Monday, May 31, 2021

Fantasy Football Mock Draft 2021: Half-PPR, 12 Teams, 2nd Pick

The best way to become good at something is to practice. So, what should you do if you want to draft a better fantasy football team?

Practice, of course!

Leading up to the start of the 2021 NFL season, we will use the 2021 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator (powered by FantasyPros) to complete fantasy football mock drafts.

We will use a variety of scoring formats -- PPR, half-PPR, standard scoring and even 2-QB leagues, league sizes and draft slots. The goal is to give you a good representation of the team that you may be able to construct given your league settings and the rationale of why we made the picks we did.

+ Our mocks will be tracked here: Fantasy Football Mock Drafts.

That said, nothing beats practicing yourself so (check out the simulator) and complete a mock in a matter of minutes.

Half-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 2nd Pick

1.02 - Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Once again, Cook has missed multiple games, but he set career highs in touches (356), yards from scrimmage (1,918) and touchdowns (17) and scored the third-most fantasy points (half-PPR) among running backs. The clear lead back in one of the league's most run-heavy offenses, Cook averaged a career-high 5.0 YPC and has a minimum of 40 catches in each of the past three seasons.

2.11 - Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Jefferson exceeded all expectations in his inaugural season with 88 catches for a rookie-record 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. Not only did the former LSU Tiger have seven 100-yard games, but he had double-digit targets in five of his final six games after doing so in only two of his first 10 games. Going forward, Jefferson should be the 1(a) to Adam Thielen's 1(b) in Minnesota's passing offense.

More: Minnesota Vikings 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

3.02 - George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

The only thing that can slow Kittle down is injury. Missing exactly half of the 2020 season, Kittle had 48/634/2 in eight games, which is comparable to a 96/1,268/4 (16-game) pace. Meanwhile, Kittle had 85/1,053/5 in 2019 and 88/1,377/5 in 2018.

4.11 - Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

With Cook and Jefferson already on this roster, I'd generally prefer to not start with three of my first four picks being on the same NFL team. Even so, Thielen was my top-rated player available and I don't intentionally go out of my way to avoid players from the same franchise. Thielen averaged only 61.7 YPG, but he scored 14 touchdowns in 2020. Only three receivers were targeted more often in the red zone than Thielen (19).

5.02 - Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

While Kupp averaged a career-high 6.1 receptions per game, he set career lows with 10.6 Y/R and only three touchdowns. The upgrade at quarterback to Matthew Stafford should provide a boost to Kupp and the offense overall.

More: Los Angeles Rams 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

6.11 - Chase Edmonds, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The former fourth-round pick has averaged 4.4 yards per carry and 7.2 yards per reception over his first three NFL seasons. Meanwhile, coach Kliff Kingsbury has said that Edmonds has "played at a starting running back level" when given the opportunity. With Kenyan Drake out and James Conner in, Edmonds has an opportunity to perform as a back-end RB2 in 2021.

7.02 - Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Down the stretch in their Super Bowl run, the Buccaneers relied on Fournette as their lead back. In four playoff games, Fournette totalled 448 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns on his 82 touches including 18 receptions. Going into 2021, Fournette should continue his role as the team's RB1.

More: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

8.11 - DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins

Following up his breakout 2019 campaign, Parker disappointed fantasy managers with nearly 20 fewer yards per game and less than half as many touchdowns compared to the previous season. While Tua Tagovailoa should improve in his second season, the addition of Will Fuller V and Jaylen Waddle, the sixth overall pick in 2021, to a defensive-minded team means that Parker's 2020 numbers (63/793/4) should be considered more of his baseline than his 2019 numbers (72/1,202/9).

9.02 - Kenyan Drake, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Josh Jacobs and Drake combined for a total of 570 touches last season as lead backs of their respective teams and that combined number will (obviously!) drop significantly. The Raiders plan to use Drake in a variety of ways including at receiver, so I'm comfortable taking Drake in Round 9 as my RB4.

10.11 - Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Despite playing fewer than 50% of the team's offensive snaps every week except for the game Ezekiel Elliott missed (Week 15, 90%), Pollard had at least eight touches in 10 of the team's final 12 games. Excluding his one start, Pollard averaged nine touches over his final 11 games in which he appeared in less than half of the team's offensive snaps. Assuming good health for Dak Prescott and the offensive line, 8-10 weekly touches in this offense could lead to stand-alone flex value for Pollard on a weekly basis.

