Jealous of all the fantasy baseball dorks getting to draft this month? There is no reason you can’t get in on the action. Our Draft Wizard simulation software is already open so don’t hesitate to blaze through a couple of football drafts over your lunch break. That’s what I did and wanted to share the results with you from my favorite one. In fact, this is my favorite team I’ve been able to assemble through about 20 mocks so far this summer. This draft was done in a 12-team half-PPR league with 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 FX, 1 D/ST and 6 bench spots. I randomized my spot in the draft and ended up #8, which from the look of things, might be a sweet spot this year.

Get a free $3 Best Ball entry into a 2018 DRAFT contest with your first deposit

Running Backs

Joe Mixon (1.8), Kenyan Drake (2.5), Raheem Mostert (6.5), Alexander Mattison (9.8), Latavius Murray (10.5), Tony Pollard (11.8), Damien Harris (13.8)

The Bengals and Cardinals offenses should both take a step forward this year, but more importantly, both of my starting running backs are clear-cut three-down starters for teams who should play up-tempo and pass a ton. You might not think that is ideal for a running back, but since both are so heavily involved in the passing game, it makes their ceiling bonkers, as we’ve seen with Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara and Todd Gurley in seasons prior.

For my bench, I grabbed elite upside everywhere I could find it. Frankly, I’m disappointed to have missed out on J.K. Dobbins and Justin Jackson too. Mostert is an excellent flex back as he was quite literally the #2 fantasy RB from the time he took over as the starter in San Francisco last year. Behind him, my backs would need an injury to take off (with the potential exception of Harris, who might just steal the job in a run-heavy NE scheme). With three lottery tickets, I’m hoping to strike RB1 gold with Murray, Pollard or Mattison.

Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham Jr. (3.8), Calvin Ridley (4.5), A.J. Green (5.8), Brandin Cooks (8.5), Sammy Watkins (12.5)

You may have been burned by one or all of the names on this list, but that is exactly why they have become such values at their ADPs this season. Beckham is off to a top-3 start among wide receivers in fantasy football history and is still just 27 years old. Yes, he struggled last year but he was playing through an injury. Green didn’t play at all last season but was on pace for 1,350 yards and 12 scores in 2018 before his injury. Yes, there is an injury risk remaining here, but he has WR1 upside which is rare for a WR3.

Ridley has been among the most efficient receivers since he joined the league in both TD-rate and yards/target. Now that he should finally see more targets, he could have a Chris Godwin like explosion. Cooks is another example of someone people have given up on too quickly. He is one of the only receivers ever to post 1,000+ yards in 4 of his first 5 seasons, is still young and now he upgrades to Jared Goff. Then there is Watkins who is a total flier but one with loads of upside because of the offense he is in.

Tight End, Quarterback and D/ST

Tyler Higbee (7.8), Ryan Tannehill (14.5), Eagles D/ST (15.4)

Let’s knock out the D/ST really quick. Look folks, I’m going to keep this really simple: Just draft the Eagles D/ST no matter what. You will be streaming the position soon enough anyway so you might as well snag the team who will be playing from ahead against Dwayne Haskins, Jared Goff and Joe Burrow to start the seasons.

Higbee does have some question marks with Gerald Everett returning, a more challenging schedule than last year and plenty of talent at the WR position, but his five-game stretch the end last season was better than any five-game stretch in Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez or Travis Kelce‘s careers.

Tannehill is an interesting case because the perception about him is that he sucked in Miami. Meanwhile, through four years, he was 3rd all-time in passing yards to start a career, top 10 in TDs and top 10 in INT-rate. Then injuries and Adam Gase happened. Once he took over in Tennessee, they were the top-scoring team in football and Tannehill had a historically efficient season.

Final Roster

QB: Ryan Tannehill
RB: Joe Mixon, Kenyan Drake, Raheem Mostert, Alexander Mattison, Latavius Murray, Tony Pollard, Damien Harris
WR: Odell Beckham Jr., Calvin Ridley, A.J. Green, Brandin Cooks, Sammy Watkins
TE: Tyler Higbee
D/ST: Eagles D/ST

Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud | Google Play | TuneIn | RSS