As is our tradition, we close the pre-season every summer with a new One Man Mock with Multiple Personalities. As always, this will be a standard IDP format with our traditional IDP scoring (0.5 points per half-tackle, 1 point per solo, 2 points for PDs or FRs, 3 points for sacks, and 4 points for forced turnovers). It is also a full PPR scoring system.
Starting rosters in this mock will consist of 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1Flex, 1DL, 1LB, and 1DB. There will be three bench positions, as well.
As usual, this draft will be comprised of multiple personalities that should reflect the common draft strategies found in most “home” fantasy drafts. While we will include some traditional personalities in this mock, we will also include some extreme drafters who will help us better reflect how your final drafts will finish. Thus, the teams drafting in this mock will have the following draft strategies/personalities….
- Safety First- This drafter will avoid risk whenever possible, valuing consistency overall;
- The Mavericks- This team is a wild card and doesn’t stick to any big plan;
- Risk It 4 Biscuits- This manager chases upside and doesn’t care about risks;
- Zero RB 4 Life- This team employs the zero running back strategy;
- BPA- This is a consistent manager who always takes their “best player available”;
- Half-Back 2 Da Future- This team always goes running back heavy with early picks;
- The Basic B's- This team drafts whoever the analysts tell them to;
- Catching Glory- This team prefers pass catchers early but isn't pure Zero RB;
- Jack Reacher- Reacher will get his guy, often a round or two early;
- The Trend Setters- This team will start runs at positions like QB and TE. They will value securing the best player(s) at a position, whether those positions are deep or not;
- The Carbon Copies- This is an analyst who tries to load up on RBs and WRs early;
- The Traditionalists- Another BPA manager who drafts like your typical analyst.
Round 1
Round | Pick | Fantasy Team | Player | NFL Team | Pos. |
1 | 1 | Safety First | Jonathan Taylor | Colts | RB |
1 | 2 | Mavericks | Christian McCaffrey | Panthers | RB |
1 | 3 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Derrick Henry | Titans | RB |
1 | 4 | Zero RB 4 Life | Cooper Kupp | Rams | WR |
1 | 5 | BPA | Justin Jefferson | Vikings | WR |
1 | 6 | Half-Back 2 Da Future | Austin Ekeler | Chargers | RB |
1 | 7 | The Basic B's | Dalvin Cook | Vikings | RB |
1 | 8 | Catching Glory | Ja’Marr Chase | Bengals | WR |
1 | 9 | Jack Reacher | Najee Harris | Steelers | RB |
1 | 10 | The Trend Setters | Travis Kelce | Chiefs | TE |
1 | 11 | The Carbon Copies | Joe Mixon | Bengals | RB |
1 | 12 | The Traditionalists | CeeDee Lamb | Cowboys | WR |
There are no major surprises in this first round. The typical names are taken, and they go in a traditional order. In most non-Superflex formats, you will see Jonathan Taylor and Christian McCaffery going first and second in some order, and it's no different here, even with an outlier drafter like Mavericks picking second.
After JT and CMC are gone, the order of the next six picks will depend on who is in your league. Drafters willing to take risks early should be attracted to the upside of Derrick Henry or Dalvin Cook at a thin RB position while safer minds will gravitate towards Cooper Kupp or Justin Jefferson. However, the ideal draft position this year may be pick #7 or #8, which is a position that could net you a duo such as Ja’Marr Chase and Mark Andrews. That would be a near-perfect start for Zero RB enthusiasts.
