Alright, folks, let’s dive into my recent adventure with an NFL Fantasy Football mock draft – PPR style! I’ve been playing fantasy football for years, but this time, I really wanted to document my process, mistakes and all.
First things first, I jumped onto one of those free mock draft websites. I wanted a feel for player values in PPR (points per reception) leagues this year, because lets be honest, the value goes way up for some of these players. I spent maybe 15 minutes just clicking around the site, checking the features, making sure it was what I wanted.
Getting Started
I configured the draft settings: 12 teams, PPR scoring, standard roster positions (QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, FLEX, D/ST, K). I randomly got assigned draft position number 5 – not my favorite, but hey, you gotta roll with the punches, right?
The Early Rounds (1-4): My strategy was pretty simple: snag the best available running back or wide receiver, prioritizing guys who catch a lot of passes. PPR, baby!
- Round 1: A top-tier RB fell to me, luckily. I couldn’t pass that up.
- Round 2: I went with a stud WR known for high reception totals.
- Round 3: Another solid WR, even though I usually like to grab two RBs early, this one was too good.
- Round 4: Finally, back to RB, grabbing a guy projected for a decent workload and good receiving numbers.
The Middle Rounds (5-9):
This is where things got interesting, and I definitely made some questionable choices, just going off the top of my head instead of having a list.
- Rounds 5-6: I focused on WR depth, maybe a little too much. I probably should have looked at QBs or TEs sooner.
- Round 7: I took a bit of a gamble on a rookie RB with upside. Could be a league-winner, could be a total bust. That’s the fun of it, right?
- Rounds 8-9: Started filling out my bench with players I thought had potential, I really had to think for these.
The Late Rounds (10-16):
Honestly, by this point, it’s all about finding value and hoping you strike gold. Hindsight will show me the mistakes for sure.
- Rounds 10-12: Grabbed my QB and TE. I waited a long time on TE, which could bite me. I went for a QB that I just had a hunch on.
- Rounds 13-14: Filled D/ST and Kicker. I do not spend high draft capital on those.
- Rounds 15-16 More Upside-down lottery tickets.
After the draft finished, I looked over my team. I’m not gonna lie, it’s got some strengths, but also some glaring weaknesses. I definitely went too heavy on WR early, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long on TE. I know I am for sure going to need to make some trades or work the waiver wire during the season. That is just part of fantasy football.
That’s the beauty of mock drafts, though. You get to experiment, make mistakes, and learn before the real draft. I’ll probably do a few more before the season, hopefully, making me a champion this year.