I grabbed Jonathan Taylor at No. 7 in our latest 12-team PPR mock draft, and while that’s a killer start, I’m already low-key regretting how my team turned out. Seriously, you dive into these mocks to figure out your strategy, and then BAM, you hit a wall and second-guess everything. This particular mock, run by CBS Sports staff and some Fantasy Football Today Podcast listeners, showed me what to avoid when the real thing kicks off.
The Early Haul and the WR Nightmare
My first two rounds felt perfect, a dream start for any fantasy manager. After Taylor, I snagged Kenneth Walker III in Round 2, locking down a strong RB-RB foundation for a league that starts three receivers. Pretty sweet, right? Then came Round 3, where I just missed out on Tee Higgins and DeVonta Smith. They flew off the board right before my pick at No. 31 overall. But hey, I pivoted to Emeka Egbuka, who I’m hyped on as a potential breakout candidate, especially since he’s slated to be the No. 1 receiver in Tampa Bay. So far, so good, a strong start even with that small miss.
But Round 4, man. That’s where the anxiety started to kick in. I picked Breece Hall at No. 42 overall, and while he’s an excellent flex option who should have a bounce-back season, I passed on a chance to bolster my receiving corps. Terry McLaurin, Luther Burden III, and D.J. Moore were all still on the board. Any of those guys would have made my receiving group so much stronger. And by the time my Round 5 pick came around at No. 55, they were gone, along with Malik Nabers, Davante Adams, and Mike Evans. That’s when you know you messed up. My running back trio (Taylor, Walker, Hall) might be the best in the league, but my receivers were starting to look thin.
Chasing the Position and Filling Out the Bench
With all those top-tier receivers gone, I opted for my No. 2 ranked quarterback, Lamar Jackson, in Round 5 instead of reaching for Christian Watson or Rome Odunze, who went right after my pick. So now I had an elite QB and a solid RB stable, but I was definitely chasing the wide receiver position. That’s when your strategy unfolds and you realize you missed a crucial tier. To fill out my starting lineup, I ended up with Alec Pierce in Round 6, Quentin Johnston in Round 7, and Travis Kelce in Round 9, since I also waited on tight end.
My bench is now loaded with receivers: Jalen Coker (Round 10), Denzel Boston (Round 11), Antonio Williams (Round 12), and Jack Bech (Round 13). I also picked up Rhamondre Stevenson (Round 8) and Emmett Johnson (Round 14). Overall, it’s a solid roster, especially if Pierce truly steps up as the new No. 1 receiver for the Colts. But that feeling of being unsatisfied, of *chasing* a position, that’s what sticks with you.
Look, mock drafts are all about learning. You find out what works and what absolutely doesn’t. My team has star power, sure, and hopefully that RB depth and Jackson’s elite play can carry me into the fantasy playoffs and a championship. But the takeaway here is clear: don’t let a tiered run at one position leave you scrambling. As training camps kick off, do as many of these mocks as you can. Learn from the misses now, so you can nail your real draft when it matters.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply