On Thursday afternoon, I put myself through another fun, but stressful period of draft chaos, executing three mock drafts at the same time (12 teams/PPR scoring) — while holding the No. 9 pick in each drill.
DRAFT PREP MATERIALS
QB-STARTER RANKINGS
TOP 60 PPR TAILBACKS
TOP 75 PPR WIDE RECEIVERS
TOP 35 PPR TIGHT ENDS
TOP 125 PPR PLAYMAKERS
THE ANNUAL PPR SPECTACULAR: How to dominate your August draft
SLEEPER CELLS: 10 preferred PPR gems to target for Round 8 or higher
FREE MONEY ALERT: BATSBY’s initial picks for ‘NFL Survivor Pools’
HURRY UP AND PICK! The results of three simultaneous mock drafts (No. 9 slot)
MOCK DRAFT SIMULATION: #4 SLOT
MOCK DRAFT SIMULATION: #11 SLOT
Adding to the cool absurdity of this intense exercise, we then stepped up the degree of difficulty with the following limitations:
a) I wouldn’t be allowed to peruse my updated cheat sheet during the draft … not that there’s much time for it anyway.
b) I wasn’t permitted to ‘queue’ up any players in advance. The reasoning: Amid this brain-rattling torrent of being on the clock multiple times inside 30 seconds … pressure makes diamonds.
Here are the results from the three simultaneous mocks. For the first-timers attempting this crazy exercise at home, expect an avalanche of under-the-gun choices and permutations after Round 2, with only 45 seconds between each selection:
TEAM A
ROUND 1 — WR Davante Adams, Packers
ROUND 2 — WR Calvin Ridley, Falcons
ROUND 3 — WR Mike Evans, Buccaneers
ROUND 4 — WR Diontae Johnson, Steelers
ROUND 5 — RB Javonte Williams, Broncos
ROUND 6 — RB Mike Davis, Panthers
ROUND 7 — QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers
ROUND 8 — TE Robert Tonyan, Packers
ROUND 9 — RB David Johnson, Texans
ROUND 10 — RB Ronald Jones, Buccaneers
ROUND 11 — D/ST Tampa Bay Buccaneers
ROUND 12 — QB Matt Ryan, Falcons
ROUND 13 — WR Jamison Crowder, Jets
ROUND 14 — PK Harrison Butker, Chiefs
ROUND 15 — RB Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
ROUND 16 — TE Jared Cook, Chargers
TEAM B
ROUND 1 — WR Davante Adams, Packers
ROUND 2 — RB Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
ROUND 3 — TE Darren Waller, Raiders
ROUND 4 — WR Mike Evans, Buccaneers
ROUND 5 — RB Javonte Williams, Broncos
ROUND 6 — RB Kareem Hunt, Browns
ROUND 7 — RB David Johnson, Texans
ROUND 8 — WR Tyler Boyd, Bengals
ROUND 9 — RB Ronald Jones, Buccaneers
ROUND 10 — WR Marvin Jones Jr., Jaguars
ROUND 11 — QB Joe Burrow, Bengals
ROUND 12 — QB Matt Ryan, Falcons
ROUND 13 — D/ST Pittsburgh Steelers
ROUND 14 — PK Justin Tucker, Ravens
ROUND 15 — WR Breshad Perriman, Lions
ROUND 16 — TE Austin Hooper, Browns
TEAM C
ROUND 1 — WR Davante Adams, Packers
ROUND 2 — RB Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team
ROUND 3 — RB Miles Sanders, Eagles
ROUND 4 — WR Diontae Johnson, Steelers
ROUND 5 — RB Javonte Williams, Broncos
ROUND 6 — RB Mike Davis, Panthers
ROUND 7 — RB Raheem Mostert, 49ers
ROUND 8 — WR Marquise Brown, Ravens
ROUND 9 — WR Cole Beasley, Bills
ROUND 10 — QB Joe Burrow, Bengals
ROUND 11 — TE Eric Ebron, Steelers
ROUND 12 — QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
ROUND 13 — TE Austin Hooper, Browns
ROUND 14 — PK Harrison Butker, Chiefs
ROUND 15 — WR Breshad Perriman, Lions
ROUND 16 — D/ST Green Bay Packers
OBSERVATION #1
It wasn’t my intention to snag Davante Adams with all three Round 1 choices, given BATSBY’s similarly stellar devotion to Austin Ekeler and Antonio Gibson this summer.
However, the 9th slot simply presents too much value for Adams in PPR leagues, when factoring in the following numbers:
**Last year, Adams was the only NFL receiver to post top-4 finishes in catches (115), targets (149), receiving yards (1,374) and touchdowns (18).
**Covering the previous two seasons, Adams led all NFL receivers in red-zone targets (46) and red-zone receiving touchdowns (17).
**The Packers star (entering the final year of his contract) ranks second overall, among wideouts, in total touchdowns over the last three seasons (36) — trailing only Tyreek Hil (37).
**Adams comfortably stands as BATSBY Sports’ top-ranked PPR wideout for this season.
OBSERVATION #2
For what it’s worth, I had the opportunity to land Bills wideout Stefon Diggs at 14th overall for all three mock drafts.
Why the consistent bypass of Diggs, our No. 4 wideout for the preseason?
**Diggs collected only 21 red-zone targets over the previous two seasons (Bills, Vikings). He also couldn’t crack the top 15 in red-zone touchdowns during the same two-year span.
**It seems implausible that Diggs will replicate last year’s all-world tallies with catches (127), targets (166) and receiving yards (1,535).
OBSERVATION #3
Antonio Gibson had a weak finish to last season, merely averaging 50 total yards and zero touchdowns over the final four games.
So, in that vein, there’s some dual trepidation about his No. 10 positional ranking … and assuredly grabbing Gibson in Round 2.
On the flip side, for Weeks 2-12 (spanning 10 games), Gibson reached the elite-level threshold of 100 total yards and/or one TD eight times … while racking up 11 touchdowns during this prolific period.
What’s more, Gibson posted five outings of four-plus catches, bolstering his PPR viability in the late-season trade market.
OBSERVATION #4
I fully acknowledge that Round 5’s a tad high for rookie rusher Javonte Williams, especially before Denver’s preseason opener.
So, why reach at the same spot for the same person at all three drafts? Pretty simple.
With Mike Davis (my No. 18 tailback), Raheem Mostert (ranked No. 19), Ronald Jones (ranked No. 28) and David Johnson (No. 29) consistently falling to Rounds 6-9, it makes sense to REACH for the high-upside Williams in Round 5, knowing he’ll likely commandeer the Broncos’ RB1 role, sooner than later.
(Sorry, Melvin Gordon owners).
How good was Williams in college? At North Carolina last year, the junior tailback amassed 1,445 total yards (1,140 rushing) and 22 touchdowns; and keep in mind, Williams shared the backfield duties with Michael Carter (1,512 total yards, 11 TDs at UNC last season) — the Jets’ fourth-round pick this spring.
OBSERVATION #5
It’s a simple proposition: Either Darren Waller (the other Tier I tight end for 2021) gets corralled in Round 3 … or I won’t consider another tight end until Round 8, at the earliest.
Waller (107 catches, 145 targets, 1,196 yards, 9 TDs last season) dutifully serves as one of fantasy football’s most bankable stars.
In 2020, Waller enjoyed nine outings of six-plus receptions, nine efforts of eight-plus targets and four games of 100-plus yards receiving. The highlight of this prolific season: Carving the Jets up for 13 catches, 17 targets, 200 yards and two touchdowns.
Digging deeper, Waller ranked first (along with Travis Kelce) last year with 14 games of six or more targets. He also finished second (behind Kelce) with 12 games of seven catches, 80 yards and/or one touchdown.
OBSERVATION #6
In terms of differentiation for this exercise, BATSBY selected three different defenses (Bucs, Packers, Steelers); but make no mistake, come Draft Day, the focus will be on landing the Steelers in Round 11 or 12.
Why Pittsburgh?
a) The Steelers were the only D/ST club to enjoy a top-3 ranking with sacks, interceptions, defensive TDs last season.
b) Pittsburgh has Bud Dupree back from injury, the same Kentucky product who has cumulatively tallied 24 tackles for losses, 24.5 sacks and 45 QB hits over the last three seasons (2018-20).
OBSERVATION #7
There isn’t much wisdom in taking Rashaad Penny as my RB5 in Round 15.
Despite his first-round status in 2018, Penny has been a nonfactor in fantasyland, failing to crack 1,000 total yards for his career. The six touchdowns doesn’t inspire much projectable confidence, either.
So, why take the low-cost flier on Penny?
The kid’s only 25 years old and possesses a speed-power combination that has no equal among the Seahawks backs, including Chris Carson.
Or put another way, Penny likely has one week to prove himself … before being replaced by an out-of-nowehere star from the NFL’s opening weekend, via free agency.