Rookie drafts are all the rage right now, but why not immerse ourselves in a good old-fashioned PPR redraft fantasy football mock draft romp? After all, we can take rookies there, too, right?
For this fantasy football mock draft exercise, I picked from the fourth spot, with the rosters consisting of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 FLEX, 1 K, 1 D/ST and five bench spots. It’s never too early to start your draft prep, so take advantage of all the tools at FantasyPros, including the FREE fantasy football mock draft simulator.
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Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Picks & Results
Let’s dive into our latest fantasy football mock draft for a 12-team, PPR league with an early pick.
1.04: Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)
Unless you’re hell-bent on Christian McCaffrey, the early picks that follow the 1.01 are pretty stress-free. You really can’t go wrong with any of the WRs here (barring injury). I have Ja’Marr Chase ranked EVER so slightly ahead of the other receivers in this tier, but like I said, you can’t go wrong with any. Even without Joe Burrow for a chunk of the season, Chase still managed 100 receptions and finished with an average of 16.4 FPPG. Positive TD regression is also on the horizon, as Chase finished with seven TDs last season despite finishing top-eight in red zone targets.
2.09: Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF)
I almost went Derrick Henry here, but I’m an uber-Brandon Aiyuk fanboy this year. Some still underestimate exactly what he is to the 49ers’ offense, but Aiyuk has risen to a legit WR1. His efficiency is off the charts (3.18 yards per route run), and his volume is also there, with a 25% target share. Trade rumors have been swirling, but I’ll take him with no regrets in this spot on any team. It hurt letting Henry go, but there were enough quality RBs left that I figured one would fall to me in round No. 3.
3.04: Derrick Henry (RB – BAL)
I got him anyway! Everyone keeps waiting for the wheels to fall off on Henry, but he keeps throwing it right back in their faces. Admittedly the snap share did decrease (54.2%) last season, but Henry still managed to finish second in the league in rushing yards and scored 12 TDs. On a Ravens squad that has led the league in rushing % for four seasons, a 1200-yard, 10TD season should be considered the floor for Henry.
4.09: Joe Mixon (RB – HOU)
This pick came down to James Cook vs. Joe Mixon, who I constantly flip-flop in my personal rankings. If I were to do 100 of these drafts and this situation arose every time, I’d probably go 50-50 on these picks. Still, right now, I lean Mixon by a hair. Cook is younger and more efficient, but his six TDs scored last season will always be an issue with Josh Allen‘s high red zone activity. Mixon should maintain workload status in an exciting young Houston offense, and scoring opportunities should abound.
5.04: Mark Andrews (TE – BAL)
Tee Higgins was the preferred pick in a vacuum here, but I already have Chase. Mark Andrews missed seven games last season but was still elite at the position, finishing TE5 in Fantasy Points Per Game (FPPG). The previous years, he was TE1 and TE3, and he was one of only three TEs to finish with over two points per route run. We’re talking about a player who was going two to three rounds earlier a year ago.
6.09: Calvin Ridley (WR – TEN)
All eyes were on Calvin Ridley after his year ban from the game, and he… kind of came through?? There were a lot of encouraging signs for Ridley in Jacksonville, as he finished eighth in air yards and third in red zone targets. That said, Ridley’s efficiency was horrible last season; he averaged 7.5 yards per target and 1.60 yards per route run. Still, the Alabama product was rewarded with a huge deal to go to Tennessee, and it seems like a major shift in offensive scheme is coming there with the strong-armed Will Levis at the helm.
7.04: Diontae Johnson (WR – CAR)
I’m curious to see where Diontae Johnson’s ADP will ultimately fall as the summer months progress, and he may be too expensive if his Carolina hype continues. Johnson’s efficiency and opportunity are dropping as he gets on in years, but his volume remains elite as he logged 134 targets last season. He should immediately step in as the Panthers’ WR1, and his route-running precision should be amazing for Bryce Young‘s development. I love him as a WR4/FLEX.
8.09: Devin Singletary (RB – NYG)
This is an unsexy pick, but one I think fills my need. Henry and Mixon will be my go-to RBs, but Singletary is fine as an RB3/FLEX/bye-week fill-in. He’s not Saquon Barkley, but Singletary was more than adequate in Houston, logging 216 carries and 37 red zone touches. He didn’t wind up having a lot of competition in the Houston backfield, but you could argue he has even less now in New York. I can see a 1,000-yard season being in the cards here.
9.04: Brock Purdy (QB – SF)
I’m usually a proponent of waiting on QBs in 1QB leagues, and the position is even deeper this year. It’s highly likely that in 12-team leagues this year, I’ll be the 12th to take a quarterback unless there’s extreme value to be had. I am more than content to go into the fantasy season with Brock Purdy as my quarterback, as he finished QB6 last season, throwing for over 4,200 yards (fifth in the NFL). Purdy retains his entire corps of weapons (and a few draft picks were added), and he’s one of the most efficient QBs in the league (first in YPA, third in fantasy points per dropback).
10.9: Josh Downs (WR – IND)
It’s time to fill out my depth since I don’t need my defense or kicker yet, and backup QBs and TEs aren’t the proper build path, either. Josh Downs is my WR5 on this squad, which is fine because his TD rate will not be an upside play in any league. Downs has volume enough to be a viable FLEX or bye-week filler, as he had the third-highest rate of slot snaps in the NFL last year.
11.04: Blake Corum (RB – LAR)
I’m a big fan of taking Blake Corum late in drafts. Kyren Williams was a revelation last season, but he’s already having foot issues on the same foot that has plagued him in his career. As my Williams rankings dropped, my Corum ranks have risen. Corum is a quintessential “wait-and-see” player who could pay big dividends for the stretch run if Williams is hurt and/or managed.
12.09: Joshua Palmer (WR – LAC)
The Chargers’ offense projects to be one of the biggest wild cards in the NFL this year. Who will be the WR1? Will they be so run-heavy that it doesn’t even matter? Is the tandem of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins even enough to sustain that running workload? Whatever the case, I like taking a shot on Joshua Palmer late. Quentin Johnston still looks like he has a lot to learn at the position, and the Chargers went offensive tackle with their fifth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Palmer is basically the only remaining receiver who has chemistry with Justin Herbert. He is also coming off a season where he posted a highly efficient 15.3 yards per reception.
13.04: San Francisco 49ers D/ST
You don’t necessarily need to force the defense this early, but round 13 was a place where I was comfortable enough pulling the trigger on the 49ers. They remain an elite fantasy defensive unit, ranking eighth in sacks and third in PPG allowed last year.
14.09: Brandon Aubrey (K – DAL)
The Cowboys were the only team in 2023 that averaged over 30 points per game, so Brandon Aubrey should have opportunities aplenty. There were still plenty of quality players left in round 15 that I was fine waiting on to get a high-quality kicker. It helps that Aubrey’s kicking environment will still be favorable come December.
15.04: Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA)
I could have finished my draft several ways, but I thought it prudent to give myself at least another streaming option if Purdy falters. Tua Tagovailoa has had his own efficiency issues the last couple of years, but he remains the cornerstone of arguably the most electric offense in the NFL, who led the league in pace. Tagovailoa will still enter the season with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, along with a full disposal of dynamic RBs.
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