Let’s mock draft using the bread-and-butter fantasy football format:

• 12 teams
• 1 point per reception (PPR)
• 4-point passing TDs
• 6-point all other TDs
• Starters are QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, RB/WR/TE (Flex), K, D/ST
• 6 bench spots

I leveraged FantasyPros FREE Mock Draft simulator. Yes, it’s already up and optimized for the 2023-2024 fantasy football season. I randomized my selection and ended right in the middle of the draft at pick six.

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PPR Mock Draft (2023 Fantasy Football)

1.06

• Who I took: Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)
• Who I considered: Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Nick Chubb

Teams have to start covering Travis Kelce now that JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s gone, right? RIGHT? Kelce would have been a great pick here, but I’m betting on Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp picking up where they left off. Before Kupp’s high-ankle sprain in 2022, he averaged 22.4 points per game. Barkley, Taylor and Chubb are all in my “Incredibly-talented workhorse backs who’ve done it before” tier, but Kupp’s insane floor and ceiling in a PPR league won me over.

2.07

• Who I took: Mark Andrews (TE – BAL)
• Who I considered: Stefon Diggs, A.J. Brown, Najee Harris, Jaylen Waddle

Well, looks like we’re going Zero RB! I have no qualms with that. I loved the strategy of lining up an elite WR and either Kelce or Andrews with my first two picks last year, and I love it again this year. Andrews is Lamar Jackson‘s possession and red zone threat, regardless of the Ravens’ adding Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. Andrews’ all-but guaranteed possessions are his high floor, and his consistent red zone involvement offers a high ceiling. The positional advantage of consistency at TE is nice, too.

3.06

• Who I took: Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)
• Who I considered: D.K. Metcalf, Chris Olave, Amari Cooper

Higgins’ only knock, in my opinion, is a history of smaller injuries. He’ll probably miss a few games with a sprain this year, but right now, he’s fully healthy and an unrestricted free agent next season. I like his situation with Joe Burrow better than my other options here.

4.07

• Who I took: Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU)
• Who I considered: Jalen Hurts, Dalvin Cook, Drake London, James Conner

I’m not worried about Devin Singletary. Dameon Pierce showed more than enough juice to show he can be the Texans’ lead back again in his sophomore season. In a vacuum, I might like Hurts better than Pierce, but the way I’m constructing my roster, I don’t mind moving Pierce up so I can snag my RB1. Pierce’s recent talk about studying pass-catching extraordinaire Christian McCaffrey is nice, too. I’d imagine the Texans would like to install some passes to Pierce to help insulate rookie QB C.J. Stroud. Dalvin Cook will likely be splitting carries somewhere other than Minnesota, James Conner could actually surprise people this year, but I just like Pierce more.

5.06

• Who I took: Javonte Williams (RB – DEN)
• Who I considered: D’Andre Swift, Terry McLaurin, James Conner

The Broncos clearly expect Williams to return to form — their RB2 right now is Samaje Perine. Through 21 NFL games, Williams is averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He’s also breaking a ton of tackles. I’ll gladly take a 23-year-old RB1 who’s shown nothing but good things on the field as my RB2 in Round 5. Feel free to check out this piece from Matthew Betz I used to inform my decision here. ACL injuries don’t hamper running backs a season later as much as you might expect.

6.07

• Who I took: James Conner (RB – ARI)
• Who I considered: David Montgomery, Justin Fields, Mike Evans

I guess we’re not going 0RB? That’s the beautiful thing about redraft leagues. You play the cards you’re dealt, and I’m getting dealt the Cardinals’ RB1 I considered two rounds ago.

7.06

• Who I took: Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAC)
• Who I considered: Mike Evans, Treylon Burks

I’m usually opposed to taking quarterbacks in the middle rounds, but Lawrence is a different story. Here’s why:

• In his sophomore season, he threw the second-fewest (eight) interceptions of any quarterback who played 17 games.
• His rushing TD total went up from two in his rookie year to five last season.
• His weapons are Calvin Ridley, Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram.

8.07

• Who I took: AJ Dillon (RB – GB)
• Who I considered: James Cook, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Rashod Bateman

Dillon is, at worst, carrying at a 50/50 split on a team that loves to run the ball. One knick to Aaron Jones, and Dillon becomes an immediate RB1.

9.06

• Who I took: Michael Thomas (WR – NO)
• Who I considered: Elijah Moore, Tyler Boyd, Antonio Gibson, Khalil Herbert

Look, we’re in round nine, and I have Kupp and Higgins as my top WRs. Let’s take some shots. Derek Carr loved his tight end in Las Vegas/Oakland. Who’s to say a fully-healthy Michael Thomas can’t fill a Darren Waller-esque role this season?

10.07

• Who I took: Antonio Gibson (RB – WAS)
• Who I considered: Pat Freiermuth, David Njoku, Tyler Boyd, Daniel Jones, Adam Thielen, Samaje Perine

Hey, you — look me in the eyes. We do NOT start taking defenses here just because each team’s RB1 and WR1 are gone. Copy that? Now is the time for high-upside, speculative picks who we can easily drop after a few weeks if they don’t pan out. I went with Gibson because of his pass-catching ability. That’s what makes him a handcuff-plus. He’ll see more touches than an average handcuff, but should Brian Robinson go down, Gibson is likely the RB1 in Washington.

11.06

• Who I took: Adam Thielen (WR – CAR)
• Who I considered: Daniel Jones, Jeff Wilson, Kenneth Gainwell, Hunter Renfrow

Thielen is probably the betting favorite to lead the Panthers in targets at the moment if that line existed. His ceiling isn’t crazy high. Nobody expects the Panthers to be an explosive offense in Bryce Young‘s rookie year. However, Young is as pro-ready as they come, and I could see him bonding with Thielen.

12.07

• Who I took: Jeff Wilson (RB – MIA)
• Who I considered: Kenneth Gainwell, Greg Dulcich, Aaron Rodgers

The Dolphins’ backfield has been an ever-evolving enigma since I was in elementary school. They’ve had one player carry the ball more than 241 times in a season since 2003 – Jay Ajayi in 2016. Wilson Jr. could easily lead this team in carries, and their offense is explosive enough that whoever leads this team in carries could prove to be a nice value on draft day.

13.06

• Who I took: Russell Wilson (QB – DEN)
• Who I considered: Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray

I wanted a second quarterback because Trevor Lawrence is outside my very top tier of fantasy QB’s. Russell Wilson is nothing but upside with new coach Sean Payton and, still, a plethora of weapons. I could easily drop Russ after week one for whoever I’d like on waivers.

14.07

• Who I took: Washington Commanders D/ST
• Who I considered: N/A

I stream defenses, meaning I pick up a new one each week, depending on their opponent. In week one, the Commanders are six-point favorites over the Cardinals in a game with the lowest implied point total (O/U 40.5). This is a no-brainer.

15.06

• Who I took: Younghoe Koo (K – ATL)
• Who I considered: N/A

No matter what, take your kicker in the last round. Drop them on their bye week. Never roster two kickers. Also, I’m a Falcons fan. Riding with my guy here.

The simulator projected my team to be fourth in the league, finishing a mere five points below team three! I’ll take that all day. Trust your in-season waiver activity and trading to help you come playoffs.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft Summary

Check out my draft summary and team standings.

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