Rounds 2-3
Round | Pick | Fantasy Team | Player | NFL Team | Pos. |
2 | 13 | The Traditionalists | D’Andre Swift | Lions | RB |
2 | 14 | The Carbon Copies | Alvin Kamara | Saints | RB |
2 | 15 | The Trend Setters | Stefon Diggs | Bills | WR |
2 | 16 | Jack Reacher | Mark Andrews | Ravens | TE |
2 | 17 | Catching Glory | Davante Adams | Raiders | WR |
2 | 18 | Basic B’s | Tyreek Hill | Dolphins | WR |
2 | 19 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Aaron Jones | Packers | RB |
2 | 20 | BPA | Deebo Samuel | 49ers | WR |
2 | 21 | Zero RB 4 Life | Michael Pittman | Colts | WR |
2 | 22 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Saquon Barkley | Giants | RB |
2 | 23 | Mavericks | Javonte Williams | Broncos | RB |
2 | 24 | Safety First | Keenan Allen | Chargers | WR |
3 | 25 | Safety First | D.J. Moore | Panthers | WR |
3 | 26 | Mavericks | Kyle Pitts | Falcons | TE |
3 | 27 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Josh Allen | Bills | QB |
3 | 28 | Zero RB 4 Life | Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | QB |
3 | 29 | BPA | Leonard Fournette | Buccaneers | RB |
3 | 30 | Halfback 2 Da Future | A.J. Brown | Eagles | WR |
3 | 31 | Basic B’s | Mike Evans | Buccaneers | WR |
3 | 32 | Catching Glory | Tee Higgins | Bengals | WR |
3 | 33 | Jack Reacher | Chris Godwin | Buccaneers | WR |
3 | 34 | The Trend Setters | Nick Chubb | Browns | RB |
3 | 35 | The Carbon Copies | Courtland Sutton | Broncos | WR |
3 | 36 | The Traditionalists | James Conner | Cardinals | RB |
People overdraft quarterbacks every year. Regardless of your format or who you play with, most non-industry drafts will see a passer go amongst the first 30 picks. Sleeper has Josh Allen's ADP at #21st overall, while Patrick Mahomes is # 32nd. Most fans think the QB position is more consistent and safer than it is. However, this notion that the top quarterback taken will be the “best” passer in your league hasn’t proven true in recent years. In fact, the top quarterback taken in drafts hasn’t finished as a top-three fantasy QB in any of the past seven seasons.
Rounds 4-5
Round | Pick | Fantasy Team | Player | NFL Team | Pos. |
4 | 37 | The Traditionalists | Terry McLaurin | Commanders | WR |
4 | 38 | The Carbon Copies | Brandin Cooks | Texans | WR |
4 | 39 | The Trend Setters | Justin Herbert | Chargers | QB |
4 | 40 | Jack Reacher | Lamar Jackson | Ravens | QB |
4 | 41 | Catching Glory | George Kittle | 49ers | TE |
4 | 42 | Basic B’s | David Montgomery | Bears | RB |
4 | 43 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Travis Etienne | Jaguars | RB |
4 | 44 | BPA | J.K. Dobbins | Ravens | RB |
4 | 45 | Zero RB 4 Life | Diontae Johnson | Steelers | WR |
4 | 46 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | D.K. Metcalf | Seahawks | WR |
4 | 47 | Mavericks | Jaylen Waddle | Dolphins | WR |
4 | 48 | Safety First | Ezekiel Elliott | Cowboys | RB |
5 | 49 | Safety First | Darnell Mooney | Bears | WR |
5 | 50 | Mavericks | Jalen Hurts | Eagles | QB |
5 | 51 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Mike Williams | Chargers | WR |
5 | 52 | Zero RB 4 Life | Marquise Brown | Cardinals | WR |
5 | 53 | BPA | Cam Akers | Rams | RB |
5 | 54 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Breece Hall | Jets | RB |
5 | 55 | Basic B’s | Darren Waller | Raiders | TE |
5 | 56 | Catching Glory | Gabriel Davis | Bills | WR |
5 | 57 | Jack Reacher | Dameon Pierce | Texans | RB |
5 | 58 | The Trend Setters | A.J. Dillon | Packers | RB |
5 | 59 | The Carbon Copies | Michael Thomas | Saints | WR |
5 | 60 | The Traditionalists | Russell Wilson | Broncos | QB |
Quarterbacks continue to go off the board too early here, but that should be expected with your average draft. You also shouldn't discount how often people will start a run at the position after seeing one or two go off the board early. These runs happen often, especially in drafts with short clocks and anxious drafters.
There are also several incredibly common reaches in this range of the draft. Gabriel Davis is a tremendous breakout candidate, but here he is taken very close to his ceiling with no consideration of his floor. Dameon Pierce and Travis Etienne also go off the board too early, but their pre-season hype will drive someone in your league to overinvest. As someone who rated Pierce as the 3rd best back in this rookie class back in January, even I will hesitate to take him at his current cost.
Finally, you do see a couple of veterans who offer solid upside if you can find them in this range. Darren Waller and Michael Thomas have disappointed fantasy fans recently and continue to deal with injuries. However, those nagging injuries could tank their draft stock, especially after Thomas saw a surge in ADP this August before his latest injury report came out. Risk is involved, but the upside makes both veterans worthy of going in this range.
Rounds 6-7
Round | Pick | Fantasy Team | Player | NFL Team | Pos. |
6 | 61 | The Traditionalists | Allen Robinson | Rams | WR |
6 | 62 | The Carbon Copies | Jerry Jeudy | Broncos | WR |
6 | 63 | The Trend Setters | T.J. Watt | Steelers | DL/LB |
6 | 64 | Jack Reacher | Derwin James | Chargers | DB |
6 | 65 | Catching Glory | Rashaad Penny | Seahawks | RB |
6 | 66 | Basic B’s | Joe Burrow | Bengals | QB |
6 | 67 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Lions | WR |
6 | 68 | BPA | Tom Brady | Buccaneers | QB |
6 | 69 | Zero RB 4 Life | Dalton Schultz | Cowboys | TE |
6 | 70 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Elijah Moore | Jets | WR |
6 | 71 | Mavericks | Drake London | Falcons | WR |
6 | 72 | Safety First | Rashod Bateman | Ravens | WR |
7 | 73 | Safety First | Allen Lazard | Packers | WR |
7 | 74 | Mavericks | JuJu Smith-Schuster | Chiefs | WR |
7 | 75 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Kadarius Toney | Giants | WR |
7 | 76 | Zero RB 4 Life | Elijah Mitchell | 49ers | RB |
7 | 77 | BPA | Hunter Renfrow | Raiders | WR |
7 | 78 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Adam Thielen | Vikings | WR |
7 | 79 | Basic B’s | Micah Parsons | Cowboys | DL/LB |
7 | 80 | Catching Glory | Chase Edmonds | Dolphins | RB |
7 | 81 | Jack Reacher | Tony Pollard | Cowboys | RB |
7 | 82 | The Trend Setters | Brandon Aiyuk | 49ers | WR |
7 | 83 | The Carbon Copies | Josh Jacobs | Raiders | RB |
7 | 84 | The Traditionalists | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | Chiefs | RB |
Here you see the first defenders come off the board. Traditionally this is too early to take a defender in standard IDP leagues like this one, but 2022 is an outlier year for player valuations. With significant questions surrounding the opportunity share of some of fantasy's most talented players, many may prefer a surefire defensive star like T.J. Watt over players with opportunity concerns like Elijah Moore, Josh Jacobs, or Devonte Smith might get. We would still wait until the ninth round, but many won't.
As for analyzing the actual picks of these defenders, this is their proper order. Watt has passed Derwin James as the top defender in our ranks because the Steelers’ leader has a cleaner bill of health and didn’t miss significant camp time with a holdout. Parsons will likely be the third defender off the board in leagues where he is DL eligible, as he provides a higher tackle floor than most linemen and elite sack potential. These three are in a tier by themselves when it comes to fantasy defenders, at least in leagues where the two pass rushers qualify as DLs.
The final point about this range is the sheer volume of tantalizing risk. Kadarius Toney, Moore, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brandon Aiyuk, Rashaad Penny, and Drake London all have the talent to win you any week in fantasy. However, they all carry immense downside as well. Expect the seventh and eighth rounds of your draft to be full of picks based on potential, as there are fewer obviously “safe” options this year than there usually are.
