When it comes to fantasy football drafts, it always amuses me when people start producing mock drafts long before Labor Day weekend. There are too many unknowns due to injuries, positional battles, and stupidity to be worth it. I guess if you’re in a league that requires you to write weeks before the season starts, it makes sense, but even that makes me laugh. If it’s a league for fun, go crazy. However, most of us have a personal financial interest in how our team is doing and I’m sure I don’t want any of my best teams to lose time due to an off-field injury or an off-field injury. It’s quite interesting to see the change in average draft position in the weeks leading up to the season. Players like Steven Ridley and Cam Newton have crashed and players like James White and Emmanuel Sanders have exploded.

Draft drills can vary greatly depending on the scoring system, especially when using receiving points, and whether or not the league is a rework league or a dynasty league. For our purposes, this is a standard fantasy football league scoring system for a newly drafted league.

This assumes an initial roster of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, and 1 D / ST. Points would be awarded for the following actions:

  • Passing: 1 point for every 25 yards, 4 points for every touchdown and -2 for every interception.
  • Running: 1 point for every 10 yards, 6 points for every touchdown and -2 for every loose ball
  • Receiving: 1 point for every 10 yards, 6 points for every Touchdown
  • Kicking: 3 points for each field goal made and 1 point for each successful extra point
  • Defense: 2 points for each fumble recovered, 2 points for each interception, 1 point for each sack, 2 points for a shutout and 2 points for a safety

Round 1

1 Jamaal Charles, KC

2 LeSean McCoy, PHI

3 Adrian Peterson, MIN

4 Eddie Lacy, GB

5 Matt Forte, CHI

6 Jimmy Graham, NO

7 Marshawn Lynch, MAR

8 Calvin Johnson, DET

9 Demaryius Thomas, DEN

10 Montee Ball, DEN

11 AJ Green, CIN

12 Peyton Manning, DEN

Assessment: Having a top 5 pick is easy as you could defend any of those running backs. After that, it’s a bit sketchy as this year there’s great depth at tight end and quarterback. It’s good to think of a team with Jimmy Graham or Peyton Manning, but I’d rather have a running back to start my team and build around.

Round 2

13 DeMarco Murray, DAL

14 Brandon Marshall, CHI

15 Dez Bryant, DAL

16 Andre Ellington, ARI

17 Zac Stacy, STL

18 Drew Brees, NO

19 Giovani Bernard, CIN

20 Alshon Jeffery, CHI

21 Doug Martin, Executive Vice President

22 Le’Veon Bell, PIT

23 Aaron Rodgers, GB

24 Ryan Mathews, SD

Assessment: Decision time in round 2. Should I go traditional and get a second RB or is it better to get a good RB and a good WR? I think there is a lot of depth to WR this year and I recommend that you get 2 solid RBs.

Round 3

July 25 Jones, ATL

26 Jordy Nelson, GB

27 Antonio Brown, PIT

28 Randall Cobb, GB

29 Alfred Morris, FUE

30 Arian Foster, HOU

31 Julius Thomas, DEN

32 Andrew Luck, IND

33 Rashad Jennings, New York

34 Toby Gerhart, JAC

35 Victor Cruz, New York

36 Reggie Bush, DET

Assessment: If you’ve already grabbed two RBs, you definitely need to grab a WR in round 3. If you split them, I recommend taking that second RB. If you grabbed Peyton, Brees, or Rodgers, you have to balance your team in this round as the levels start to drop from here.

Round 4

37 Vincent Jackson, VG

38 Rob Gronkowski, NE

39 Andre Johnson, HOU

40 Matthew Stafford, DET

41 Keenan Allen, SD

42 Frank Gore, SF

43 DeSean Jackson, FUE

44 Michael Floyd, ARI

45 Pierre Garcon, was

46 Roddy White, ATL

47 Chris Johnson, New York

48 TY Hilton, IND

Assessment: Questions abound in round 4 due to direct or indirect health concerns. Stafford should have a great year, but I really like Kennan Allen in this place.

