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Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR, 10-Team Advice

A C Gazette
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Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The wait between picks when slotted first or last in a fantasy football draft can be as excruciating as watching a 1,500-meter swim … without Katie Ledecky.

That’s especially the case when the otherwise obvious No. 1 pick is already a bit hamstrung, and there’s no sure-thing awaiting at the end of the line after this year’s eight franchise selections have been snatched up.

So what’s the plan at the extremes—and everywhere in between—in a 10-team PPR league? Here are your options and my preferences:

1st pick: RB Christian McCaffrey, 49ers

Last year’s Fantasy MVP had an average draft position of around 2.5. In other words, more people with the No. 1 pick passed on him than drafted him. Why? Because he’s supposedly injury-prone. Yet McCaffrey led the league in touches in 2023. And if you believe a minor preseason hamstring injury is going to change that, then go ahead and take the guy who’d rather be racing gold medalists or is unhappy with his contract or is without his quarterback. Fantasy titles were lost last year with that kind of thinking.

2nd pick: WR Tyreek Hill, Dolphins

Dec 3, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) stands on the field during warm up prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. credits: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Now that we’ve exhausted the no-brainers, we embark on the positional-importance phase of Round 1. Last year, you could have gotten Jordan Love, Brock Purdy or Jared Goff after every other team had taken a quarterback. A bit earlier, Jonathan Taylor, Rachaad White and Raheem Mostert could have fallen into your lap in the sixth round or later. The names have changed, but the championship-winning strategy remains the same. If you draft the best three-receiver collection in your league, you’re the favorite to win. So start early, even if you prefer CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown or Justin Jefferson.

3rd pick: WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) reacts with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) after throwing a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half during the wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Lamb led the NFL in targets and receptions last season, and that’s not about to change with a quarterback needing to put up monster numbers in his money grab. What separates Lamb from Chase, St. Brown and Jefferson here is his coach. Nobody likes to run up the score more than Mike McCarthy, and that has led to nobody catching more stat-padding balls than Lamb. Hey, they all count.

4th pick: RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Jun 3, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) shown on the field during Falcons OTA at the Falcons Training facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
There’s a bit of a dropoff from Hill/Lamb to the rest of the wideout pack, which creates options here. At some point, you have to ask yourself: What’s going to be left at running back if I don’t take one now? Last year, you still had St. Brown, A.J. Brown, Garrett Wilson or Keenan Allen (maybe even two of them) after anchoring your squad with McCaffrey. With even greater depth at wide receiver this year, you can win by going RB-WR-WR-TE-WR.

5th pick: Breece Hall, Jets

Oct 1, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (91) is called for a horsecollar penalty against New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) at MetLife Stadium. credits: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Call him the poor man’s Robinson. Three things make Hall enticing: 1) Aaron Rodgers. Nobody swings the ball better to his backs; 2) You’re well ahead of the competition if your top running back is among the Big 3; and 3) You’ll feel a lot better about your options for a second back in Round 6 if you already have a bellcow.

6th pick: WR Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) points to the crowd as the Bengals face the Minnesota Vikings at Paycor Stadium Saturday, December 16, 2023. credits: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
The top backs are exhausted. Travis Kelce’s value among a much deeper collection of productive tight ends has diminished. And I’m going to recommend being the last guy to draft a quarterback (not that anyone would consider one this early). That leaves the best available wideout, which in this case might be better than the two that went earlier. And here’s the best part: You’ll get a second wide receiver in Round 2 before your rival, who took Hill or Lamb, giving you the best bookends at fantasy’s most important position.

7th pick: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) warms up before the Atlanta Falcons game at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. credits: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
There’s a case to be made for St. Brown over Chase. The Lions hit you from all different directions with their two quality backs, arguably the game’s best tight end and now a complementary speed receiver on the other side of the field. Yet St. Brown still ranked second in the league in receptions last season. And now that the Bears have a real offense, that’s two more potential shootouts in what’s turned into the NFL’s highest-scoring division.

8th pick: WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings

Oct 8, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at U.S. Bank Stadium. credits: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The loss of J.J. McCarthy is a killer for the Vikings, especially with Sam Darnold taking the reins. Jefferson did fine with lesser pitch-and-catch partners last year—Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall—which allows the NFL’s most talented receiver to retain his first-round grade. And if the pick leaves you feeling a little empty, cheer up: The next guy selected will be far more troubling.

9th pick: WR Garrett Wilson, Jets

Jul 25, 2024; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) talks with wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
The best part about letting Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley slide here is that it increases the chances that the rival picking after you will take one or two of them, allowing you to get the wide receiver you REALLY want, whether that’s Marvin Harrison Jr. or Deebo Samuel (if Brandon Aiyuk gets traded). Both are bigger risks than Wilson, which means the Jet has a far greater chance of being snatched up at 10 or 11 before you pick again. So Wilson becomes the no-brainer at 9, then be prepared to make a tough call at 12. My pick there is Harrison, who you could then say you discovered before he becomes the No. 1 pick next year.

10th pick: RB Jonathan Taylor, Colts

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) stands near other running backs during drills Monday, July 31, 2023, during training camp at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana. credits: Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
I prefer a starting lineup with a strength, and by going Taylor-Williams (Rams) here and at No. 11, you assure yourself of the best running back tandem in your league. Taylor could be McCaffrey-esque this year. Remember when Miles Sanders was a fantasy star in Shane Steichen’s read-option offense in Philly? Now he’s got a better back and more of a running threat at quarterback, so this could pop big-time. Or Anthony Richardson could get hurt again, turning the Colts’ season into Taylor vs. The World, Part II. At No. 10, high upside is a good thing.

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