FanSided Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Pick Eight breakdown

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 13

Targets
With only three rounds left and no tight end on my roster, my focus shifted to filling my glaring roster hole. I had been monitoring the tight ends available, and with Noah Fant going off the board prior to this pick T.J. Hockenson became my target.

Available players
T.J. Hockenson, Justice Hill, Marquise Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Deebo Samuel

Selection
Grabbing a high upside tight end is critical to my wait-on-a-tight end strategy. Despite never playing in an NFL game, T.J. Hockenson is already one of the most talented tight ends in the NFL.

Theo Riddick’s release opens up some additional targets for Hockenson, and should also help to increase the packages designed for him. Like all rookie tight ends he is going to have some growing pains, so I will consider adding an additional tight end with one of my remaining picks.

There was some concern about the upside for a player who will likely be sharing snaps with Jesse James and being asked to block frequently, but Matt Patricia has seen first hand that you let your stud tight ends eat.

As mentioned above, the 74 targets opened by Theo Riddick’s release raised Hockenson’s upside as well as his fantasy floor. He is going to be inconsistent, but is quickly going to become a favorite of gunslinger Matthew Stafford.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 14

Targets
With only two rounds left and a number of my rookie targets still available I decided to get a stud D/ST. I do not play in many leagues with D/ST anymore, but when I do I prefer not to stream. As such my focus was on Jacksonville, Houston and the Los Angeles Chargers.

Available players
Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, Deebo Samuel, Marquise Brown, Justice Hill

Selection
I went with the Los Angeles Chargers. I am one of the people who thought the Jaguars made a big mistake with Nick Foles and do not believe they are going to be a much better team this season. Adding fuel to the fade Jacksonville defense in season long leagues stance is their tough schedule.

Their division has become much stronger and this year they have the super talented NFC South on the docket.

This means Foles will be asked to keep up with the likes of Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton. Sure, he could do it with Zach Ertz and Alshon Jeffery as his top tight end and receiver, but when those names change to Josh Oliver and DeDe Westbrook? Good luck.

Facing the Chiefs twice is not good for any D/ST’s fantasy value which likely means I will be dropping the Chargers D for a two week period starting the week of their first meeting with Kansas City.

This means I have a stud unit locked up until the third week of November. The Chargers have a bye after their meeting with the Chiefs which would make them easier to reacquire after this matchup. Luckily, the Chargers and Chiefs do not play again until after the fantasy season is over.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 15

Targets
My targets in the final round of the draft were wide receivers Marquise Brown of the Baltimore Ravens and Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. Since I went running back heavy early on in the draft, filling out my team with massive upside receivers was a key part of my strategy.

If neither remained on the board my target was tight end Jordan Reed. If he was also off the board a high uspide number three like Randall Cobb, Jakobi Meyers or KeeSean Johnson was my plan for an upside flier.

Available players
Deebo Samuel, Jordan Reed, Randall Cobb, KeeSean Johnson, Jakobi Meyers

Selection
With Marquise Brown off of the board, Deebo Samuel became my easy selection. I had my eye on him for the last three rounds and was glad not to have to dig deeper into the well to make my final pick.

My final draft selection is often the player that is made expendable during free agent chases or when they byes provide a roster crunch. Samuel has mammoth upside in the 49ers offense, especially with Kyle Shanahan running the offense. If Jimmy G can stay healthy it may very well be Deebo, and not Curtis who becomes the toast of the fantasy community.