Drafting best ball teams before the NFL Draft and schedule release presents many challenges and opportunities. On one hand, we don’t yet know where these rookies will land, but we may also be able to get them cheaper right now. The same can be said of veterans who may or may not get a rookie drafted over top of them.
The two most important pieces of drafting right now are to draft players who have the potential to move up draft boards and to stack as much as possible. Without knowing the Week 17 schedule, we don’t know which teams to stack against one another, making it even more important to build as many team stacks as possible and hope they line up well in the playoffs.
With that in mind, here’s my latest Underdog mock draft. Full draft results can be found here. And run your own free mocks with our fantasy football draft simulator.
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Underdog Fantasy Mock Draft
Round 1 (4 Overall) – Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)
I prefer going wide receiver early unless I find the right running back value. In this scenario, wide receiver was a no-brainer — the tough decision was Ja’Marr Chase versus Justin Jefferson. I went with Chase due to the Vikings quarterback uncertainty and potential Bengals stacking options, an offense I expect big things from in 2024.
Round 2 (21 Overall) – Davante Adams (WR – LV)
With the top running backs gone, I’ll gladly take another receiver here. Although I’m not specifically targeting Davante Adams this year, he’s a solid value late in the second round.
Round 3 (28 Overall) – Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – JAX)
Zero running backs were selected between my second- and third-round picks, leaving me with Travis Etienne as the ninth running back off the board. Etienne feels like the last true RB1 left on the board and my next pick will be 17 picks down the line, so I expect a run on the position before then. I’m also interested in stacking the Jaguars offense, so I feel good about adding Etienne here.
Round 4 (45 Overall) – Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)
Like I said, the Bengals is an offense I expect big things from this season. It appears Cincinnati is set to run it back with the trio of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for a final time with Higgins on the franchise tag. Surely, they will make the most of this group while they can, right?
Round 5 (52 Overall) – Tony Pollard (RB – TEN)
With three running backs going in the last four picks, I’m hoping to snag one ahead of another run at the position. I often prefer to wait out my RB2 spot and continue stacking other positions, but I like Pollard much more than somebody like Brian Robinson or Raheem Mostert, who would be available with my next pick.
If I’m taking a running back in this range, I want somebody with the ability and path to an RB1 season. Although I’m not predicting that, it’s possible the Titans play a fast style of offense and Tony Pollard takes control of the backfield over Tyjae Spears. Getting an RB2 here allows me to focus on pass-catchers and stacking those teams together in the next few rounds rather than reaching on a running back I don’t love.
Round 6 (69 Overall) – Christian Kirk (WR – JAX)
I’ve become a big fan of stacking the top running back with a top pass-catcher from the same team, particularly in a good but affordable offense like the Jaguars. Unless the Jaguars offense implodes, I feel good about one of Etienne or Christian Kirk posting strong numbers in a given week, if not both.
Rostering Kirk as my fourth wide receiver protects me against Etienne if he gets a tough game script and the Jags go pass-heavy. Although the Jaguars may draft a receiver, Christian Kirk is the unquestioned WR1 after Calvin Ridley‘s departure. The team added Gabe Davis, but Kirk has been undervalued throughout his Jacksonville tenure. That trend will continue in 2024.
Round 7 (76 Overall) – Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)
There was little doubt I would complete the Bengals stack after grabbing Chase and Higgins. Adding Burrow here allows for many explosive weeks for all three. Even if one receiver gets shut down, I feel good about Burrow and the other receiver picking up the slack.
Round 8 (93 Overall) – DeAndre Hopkins (WR – TEN)
DeAndre Hopkins is 31 years old and the Titans added Calvin Ridley with plenty of other weapons to the offense, but I like adding him here as my fifth wide receiver. It also gives me a Titans RB/WR stack. This offense looks primed to post more points than we’re accustomed to seeing in Tennessee and I have a piece of it every week, whether they’re attacking through the air or on the ground.
