We have just one month until training camp starts and with the world on fire, it’s time to take a load off and do some mock drafts in the comfort of our air conditioned homes. Today’s mock is a 12-team PPR draft with fairly normal rosters: 1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, 2FLEX, 1K, 1DST, 6 BENCH. I drafted out of the 8 spot.
I’m using the FantasyPros Mock Draft Simulator.
2024 Fantasy football mock draft review:
QB: Brock Purdy, SF (14.05)
RB: Saquon Barkley, PHI (2.05)
RB: Javonte Williams, DEN (7.08)
WR: Garrett Wilson, NYJ (1.08)
WR: DJ Moore, CHI (3.08)
WR: DK Metcalf, SEA (4.05)
TE: Dalton Kincaid, BUF (6.05)
FLX: WR, Tank Dell, HOU (5.08)
FLX: RB, Raheem Mostert, MIA (8.05)
DST: Kansas City Chiefs (16.05)
K: Jake Moody, SF (17.08)
BN: WR, Brandin Cooks, DAL (9.08)
BN: WR, Rashid Shaheed, NO (10.05)
BN: RB, Ty Chandler, MIN (11.08)
BN: RB, Elijah Mitchell, SF (12.05)
BN: RB, Khalil Herbert, CHI (13.08)
BN: RB, Dylan Laube, LV (15.08)
You can check out the full draft board here.
What I am happy about
I’m actually quite happy with this team. That doesn’t happen that often, so it’s worth pointing out. The first big decision was between two Jets players, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. On first blush, Hall would be my initial pick, but I also usually prefer taking a wide receiver in the first round. And Wilson is a player I very much want this year. His upside with Aaron Rodgers is truly as the No. 1 fantasy receiver and I’m very ready to jump on that bandwagon. But, full disclosure, I’d probably draft Hall about half the time in that spot.
I almost drafted Anthony Richardson in the 8th round, as I love his ceiling in fantasy, but there were a lot of quarterbacks left that I would be okay with, so I decided to wait, and I feel good about getting Brock Purdy in the 14th round. Purdy finished last season as QB6, putting up 4,280 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns, while rushing for two more touchdowns. The 49ers should have their offense intact from last season and could dip a bit defensively with Dre Greenlaw out to start the season and Arik Armstead moving on to the Jaguars this offseason. If this had been a deeper league, I would have likely grabbed a backup quarterback, but the waiver wire would have good options if a new quarterback was needed.
What I’m not happy about
I’m not a big fan of Javonte Williams’ situation in Denver due to a lot of competition, but I do like Sean Payton’s offense for running backs and Williams is currently penciled in as the lead back. I don’t mind him in the 7th round, but I wish I could have drafted Jaleel McLaughlin as well, but he was scooped.
I may be a little too high on Tank Dell here, as he will have both Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs to compete for targets. So, I am taking a stand on Tank to put up better numbers than expected based on his probable usage, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have rather got him a couple rounds later.
Overall thoughts
This draft strategy could best be described as “Hero RB.” It’s like “Zero RB,” but instead of taking no RBs early on, you take one stud, which was Saquon Barkley for me. I didn’t have that exact plan going in, but I do believe strongly in going wide receiver early and running back late, with more backs than receivers. Barkley just felt like a better pick than the receivers in the second round, so I went with it and in the end I still feel very good about my stud receivers while having one super solid back through the first six rounds.