Mike Fanelli | Thu, Aug 8th 2024, 7:00am EDT

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 10-Team, Half-PPR, Late Pick (2024)

The 2024 preseason is underway. Therefore, fantasy players should start preparing for their redraft leagues. Everyone knows practice makes perfect, and there is no better way to practice than with the FREE FantasyPros Mock Draft Simulator.

I am picking 10th in this 10-team, 1QB, and half-point PPR-scoring redraft mock draft. The lineup for this mock draft is one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, two flex, and six bench spots.

My fantasy football draft strategy for this mock was Hero-RB, using one of my first two picks on a running back. I didn’t select my RB2 until the eighth round after drafting five wide receivers. Let’s see how it turned out.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 10-Team, Half-PPR, Late Pick

Round 1, Pick 10: Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)

Fantasy players had high hopes for Wilson after the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers. The highlights on HBO’s Hard Knocks pushed the former Ohio State star’s ADP into the late first round. Unfortunately, Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles four snaps into the season. Wilson was the WR32 last year, averaging only 9.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, fantasy players should expect him to finally break out in 2024, with Rodgers returning and the team massively improving their offensive line while making limited additions to their receiving core.

Round 2, Pick 1: Jonathan Taylor (RB – IND)

The superstar had two top-six finishes in his first two years in the league. Unfortunately, the past two seasons have been rough for Taylor and his fantasy players because of injuries. However, he remains one of the top running backs in fantasy football, averaging 16.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game since his rookie year. More importantly, the superstar was the RB3 on a points-per-game basis from Week 7 through the end of the season. Don’t be surprised if the superstar has a massive season playing alongside Anthony Richardson.

Round 3, Pick 10: Nico Collins (WR – HOU)

Collins was my favorite late-round pick in 2023, and it paid off. While fantasy players must draft him several rounds earlier this year, he is worth the price tag. The former Michigan star led the team in receptions (80), targets (109), receiving yards (1,297), touchdowns (eight), and fantasy points per game (17.4) last season. Tank Dell is coming off a significant leg injury, while Stefon Diggs is on the wrong side of 30 and has had back-to-back years with late-season struggles. Collins is Houston’s clear-cut No. 1 receiver.

Round 4, Pick 1: Sam LaPorta (TE – DET)

Anyone who drafted LaPorta in the final few rounds in 2023 spent the year taking a victory lap almost every week. The former Iowa star was the TE1 his rookie year, averaging 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, he ranked fourth in the NFL and first among tight ends in receiving touchdowns (10). While many believe Jameson Williams will have a breakout season, he won’t replace LaPorta as Jared Goff’s go-to receiver alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown. Expect him to improve following an impressive rookie year.

Round 5, Pick 10: George Pickens (WR – PIT)

Pickens is one of my wide receivers to draft this year because of his league-winning upside. The former Georgia star was outstanding in the four games without Diontae Johnson last season. He was the WR13, averaging 14.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game during those four weeks, posting the eighth-highest fantasy points per route ran rate (0.49) among wide receivers with at least 110 routes (per Fantasy Points Data). Don’t be surprised if Pickens is this year’s Nico Collins after the team significantly upgraded at the quarterback position this offseason.

Round 6, Pick 1: Malik Nabers (WR – NYG)

The rookie receiver could be a league winner despite playing on an unappealing New York offense. Nabers will be the focal point of the team’s passing attack, with the Giants lacking any proven pass-catcher following Darren Waller’s retirement. Meanwhile, he ranked first in the NFL Draft class in yards per route run (3.64) among wide receivers with at least 20 targets last season (per PFF). The former LSU star has made several highlight-reel receptions during camp. Nabers could end his rookie season as a top-12 wide receiver.

Round 7, Pick 10: Christian Kirk (WR – JAX)

Kirk is the perfect combination of safe floor and upside at the wide receiver position. He was the WR11 in 2022, averaging 11.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game as Trevor Lawrence’s No. 1 guy. Furthermore, Kirk was the WR16, averaging 11.7 fantasy points per game from Week 2 through Week 12 last season, despite Calvin Ridley seeing a 20% target per route run rate during those contests (per Fantasy Points Data). He should dominate the middle of the field with Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. challenging defenses downfield.

