Your annual fantasy football draft is fast approaching. There is no better way to prepare for a draft than by going through a mock draft. Here, I will break down a 16-round mock from the ninth overall selection. This draft was a 12-team superflex draft with full-PPR scoring. The starting lineup features one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one flex, one superflex, one defense, and one kicker.
This will be a series with brand new mocks being released throughout August and September. You can find all of the other mocks at this link. The series will feature eight total mocks ranging by format (half-PPR, full PPR, 10-team, 12-team, superflex, and non-superflex).
Pick 1.09: Lamar Jackson (QB4)
In a superflex draft, snagging a quarterback in the first two or three rounds is imperative. I decided to snag one in Round 1 by taking Jackson, whose rushing workload will only increase now that J.K. Dobbins is out for the season. Jackson should provide managers with top-10 numbers for most of the season, and it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that he finishes as the QB1 overall.
Also Considered: Nick Chubb, Tyreek Hill
Pick 2.04: Tyreek Hill (WR1)
Hill is my WR1, so I felt more than comfortable drafting him here, just one pick after Davante Adams was taken. I almost never bypass the running back position in the first two rounds, but when you can get the best player at their position with the 16th pick, you do it. The Chiefs have given us every reason to believe that their passing offense will be elite and otherworldly this season.
Also Considered: Aaron Jones
Pick 3.09: David Montgomery (RB11)
I knew the clock was running out on my chance to get a top-12 running back, so I pulled the trigger on Montgomery. At RB11, I am higher on him than most. However, he was absolutely phenomenal last season. The fact that Tarik Cohen might not be ready for Week 1 coupled with what could be a more positive game script this year? Count me in.
Also Considered: Tom Brady
Pick 4.04: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB14)
This was a pick that I felt less confident about. However, Edwards-Helaire is poised for a solid sophomore season if he can stay healthy. I might sound foolish for drafting the Chiefs’ starting running back after already saying their passing offense will be “otherworldly,” but there is still enough volume to go around to support CEH as a high-end RB2 this year.
Also Considered: Ryan Tannehill, Keenan Allen
Pick 5.09: James Robinson (RB17)
Ah, normalcy. It felt great to draft three running backs in a row, which is something I have not shied away from even in the first three rounds of the draft. I was previously timid when it came to Robinson’s stock, and the Jaguars’ decision to draft Travis Etienne was even more of a turn-off. However, with Etienne expected to miss the entire season, I felt comfortable taking advantage of Robinson’s fair ADP by drafting him in the back half of the fifth round.
Also Considered: D.J. Moore, Baker Mayfield
Pick 6.04: Baker Mayfield (QB13)
In superflex leagues, rostering a good No. 2 quarterback might be even more important than having a good No. 1 option. Mayfield showed lots of potential last season even without Odell Beckham Jr. in the offense. Now, with Beckham returning from injury, Mayfield should be able to produce another solid season. The dominance of Nick Chubb takes center stage in this offense, but there is plenty of room for Mayfield to rack up production as a passer, too.
Also Considered: Robert Woods
Pick 7.09: Jerry Jeudy (WR26)
My interest in Jeudy has grown exponentially this offseason. I likely won’t be able to rank him inside the top-24 before the season starts, but he could find his way there by midseason. The Broncos’ decision to start Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback helps me feel much more comfortable about Jeudy’s stock, too. There’s a big gap between Hill and Jeudy on my roster, but I still feel good about getting the 2020 first-round pick as my WR2.
Also Considered: Ronald Jones, Odell Beckham Jr.
Pick 8.04: Jaylen Waddle (WR31)
I already have a speed demon in Hill and a first-round Alabama product in Jeudy. Combine those two traits and you get Waddle, who excelled in college and drew comparisons to Hill during the draft process. He might not have a mammoth impact out of the gate, but once he builds a rapport with Tua Tagovailoa, Waddle’s fantasy value will rise. Don’t be surprised if he’s a safe flex option by Week 5.
Also Considered: De’Vonta Smith, Mike Gesicki, Gus Edwards
Pick 9.09: Robert Tonyan (TE10)
I like waiting to draft a tight end until the top 12 guys have been drafted, but I bucked that trend by taking my TE10 here. Tonyan was excellent—and incredibly efficient—in the Packers’ offense last season. Green Bay didn’t strengthen its receiving core too much, so Tonyan should see a sizable workload once again this year. He’s a physical beast who can rack up both yards and touchdowns. That’s a match made in heaven for fantasy managers.
Also Considered: Gus Edwards, James Conner
Pick 10.04: Gus Edwards (RB25)
One perk about mock drafting on a simulator rather than against real people is that values, projections, and ADPs take longer to adjust. I was able to snag Edwards in the 10th round, which surely won’t be possible in just a couple of days. He’s going to have a huge role with Dobbins out. Baltimore could sign someone, but even then, Edwards should be the lead back.
Also Considered: James Conner
Pick 11.09: Elijah Moore (WR45)
The hype surrounding Moore has quieted down a bit since training camp began, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t looked impressive on the field. The rookie has a chance to emerge as the best receiver in this class, and he’s coming from an Ole Miss program that produced athletic monsters in D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown.
Also Considered: Phillip Lindsay, Derek Carr
Pick 12.04: Phillip Lindsay (RB44)
There are three running backs vying for the starting job in Houston. Lindsay, Mark Ingram, and David Johnson all have fairly equal chances, but I think Lindsay will ultimately earn the role. Younger and arguably more productive, Lindsay would carry mid-range flex territory if given the lead job with the Texans. While this offense might stall a lot in 2021, the touches will have to go to somebody. Lindsay might just be that guy.
Also Considered: Derek Carr, DeVante Parker
Pick 13.09: Derek Carr (QB17)
I was eyeing Carr as early as the 10th round but convinced myself to wait until the 13th or 14th round to take someone of a lower caliber, instead. In the end, though, I was able to be patient and get the Raiders’ veteran quarterback. Carr has a phenomenal tight end to pass to, as well as sophomore receivers Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards who have drawn considerable hype during camp. Las Vegas also signed dual-threat back Kenyan Drake this offseason.
Also Considered: Hunter Henry, Nyheim Hines
Pick 14.04: Los Angeles Rams (D/ST1)
The Rams are my top-ranked defense. After all, how can you not go crazy over a unit that features Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Darious Williams? This defense is going to accrue an attractive amount of tackles, sacks, stops, and turnovers in 2021.
Also Considered: Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Pick 15.09: Jakobi Meyers (WR52)
Meyers is someone who I do not want to leave any draft without. He should be the Patriots’ top receiver this season and features legitimate top-24 upside. After all, Meyers put up great numbers to close out 2020 despite playing with Cam Newton and not hauling in a touchdown pass. Meyers is trending upwards and his buy-low window will close very soon.
Also Considered: Jason Sanders
Pick 16.04: Rodrigo Blankenship (K4)
Blankenship probably won’t be someone who I roster for the entire season. However, after a strong rookie campaign last year, it’s worth giving him a shot. In the 16th round, the worst-case scenario is that Blankenship lands on waivers after Week 1 and I’m tasked with finding someone else who will put up mediocre kicking numbers.
Also Considered: Daniel Carlson
Parting Thoughts
My biggest concern after drafting is that I did not build the tight end position in a smart manner. Instead of sticking to my usual approach (selecting two players between TE13 and TE18), I acquired the TE10 and ignored the position for the rest of the draft. While I have no problem drafting Tonyan when I did, I still would have liked to pick up another tight end late in the draft.
As mentioned already, the gap at wide receiver between Hill and Jeudy is a bit concerning, too, especially considering I was unable to snag an alpha at running back.
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