Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard, 12-Team (2023)

Standard-scoring leagues — oh, how they harken back to the glory days. I’m drinking Coke from a glass bottle, reading the box scores in the paper and high-fiving the milkman on my way out the door. It actually kind of feels like that, right? Let’s dive into our latest fantasy football mock draft. Practice makes perfect, and the best way to prepare is by using our free Draft Wizard Mock Draft Simulator.

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Fantasy Football Mock Draft

If you’re still playing in a standard-scoring league, much respect. When I started playing in fifth grade, my first fantasy leagues were standard-scoring. They stayed that way for a while. I was confused about why the landscape shifted to point per reception (PPR) so quickly.

If you’re in a standard-scoring league, much respect. You haven’t succumbed yet, so please never change!

Let’s talk strategy.

Obviously, touchdowns are king. We want to find players on the field when their team is in the red zone and are a part of their team’s strategy when they’re inside the 20, 10, 5, etc.

Don’t let that philosophy trick you into solely drafting big, bruiser running backs. Targets in the red zone are immensely valuable. Austin Ekeler had 13 targets inside the 10 last season. Seven of Jerick McKinnon‘s nine inside-the-10 targets were touchdowns. The abilities to make people miss in tight spaces and get open in traffic are invaluable the closer their team gets to pay dirt.

We’re going with a standard roster: QB, two RBs, two WRs, TE, Flex and four bench spots. Let’s dive in using the FantasyPros free mock draft wizard.

1.05

Who I drafted: Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC)
Who I considered: Jonathan Taylor

Yes, Ekeler catches a ton of passes. However, that doesn’t mean he’s not still incredibly valuable in standard-scoring leagues. Ekeler is incredibly involved in his team’s game plan as they approach the end zone. His 13 targets inside the 10 last season resulted in only three touchdowns. Could that mean some TD progression in 2023?

2.08

Who I drafted: Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)
Who I considered: Jaylen Waddle, Najee Harris, Breece Hall

I certainly did not expect Pollard to fall to me here. He’s the workhorse running back in a very solid offense. In a standard league, I’m not overthinking that.

3.05

Who I drafted: Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC)
Who I considered: Joe Mixon, Amari Cooper, DK Metcalf, Aaron Jones

Your RB/WR/TE players score fewer points in a standard league. Quarterback points stay the same. Therefore, having an elite option at QB in a standard league is more valuable than in other formats. Mahomes is my QB1 with a bullet. Assuming he plays 17 games, you’re all but guaranteed a top-five QB.

4.08

Who I drafted: DK Metcalf (WR – SEA)
Who I considered: Keenan Allen, Calvin Ridley

Last season, Metcalf finished with 27 targets inside the 20-yard line. That was the third-most in the NFL. Sure, Jaxon Smith-Njigba will eat into that target share a bit, but I think Metcalf’s Average Draft Position (ADP) is adjusted for that.

5.05

Who I drafted: Keenan Allen (WR – LAC)
Who I considered: Jerry Jeudy, Drake London, DeAndre Hopkins

Allen rises above this next tier of receivers for me because of his year-to-year consistency. Snagging Allen with Ekeler gives me a high chance of landing the Chargers’ top-two red zone receiving targets, and I’m projecting that offense to be an effective one this season.

6.08

Who I drafted: Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL)
Who I considered: Jerry Jeudy, Mike Williams

I think there’s a good chance this Falcons offense looks transformed. With everyone healthy, Desmond Ridder and Drake London with another year under their belts, and Bijan Robinson, Arthur Smith has the chess pieces to get creative with his offense. Kyle Pitts’ ceiling here is unmatched. Look, I understand the floor. Desmond Ridder’s floor isn’t good enough to sustain a viable passing attack. However, in the middle of the sixth round in a standard league, Pitts is worth the risk.

7.05

Who I drafted: Marquise Brown (WR – ARI)
Who I considered: AJ Dillon, Tyler Lockett, Mike Williams

I didn’t want to double up with Charger and Seahawk WRs, so I went with the number one target on probably a lower-scoring offense. There’s no doubting Brown’s talent. His injury history isn’t promising, but he’s healthy at the moment, and without DeAndre Hopkins, I like his chances to average 10 targets per game.

8.08

Who I drafted: AJ Dillon (RB – GB)
Who I considered:

This is far from a sexy pick (unless you’re into quads), but Dillon is a near-lock to see 15 touches a game in the Aaron-Rodgers-less, run-heavy Packers’ offense. One knick to Aaron Jones, and Dillon is a weekly RB1.

9.05

Who I drafted: Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)
Who I considered: Elijah Mitchell, Jordan Addison, Gabe Davis

Even though Charbonnet is considered the pass-catching back compared to Kenneth Walker, I like the former in the ninth round. Receptions from the backfield can lead to explosive plays if the passes are caught in space, and the Seahawks probably didn’t draft Charbonnet with the intention of leaving him on the bench for the whole season.

10.08

Who I drafted: Jordan Addison (WR – MIN)
Who I considered: Treylon Burks, Gabe Davis

I am really excited to see what Addison’s role looks like in this offense. Justin Jefferson is the type of receiver around whom gameplans are centered, and if Addison can take advantage of weaknesses in coverage, he’s in for a lucrative year.

11.05

Who I drafted: Joshua Kelley (RB – LAC)
Who I considered: Zamir White, Gabe Davis

I’m happy to handcuff my RB1 with my last selection here. Should Ekeler get hurt or anything wonky happens with his contract situation, Kelley becomes a fine option.

Mock Draft Results

The Draft Wizard gave me a 90 out of 100. I’ll take that! Our guy Derek Brown gave me a 95/100. Now go practice and prepare for your own mock drafts using our FREE fantasy football mock draft simulator.

Let’s go!

More Fantasy Football Mock Drafts

Mock Drafts NFL Austin Ekeler Jerick McKinnon Jonathan Taylor Tony Pollard Jaylen Waddle Najee Harris Breece Hall Patrick Mahomes Joe Mixon Amari Cooper DK Metcalf Aaron Jones Keenan Allen Calvin Ridley Jaxon Smith-Njigba Jerry Jeudy Drake London DeAndre Hopkins Kyle Pitts Mike Williams Desmond Ridder Bijan Robinson Marquise Brown AJ Dillon Tyler Lockett Zach Charbonnet Elijah Mitchell Jordan Addison Gabe Davis Kenneth Walker Treylon Burks Justin Jefferson Joshua Kelley Zamir White