Round 8, Pick 1: Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT)

Fantasy players should be excited for the Steelers backfield after the Steelers hired Arthur Smith. Warren ranked first in missed forced tackle per attempt rate (34%) and yards after contact per attempt (3.52) while finishing second in explosive run rate (8.1%) among running backs with at least 110 rushing attempts last season (per Fantasy Points Data). Furthermore, he had the fifth-most receptions among running backs despite ranking 21st in route run (237). Warren could finish inside the top 10 if Najee Harris misses significant time or becomes extremely inefficient.

Round 9, Pick 10: Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN)

Some had high hopes for Spears heading into the offseason. Unfortunately, the Titans signed Tony Pollard to a significant contract in free agency. Yet, the former Tulane star is one of my favorite mid-round running back draft picks this year. He had the fifth-best explosive run rate (7%) and the ninth-best yards after contact per rushing attempt average (2.92) among running backs with at least 100 attempts last season (per Fantasy Points Data). While Pollard won’t completely disappear into the background, Spears could become the lead running back in Tennessee.

Round 10, Pick 1: Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)

According to Dave Canales, Brooks likely won’t make his NFL debut until Week 3. However, the former Texas star could be a league winner in the second half of the year. He averaged 6.1 rushing yards per attempt and 113.9 yards per game last season. Brooks had the 11th-most missed tackles forced (63) in 2023 despite missing the final four games with a torn ACL (per PFF). Canales made Rachaad White an RB1 despite averaging only 3.6 yards per rushing attempt last year. Brooks should be even better once healthy.

Round 11, Pick 10: Ladd McConkey (WR – LAC)

Many expect the Chargers to have one of the most run-heavy offenses this year under Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman. While the team’s wide receiver core is far from elite, McConkey could become a star early in his rookie season. The former Georgia star has shined since getting drafted. More importantly, McConkey has been working with the first-team offense during training camp. The rookie is the most likely candidate to adsorb a massive chunk of Keenan Allen’s 150 targets from last year. He could quickly become Justin Herbert’s go-to receiver.

Round 12, Pick 1: Jaleel McLaughlin (RB – DEN)

The Broncos backfield is a wide-open competition. However, McLaughlin is the only one I will draft. He impressed as a rookie, averaging 11.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game and 6.9 yards per rushing attempt in the four contests with at least seven attempts. McLaughlin had the 12th-best explosive run rate among running backs with at least 75 rushing attempts in 2023 (per Fantasy Points Data). Don’t be surprised if Sean Payton views him as his next Alvin Kamara and gives McLaughlin a significant workload, especially in the passing game.

Round 13, Pick 10: Dak Prescott (QB – DAL)

Prescott was a league winner in 2023 despite a slow start. He was the QB21 over the first five weeks, averaging only 12.6 fantasy points per game. By comparison, the veteran was the QB1, averaging 24 fantasy points per game after the team’s bye. Prescott led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns while finishing third in yards (4,516). More importantly, the veteran averaged 36.4 pass attempts per game after the bye week. Prescott could be even better with the Cowboys lacking an appealing rushing attack. He has overall QB1 upside.

Round 14, Pick 1: D’Onta Foreman (RB – CLE)

Usually, I take Foreman with my last pick whenever I draft Nick Chubb. However, the veteran is the perfect early-season replacement for Jonathon Brooks. Last year, Foreman was the RB11 from Week 6 through Week 10, averaging 14.2 PPR fantasy points per game with Khalil Herbert out of the lineup. While Jerome Ford was a solid player last season, he struggled on the ground, totaling four yards per rushing attempt and only four touchdowns. Expect Foreman to be Cleveland’s replacement for Kareem Hunt until Chubb is 100% healthy.

Final Results

The Draft Wizard gave this draft a B+ score with the fourth-highest projected points total.

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

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