Rounds 8-9
Round | Pick | Fantasy Team | Player | NFL Team | Pos. |
8 | 85 | The Traditionalists | Dallas Goedert | Eagles | TE |
8 | 86 | The Carbon Copies | Kyler Murray | Cardinals | QB |
8 | 87 | The Trend Setters | Robert Woods | Titans | WR |
8 | 88 | Jack Reacher | Devonte Smith | Eagles | WR |
8 | 89 | Catching Glory | Kenneth Walker III | Seahawks | RB |
8 | 90 | Basic B’s | Kareem Hunt | Browns | RB |
8 | 91 | Halfback 2 Da Future | T.J. Hockenson | Lions | TE |
8 | 92 | BPA | Amari Cooper | Browns | WR |
8 | 93 | Zero RB 4 Life | James Cook | Bills | RB |
8 | 94 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | DeAndre Hopkins | Cardinals | WR |
8 | 95 | Mavericks | Nick Bosa | 49ers | DL |
8 | 96 | Safety First | Zach Ertz | Cardinals | TE |
9 | 97 | Safety First | Dak Prescott | Cowboys | QB |
9 | 98 | Mavericks | Jordyn Brooks | Seahawks | LB |
9 | 99 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Christian Kirk | Jaguars | WR |
9 | 100 | Zero RB 4 Life | Miles Sanders | Eagles | RB |
9 | 101 | BPA | Tyler Lockett | Seahawks | WR |
9 | 102 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Skyy Moore | Chiefs | WR |
9 | 103 | Basic B’s | Damien Harris | Patriots | RB |
9 | 104 | Catching Glory | Rhamondre Stevenson | Patriots | RB |
9 | 105 | Jack Reacher | George Pickens | Steelers | WR |
9 | 106 | The Trend Setters | Devin Singletary | Bills | RB |
9 | 107 | The Carbon Copies | Cole Kmet | Bears | TE |
9 | 108 | The Traditionalists | James Robinson | Jaguars | RB |
With Nick Bosa, the Mavericks secure my pick for Defensive Player of the Year in this range. While Bosa isn't likely to outperform stars like Watt and Parsons in pure fantasy production, he could challenge both for the sack title in 2022. He and Myles Garrett are neck-and-neck for third defensive lineman off the board in most formats, as long as Watt and Parsons are both DL eligible in your league.
One real outlier in this range that should surprise many is where Jordyn Brooks ends up. Brooks is the first linebacker off the board in this mock because of Roquan Smith's holdout and Shaquille Leonard's injury concerns. With those two carrying real questions about how they will start the season, expect Brooks to make a push for the top LB off the board in many fantasy drafts.
Finally, it's worth pointing out just how badly some teams have to reach for running back help in this range. Teams like Catching Glory and Zero RB waited on the RB position purposefully in this mock, forcing them to chase upside with players who carry considerable questions this season. James Cook and Rhamondre Stevenson are logical Zero RB options, but you can’t feel good with them as Day 1 starters.
