Fantasy football mock drafting in April gives us a chance to get a leg up on our competition. While they are either taking time away from football or focusing on baseball, we can test different strategies and pay closer attention to the ebbs and flows of average draft positions (ADPs).
I did a 12-team PPR mock draft where I drafted out of the second spot. This was a tough room for it being a mock as I was put into what I would describe as an uncomfortable position with my 2.11 selection. While I will save the pick-by-pick analysis for the article, a few things stood out:
Fantasy football mock drafting in April gives us a chance to get a leg up on our competition. While they are either taking time away from football or focusing on baseball, we can test different strategies and pay closer attention to the ebbs and flows of average draft positions (ADPs).
I did a 12-team PPR mock draft where I drafted out of the second spot. This was a tough room for it being a mock as I was put into what I would describe as an uncomfortable position with my 2.11 selection. While I will save the pick-by-pick analysis for the article, a few things stood out:
- Running backs flew off the board. By the time I was up in the second round, there wasn’t a running back I was comfortable taking.
- Quarterbacks went early and often, representing the shift in scoring to the passing game right now.
- Rooke ADPs are still fluid and will likely change by the beginning of May.
Let’s get to the picks, analysis and a consideration of who I also may have taken at that specific selection. If you want to see the entire draft results and draft board, here it is in all its glory.
12-Team PPR Mock Draft
Christian McCaffery will be the 1.01 in a majority of PPR redraft leagues, so the draft begins at the 1.02 pick this year. There are several options you can go with but CeeDee Lamb is the most appealing to me. Dallas was the most pass-heavy team in the league last year. That trend isn’t going to change in 2024. Lamb’s 135 receptions led the league and it isn’t out of the question he challenges for Marvin Harrison’s NFL record in that realm. Lamb is my WR1 this season and was an easy click here.
Also Considered: Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN), Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)
It is always a joy when you are put into an uncomfortable spot with your second pick but here we are. I was hoping a running back with a somewhat bankable workload would fall to this spot but I thought it was too early to take Rachaad White or Josh Jacobs, so I committed to stacking my receiving core. Olave was my favorite among a tier of receivers I liked but didn’t love. He’s coming off a season where he bettered his numbers across the board from his rookie year. I hope a full offseason with Derek Carr will vault him into WR1 territory. He makes a fine compliment to Lamb. Having two alpha receivers in the fold is a good outcome.
Also Considered: Mike Evans (WR – TB), Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND)
Michal Pittman Jr. is one of my favorite targets in the third round. He is coming off the best season of his career with 109 catches for 1,152 yards. The touchdowns (4) were a little thin but those are fluky. In PPR, I would rather bank on the 145 targets. The Colts should have plenty of firepower with a healthy Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor, which will, hopefully, give Pittman more opportunities in the red zone.
Also Considered: Mike Evans (WR – TB), Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – Ohio State)
Things by this point were getting thin at running back, but James Cook is still being underrated. Among running backs who played in at least 15 games last season, Cook was the RB10, making him a relative bargain at his RB15 ADP. While Buffalo’s offense will have a new look in 2024, Cook should be good for 270 touches. His work in the passing game (44 receptions on 54 targets) adds another enticing data point to a player who will be a focal point of the Bills’ offense. The only downside is that Josh Allen will vulture most of the goal-line carries, dampening his touchdown equity.
Also Considered: Aaron Jones (RB – MIN)
I am a big fan of Trey McBride in 2024. He reeled in 81 passes on 106 targets for a TE8 finish in PPR leagues and he is just getting started. Arizona is slated to roll out Chris Moore and Greg Dortch at receiver. While they will almost certainly draft at least two rookies who will play immediately, McBride will easily be the most trusted option in the passing game. Could he make a giant leap in target share in 2024 and finish as a top-five tight end? I think so. His ability to win one-on-one versus linebackers and safeties in the red zone will benefit him.
Also Considered: Aaron Jones (RB – MIN), Kenneth Walker III (RB – SEA)
C.J. Stroud was the seventh quarterback off the board in this mock, which is probably a bit laggy due to recent developments. With the addition of Stefon Diggs to an already stout group of receivers, Stroud should build on his Rookie of the Year campaign. His draft position will rise quite a bit from here and he will probably be drafted somewhere in the fourth or fifth Round as we edge closer to the season. If Stroud can get to 550 pass attempts this year, he will be on a rocket ship. The Texans are more than willing to go along on that ride with him.
Also Considered: Zamir White (RB – LV)
Zamir White comes off the board at RB27, which seems awfully low for a guy currently looking like the Raiders’ feature back. Antonio Pierce has had high praise for White and the Raiders were willing to let Josh Jacobs walk as a free agent, meaning some stars are aligning here. It doesn’t hurt that White rushed for 397 yards for Las Vegas in their final four games, averaging over 23 touches per game. I am betting that White outperforms his ADP and finishes as an RB2.
Also Considered: Javonte Williams (RB – DEN), Marquise Brown (WR – KC)
I want to try and get a piece of the Green Bay offense wherever I can. Romeo Doubs is one of the top options for Jordan Love and I expect big things in their second full year together. After garnering a team-best 96 targets and eight receiving touchdowns last year, Doubs should be in line for another big workload. The return of a healthy Christian Watson may dampen his outlook for some but I think this is a positive sign for Doubs as Watson is the field stretcher the Packers need. Slotting him into my Flex spot here means I need him to be his steady self with a few games where he pops.
Also Considered: Devin Singletary (RB – NYG), Mike Williams (WR – NYJ)
While Devin Singletary isn’t the most exciting back, getting a presumed feature back in the ninth round is hard to pass up. With the roster construction here, getting depth at the running back position is important and Singletary has proven he can handle 15 touches per game. It would be good if the Giants use him more in the passing game than Houston did. Anything beyond 200 total touches is a bonus here.
Also Considered: Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA), Blake Corum (RB – Michigan)
Why not go and get a second Buffalo Bill? Josh Allen needs someone to throw to, right? Curtis Samuel is a frustrating player to own in fantasy as he seems to go off when you bench him and gets you two points when you start him. Maybe playing with Allen will help that. The talent is there. What I found in this range is that there is a lot of uncertainty so you can either go after a barrage of rookies or bet on talented guys landing in better situations. I chose the latter.
Also Considered: Jerry Jeudy (WR – CLE)
Rest of Draft (Rounds 11-14)
With my last four picks, I went with two rookies in Blake Corum and Jayden Daniels, both of whom I love and think will be top-100 players. Corum is ready-made to be an NFL starter this year and Daniels has the highest upside of any quarterback in the draft (with an admittedly disastrous floor). Quentin Johnston and Rashod Bateman are of similar ilk: Disappointing players who have talent but can’t seem to put it together (Johnston) or stay healthy (Bateman). I’m taking a shot at talent winning out but I would also be fine dropping them early.
Draft Results & Board
Here’s a link to the full draft board.
More Fantasy Football Draft Advice
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Jason Kamlowsky is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @JasonKamlowsky.
