Fantasy football mock draft: Predicting first-rounder’s fantasy potential
By Ryan McCloy
No. 1 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
- Duh. He’s the best player in the draft, and despite recent rumors that some teams rank Zach Wilson higher, no one sees this pick going any other way.
Fantasy Spin: This pick could be a huge fantasy upgrade for all Jaguars wide receivers, which could include a notable free agent. One dark horse player to watch is Collin Johnson, the second year WR out of Texas who had a couple of strong showings at the end of his rookie year. At 6’6″, Johnson could be a frequent target in the end zone in 2021. Lawrence himself could be a QB2 with some pretty good upside, with a chance to pay some dividends as a starter later on in the season.
No. 2 – New York Jets
BYU QB Zach Wilson
- My assumption is that the Jets make a trade. It’ll either be Darnold, or the number 2 pick. In this mock, they trade Darnold for a few draft picks and a fresh start. The teams that have Wilson as the best QB in their board may make a strong push for this pick, so the Jets will need to weigh their opinions.
Fantasy Spin: The Jets have very few fantasy options regardless of who will be playing QB. Depending on players added in free agency, Wilson could add a bit of value to WRs, but is unlikely to be fantasy relevant himself without some serious help.
No. 3 – Miami Dolphins
LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase
- Chase did things in 2019 that no other available WR did. The top 3 WRs are close, but Chase gets the Dolphins’ call.
Fantasy Spin: Ja’Marr Chase in Miami may have the best opportunity to become a fantasy relevant WR of any placed in this mock draft. He’ll instantly step in as the top receiver on the team, likely supplanting DeVante Parker in that role. Tua Tagovailoa is primed to improve with a top notch young receiving core and could easily make a sophomore year jump as Kyler Murray did this past season.
No. 4 – Atlanta Falcons
Ohio State QB Justin Fields
- My ultimate guess is that the Falcons will not be picking at 4. They’ll trade up to avoid losing their preferred QB, or down if he’s no longer available, or if they aren’t in love with a single one. In this unlikely scenario, the Falcons gamble and get their guy.
Fantasy Spin: Fields’ fantasy value rests solely in the Falcons’ decision with Matt Ryan. If they choose to keep Ryan as the starter and groom Fields for the future, then this pick will have little to no fantasy value. If Fields receives significant playing time, I believe it will be a slight downgrade for the talented Atlanta wide receiver core, since the chemistry built up with Ryan over the years will gone. Fields has talent, and his running ability could make him a fantasy stash late in drafts or early on the waiver wire.