FanSided Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Pick Eight breakdown
By Raju Byfield
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round One
Targets
My typical round one targets at the eight spot are David Johnson if he manages to slip, Deandre Hopkins, Joe Mixon or Davante Adams. A player like Mixon can often be had near the end of the first, or even in the second round, but he is not someone I will often pass up if DJ, Hopkins, Adams are selected with picks five, six, and seven.
Available players
David Johnson, Joe Mixon, Davante Adams
Selection
There were of course more players available than the ones I listed, but these were the only ones I considered in the first round. I was thrilled to see David Johnson still on the board at eighth overall and quickly drafted him with my first round pick.
The fifth overall pick based on ADP, Johnson was a tremendous value at eighth overall. DJ is going to find plenty of space to run in Arizona’s air raid attack, and should once again rank among the league’s leaders in both receptions and receiving yards for the running back position.
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round Two
Targets
My typical round two targets are Joe Mixon, Todd Gurley, Le’Veon Bell, Dalvin Cook, Keenan Allen, Mike Evans, and Stefon Diggs. Usually in the second round I am reacting to the draft board and do not marry myself to drafting a specific skill position.
The goal is to acquire the best player available, even if it means I draft Travis Kelce who somehow managed to make it to (in this case) the 17th overall pick.
Available players
Joe Mixon, Todd Gurley, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, Mike Evans
Selection
At this point of the draft I was hoping to land Joe Mixon, Todd Gurley or Le’Veon Bell in that order.
With Joe Mixon on the board the selection here was an easy one. I am willing to take Mixon as soon as sixth overall as that is where I have him ranked. Mixon was third in the league with 83.4 yards per game last season and is a good bet to finish as a top five running back if he can stay healthy.
Hoping he lasted until my pick was a calculated gamble based on his declining ADP in recent months.
Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round Three
Targets
With my third round pick I am generally making my pick based on perceived value. Addressing a roster need, in this case wide receiver, is also considered at this point of the draft. My targets here were Kerryon Johnson, Josh Jacobs, Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, Geroge Kittle.
Available players
Stefon Diggs, Kerryon Johnson, George Kittle, Aaron Jones, Josh Jacobs
Selection
In round three I opted to address the wide receiver spot. I thought about George Kittle who was still on the board, but decided that waiting on a tight end in favor of a true WR1 type was in my best interests.
Stefon Diggs commonly lasts until the third round in drafts and mocks I have participated in making him someone I will have a lot of shares in this season. Diggs saw more targets per game than Adam Thielen last season but is still being drafted after him.
Diggs truly became Kirk Cousins number one target late in the season when he averaged 9.14 receptions to Thielen’s 7.125. The 4.01 based on ADP, Diggs is arguably the greatest value in the early rounds at the wide receiver position. He allows a fantasy owner to go RB-RB and still end up with a WR1.