2022 Fantasy Football Mock Draft 8.0

For most of you, this is the last week to dissect a mock draft before your real draft. With two preseason games behind us, there is just one more to go before the 2022 NFL and fantasy football seasons kick off. It’s the last full week of August and things are starting to get real. Player values are settling in and we’re ready to put our championship teams together.

Tuesday, August 23rd, also marks the Physically Unable to Perform list deadline. Players remain or land on that list by Tuesday’s deadline will automatically miss the first four weeks of the season. Naturally, that will have an effect on next week’s mock draft.

If you do have a draft this upcoming weekend, take one last look at this mock draft to see how things could shape up for you once the picks start flying off of the board. As always, be ready for anything so nothing will surprise you.

Picking Eighth Overall in the Eighth Mock Draft

The following mock draft was completed, simulating my strategy and results for a 10-team, 1 quarterback, Points Per Reception league.  The hypothetical roster consists of 3 wide receivers, 2 running backs, 1 tight end, and 1 RB/WR/TE Flex position.  I drafted from the eighth overall pick in this mock draft and will make selections from different draft positions each week.  For this mock draft, I will break down 14 of 16 rounds. With the season kicking off in just over two weeks, it’s crucial to analyze as many players as possible. As always, I spend my final two picks on a Defense/Special Teams and Kicker so they won’t be included as we focus on individual player analysis.

ROUND ONE

1.01-        Jonathan Taylor (IND RB)

1.02-       Christian McCaffrey (CAR RB)

1.03-       Derrick Henry (TEN RB)

1.04-       Austin Ekeler (LAC RB)

1.05-       Cooper Kupp (LAR WR)

1.06-       Justin Jefferson (MIN WR)

1.07-       Najee Harris (PIT RB)

1.08-     D’Andre Swift (DET RB)

1.09-       Dalvin Cook (MIN RB)

1.10-       Ja’Marr Chase (CIN WR)

MY PICK: D’Andre Swift

My first pick of this mock draft follows my number one rule: Get your guy. Trust me, I know Dalvin Cook at the eighth pick is a value. Even letting him fall further to nine could prove to be a mistake. My rankings would even agree. I’m not worrying about the ninth pick’s team, though, I’m worrying about my own. D’Andre Swift is my guy for the 2022 fantasy football season.

As far as why I didn’t select Dalvin Cook, it comes down to questionable availability and a new offense. Cook hasn’t played more than 14 games in a regular season. He’s now 27 with 1,246 career touches. Additionally, with new head coach, Kevin O’Connell, in Minnesota, I worry about his use in the passing game. The Los Angeles Rams, with O’Connell acting as offensive coordinator the last two seasons, targeted the running back position a league-low 12.63% of the time.

Swift is poised for a breakout season. He, like Cook, is known to miss time, having played just 22 games in two NFL seasons. With the expectations of a healthy season, Swift is entering his third-year as the clear lead back in Detroit. The Lions’ offensive line, with three first-round talents in Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, and Penei Sewell, is one of the best in the league. Lastly, Swift believes he is capable of a 1,000-yard rushing and 1,000-yard receiving season. With a workhorse role in Detroit, if Swift does achieve that feat, which only three players have before, he is likely the guaranteed RB1 for this fantasy football season. I’m comfortable with his floor and banking on his ceiling with this mock draft pick.

ROUND TWO

2.01 –      Joe Mixon (CIN RB)

2.02-      Travis Kelce (KC TE)

2.03-     Stefon Diggs (BUF WR)

2.04-      Davante Adams (LV WR)

2.05-      Aaron Jones (GB RB)

2.06-      Deebo Samuel (SF WR)

2.07-      Josh Allen (BUF QB)

2.08-      Saquon Barkley (NYG RB)

2.09-      Alvin Kamara (NO RB)

2.10-       Mark Andrews (BAL TE)

MY PICK: Stefon Diggs

In the second round of the mock draft, I’m sticking with my rankings. Stefon Diggs is my third-overall wide receiver for the 2022 season. He is Josh Allen, the consensus QB1’s top target and should see a typical fantasy-friendly target share in Buffalo. He has no less than 103 receptions or 1,225 receiving yards in two seasons with Buffalo while averaging nine touchdowns per. Don’t overthink it.

