Fantasy: 10-team mock draft with analysis
Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
On Wednesday, theScore staff participated in a 10-team, 12-round mock to help provide a glimpse at what your drafts might look like and to give some insight on what to watch for in each round.
This is a standard (non-PPR) scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We left off defenses and kickers since they normally get selected in the final two rounds.
Draft Participants: Dan Levine, Justin Boone, Dan Wilkins, Josh Wegman, Michael McClymont, David P. Woods, Dan LeBaron, Jack Browne, Gino Bottero, Dane Belbeck.
Round 1| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Johnson (RB1) | Levine |
| 2 | Le'Veon Bell (RB2) | Boone |
| 3 | Antonio Brown (WR1) | Wilkins |
| 4 | Julio Jones (WR2) | Wegman |
| 5 | Odell Beckham Jr. (WR3) | McClymont |
| 6 | Mike Evans (WR4) | Woods |
| 7 | A.J. Green (WR5) | LeBaron |
| 8 | Melvin Gordon (RB3) | Browne |
| 9 | Jordy Nelson (WR6) | Bottero |
| 10 | Jay Ajayi (RB4) | Belbeck |
Round 1: There are rarely many surprising picks in the first round, and this draft held to form. For a standard scoring league, it might seem a little odd that six receivers went off the board to only four running backs, but that speaks mostly to the uncertainty surrounding the rushers outside of Johnson and Bell.
Round 2| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Amari Cooper (WR7) | Belbeck |
| 12 | Devonta Freeman (RB5) | Bottero |
| 13 | Michael Thomas (WR8) | Browne |
| 14 | LeSean McCoy (RB6) | LeBaron |
| 15 | Dez Bryant (WR9) | Woods |
| 16 | DeMarco Murray (RB7) | McClymont |
| 17 | Jordan Howard (RB8) | Wegman |
| 18 | Todd Gurley (RB9) | Wilkins |
| 19 | Rob Gronkowski (TE1) | Boone |
| 20 | Doug Baldwin (WR10) | Levine |
Round 2: Cooper went off the board in the second round, earlier than he normally does, but there's good reason to think the third-year wideout takes his game to another level in 2017. This is the furthest I've seen McCoy fall, though it's understandable given the state of the Bills' offense. McCoy might see less scoring opportunities this season and might have less incentive to play through injuries if the team is losing later in the year. He's become a much riskier pick than he was a month ago.
Round 3| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Brandin Cooks (WR11) | Levine |
| 22 | Isaiah Crowell (RB10) | Boone |
| 23 | Leonard Fournette (RB11) | Wilkins |
| 24 | T.Y. Hilton (WR12) | Wegman |
| 25 | DeAndre Hopkins (WR13) | McClymont |
| 26 | Ezekiel Elliott (RB12) | Woods |
| 27 | Kareem Hunt (RB13) | LeBaron |
| 28 | Demaryius Thomas (WR14) | Browne |
| 29 | Lamar Miller (RB14) | Bottero |
| 30 | Christian McCaffrey (RB15) | Belbeck |
Round 3: Three rounds in and I'm the only team without a receiver, although you could argue that Gronk produces like a WR1 when he's healthy. I decided to pass on the receivers available in the third because I know there will be value at the position in the middle rounds, while quality running backs tend to disappear quickly. Hunt gets selected as the RB13 now that he's locked in as the Chiefs' lead back, a role that has been extremely fruitful for fantasy owners.
Round 4| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Terrelle Pryor (WR15) | Belbeck |
| 32 | Carlos Hyde (RB16) | Bottero |
| 33 | Dalvin Cook (RB17) | Browne |
| 34 | Aaron Rodgers (QB1) | LeBaron |
| 35 | Joe Mixon (RB18) | Woods |
| 36 | Marshawn Lynch (RB19) | McClymont |
| 37 | Alshon Jeffery (WR16) | Wegman |
| 38 | Keenan Allen (WR17) | Wilkins |
| 39 | Ty Montgomery (RB20) | Boone |
| 40 | Travis Kelce (TE2) | Levine |
Round 4: Cook is a solid pick in the fourth round by Team Browne. By all accounts, the rookie will serve as a three-down back for the Vikings and performed well in that role during the preseason. I once again skipped over pass-catchers in favor of a running back, as Montgomery represented intriguing value at this point in the draft as a player who could be a top-10 fantasy asset if he stays healthy. Starting Montgomery as my flex will give me a major advantage over my opponents at that spot.