Round 9 (100 Overall) – Marquise Brown (WR – KC)
There’s no reason Marquise Brown can’t step in and immediately become Patrick Mahomes‘ top receiver. Depending on what happens with Rashee Rice‘s legal situation and the NFL Draft, we could see Brown’s average draft position (ADP) skyrocket over the next few months. Regardless, this feels like it should be Brown’s floor. He’s a player I’m targeting in this range every time.
Round 10 (117 Overall) – Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)
With Kirk Cousins relocating to Atlanta, it’s finally time for Kyle Pitts to reach his full potential. Admittedly, I’ve been in on Pitts every season thus far and there’s no looking back now. I was tempted to grab an elite tight end early, but sitting the position out until now is the way to go if it results in Pitts.
Round 11 (124 Overall) – Gus Edwards (RB – LAC)
It’s time to dip my toes back into the running back pool. At this spot in the draft, I’m happy to get a player like Gus Edwards who offers a relatively safe floor and a decent upside. Although it’s unlikely he will pull out an RB1-type season, Edwards currently figures to be the lead ball carrier in a Jim Harbaugh-led offense.
The Bolts will certainly look at the position in the draft, and they recently added JK Dobbins, but would it be surprising to see Edwards fall into the end zone 10 times this season?
Round 12 (141 Overall) – Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX)
I’d prefer to wait a bit longer on my QB2, but I felt it was worth it here for Trevor Lawrence to go with Christian Kirk and Travis Etienne, giving me another strong stack of three players from an offense. Stacking is so important, particularly in early drafts where we don’t know the Week 17 schedule.
Round 13 (148 Overall) – Jaylen Wright (RB – Tennessee)
Grabbing Gus Edwards as my RB3 with a solid floor allows me to take a swing on a rookie like Jaylen Wright. Wright is an explosive player who will surely find himself a role on an NFL team this year, even if he’s not an immediate bell-cow back. If he lands in a good offense with a path to be their RB1, I expect his ADP to jump dramatically. These are the players I want to take shots on right now.
Round 14 (165 Overall) – Curtis Samuel (WR – BUF)
In need of another receiver, I’ll take a player who the Bills prioritized this offseason. Curtis Samuel now gets to play with one of the best quarterbacks on a team that sorely lacks pass-catchers.
Round 15 (172 Overall) – Audric Estime (RB – Notre Dame)
I’ll take another shot on a rookie running back versus veterans with minimal upside. Audric Estime is a power back who could carve out a short-yardage role in Year 1, offering plenty of touchdown upside.
Round 16 (189 Overall) – Darnell Mooney (WR – ATL)
This is too late for Darnell Mooney to go, even as the fourth option in a suddenly loaded Falcons offense. Pairing Mooney with Pitts offers me another stack.
Round 17 (196 Overall) – Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN)
I’m happy to get Chigoziem Okonkwo here, not just because he adds to my existing Titans stack, but that is certainly an added benefit. Okonkwo had a nice finish to the season last year after a slow start. While the offense has more playmakers than last season, that may open things up for Okonkwu. With a new coaching staff in the mix, it’s go time for Okonkwo.
Round 18 (213 Overall) – Hunter Henry (TE – NE)
Finally, I’ll grab a third tight end with touchdown upside in Hunter Henry. Generally, I like to go three deep at either quarterback or tight end while sticking with two at the position I feel is stronger.
Final Roster
- QB: Joe Burrow
- RB: Travis Etienne Jr.
- RB: Tony Pollard
- WR: Ja’Marr Chase
- WR: Davante Adams
- WR: Tee Higgins
- TE: Kyle Pitts
- FLX: Christian Kirk
- Bench: DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Gus Edwards, Trevor Lawrence, Jaylen Wright, Curtis Samuel, Audric Estime, Darnell Mooney, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Hunter Henry
Full Draft Results & Board
The Draft Analyzer gave us a B+ score for this draft.
More Fantasy Football Draft Advice
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