Fantasy: 12-team mock draft with analysis after every round
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theScore staff took part in a 12-team, 12-round mock to provide a glimpse into what your drafts could look like and offer some insight on what to watch for in each round.
This is a half-point per reception scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We omitted defenders and kickers, as they normally get selected in the final two rounds.
Draft participants: Andrew Brennan, Gino Bottero, Ian Dalley, Taylor Rohaly, Caitlyn Holroyd, Mike Alessandrini, Mike Dickson, Dan Wilkins, Justin Boone, Alex Moretto, Thomas Casale, C Jackson Cowart
Round 1| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian McCaffrey (RB1) | Brennan |
| 2 | Saquon Barkley (RB2) | Bottero |
| 3 | Ezekiel Elliott (RB3) | Dalley |
| 4 | Derrick Henry (RB4) | Rohaly |
| 5 | Michael Thomas (WR1) | Holroyd |
| 6 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB5) | Alessandrini |
| 7 | Alvin Kamara (RB6) | Dickson |
| 8 | Dalvin Cook (RB7) | Wilkins |
| 9 | Kenyan Drake (RB8) | Boone |
| 10 | Joe Mixon (RB9) | Moretto |
| 11 | Josh Jacobs (RB10) | Casale |
| 12 | Miles Sanders (RB11) | Cowart |
Round 1: Only one wide receiver goes off the board in the opening round, which isn't that shocking given the limited number of bell-cow backs in the fantasy world. As managers rush to lock in their RB1, my top-ranked fantasy wideout - Davante Adams - becomes an incredible value in the second round of this draft. ... It's not shocking to see guys like Derrick Henry and Clyde Edwards-Helaire move up into the first six picks, but that pushes Alvin Kamara down to seventh overall and gets Team Dickson off to a great start. After battling through injuries down the stretch, Kamara is healthy and ready to reclaim his spot among the elite fantasy backs. ... Kenyan Drake being in a walking boot this week certainly isn't the kind of news you want to see about a first-round pick. However, both the team and player insist it's just precautionary. Drake even reminded everyone he was in a walking boot this time last year and went on to have a strong season. Still, in the interest of securing the extremely productive Cardinals' rushing attack, Chase Edmonds will be on my radar in the later rounds.
Round 2| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Davante Adams (WR2) | Cowart |
| 14 | Nick Chubb (RB12) | Casale |
| 15 | Tyreek Hill (WR3) | Moretto |
| 16 | Julio Jones (WR4) | Boone |
| 17 | DeAndre Hopkins (WR5) | Wilkins |
| 18 | Travis Kelce (TE1) | Dickson |
| 19 | Aaron Jones (RB13) | Alessandrini |
| 20 | Austin Ekeler (RB14) | Holroyd |
| 21 | Chris Godwin (WR6) | Rohaly |
| 22 | George Kittle (TE2) | Dalley |
| 23 | Mike Evans (WR7) | Bottero |
| 24 | Kenny Golladay (WR8) | Brennan |
Round 2: When looking at all the teams through two rounds, the managers who picked near the 1-2 turn appear to have an early advantage in this draft. That's quickly become my ideal starting position if given the choice, as I outlined in my draft strategy series. ... Elite tight ends have become a staple of the second round, especially with the wave of injuries that hit the 49ers' receiving corps - securing an even bigger target share for George Kittle. If you're picking in the mid- to late second, they should be high on your wish list. ... While most fantasy drafters get excited by the shiny new breakout stars, I'll gladly take Julio Jones at 2.04. Jones has been a guaranteed top-six fantasy wideout in each of the last six seasons and he has a spot reserved there again in 2020.
Round 3| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Allen Robinson (WR9) | Brennan |
| 26 | JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR10) | Bottero |
| 27 | Amari Cooper (WR11) | Dalley |
| 28 | Patrick Mahomes (QB1) | Rohaly |
| 29 | DJ Moore (WR12) | Holroyd |
| 30 | Odell Beckham Jr. (WR13) | Alessandrini |
| 31 | Calvin Ridley (WR14) | Dickson |
| 32 | Lamar Jackson (QB2) | Wilkins |
| 33 | Adam Thielen (WR15) | Boone |
| 34 | Zach Ertz (TE3) | Moretto |
| 35 | A.J. Brown (WR16) | Casale |
| 36 | Mark Andrews (TE4) | Cowart |
Round 3: Despite the heavy emphasis on running backs in the first round, in a very interesting twist, only two teams have taken a second rusher through three frames. In fact, no ball carriers went off the board in the third round. Though that might seem foolish on the surface, it speaks to the uncertainty around that next tier of lead backs. ... One reason guys like Chris Carson and Jonathan Taylor, who deserve to be third-round picks, fell to the fourth was an early run at tight end that saw Zach Ertz and Mark Andrews selected near the end of the round. While Andrews and Ertz have elite upside, they'll deal with more target competition in 2020, which makes this investment a little pricey. ... I decided to take the certainty that comes with Adam Thielen's inevitably massive target share. It looks like rookie Justin Jefferson will need some time to get up to speed in the pros, leaving Thielen to soak up as many targets as he can handle.
Round 4| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Terry McLaurin (WR17) | Cowart |
| 38 | Cooper Kupp (WR18) | Casale |
| 39 | Jonathan Taylor (RB15) | Moretto |
| 40 | Chris Carson (RB16) | Boone |
| 41 | Darren Waller (TE5) | Wilkins |
| 42 | Leonard Fournette (RB17) | Dickson |
| 43 | Robert Woods (WR19) | Alessandrini |
| 44 | Todd Gurley (RB18) | Holroyd |
| 45 | James Conner (RB19) | Rohaly |
| 46 | DK Metcalf (WR20) | Dalley |
| 47 | Melvin Gordon (RB20) | Bottero |
| 48 | Le'Veon Bell (RB21) | Brennan |
Round 4: After zero running backs were chosen in the third, we finally see a big run on the position in the fourth. In this round, most of the RBs taken come at a value - even with the questions surrounding them. Carson and Taylor lead this group for me and I was able to get Carson as my RB2 at 4.04. ... James Conner is a very intriguing name whose stock has risen with every positive report about Ben Roethlisberger's health. Durability concerns are the only thing preventing Conner from being valued as a potential RB1.
Round 5| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Keenan Allen (WR21) | Brennan |
| 50 | Tyler Lockett (WR22) | Bottero |
| 51 | Devin Singletary (RB22) | Dalley |
| 52 | Courtland Sutton (WR23) | Rohaly |
| 53 | David Johnson (RB23) | Holroyd |
| 54 | Raheem Mostert (RB24) | Alessandrini |
| 55 | D.J. Chark (WR24) | Dickson |
| 56 | Mark Ingram (RB25) | Wilkins |
| 57 | DeVante Parker (WR25) | Boone |
| 58 | Kyler Murray (QB3) | Moretto |
| 59 | Russell Wilson (QB4) | Casale |
| 60 | Josh Allen (QB5) | Cowart |
Round 5: One reason why I enjoy doing mocks with a variety of staff members across all departments at theScore is because you get a better feel for how most people's home league drafts will play out. In mock drafts filled with fantasy analysts, everyone wants to wait at quarterback, so a game of chicken ensues. Here, the second tier of passers begins to fly off the shelf in the late fifth, which is more likely to happen in the average league. My advice is still to hold off on the position and not pay this kind of premium when there'll be better value later. For example, Josh Allen's ADP is in the eighth or ninth round, depending on the site you're using.
Round 6| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Cam Akers (RB26) | Cowart |
| 62 | David Montgomery (RB27) | Casale |
| 63 | D'Andre Swift (RB28) | Moretto |
| 64 | Kareem Hunt (RB29) | Boone |
| 65 | Marquise Brown (WR26) | Wilkins |
| 66 | Stefon Diggs (WR27) | Dickson |
| 67 | A.J. Green (WR28) | Alessandrini |
| 68 | T.Y. Hilton (WR29) | Holroyd |
| 69 | Hunter Henry (TE6) | Rohaly |
| 70 | Michael Gallup (WR30) | Dalley |
| 71 | Ronald Jones (RB30) | Bottero |
| 72 | Tyler Boyd (WR31) | Brennan |
Round 6: Running backs continue to be the hot commodity in the early sixth, and if you were waiting to find value at the position, this is definitely a spot to do it. Team Cowart, which entered this round without a second runner, gets a high-upside rookie in Cam Akers. With Darrell Henderson sidelined, Akers will have an even better opportunity to make his case for the starting job. ... Team Moretto gets one of my favorite value picks at the moment in Lions rookie D'Andre Swift. A healthy Matthew Stafford makes Detroit's offense dangerous again and Swift has become a forgotten man in this year's draft class. ... Meanwhile, with the core of my lineup already set, I can take a shot on Kareem Hunt's combination of weekly flex value and RB1 upside if Nick Chubb misses time at any point.
Round 7| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | James White (RB31) | Brennan |
| 74 | Jarvis Landry (WR32) | Bottero |
| 75 | Marvin Jones (WR33) | Dalley |
| 76 | Mecole Hardman (WR34) | Rohaly |
| 77 | Tyler Higbee (TE7) | Holroyd |
| 78 | Julian Edelman (WR35) | Alessandrini |
| 79 | J.K. Dobbins (RB32) | Dickson |
| 80 | Will Fuller (WR36) | Wilkins |
| 81 | Diontae Johnson (WR37) | Boone |
| 82 | Darius Slayton (WR38) | Moretto |
| 83 | Brandin Cooks (WR39) | Casale |
| 84 | Marlon Mack (RB33) | Cowart |
Round 7: We've talked all offseason about the depth at receiver and the seventh round is a prime example. Every single one of the eight wideouts taken in this frame has WR2 potential if things go their way. ... James White is a decent PPR pick, but in a half-PPR league, you should aim for players with more upside - like J.K. Dobbins or Marlon Mack, who were chosen later in the round. With Sony Michel, Damien Harris, and Rex Burkhead all vying for touches, the Patriots will never give White enough volume to be a consistent high-end producer.
Round 8| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | Christian Kirk (WR40) | Cowart |
| 86 | Deebo Samuel (WR41) | Casale |
| 87 | Henry Ruggs (WR42) | Moretto |
| 88 | Dak Prescott (QB6) | Boone |
| 89 | Evan Engram (TE8) | Wilkins |
| 90 | Deshaun Watson (QB7) | Dickson |
| 91 | Rob Gronkowski (TE9) | Alessandrini |
| 92 | Tarik Cohen (RB34) | Holroyd |
| 93 | Alexander Mattison (RB35) | Rohaly |
| 94 | Kerryon Johnson (RB36) | Dalley |
| 95 | Jordan Howard (RB37) | Bottero |
| 96 | Hayden Hurst (TE10) | Brennan |
Round 8: Remember when three quarterbacks went in the fifth round? Well, I have Dak Prescott ranked above them and he was sitting around for me in the eighth. Another of my top-five passers, Deshaun Watson, was also still on the board. It's not that Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, and Allen don't have the ability to deliver in the fifth, but if you're taking them that early, you're paying for their ceilings. Instead, you should see who falls in your draft and try to scoop them up at a value using my QB tiers.
Round 9| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 97 | Jamison Crowder (WR43) | Brennan |
| 98 | Tevin Coleman (RB38) | Bottero |
| 99 | Zack Moss (RB39) | Dalley |
| 100 | John Brown (WR44) | Rohaly |
| 101 | Emmanuel Sanders (WR45) | Holroyd |
| 102 | Matt Breida (RB40) | Alessandrini |
| 103 | Austin Hooper (TE11) | Dickson |
| 104 | Chase Edmonds (RB41) | Wilkins |
| 105 | CeeDee Lamb (WR46) | Boone |
| 106 | Ke'Shawn Vaughn (RB42) | Moretto |
| 107 | Blake Jarwin (TE12) | Casale |
| 108 | Phillip Lindsay (RB43) | Cowart |
Round 9: If you're keeping track of the quarterbacks, we still have five rosters waiting on the position, and based on all the talent remaining - including Carson Wentz and Cam Newton - those rosters should be set up nicely. ... Team Wilkins sensed I was going to draft Edmonds and pair him with Drake, so he sniped him one pick before me. I immediately pivoted to stack standout rookie CeeDee Lamb with Prescott. Based on training camp reports, Lamb is dazzling onlookers and might be able to break out even in the Cowboys' stacked receiving corps. If Amari Cooper or Michael Gallup gets hurt, Lamb could be a league-winner.
