Fantasy Football 5 Round Mock Draft 1.0: Where Does Kelce Land?
With training camps starting up around the league this week, that signals us really getting close to the beginning of the NFL season! As we go from July to August and then August to September, fantasy league drafts start to happen. We plan on having a lot of good fantasy football content on this site to help prepare you for your own fantasy draft. Today we present to you a mock draft of the first two rounds of a standard 12 team PPR league. Each pick will be explained but basically this is how we believe the first 2 rounds of a draft should go if each pick was made by us. After the first 2 rounds we will write the picks but without descriptions. Here we go.
Round 1
CMC is the no brainer top choice in all fantasy leagues. While he disappointed by being out for most of the year in 2020, that doesn't mean he's likely to do it again in 21'. CMC was a usually healthy player until last year. When healthy, no other non-QB touches the ball on offense more. He will likely rush for 1200+ yards and catch another 1000+ as well. The TD numbers are crazy as well. If you have the top pick in your draft, there is no one else to take but McCaffrey.
Pick #2 overall (Team B) selects: Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings (RB2)
This is really another player you can't go wrong with. While Cook doesn't offer the same upside in the receiving game, he is arguably the league's best rusher. He is almost a lock to rush for 1500+ yards if he stays healthy throughout the year. With an improved O-line and receiving targets to take pressure away from him, Cook could be line for the best season of his already prolific young career. He is a 20 pt per week scorer with upside for multiple 30+ point weeks.
Pick #3 overall (Team C) selects: Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints (RB3)
The next member of the elite fantasy RBs comes off the board at 3. While there could be an argument for him over Cook at #2 overall, I think Kamara is slightly worse. He is probably a bit worse of a pure rusher than Cook but definitely a better pass catcher out of the backfield. Kamara is in a spot like McCaffrey in which you know he is going to touch the football more than almost anyone else in the sport. Kamara is another one of the few 20+ point per week scorers that you can rely on and he has a minimal injury history making him a safe pick as well.
Pick #4 overall (Team D) selects: Derrick Henry, RB, Titans (RB4)
Just imagine the case if Henry could catch out of the backfield. Derrick Henry is the best power back and probably the best RB in the NFL. In fantasy though, he is a little bit lower than some of these other guys due to his lack of receiving targets. In PPR, getting a top RB that is also involved in the pass game is such a bonus and Henry does not have that upside. The upside Henry does have is the amount of carries he gets. He is a strong candidate to have the most carries in football and when he gets those carries he puts in major work with them. He is fresh off a 2000 yard rushing season and could very well have another one this year. Plus his work on the goal-line is almost unmatched. Henry is going to win a lot of fantasy leagues.
Pick #5 overall (Team E) selects: Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants (RB5)
Barkley would easily be inside the top 3 if there wasn't questions about his health going into the year. We all know Saquon's undeniable talent when healthy, but he has been injured often in his young career and is most recently working his way back from a brutal ACL tear from early in last season. While it isn't expected to have him miss much time this season, Barkley came out himself and said he didn't know if he would be ready for week 1. Raising some obvious concerns. However, Barkley should be back in the lineup by week 2 at the latest it would seem. When on the field, Barkley boasts that impressive skillset of both running and receiving which is so valuable in fantasy. He also plays with a below average QB making him even more of an asset due to him being leaned on by the said QB in Daniel Jones.
Pick #6 overall (Team F) selects: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys (RB6)
This is where the draft really opens up. The first 5 guys are sort of the undisputed best and could go pretty much in any order and it would make sense. After that, the next picks are up for debate. This pick came down to 2-3 players but in the end, Elliott should be the pick here at 6. People seem to forget how good this guy had been for the last 4-5 years in the NFL just because of one down season for the entire Cowboys team. Elliott struggled to produce with Dak Prescott and the majority of the O-line injured. With the whole squad back at full health, Elliott should be back to his old self. He has looked great according to insiders training this off-season and should be back to the 15+ points per week scorer that we all know him to be.
The first non-RB is off the board. Kelce is one of the most intriguing picks in all of fantasy this season. We have pretty much never seen a talent as dominant as Kelce at tight end in the history of fantasy football. At your TE slot he is giving you WR1 numbers when most tight ends are lucky to get WR2 numbers during their best week of the year. Kelce gives you one of the biggest positional advantages in the game as there is truly no other tight end as consistently good as Kelce is every week. The numbers he puts up might see him score more points than any WR this season in fantasy. While it might feel weird to take a tight end so high, Kelce is a rare outlier and needs to be the first non-RB off the board. I've seen him going as high as 3rd in some drafts right now.
