Since flipping the calendar to August, the intensity of fantasy football research is much higher than it was in July. August is the biggest month for fantasy football drafts so keeping up with a mock draft here and there is important for every fantasy football manager. Training camp highlights, injuries, and news are now a daily occurrence. Tracking the movement of player values in mock drafts should be, too.
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 Sixth Overall in the Sixth 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 sixth 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- Christian McCaffrey (SF RB)
1.02- CeeDee Lamb (DAL WR)
1.03- Tyreek Hill (MIA WR)
1.04- Ja’Marr Chase (CIN WR)
1.05- Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET WR)
1.06- Justin Jefferson (MIN WR)
1.07- Breece Hall (NYJ RB)
1.08- Bijan Robinson (ATL RB)
1.09- A.J. Brown (PHI WR)
1.10- Saquon Barkley (PHI RB)
MY PICK: Justin Jefferson
If your real draft’s first five picks mimic that of this mock draft, then the sixth pick is a bittersweet place to be. By no means it is an easy decision between Bijan Robinson and Breece Hall themselves. Now, consider having to decide between either of those running backs and the talents of Justin Jefferson. Imagine telling yourself this time last year that you could get Justin Jefferson with the sixth overall pick in a 1QB 2024 draft!
Though Bijan Robinson and Breece Hall may be in “safer” situations on their respective teams, I cannot deny the talent, role, and upside Jefferson presents. The elephant in the room here is whether or not Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy will be looking his way in the passing game. To be honest, I’m not too worried about either quarterback. While neither feels quite as reliable as Kirk Cousins, I’m far more confident in Darnold and McCarthy than Cousins’ replacements last season.
Justin Jefferson missed seven games due to a hamstring injury last season. He still eclipsed over 1,000 receiving yards in total and logged five games, of a possible 10, of 100 or more receiving yards, two of which were without Kirk Cousins. The bottom line here is that head coach Kevin O’Connell takes a pass-heavy approach with the Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson is far and away the top target. You can confidently build a 2024 fantasy football roster around him.
ROUND TWO
2.01 – Jonathan Taylor (IND RB)
2.02- Puka Nacua (LAR WR)
2.03- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET RB)
2.04- Garrett Wilson (NYJ WR)
2.05- Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI WR)
2.06- Davante Adams (LV WR)
2.07- Derrick Henry (BAL RB)
2.08- Michael Pittman Jr. (IND WR)
2.09- Kyren Williams (LAR RB)
2.10- Travis Etienne (JAX RB)
MY PICK: Marvin Harrison Jr.
In prior mock drafts, the second round is where I find myself having a tough time making a decision based on the players available. However, in this mock draft, players that have typically gone in Round Two, dropped ever so slightly to the following round, clearing up the Average Draft Position a bit.
I’m still extremely comfortable taking Marvin Harrison Jr. as a top-20 selection as seen in this mock draft. Compared to the wide receivers coming off of the board after him here, I’m more likely to invest in Kyler Murray’s top target than Gardner Minshew/Aidan O’Connell’s (Davante Adams) or Anthony Richardson’s (Michael Pittman), while also considering Harrison’s talent and expected target share.
ROUND THREE
3.01- Travis Kelce (KC TE)
3.02- Isiah Pacheco (KC RB)
3.03- Josh Allen (BUF QB)
3.04- Brandon Aiyuk (SF WR)
3.05- Chris Olave (NO WR)
3.06- Drake London (ATL WR)
3.07- De’Von Achane (MIA RB)
3.08- Sam LaPorta (DET TE)
3.09- Patrick Mahomes (KC QB)
3.10- Kenneth Walker (SEA RB)
MY PICK: Drake London
It’s now becoming a theme through six mock drafts of building a “WR heavy” roster. Rather than feel pressure to pick a certain position, specifically a running back here, I’m investing in the upside Drake London possesses, especially as the WR3 on this mock draft team. There’s no denying De’Von Achane’s upside, as well, but his path to greatness, at his position, feels a bit more cloudy than London’s in 2024.
In other words, I am expecting WR2, with the possibility of WR1, numbers from Drake London, but can survive if he’s a WR3 selecting him as such here. It’s much tougher to stomach a disappointing season from De’Von Achane as my RB1 with this third-round pick, especially knowing he doesn’t have sole command of his own backfield. I’m still confident in finding starting caliber running backs with higher floors, albeit lower ceilings, for this mock draft team.
ROUND FOUR
4.01- Nico Collins (HOU WR)
4.02- Mike Evans (TB WR)
4.03- Stefon Diggs (HOU WR)
4.04- Jaylen Waddle (MIA WR)
4.05- Rachaad White (TB RB)
4.06- Lamar Jackson (BAL QB)
4.07- Cooper Kupp (LAR WR)
4.08- D.J. Moore (CHI WR)
4.09- James Cook (BUF RB)
4.10- Jalen Hurts (PHI QB)
MY PICK: Rachaad White
As mentioned before, I was more willing to draft the upside of Drake London over De’Von Achane knowing I can get a player like Rachaad White as my top running back at this point in the mock draft. So, in hindsight, I could have had the combination of De’Von Achane and either Cooper Kupp/D.J. Moore here or my ultimately decided-upon combo of Drake London/Rachaad White. I don’t think there is a huge difference in total value, but my picks feel safer as a whole.
After four rounds, four quarterbacks are now off the board in this mock draft. Quarterbacks now make up 10% of the picks and 40% of this mock draft league are set at the position. With every quarterback taken this early on, I become less likely to do so, especially in a 1QB league. There is enough of a supply of players worth starting. If I’m not one of the first managers to select a quarterback, I’ll likely be one of the last, and could even take two.
ROUND FIVE
5.01- Deebo Samuel (SF WR)
5.02- DK Metcalf (SEA WR)
5.03- Joe Mixon (HOU RB)
5.04- Josh Jacobs (GB RB)
5.05- Alvin Kamara (NO RB)
5.06- DeVonta Smith (PHI WR)
5.07- C.J. Stroud (HOU QB)
5.08- Malik Nabers (NYG WR)
5.09- Aaron Jones (MIN RB)
5.10- George Pickens (PIT WR)
MY PICK: DeVonta Smith
In a “WR heavy” roster build, there will always be some pressure early on the select running backs. Round Five is one of those moments. However, after Mixon, Jacobs, and Kamara go back-to-back-to-back in front of me, I decided to zag while those teams zig. I’ll be honest: it was a coin flip between DeVonta Smith and Malik Nabers. I’m actually surprised both players are still available, expecting each to be gone one round prior. Nabers’ rookie training camp highlights are easy to swoon over, but Smith has a major quarterback advantage with a history of proven production.
DeVonta Smith is one of a handful of examples in which I’m willing to take a team’s WR2 over another’s WR1. This pick is also admittedly a hedge to selecting Drake London as a third-round pick. I’m not overly confident in London breaking out. It’s pretty conceivable that Smith is this mock draft team’s every week WR3 while London puts up more consistent flex-worthy numbers.
ROUND SIX
6.01- Mark Andrews (BAL TE)
6.02- Trey McBride (ARI TE)
6.03- Zay Flowers (BAL WR)
6.04- Christian Kirk (JAX WR)
6.05- Dalton Kincaid (BUF TE)
6.06- Keenan Allen (CHI WR)
6.07- Amari Cooper (CLE WR)
6.08- James Conner (ARI RB)
6.09- Anthony Richardson (IND QB)
6.10- Tee Higgins (CIN WR)
MY PICK: Dalton Kincaid
While keeping an eye on the running backs still available, Round Six begins with back-to-back tight ends. Dalton Kincaid is one of a few tight ends at the top of most rankings who is very likely to finish second, or perhaps even first, in his team’s respective target share. I don’t invest too heavily into vacated targets because there are plenty more variables to consider year to year. However, it’s extremely noteworthy that fantasy football’s QB1, Josh Allen, will be without Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in 2024. They account for 46.8% of the Buffalo Bills’ 2023 targets.
Dalton Kincaid is Buffalo’s 2023 first-round draft choice. They even traded up to get him. He not only has great hands but has burst to rack up fantasy points in space and after the catch. While it’s always possible rookie Keon Coleman breaks out immediately for the Bills, I’m confident in Kincaid’s floor and his quarterback to secure my tight end position this early on in the mock draft before others start scrambling for theirs.
