Fantasy football mock draft: Predicting first-rounder’s fantasy potential
By Ryan McCloy
No. 9 – Denver Broncos
Alabama CB Patrick Surtain II
- Surtain and Caleb Farley are neck and neck for the best corner in the draft. I believe that Surtain’s game is better suited for the transition to the NFL, so he’s the pick before Farley.
Fantasy Spin: Unlike the Lions Defense addressed earlier, there is a world in which you’re drafting the Broncos Defense. A rookie corner isn’t likely to make a huge difference in that regard, though, so keep an eye on other moves they make in the offseason. And I know no one’s touching a rookie corner in IDP.
No. 10 – Dallas Cowboys
Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley
- Rumor has it that if Farley is there, he’s getting Jerry Jones’ call, no matter who else is on the board. Let’s say that’s true, because it makes sense.
Fantasy Spin: The Cowboys have a lot of work to do on defense before they’re fantasy relevant, but like Detroit, they could become a bye week filler should they make the right moves this offseason. Farley is a nice piece for the future, but like Surtain one pick earlier, he isn’t likely to be the reason for major improvement in Dallas. And like Surtain, you’re not going there in IDP.
No. 11 – New York Giants
Miami DL Gregory Rousseau
- As a Giants fan myself, I’ve noticed that they never seem to do what the experts – and fans – expect them to do. Rousseau isn’t the offensive playmaker that could vault Daniel Jones into his potential, but given the Giants’ salary cap situation, Rousseau could be a value add to a defense that still has very little pass rush, and two free agent pass rushers.
Fantasy Spin: Now this pick is the first defender who could have actual fantasy implications. The Giants’ Defense was a nice surprise last year, finishing as D/ST 9 in the fantasy regular season and scoring over 6 fantasy points per game. With virtually no pass rush to speak of, that says a lot about their productivity, and also about how much Rousseau can help them to improve. Unlikely that he’ll be a factor in IDP leagues, but could rack up some decent sack numbers if given the right opportunities in pass sets.
No. 12 – San Francisco 49ers
Alabama WR Devonta Smith
- The Heisman trophy winner as the third WR taken? It could happen. Despite Smith being my top ranked wide receiver in the draft, I have him falling past Chase and Waddle because he doesn’t have that one particular draw that the other two have. He still just does everything well. This could be a steal for the Niners at 12.
Fantasy Spin: Here’s my early pick for fantasy rookie of the year. Smith has the talent to be a star wide receiver in the NFL and San Francisco could be a prime landing spot for fantasy success. Smith would probably slide in as the top target for Jimmy Garoppolo, or his 2021 successor, without constantly drawing the opposition’s top corner, with a talented group of receivers elsewhere on the field.