It’s officially June, and before we know it, fantasy football season will be upon us. There will be plenty of content to absorb over the next three months for fantasy owners, and while mock drafts rarely wind up being close to your real draft, they can still be a good exercise. Here are the results of my first mock draft of the year using Fantasy Pros Draft Simulator (which is an excellent tool for fantasy die-hards). I had the ninth pick based on randomization. [Note: this is for a 10-team, non-PPR league; I will have several different formats for future mock drafts]

 

Round 1

1.1: Todd Gurley, LAR RB

1.2: Le’Veon Bell, PIT RB

1.3: Ezekiel Elliott, DAL RB

1.4: David Johnson, ARI RB

1.5: Antonio Brown, PIT WR

1.6: Leonard Fournette, JAX RB

1.7: DeAndre Hopkins, HOU WR

1.8: Alvin Kamara, NO RB

1.9: Saquon Barkley, NYG RB

1.10: Odell Beckham Jr., NYG WR

 

My thoughts: You have to go best player on the board throughout the draft, so while there’s risk taking a rookie this high, I like Barkley over OBJ, Julio Jones, Kareem Hunt, and others.

 

Round 2

2.1 Melvin Gordon, LAC RB

2.2: Julio Jones, ATL WR

2.3: Kareem Hunt, KC RB

2.4: Tyreek Hill, KC WR

2.5: Michael Thomas, NO WR

2.6: Dalvin Cook, MIN WR

2.7: A.J. Green, CIN WR

2.8: Davante Adams, GB WR

2.9: Mike Evans, TB WR

2.10: Keenan Allen, LAC WR

 

My thoughts: He doesn’t find the end zone as often as you’d like, but Julio Jones gone for at least 1,409 yards in each of the past four seasons. There’s a case to be made for him as the first wideout off the board in my opinion.

 

Round 3

3.1: Devonta Freeman, ATL RB

3.2: Derrick Henry, TEN RB

3.3: LeSean McCoy, BUF RB

3.4: Jordan Howard, CHI RB

3.5: Rob Gronkowski, NE TE

3.6: Brandin Cooks, LAR WR

3.7: D.J. Moore, CAR WR

3.8: Jerick McKinnon, SF RB

3.9: Christian McCaffrey, CAR RB

3.10: Stefon Diggs, MIN WR

 

My thoughts: This could wind up being too high for McCaffrey if C.J. Anderson has a role equal to or greater than Jonathan Stewart in 2017, but for a draft this early, I love Run CMC here.

 

Round 4

4.1: Adam Thielen, MIN WR

4.2: T.Y. Hilton, IND WR

4.3: Aaron Rodgers, GB QB

4.4: Zach Ertz, PHI TE

4.5: Travis Kelce, KC TE

4.6: Joe Mixon, CIN RB

4.7: Doug Baldwin, SEA WR

4.8: Allen Robinson, CHI WR

4.9: Mark Ingram, NO RB

4.10: Kenyan Drake, MIA RB

 

My thoughts: Adam Thielen being available would have been great, but if Andrew Luck is healthy and effective, he and T.Y. should pick up right where the left off (Hilton led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,448 in 2017).

 

Round 5

5.1: Josh Gordon, CLE WR

5.2: Alshon Jeffery, PHI WR

5.3: Sony Michel, NE RB

5.4: Alex Collins, BAL RB

5.5: Demaryius Thomas, DEN WR

5.6: Ronald Jones II, TB RB

5.7: Rashaad Penny, SEA RB

5.8: Larry Fitzgerald, ARI WR

5.9: Amari Cooper, OAK WR

5.10: Jay Ajayi, PHI RB

 

My thoughts: Cooper will be the focal point of Oakland’s offense, and I can risk his volatile nature with Julio and T.Y. already on the roster.

 

Round 6

6.1: Russell Wilson, SEA QB

6.2: Tom Brady, NE QB

6.3: Julian Edelman, NE WR

6.4: Carson Wentz, PHI QB

6.5: Jarvis Landry, CLE WR

6.6: Dion Lewis, TEN RB

6.7: Deshaun Watson, HOU QB

6.8: Cam Newton, CAR QB

6.9: Drew Brees, NO QB

6.10: Greg Olsen, CAR TE

 

My thoughts: This looks like the year to wait on quarterback, but I wanted to get an elite, reliable QB1 to add to the roster I’ve already assembled. And it looks like I got one just in time after a run behind Brady.

 

Round 7

7.1: Kirk Cousins, MIN QB

7.2: Dez Bryant, FA WR

7.3: Marvin Jones, DET WR

7.4: Carlos Hyde, CLE RB

7.5: Matthew Stafford, DET QB

7.6: Ben Roethlisberger, PIT QB

7.7: Rex Burkhead, NE RB

7.8: Royce Freeman, DEN RB

7.9 Derrius Guice, WAS RB

7.10: JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT WR

 

My thoughts: This round seems like a little bit of a malfunction with Dez Bryant getting drafted and Derrius Guice still being available, but Fantasy Pros gets much more reliable later in the summer. That said, you never know what will happen in your draft, so if someone falls to you, just make sure you check to see if there was a surprising suspension/injury (which can and has happened) before pulling the trigger on a surprising fall.

 

Round 8

8.1: Michael Crabtree, BAL WR

8.2: Jimmy Graham, GB TE

8.3: Golden Tate, DET WR

8.4: Duke Johnson, CLE RB

8.5: C.J. Anderson, CAR RB

8.6: Devin Funchess, CAR WR

8.7: Jordy Nelson, OAK WR

8.8: DeVante Parker, MIA WR

8.9: Pierre Garcon, SF WR

8.10: Robert Woods, LAR WR

 

My thoughts: Again, you should always draft best player available, but Jimmy Graham is close enough to some of the solid options at WR and RB still on the board to be worth selecting here. And his touchdown potential is a great fit on this roster.

 

Round 9

9.1: Chris Hogan, NE WR

9.2: Evan Engram, NYG TE

9.3: Corey Davis, TEN WR

9.4: Lamar Miller, HOU RB

9.5: Tevin Coleman, ATL RB

9.6: Chris Thompson, WAS RB

9.7: Kerryon Johnson, DET RB

9.8: Marquise Goodwin, SF WR

9.9: Sammy Watkins, KC WR

9.10: Kelvin Benjamin, BUF WR

 

My thoughts: Sammy Watkins has 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown upside in Andy Reid’s offense, so this is a good spot to take him considering the risk.

 

Round 10

10.1: Emmanuel Sanders, DEN WR

10.2: Marshawn Lynch, OAK RB

10.3: Will Fuller, HOU WR

10.4: Aaron Jones, GB RB

10.5: Robby Anderson, NYJ WR

10.6: Cooper Kupp, LAR WR

10.7: Jack Doyle, IND TE

10.8: Jamison Crowder, WAS WR
10.9: D’Onta Foreman, HOU RB

10.10: Marlon Mack, IND RB

 

My thoughts: I thought about taking Will Fuller or Marlon Mack here, but Beast Mode being unleashed in Jon Gruden’s offense is too exciting a thought to pass up in the double-digit rounds.

 

Round 11

11.1: Delanie Walker, TEN TE

11.2: Kyle Rudolph, MIN TE

11.3: Sterling Shepard, NYG WR

11.4: Josh Doctson, WAS WR

11.5: Jamaal Williams, GB RB

11.6: Nick Chubb, CLE RB

11.7: Michael Gallup, DAL WR

11.8: Mike Gesicki, MIA TE

11.9: Nelson Agholor, PHI WR

11.10: Allen Hurns, DAL WR

 

My thoughts: Nelson Agholor was a WR2/FLEX option last season, so I don’t see why that should change in 2018 with even more confidence and possibly a larger role.

 

Round 12

12.1: Isaiah Crowell, NYJ RB

12.2: Devontae Booker, DEN RB

12.3: Tyler Eifert, CIN TE

12.4: Peyton Barber, TB RB

12.5: Jared Goff, LAR QB

12.6: Andrew Luck, IND QB

12.7: Eric Ebron, DET TE

12.8: Randall Cobb, GB WR

12.9: Martavis Bryant, PIT WR

12.10: Jimmy Garoppolo, SF QB

 

My thoughts: There are a ton of options that will be working in a backfield committee, and Denver has seemed to love Booker since they drafted him; he might have a chance to finally breakout if he’s healthy.

 

Round 13

13.1: Rishard Matthews, TEN WR

13.2: Dak Prescott, DAL QB

13.3: Jordan Reed, WAS TE

13.4: Cameron Meredith, NO WR

13.5: Marqise Lee, JAX WR

13.6: DeSean Jackson, TB WR

13.7: Philip Rivers, LAC QB

13.8: Tarik Cohen, CHI RB

13.9: Doug Martin, OAK RB

13.10: Trey Burton, CHI TE

 

My thoughts: After taking Marshawn Lynch in Round 10, it makes sense to pair him with backfield mate Doug Martin, as there’s a chance one pulls away from the other for touches in Oakland.

 

Round 14

14.1: Bilal Powell, NYJ RB

14.2: Corey Clement, Eagles RB

14.3: Mike Williams, LAC WR

14.4: George Kittle, SF TE

14.5: O.J. Howard, TB TE

14.6: Chris Carson, SEA RB

14.7: Marcus Mariota, TEN QB

14.8: Giovani Bernard, CIN RB

14.9: Samaje Perine, WAS RB

14.10: LeGarrette Blount, DET RB

 

My thoughts: I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Corey Clement ends up leading the backfield committee for Philadelphia in 2018, especially with Jay Ajayi entering the final year of his rookie contract.

 

Round 15

15.1: Jagaurs D/ST

15.2: Vikings D/ST

15.3: Chargers D/ST

15.4: Seahawks D/ST

15.5: Eagles D/ST

15.6: Broncos D/ST

15.7: Texans D/ST

15.8: Rams D/ST

15.9: Ravens D/ST

15.10: Chiefs D/ST

 

My thoughts: Fantasy owners should rank their fantasy defenses and wait until Round 15 to take the best one available.

 

Round 16

16.1: Stephen Gostkowski, NE K

16.2: Justin Tucker, BAL K

16.3: Greg Zuerlein, LAR K

16.4: Matt Bryant, ATL K

16.5: Dan Bailey, DAL K

16.6: Wil Lutz, NO K

16.7: Matt Prater, DET K

16.8: Mason Crosby, GB K

16.9: Chris Boswell, PIT K

16.10: Jake Elliott, PHI K

 

My thoughts: Greg Zuerlein was an option, but Justin Tucker has been so good for so long that I feel more comfortable with him on a worse offense.

 

Final Roster

 

QB: Tom Brady, NE

RB: Saquon Barkley, NYG

RB: Christian McCaffrey, CAR

WR: Julio Jones, ATL

WR: T.Y. Hilton, IND

TE: Jimmy Graham, GB

FLEX: Amari Cooper, OAK WR

D/ST: Ravens

K: Justin Tucker, BAL

BE: Derrius Guice, WAS RB

BE: Sammy Watkins, KC WR

BE: Marshawn Lynch, OAK RB

BE: Nelson Agholor, PHI WR

BE: Devontae Booker, DEN RB

BE: Doug Martin, OAK RB

BE: Corey Clement, PHI RB

 

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