Drafting 2nd in a 12-Team PPR League
Today we will review a recent draft I completed from the 2nd spot in a PPR league. Last week, I reviewed a mock draft completed from the 7th spot in a half-PPR league . Compare how the selection of players you have at the beginning of the draft is much different than when you’re stuck right in the middle. The only good thing about drafting near the beginning of the draft is that you are locked into a top-tier running back and have a chance at the top-tier tight ends as well. If you keep tabs on the average draft position (ADP), you will see where players are being drafted is changing every day.
If you haven’t yet, you need to start completing mock drafts so you can see where players are being drafted compared to last year and who is realistically within your grasp around where you are selecting. With camp well underway, injuries will undoubtedly start popping up which will have a huge effect on some players’ ADP.
For this mock draft, I based my picks on the following league starter requirements: 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 Flex, and 1 TE. Kicker and defense will not be discussed as they should be the last two picks of your draft. Let's take a look at how this draft went and go over my selections.
Round One (Pick 1.02): Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
There isn’t much to be said here - Jonathan Taylor is a home-run selection at #2 overall, although, if I had the first selection I might take CMC over him in full-PPR leagues. It will depend on your risk tolerance - CMC went in my home league draft at 1.05 because everyone was scared to be holding CMC when he gets injured again. Nonetheless, JT should have a chance to lead the league in rushing and is on an upward-looking offense that should score a ton of points.
Round Two (Pick 2.11): Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill is an amazing athlete who is very hard to contain for a full 60 minutes. Camp reports and highlights seem to showcase the rapport he has already with Tua and Jaylen Waddle has been sidelined for an undisclosed injury for the past 2 weeks - if this is anything serious Hill could go nuclear the first few weeks. On the season, Hill has a safe floor and could score you a couple of 30+ fantasy point weeks.
Round Three (Pick 3.02): Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
After starting RB-WR, Mark Andrews fell into my lap with the 3.02 - I couldn’t resist! In full PPR leagues, an elite TE will separate you from the rest of the pack. Andrews is the undisputed #1 pass-catching option in Baltimore and Rashod Bateman is no guarantee to be successful in the offense. Andrews is going to see a ton of targets and has a high probability of finishing again as the TE 1.
Round Four (Pick 4.11): Allen Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
I’ve spoken ad nauseam about Allen Robinson this offseason and I love the selection in the 4th round. He has the chance to put up huge numbers alongside Matthew Stafford and should have one of the best statistical years of his career if he remains healthy. I’m not worried about Stafford’s elbow and Robinson is the locked-in #2 receiver in town. In the fourth round, sign me up.
Round 5 (Pick 5.02): A.J. Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
A.J. Dillon was an easy selection as my RB2 in the 5th round. Aaron Rodgers has already come out and said he wants both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon on the field at the same time and he’s a very undervalued runner. I can see the Packers using Aaron Jones as a receiver more and having A.J. Dillon in on goal-line carries. Both Packers’ running backs are great fantasy options and I love Dillon at his ADP as they could finish with a similar amount of fantasy points this season.
Round 6 (Pick 6.11): JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Depending on his health, JuJu Smith-Schuster might be the pick of the year. If his knee doesn’t hold him back he’s going to see a ton of work out of the slot and could be a watered-down version of Cooper Kupp from last season: a ton of targets and double-digit TDs are within the realm of possibilities here. He still has the athletic ability and the Chiefs are looking for a wide receiver to step up and be the 2nd pass-catching option in KC.
Round 7 (Pick 7.02): Chase Edmonds, RB, Miami Dolphins
With the release of Sony Michel, the sky's the limit for Chase Edmonds. He was brought in to run the zone running system that Mike Daniels wants to implement and he also is a great receiver. Edmonds’ ADP continues to rise and you might not be able to grab him in the 7th anymore, but he's a great 2nd running back for teams who chose TE, QB, and WRs early. Last year alongside James Conner in Arizona, Edmonds impressed which led to the huge contract in the offseason. If Raheem Mostert ends up with an injury once again, Edmonds might get the entire backfield to himself which would make him a low-end RB 1 every week.
Round 8 (Pick 8.11): Christian Kirk, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
In PPR leagues, a great mid-to-late round selection is Christian Kirk. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has locked in on him all preseason and camp, and he’s going to be the slot receiver for the Jags. I’m not worried that Marvin Jones or Evan Engram will take away a meaningful amount of work from Kirk, and with Lawrence looking to take another step forward in his second year, Kirk is going to be peppered with targets. As a WR4 for my team (bye week fill-in or injury replacement), he’s an excellent player to have on your bench.
Round 9 (Pick 9.02): Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady’s absence from training camp has kept his ADP in check this offseason, and if he gets Chris Godwin back within the first month, this offense is still going to score a ton of points. Between Evans, Fournette, Godwin, and now (Julio) Jones, Brady has one of the best offensive pieces around him in the league. In 6-point per TD leagues, Brady has more value, but in 4-point per TD leagues, Brady should be able to finish easily as a top-8 QB.
Round 10 (Pick 10.11): Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans
Treylon Burks has had a lot of negative reports about him this offseason but he should see the field immediately as the WR 2 across from Robert Woods and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he ended up being the WR1 at the end of the year. Burks isn’t anywhere close to being a starter on your squad in Week 1 and he is worth the stash to see how the first few games play out. Rookie wide receivers tend to take a bit of time to explode in the league, and Burks was a first-round wide receiver for a reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if he helps teams make the fantasy playoffs near the end of the year on a team that lacks a true WR 1.
Round 11 (Pick 11.02): D.K. Metcalf, WR, Seattle Seahawks
I am stocking up on wide receivers and had to select D.K. Metcalf with my 11th-round pick. Geno Smith is the starting quarterback this season but he should not be available in the double-digit rounds. Even if the Seahawks are terrible this year win/loss-wise, they will still need to pass a ton and Metcalf is going to see a high number of targets. You might not like his fantasy production at halftime in most of the games, but when they cannot run the ball much more because they are down by a couple of touchdowns, Smith will be airing out the ball to Metcalf who, like Tyreek Hill, is very tough to contain for a full game.
Round 12 (Pick 12.11): Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona Cardinals
With one of your last picks, I like to take chances at running backs who should get some meaningful work right away with a chance to take on more work as the season goes along. Eno Benjamin should be the change-of-pace running back behind James Conner but his real value will come if Conner misses time with an injury. Over the past 3 seasons, Conner has missed a total of 13 games. Most of these missed games came back in 2019, however, last year he missed 2 games and he’s not a lock to be a total bell cow for the Cardinals.
Round 13 (Pick 13.02): Boston Scott, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
While everyone drafts Kenneth Gainwell as the backup running back in Philadelphia, I’m taking a chance later in drafts with Boston Scott. In the past when Miles Sanders has been injured, (Sanders also is currently not 100%), Scott has been the one to get the majority of the touches between the 20s and Gainwell has been the pass-catching option. Last year Boston Scott had 7 touchdowns on the ground and almost 400 yards on his 87 carries - pretty decent for a backup. If you have the bench space, I would stash Scott with hopes to use him in the event of Sanders missing a few games this year.
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