Every draft slot provides different paths to create your roster. Continuing the mock draft series, I was tasked with the 1.05 pick in a 12-team, 1QB, PPR league, where I conducted this mock draft using the Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator.
Fantasy managers can view how the rosters unfolded with my mock drafts from the 1.04 and 1.06 spots. Let’s see how the draft flows here with the 1.05, and let me know which roster you like the best.
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-Team, 1QB, PPR from the 1.05 (2023 Fantasy Football)
This mock draft is for a league with weekly lineups consisting of one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, and three flex spots.
Fantasy managers were thrilled to see what Barkley could do when completely healthy finally. After several injury-plagued seasons, Barkley was the featured back that the New York Giants desperately needed and fantasy managers love. Barkley finished with 1,650 all-purpose yards and 10 total touchdowns on his way to finishing as the RB6 in fantasy points scored by running backs. The Giants head into the 2023 season with the newly resigned Daniel Jones behind center, which resulted in some sour milk with Barkley and his current contract status. Luckily, there has been recent news that Barkley has resumed contract negotiations with the Giants, so the crisis looks to be avoided. Among all running backs, Barkley was rated in the top ten in opportunity and productivity metrics. The Giants should improve, as the team went out and obtained valuable assets surrounding Daniel Jones and Barkley. Barkley is in line to see plenty of volume in an improved Giants offense. That’s music to the fantasy manager’s ears.
Alternative Selection: I followed the path of going stud RB over the stud WR in Ja’Marr Chase to see how my team shakes out.
CeeDee Lamb was the last wide receiver that is the number one option in a high-passing volume offense. And I think Lamb will see even more than his career-high 156 targets he saw last season. Head Coach Mike McCarthy will take over as the play caller, which should result in a bump in the passing game. Also, the Cowboys allowed Dalton Schultz and his 100+ targets to leave for the Houston Texans. The Cowboys have a young and unproven tight-end group taking over, which is not ideal for a playoff-contending team. Last season, Lamb recorded 107 catches for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns and was playing for a payday as he is eligible for his second contract. Lamb finished as the WR5, with Dak Prescott missing five games last season. The Cowboys mishandled the Amari Cooper situation, letting him go for basically nothing to the Cleveland Browns. The loss of Cooper left defenses with zero to fear opposite Lamb. Michael Gallup struggled throughout the season as he was recovering from his ACL injury. However, the Cowboys understood the need for another weapon and acquired the veteran Brandin Cooks, who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in six of his seven NFL seasons. Cooks will step into the number two role and open up the Cowboys’ offense. Another weapon provides more field for Lamb to roam and score more fantasy points.
Alternative Selection: Two other wide receivers were also in consideration, with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Garrett Wilson still on the board. However, the immense upside of Lamb persuaded me to go with the Cowboys wideout.
While Tee Higgins is listed as the number two wide receiver in the Cincinnati Bengals offense, Higgins is more like the 1B to Ja’Marr Chase being the 1A. Since his rookie season, Higgins has recorded consecutive 1,000-plus receiving yards each season. Last season, Higgins finished with 74 receptions on 109 targets for 1,029 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. Higgins is heading into the final year of his rookie deal this season which has caused some concern in Cincinnati that Higgins might be moved. However, Higgins is adamant about his desire to stay in Cincinnati, and with Joe Burrow throwing him the ball, who can blame him? Higgins possesses legit WR1 potential weekly and is an excellent second wideout to pair with CeeDee Lamb on my fantasy roster.
Alternative Selection: I loved the options here at WR with Higgins and Chris Olave available. Did not give much consideration to the available running backs Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, and Cam Akers
Here is where things get interesting in this mock draft. Heading into this pick, having already drafted a top-five RB and two top-20 WR, the thought process was to grab an RB2 here. The wide receiver options were not thrilling, and quarterbacks started to fly off the board, which is too soon in a one-quarterback format. Ultimately, the upside of J.K. Dobbins seeing an increase in volume in the Ravens’ offense made this decision here. Dobbins is expected to be the lead back in Baltimore, who will be running more of an open offense with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. The injury history is a concern, with Dobbins missing at least nine games in his last two seasons.
Another problem is that Dobbins is already absent from practices while he seeks a contract extension, as he will be playing in the final year of his rookie contract. The potential of Dobbins to be an RB2 in fantasy made the former Buckeye attractive. However, this can also potentially blow up my team.
Alternative Selection: Surprisingly, quarterbacks were being selected here, which is way too early in a one-quarterback weekly lineup league. The choice came down to which running back: J.K. Dobbins, Joe Mixon, or Cam Akers? Or a wide receiver such as Chris Godwin or Deebo Samuel.
In his rookie season, London produced 72 catches for 866 yards and four touchdowns. While that might not sound too impressive at first glance, London achieved those numbers on a run-heavy Falcons’ offense and some awful quarterback play. Additionally, London was their passing game, with Kyle Pitts missing almost half the season. London enters his sophomore season with a new quarterback Desmond Ridder taking over as the QB1 and Pitts back fully healthy and ready to shine. Add rookie phenom running back Bijan Robinson to this offense, and there is plenty of fantasy potential to witness. The Falcons won’t be able to give Robinson the ball on every play, so they have two elite weapons that will cause havoc for defenses when they pass. I can’t wait to buy into London and reap the rewards, especially as my WR3.
Alternative Selection: I love the talent and the opportunity for Drake London to explode this season. Other possible choices were DJ Moore or Mike Evans.
After five picks, we filled in our two starting running backs and three wide receivers. With this pick, there were struggles on how to turn, and when faced with that decision, I typically go BPA (Best Player Available). Not fond of the running backs here, so pivoting to wide receivers, there was an undervalued wide receiver that should explode this season in the Denver Broncos, Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy finished as the WR21 (Half-PPR) last season despite the unique struggles of quarterback Russell Wilson and the entire Broncos offense. It was a train wreck offense. The former Alabama wideout still produced 67 receptions on 100 targets for 972 yards and six scores in this anemic offense. The Broncos were one of the most active teams this offseason, including hiring Sean Payton to take over as the head coach and play-caller. They also drafted wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. and signed veteran Marquez Callaway, who played for Payton with the New Orleans Saints. The most obvious question for Broncos fans and fantasy managers is whether or not Russell Wilson is washed. Wilson went down with the sinking ship last season, but a considerable rebound is projected with Sean Payton leading the charge. I’m Betting on the Broncos to improve significantly and for Jeudy to be an integral part of those efforts. Getting Jeudy as my Flex is a huge win in my weekly lineup.
Alternative Selection: I struggled with this selection. RB options of David Montgomery and Dameon Pierce were not thrilling. However, a group of receivers had me thinking hard on this one. Other options were Brandon Aiyuk, Treylon Burks, and Jaxon Smith-Ngijba. I loved the potential of the WR1 in Sean Payton’s offense the most.
The following selection mirrors the last one regarding being undervalued and another breakout candidate. Jahan Dotson displayed plenty of splash plays on his way to recording 35 receptions for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie campaign. Dotson finished sixth with 2.14 fantasy points per target. Upon returning from his hamstring injury, Dotson produced WR3 fantasy production in Weeks 10-18. The former Nittany Lion accomplished this with the inconsistent Taylor Heinicke leading the Commanders’ offense. However, this season Dotson will be catching passes from Sam Howell or Jacoby Brissett, which provides Dotson with a deeper route tree and more opportunities to showcase his downfield ability. I’m buying his ascension up the wide receiver rankings as my second Flex option.
Alternative Selection: I almost pulled the trigger on Kyle Pitts here but decided to fill the spot with my choice as a breakout wide receiver this season.
Do you ever find yourself unable to quit a player? It seems you draft this player every season regardless of how he produced for your fantasy lineups. Unfortunately, I have that player, and his name is Gabriel Davis. Davis is one of the most frustrating players to roster in fantasy. He plays in an explosive Bills offense opposite an alpha WR1 in Stefon Diggs and with one of the top quarterbacks in the league in Josh Allen. Davis can provide historic performances as he did in the 2022 divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs when he caught eight passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns. However, he is also the same wideout whose catch rate is a mediocre 50 percent and had eight drops last season. He will shine in a few games, then disappear for the remaining weeks providing fantasy managers with nothing in their lineups. On the positive side, he has only missed two games in three seasons with the Bills, and he is entering his contract year, which should bode well for better production. In addition, Davis was bothered by an ankle injury for most of last season which affected his burst and playmaking ability, rolling the dice here that he lives up to his immense potential.
Alternative Selection: Gabe Davis was the last remaining player in a tier, and I hope he finally lives up to his hype and potential.
Filling in bench spots now and looking for upside as I fill out the remainder of the roster. It seemed a foregone conclusion that Allen Lazard would follow Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. Lazard improved each season in Green Bay and developed quite a chemistry with Rodgers. Lazard finished with 60 receptions on 100 targets for 788 yards and six scores last season. Rodgers pressed the Jets to acquire Lazard, and his good friend Randall Cobb, to join forces in New York. Lazard jumps into the WR2 role opposite Garrett Wilson, who had an impressive rookie season despite erratic quarterback play. Those quarterback issues shouldn’t present themselves here, with Rodgers leading the Jets’ offense. The bromance continues with the Jets, and I project Lazard to produce similar numbers to last season, allowing Lazard to finish as a WR3 for fantasy managers.
Alternative Selection: Considered QB with Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert on the board, but holding up on a quarterback until later in the draft. They selected Aaron Rodgers’ favorite wide receiver in Green Bay. They were looking for that chemistry to provide some big weeks.
A glance at the current roster shows that there are only two running backs, which makes me nervous. One available running back stood out immediately: the Washington Commanders Antonio Gibson. Typically, not a fan of drafting multiple players from the same offense, but here as a backup and a back who has flashed in the past, I took the plunge. The aspect that has me excited for Gibson is hiring Eric Bieniemy as their new offensive coordinator. Former offensive coordinators didn’t seem able to utilize Gibson as a pass-catcher, for which he is best suited. Gibson was primarily a wide receiver in college at Memphis, but for some inexplicable reason, the Commanders don’t emphasize that role for Gibson. However, I am confident that Bieniemy will push the right buttons to get the ball in Gibson’s hands to utilize his skill set best. Gibson is a multi-threat option, and while he may not be consistent enough for fantasy managers, his splash plays will go a long way in winning your weekly matchups.
Alternative Selection: I fell in love with the wide receiver position too much, probably, which left me zero backups at running back. Gibson has exhibited flashes, and hopefully a new offense with a better quarterback, we see Gibson shine.
Still unsatisfied with the running back group, I dipped into the running back pool again and went with the Philadelphia Eagles Rashaad Penny. Fantasy managers are well aware of what Penny brings to the table. He is a short-yardage grinder who was the top running back with 5.4 true yards per carry last season for the Seattle Seahawks. His talent has never been questioned, but his ability to stay on the field has been throughout his five-year NFL career. Penny has never played an entire season in his career and has only played 18 games across the last three seasons. Penny joins the Eagles’ backfield to team up with D’Andre Swift to provide a formidable one-two punch. Well, that is, if either back can stay healthy. Penny is worth a shot here at this draft capital. He has plenty of potential and could win me a few weeks during the season.
Alternative Selection: Went to the RB position here and selected a sleeper back who will get plenty of short-yardage and goal-line work with the Eagles as long as he stays healthy. Damien Harris, D’Onta Foreman, and Jamaal Williams were other running back choices.
Chig came out of nowhere in his rookie season to finish as the TE12 from Weeks 8-18. He was the only legit target in a poor Titans passing attack last season. Chig has tremendous speed and excellent vision and finished first in yards per route run and yards per reception among all tight ends. The Titans’ offense could not look any worse this season, with Ryan Tannehill hopefully shaking off whatever happened to him last season. If not, the Titans drafted Will Levis to step in. Regardless, Chig is an emerging force at tight end, and I’m fortunate to grab him here as my TE1.
Alternative Selection: Fiannly took the plunge and selected a TE. Chig was the best TE available after waiting on the position, and it is not a bad consolation prize.
The wait for a quarterback is finally over. Starting only one quarterback means grabbing a quarterback early is unnecessary. Load up on other positions and get your guy late in the draft. Drafting Tua could make you nervous due to his concussion issues. Granted, it makes you hesitate to grab the former Alabama quarterback. However, he leads an explosive offense with two elite and explosive wideouts in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Head Coach Mike McDaniel has proven that he is a masterful play-caller and puts his players in the best situation to succeed. The draft could not have fallen any better with Tua falling this far. Tua is a true QB1 on the field and can produce monstrous fantasy numbers. The only caveat here is that fantasy managers taking Tua should probably invest in a second quarterback to hedge their bet on keeping Tua healthy throughout the season.
Alternative Selection: I waited until the 13th round to take my QB, which shows that you can wait to take your QB in a one-quarterback format. Tua is a dynamic fantasy producer when healthy.
Another player I attempt to select in my drafts is the New Orleans Saints tight end, Juwan Johnson. Johnson was one of the few bright spots in a Saints offense last season, finishing fourth with seven receiving touchdowns. Johnson accomplished that feat with a mediocre group of Saints quarterbacks the previous season. In 2023, Johnson welcomes Derek Carr to New Orleans. Carr is not an elite quarterback, but he is more than serviceable and loves throwing to his tight ends. The Saints’ offense possesses multiple weapons with the return of Michael Thomas and two young receivers, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, who will look to build upon impressive rookie seasons. Johnson will see plenty of looks from Carr, leading Johnson to another TE1 finish.
Alternative Selection: Not sure if this was a wise pick based on position. However, Johnson should see plenty of targets from his new quarterback, Derek Carr.
As mentioned, drafting Tua is a great fantasy option and will win you some weeks. However, his health provides concerns, so I am looking for a quarterback who can provide a stable floor and high-ceiling weeks at this juncture of the draft. And here he is, staring me in the face, the much-maligned Jared Goff. Goff quietly had an excellent 2022 season, passing for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns. Goff leads an explosive Lions offense that averaged 26.6 points per game, the fifth-most in the league last season. The Lions should have an improved offense with the drafting of explosive running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta. They also added David Montgomery to the running back group to replace last season’s Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift duo. Jared Goff and the Lions are set up to have another fantastic offense this season, and having Goff as my QB2 is a huge win for my fantasy roster.
Alternative Selection: With Tua’s health always a question, selecting a competent backup quarterback is necessary. While Goff is a punchline sometimes, he has weapons in the Lions’ offense and should produce pretty fantasy numbers.
My Roster after 15 Rounds:
- Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff
- Running Back: Saquon Barkley, J.K. Dobbins, Antonio Gibson, Rashaad Penny
- Wide Receiver: CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, Drake London, Jerry Jeudy, Jahan Dotson, Gabe Davis, Allen Lazard
- Tight End: Chigoziem Okonkwo, Juwan Johnson
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Dennis Sosic is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Dennis, check out his archive and follow him @CALL_ME_SOS.
