After one full week of preseason games, there is plenty to react to. Undoubtedly, there’s plenty to overreact to, as well. While teams took to the field on Saturday, I took to the Fantasy Football Expo in Canton, Ohio and even participated in a real fantasy football draft. After participating in a real draft, having conversations with fans and analysts alike, and catching most of the preseason action this weekend, I’m excited to approach this particular mock draft with obvious changes in Average Draft Position as well as my own views on certain players.
Every Monday, until the start of the NFL season, I will be completing a fantasy football mock draft on what I like to call “Mock Draft Monday.” This series is a favorite of mine and one of the articles I look forward to the most during fantasy football draft season. I encourage you to review these mock drafts and complete some of your own!
Each week, I will select a mock draft team selecting players from a different draft spot with an analysis as to why I picked each player where I did and when I did. As I break down the results of each mock draft, I guarantee my reasoning for every pick will help guide your own decision-making process when it comes time to select your teams for the upcoming fantasy football season. So, follow along all summer long!
Picking Seventh Overall in the Seventh 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 seventh overall pick in this mock draft and will make selections from different draft positions each week. For this mock draft, I will break down just the first 12 of the total 16 rounds. 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- Bijan Robinson (ATL RB)
1.02- Tyreek Hill (MIA WR)
1.03- CeeDee Lamb (DAL WR)
1.04- Ja’Marr Chase (CIN WR)
1.05- Christian McCaffrey (SF RB)
1.06- Breece Hall (NYJ RB)
1.07- Justin Jefferson (MIN WR)
1.08- Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET WR)
1.09- A.J. Brown (PHI WR)
1.10- Garrett Wilson (NYJ WR)
MY PICK: Justin Jefferson
This is the first mock draft of the weekly series where Christian McCaffrey isn’t a top-three pick. Seeing him come off the board at fifth overall isn’t a huge surprise. He’s not expected to play in the preseason due to a calf strain.
I didn’t expect McCaffrey to play in the preseason anyway, but missing practice is never a good thing. A player at his position of his caliber can return just before Week 1 and I’d have no concerns. The fall of Christian McCaffrey likely means the rise of Bijan Robinson and Breece Hall if managers view McCaffrey’s injury as a ding to the tier of elite running backs. This makes the seventh pick that much more appealing as an elite wide receiver, like Justin Jefferson, will still be on the board.
ROUND TWO
2.01 – Jahmyr Gibbs (DET RB)
2.02- Puka Nacua (LAR WR)
2.03- Saquon Barkley (PHI RB)
2.04- Jonathan Taylor (IND RB)
2.05- Derrick Henry (BAL RB)
2.06- Kyren Williams (LAR RB)
2.07- Isiah Pacheco (KC RB)
2.08- Brandon Aiyuk (SF WR)
2.09- Michael Pittman Jr. (IND WR)
2.10- Davante Adams (LV WR)
MY PICK: Jonathan Taylor
Drafting a stud wide receiver like Justin Jefferson at the back end of the first round of this mock draft provides an opportunity to land a stud running back, like Jonathan Taylor, near the top of the second round. While I’ve typically targeted back-to-back wide receivers, I would ideally like to draft one wide receiver and one running back in the first two rounds. The seventh pick of the mock draft is a sweet spot to do so.
ROUND THREE
3.01- Travis Etienne (JAX RB)
3.02- Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI WR)
3.03- De’Von Achane (MIA RB)
3.04- Travis Kelce (KC TE)
3.05- Nico Collins (HOU WR)
3.06- Drake London (ATL WR)
3.07- Chris Olave (NO WR)
3.08- Josh Jacobs (GB RB)
3.09- Deebo Samuel (SF WR)
3.10- Sam LaPorta (DET TE)
MY PICK: Chris Olave
So far through “mock draft season”, a lot of the players in the third round here were coming off of the board in the second round. That includes Chris Olave. I’m much more interested in drafting Olave as my WR2 in this round given his talent and expected target share, despite poor quarterback play.
Olave comes off of the board here as the WR15 as opposed to somewhere just inside the top 10 if selected one round before. In the event he averages less than 15.0 fantasy points per game again, selecting Olave in Round Two just carries too much risk.
ROUND FOUR
4.01- Josh Allen (BUF QB)
4.02- Jaylen Waddle (MIA WR)
4.03- Jalen Hurts (PHI QB)
4.04- Mike Evans (TB WR)
4.05- Rachaad White (TB RB)
4.06- Patrick Mahomes (KC QB)
4.07- James Cook (BUF RB)
4.08- Alvin Kamara (NO RB)
4.09- Mark Andrews (BAL TE)
4.10- D.J. Moore (CHI WR)
MY PICK: Mike Evans
Jerry Rice holds the record for most consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more receiving yards with 11 straight. Mike Evans has 10. If I know that, I’m sure Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also know that. Evans will be 31 years old in less than two weeks, but if last year taught us anything, wide receivers north of 30, including Evans, can still get it done. He is a fantastic selection in any draft as a WR3 with a top-10 ceiling at his position.