Pick #8 overall (Team H) selects: Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers (RB7)
When the conversation for best RBs in fantasy comes up, one of the best players that seems to be forgotten about often is Austin Ekeler of the Chargers. The former undrafted RB has carved out a massive role within one of the best young offenses in the game. Ekeler brings a rare skillset to the table that makes him such an asset in fantasy. He is really primarily a WR out of the backfield. Aside from maybe CMC, Ekeler is probably the RB with the most receptions out of the backfield next season. Not only that, but the Chargers have almost no other RB talent on the roster meaning Ekeler's role is going to be so large. He is going to get the carries along with the catches from stud young QB Justin Herbert. Picking at 8 might not seem so fun but Ekeler is a steal here and will easily put up the numbers that could have him in the conversation for fantasy RB1 by the end of the year.
Pick #9 overall (Team I) selects: Nick Chubb, RB, Browns (RB8)
The RBs just keep coming off the board here. In a lot of mock drafts and such, you will see some WRs in the middle of the first round after the top RBs off the board, but if you think about it, that isn't a smart strategy. For whatever reason, this year might be the shallowest group of stud fantasy RBs that I've ever seen. So many backfields are two or even three headed monsters making those dominant every down backs so rare and valuable. Chubb is probably the first back off the board so far that isn't one of those every down backs. He would be on most teams, but the Browns happen to also employ Kareem Hunt who with Chubb, creates the best RB duo in football. Despite having such a good running mate on the team, Chubb is going to get his reps. The Browns are a run first offense and Chubb is a rare old school, bruising, downhill type of runner. He is the one who is gonna see the big time amount of carries and goal line touches while Hunt is more for passing downs and 2nd/3rd and long situations. With all of the talent the Browns have, at the very least, Chubb is one of the best goal line RBs in the game. I think you gotta make sure all of the great RBs are off the board before you think receiver with your first pick this season. Did I mention as well that the Browns may have the best O-line in football? That only makes Chubb even more valuable.
Pick #10 overall (Team J) selects: Davante Adams, WR, Packers (WR1)
After Team I goes with Nick Chubb at pick 9, we think its finally fair to see a WR go off the board at pick 10. Davante Adams has to be fantasy's WR1. If Aaron Rodgers plays in Green Bay this year which is looking likelier and likelier by the day, Adams should see his fantasy value rise by the day. We all know what the tandem did last season. Adams had the best year of his career as Aaron Rodgers force fed him the ball like he was an RB. Adams will put up weekly stats that look like RB1 numbers at WR. The catches, yards, and TDs will all be top notch for Adams if it is Rodgers at QB for the Packers. The fact is, he is really all the Packers have in the receiving game. The team has not given Rodgers anyone else aside from maybe Robert Tonyan at TE to throw to. This is another part of what makes Adams so valuable. Adams deserves to be the first WR off the board in drafts.
Pick #11 overall (Team K) selects: Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs (WR2)
Very close to Davante Adams in the fantasy WR rankings is Tyreek Hill who should go right about here in fantasy drafts. While he is not an RB, he certainly puts up RB like fantasy lines weekly. The reason Hill goes a little lower than Adams is because of his boom or bust. Some weeks, Hill will literally not stop scoring. He could go for 40+ any given Sunday. Then the next week he might drop 5 points and be not even inside the top 30 for fantasy WRs that week. His game breaking speed makes him a walking explosion waiting to happen on every play, but there are really just weeks when he can't find his touch. Playing with Patrick Mahomes and next to Travis Kelce in Andy Reid's offense just adds to the potential of Hill each week, but he isn't as reliable as Adams or some of the other RBs that have gone before him. If he's there in the late first like he is now, it's worth the pick.
With the final pick of the first round of our fantasy mock, we have a rookie. This is probably the highest you will see him go in drafts. We are very high on Harris at JKFOOTBALL and this is a reflection of that with him going in the late first. The upside with Harris is just sky high. Whenever there is a rookie first round RB entering the league, you know he has a chance to be special. RBs rarely go in the first round of NFL drafts unless they are truly special. Harris is. He is close in size and play style to Derrick Henry. He bruises and bashes his way through defenses. Unlike Henry though, Harris is an elite receiving option out of the backfield. The Steelers love to run the football often and throw check-downs to them. Harris perfectly fits that. He is a candidate to have over 300 touches as a rookie which makes him just so valuable. In fantasy it is everything to have opportunities and that is exactly what Harris will have. It might seem crazy to go with an unproven rookie RB with your first rounder in fantasy, and while the Steelers do have a suspect O-line, I think Harris could be the breakout of 2021. If you have the last pick in the first round which means you have the back to back picks with the first pick of the second round being yours as well, do not hesitate to go Harris.