ROUND SEVEN
7.01- Tank Dell (HOU WR)
7.02- Kyle Pitts (ATL TE)
7.03- Chris Godwin (TB WR)
7.04- Kyler Murray (ARI QB)
7.05- Rhamondre Stevenson (NE RB)
7.06- David Montgomery (DET RB)
7.07- Terry McLaurin (WAS WR)
7.08- Rome Odunze (CHI WR)
7.09- Calvin Ridley (TEN WR)
7.10- Jordan Love (GB QB)
MY PICK: David Montgomery
I want a second running back no later than the seventh or eighth round. That much is clear after six mock drafts. Beyond these rounds, most of the running back selections vary in floor, ceiling, and most importantly, ability to start week-to-week on a fantasy football roster. Even with the expectation of Jahmyr Gibbs having a massive 2024 campaign, David Montgomery is by no means Gibbs’ “handcuff” this season. He is a perfect RB2 for any 2024 fantasy football roster.
Following an early season injury to both Gibbs and Montgomery, the duo were both available from Week 10 onward until season’s end in the NFC Championship game. During that span, Gibbs played more snaps, ran more routes, logged more targets, and averaged 16.7 fantasy points per game while doing so. Meanwhile, Montgomery still received more rush attempts and maintained a 13.6 fantasy points per game average himself. That’s still a top-20 running back over the course of a full season. Don’t let the hype around Gibbs scare you off of Montgomery too much. This is a Super Bowl hopeful team that needs both backs to succeed.
ROUND EIGHT
8.01- Diontae Johnson (CAR WR)
8.02- D’Andre Swift (CHI RB)
8.03- Joe Burrow (CIN QB)
8.04- Rashee Rice (KC WR)
8.05- Zamir White (LV RB)
8.06- Hollywood Brown (KC WR)
8.07- Jayden Reed (GB WR)
8.08- Christian Watson (GB WR)
8.09- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA WR)
8.10- Najee Harris (PIT RB)
MY PICK: Zamir White
This pick could burn me, so I’m willing to draft Zamir White in a mock draft now just to see how it looks and feels once all is said and done. As this mock draft team’s RB3, I love the value as the 23rd-overall running back selected. White is familiar with interim to now full-time head coach Antonio Pierce and vice versa. White’s competition for touches, especially carries, are Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah, and rookie Dylan Laube.
White averaged 21.0 carries per game over the Raiders’ final four contests to end the 2023 season. He rushed for more than 100 yards twice with a 4.72 yards per carry average in totality. The Raiders should give him every opportunity to be the lead back. If you are familiar with Alexander Mattison, especially his 2023 season, then you know he isn’t as big of a threat to White’s workload as maybe we once thought he was. With that concept in mind, I notably took White over Najee Harris due to Jaylen Warren’s threat level to Harris’ touches.
ROUND NINE
9.01- Jordan Addison (MIN WR)
9.02- Ladd McConkey (LAC WR)
9.03- Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS RB)
9.04- Raheem Mostert (MIA RB)
9.05- Tony Pollard (TEN RB)
9.06- Javonte Williams (DEN RB)
9.07- Keon Coleman (BUF WR)
9.08- Nick Chubb (CLE RB)
9.09- Jonathan Brooks (CAR RB)
9.10- Xavier Worthy (KC WR)
MY PICK: Javonte Williams
Okay, NOW I’m feeling pressure to take a running back while in the thick of a supply and demand issue at the position. My mock draft team has three running backs heading into the ninth round, none of which I feel are locked-in studs. However, they’re all capable of starting, but the more players I have at the position, the better odds at finding two obvious starters, with depth just in case, for the full season ahead.
I would have loved any of the players coming off of the board before my pick more than Javonte Williams. Regardless, he still has the capability to command the Bronco’s backfield. Additionally, Nick Chubb and Jonathan Brooks both interest me, but are each working back from 2023 knee injuries. I feel better about Williams now almost two years removed from a season-ending knee injury of his own.