Round 5

49 Larry Fitzgerald, ARI

50 Ben Tate, CLE

51 Torrey Smith, BAL

52 Steven Jackson, ATL

53 CJ Spiller, BUF

54 Jordan Cameron, CLE

55 Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN

56 Reggie Wayne, IND

57 Fred Jackson, BUF

58 Shane Vereen, NE

59 Marques Colston, NO

60 Percy Harvin, MAR

Assessment: If you thought Round 4 was difficult, Round 5 is even more so. There are a handful of very high potential players here, like Cordarrelle and CJ, but I really like Cameron as Cleveland has the worst WRs ever lined up in professional football.

Round 6

61 Julian Edelman, NE

62 Jeremy Maclin, PHI

63 Eric Decker, New York

64 Colin Kaepernick, SF

65 Vernon Davis, SF

66 Wes Welker, DEN

67 Emmanuel Sanders, DEN

68 Trent Richardson, IND

69 Tom Brady, NE

70 Joique Bell, DET

71 Golden Tate, DET

72 Bishop Sankey, TEN

Assessment: Tom Brady in round 6? It’s been a long time since we’ve seen anything like this. I still think what would happen and catch Ryan, Rivers or Cutler in one of the next 3 rounds. I like Sanders if I want a WR here or Bell if I want a RB. He had big numbers last year, even in a split role. That role should continue this year with him making the red zone work. Also, Reggie is not Mr. Durability.

Round 7

73 Matt Ryan, ATL

74 Jason Witten, DAL

75 Mike Wallace, MIA

76 Kendall Wright, TEN

77 Terrance Williams, DAL

78 Michael Crabtree, SF

79 Ray Rice, BAL

80 Maurice Jones-Drew, OAK

81 Knowshon Moreno, MIA

82 Riley Cooper, PHI

83 Darren McFadden, OAK

84 Nick Foles, PHI

Assessment: There is a lot of value in this round. I like that Mike Wallace has a solid year with Tannehill growing in his position. Matty Ice has her weapons back. Moreno should take over RB’s number one spot in a few weeks. Cooper, Williams and Wright will have solid numbers. Enjoy this round as it won’t be that easy for a few rounds.

Round 8

85 Sammy Watkins, BUF

86 Russell Wilson, SEA

87 Stevan Ridley, NE

88 Pierre Thomas, NO

89 Tony Romo, DAL

90 Lamar Miller, MIA

91 Cam Newton, CAR

92 Brandin Cooks, NO

93 Cecil Shorts, JAC

94 Philip Rivers, SD

95 Dwayne Bowe, KC

96 Terrance West, CLE

Assessment: LOADS of questionable selections here. If you need a quarterback, Rivers is a must now. I trust Cooks and West as rookies more than Watkins, but I would leave Cam and Ridley alone here. Bowe could be a valuable pick here, as KC has no receivers beyond him.

Round 9

97 Dennis Pitta, BAL

98 Carlos Hyde, SF

99 DeAndre Hopkins, HOU

100 Kyle Rudolph, MIN

101 Jay Cutler, CHI

102 Robert Griffin III, FUE

103 Shonn Greene, TEN

104 Bernard Pierce, BAL

105 Kelvin Benjamin, CAR

106 Greg Olsen, CAR

107 Darren Sproles, PHI

108 Anquan Boldin, SF

Assessment: This round is a mix of the good and the bad. Cutler’s limit is through the roof this season, but the threat of injury is always very high for him. Kyle Rudolph should be a solid pick now, as should Olsen. Many advantages with Benjamin, Pitta and Hopkins.

Round 10

109 Jordan Reed, FUE

110 Jeremy Hill, CIN

111 DeAngelo Williams, CAR

112 Danny Woodhead, SD

113 Hakeem Nicks, IND

114 Justin Hunter, TEN

115 James White, NE

116 Martellus Bennett, CHI

117 Mark Ingram, NO

118 Danny Amendola, NE

119 James Jones, OAK

120 Jonathan Stewart, CAR

Assessment: Stewart, Amendola, and Nicks have tricked me enough to keep me out of all my fantasy football leagues. Hunter, White, Jones and Ingram have a lot of value in this round. Hill should see a nice split of action with Bernard, as do Reed and Bennett on teams with plenty of other options.

