The NFL preseason is in full swing, meaning it’s the start of redraft fantasy football season. Everyone knows practice makes perfect, and there is no better way to practice than with the FantasyPros Mock Draft Simulator.
I am picking first in this 12-team, 1QB, and PPR-scoring redraft fantasy football mock draft. The lineup for this mock draft is one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, one flex, and six bench spots.
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Fantasy Football Mock Draft
My goal for this mock draft was to use a Hero RB draft strategy while punting on the quarterback position until the second-to-last round. Let’s see how it turned out.
Pick 1.01: Bijan Robinson (RB – ATL)
Robinson has been a fantasy star since entering the NFL, posting a top-nine PPR finish every year of his career. Furthermore, the former Texas star finished as the RB3 in 2024 and the RB2 last season despite totaling only seven rushing touchdowns. Yet, the superstar had 366 touches for 2,298 scrimmage yards while splitting work with Tyler Allgeier. Thankfully, the veteran is now in Arizona, allowing Robinson to have a workhorse role under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, making him my top pick regardless of the scoring format.
Pick 2.12: Rashee Rice (WR – KC)
Unfortunately, Rice has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this offseason. He served a 30-day sentence for violating his probation. Furthermore, the superstar was rehabbing following a clean-up procedure on his knee. Reportedly, Rice won’t be suspended and should be ready to play in Week 1. Last year, the former SMU star played in only eight games due to a suspension and an injury. However, he was outstanding when on the field, averaging 18.8 PPR fantasy points per game, scoring over 23.1 in half the contests.
Pick 3.01: Brock Bowers (TE – LV)
Hopefully, Bowers stays healthy after missing five games because of injury in 2025. However, he was still a fantasy star when on the field, ranking as the TE2 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 14.7 PPR fantasy points per game. Despite the awful offense and playing in five fewer games, Bowers had more receiving touchdowns last year than as a rookie (seven vs. five). Expect the superstar tight end to have a bounce-back year with Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza under center, making him a value with my third-round pick.
Pick 4.12: Tee Higgins (WR – CIN)
While Higgins has a history of injuries, he has finished in the WR15 through WR19 range in PPR scoring in three of the past four years, including 2025, despite Joe Burrow missing over half the season. Despite averaging slightly fewer targets per game with Burrow (6.7 vs. 7.8), Higgins averaged more fantasy points per contest (15.2 vs. 13.4) and fantasy points per target (2.3 vs. 1.7) with the superstar quarterback. The 15.2 fantasy points per game average would have made him the WR10 on a points-per-contest basis last year.
Pick 5.01: DJ Moore (WR – BUF)
After years of dealing with subpar quarterbacks, Moore gets to play with Josh Allen in 2026. Yet, he has been productive, averaging 14 or more PPR fantasy points per game in five of seven seasons since his rookie year despite never being an elite touchdown scorer. Meanwhile, the Bills have lacked a go-to wide receiver since Stefon Diggs was traded. However, Diggs finished as the WR9 in his final season in Buffalo, averaging 9.4 targets and 16.1 fantasy points per game. Moore could have similar success with Allen under center.
Pick 6.12: D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
Some will claim that Kyle Monangai will replace Swift as the Bears’ starting running back this season. However, there is nothing to suggest that will happen. Last year, Swift was the RB15, averaging 14.3 PPR fantasy points per game, a higher average than Bucky Irving (13.8) and Kenneth Walker III (11.3). More importantly, he averaged more rushing attempts (13.9 vs. 9.9) and yards per game (67.9 vs. 46.1) than Monangai last year. Furthermore, Swift had a higher fantasy points per touch average (0.89 vs. 0.79) than the former seventh-round rookie.
Pick 7.01: Chris Godwin Jr. (WR – TB)
Unfortunately, Godwin has struggled to stay healthy the past few seasons, missing 18 games in 2024 and 2025 because of injury. However, the veteran was outstanding before suffering a season-ending injury in 2024, ranking as the WR1, averaging 19.7 PPR fantasy points per game. While he won’t provide that level of production, Godwin should bounce back if he stays healthy. Last year, the veteran averaged 2.4 fantasy points per target during the fantasy playoffs. More importantly, Godwin reportedly has had a strong start to training camp and looks healthy.
Pick 8.12: Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI)
While he won’t replace D’Andre Swift as Chicago’s starter, Monangai is an excellent mid-round pick. He finished his rookie year as the RB30, averaging 8.6 PPR fantasy points per game. However, Monangai earned more work as the year progressed, averaging six rushing attempts per game over the first eight weeks compared to 13.4 over the final nine weeks of the fantasy season. Furthermore, he had 198 scrimmage yards and 22.8 fantasy points in the lone game without Swift last year, putting Monangai an injury away from a likely RB1 season.
Pick 9.01: Kenneth Gainwell (RB – TB)
No one expected Gainwell to finish last year as the RB16, averaging 13 PPR fantasy points per game, especially with Warren finishing as the RB17. The veteran was a force in the passing game, ranking fourth among running backs in receptions (73) and fifth in receiving yards (486). While he won’t have Aaron Rodgers throwing to him in 2026, the Buccaneers signed Gainwell to a significant contract in free agency. If Bucky Irving struggles to stay healthy for the second consecutive season, Gainwell could have a career year.
Pick 10.12: De’Zhaun Stribling (WR – SF)
Many criticized San Francisco after spent the top pick in the NFL Draft on Stribling. Yet, the former Ole Miss star has been the buzz of training camp and had an impressive preseason debut, totaling seven receptions for 63 receiving yards. Furthermore, the two veterans ahead of him on the depth chart – Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel – have struggled to stay healthy over the past few years. While it was once considered a long shot, Stribling could end up being the 49ers’ best wide receiver as a rookie.
Pick 11.01: Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – ATL)
I always handcuff my top running back, especially when using a Hero RB draft strategy. After spending last year as Christian McCaffrey’s handcuff, Robinson signed with the Falcons and has become Bijan Robinson’s handcuff with Tyler Allgeier in Arizona. Last year, he only had 100 touches for 425 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, as McCaffrey stayed healthy. However, Robinson has been productive when given the opportunity. The veteran posted two top-30 finishes in 2023 and 2024 with the Washington Commanders. Robinson is one of the top handcuffs in fantasy football.
Pick 12.12: Jonah Coleman (RB – DEN)
Denver’s backfield is a fantasy football nightmare. J.K. Dobbins was the team’s top running back last season when healthy. Unfortunately, the veteran has failed to stay healthy throughout his career. Meanwhile, RJ Harvey struggled as the featured guy as a rookie. Coleman might not have much impact early in the year. However, the former Washington star could quickly become a league winner off the waiver wire when Dobbins inevitably gets hurt. Therefore, I’m happy to use a late-round pick in this mock draft to stash Coleman on my bench.
Pick 13.01: Brock Purdy (QB – SF)
While drafting Purdy comes with some injury risk, especially after missing eight games last season with turf toe, the veteran is a massive steal at this point in the mock draft. He was the QB6 on a points-per-game basis in 2025, averaging 2.2 passing touchdowns and 19.7 fantasy points per contest, posting a higher fantasy average than Jalen Hurts (18.7) and Dak Prescott (18.5). Furthermore, Purdy was on fire during the fantasy playoffs, averaging 3.7 passing touchdowns and 31.3 fantasy points per game from Week 15 through Week 17.
Pick 14.12: Denzel Boston (WR – CLE)
The Browns revamped their receiving corps during the NFL Draft, using two of their top three picks on KC Concepcion and Boston. While the former is the favorite to be Cleveland’s top wide receiver as a rookie, don’t count out the former Washington star. Reportedly, he has had an impressive offseason despite the team’s awful quarterback situation. Furthermore, it’s only a matter of time until Boston gets snaps and targets over Jerry Jeudy. Fantasy players might have to stash him on their bench, but Boston is a second-half breakout candidate.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