ROUND 10
10.01- DeAndre Hopkins (TEN WR)
10.02- Jaylen Warren (PIT RB)
10.03- Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX WR)
10.04- Zack Moss (CIN RB)
10.05- Devin Singletary (NYG RB)
10.06- Austin Ekeler (WAS RB)
10.07- Gus Edwards (LAC RB)
10.08- Courtland Sutton (DEN WR)
10.09- Tyjae Spears (TEN RB)
10.10- Jameson Williams (DET WR)
MY PICK: Devin Singletary
Not to be dramatic, but I regret my 10th-round pick in this mock draft. It has not so much to do with selecting Devin Singletary, but rather passing up on wide receivers like Jameson Williams, and Romeo Doubs, and even adding a second tight end in George Kittle. By no means is Devin Singeltary a “Saquon Barkley replacement” for the New York Giants because nobody really can be. However, Singletary does have a history of playing for head coach Brian Daboll during their time with the Buffalo Bills.
Singletary played well behind a makeshift offensive line with the Houston Texans last season. Though the Giants did take steps to improve their line ahead of this season, it’s going to be hard for Singletary to produce many games that yield anything more than flex numbers for a fantasy lineup. Even if he pushes for, or even eclipses 1,000 yards in 2024, I doubt we see him rumbling into the end zone often on this offense. He is merely a depth piece that I can possibly trade at some point. As a result, I regret not investing in a higher-upside pass catcher.
ROUND 11
11.01- Ezekiel Elliott (DAL RB)
11.02- Romeo Doubs (GB WR)
11.03- Jerome Ford (CLE RB)
11.04- George Kittle (SF TE)
11.05- Curtis Samuel (BUF WR)
11.06- Chase Brown (CIN RB)
11.07- Tyler Lockett (SEA WR)
11.08- Trey Benson (ARI RB)
11.09- Blake Corum (LAR RB)
11.10- Zach Charbonnet (SEA RB)
MY PICK: Chase Brown
Hilariously enough, I feel better about Chase Brown than I do Devin Singletary taken one round before. Brown had just four games as a rookie with seven or more carries but logged a run of 10 or more yards in three of those games with a 4.3 yards per carry average. He’s got speed and can handle a large workload if called upon. Just two years ago, at the University of Illinois, Brown rushed 328 times for 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns.
ROUND 12
12.01- Joshua Palmer (LAC WR)
12.02- J.K. Dobbins (LAC RB)
12.03- Dak Prescott (DAL QB)
12.04- Evan Engram (JAX TE)
12.05- Jakobi Meyers (LV WR)
12.06- Chuba Hubbard (CAR RB)
12.07- David Njoku (CLE TE)
12.08- Jake Ferguson (DAL TE)
12.09- Rico Dowdle (DAL RB)
12.10- Brock Bowers (LV TE)
MY PICK: Jakobi Meyers
For the second mock draft in a row, let me remind you all that Jakobi Meyers had a 20% target share on the Las Vegas Raiders last season. It’s Round 12. Enough said.
STARTING LINEUP
QB – Jayden Daniels (13.06)
RB – Rachaad White, David Montgomery
WR – Justin Jefferson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Drake London
TE – Dalton Kincaid
FLEX – DeVonta Smith
BENCH: Zamir White, Javonte Williams, Devin Singletary, Chase Brown, Jakobi Meyers, MarShawn Lloyd (14.05)
Mock Draft 6.0 CONCLUSION
You may or may not have noticed that I selected five running backs in a row starting in Round Seven. This isn’t something I planned but is a result of investing in wide receivers early on. When I do take a WR-heavy approach, I’m more likely to select seven or so running backs to my roster hoping at least two hit. Any more is a bonus, especially as trade bait, though I don’t necessarily draft players with the idea of trading them in mind. It takes two managers to trade and there’s no guarantee in getting deals done just because you want it to happen.
I’m not entirely sure if drafting Jayden Daniels in the 13th Round is possible, especially after we see him play in the preseason. However, for now, I’m showing you all that it can be done. I did not do it here, but I do like the idea of drafting Daniels, or even Caleb Williams, and pairing either rookie with a trustworthy veteran, like Jared Goff, who you can get late in drafts, as well. Let Goff start the first week or so while you see how Daniels, Williams, or whoever performs. You should have an idea of which player is worth starting, let alone keeping, sooner than later.
This is my favorite mock draft yet. That’s good considering I have a real draft this weekend. Yes, this weekend at The Fantasy Football Expo in Canton, Ohio! I’ll be drafting with fantasy football analysts, enthusiasts, and fans alike. With now six mock drafts behind me, I feel ready for whatever happens this weekend!
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.