s best.
Dalton Kincaid is one of my favorite tight ends. I believe he has the potential to finish as TE1. Sam LaPorta got a lot of attention last year as a rookie tight end, but Kincaid had a good season as well. The Bills have a ton of available targets with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis out the door. Josh Allen is QB1 for many in the fantasy community, and the only way that becomes a reality is if Kincaid makes a major leap in his second season.
Quarterbacks were flying off the board in this mock. Jordan Love was the last QB available in my third tier of quarterbacks. We saw in the second half of the season that he’s the real deal for the Packers, who rewarded him with a new contract. I said Barkley, Garrett and Kincaid all have the potential to finish atop their positions. Throw Love’s name into that category too.
Finishing out the draft a bunch of players who could outperform their ADP is critical to a successful draft. Chase Brown is the Bengals back I’m targeting. I want Chuba Hubbard for the first half of the season until Jonathon Brooks is up to speed with the Panthers. The four receivers selected all have major upside.
This is hands down my favorite mock draft I’ve done thus far. As I’ve gone through several mocks and continue drafting in best ball leagues, the back half of the draft is where I prefer to draft. Landing four players I feel strongly about at the major positions makes this team a championship-caliber club.
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