Round 10| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 109 | Jerry Jeudy (WR47) | Cowart |
| 110 | Anthony Miller (WR48) | Casale |
| 111 | Curtis Samuel (WR49) | Moretto |
| 112 | Latavius Murray (RB44) | Boone |
| 113 | DeSean Jackson (WR50) | Wilkins |
| 114 | Mike Williams (WR51) | Dickson |
| 115 | Matt Ryan (QB8) | Alessandrini |
| 116 | Carson Wentz (QB9) | Holroyd |
| 117 | Darrell Henderson (RB45) | Rohaly |
| 118 | Golden Tate (WR52) | Dalley |
| 119 | Tony Pollard (RB46) | Bottero |
| 120 | Justin Jefferson (WR53) | Brennan |
Round 10: The wide receiver well simply doesn't run dry this year, as evidenced by the pass-catchers selected in this round, like Anthony Miller, DeSean Jackson, Golden Tate, and Curtis Samuel. ... If you're hoping to find value in the backup running back department, take a look at my handcuff RB rankings and then play the same waiting game I suggested employing with quarterbacks. While I'm willing to spend an eighth- or ninth-round pick on an Alexander Mattison or Chase Edmonds, you can just as easily wait and see who falls. In this case, Latavius Murray and Tony Pollard - who possess as much fantasy upside as almost any backup RB - were available in the 10th round.
Round 11| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | Michael Pittman (WR54) | Brennan |
| 122 | Tom Brady (QB10) | Bottero |
| 123 | Drew Brees (QB11) | Dalley |
| 124 | Sammy Watkins (WR55) | Rohaly |
| 125 | Jalen Reagor (WR56) | Holroyd |
| 126 | Sterling Shepard (WR57) | Alessandrini |
| 127 | Duke Johnson (RB47) | Dickson |
| 128 | Damien Harris (RB48) | Wilkins |
| 129 | Antonio Gibson (RB49) | Boone |
| 130 | Brandon Aiyuk (WR58) | Moretto |
| 131 | Hunter Renfrow (WR59) | Casale |
| 132 | Preston Williams (WR60) | Cowart |
Round 11: Several lottery-ticket players who were available in this round might not be here in the coming weeks if they continue to earn the praise of coaches, teammates, and beat writers in practice. Jalen Reagor, Sterling Shepard, and Antonio Gibson could be weekly fantasy starters and should be drafted much earlier than this. Depending on their injury outlooks, Preston Williams and Brandon Aiyuk also qualify.
Round 12| Pick | Player | Manager |
|---|---|---|
| 133 | N'Keal Harry (WR61) | Cowart |
| 134 | Jerick McKinnon (RB50) | Casale |
| 135 | Irv Smith (TE13) | Moretto |
| 136 | Jared Cook (TE14) | Boone |
| 137 | Boston Scott (RB51) | Wilkins |
| 138 | Allen Lazard (WR62) | Dickson |
| 139 | Aaron Rodgers (QB12) | Alessandrini |
| 140 | Breshad Perriman (WR63) | Holroyd |
| 141 | Sony Michel (RB52) | Rohaly |
| 142 | AJ Dillon (RB53) | Dalley |
| 143 | Mike Gesicki (TE15) | Bottero |
| 144 | Matthew Stafford (QB13) | Brennan |
Round 12: If you're planning to wait on tight end, this offers an example of the players you can get in the final rounds. And that's not counting the ones who went undrafted, such as Jared Cook, Noah Fant, Jonnu Smith, Dallas Goedert, Chris Herndon, and Eric Ebron. If the tight end you pick doesn't work out, you'll be able to find a suitable replacement on the waiver wire early in the season.
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