One of the most common pieces of fantasy football advice on the internet is “know your league settings.” This is for good reason, as even seemingly small changes can make a huge impact in how you should approach a given league’s draft. Today, I’m focusing on one of those changes in particular: League size. The default size around the industry is 12 teams, but plenty of fantasy players play in 10- or even eight-team formats. And, although just adding two teams may not sound like much, a 14-team league is a wildly different beast. Drafting in 14-team (or larger) leagues requires a different approach. If you’re in a 14-team league for the first time this year (or even if you’re a large-league veteran), my number one recommendation is to test out a few different strategies in mock drafts. Of course, 14-team mock drafts against competent opponents can be hard to come by. That’s where the FantasyPros’ fantasy football mock draft simulator, the Draft Wizard, comes into play.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Mock Draft
The Draft Wizard makes it super easy to practice drafting against either expert rankings or average draft position (ADP) with exactly your league’s settings. Today, I will be mock drafting a 14-team PPR league from the seventh pick. Roster settings are 1-QB, 2-RB, 2-WR, 1-Flex and six bench slots. To check out the full draft board for this mock, click here. For a breakdown of each pick, read on.
1.07: Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)
If it weren’t for Matthew Stafford‘s newest back injury, I might have selected Puka Nacua here. But if I’m being honest with myself, my soul would have wanted McCaffrey either way. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. If we could guarantee every player stayed healthy for 17 games, McCaffrey would be the consensus first overall pick.
While I’ll admit that his injury risk is certainly higher than most players, the owner of the second-best fantasy season of all time is healthy right now. Passing on him in the middle or even at the end of the first round is drafting scared, and I prefer to draft to win.
2.08: Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)
In my last mock draft, I paired Christian McCaffrey with Ashton Jeanty. With two extra teams in the mix, my best option at this pick was Tee Higgins. That’s not ideal, but I also don’t hate having Higgins as my WR1.
Despite dealing with injuries and playing second fiddle to Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins finished 2024 as the WR6 in PPR points per game (PPG). I don’t necessarily expect him to repeat that level of production, but he is in the same excellent situation heading into this season. His added contingent upside if Chase were to miss time is also massive.
3.07: Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC)
I find myself upgrading Omarion Hampton every single time I update my rankings. First-round running backs have historically provided excellent fantasy hit rates, and Hampton earned his 22nd-overall draft capital. He’s an elite athlete and a capable pass-catcher. With Najee Harris still in the “walking laps” stage of recovering from his eye injury, the path is clear for the rookie to dominate this backfield from Week 1.
4.08: Xavier Worthy (WR – KC)
Normally, I’d be out on a player like Xavier Worthy, who posted an unimpressive 1.33 yards per route run in his rookie campaign. But I just can’t bring myself to ignore his late-season surge, in which he averaged 21.6 PPR points per game over his final six outings (playoffs included).
Worthy showed in that stretch that he can dominate on underneath targets, a role he should have every opportunity to claim with Rashee Rice almost certainly suspended to start the season. And if the Chiefs finally return to a more aggressive passing attack, we know the fastest man in NFL history can make his mark downfield, too.
5.07: DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI)
I heavily debated grabbing DeVonta Smith over Xavier Worthy at the previous pick, so I was ecstatic to see him still on the board here. Barring injury, I don’t see how drafting Smith as the WR29 can fail.
Smith was the WR17 in PPR points per game last season, and that was while the Eagles posted absurdly low pass rates. Between some losses on the defensive side, the toughest schedule in the league, and just good old-fashioned regression, it’s essentially guaranteed that Philadelphia’s offense will pass more this season. That can only be a good thing for the former Heisman winner.
6.08: Jauan Jennings (WR – SF)
I’m not worried about Jauan Jennings’ recent calf injury. Kyle Shanahan’s comments seemed to imply that Jennings sitting out was more to do with his desire for a new contract than a serious injury.
Jennings deserves that new contract, having finished 2024 12th among qualified receivers in yards per route run and 15th in Pro Football Focus (PFF) receiving grade. With Deebo Samuel out of town and Brandon Aiyuk not expected to be back in time for Week 1, the path is clear for him to run it back as the 49ers’ top receiver.
7.07: Brock Purdy (QB – SF)
I came into this draft planning to essentially punt the quarterback position. In a 14-team league, the opportunity cost of drafting an elite quarterback is much higher. And the position is deep this year with tons of high-upside options going outside even the top 20 in ADP. With that in mind, I expected to grab Drake Maye in one of the last few rounds and be happy about it.
However, with both McCaffrey and Jennings already on my team, I couldn’t ignore it when Brock Purdy was at the top of my board in round seven. Mr. Irrelevant finished his sophomore season as the QB6, and I think he played better in 2024. If the 49ers’ offense can stay a bit healthier this season, I love his chances to finish solidly inside the top 10 of fantasy quarterbacks.
8.08: Matthew Golden (WR – GB)
If he were a different prospect, Matthew Golden’s ADP would be multiple rounds higher. He was selected in the first round by a team with no clear No. 1 WR, and has received nothing but rave reviews since arriving in Green Bay.
I’m not saying we should throw out Golden’s prospect profile, which had a few red flags, entirely. But I will absolutely happily grab him as my WR5 in a 14-team league. Highly drafted rookie receivers are consistently some of the best targets for finding late-draft upside, and Golden fits that bill perfectly.
9.07: Mark Andrews (TE – BAL)
I was already higher than consensus on Mark Andrews, as he finished 2024 strong after a weird (potentially injury-related) slow start to the season. This season, Andrews doesn’t have a preseason injury. But now his biggest competition does, as Isaiah Likely just underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot.
I’m not expecting Andrews to return to his elite past self. But he is only 29 years old and finished 2024 fourth among all tight ends in PFF receiving grade. That he is consistently available as a back-half TE1 could end up looking like an obvious mistake by the end of the season.
10.08: Dylan Sampson (RB – CLE)
Any roster in a league this deep is always going to have some weaknesses. For this team, my obvious weakness is at RB3, as I haven’t selected a back since Omarion Hampton back in the third round. But for waiting this long, Dylan Sampson is a very intriguing player to grab.
The season is essentially a month away, and Quinshon Judkins doesn’t seem particularly close to resolving his arrest for domestic violence and returning to serve as the Browns’ No. 1 RB. If Judkins remains absent, Sampson will likely start the season behind Jerome Ford. But he will also have a very real non-injury-related path to becoming an NFL team’s top back, which can’t be said about many 10th-round picks.
11.07: Justice Hill (RB – BAL)
While I do like Dylan Sampson’s upside, there’s also a chance that Quinshon Judkins returns (or Jerome Ford holds him off) and he finds himself an irrelevant fantasy option. With that in mind, this team still needs a backup running back who can be started in a pinch.
Enter Justice Hill. Hill isn’t the kind of player I would target in a smaller league, as he doesn’t have league-winning upside. Even if Derrick Henry were sidelined, his pass-catching role likely wouldn’t change much. But that role was enough for him to average 8.9 PPR points in his healthy games last season. That’s not much, but it could be just what this roster needs if Christian McCaffrey or Omarion Hampton are ever unavailable.
12.08: Will Shipley (RB – PHI)
After attempting to bunt for a single with Justice Hill, let’s go right back to swinging for the fences. Will Shipley isn’t locked in as the Eagles’ No. 2 RB, and he needs Saquon Barkley to be sidelined to be at all viable. But the sophomore will almost certainly be a league-winner if Barkley is absent for an extended period and he can claim the lead role in the Eagles’ backfield. The situation in Philadelphia is near-perfect for running back fantasy success.
13.07: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WAS)
Yes, Jacory Croskey-Merritt was the 245th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There’s a real chance he isn’t active on game days, let alone worth playing in fantasy. But buzz is starting to build around his performances in Washington’s training camp.
This is the time of year when it’s easy to fall prey to preseason hype trains that amount to nothing, but the risk here in the final round is essentially zero. Brian Robinson Jr. is by no means unassailable as Washington’s No. 1 RB. It’s not out of the question that the rookie eventually forces his way not just onto the field, but also up the depth chart.
Final Thoughts
I’ll take this roster every time in a 14-team league. My 49ers fandom may be peeking through with the accidental triple stack, but I also genuinely like each of those picks in their own right. I’ll have to stay active on the waiver wire at running back, and tight end could also become a problem if Andrews is a disappointment.
I’m very happy with my top running back duo and depth at receiver, and those are the most important positions in any PPR league.
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Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasyPros.com. Find him on Twitter and Bluesky @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.