Round 11

121 Greg Jennings, MIN

122 Christine Michael, SEA

123 Marqise Lee, JAC

124 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT

125 Zach Ertz, PHI

126 Tre Mason, STL

127 Jordan Matthews, PHI

128 Mike Evans, VG

129 Markus Wheaton, PIT

130 Donald Brown, SD

131 LeGarrette Blount, PIT

132 Steve Smith, BAL

Assessment: Just when you would expect to be dragging the bottom of the barrel, you will find happiness in many WR options here. This round epitomizes why I emphasized a career in RB at the beginning. Lee and Matthews could end up being the top receiving options on their respective teams. Wheaton, Smith, and Evans can also get significant numbers, as can Ertz at the TE position.

Round 12

133 Devonta Freeman, ATL

134 Ladarius Green, SD

135 Andy Dalton, CIN

136 Andre Williams, New York

137 James Starks, GB

138 Knile Davis, KC

139 Khiry Robinson, NO

140 Rueben Randle, New York

141 CJ Anderson, DEN

142 Carson Palmer, ARI

143 Tavon Austin, STL

144 Seattle Seahawks D / ST

Assessment: Hello wives! It’s always a good idea to back up your studs’ RBs if they have talented backups. That’s the majority of this round. There is always a team that considers itself smart in choosing the best defense before the inevitable late streak. I guess I can handle that with a backup QB.

Round 13

145 Brandon LaFell, NE

146 Josh McCown, TB

147 Ronnie Hillman, DEN

148 Doug Baldwin, SEA

149 Joe Flacco, BAL

150 Jerricho Cotchery, CAR

151 Charles Clay, MIA

152 Kenny Stills, NO

153 Mike James, VG

154 Mike Williams, BUF

164 San Francisco 49ers D / ST

155 Ahmad Bradshaw, IND

156 Ryan Tannehill, MIA

Assessment: As mentioned in Round 11, you can find solid receiving options in these final rounds. The Patriots don’t have an established No. 1 WR and LaFell could easily take on that role. Carolina is starting over at WR and Cotchery has the longest tenure. Seattle showed they believe in Baldwin by giving him a contract to win and Stills showed a good relationship with Brees last season, but you can’t expect consistent production from him.

Round 14

157 Brian Hartline, MIA

158 Mohamed Sanu, CIN

159 Andrew Hawkins, CLE

160 Kenbrell Thompkins, NE

161 Carolina Panthers D / ST

162 Denver Broncos D / ST

163 Lance Dunbar, DAL

165 Antonio Gates, SD

166 Dwayne Allen, IND

167 Robert Woods, BUF

168 Michael Vick, New York

Assessment: Bottom of the barrel, we find you here. Hartline, Thompkins and Hawkins are well worth a flyer here if you have room for an additional WR. Other than that, take a backup or think about diving into the fender pool.

Round 15

169 Stephen Gostkowski, NE

170 New England Patriots D / ST

171 Houston Texans D / ST

172 Cincinnati Bengals D / ST

173 Arizona Cardinals D / ST

174 Dri Archer, PIT

175 Matt Bryant, ATL

176 Tampa Bay Buccaneers D / ST

177 Buffalo Bills D / ST

178 Kansas City D / ST Chiefs

179 Justin Tucker, BAL

180 St. Louis Rams D / ST

Assessment: Get a defense. They are pretty thin this year.

Round 16

181 Steven Hauschka, SEA

182 Chris Ivory, New York

183 Mason Crosby, GB

184 Phil Dawson, SF

185 Adam Vinatieri, IND

186 Baltimore Ravens D / ST

187 Nick Folk, New York

188 Robbie Gould, CHI

189 Dan Bailey, DAL

190 Shayne Graham, NO

191 Alex Henery, PHI

192 Nick Novak, SD

Assessment: Get a kicker. You need to start one.

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