Round 5| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Mark Ingram (RB21) | Levine |
| 42 | Tom Brady (QB2) | Boone |
| 43 | Davante Adams (WR18) | Wilkins |
| 44 | C.J. Anderson (RB22) | Wegman |
| 45 | Drew Brees (QB3) | McClymont |
| 46 | Martavis Bryant (WR19) | Woods |
| 47 | Jordan Reed (TE3) | LeBaron |
| 48 | Ameer Abdullah (RB23) | Browne |
| 49 | Greg Olsen (TE4) | Bottero |
| 50 | Adrian Peterson (RB24) | Belbeck |
Round 5: We've reached all-out zero-WR status now, with me addressing yet another position. Brady guaranteed me top-three quarterback stats, while the receivers in this range were far from sure things. The degree of difficulty is increased now as I need to find startable receivers in the next few rounds. Ingram and Peterson bookending the round is interesting. Ingram has a better chance at returning RB1 value, but it is possible that we'll see both players making a weekly impact, just as Ingram and Hightower were doing at one point in 2016. Still seems like a reach for AP.
Round 6| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Martellus Bennett (TE5) | Belbeck |
| 52 | Allen Robinson (WR20) | Bottero |
| 53 | Sammy Watkins (WR21) | Browne |
| 54 | DeVante Parker (WR22) | LeBaron |
| 55 | Tyreek Hill (WR23) | Woods |
| 56 | Doug Martin (RB25) | McClymont |
| 57 | Rob Kelley (RB26) | Wegman |
| 58 | Michael Crabtree (WR24) | Wilkins |
| 59 | Emmanuel Sanders (WR25) | Boone |
| 60 | Larry Fitzgerald (WR26) | Levine |
Round 6: Team Belbeck follows up the reach on AP with an even bigger swing, taking Bennett in the sixth round. Bennett is one of my favorite tight ends to target in drafts, but he can normally be had in the eighth. A lot can change in August, especially ADPs - just ask Watkins and Robinson who fell to the sixth round, or Parker who has seen his stock jump up since Jay Cutler made him his new favorite weapon. Grabbing Martin in the sixth round seems like a potential league-winning move. He'll miss the first three weeks of the season, but after that he could return to the RB1 ranks.
Round 7| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Bilal Powell (RB27) | Levine |
| 62 | Golden Tate (WR27) | Boone |
| 63 | Telvin Coleman (RB28) | Wilkins |
| 64 | Kelvin Benjamin (WR28) | Wegman |
| 65 | Derrick Henry (RB29) | McClymont |
| 66 | Thomas Rawls (RB30) | Woods |
| 67 | Mike Gillislee (RB31) | LeBaron |
| 68 | Jimmy Graham (TE6) | Browne |
| 69 | Donte Moncrief (WR29) | Bottero |
| 70 | DeSean Jackson (WR30) | Belbeck |
Round 7: After leaving my receiver spots empty through five rounds, I've now managed to grab Sanders and Tate, both of whom have recent histories as top-20 fantasy WRs. Sanders gets a boost with Trevor Siemian winning the Broncos' job, as he was Siemian's favorite target in 2016. Tate has caught 90 passes in three straight years and with the Lions defense looking porous, Detroit will be forced to air it out once again. Rawls and Gillislee might turn out to be the starters in two of the league's best offenses, and were well worth the risk in the seventh round.
Round 8| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 71 | Corey Coleman (WR31) | Belbeck |
| 72 | Stefon Diggs (WR32) | Bottero |
| 73 | Matt Ryan (QB4) | Browne |
| 74 | Eric Decker (WR33) | LeBaron |
| 75 | C.J. Prosise (RB32) | Woods |
| 76 | Tyler Eifert (TE7) | McClymont |
| 77 | Darren McFadden (RB33) | Wegman |
| 78 | Kyle Rudolph (TE8) | Wilkins |
| 79 | Pierre Garcon (WR34) | Boone |
| 80 | Jarvis Landry (WR35) | Levine |
Round 8: It's always interesting to see where the fourth quarterback gets taken, after the elite three go in the first six rounds or so. In this case, it's Ryan in the eighth which seems about right, though I would have gone with Russell Wilson instead. Every owner kept their roster fairly balanced throughout the draft, which is smart because it allows you to scoop up value whenever it presents itself. I'm still in the hunt for receivers, and as predicted there are plenty of quality options left to choose from. Garcon could push for 140-plus targets on a 49ers' offense that lacks talent and will be trailing often.
