Before you know it, it will be fantasy football draft time. During the next few weeks, I will be conducting several mock drafts. During the drafts, I will pick in all 12 positions, with all sorts of scenarios.
As a rule, I prefer to draft two starting running backs within the first four rounds. It is a tried-and-true strategy, which has done me well for 25-plus years. The mock drafts I do will all assume 12 teams are in the league (unless otherwise noted) with the following positions: quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, tight end, a flex (running back, wide receiver or tight end), kicker, team defense and six bench spots. So, it is a 16-round snake draft.
Here is scenario No. 11. (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)
I have the eleventh overall pick; let’s see how it all works out. In this format, we are playing in a half-point-per-reception league (Half-PPR), meaning every reception is worth a half-point.
You can see the entire draft by clicking here.
Here is my roster:
Round 1, Pick 11: James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
Round 2, Pick 2: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Round 3, Pick 11: Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Round 4, Pick 2: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Round 5, Pick 11: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
Round 6, Pick 2: Parker Washington, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 7, Pick 11: WanDale Robinson, WR, Tennessee Titans
Round 8, Pick 2: Michael Pittman, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 9, Pick 11: Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
Round 10, Pick 2: Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Round 11, Pick 11: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Round 12, Pick 2: Houston Texans Defense
Round 13, Pick 11: Brandon Aubrey, K, Dallas Cowboys
Round 14, Pick 2: Tyler Allgeier, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Round 15, Pick 11: Tre Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Round 16, Pick 2: Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins
Some observations:
Can you go ZERO WR in 2026? Well, the easy answer is … sure you can!
Whether you should is another kettle of fish. I didn’t plan on doing so, but going RB-RB with Cook and Jeanty in Rounds 1 and 2 seems like a no-brainer. I could have gone with either Zay Flowers or Drake London as one of my first two picks and still come back with Kyren Williams in Round 3, leaving me with a nice pair of running backs.
Josh Allen was available in Round 4. If Josh Allen is there in Round 4, you take him. Period. So now I have no receivers after four rounds. Then Tyler Warren is available in Round 5.
I had a choice between Mike Evans and Tyler Warren in Round 5. I am taking Warren every time. Warren could lead the Colts in targets and catches this year. The same goes for receivers Parker Washington, WanDale Robinson, Michael Pittman and Malik Washington for their teams as well.
I have eight receivers. All have upside. I do not have an issue with this team. Do you?
What do you think? Let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me on Twitter @KZfansfantasy.
You can sign up for a free mock draft simulator by clicking here. Practice makes perfect!
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox