Aug. 7, 2014.
This is a 3-WR 2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft I took part in with 11 other members of the forum and followers on Twitter. As usual, I’ll have analysis of my picks, as well as the best and worst selections from each two rounds. In a new addition this year, David Wipperman (forum member Ragnarok, a.k.a. Rags) will break down the best and worst teams from the mock draft.
Just a heads up that we have 2014 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts every Wednesday evening. Check out the fantasy mock draft thread for details.
MY PICKS, ROUNDS 1-2: I went back-to-back receivers for three reasons: 1) We were drafting in a 3-WR format, so wideouts are more valuable. 2) All of the second-tier receivers are usually off the board by the end of the third round, so I didn’t want to miss out. 3) I wanted to see where Montee Ball would fall in the wake of his appendectomy. As it turns out, not very far. Had this been a real league, I probably would have gone A.J. Green and then Ball, but I wanted to experiment.
BEST PICKS, ROUNDS 1-2: Aaron Rodgers was the third player I considered once Yo took Dez Bryant and Brandon Marshall (also good picks). It seems like 2.09 is great value for the best quarterback in the NFL.
WORST PICKS, ROUNDS 1-2: Meanwhile, 1.08 was way too early for Peyton Manning. Marshawn Lynch was worse, but the computer drafted him. I’m going to ignore the computer’s selections going forward.
In the second round, DeMarco Murray is too much off an injury risk, but he isn’t nearly as bad as Frank Gore. That was an awful selection considering that an aging Gore will get less of a workload this year.
MY PICKS, ROUNDS 3-4: Blegh. This is what I get for waiting on a running back. Both Ryan Mathews and Stevan Ridley have good potential, but they are high-candidate busts. I was hoping for one of Doug Martin, Zac Stacy, Andre Ellington or Julius Thomas to fall to me. They didn’t. Blegh.
BEST PICKS, ROUNDS 3-4: Those players I mentioned deserve consideration for the best picks, as do the first four players chosen in this round. The best value in fantasy this year is the top of the third round. There’s a huge drop-off once you get to the 3.06-3.09 range, so if possible, try to request an early selection (I was once in a league that allowed owners to pick their spots based on how they finished the year before.)
WORST PICKS, ROUNDS 3-4: “I can’t get behind Toby Gerhart in the third round.” I think I’ve written that sentence the past few mocks. C.J. Spiller will disappoint once again, as will Reggie Bush. Wes Welker, meanwhile, was a huge reach in a non-PPR format.
MY PICKS, ROUNDS 5-6: Andrew Luck has been going much earlier in other fantasy mocks I’ve done, so I was surprised that he lasted until 5.11. He should be in for a big year. I’m also thrilled with Marques Colston in the sixth frame. He was awesome at the end of last year, and people seem to forget that.
BEST PICKS, ROUNDS 5-6: A few players I hoped would fall to me at 5.11 were Rashad Jennings, Lamar Miller and Roddy White. There’s not much of note in the sixth round, though I suppose there’s good value with Ben Tate.
WORST PICKS, ROUNDS 5-6: DeSean Jackson will be a disappointment this year, so avoid him. Chris Johnson will be even worse. He already stinks, and now it’s become clear that the Jets want to use him in a committee. Stay away.
MY PICKS, ROUNDS 7-8: Steven Jackson is hurt, but I’m fine with him in the seventh round. He’s a candidate for double-digit touchdowns if he can stay on the field. As for the eighth pick, I wanted Reggie Wayne, but the computer gave me Greg Olsen. “Computer” ended up picking Wayne. I might have considered that to be a coincidence, but the computer also chose Jordan Reed for ob1, who was on auto draft at this point. I was hoping for Reed to fall to me at 7.11, so the computer was clearly out to get me.
Speaking of auto drafting, this is something I will never understand. I HATE when people sign up for mocks, make their first 4-6 selections, and then bail. These people usually suck in their leagues because the middle rounds are where you win your leagues. If you don’t have good depth, your team will suck, so how will you know if you can get good depth if you never mock draft it?
BEST PICKS, ROUNDS 7-8: Jordan Reed, Reggie Wayne… Also, I like the value for Tom Brady and Robert Griffin in the seventh, as well as Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew in the eighth. Those were two players I was considering at 8.02.