It’s going to be hard to walk out of the first two rounds with a combination of players that you feel like might let you down. As far as fantasy football drafts go, 2022 feels deeper than usual. However, it’s still important to assemble a set of rankings with tiers even though most picks seem like no-brainers early on. D’Andre Swift and Stefon Diggs have a safe floor with massive ceilings at positions I will need a quantity of in my mock draft starting lineup.

ROUND THREE

3.01-       Ceedee Lamb (DAL WR)

3.02-      Tyreek Hill (MIA WR)

3.03-      Javonte Williams (DEN RB)

3.04-      Ezekiel Elliott (DAL RB)

3.05-      Nick Chubb (CLE RB)

3.06-      Leonard Fournette (TB RB)

3.07-      Mike Evans (TB WR)

3.08-    Keenan Allen (LAC WR)

3.09-      James Conner (ARI RB)

3.10-       Cam Akers (LAR RB)

MY PICK: Keenan Allen

At this point in the mock draft, two top tight ends are gone as well as the top quarterback. If I’m not getting Josh Allen, then I’ll likely just wait on a quarterback. My more recent mock drafts prove the value in waiting with players like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Trey Lance available in the later rounds.

That all said, I’m eyeing up running backs and wide receivers here. With Justin Herbert throwing the ball his way, Keenan Allen is an obvious choice. Since Herbert has taken over as the starter, Allen’s seen no less than 146 targets per season with a 23.8% target share in each of the last two seasons. Keenan Allen is also tied with Justin Jefferson for fifth-most targets per game (9.8) last season. His upside outweighs the concerns I have with James Conner and Cam Akers, the next best running backs available.

ROUND FOUR

4.01-       A.J. Brown (PHI WR)

4.02-      Michael Pittman, Jr. (IND WR)

4.03-    Kyle Pitts (ATL TE)

4.04-      Dionte Johnson (PIT WR)

4.05-      D.J. Moore (CAR WR)

4.06-      Tee Higgins (CIN WR)

4.07-      D.K. Metcalf (SEA WR)

4.08-      Patrick Mahomes (KC QB)

4.09-      Terry McLaurin (WSH WR)

4.10-       Travis Etienne (JAC RB)

MY PICK: Kyle Pitts

This is my first crack at snagging Kyle Pitts in this mock draft series. In most of the mock drafts, he is gone by this point in the fourth round. Pitts is my third-ranked tight end, but I’m not going to reach for him any higher than this round.

Last season, Pitts’ usage in the red zone was outright confusing. His 14 targets inside the 20 rank 35th amongst all players. He caught just four of those targets for one touchdown, his only touchdown of the season. In fact, Lee Smith and Hayden Hurst, the other Falcons tight ends, both scored more touchdowns than Pitts in 2021. Neither Smith or Hurst are on the 2022 roster.

Pitts is due for positive touchdown regression. To score just one touchdown on 110 total targets last season is almost hard to do. He had the fifth-most targets at the position with a 19.8% team target share in Atlanta. Marcus Mariota should be a slight upgrade over Matt Ryan at quarterback, as well. His mobility threat, in addition to new weapons in Atlanta, will open things up for Pitts in 2022.

ROUND FIVE

5.01-      Jaylen Waddle (MIA WR)

5.02-     Mike Williams (LAC WR)

5.03-     Jerry Jeudy (DEN WR)

5.04-     Amari Cooper (CLE WR)

5.05-     David Montgomery (CHI RB)

5.06-     Justin Herbert (LAC QB)

5.07-     Breece Hall (NYJ RB)

5.08-    Courtland Sutton (DEN WR)

5.09-     Marquise Brown (ARI WR)

5.10-      Brandin Cooks (HOU WR)

MY PICK: Courtland Sutton

Sutton is another one of “my guys” for the 2022 season. In last week’s mock, I talk about how he could be Russell Wilson’s “Denver D.K. [Metcalf].” Now two years removed from an ACL tear, and with the best quarterback of his career, Sutton should feast this season. His fifth-round ADP is going to look like a mistake for most people by the end of this season. To make matters better in this mock draft, I’m able to snag Sutton here after his teammate, Jerry Jeudy. That shouldn’t happen.