ROUND FIVE
5.01- DeVonta Smith (PHI WR)
5.02- Joe Mixon (HOU RB)
5.03- DK Metcalf (SEA WR)
5.04- Stefon Diggs (HOU WR)
5.05- Cooper Kupp (LAR WR)
5.06- Keenan Allen (CHI WR)
5.07- Kenneth Walker (SEA RB)
5.08- George Pickens (PIT WR)
5.09- Rhamondre Stevenson (NE RB)
5.10- Malik Nabers (NYG WR)
MY PICK: Kenneth Walker
This is far too late for Kenneth Walker to be coming off of the board, even in a mock draft. Maybe it’s the perceived threat of Zach Charbonnet behind him, but Charbonnet was out there for the Seahawks’ first preseason game while Walker got to sit. Couple that with the new offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, touting Walker as a “three-tool guy” and “electric out of the backfield as a pass catcher” and this is easily one of the best picks of the mock draft.
ROUND SIX
6.01- Zay Flowers (BAL WR)
6.02- Lamar Jackson (BAL QB)
6.03- Trey McBride (ARI TE)
6.04- Amari Cooper (CLE WR)
6.05- C.J. Stroud (HOU QB)
6.06- Dalton Kincaid (BUF TE)
6.07- Anthony Richardson (IND QB)
6.08- Aaron Jones (MIN RB)
6.09- James Conner (ARI RB)
6.10- Dak Prescott (DAL QB)
MY PICK: Amari Cooper
In Points Per Reception leagues, I prefer to slide a wide receiver into the flex spot. Additionally, despite using high draft capital on Chris Olave and Mike Evans, I still feel the need to add wide receiver depth sooner rather than later just in case Olave disappoints and Evans does in fact lose a bout with “Father Time.” Cooper’s 8.5 targets per game in 2023 ranked 15th amongst all wide receivers.
Compared to the running backs still available, Cooper has a much higher ceiling. He’s also more trustworthy in regards to his availability compared to players like Aaron Jones and James Conner who each missed at least four games last season.
ROUND SEVEN
7.01- Najee Harris (PIT RB)
7.02- Chris Godwin (TB WR)
7.03- Joe Burrow (CIN QB)
7.04- D’Andre Swift (CHI RB)
7.05- Tee Higgins (CIN WR)
7.06- George Kittle (SF TE)
7.07- Christian Kirk (JAX WR)
7.08- Tank Dell (HOU WR)
7.09- Zamir White (LV RB)
7.10- Terry McLaurin (WAS WR)
MY PICK: Christian Kirk
While I still need a quarterback and tight end at this point in the mock draft, I tend to continue targeting the best players available as we head into the seventh round. Especially in a 1QB league, and of this size, finding a starting player at each of those positions isn’t as in demand as a Superflex or even just a larger league.
Christian Kirk is looking to bounce back in 2024 after missing time due to injury last season. His 84/1,108/8 receiving line in 2022 yielded a WR22 finish on a fantasy points-per-game basis. That’s without Calvin Ridley, who’s now a Tennessee Titan, commanding targets. Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis are now in the rotation, but Kirk should get back to leading the team in targets, specifically in the red zone.
ROUND EIGHT
8.01- David Montgomery (DET RB)
8.02- Calvin Ridley (TEN WR)
8.03- Raheem Mostert (MIA RB)
8.04- Kyle Pitts (ATL TE)
8.05- Jayden Reed (GB WR)
8.06- Rashee Rice (KC WR)
8.07- Diontae Johnson (CAR WR)
8.08- Tony Pollard (TEN RB)
8.09- Kyler Murray (ARI QB)
8.10- Jordan Addison (MIN WR)
MY PICK: Kyle Pitts
Letting Kyle Pitts fall any further ends up being an advantage to someone else in my league. I’m much more comfortable taking Pitts just inside the top 75 players overall than inside the top 60, which has happened in mock drafts before. Drafting Pitts, who has a better quarterback and should be healthier entering this season, adds a ton of upside to the mock draft roster while locking in a starting tight end. If someone takes him earlier, so be it, but he is a post-hype sleeper I wouldn’t hesitate to take if available in Round Eight, or even Round Seven, all depending on league size and roster builds.
ROUND NINE
9.01- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA WR)
9.02- Jaylen Warren (PIT RB)
9.03- Javonte Williams (DEN RB)
9.04- Christian Watson (GB WR)
9.05- Jonathon Brooks (CAR RB)
9.06- Xavier Worthy (KC WR)
9.07- Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS RB)
9.08- Ladd McConkey (LAC WR)
9.09- Devin Singletary (NYG RB)
9.10- Nick Chubb (CLE RB)
MY PICK: Brian Robinson Jr.
It’s becoming a theme lately in this mock draft series to start hammering running back picks consistently in the back half of the draft. Brian Robinson Jr. is the first of three straight picks at the position for this mock draft team.
