Fantasy Football 2019: FanSided Mock Draft – Pick 10 Breakdown

Fantasy Football Mock Draft Pick 10: Rounds 1-3

I mentioned in my Values and Sleepers article that mock drafts are rarely fruitful because people tune out after the 4th round or so which I think is where the most important rounds really start.

The nice thing about setting up a private invite, 12 man PPR, fantasy football mock draft with contributors at FanSided is that we wanted to treat this seriously.

The setup here for our mock draft fantasy football rosters is one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, two flexes, and a defense. I love the double flex format personally.

We wanted to act as though this was a real draft that we’d be doing as if there was money on the line much like you’ll be doing in the coming weeks.

With all of us taking it seriously and sticking through the process, we thought the reader could glean some good information from each of our spots to get an idea of what their drafts could look like and thus prepare themselves to draft from any position successfully.

I’m going to take you through my thoughts for each pick as well as touch on what was available, what got sniped in front of me, and why I think my team (and strategy) from the 10th will be a contender.

Round 1, pick 10: Odell Beckham Jr. –

You could probably persuade me into thinking James Conner or MAYBE Nick Chubb are worthy of a top 10 fantasy football mock draft pick here seeing as how Le’Veon was already gone as was Davante Adams and Hopkins.

I could also see an argument for Julio Jones for sure and that would be reasonable. However, as much as it pains me to say it, I think OBJ is going to have an incredible season (and top fantasy football season) with Baker in Cleveland.

Call it a gut feeling I guess but I think it can be reasonably backed up with how Baker played last year, how much more they’re likely to throw the ball this year with Kitchens as the head coach now, and with how OBJ is a talent that demands (and deserves) all the targets you can feed him.

I successfully (very successfully actually) waited on running back last year until the fourth round in my FFPC high stakes draft and won it going away. When you’re sitting past the top 5 running backs, I don’t think it’s worth while to reach on a guy just for the sake of the running back being an important position. This holds especially true when you can get a top wide receiver talent.

Round 2, pick 15: Michael Thomas –

Everything I said above holds true here. Seriously. Julio was snagged up right before me by the guy in the 11 hole. Looking back on it I feel like a doofus for not taking Kelce with one of these picks as he went right after this. I’m fine with Michael Thomas here though.

He just inked an enormous contract and I don’t think he has any doubters anymore after demolishing the past two years. With Brees not looking to slow down and this team getting totally screwed over by the officiating in the playoffs last year, I expect them to be coming for the trophy this year again.

In order to do that, Michael Thomas is going to need another big year. I mean…he caught 125 balls last year with 9 touchdowns and he has the best catch rate in the league! Imagine if he somehow tops that this year, I’m going to be sitting pretty.

Round 3, pick 34: Aaron Jones –

I wrote a lot about this guy in my Values and Sleepers article so please check out the analysis there. Long story short – great offense = great opportunity. Not to mention there are reports coming out he is working hard on catching the ball more and he’s cut his body fat down big time and gotten in better shape.

I know, I know, classic coach speak coming from camp but sometimes I fall for the hype. I felt like I had to take a running back here after my first two picks and with so few left on the board worth taking.

Leonard Fournette is about the only other guy I could have taken here as a running back that would have made sense. I couldn’t skip and take George Kittle and I didn’t feel the need for another wide receiver but I’m thrilled with Jones falling to me late in the 3rd.