Joe Pepe | Mon, Aug 12th 2024, 7:06am EDT

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR, Middle Pick (2024)

With the preseason in full swing, we enter a fun time in fantasy football. We get to complete fantasy football mock drafts to help build our research for when we finally have our real draft this summer.

Today, we will break down a point per reception (PPR) league that has 12 teams competing. We decided to select from the middle of the pack by becoming the sixth draft slot. As you will see in this team breakdown, we decided to lean into a draft strategy called BPA, or Best Player Available. In this stylistic choice, we do not reach out to create stacks or lean on bye weeks or any small information. Instead, we will make sure our team has the best talent we can acquire within the draft.

Let’s break down this team from the 6th slot to see how this fantasy football mock draft played out. And don’t forget to practice for your fantasy football draft using our FREE fantasy football mock draft simulator.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft

Pick 1.06: Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN)

When you have a player like Ja’marr Chase on your team, you know he will be the cornerstone of your fantasy hopes and dreams. Lucky for us, Chase is the alpha within the Bengals offense.

Last season, Chase produced over 100 receptions and over 1,200 yards. These numbers were created during a season when Joe Burrow missed significant time within the year. Chase provides a consistent red-zone threat and should be poised for another WR1 season in fantasy football.

Pick 2.07: Sam LaPorta (TE – DET)

There has been a change at the guard, with Sam Laporta becoming the first tight end to come off the draft boards in most drafts. We love great players from great offensive schemes; Laporta is the definition of that sentence in 2024.

Laporta caught 86 passes for 889 yards and ten touchdowns in 2023. We may see a bit of regression, but he has excellent hands, above-average athletic ability, and a need within the offensive scheme. We always say you want a tight end who is a top-three option within an offense, and Laporta is Top-2.

Pick 3.06: Isiah Pacheco (RB – KC)

Can you say bell-cow running back? We can! Pacheco has no competition in the Kansas City backfield and plays on one of the best offenses in the NFL. Now, the Chiefs have added some wide receivers to their core group, which will help Pacheco face an empty box most of the time. When the Chiefs enter the red zone, the truck first ask questions later style of running that Pacheco brings to the field will shine for our fantasy football team.

Pick 4.07: Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL)

Here is where BPA takes place within our draft. Most people draft wide receivers and running backs for their first 5-7 rounds. However, passing on a player like the two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is hard.

We reach into the Konami Code well by adding Jackson to our team, and we know that he now has the consistent threat of Derrick Henry in RPO, freeing up lanes for Jackson to utilize his legs. Jackson also has Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Rashod Bateman, and Zay Flowers to help elevate the passing offense.

Pick 5.06: Zay Flowers (WR – BAL)

Speaking of Zay Flowers, we decided that our BPA strategy could merge with stack attacks to help us lift our fantasy football team’s ceiling in 2024. Flowers quickly established himself in the Ravens’ offense last season, securing a 24% target share. He also led the Ravens in air yards/target share while accumulating 1000 yards and six touchdowns. Flowers has a chance to build upon a strong rookie season to help our fantasy team reach the championships.

Pick 6.07: David Montgomery (RB – DET)

Great players from great teams – the strategy you must always follow in fantasy football. Montgomery will be used even with the rise of Jahmyr Gibbs, especially in the red zone. The Lions score a plethora of touchdowns, which means Montgomery has a chance to score a ton for our fantasy team.

Pick 7.06: Najee Harris (RB – PIT)

The Steelers’ running backs face the fifth easiest strength of schedule (SOS) this season. Harris produced his third straight 1,000-rushing-yard season, scoring eight touchdowns and having 1,200 total yards, yet people see him as a disappointment. Let’s take advantage of people feeling fatigued at seeing his name on the board and add another strong running back to our team.

Pick 8.07: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)

Now that we are reaching the mid-round selections, we must aim for an upside within our offense. We begin the upside shots with Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN). JSN managed to record 63 receptions off 93 targets, totaling 628 yards and four touchdowns. He started slow due to injuries but found a rhythm later in the season.

From Week 6 on, JSN averaged 8.2 points per game (PPG). With a change in quarterbacks and offensive coordinators to a more pass-happy scheme, JSN could elevate his numbers and his game to help elevate our team in 2024.

Pick 9.06: Chase Brown (RB – CIN)

Upside swing once again with Chase Brown. Camp reports have been glowing for the second-year running back, who creates explosive plays in his sleep. This year, he no longer shares his backfield with the workhorse Joe Mixon but will instead battle with Zach Moss for snaps.

The Bengals love to use one consistent back inside the five-yard line, as Joe Mixon was Top-5 in I5 last year. If Brown takes that role, we have a league winner on our hands.

Pick 10.07: Brian Thomas Jr. (WR – JAC)

We stick with our theme of upside with Brian Thomas Jr. With Calvin Ridley‘s departure, the Jaguars drafted Thomas Jr. to help take the top off the defense. The only thing standing in his way is Gabe Davis, who possesses the same skill set. Rookie wide receivers take a few minutes to get started, but they usually get on a hot streak and produce for fantasy football teams towards the end of the season.

Pick 11.06: Curtis Samuel (WR – BUF)

Could Curtis Samuel become the WR1 in Buffalo? Sure! We have a past connection with the offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, which provided positive dividends for our fantasy team. Now reunited in Buffalo, the tandem has a chance to rework their magic. This draft selection is the definition of a dart throw. However, if it hits, we have a WR1 at an 11th-round price.

Pick 12.07: Rashid Shaheed (WR – NO)

Rashid Shaheed is an exciting selection in fantasy football drafts in 2024. Shaheed has the chance to become the WR2 within a New Orleans offense that was a top-10 scoring offense last season. We are looking for upside in the draft, and Shaheed brings that to our fantasy team.

Pick 13.06: Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT)

We did not expect to draft a second tight end because we already have Sam Laporta. However, when a player like Freiermuth falls into your lap, you cannot allow him to pass your draft slot.

Freiermuth is a reception machine who is a top-three option within the Pittsburgh passing offense. He acquired a new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, who loves to utilize his tight ends. Freiermuth can become one of the top-five tight ends in the NFL for fantasy football this year. We could not allow this draft pick to slip past us in the 13th round.

Our Draft Wizard graded us with a B, so do you agree? Come check out the rest of the draft here to see how every pick played out from 1.01 to 13.12.

Remember to continue reading all the fantastic research here at FantasyPros to elevate your game and dominate your leagues. Good luck this offseason!

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