Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team PPR

It’s that time of the year again. NFL preseason is winding down, which means fantasy football leagues are ramping up. If you have a draft around the corner, I’ve got you covered. I’m going to walk through a 12-team PPR mock draft from the No. 6 spot, providing analysis for each pick while also listing out every single selection for context.

Round 1, Pick 6: CeeDee Lamb

Other top available players:

• Ashton Jeanty
• Amon-Ra St. Brown
• Derrick Henry

The No. 6 spot is fascinating, as you’re going to be faced with a decision between a truly elite receiver or running back. In this case, my choice was made much easier with the clear top three backs coming off the board in Bijan, Saquon and Gibbs. Just two years removed from a monstrous overall WR1 campaign, Lamb is poised to bounce back in a big way for a Cowboys offense that is going to throw the ball a LOT. CeeDee is my personal WR2 behind Chase heading into the year.

Round 1 Results

1. Bijan Robinson
2. Ja’Marr Chase
3. Justin Jefferson
4. Saquon Barkley
5. Jahmyr Gibbs
6. CeeDee Lamb
7. Ashton Jeanty
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown
9. Derrick Henry
10. Malik Nabers
11. Nico Collins
12. Christian McCaffrey

Round 2, Pick 7 (#19 overall): Josh Allen

Other top available players:

• Lamar Jackson
• Brock Bowers
• Jonathan Taylor

In prior years, I’ve mostly leaned towards waiting to draft a quarterback while stockpiling valuable positional assets. This year, a switch has flipped in my strategy, with Allen, Jackson and Jalen Hurts establishing themselves as alluring options in Rounds 2 and 3. The same goes for Joe Burrow a little later, as I’ll take virtually any piece of Cincy’s offense. The decision to draft Allen over Lamar simply came down to year-to-year reliability and personal projections, as Allen has finished as the QB1 in three of the last five seasons.

Round 2 Results

1. Puka Nacua
2. De’Von Achane
3. Brian Thomas
4. Bucky Irving
5. A.J. Brown
6. Josh Jacobs
7. Josh Allen
8. Drake London
9. Brock Bowers
10. Ladd McConkey
11. Jonathan Taylor
12. Trey McBride

Round 3, Pick 6 (#30 overall): James Cook

Other top available players:

• Breece Hall
• Tee Higgins
• Garrett Wilson

It’s never a bad idea to roster 95% of the Bills’ rushing attack.

Yes, Allen and Cook do vulture points from each other, but they also make up for almost all of Buffalo’s offensive production. Of the 65 touchdowns the Bills scored last season (second-most in the NFL) Allen and Cook combined for 54 (!!) of them. He’s not going to be a 250-carry guy with a monumental workload, but Cook provides a very strong floor.

Round 3 Results

1. Lamar Jackson
2. Tyreek Hill
3. Jaxon-Smith Njigba
4. Chase Brown
5. Kyren Williams
6. James Cook
7. Tee Higgins
8. Garrett Wilson
9. Breece Hall
10. Joe Burrow
11. Mike Evans
12. Jayden Daniels

Round 4, Pick 7 (#43 overall): Alvin Kamara

Other top available options:

• James Conner
• Chuba Hubbard
• DK Metcalf

Age and injuries are a concern for Kamara, as would be the case for any 30-year-old running back, but we’re still talking about a guy who has a great chance to lead all RBs in receptions. Volume is king, and Kamara racked up 228 carries and 68 catches last season as New Orleans’ clear top offensive weapon. He’ll retain that role once again this year, serving as the frequently-utilized safety blanket for whoever wins the QB competition between Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler.

Round 4 Results

1. Marvin Harrison
2. Kenneth Walker
3. George Kittle
4. Omarion Hampton
5. Jalen Hurts
6. DJ Moore
7. Alvin Kamara
8. DK Metcalf
9. Davante Adams
10. Rashee Rice
11. Terry McLaurin
12. James Conner

Round 5, Pick 6 (#54 overall): TreVeyon Henderson

Other top available players:

• Chuba Hubbard
• DeVonta Smith
• Courtland Sutton

Henderson may have been a little bit of a reach at this spot in the draft, but he wasn’t making it to my sixth-round selection. I’m a big believer in getting your guys, even if it means sacrificing some value. Henderson has been the worst-kept secret of preseason, flashing immense potential every time he steps on the field. While I do expect Rhamondre Stevenson to retain some sort of role (likely an early-down bruiser) Henderson should eat into his workload progressively on a week-to-week basis. Rushing behind an improved offensive line in a Patriots offense that should actually put points on the board this year, I could genuinely see production similar to rookie-year Jahmyr Gibbs for the Ohio State product.