More: Dallas Cowboys 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

11.02 - Darrell Henderson, RB, Los Angeles Rams

Given that Malcolm Brown signed with the Dolphins, it's Cam Akers-Henderson as the team's 1-2 punch. As opposed to last year's three-headed attack for parts of the season, Henderson will have some stand-alone value even with Akers as the primary back as I noted in our Darrell Henderson fantasy football outlook.

12.11 - Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Battling a laundry list of injuries, Stafford still managed to play a full 16-game slate. Without his No. 1 target (Kenny Golladay) for most of the season, Stafford's per-game numbers dropped considerably year over year from 312.4 yards and 2.4 touchdowns per game in 2019 to 255.3/1.6 in 2020. Traded to L.A. to play for a more creative offensive mind, Stafford is poised to bounce back with good health in 2021.

13.02 - Tevin Coleman, RB, New York Jets

While I have rookie Michael Carter ranked the highest among the team's running backs, Coleman brings familiarity with the offense and could end up leading the backfield. At this point, he's at least worth a dart throw this late. (Carter was off the board at 9.09.)

14.11 - Indianapolis Colts DST

15.02 - Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens

16.11 - Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants

After two injury-plagued seasons, Engram was able to play a full 16-game slate and finished with 63 catches for 654 yards and only one touchdown. Not only was the single touchdown disappointing for fantasy managers, but Engram's YPG (40.9) and Y/R (10.4) were both career lows. While Engram led NYG in targets (109) last season, the addition of Kenny Golladay as the team's top pass-catching option and selection of Kadarius Toney in the first round could lead to less week-to-week consistency in targets for Engram.

- View Full Mock Draft Results

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Denver Broncos Post-Draft 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Denver Broncos rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 21.6 (22nd)
  • Best ranking: 16th (The Athletic)
  • Worst ranking: 26th (Multiple)

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the Broncos in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 26

Player who benefited most from draft: OLBs Von Miller and Bradley Chubb

It's a tie because life could be far better for the Broncos' two most prominent pass-rushers given all of the team's offseason work on the secondary. Not only did they sign cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby in free agency, re-sign safety Justin Simmons to a megadeal and bring back safety Kareem Jackson on a one-year deal, the Broncos also selected Alabama CB Pat Surtain II with their first-round pick. Surtain will be in the mix for significant playing time from the moment the equipment staff hands him his helmet. It all points to improved coverage and more sack opportunities for Denver's pass-rushers. -- Jeff Legwold

NFL.com -- Rank: 26

The Broncos improved their roster with a strong draft. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II could end up being the best defensive player to come out of his class, while second-round pick Javonte Williams is a running back with star potential who profiles as a significant upgrade over Melvin Gordon. Quarterback remains the mystery position here, however. Trading for Teddy Bridgewater gave Denver much-needed Drew Lock insurance. But is that it? Perhaps the rumors about a pursuit of Aaron Rodgers ends with a seismic move a la Peyton Manning's arrival in 2012. Rodgers would make Denver a Super Bowl contender. The current personnel keeps this team in the mid-20s.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 16

After a good draft, the Broncos now have to hope either Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater is good enough to take the team to the postseason. Lock will get the first shot, and I think he will play well this season.

USA Today -- Rank: 17

A team undermined by injuries in 2020 may have already lost RT Ja'Wuan James to a torn Achilles. Still, wild-card potential if QB Drew Lock (or newly acquired Teddy Bridgewater) stabilizes this offense.

The Athletic -- Rank: 23

There are several indicators to suggest the Broncos could get a few more bounces their way this year -- with or without Aaron Rodgers. No team was more hurt by turnovers last season, according to TruMedia's EPA metric. Again, that can be a sign of a bad team. But it can also indicate that they were pretty unlucky. The Broncos were decimated by injuries and also faced the fifth-toughest schedule.

Denver's defense has a chance to be one of the league's best with Von Miller back healthy and the additions of Kyle Fuller and Patrick Surtain II. If Teddy Bridgewater wins the starting QB job and can offer competency, this looks like a potential playoff team. And if the Broncos can somehow find a way to lure Rodgers to Denver, it's not hyperbole to view them as Super Bowl contenders.

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Green Bay Packers Post-Draft 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Green Bay Packers rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 5.0 (4th)
  • Best ranking: 4th (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 8th (USA Today)

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the Packers in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 5

Player who benefited most from draft: QB Aaron Rodgers

Should Rodgers choose to embrace it, he would see that the draft improved his chances of getting over the hump after consecutive NFC title game losses the past two years. The two biggest holes on the roster last season were at cornerback (where Kevin King and Chandon Sullivan were exposed) and on the offensive line (without injured left tackle David Bakhtiari). The Packers picked speedy corner Eric Stokes in the first round and also took three offensive linemen to give them more options up front. Oh yeah, and they finally drafted a receiver before Day 3, taking Clemson's Amari Rodgers in the third round. -- Rob Demovsky

NFL.com -- Rank: 4

It's 2008 all over again, as the Packers find themselves ensnared in a nasty little soap opera centered on the playing future of their iconic quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is apparently still mad that Green Bay picked a QB in the first round last year, so mad that he doesn't want to play another down for the only NFL team he's ever known. Publicly, the Packers are saying all the right things in an attempt to keep this brush fire from turning into an inferno, but Rodgers seems like the type of guy who might not settle for a compromise that keeps him in the building. It's funny -- you would have thought winning MVP would be enough to stick it to the Packers for their Jordan Love decision. Rodgers is a different dude.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 4

This is based on Aaron Rodgers playing in Green Bay, which I think happens. They won't trade him, nor should they. Without Rodgers, the Packers are near the bottom of this list.

USA Today -- Rank: 4

It's hard to know what to think here. (Insert shrug emoji.) Will they have league MVP Aaron Rodgers back in 2021? If he does return, will his attitude short-circuit a team that's fallen one win shy of the Super Bowl the past two years? Even if Rodgers reconciles with management, did they do enough to get this team over the top? And you thought Brett Favre was dramatic ...

The Athletic -- Rank: 8

Usually May, June and July comprise the only relatively quiet period in the NFL calendar. Not this year. The Aaron Rodgers drama will hang over the rest of the offseason until one of two things happen:
  1. Rodgers says either publicly or through intermediaries that he's willing to return to Green Bay, presumably with a reworked contract.
  2. The Packers trade him.
Of course, it's possible that neither of those things happen, and this whole thing drags into September without a resolution. #PrayersUp to our wonderful Packers beat writer Matt Schneidman if that happens.

With Rodgers, the Packers are right there with the Bucs as legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the NFC. No team has won more regular-season games (26) over the past two seasons. Replace Rodgers with Jordan Love or someone else who offers mediocre but unspectacular quarterback play, and this is not a playoff team.

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Indianapolis Colts Post-Draft 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Indianapolis Colts rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 12.8 (10th)
  • Best ranking: 11th (CBS Sports)
  • Worst ranking: 15th (The Athletic)

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the Colts in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 12

Player who benefited most from draft: DE DeForest Buckner

The Colts lost 15.5 sacks of support for Buckner along the defensive line with the departures of Justin Houston (8.0) and Denico Autry (7.5) during the offseason. The Colts hope first-round pick Kwity Paye will help make up for some of those sacks. Paye, an edge rusher out of Michigan, will have the inside track to become an instant starter. Paye had 11.5 sacks during his college career. Buckner will also get even more help at some point once second-round pick Dayo Odeyingbo returns from his torn Achilles. Odeyingbo, an edge rusher who played at Vanderbilt, tore his Achilles while working out in January. -- Mike Wells

NFL.com -- Rank: 13

The Colts lost 15.5 sacks of 2020 production when they moved on from Denico Autry and Justin Houston, so general manager Chris Ballard used the top of his draft to fortify the pass rush. Indy used the 21st overall pick on Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye, a popular pick as the best edge rusher in this class. In the second round, the Colts grabbed another high-upside pass rusher in Dayo Odeyingbo, who's currently rehabbing an Achilles injury. The Colts have received some criticism over their failure to adequately address the offensive line following the retirement of left tackle Anthony Castonzo, and we get it: Indy waited until the seventh round to take an O-lineman. Quite a roll of the dice with a skittish Carson Wentz behind center.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 15

Getting Carson Wentz to replace Philip Rivers made sense, but he has to play better than he did last year. This is still a young team, with rising players, so it's all on him.

USA Today -- Rank: 11

So ... what exactly does GM Chris Ballard have up his sleeve to address that glaring void at left tackle after opting not to draft one? Maybe Eric Fisher? Stay tuned …

The Athletic -- Rank: 13

On paper, is this roster better than last year's group that went 11-5 while feasting on the NFL's easiest schedule? It's hard to make that case. The Colts have a gaping hole at left tackle and are counting on older players like T.Y. Hilton (turns 32 in November) and Xavier Rhodes (31) to play key roles.