ROUND SIX

6.01-      Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET WR)

6.02-     Allen Robinson (LAR WR)

6.03-    Josh Jacobs (LV RB)

6.04-     Michael Thomas (NO WR)

6.05-     Darnell Mooney (CHI WR)

6.06-     George Kittle (SF TE)

6.07-     Antonio Gibson (WSH RB)

6.08-     Chris Godwin (TB WR)

6.09-     Darren Waller (LV TE)

6.10-     Juju Smith-Schuster (KC WR)

MY PICK: Josh Jacobs

This is a boring pick. Jacobs is one of just two running backs to come off of the board in this round of the mock draft. With a glaring need for an RB2 on my mock draft roster, Jacob’s outlook, at current, is better than Antonio Gibson, my other option to draft in this round. Not only will the Raiders have a better overall offense than the Commanders this season, but Jacobs will have a larger role in Las Vegas than Gibson in Washington. Jacobs is a proven three-down back with a history of heavy usage in the red zone. A perfect RB2 with a rock solid floor of about 13.0 to 14.0 points per game. Gibson is in jeopardy of losing the starting job, or at least some of it, to rookie Brian Robinson.

ROUND SEVEN

7.01-       J.K. Dobbins (BAL RB)

7.02-      Lamar Jackson (BAL QB)

7.03-      Daulton Schultz (DAL TE)

7.04-      Dallas Goedert (PHI TE)

7.05-      Gabriel Davis (BUF WR)

7.06-      DeAndre Hopkins (ARI WR)

7.07-      Kyler Murray (ARI QB)

7.08-    Rashod Bateman (BAL WR)

7.09-      Elijah Moore (NYJ WR)

7.10-       Joe Burrow (CIN QB)

MY PICK: Rashod Bateman

Both Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray are excellent values in the seventh round of any draft. Their rushing upside gives you a weekly advantage in your lineup. Just because I missed out on both of them doesn’t mean I should target a quarterback here, though. That’s a move based on panic.

Instead, I let Joe Burrow slide to the end of the seventh round and grab another one of “my guys”, Rashod Bateman. An opportunity for nearly a 25% target share on the Ravens is plenty available with the departure of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. I also don’t expect the Ravens to run many three wide receiver sets. If anything, they will operate in 12 personnel with a lot of tight end action. Bateman will be on the field in almost every formation as the Ravens simply don’t have enough talent to compete with him at wide receiver otherwise.

ROUND EIGHT

8.01-      Hunter Renfrow (LV WR)

8.02-      Jalen Hurts (PHI QB)

8.03-    Elijah Mitchell (SF RB)

8.04-      Adam Theilen (MIN WR)

8.05-      DeVonta Smith (PHI WR)

8.06-      Tyler Lockett (SEA WR)

8.07-      Drake London (ATL WR)

8.08-      Brandon Aiyuk (SF WR)

8.09-      Allen Lazard (GB WR)

8.10-       Tom Brady (TB QB)

MY PICK: Elijah Mitchell

I’m liking Elijah Mitchell’s Average Draft Position more and more as the preseason continues. Second-year running back, Trey Sermon, isn’t making enough of a second impression to take playing time and, more importantly, touches away from Mitchell. Elijah Mitchell is most likely to lead this team in backfield touches. He should have similar stats to last season, with at least 200 carries, even with Trey Lance getting his fair of rushing production at quarterback.

Speaking of rushing production at quarterback, Jalen Hurts was my target here in the mock draft. There are plenty of reports and video proof from Eagles camp of Hurts’ improvement from the year prior. He also scored the most rushing touchdowns of any quarterback last season. With a similar backfield committee to that of last season in Philly, Hurts has a chance to not only lead the team in rushing attempts but touchdowns, as well.

ROUND NINE

9.01-       Treylon Burks (TEN WR)

9.02-      Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC RB)

9.03-      Christian Kirk (JAC WR)

9.04-      Robert Woods (TEN WR)

9.05-      Miles Sanders (PHI RB)

9.06-      Russell Gage (TB WR)

9.07-      Kadarius Toney (NYG WR)

9.08-    A.J. Dillon (GB RB)

9.09-      Chase Edmonds (ARI RB)

9.10-       Damien Harris (NE RB)

MY PICK: A.J. Dillon

I’m now just solidifying my mock draft team’s bench. I already mentioned Swift’s lack of availability in his first two seasons. Josh Jacobs is also known to get banged up but doesn’t offer much receiving upside, as well, when he’s healthy.

