Superflex 12-Team Mock Draft (2021 Fantasy Football)

The NFL offseason technically begins in February. But if you ask me, the NFL’s offseason really begins in May. Free agency and the NFL Draft have commenced. The schedule for the upcoming season is out. May is when the NFL really re-opens for business.

Some would say there’s no point to draft in May. But you can gain a lot of early insights by doing so. And there’s no harm in getting a head start on prep for the upcoming season.

With all that being said, here’s a mock draft I did using our Draft Wizard for a 12-team, superflex, half-point PPR league. I was randomly assigned the 7th overall pick.

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Pick 1.7: Kyler Murray (QB – ARI) 
This pick came down to Murray and Derrick Henry. In a superflex league, I couldn’t pass up Murray’s dual-threat ability.

Pick 2.6: Joe Mixon (RB – CIN)
I was tempted to take Stefon Diggs, or Murray’s top weapon, DeAndre Hopkins with this pick. But receiver is insanely deep, and I needed to make sure I got an RB1. I’ve always been a believer in Mixon’s talent, and I finally think we’ll get to see him operate in a functional offense.

Pick 3.7: D’Andre Swift (RB – DET)
I was tempted to take another quarterback, and Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen, and Allen Robinson were all on the board. But again, wide receiver is so deep. And I’ve got a stud quarterback on my roster already. It came down to Swift and Najee Harris, but I’m rolling with Swift because of the half-PPR format. Swift could be an elite pass-catching tailback in his second season.

Pick 4.6: Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)
I’m expecting big things from Burrow in Year 2, so I’m locking him in as my QB2. I’ve got two tailbacks I feel good about, and there are still a ton of great receivers left who I can add moving forward. My quarterback situation is set.

Pick 5.7: D.J. Moore (WR – CAR)
Moore caught 21 fewer passes than he did in 2019, but he racked up 18 more receiving yards. He’s a high-end WR2 who has weekly WR1 potential. Sam Darnold could be an improvement over the conservative Teddy Bridgewater. Hopefully, that results in more than 4 touchdowns for Moore.

Pick 6.6: Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT)
Johnson’s the last guy on the board who I believe has WR1 potential. He’s an immensely talented player, he just needs to stay healthy. I’m also praying Ben Roethlisberger still has a little left in the tank. If he falls off a cliff, this entire passing game could sink.

Pick 7.7: Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)
Everyone’s thrilled that LSU teammates Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase will be reuniting in Cincinnati. But let’s not forget that Higgins was pretty darn good as a rookie last year, posting 908 yards and six touchdowns. He offers a ton of upside as my WR3.

Pick 8.6: Chase Edmonds (RB – ARI)
Running back’s becoming a hot mess, so I’m settling for Edmonds, who could be effective with more playing time in Arizona.

Pick 9.7: Laviska Shenault Jr. (WR – JAC)
This is where the draft is starting to get ugly. There are a ton of tight ends I like still left on the board. So snagging T.J. Hockenson didn’t feel like the best value. Running back is a dumpster fire, so I turned to receiver. I’m taking an upside shot on Shenault, who’s a beast with the ball in his hands.

Pick 10.6: AJ Dillon (RB – GB)
The return of Aaron Jones took some air out of Dillon’s fantasy stock. But he’s still one of the top handcuffs in fantasy and could see an increased role in his sophomore season.

Pick 11.7: Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND)
I waited one too many rounds to take a tight end. Dallas Goedert, Kyle Pitts, and Logan Thomas were all taken between my 10th and 11th round picks. Bummer. So I’ll just keep waiting and take my starter later. Instead, I’m going with Pittman, who like Shenault possesses a ton of Year 2 upside.

Pick 12.6: Irv Smith Jr. (TE – MIN)
I’ve waited long enough on tight end and am happy to land Smith in Round 12. Smith could be a high upside sleeper at tight end this year. And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just cut my losses and find another flier on the waivers.

Pick 13.7: Sam Darnold (QB – CAR)
I have a feeling Darnold could have a resurgence in Carolina. He goes from the incompetent Adam Gase to a rising star in the coaching ranks in Joe Brady. As my QB3, he’s worth the shot.

Pick 14.6: Robert Tonyan (TE – GB)
The options at running back and wide receiver aren’t catching my eye. So I’ll take some insurance for my upside shot on Irv Smith. Tonyan will probably see some touchdown regression, but he’s still a primary target in the red zone for (hopefully) Aaron Rodgers.

Final Draft Grade: B (86/100)