It's unlikely that Carson Wentz will be as bad as he was last season. He finished 11th in QBR in 2019 and 12th in 2018. If Wentz reverts to that form, the Colts should compete for a playoff spot. But unless he somehow recaptures his 2017 magic, it's tough to see a path for the Colts being a serious contender in the AFC.

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Cincinnati Bengals Post-Draft 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Cincinnati Bengals rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 28.6 (29th)
  • Best ranking: 27th (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 29th (Multiple)

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the Bengals in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 29

Player who benefited most from draft: QB Joe Burrow

While the former No. 1 overall pick didn't force his opinion on Cincinnati's front office, Burrow made it known he enjoyed the idea of playing with WR Ja'Marr Chase again. And sure enough, the Bengals selected Burrow's former LSU teammate with the fifth overall pick in this year's draft. Chase gives Burrow another big playmaker who will be asked to beat defenders early and often. Burrow also gained a projected starting right guard in Clemson's Jackson Carman. The Bengals clearly indicated they're backing their young quarterback. -- Ben Baby

NFL.com -- Rank: 29

Prized offensive lineman Penei Sewell still profiled as the sensible choice for a Bengals team that failed to adequately protect Joe Burrow in a rookie year that ended with a horrible knee injury. But it's hard to get too down on Cincinnati when it came out of Thursday night with LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who could put up video game numbers for the next decade with a healthy Burrow. The Bengals played a much more entertaining brand of football in 2020 before Burrow went down, but big plays were noticeably absent; according to Next Gen Stats, Cincinnati had just 15 completions of 20 or more air yards, ranking 26th in the NFL. That's about to change with Chase in the building.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 29

Joe Burrow is coming off a major knee surgery, but he should be fine. They added some solid pieces in free agency and the draft, but I think they are a year away.

USA Today -- Rank: 29

With first-rounder Ja'Marr Chase giving them a deadly three-wide option, this team should be fun to watch -- especially if you like 38-34 games ... though Cincinnati will likely be regularly allowing the 38 points.

The Athletic -- Rank: 27

Did they do enough to upgrade an offensive line that tied for 29th in pass-block win rate last season? The Bengals return three starters up front, and one of their projected new contributors is second-round pick Jackson Carman, who will be asked to move from tackle to guard. The defense has better talent than last year and is looking at at least six new starters.

But overall, Cincinnati's success in 2021 depends almost entirely on whether the offensive line shows significant improvement and whether Joe Burrow looks like he's back to 100 percent physically early in the season.

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Sunday, May 30, 2021

Miami Dolphins Post-Draft 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Miami Dolphins rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 13.0 (11th)
  • Best ranking: 10th (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 15th (CBS Sports)

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the Dolphins in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 14

Player who benefited most from draft: QB Tua Tagovailoa

All of the offseason chatter surrounding the Dolphins was about building around Tagovailoa, and build they did. Adding a speedy wide receiver in Jaylen Waddle, an NFL-ready offensive lineman in Liam Eichenberg, depth at tight end in Hunter Long and a power running back in Gerrid Doaks is key for the maturation of the Dolphins' offense under its second-year signal-caller. And let's not forget Miami addressing the potential mentor role, signing backup QB Jacoby Brissett in free agency and declining to draft any competition at the position. This is Tagovailoa's team, and it's set up for him to take the Dolphins to the next level. -- ESPN Staff

NFL.com -- Rank: 14

Tua Tagovailoa has to wake up feeling great these days. The Dolphins have used this offseason to reaffirm their faith in the 2020 first-round pick in multiple ways. They let Ryan Fitzpatrick, the team's popular and productive backup QB, walk in free agency. They stayed out of the QB derby as veteran stars and draft prospects danced all around them. They signed a proven playmaker at wide receiver in Will Fuller. Then, on draft night, they used the No. 6 overall pick on Jaylen Waddle, an electric slot presence who further bolsters an offense that lacked explosiveness last season. Want to find out if your young quarterback can play at this level? Surround him with legit talent and see what happens.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 12

They had a heck of a draft and can be a playoff team in 2021. That would mean big-time growth from Tua Tagovailoa. It's definitely possible.

USA Today -- Rank: 15

After a strong draft, they seem poised to take the next step with second-year QB Tua Tagovailoa -- and that means going to the playoffs this year.