Round 5 Results

1. David Montgomery
2. Patrick Mahomes
3. Zay Flowers
4. Xavier Worthy
5. Sam LaPorta
6. TreVeyon Henderson
7. DeVonta Smith
8. George Pickens
9. Courtland Sutton
10. Tetairoa McMillan
11. Chuba Hubbard
12. T.J. Hockenson

Round 6, Pick 7 (#67 overall): Calvin Ridley

Other top available options:

• Jaylen Waddle
• Travis Hunter
• D’Andre Swift

After drafting three straight running backs, it’s finally time to pick up my WR2. Ridley is a guy I consistently target in this range of drafts, and his upside is apparent. Not only is Ridley the clear top option and safety blanket for rookie Cam Ward, the two actually seem to have developed quite the rapport throughout training camp and preseason. The veteran wideout should be a volume monster this year.

Round 6 Results

1. Jameson Williams
2. Travis Kelce
3. RJ Harvey
4. Isiah Pacheco
5. Joe Mixon
6. Mark Andrews
7. Calvin Ridley
8. Jaylen Waddle
9. Travis Hunter
10. D’Andre Swift
11. Kaleb Johnson
12. Aaron Jones

Round 7, Pick 6 (#78 overall): Evan Engram

Other top available options:

• Tony Pollard
• Jakobi Meyers
• Deebo Samuel

While I’ve generally shifted away from waiting on quarterbacks, I do still think there’s value within waiting at tight end, and nabbing Engram in Round 7 is the perfect example of that. The injury concerns are evident, but this is a dynamic player just two years removed from a massive PPR campaign. He should thrive in Sean Payton’s offense as one of the top receiving threats for Bo Nix, providing low-end TE1 upside.

Round 7 Results

1. Jerry Jeudy
2. Chris Olave
3. Baker Mayfield
4. Cooper Kupp
5. Stefon Diggs
6. Evan Engram
7. Quinshon Judkins
8. Tony Pollard
9. Bo Nix
10. Rome Odunze
11. Deebo Samuel
12. Jakobi Meyers

Round 8, Pick 7 (#91 overall): Khalil Shakir

Other top available options:

• Matthew Golden
• David Njoku
• Jaylen Warren

I was incredibly close to drafting Golden, as I’m bullish on his Year 1 outlook at the potential WR1 in Green Bay. However, I’ve committed valuable draft capital to the Bills offense, so I might as well grab Josh Allen’s top receiving threat. Shakir dealt with a myriad of minor injuries last year, but he still eclipsed the double-digit PPR mark in 11 contests. It makes too much sense to continue building the Bills stack in this spot.

Round 8 Results

1. Brian Robinson
2. Jared Goff
3. Tyrone Tracy
4. Jordan Addison
5. Tyler Warren
6. Kyler Murray
7. Khalil Shakir
8. Justin Herbert
9. Brock Purdy
10. David Njoku
11. Matthew Golden
12. Chris Godwin

Round 9, Pick 6 (#102 overall): Tucker Kraft

Other top available players:

• Jonnu Smith
• Colston Loveland
• Ricky Pearsall

One thing about waiting to draft a tight end is that you’ll have to take a second viable option at the position a couple rounds later. Kraft is exactly that. Coming off a PPR TE10 season as a young, emerging option for Jordan Love, there’s plenty of room for him to sneak even higher into that top 10 this year.

Round 9 Results

1. Travis Etienne
2. Cam Skattebo
3. Jaylen Warren
4. Emeka Egbuka
5. Eagles D/ST
6. Tucker Kraft
7. Jauan Jennings
8. Ricky Pearsall
9. Jonnu Smith
10. Colston Loveland
11. Jayden Reed
12. Broncos D/ST

Round 10, Pick 7 (#115 overall): Rhamondre Stevenson

Other top available players:

• Jayden Higgins
• Steelers D/ST
• Josh Downs

Stevenson isn’t a typical handcuff. As I said earlier after drafting TreVeyon Henderson, I still expect the veteran to retain a solid role, and we could even be looking at a Montgomery-Gibbs situation in New England. If Stevenson can hold onto the football, he could be looking at eight-or-more touchdowns. At the very least, drafting him gives me the security of knowing I’ll have both key pieces to the Patriots backfield if one guy suffers an injury.

