Starting on July 7th, we began drafting (at least) one fantasy football team per day using the 2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator and we will continue to do so up until the start of the 2018 NFL season.
Each day, we will switch things up -- e.g., PPR vs. standard scoring, league size, draft slot, 2-QB leagues, auction leagues, etc.
In addition, we will centralize links to our daily fantasy football mock drafts for an easy way to keep track of our mock drafts.
Details of today's mock draft:
- Scoring: Standard scoring (i.e., non-PPR scoring)
- # of Teams: 12
- Draft Slot: 3
- Starters: QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, Flex (RB/WR/TE), K, DST
- Bench Size: 6
With that said, here are the results of today's mock draft:
1.03 - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys: The rushing champion as a rookie, Elliott served a six-game suspension in 2017 but led the league in rushing yards per game (98.3) with a larger workload (24.2 carries per game) in his sophomore campaign. With limited weapons in the passing game, Elliott and the Cowboys will face many eight-men fronts, but the former Buckeye should get north of 300 carries with a chance for another rushing title.
2.10 - Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots: Aside from his eight-game 2016 season, Gronk has 1,000-plus yards in three of the past four years and he has scored double-digit touchdowns in five seasons over his career. As long as he can stay on the field, he's a sure thing at a top-heavy position with a lot of question marks beyon the top three.
3.03 - T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts: Failing to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the first time since his rookie season, the new offense and return of Andrew Luck bodes well for Hilton, who led the NFL with 1,448 receiving yards in 2016.
4.10 - Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears: Robinson was lost for (almost) all of 2017 with a torn ACL sustained in Week 1 but he avoided the active/PUP list to start camp. Still only 24 years old, A-Rob has an 80/1,400/14 season (2015) under his belt and is a solid WR2 for this squad if he can stay healthy.
5.03 - Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans: Miller has two 1,000-yard seasons since 2014, but he was even less efficient in 2017 (career-low 3.7 YPC) than he was in 2016 (4.0). The Texans have one of the league's worst offensive lines (actually the worst if you go by PFF rankings) and the line won't be markedly better in 2018. On a positive note, Miller has shed a few pounds and entered training camp at his lowest weight since signing with Houston.
6.10 - Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos: While Sanders missed four games, his 2017 numbers (47/555/2) were nearly half of his 2016 production (79/1,032/5). Before last season, Sanders had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and there is a reasonable chance that he approaches that level of production with Case Keenum under center.
7.03 - Pierre Garcon, WR, San Francisco 49ers: Garcon (neck) missed half the season and was on pace for an 80/1,000 season before the injury. His last full season (2013) playing in Kyle Shanahan's offense, he posted a career-best 113/1,346/5 stat line. Unlikely to repeat those numbers, a 1,000-yard season is certainly within reach.
8.10 - Royce Freeman, RB, Denver Broncos: It's more than possible that Freeman becomes that the lead guy at some point during the season even if he doesn't begin the season in that role. A four-year starter for the Ducks, the 230-pound back rushed for 5,621 (5.9 YPC) yards and 60 touchdowns in his career while adding 79/814/4 receiving.
9.03 - Isaiah Crowell, RB, New York Jets: Only 25 years old, Crowell signed a three-year deal in free agency with the Jets this offseason. With 850-plus rushing yards in each of the past two seasons, Crowell should at least have similar production in 2018.
10.10 - Kenny Golladay, WR, Detroit Lions: Golladay's best games were his first (4/69/2) and his last (2/80/1). With the size and physical tools to be a No. 1 receiver, Golladay has generated buzz this offseason and there is breakout potential even though he's third in line for targets.
11.03 - Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Mixon missed some time, but Bernard was highly productive down the stretch. In five December games, Bernard had 507 YFS, averaged 4.75 YPC with 24 receptions and two scores. Going in the double-digit rounds, Gio has flex upside.
12.10 - Philip Rivers, QB, Los Angeles Chargers: Except for 2012 (21st) and 2016 (14th), Rivers has finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in the eight of his past 10 NFL seasons. On my list of 12 Undervalued Players Compared to Fantasy ADP, Rivers has thrown for at least 4,286 yards and 28 touchdowns in each of the past five seasons.
13.03 - Latavius Murray, RB, Minnesota Vikings: A top-20 fantasy back (standard-scoring formats) for three years in a row, Murray will need an injury to Dalvin Cook to extend that streak to four seasons. That said, Murray has 20 rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons and could be used more heavily close to the goal line.
14.10 - Los Angeles Chargers D/ST
15.03 - Stephen Gostkowski, K, New England Patriots
16.10 - Alex Smith, QB, Washington Redskins: Setting career highs, Smith threw for 4,042 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 355 rushing yards last season. Not only was 2017 the first time he finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback, Smith finished as fantasy's QB3 last season. Now in Washington, he takes over for Kirk Cousins, who has finished as a top-eight fantasy quarterback in each of the past three seasons. Since Gruden coached Andy Dalton (QB5) in 2013, he's now coached a QB to a top-eight fantasy finish in four of the past five seasons.
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