I love the Average Draft Position of both Robinson and Austin Ekeler right now. You likely won’t need either to start Week 1 or any time in the first month of the season. That gives you at least a few weeks to see how things shake out on a completed revamped Washington Commanders offense and team.
Though Ekeler comes off of this mock draft board after Robinson and is a perceived value, I’m more interested in Robinson anyway. He’s 25 years old with a higher likelihood of dominating the percentage of carries while maintaining a pass-catching upside of his own.
ROUND 10
10.01- Austin Ekeler (WAS RB)
10.02- Zack Moss (CIN RB)
10.03- Tyjae Spears (TEN RB)
10.04- Chase Brown (CIN RB)
10.05- Rome Odunze (CHI WR)
10.06- Hollywood Brown (KC WR)
10.07- Ezekiel Elliott (DAL RB)
10.08- DeAndre Hopkins (TEN WR)
10.09- Zach Charbonnet (SEA RB)
10.10- Jerome Ford (CLE RB)
MY PICK: Chase Brown
Chase Brown is a difficult player to evaluate. However, it’s easy to draft him given where he’s going and the upside he possesses. Brown had just 59 total regular season touches to his name from his 2023 rookie campaign. A second-year breakout is merely a projection and should not necessarily be an expectation. That’s what picks in this range are all about, though.
Zack Moss stepped up in place of Jonathan Taylor last season but should see a majority of first-team reps as the preseason progresses. Chase Brown likely needs Moss to miss time to really establish any sort of fantasy relevance. Otherwise, we could be guessing week-t0-week whether or not to deploy the second year back and likely as a flex.
ROUND 11
11.01- Courtland Sutton (DEN WR)
11.02- Rico Dowdle (DAL RB)
11.03- Keon Coleman (BUF WR)
11.04- Tyler Lockett (SEA WR)
11.05- Gus Edwards (LAC RB)
11.06- Blake Corum (LAR RB)
11.07- Trey Benson (ARI RB)
11.08- Jameson Williams (DET WR)
11.09- Curtis Samuel (BUF WR)
11.10- Chuba Hubbard (CAR RB)
MY PICK: Trey Benson
I’m aware the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive line is a work in progress. Trey Benson also struggled a bit in his first preseason game logging just 21 rushing yards on eight carries that included 14 yards on seven of them. That’s just one very limited sample size, though.
I’m also aware James Conner has a career average of 3.42 games missed per season. Benson will be on benches to start the season. I don’t necessarily think he has “league-winning potential”, but could very well slide in as a starting RB2 for most playoff-bound fantasy football teams if Conner is unavailable.
ROUND 12
12.01- Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX WR)
12.02- Evan Engram (JAX TE)
12.03- J.K. Dobbins (LAC RB)
12.04- Jayden Daniels (WAS QB)
12.05- David Njoku (CLE TE)
12.06- Khalil Shakir (BUF WR)
12.07- Tyler Allgeier (ATL RB)
12.08- Jakobi Meyers (LV WR)
12.09- Jordan Love (GB QB)
12.10- Mike Williams (NYJ WR)
MY PICK: Jayden Daniels (WAS QB)
In keeping an eye on the other nine mock draft rosters, I noticed they all had their starting quarterbacks by Round Eight. This affords me the opportunity to wait and wait I did! When you’re drafting in a 1QB league, this is an effective way to navigate drafts of your own. While you don’t want to obsess over what your opponent might do next, when you see quarterbacks flying off of the board, it’s beneficial to know what they won’t do next.
Jayden Daniels is starting to move up most rankings. His rushing upside, as seen in his first preseason game with a three-yard rushing touchdown, is hard to ignore. I’m willing to take him as high as QB10 with the ability to pair him with someone like Jared Goff later on if needed. Goff specifically plays three games at home in the first four weeks. You can take a “wait and see” approach with Daniels this way.
STARTING LINEUP
QB – Jayden Daniels
RB – Jonathan Taylor, Kenneth Walker
WR – Justin Jefferson, Chris Olave, Mike Evans
TE – Kyle Pitts
FLEX – Amari Cooper
BENCH: Christian Kirk, Brian Robinson Jr., Chase Brown, Trey Benson, Joshua Palmer (13.07), Antonio Gibson (14.04)
Mock Draft 7.0 CONCLUSION
There’s a lot of risk with this mock draft team, but plenty of opportunity for a big reward, as well. It’s easily the best starting running back duo I’ve drafted which has everything to do with Walker falling into my lap in the fifth round. When value presents itself, take it!
I’m typically leaving most drafts in this format with six running backs and six wide receivers. If I end up taking three wide receivers in the first three rounds, I’m more likely to tip the scale and select seven running backs for depth purposes.
With the seventh pick of the mock draft, I never felt pressure to select a quarterback or tight end at their Average Draft Positions. While I definitely made out well with Jayden Daniels and Kyle Pitts, not every draft slot has the same opportunities. All the more reason to mock draft multiple times from your designated draft slot before it’s time for the real thing!
Who’s your favorite dark horse QB1? Drop some names in the comments below and then make sure to check out our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.