Round 2
Pick #13 overall (Team L) selects: Stefon Diggs, WR, Bills (WR3)
Having the last pick of round 1 and then getting the first pick of round 2 might be the best potential spot to have in fantasy. You are able to get an RB1 and WR1 which few other managers will be able to say they got as well. While it may be tempting to go with 2 RBs and I certainly can get behind it, I would go with a top WR here after going with a top RB at 12. Diggs is the 3rd best WR heading into 2021 for fantasy. He had a breakout 2020 fantasy campaign in his first year in Buffalo and now looks like a surefire stud going into 2021. Josh Allen absolutely loves throwing his way and in PPR he is going to get the volume and production to make him worthy of a top second round selection or even maybe just maybe a back end first round pick.
Pick #14 overall (Team K) selects: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts (RB10)
One player who I think is getting a little bit overhyped and overvalued heading into 2021 fantasy football drafts is Taylor. I've seen him go as high as pick 6 and really haven't seen him falling outside the first round in drafts. However, this is how WE believe drafts should go and so we have Taylor as an early second round pick. While the talent is surely there and the fact that he is running behind a top O-line with the Colts is intriguing, there is also a lot of other contributors in the Colts backfield that makes me pump the brakes a bit on Taylor. The Colts also have RBs Nyheim Hines who is a player that will take away some receptions from Taylor and Marlon Mack who will take away some early down carries as well. For the Colts, they love having the 3 headed monster at RB but from a fantasy standpoint, it hurts Taylor's value a lot. If it was just Taylor in the backfield, he is definitely a top 5-6 talent in all of fantasy but that isn't that case and we think you should get him in the early second round or not at all. He isn't worth a top pick.
One of the most underrated stars of the 2020 fantasy season was Washington rookie RB Antonio Gibson. A jack of all trades sort of player, Gibson carved out a massive role within the WFT offense and was a stud in fantasy down the stretch. He played WR a bit in college but transitioned into a more full time RB by the end of his NCAA career and so the WFT knew he could be used in many different ways on the offense. This is what makes him so good in fantasy. There isn't much other talent in their backfield making him a guy who gets a ton of carries but he also is a tremendous receiver out of the backfield which gives him the catches and PPR points. Think of him as a mini Austin Ekeler. The Washington offense figures to be even better in 21' with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB and that only helps Gibson. A lot of people will have him ranked below guys like Mixon or Aaron Jones or D'Andre Swift, but I think he's better than all of him and worth an early second round pick. Team J sets up nicely with Davante Adams and then Antonio Gibson through their first two picks.
Pick #16 overall (Team I) selects: Joe Mixon, RB, Bengals (RB12)
After going with Nick Chubb in round 1, this spot is interesting for our hypothetical 'Team I' but instead of going with a potential WR1 here, they double down at RB and go with the confusing Joe Mixon from Cinncy. Every year Mixon is primed for a breakout and seems to go a little too high in drafts and then disappoints due to injury or the Bengals O-line failing him. This year feels different. Mixon has no hype first of all. This means he can really only exceed expectations. The Bengals offense also looks a lot better as whole. Stud QB Joe Burrow will be healthy and back from injury, the WR core looks really really good, and even the troubled O-line has been improved. Joe Mixon might finally be on the verge of the breakout year we have been waiting for. There is pretty much no other talent in the Bengal's backfield meaning that Mixon is going to get a ton of carries and touches. He is probably an every down back this year especially with the departure of longtime receiving back Giovani Bernard. This could finally be the year for Mixon as he figures to be a nice pick for this team here. A Nick Chubb/Joe Mixon fantasy football backfield is really good.
Pick #17 overall (Team H) selects: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Cardinals (WR4)
I really like this spot for DeAndre Hopkins. I would say there is a big 4 for WR options in fantasy before a small drop-off into the second tier. Hopkins is the last guy of the elite tier and so getting him here in the mid second after drafting a stud RB1 in round 1 is a really nice way to set your squad up. Hopkins is one of the best and most consistent WRs of this decade. He almost never misses a game and puts up the stats with any QB. And we mean any QB. Look at his days on the Texans. He is right in the middle of his prime and is the clear cut WR1 in the Cardinals offense that has stud young QB Kyler Murray throwing him the football. Murray is only getting better by the year and loves to throw the ball Hopkins' way. Hop is a lock for at least 5 catches and probably 100 yards and a TD any given Sunday. He gets 1000 yards and more every season. One of the few, set and forget type players in a fantasy lineup. He just always produces. In this mock draft, Team H is the one who gets him and starts their team out so nicely with a surefire RB1 and a surefire WR1.
Pick #18 overall (Team G) selects: Aaron Jones, RB, Packers (RB13)
It was a shock to many when Jones decided to re-sign with Green Bay instead of seeking more money and a bigger role with another team. Jones comes back as the team's lead back with some receiving upside but has lost some of his goal line opportunities to second year back AJ Dillon who is sure to be a factor. With Aaron Rodgers seemingly likely to be back, Jones will be the second option on the offense behind Davante Adams. Jones is very boom or bust in fantasy. He explodes for 30+ but then the next week could be getting you 8-9 points. He is a RB2 right now probably but could work his way into the RB1 discussion during the season. For Team G, Travis Kelce and Aaron Jones is a very nice one-two punch to start a fantasy roster.
Pick #19 overall (Team F) selects: D'Andre Swift, RB, Lions (RB14)
Swift is pretty much the final RB of the second tier of backs. Team F probably sweats it out hoping he is still there at 19 and are pleased to see it when he is. The hype train would be off the charts for Swift if the Lions hadn't gone out and spent some money to bring in former Packers second string back Jamaal Williams to help out in the Detroit backfield. Swift is the team's clear cut top option but Williams is sure to get a bit of touches. He is a nice insurance policy but will also prevent Swift from being an every down back in Detroit. Towards the end of last season when Swift became the starter over Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson, he was scoring on super efficient numbers and taking fantasy by storm. He will get the most touches in the Lions backfield but still will need to prove he is THE guy before he takes full control of the backfield. Team F now has Zeke and Swift as their top 2 picks which makes an elite fantasy backfield as they know they can get themselves a good WR1 talent in the early 3rd.
We are super high on Calvin Ridley going into 2021. Entering the off-season Ridley seemed like a 3rd-4th rd pick as the number 2 WR on the Falcons but with Julio Jones being traded to Tennessee, we now have Ridley as the 5th receiver off the board overall and a mid second round pick. When Julio Jones was injured last year, Calvin Ridley absolutely balled out. One of the craftiest route runners in the league, Ridley is easily able to create separation and get open and Matt Ryan loves to throw the ball his way. Ridley is also one of the best redzone threats at the WR position in fantasy. He had 9 TDs last year and that number figures to go up this year. He also had over 1300 yards receiving last year which figures to go up. He is a surefire WR1 in fantasy this year and would be an A+ pick in the late second round for squads that are fresh off of taking a top tier RB in round 1.
Pick #21 overall (Team D) selects: DK Metcalf, WR, Seahawks (WR6)
Just like Team E picking at 20, the team picking at 21 is in a similarly great situation. After drafting one of the top RBs in the early first, these teams are up now in the late second in amazing position to either snag a top end WR1 or a low end RB2 to finish out their backfield. In this mock, we have 'Team D' going DK Metcalf to pair up with Derrick Henry who they got in round 1. Metcalf has gotten better in both of his first two NFL seasons and could take yet another jump in 2021. The towering WR who boasts elite speed is one of the best mismatches in the sport. How do you cover him? Russell Wilson helps make that question even harder for defenses. Metcalf had elite production in 2020 with over 1200 yards and 10 TDs and figures to see those numbers rise in 21' back with Russell Wilson and under a new, more creative offensive scheme. He has elite upside and could finish as a top 3 WR in fantasy by the end of the year. He is the definition of unlimited potential.
Pick #22 overall (Team C) selects: Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings (WR7)
Nearing the end of the second round we still have some of the best WRs on the board, and 'Team C' capitalizes on that by going with 2020 breakout rookie Justin Jefferson at 22. Jefferson came into the league as an exciting first round pick, but no one saw the rookie season he had coming. Jefferson broke just about all the rookie receiving records during his year 1 in Minnesota. He had 1400 yards and 8 TDs. Those are just not rookie numbers. He is the real deal. It seems like he has passed Adam Thielen on the depth chart for the team's WR1 and has a chance to be even better in 2021. The fact that Jefferson did that during an abnormal rookie year shows that he could go even higher in 21'. His fantasy potential is scary and for the team that selected surefire top tier RB Alvin Kamara at pick 3 in round one and then was able to get Jefferson who is a surefire WR1 in round two shows how deep the fantasy talent is early on this year.
Pick #23 overall (Team B) selects: AJ Brown, WR, Titans (WR8)
AJ Brown continues the run on young stud fantasy WRs. We saw Calvin Ridley, DK Metcalf, and Justin Jefferson go right before this pick and the run continues as AJ Brown is now off the board. In his first two NFL seasons, Brown has done nothing but produce. 1000 yards in both seasons and 11 TDs last year as well. With Julio Jones added to the fold in Nashville, some may think it will take away from Brown's value but we believe it only helps it. Less double teams and attention will be on Brown now with Jones there and it could lead to us seeing Brown's best year yet. He is a surefire WR1 in fantasy and pairs with Dalvin Cook on Team B to give the team their set and forget it players at the two main skill positions.
This is probably the highest you will see Gaskin go, but we are all for it. Gaskin turned in a shocking breakout year in 2020 that no one saw coming. Out of all the players that started the year in Miami's backfield, few expected Gaskin to end up running away with the job. He did so well on his medium sized amount of carries in 2020 that the Dolphins decided not to add any other RBs in the off-season and ride out another year with Gaskin as the lead dog in the backfield. While you see Gaskin go in the 3rd and 4th rounds of many fantasy drafts, I support him going late second round. Especially if it's the last pick in the second due to the team selecting there having back to back picks with this pick and the first pick of the third round. Gaskin is going to get all the carries along with a lot of catches out of the backfield due to his above average receiving skills. Tua is also not really a deep ball passer yet and that could benefit Gaskin out of the short game a lot too. I think Gaskin is pretty underrated right now and will finish as one of the best RBs in fantasy this season.
Round 3
Pick #25 overall (Team A) selects: Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers (WR9)Pick #26 overall (Team B) selects: Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks (RB16)
Pick #27 overall (Team C) selects: Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders (RB17)
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| Waller |
Pick #29 overall (Team E ) selects: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs (RB18)
Pick #30 overall (Team F ) selects: Terry McLaurin, WR, WFT (WR11)
Pick #31 overall (Team G) selects: Allen Robinson, WR, Bears (WR12)
Pick #33 overall (Team I) selects: Amari Cooper, WR, Cowboys (WR13)
Pick #34 overall (Team J) selects: JK Dobbins, RB, Ravens (RB19)
Pick #35 overall (Team K) selects: Julio Jones, WR, Titans (WR14)
Pick #36 overall (Team L) selects: Darren Waller, TE, Raiders (TE3)
Round 4
Pick #37 overall (Team L) selects: Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles (RB20)Lamb
Pick #38 overall (Team K) selects: David Montgomery, RB, Bears (RB21)
Pick #39 overall (Team J) selects: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys (WR15)
Pick #40 overall (Team I) selects: Robert Woods, WR, Rams (WR16)
Pick #41 overall (Team H) selects: Mike Davis, RB, Falcons (RB22)
Pick #42 overall (Team G) selects: Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Rams (RB23)
Pick #43 overall (Team F) selects: Mike Evans, WR, Buccaneers (WR17)
Pick #44 overall (Team E) selects: Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars (RB24)
Pick #45 overall (Team D) selects: James Robinson, RB, Jaguars (RB25)
Pick #46 overall (Team C) selects: Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks (WR18)
Pick #47 overall (Team B) selects: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals (WR19)
Pick #48 overall (Team A) selects: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 49ers (WR20)
Round 5
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Pick #50 overall (Team B) selects: DJ Moore, WR, Panthers (WR21)
Pick #51 overall (Team C) selects: Chris Godwin, WR, Buccaneers (WR22)
Pick #52 overall (Team D) selects: Josh Allen, QB, Bills (QB2)
Pick #53 overall (Team E) selects: Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos (WR23)
Pick #54 overall (Team F) selects: Kenny Golladay, WR, Giants (WR24)
Pick #55 overall (Team G) selects: Adam Thielen, WR, Vikings (WR25)
Pick #56 overall (Team H) selects: Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals (QB3)
Pick #57 overall (Team I) selects: Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys (QB4)
Pick #58 overall (Team J) selects: Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons (TE4)
Pick #59 overall (Team K) selects: Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens (QB5)
Pick #60 overall (Team L) selects: Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams (WR26)
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