Rounds 10-13
Round | Pick | Fantasy Team | Player | NFL Team | Pos. |
10 | 109 | The Traditionalists | Chris Olave | Saints | WR |
10 | 110 | The Carbon Copies | Garrett Wilson | Jets | WR |
10 | 111 | The Trend Setters | Bobby Wagner | Rams | LB |
10 | 112 | Jack Reacher | Roquan Smith | Bears | LB |
10 | 113 | Catching Glory | Trey Lance | 49ers | QB |
10 | 114 | Basic B’s | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | Chiefs | WR |
10 | 115 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Myles Garrett | Browns | DL |
10 | 116 | BPA | Shaquille Leonard (aka Darius Leonard) | Colts | LB |
10 | 117 | Zero RB 4 Life | Devin White | Buccaneers | LB |
10 | 118 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Dawson Knox | Bills | TE |
10 | 119 | Mavericks | Brian Robinson | Commanders | RB |
10 | 120 | Safety First | De’Vondre Campbell | Packers | LB |
11 | 121 | Safety First | Jordan Poyer | Bills | DB |
11 | 122 | Mavericks | Chase Claypool | Steelers | WR |
11 | 123 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Aaron Donald | Rams | DL |
11 | 124 | Zero RB 4 Life | Treylon Burks | Titans | WR |
11 | 125 | BPA | Pat Freiermuth | Steelers | TE |
11 | 126 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Aaron Rodgers | Packers | QB |
11 | 127 | Basic B’s | Blake Martinez | Giants | LB |
11 | 128 | Catching Glory | Danielle Hunter | Vikings | DL |
11 | 129 | Jack Reacher | Trey Hendrickson | Bengals | DL |
11 | 130 | The Trend Setters | Jeremy Chinn | Panthers | DB |
11 | 131 | The Carbon Copies | Joey Bosa | Chargers | DL |
11 | 132 | The Traditionalists | Maxx Crosby | Raiders | DL |
12 | 133 | The Traditionalists | Eric Kendricks | Vikings | LB |
12 | 134 | The Carbon Copies | Logan Wilson | Bengals | LB |
12 | 135 | The Trend Setters | Michael Carter | Jets | RB |
12 | 136 | Jack Reacher | Melvin Gordon | Broncos | RB |
12 | 137 | Catching Glory | Jamal Adams | Seahawks | DB |
12 | 138 | Basic B’s | Kyle Hamilton | Ravens | DB |
12 | 139 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Budda Baker | Cardinals | DB |
12 | 140 | BPA | Brian Burns | Panthers | DL |
12 | 141 | Zero RB 4 Life | Haason Reddick | Eagles | DL/LB |
12 | 142 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | C.J. Mosley | Jets | LB |
12 | 143 | Mavericks | Antonio Gibson | Commanders | RB |
12 | 144 | Safety First | Cordarrelle Patterson | Falcons | RB |
13 | 145 | Safety First | Harold Landry III | Titans | DL |
11 | 146 | Mavericks | Antoine Winfield Jr. | Buccaneers | DB |
13 | 147 | Risk It 4 Biscuits | Kenny Moore II | Colts | DB |
13 | 148 | Zero RB 4 Life | Harrison Smith | Vikings | DB |
13 | 149 | BPA | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Steelers | DB |
13 | 150 | Halfback 2 Da Future | Foyesade Oluokun | Jaguars | LB |
13 | 151 | Basic B’s | Julio Jones | Buccaneers | WR |
13 | 152 | Catching Glory | Cole Holcomb | Commanders | LB |
13 | 153 | Jack Reacher | Jakobi Meyers | Patriots | WR |
13 | 154 | The Trend Setters | Michael Gallup | Cowboys | WR |
13 | 155 | The Carbon Copies | Johnathan Abram | Raiders | DB |
13 | 156 | The Traditionalists | Jevon Holland | Dolphins | DB |
Closing out this mock, we see an unsurprising push for defenders late in the draft. In most standard IDP leagues like this, you will see many managers utilizing this wait-and-see strategy with defenders. For people new to IDP, think of this strategy as the same as devaluing Kickers and D/ST units in standard drafts. This strategy can work in casual formats but doesn’t work in deeper or more competitive defensive alignments. If you employ this strategy at DB, Kyle Hamilton and Jevon Holland should be your primary targets.
These final rounds also help expose how far some players have fallen during this pre-season. Antonio Gibson's stock is tanking, and the perception surrounding him may have finally fallen beneath his actual value. The Memphis product shouldn’t be a top-90 pick anymore, but he’s worth a flier late. The same goes for Michael Carter and Cordarrelle Patterson, both of whom are low-ceiling players who should have bigger offensive roles than fantasy managers think.
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