Round 9| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Frank Gore (RB34) | Levine |
| 82 | Jamison Crowder (WR36) | Boone |
| 83 | Chris Hogan (WR37) | Wilkins |
| 84 | Russell Wilson (QB5) | Wegman |
| 85 | Brandon Marshall (WR38) | McClymont |
| 86 | Hunter Henry (TE9) | Woods |
| 87 | Eddie Lacy (RB35) | LeBaron |
| 88 | Tyrell Williams (WR39) | Browne |
| 89 | Paul Perkins (RB36) | Bottero |
| 90 | Terrance West (RB37) | Belbeck |
Round 9: Just to emphasize the depth at receiver, several players drafted in the ninth round could return WR2 fantasy production. Crowder has a chance to lead the Redskins in receiving and will likely catch upwards of 90 passes this season. With Julian Edelman going down for the year, Hogan is now a full-time receiver in the Patriots' high-powered offense. Williams finished with the 13th-most fantasy points among receivers last season and will continue to have a big role with rookie Mike Williams' health in doubt.
Round 10| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Jameis Winston (QB6) | Belbeck |
| 92 | Danny Woodhead (RB38) | Bottero |
| 93 | Jonathan Stewart (RB39) | Browne |
| 94 | Zach Ertz (TE10) | LeBaron |
| 95 | Marcus Mariota (QB7) | Woods |
| 96 | Willie Snead (WR40) | McClymont |
| 97 | Jalen Richard (RB40) | Wegman |
| 98 | Jamaal Williams (RB41) | Wilkins |
| 99 | John Brown (WR41) | Boone |
| 100 | Kirk Cousins (QB8) | Levine |
Round 10: The next wave of quarterbacks features Winston, Mariota, and Cousins, and all three went off the board in the 10th round. Richard seemed like a bit of a reach by Team Wegman, but he must be confident that Richard will win the Raiders' backup job over DeAndre Washington. Brown gives me an upside receiver to add to my arsenal and, if he stays healthy, could easily top 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns.
Round 11| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Jeremy Maclin (WR42) | Levine |
| 102 | Adam Thielen (WR43) | Boone |
| 103 | Samaje Perine (RB42) | Wilkins |
| 104 | Delanie Walker (TE11) | Wegman |
| 105 | Kenny Britt (WR44) | McClymont |
| 106 | Corey Davis (WR45) | Woods |
| 107 | Randall Cobb (WR46) | LeBaron |
| 108 | Ted Ginn Jr. (WR47) | Browne |
| 109 | LeGarrette Blount (RB43) | Bottero |
| 110 | Duke Johnson (RB44) | Belbeck |
Round 11: This round was full of great picks, but Davis and Ginn standout as potential difference-makers. Davis might start the year slow after missing time due to injury, but once he catches up, the rookie could emerge as the Titans' best receiver. If you don't draft him, try to trade for him early in the season after he gets off to a quiet start. Meanwhile, Ginn is starting in two-receiver sets in New Orleans. He specifically cited the desire to extend his career by playing with Brees, and it looks like that might be happening.
Round 12| Pick | Player | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| 111 | Mike Wallace (WR48) | Belbeck |
| 112 | Cam Newton (QB9) | Bottero |
| 113 | Jacquizz Rodgers (RB45) | Browne |
| 114 | Kevin White (WR49) | LeBaron |
| 115 | Jonathan Williams (RB46) | Woods |
| 116 | DeAndre Washington (RB47) | McClymont |
| 117 | Alvin Kamara (RB48) | Wegman |
| 118 | Philip Rivers (QB10) | Wilkins |
| 119 | Rex Burkhead (RB49) | Boone |
| 120 | D'Onta Foreman (RB50) | Levine |
Round 12: If you need proof you should wait on drafting quarterbacks, especially in smaller leagues, look no further than Newton being taken in the 12th round. Since most teams don't need to draft a backup in 10-team formats, the last few owners can wait forever before pulling the trigger. Every running back selected in this round is worth targeting in the later rounds of your draft.
Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
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