WORST PICKS, ROUNDS 7-8: The seventh round is WAY too early for Sammy Watkins. E.J. Manuel sucks, so Watkins will struggle to post quality stats this year. And then there’s Seattle defense. There’s no way in hell that should be an eighth-round choice in any format.
MY PICKS, ROUNDS 9-10: “Dwayne Bowe has been working hard this offseason, so he could have a breakout campaign. Or, Alex Smith could keep sucking… Either way, he’s not a bad ninth-round option.” I’ve also written this multiple times in my fantasy mocks.
As for Khiry Robinson, there’s a good chance he’ll lead the Saints in carries this year, as Bill Parcells, Sean Payton’s former mentor, compared him to Curtis Martin.
BEST PICKS, ROUNDS 9-10: Bernard Pierce and Fred Jackson are solid picks in the ninth round, as they could be capable of posting RB2 numbers this year. Two Seahawks – Christine Michael, Russell Wilson – provided great value at the end of the 10th frame.
WORST PICKS, ROUNDS 9-10: Aside from Computer’s picks, nothing too terrible here. Jordan Matthews and Eric Decker were chosen too early, but I don’t think they are terrible choices.
MY PICKS, ROUNDS 11-12: Ben Roethlisberger is a solid QB2. Justin Hunter, meanwhile, has been enjoying a terrific offseason, and Tennessee’s coaching staff believes he’s ready for the next step.
BEST PICKS, ROUNDS 11-12: Marvin Jones, Andre Williams and Jarrett Boykin provide great upside. I’m also intrigued by Josh Gordon at this spot. Even if Gordon is suspended for eight games, I’d use a 12th-rounder on him. He could help carry fantasy teams come playoff time.
WORST PICKS, ROUNDS 11-12: It’s all about upside here, yet Steve Smith offers none. Johnny Manziel also seems like a waste, given that Brian Hoyer is the probable starter.
MY PICKS, ROUNDS 13-15: Arian Foster is constantly injured, so Andre Brown has a good chance to start a few games this year. He needs to be considered in the late rounds. After that, I picked a random defense and kicker, because who cares?
BEST PICKS, ROUNDS 13-15: Ahmad Bradshaw could start for the Colts. He could also not see any action, but he’s well worth a 13th-round choice. I also loved the Kenny Britt selection. The former Titan wideout has been great this offseason.
WORST PICKS, ROUNDS 13-15: Players with no upside in these rounds include James Jones (he’s had an awful offseason), Robert Woods and Miles Austin.
My Fantasy Team:
QB – Andrew Luck, Colts
RB – Ryan Mathews, Chargers
RB – Stevan Ridley, Patriots
WR – A.J. Green, Bengals
WR – Julio Jones, Falcons
WR – Marques Colston, Saints
TE – Greg Olsen, Panthers
K – Matt Bryant, Falcons
DEF – Buccaneers Defense
BN – Steven Jackson, RB, Falcons
BN – Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs
BN – Khiry Robinson, RB, Saints
BN – Ben Roethlisberger,QB, Steelers
BN – Justin Hunter, WR, Titans
BN – Andre Brown, RB, Texans
This might be the worst team I’ve drafted this summer. I’m stacked at receiver, and I like Andrew Luck, but my running backs are trash. I could be in serious trouble if Ryan Mathews gets hurt again and Stevan Ridley is benched for fumbling. Like I said earlier, if this were a real draft, I probably would have chosen Montee Ball at 2.02. I just wanted to see where he’d fall.
Best and Worst Fantasy Teams:
By David Wipperman (Rags)
Not available this week.
More 2014 Fantasy Football Articles:
Fantasy Football Rankings
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 8/27 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/4 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/4 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/18 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/22 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 8/21 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 8/14 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 8/12 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 8/7 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/31 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 7/24 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/17 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 7/10 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - PPR - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 2-QB - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - TD - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 8/28 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Articles:
2014 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/3 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: It's All About Value - 9/1 (Kenny)
2014 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 8/31 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/31 (Walt)
2014 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Quarterback Targets - 8/30 (Walt)
FanDuel $1 Million Contest - 8/30 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy - 8/17 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Running Backs - 3/28 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: Overdrafted Players - 2/16 (Walt)
2014 Fantasy Football: First-Round Bust History - 2/14 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 2/14 (Walt)
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