Round 10 Results

1. Jordan Mason
2. Kyle Pitts
3. Javonte Williams
4. J.K. Dobbins
5. Dalton Kincaid
6. Zach Charbonnet
7. Rhamondre Stevenson
8. Jayden Higgins
9. Steelers D/ST
10. Dak Prescott
11. Michael Pittman

Round 11, Pick 6 (#126 overall): Bills D/ST

Other top available options:

• Ravens D/ST
• Texans D/ST
• Brandon Aubrey

I selected my highest-rated D/ST unit at this stage of the draft. The Bills generated a ton of turnovers last year and stacking them with many key members of the offense makes sense. That said, I will still be evaluating weekly streaming options if Buffalo struggles out of the gates.

Round 11 Results

1. Keon Coleman
2. Brandon Aiyuk
3. Chris Boswell
4. Dallas Goedert
5. Jake Ferguson
6. Bills D/ST
7. Texans D/ST
8. Ravens D/ST
9. Brandon Aubrey
10. Darnell Mooney
11. C.J. Stroud
12. Cameron Dicker

Round 12, Pick 7 (#139 overall): Chase McLaughlin

Other top available options:

• Harrison Butker
• Jake Elliott
• Zach Ertz

Fresh off a fantastic fantasy campaign, McLaughlin was the top kicker available at this stage in the draft. He should remain effective on a week-to-week basis for a strong Bucs offense.

Round 12 Results

1. Drake Maye
2. Lions D/ST
3. Jake Bates
4. Commanders D/ST
5. Nick Chubb
6. Najee Harris
7. Chase McLaughlin
8. Harrison Butker
9. Rashid Shaheed
10. Vikings D/ST
11. Zach Ertz
12. Jake Elliot

Round 13, Pick 6 (#150 overall): Austin Ekeler

Other top available options:

• Luther Burden
• Tank Bigsby
• Justin Fields

This late in a draft, it’s rare to find players who will play a consistent key role for this team, but that’s exactly the case with Ekeler. With Brian Robinson heading out the door, the veteran should be a pivotal part of Washington’s rushing attack this season.

Round 13 Results

1. Caleb Williams
2. Younghoe Koo
3. Tyjae Spears
4. Jordan Love
5. Jaydon Blue
6. Austin Ekeler
7. Luther Burden
8. Tank Bigsby
9. Justin Fields
10. Tre’ Harris
11. Rachaad White
12. Marvin Mims

Round 14, Pick 7 (#163 overall): Trey Benson

Other top available options:

• Christian Kirk
• J.J. McCarthy
• Rashod Bateman

James Conner himself said that he’s expecting Benson to receive a significant uptick in touches this season. While the second-year back remains mostly a handcuff to the veteran, there’s a chance he’ll have some standalone productive outings.

Round 14 Results

1. Keenan Allen
2. Tyler Loop
3. Chiefs D/ST
4. Isaiah Likely
5. Tyler Bass
6. Ka’imi Fairbairn
7. Trey Benson
8. Christian Kirk
9. Cam Little
10. J.J. McCarthy
11. 49ers D/ST
12. Seahawks D/ST

Full Team Results

• 1.6: CeeDee Lamb
• 2.7: Josh Allen
• 3.6: James Cook
• 4.7: Alvin Kamara
• 5.6: TreVeyon Henderson
• 6.7: Calvin Ridley
• 7.6: Evan Engram
• 8.7: Khalil Shakir
• 9.6: Tucker Kraft
• 10.7: Rhamondre Stevenson
• 11.6: Bills D/ST
• 12.7: Chase McLaughlin
• 13.6: Austin Ekeler
• 14.7: Trey Benson

That’s my full 12-team, PPR mock draft out of the No. 6 spot! Stay tuned for another mock draft next week as we get closer to Week 1 of the NFL season!