Are you ready? No, I’m not asking if you’ve recovered from your fifth hot dog at your Fourth of July barbecue. I’m talking about mock draft season. While NFL training camps don’t get underway for a couple more weeks, July marks the beginning of mock draft mania for me.
Drafting in early July has its perks, as you can keep tabs in real-time as how the market is changing its mind once camps begin and NFL news starts to trickle back onto the radar. But if nothing else, it’s a fun way to kill some time during the dog days of summer. And what better way to practice than by using our FREE fantasy football mock draft simulator?
In this article, I’ll take you through a mock draft I conducted in a half-PPR league with the sixth overall pick. Let the mocking begin.
- Snake Draft Pick Strategy: Early | Middle | Late
- Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
- Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- 2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
2023 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Half-Point PPR
Pick 1.06: Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG)
I’m faced with a tough choice with my first pick between Barkley and Jonathan Taylor. Both guys I’m actually content with picking inside the top five of drafts. Barkley showed how great he can be when healthy, and I think the Giants offense could improve in its second year under Brian Daboll. Taylor bottomed out in 2022 after an incredible 2021 season, and I think he’s in store for a bounce back year.
Ultimately, I go with Barkley, who I believe has a slightly higher ceiling than Taylor, who could be limited by unreliable quarterback play and a rookie head coach.
Pick 2.07: Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)
I was pretty certain I’d be going with a wide receiver here, but I alter my strategy once I see Stevenson still on the board. Stevenson finished as the RB11 despite just 210 rushes. Stevenson proved he’s capable of being one of the best backs in the league. And with Damien Harris out of town, I expect Stevenson to see even more work on the ground while continuing to add value as a pass catcher. Stevenson has the potential to finish in the top five this season.
And since I’m picking sixth, I’m not as worried about going RB-RB with my first two picks, as I know I likely won’t be hurt by a huge run at receiver.
Pick 3.06: DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
A handful of receivers I like are on the board here, and ideally, I’m hoping to get two of Smith, Tee Higgins, Chris Olave, and D.K. Metcalf with my next two picks. I ultimately chose Smith here because last season proved just how high his ceiling can be, even as the No. 2 option to A.J. Brown. While Higgins is in a contract year, his ceiling feels a bit lower.
Pick 4.07: D.K. Metcalf (WR – SEA)
My plan, fortunately, works out, and I’m thrilled to get Metcalf as a highly explosive WR2.
Pick 5.06: Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)
I make it three wideouts in a row with McLaurin, who offers a steady floor to go with my higher upside starting wideouts. The concerns about Sam Howell are legitimate, but McLaurin has steadily averaged 75 balls for 1,100 yards the last few years despite inconsistent and borderline terrible QB play.
Pick 6.07: D’Andre Swift (RB – PHI)
It seems like I’m getting Swift in every mock draft I conduct, and I’m thrilled about it. I’ve written time and time again that Swift could thrive in Philadelphia. Yes, the Eagles’ RB room is crowded. But Swift doesn’t need 20 touches a game to be a dynamic threat from a fantasy perspective. This feels like another situation where Howie Roseman turns one team’s perceived trash into his team’s treasure, and I expect Swift to thrive both in the RPO game and in the passing game in Philly, even if it’s only on 10-12 touches per game.
Pick 7.06: Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE)
I’m admittedly not loving the board here. I missed out on my three QB targets (Justin Fields, Justin Herbert, and Trevor Lawrence), and Diontae Johnson was taken two picks before mine. I opt to take my QB here and go with Watson, who has a higher ceiling than Dak Prescott, if he can shed last season’s rust.
Pick 8.07: Khalil Herbert (RB – CHI)
Herbert was a favorite of mine from last season who showed glimpses but didn’t quite overtake David Montgomery for starting duties like I hoped. This year, Herbert enters training camp as the perceived lead back in a Chicago offense that could take strides in 2023. D’Onta Foreman‘s presence worries me, as he’s one of the league’s biggest vultures. But I’m still a buyer of Herbert’s talent and am hopeful a greater workload helps bring it to light.
Pick 9.06: Michael Thomas (WR – NO)
Can Michael Thomas even play football anymore? Who knows. My hope is he can just stay healthy. If he does, he could thrive with Derek Carr, who should pepper him with plenty of targets as he looks to get the ball out quickly. Chris Olave is the big-play threat in this offense and maybe the new top dog, but Thomas could be an awesome No. 2 option if he can just stay on the field.
Pick 10.07: Evan Engram (TE – JAC)
Obligatory tight end selection. I’ll roll with Engram, who paid off nicely last year for me as an even later tight end flier. He offers decent value in Round 10.
Pick 11.06: Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF)
Mitchell could have standalone fantasy value as the complementary back behind Christian McCaffrey. And all it takes is a CMC injury to vault Mitchell into starting territory.
Pick 12.07: D’Onta Foreman (RB – CHI)
I decide to hedge my Foreman fears and handcuff him to Herbert. The Bears backfield could be one worth an investment in 2023, and I’m fine with seeing how things play out. If Herbert runs away with the job, Foreman can be an early cut candidate.
Pick 13.06: Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR – CLE)
Peoples-Jones offers some enticing upside as a big-play threat in Cleveland’s offense. He should start the year as one of the team’s top three wideouts, but the arrival of Elijah Moore does put a dent into his upside. That being said, there should be plenty to go around if Watson regains his form.
Pick 14.07: Romeo Doubs (WR – GB)
With no defense or kicker picks, I end my draft with Doubs, who showed flashes as a rookie. If Jordan Love is any good, Doubs could wind up being a steal as Green Bay’s No. 2 wideout.
Draft Wizard Grade: 93/100 (A)
The Draft Wizard liked my draft, but what do you think? Let me know on Twitter @RealMattBarbato.
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