The NFL preseason has wrapped 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’ve done 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’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 final pick of the first round as we wrap up our mock drafts and prepare for Week 1 of the regular season.
(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, No. 10 pick, No. 11 pick, 10-team league)
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 12: Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
Round 2, Pick 1: Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 3, Pick 12: Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Round 4, Pick 1: James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
Round 5, Pick 12: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills
Round 6, Pick 1: Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Round 7, Pick 12: Diontae Johnson, WR, Carolina Panthers
Round 8, Pick 1: Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Round 9, Pick 12: Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Round 10, Pick 1: Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Round 11, Pick 12: Antonio Gibson, RB, New England Patriots
Round 12, Pick 1: Gabe Davis, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 13, Pick 12: Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Round 14, Pick 1: Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints
Round 15, Pick 12: Kansas City Chiefs D/ST
Round 16, Pick 1: Jake Elliott, K, Philadelphia Eagles
Observations:
I didn’t plan to alternate receivers and running backs with my first four picks, but this quartet is my dream start to any draft. All four players have the opportunity to finish atop their position. Worst-case scenario, they are top-10 options. Garrett Wilson has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume and that’s with some of the worst quarterback play in the league. Saquon Barkley goes from running behind a lousy offensive line to one of the league’s best. Cooper Kupp is the receiver to own in Los Angeles. I want James Cook on as many of my fantasy teams as possible.
Part of the reason why I like Cook so much this season is because of the exodus at receiver in Buffalo. The Bills will run the ball more than usual, but Dalton Kincaid should be the primary beneficiary of the vacated targets with Stefon Diggs and Gave Davis no longer in Buffalo. He’s another player I can see leading his position in fantasy production.
There haven’t been many drafts where I take two tight ends and quarterbacks, but the value was staring me in the face in a way that I felt it was necessary to do so. Jayden Daniels is going to rack up the rushing yards to make him an instant fantasy star. His mobility makes an injury a greater possibility, though, and based on how injuries hit the position by season’s end last year, snagging Jared Goff as a safety valve makes sense late in the draft. If Taysom Hill has tight end eligibility in your league, take him with one of those final picks and reap the benefits of a player who has finished as a top-10 tight end in consecutive seasons.
I am targeting Rashee Rice a lot as we inch closer to the season. Any suspension does not look likely this season, but his average draft position still reflects the potential to miss games. I’ve seen Rice go as high as Round 3 and as low as Round 8. I have him with a fourth-round grade, so don’t be afraid to make the splash earlier than his current ranking.
I love this team. The first nine selections are some of my favorites in fantasy football this season. They are the perfect blend of minimal risk and high upside. Should something happen to one of my star receivers, I can slide Rice, Diontae Johnson and Jameson Williams into my FLEX position without hesitation. Running back depth is lacking in this mock, but we know running backs will get injured and the waiver wire will keep us on track.
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