I do think Chase Edmonds is the more complete running back with this pick. However, Dillon is going to play a large role in the Green Bay offense. He is considered one of the best 11 players that Aaron Rodgers believes should be on the field. Especially with the departure of both Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, there will undoubtedly be more room for touches, especially in the passing game, for even more of a ground and pound running back like Dillon. In most leagues, he will begin the season as a fantasy bench player until his role is more defined.

ROUND 10

10.01-      Chase Claypool (PIT WR)

10.02-      Kareem Hunt (CLE RB)

10.03-    Russell Wilson (DEN QB)

10.04-      Garrett Wilson (NYJ WR)

10.05-      Chris Olave (NO WR)

10.06-      Aaron Rodgers (GB QB)

10.07-      Jakobi Meyers (NE WR)

10.08-      Jarvis Landry (NO WR)

10.09-      Devin Singletary (BUF RB)

10.10-       Tony Pollard (DAL RB)

MY PICK: Russell Wilson

This is the sweet spot for drafting a quarterback. After passing up on Josh Allen, I could have drafted Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, or Justin Herbert in the fourth or fifth round. I also have the opportunity to wait longer and snag a high-upside pick, Trey Lance, a few rounds after this one. Instead, Russell Wilson comes off of the board with my 10th mock draft pick. The timing coupled with a juicy Week 1 matchup against his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, makes this the perfect pick.

With Courtland Sutton already on my roster, I now have a stack in my starting lineup. A stack is when you pair a quarterback, typically with a wide receiver, but sometimes a running back or tight end, to capitalize on big plays or touchdowns when the quarterback throws to said player. It’s a large investment in one particular team, but some stacks are worth it, while some are not at all.

In this case, my stack is Wilson and Sutton. For where I was able to land both players, in comparison to drafting a higher stack like Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, it makes for one of the best stacks for the 2022 fantasy football season.

ROUND 11

11.01-      D.J Chark (DET WR)

11.02-     Cordarelle Patterson (ATL RB)

11.03-     Ken Walker III (SEA RB)

11.04-     Skyy Moore (KC WR)

11.05-     James Cook (BUF RB)

11.06-     Rashaad Penny (SEA RB)

11.07-     Tyler Boyd (CIN WR)

11.08-   Rhamondre Stevenson (NE RB)

11.09-     George Pickens (PIT WR)

11.10-      Michael Gallup (DAL WR)

MY PICK: Rhamondre Stevenson

In the wake of James White’s recent retirement announcement, it appears Rhamondre Stevenson is the next man up for the receiving running back role in New England. Even Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick, is praising Stevenson.

It’s news nuggets like that one that help navigate the later rounds of fantasy football drafts. At this point, we are value hunting. If Stevenson can get on the field for passing down opportunities, he may just develop into New England’s starting back with a strong rushing ability, as well. If so, I just got New England’s top back in the 11th round of this mock draft.

Meanwhile, news, such as Seahawks rookie, Ken Walker’s hernia surgery, is also worth paying close attention to as drafts approach. Walker is going to miss a few weeks of practice, and possible the start of the season. That said, there is really no reason, especially as a rookie, who now has an injury, that he should be going ahead of teammate, Rashaad Penny. Stay up to date with the status of players up to the minute before your draft starts!

ROUND 12

12.01-      Kenny Golladay (NYG WR)

12.02-     Dak Prescott (DAL QB)

12.03-   Dameon Pierce (HOU RB)

12.04-     T.J. Hockenson (DET TE)

12.05-     Romeo Doubs (GB WR)

12.06-     James Robinson (JAX RB)

12.07-     Michael Carter (NYJ RB)

12.08-     Zach Ertz (ARI TE)

12.09-     Marquez Valdes-Scantling (KC WR)

12.10-      Matthew Stafford (LAR QB)

MY PICK: Dameon Pierce

Last call for Dameon Pierce in the 12th round! It won’t be long before the rookie running back is getting drafted as some fantasy football team’s RB2. Not only does Pierce seem to be standing out in training camp, but he may also even have a stronghold on the starting job in Houston’s backfield.

Following the team’s second preseason game, Pierce’s absence was noticeable. Ironically, him not playing in a preseason game is a positive piece of news for fantasy football. That, with encouraging camp reports, indicates a team wants to preserve Pierce for the regular season. Pierce is on ice for the Texans until Week 1 and should be a late round target for every fantasy football manager where they can get him.

ROUND 13

13.01-      Melvin Gordon (DEN RB)

13.02-     Dawson Knox (BUF TE)

13.03-     Josh Palmer (LAC WR)

13.04-     Jahan Dotson (WAS WR)

13.05-     Trey Lance (SF QB)

13.06-     Mike Gesicki (MIA TE)

13.07-     Darrell Henderson (LAR RB)

13.08-   Nyheim Hines (IND RB)

13.09-     Julio Jones (TB WR)

13.10-      Pat Freiermuth (PIT TE)

MY PICK: Nyheim Hines

This is the most running backs for any mock draft team I’ve drafted so far. Five of my last six picks are running backs with seven total now after 13 rounds. In hindsight, maybe taking a flier on Steelers rookie wide receiver, George Pickens, would have been a better idea over Rhamondre Stevenson. However, I don’t regret any of these picks as they all, at the time of selection, seemed like better options for my bench than the wide receivers still available at similar ADPs.

By drafting the best player available, I also have trade assets. Using the Damien Pierce hype, for instance, can work to my advantage. If I’m truly unhappy with my set of seven running backs, I should have no problem trading one for a worthwhile pass catcher.

Nyheim Hines has the Frank Reich, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts’ stamp of approval to draft in fantasy football this season. Reich is also on record saying the Colts ran the ball too often in 2021. Hines’ role is flex worthy as a pass-catching back. If Taylor were to miss time at any point this season, it appears Hines would see a major uptick in volume. He’s a fantastic bench stash that’s practically free.

ROUND 14

14.01-      Isaiah Spiller (LAC RB)

14.02-     Alexander Mattison (MIN RB)

14.03-   Devante Parker (NE WR)

14.04-     Rachaad White (TB RB)

14.05-     Zamir White (LV RB)

14.06-     Mecole Hardman (KC WR)

14.07-     Khalil Herbert (CHI RB)

14.08-     RAMS Defense/Special Teams

14.09-     J.D. McKissic

14.10-      BILLS Defense/Special Teams

MY PICK: Devante Parker

After my run of running backs in the mock draft, I need t0 select one more wide receiver. The options are slimmer than I’d like, but it’s a 10-team mock draft league with plenty of potential on the waiver wire, especially early in the season.

For now, though, Devante Parker is an easy choice. His 6’3″ frame should provide Mac Jones with a worthwhile weapon in the red zone especially this season. He is a player that I feel is going too low in drafts. On just a 14.5% target share last season, Patriots tight end, Hunter Henry, caught 41% of Jones’ touchdown passes. Adding a player like Parker into the mix should detract away from Henry’s 2021 success and put plenty of chances to do the same on Parker’s plate. I won’t lose sleep if this 13th round pick doesn’t work out.

STARTING LINEUP

QB – Russell Wilson

RB – D’Andre Swift, Josh Jacobs

WR – Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Courtland Sutton

TE – Kyle Pitts

FLEX – Rashod Bateman

Bench: Elijah Mitchell, A.J. Dillon, Rhamondre Stevenson, Dameon Pierce, Nyheim Hines, Devante Parker

Mock Draft 8.0 CONCLUSION

Stacking is a popular tool to maximize fantasy value on your rosters week to week. Stacking Russell Wilson and Courtland Sutton, at cost, in this mock draft will likely pay off in a big way. Never force a stack, but if you have a strong handful of wide receivers early, consider stacking them with their respective quarterbacks later on. Just don’t force the issue and reach too early to make it happen.

My running back depth is sound on this mock draft roster. That leaves me with options. I can hold on tight to the depth hoping I don’t need much of it, but happy I have it. Conversely, I could seek a trade with a running back needy team and upgrade my own roster at a position of need, as well.

Looking at my wide receivers, aside from Diggs, I have some question marks. I have to realize, though, that drafting Kyle Pitts early is like plugging in another wide receiver in at the tight end position on this roster. Given that you are required to start just one tight end, I’m happy to have him anchoring possible lackluster wide receiver play any given week. I only have five mock drafts with one of them, Devante Parker, as my last player position pick.

Got a take on Colin’s approach to this mock draft? Drop a line in the comments below and then head on over and check out our 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit!