Mike Fanelli | Sun, Aug 27th 2023, 7:39am EDT

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Streaming Tight End Strategy & Picks (2023)

The 2023 regular season is less than two weeks away. That means fantasy football drafts are happening around the clock. Hopefully, your fantasy draft isn’t until the last possible moment. Regardless, the best way to prepare for your upcoming draft is to use the FantasyPros mock draft simulator.

Today, I have a 12-team, 1QB, half-point PPR mock draft. The roster construction for this mock draft is one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, two flex spots, and six bench spots. There isn’t a team defense or kicker spot.

I used a streaming tight end strategy for this mock, so I didn’t draft a tight end until the final two rounds. Let’s see how it turned out, picking from the No. 11 spot.

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Mock Draft: Streaming Tight Ends Strategy (2023 Fantasy Football)

Round 1, Pick 11 – Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)

After missing out on the big three running backs of Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, and Bijan Robinson, Pollard was always my target in the first round. Last year, he was the RB7, averaging 14.3 fantasy points per game. The former Memphis star has overall RB1 upside with Ezekiel Elliott now in New England.

Round 2, Pick 14 – Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR – DET)

Had I decided to take a wide receiver in the first round, St. Brown would have been my guy with the top four options off the board. Instead, the former USC star made it around the turn. Last season, he was the highest-targeted player on the Lions with 146 targets, more than double the next-highest player (D’Andre Swift, 70 targets). Yet the team didn’t improve their wide receiver unit in the offseason. St. Brown could lead the NFL in targets and target share this year.

Round 3, Pick 35 – Josh Allen (QB – BUF)

Normally I wait until the double-digit rounds to draft a quarterback, however Allen is too good to pass up in the late third round. Despite playing the second half of last season with an injured elbow, the superstar had his third consecutive season with at least 35 passing touchdowns and six rushing scores.

Round 4, Pick 38 – Keenan Allen (WR – LAC)

While the Chargers added Quentin Johnston during the NFL Draft, Allen remains the No. 1 wide receiver on the roster. Last year, the veteran struggled with a nagging hamstring injury, however he was outstanding once healthy. Allen was the WR4 from Week 11 through the end of the season, averaging 15 fantasy points per game.

Round 5, Pick 59 – David Montgomery (RB – DET)

Jahmyr Gibbs is far and away the best Detroit running back in PPR scoring. However, the gap is closer in half-point and non-PPR leagues. Montgomery has been a consistent RB2 his entire career. More importantly, he is taking over for Jamaal Williams; last year, the former Lion had over 1,000 rushing yards and an NFL-high 17 touchdowns.

Round 6, Pick 62 – James Conner (RB – ARI)

Whether drafting a balanced roster or using a Zero-RB strategy, Conner is one of my favorite targets in the sixth round. The Cardinals are rebuilding and the veteran is likely heading into his final year with the team. Therefore, Arizona has no reason not to give Conner a heavy workload. Furthermore, he averaged 20.3 touches and 17.8 fantasy points per game in the four matchups without Kyler Murray last season and it’s unknown whether Murray will be healthy to start the season.

Round 7, Pick 83 – Marquise Brown (WR – ARI)

Did I use back-to-back picks on the Cardinals’ offense? Yes, I did! Typically, you want to avoid players on bad offenses, but Arizona has only two meaningful weapons. Therefore, I have no problem drafting both in the middle rounds. Brown was the WR6, averaging 14.7 fantasy points per game during DeAndre Hopkins‘ six-game suspension last year and Hopkins is now with the Titans.

Round 8, Pick 86 – Gabe Davis (WR – BUF)

Last season, the fantasy football community overvalued Davis. Now, he’s a borderline steal. The former Central Florida star averaged 13.9 fantasy points per game and 2.67 fantasy points per target over his first five games last season. Furthermore, I’ve built a high-upside Josh Allen-Gabe Davis stack.

Round 9, Pick 107 – Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC)

The Chargers’ offense should bounce back this season. Justin Herbert struggled with a shoulder injury last year but was the QB2 in 2021. Therefore, I have no problem drafting multiple Los Angeles pass catchers. Furthermore, Mike Williams hasn’t played a complete season since 2018. Pairing Keenan Allen and Johnston as my WR1 and WR4 in a two-start wide receiver league has significant upside and limited downside.

Round 10, Pick 110 – De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)

Now that I’ve reached the double-digit rounds, it’s time to target high-upside players. Achane should be ready for Week 1 after suffering a minor shoulder injury during the Dolphins’ second preseason game. While it won’t happen on opening weekend, the rookie will take over as the lead back sooner rather than later.

Round 11, Pick 131 – Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT)

Last season, Warren finished 21st in yards after contact per rushing attempt (3.08) among running backs with at least 60 attempts. By comparison, Najee Harris averaged 2.75 yards after contact per attempt last year. At worst, Warren is the top handcuff in fantasy football. Yet the second-year back has significant upside if he earns enough touches.

Round 12, Pick 134 – Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC)

Travis Etienne Jr. is the lead back in Jacksonville. However, the Jaguars didn’t spend a third-round pick in the NFL Draft for Bigsby to only be Etienne’s backup. The former Auburn star will have a role, especially around the goal line. Bigsby will have enough standalone value to be a flex option most weeks. However, the rookie becomes a league winner if Etienne misses significant time with an injury.

Round 13, Pick 155 – Tyler Higbee (TE – LAR)

When using a streaming tight end strategy, I typically draft two tight ends in the final two rounds – one to start in Week 1 and one to be my dart throw guy. Higbee has a solid opening week matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Last year, the Seahawks gave up 14.8 fantasy points per game to tight end last season, the most in the NFL.

Round 14, Pick 158 – Juwan Johnson (TE – NO)

There are two guys with an ADP outside the top 15 tight ends that I love this season – Sam LaPorta and Juwan Johnson. The rookie went off the board on the turn, leaving me with the former college wide receiver. Last year, Johnson was the TE11. Furthermore, he led the Saints in receiving touchdowns (seven) while finishing third in the NFL among tight ends, behind only Travis Kelce and George Kittle. Johnson has a real chance to be Derek Carr‘s new watered-down version of Darren Waller.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.