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The RotoBaller staff experts recently held a 12-team PPR mock draft, and I’m here to break down the results. We did a slow draft, so each drafter has plenty of time to make their picks, and used the awesome draft rooms provided by FleaFlicker.com.
I’ll go through the first ten rounds of the mock draft results, as after that it becomes lottery tickets and defenses, and ADP doesn’t matter as much there. For your own fantasy football drafts, you should pick who you like - gut feelings are what win leagues, and it's more fun that way. Let's get to it!
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Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft Analysis
Round 1 - Mock Draft Results
1. Jamaal Charles
2. Eddie Lacy
3. Adrian Peterson
4. Le’Veon Bell
5. Dez Bryant
6. Antonio Brown
7. DeMarco Murray
8. Julio Jones
9. C.J. Anderson
10. Marshawn Lynch
11. Matt Forte
12. Aaron Rodgers
Mock draft analysis: There were actually a couple of surprises in this mock. I was definitely shocked to see Marshawn Lynch fall that far, as he’s usually in the top five conversation. Likewise it was strange to see DeMarco Murray go that early, but honestly I have no issue with it.
In my opinion all of the knocks against Murray are overblown, and I still think he’ll be a top five running back come season’s end as the main cog in the quick-hitting Philadelphia offense. I also don’t mind Dez going ahead of Antonio Brown, as Dez is one of the safest picks for double-digit touchdowns in all of football.
Round 2 - Mock Draft Results
13. Jeremy Hill
14. Lamar Miller
15. LeSean McCoy
16. A.J. Green
17. Justin Forsett
18. Calvin Johnson
19. Jimmy Graham
20. Odell Beckham, Jr.
21. Demaryius Thomas
22. Rob Gronkowski
23. Randall Cobb
24. Andrew Luck
Mock draft analysis: I was really surprised at how this round shook out. This is the earliest I’ve seen both Lamar Miller and Justin Forsett go, and you could never convince me to take either of them instead of Beckham, Thomas, Megatron, Cobb or Gronk. The guys in the bottom half of this round made out like bandits in my opinion.
Ultimately in a PPR draft, I struggle to prioritize running backs. If I can start off with two stud wide receivers, I’ll feel extremely confident headed forward. I have enough faith that I can find quality at running back in the later rounds—no need to stretch for a guy like Forsett just for the sake of having a running back.
Round 3 - Mock Draft Results
25. Alshon Jeffery
26. Alfred Morris
27. Mike Evans
28. Jordan Matthews
29. Andre Ellington
30. Emmanuel Sanders
31. T.Y. Hilton
32. Brandin Cooks
33. DeAndre Hopkins
34. Davante Adams
35. Russell Wilson
36. Frank Gore
Mock draft analysis: I’m really low on Andre Ellington this year with the emergence of rookie David Johnson and the signing of veteran Chris Johnson. Ellington is one of the most injury-prone running backs in the game, and after running him into the ground last year the Cardinals are guaranteed to scale his touches back. I wouldn’t mind having him as a flex option, but if he’s my RB2 I’m a bit nervous.
Predictably Davante Adams ADP has skyrocketed in the last few days following Jordy Nelson’s injury, and I don’t see any reason why he’s not instantly a top-20 receiver. I don’t mind taking him this early at all, although I imagine in most drafts you could wait another round or two still.
I absolutely love Frank Gore this year, especially at this ADP. Indianapolis running backs had over 100 targets last year, and Gore is perfectly capable of pulling in 50 catches if he plays all 16 games. Combine that with the touchdowns he is almost guaranteed in that offense and he could very well crack the top-10 come December.
Round 4 - Mock Draft Results
37. Mark Ingram
38. Melvin Gordon
39. Julian Edelman
40. Joseph Randle
41. Andre Johnson
42. C.J. Spiller
43. Sammy Watkins
44. Jonathan Stewart
45. Latavius Murray
46. Greg Olsen
47. Rashad Jennings
48. T.J. Yeldon
Mock draft analysis: Everyone assumes that C.J. Spiller will be the primary back on passing downs for the Saints, but I’m not so sure that Ingram will just be a two-down back. He’s capable in the passing game, and the Saints offense looks outstanding so far this summer. I would not be shocked if he broke the top-10 too, which makes this pick a steal. Accordingly, that C.J. Spiller pick might be reaching a bit.
I would have thought someone taking Greg Olsen in the fourth round was nuts two weeks ago, but with Kelvin Benjamin out for the year it’s totally justified. He’s the model of consistency and he’ll see even more targets now, particularly in the red zone. He’s now my TE3, so I’m cool with this pick.
Rashad Jennings may not even be the starting running back come Week 1, which makes this pick extremely risky for me. Andre Williams has reportedly been closing the gap, and would likely vulture goal-line carries from Jennings anyway. Shane Vereen will take plenty of snaps away as well, and ultimately I’m avoiding the Giants backfield as a whole.
Round 5 - Mock Draft Results
Mock draft analysis: 49. Keenan Allen
50. Brandon Marshall
51. Travis Kelce
52. Ameer Abdullah
53. Peyton Manning
54. Cam Newton
55. Carlos Hyde
56. Ben Roethlisberger
57. Amari Cooper
58. Shane Vereen
59. Jeremy Maclin
60. Desean Jackson
Mock draft analysis: The Ameer Abdullah hype train is teetering off the rails. Joique Bell is going to be involved much more than most people think, and I think it’s lunacy to take Abdullah this far in front of Bell. Abdullah is the future for sure, but in 2015 Joique will still carry a majority of the mail in the early goings, and I don’t see him surrendering the role if he stays healthy.
You can see that there was a run on quarterbacks here, but I will never advocate taking one any earlier than the eighth round this year. You can wait at least that long and get a perfectly capable Eli Manning, Ryan Tannehill, Philip Rivers, or Teddy Bridgewater. I’m waiting in any format that isn’t two-QB.
Jeremy Maclin is going to be a playmaker for the Chiefs no matter what, and I don’t foresee Andy Reid allowing that offense to repeat last year’s zero-TD for wide receiver debacle. Maclin can do work on swing routes, screens, and the mid-range pass, and he’ll provide WR2 value in PPR leagues for sure.
Round 6 - Mock Draft Results
61. Golden Tate
62. Todd Gurley
63. Vincent Jackson
64. Jarvis Landry
65. Gio Bernard
66. Drew Brees
67. Chris Ivory
68. Mike Wallace
69. Tre Mason
70. Martavis Bryant
71. Larry Fitzgerald
72. Devonta Freeman
Mock draft analysis: Todd Gurley might be ready for Week 1, and I’m confident that he’s going to be a legit RB2 at the very least in 2015. He’ll likely go much higher than this in most drafts, and if he stays healthy through the rest of the preseason I’d feel comfortable taking him as early as the fourth round.
Chris Ivory is probably going to rumble his way to 1,000 yards and six touchdowns this year, and he may even catch a few more passes than everyone expects. He is a high-end flex with RB2 potential, and I think that with Ryan Fitzpatrick keeping defenses honest over the top Ivory will have some room to run.
I personally think Larry Fitzgerald has one more top-20 season left in him, and I love him as a WR2/flex in Round 6. The last time Carson Palmer played a full season (2013), he looked to Fitz 18 times in the end zone. Fitzgerald could definitely have double-digit touchdowns one more time, and he’ll be on the field enough to rack up 900 yards.
Round 7 - Mock Draft Results
73. Julius Thomas
74. Roddy White
75. Isaiah Crowell
76. Allen Robinson
77. Bishop Sankey
78. Kendall Wright
79. Doug Martin
80. Joique Bell
81. Nelson Agholor
82. Danny Woodhead
83. Tom Brady
84. John Brown
Mock draft analysis: Duke Johnson may still steal the starting gig from Crowell, so I’m avoiding the Browns backfield in drafts this year. Crowell is the most talented proven commodity by far, but with Johnson’s upside and the fact that the Browns have not so much as hinted at a locked-in starter yet, I find this pick pretty risky.
Doug Martin showed what he could be in his rookie season, and since then has had two lost seasons. The main culprits were an atrocious offensive line and a litany of injuries, but with a steadily improving offense and a clean bill of health I expect Martin to reclaim RB2 status. He could be a really nice value pick at this point in the draft, and would be one of the guys I would target if you subscribe to the “zero-RB” draft strategy.
Round 8 - Mock Draft Results
85. Martellus Bennett
86. Tevin Coleman
87. LeGarrette Blount
88. Tony Romo
89. Ryan Mathews
90. Alfred Blue
91. Victor Cruz
92. Torrey Smith
93. Pierre Garcon
94. Darren McFadden
95. Michael Floyd
96. Matt Ryan
Mock draft analysis: Tevin Coleman has way more upside than Devonta Freeman, so I’m surprised that he went after Freeman here. Freeman had two total carries between the tackles in 2014, and I don’t see any scenario in which he becomes a three-down back in 2015. Coleman is a flex play with RB2 upside for me.
LeGarrette Blount is criminally undervalued this year. He’ll only miss one game with his suspension, and Bill Belichick favors him mightily. He’s the definition of a smash-mouth runner, and is not terrible in the passing game either. I think he’s a great flex play and could definitely provide RB2 value if the Patriots lean on him early (assuming Brady’s suspension holds up).
See? Matt Ryan in the eighth round. That’s why you can wait—he just went now and Tannehill and Rivers are still on the board. Don’t take a quarterback not named Rodgers or Luck early, folks!
Round 9 - Mock Draft Results
97. Charles Johnson
98. Eric Decker
99. Anquan Boldin
100. Eddie Royal
101. Arian Foster
102. Cody Latimer
103. DeVante Parker
104. Jordan Cameron
105. Charles Sims
106. David Cobb
107. Dorial Green-Beckham
108. David Johnson
Mock draft analysis: I have DeVante Parker pegged as this year’s OBJ - he’s absurdly talented, and the Dolphins offense is on the rise. The one factor working against him is health, as he’s currently trying to work his way back from an offseason foot surgery. He is questionable for Week 1, and will likely be eased into the offense when he does finally get on the field. However, I think that he has the talent to make a huge impact once he gets up to speed, making him a great late-round value pick in any format.
Bishop Sankey has been confirmed as the starter for the Titans, and has looked pretty good in the preseason. That being said, his poor performance last year has him on an extremely short leash, and many people believe David Cobb will take over starting duties sooner rather than later. I’m in Sankey’s corner here—he’s still a talented back, and I think he takes a step forward with Marcus Mariota running a more capable offense. Cobb isn’t bad for a flier this late, but there are many more players I would rather have here.
Round 10 - Mock Draft Results
111. Jonas Gray
110. Roy Helu
111. Reggie Bush
112. Delanie Walker
113. Devin Funchess
114. Breshad Perriman
115. Matt Jones
116. Jason Witten
117. Marques Colston
118. Cordarrelle Patterson
119. Seahawks D/ST
120. Zach Ertz
Mock draft analysis: Devin Funchess is a nice pick here, because at this point you’re aiming for upside. There are no guarantees he’ll fill Benjamin’s shoes (in fact, it’d be sort of incredible if he even came close), but he clearly has the opportunity with only middling veterans behind him on the depth chart. I think 900 yards and six touchdowns are within his reach, making him a nice flex play.
I don’t think Patterson should even be rostered in a 12-team league. Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson are clearly the guys that Teddy Bridgewater will be throwing to, and all three running backs on the roster can catch the ball too. Until he proves that last year’s ineptitude is an outlier, he is waiver wire fodder for me.
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