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. 12. (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)
I have the twelfth 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 12: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Round 2, Pick 1: Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Round 3, Pick 12: DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Round 4, Pick 1: Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Round 5, Pick 12: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 6, Pick 1: Davante Adams, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Round 7, Pick 12: Rico Dowdle, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 8, Pick 1: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
Round 9, Pick 12: Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
Round 10, Pick 1: Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Round 11, Pick 12: Isaiah Likely, TE, New York Giants
Round 12, Pick 1: Houston Texans Defense
Round 13, Pick 12: Brandon Aubrey, K, Dallas Cowboys
Round 14, Pick 1: Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Round 15, Pick 12: Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
Round 16, Pick 1: Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
Some observations:
The easiest spot to pick is 12th! Stress free, let your board be your guide!
I really like this team. I have two bell-cow backs in Ashton Jeanty and Chase Brown, with Bhayshul Tuten in a role where he will get the chance to be a star. Rico Dowdle was signed for a reason in Pittsburgh. If and when Zach Charbonnet returns, we know how the Seahawks will use him. So the running backs room is solid.
The wide receivers room has DeVonta Smith and Zay Flowers. Both will be the WR1 on their respective teams. Davante Adams is part of that high-powered Rams offense. Marvin Harrison Jr. is the true wild card. Let me mention that Jalen Coker is one of my favorite late-round receiver targets this year. This group is solid. There’s some risk here but some upside as well.
I waited on quarterback and wound up with Matthew Stafford and Jordan Love. That will do. Remember you do not have to take two quarterbacks in a one-QB league, but the later I take my first quarterback (Round 14 in this mock) the more likely I am to take a second quarterback in the draft.
Isaiah Likely is a great target if you take a tight end late. Reports are he has been Jaxson Dart’s top target in camp. The later I take a tight end, the more I am inclined to double up at the position, but that is by no means necessary.
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: Courtesy of the New York Football Giants