Fantasy football mock draft: Predicting first-rounder’s fantasy potential
By Ryan McCloy
No. 25 – Jacksonville Jaguars
TCU S Trevon Moehrig
- Maybe not the most exciting of selections, but the Jaguars have needs all over the field and Moehrig is the best safety in the class.
Fantasy Spin: To say Moehrig is the best safety in the draft is true, but means less than in past seasons. Moehrig won’t be a center fielder type, nor a great run blocker. He could play a part in pass defense, as he did in college, when he led all safeties in the country in pass breakups. The Jaguars’ Defense, like the Jets’, showed brief flashes in 2020. Moehrig could aid in their defensive rebuild, but likely will not propel himself nor the Jags defense into fantasy relevance.
No. 26 – Cleveland Browns
Georgia EDGE Azeez Ojulari
- Pairing Ojulari with Myles Garrett on the Cleveland defensive line will be a tough test for opposing offensive lines and could be one of the final pieces on a team finally ready to contend.
Fantasy Spin: Ojulari could rack up tackles in the Browns’ emerging defense. While unlikely a serious IDP threat, he could have that combination of opportunity and ability that leads to some good games. The Browns’ Defense is certainly an intriguing option in standard leagues, increasingly so after this pick.
No. 27 – Baltimore Ravens
Florida WR Kadarius Toney
- The Ravens are desperate for a WR1, and Toney can be that guy that they’ve been missing. Marquise Brown isn’t quite compatible with Lamar Jackson’s skill set, but Toney can be that guy.
Fantasy Spin: This pick has huge fantasy implications for Toney, QB Lamar Jackson, and the entire Ravens offense. The Ravens have been lacking a true top WR for years, including all of Jackson’s career. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown has talent, but hasn’t been quite the right fit in that offense. Kadarius Toney can be a real fantasy impact player in Baltimore, and his ideal situation gives me shades of Justin Jefferson in Minnesota last season.
No. 28 – New Orleans Saints
USC OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
- Vera-Tucker is the best true interior lineman in the draft, with some suggesting he could even be used as a swing tackle in a pinch due to his athletic ability. At the tail end of Drew Brees’ career, keeping him upright will need to be a priority.
Fantasy Spin: The Saints’ offense was good last year. The problem is, good is not enough for a team vying for a championship, nor a team with multiple highly regarded fantasy players. Aside from Alvin Kamara, who finished as RB1 overall, thanks in part to his incredible 6-Touchdown performance in week 16, no other Saints offensive player finished inside of the top 15 at their position (Will Lutz finished K13 and the Saints D/ST finished D/ST6). Michael Thomas was hurt much of the year, yes, but averaged under 12 points per game when healthy. Vera-Tucker can provide a spark to an offense that was sluggish in 2020. Look for a bounce back year from Thomas, as well as serviceability that was seldom seen from Drew Brees last season.