The Athletic -- Rank: 10

Let's try to put Tua Tagovailoa's performance into proper context. Last year, among 32 quarterbacks with at least 300 dropbacks, Tagovailoa ranked 27th in TruMedia's EPA per play metric. If we look at the last 10 years, among rookie quarterbacks with at least 300 dropbacks, Tagovailoa's performance ranked 21st among 31 players. In other words, we didn't see anything to suggest he's going to be amazing. On the other hand, he was pretty much in the middle range of what we typically see from rookie quarterbacks, so we shouldn't overreact either to his struggles.

The Dolphins loaded up at wide receiver, adding Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle. And they gave themselves more options on the offensive line. If Tagovailoa takes a step forward, this is a playoff team. If he doesn't, GM Chris Grier and Brian Flores have shown they're willing to make bold moves to move on quickly from players who they don't think are good enough.

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Seattle Seahawks Post-Draft 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Seattle Seahawks rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 9.6 (9th)
  • Best ranking: 8th (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 12th (Multiple)

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the Seahawks in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 8

Player who benefited most from draft: C Ethan Pocic

Not drafting a center showed that the Seahawks have more confidence in Pocic than many observers do. Sure, having a league-low three picks was a factor, but it seems telling that they passed on a center with their first pick at No. 56 despite only one center coming off the board by that point. While they could still add a veteran in this post-draft phase of free agency, Pocic is the clear-cut favorite for the job. Quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seahawks hope he's still ascending at that position after playing guard for his first three seasons. -- Brady Henderson

NFL.com -- Rank: 8

The Seahawks made just three picks in the entire draft. According to ESPN, just five teams have made three or fewer picks in a draft since 1967 (2009 Jets were the most recent). This is dangerous business in the NFL, but Seattle decided the best path to building a championship-caliber roster was auctioning off picks for premium established talent (hi, Jamal Adams). Seattle used its first pick at 56th overall on standout Western Michigan receiver D'Wayne Eskridge. The move fills an area of need for a team that was thin at the position behind the dynamic 1-2 punch of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. But would the 'Hawks have been better off putting top-of-board focus on the offensive line? We think we know what Russell Wilson would have preferred.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 8

Have they really improved much since last season? I don't see it. There will be more pressure on Russell Wilson to carry this team.

USA Today -- Rank: 12

Good time to reference an old sports quote -- "If you're not getting better, you're getting worse." Yeah ... pretty much true here.

The Athletic -- Rank: 12

If you went by offseason temperature, you would think that the Seahawks were 4-12 last year. In reality, they went 12-4 and were a top-five team in overall efficiency. The question is whether Pete Carroll will take away the wrong lessons -- specifically on offense -- from the team's disappointing first-round playoff exit and revert to a run-first attack.

Despite Russell Wilson tossing barbs at his offensive line, the Seahawks ranked ninth in pass-block win rate and 10th in adjusted line yards, which is a metric that measures run blocking. Seattle returns four of five starters up front and upgraded at guard with the Gabe Jackson trade. The Seahawks' defense has been mediocre for four consecutive years. Once again, their best chance of competing for a Super Bowl will be to lean on Wilson and their offense. If that doesn't happen, Wilson could be on a new team at this time next year.

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Fantasy Football Mock Draft 2021: Half-PPR, 12 Teams, 9th Pick

The best way to become good at something is to practice. So, what should you do if you want to draft a better fantasy football team?

Practice, of course!

Leading up to the start of the 2021 NFL season, we will use the 2021 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator (powered by FantasyPros) to complete fantasy football mock drafts.

We will use a variety of scoring formats -- PPR, half-PPR, standard scoring and even 2-QB leagues, league sizes and draft slots. The goal is to give you a good representation of the team that you may be able to construct given your league settings and the rationale of why we made the picks we did.

+ Our mocks will be tracked here: Fantasy Football Mock Drafts.

That said, nothing beats practicing yourself so (check out the simulator) and complete a mock in a matter of minutes.

Half-PPR Mock Draft: 12 Teams, 9th Pick

1.09 - Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

Not only did Adams miss two games in 2020, but he has missed multiple games in three of his past four seasons. Even so, the seven-year veteran led the NFL in receiving touchdowns (18) and yards per game (98.1) and also set a career high in receptions (115). With double-digit touchdowns in four of five seasons, Adams has a total of 58 scores in 71 games over that span. With Aaron Rodgers still playing at an MVP level, Adams is the clear choice to be drafted as fantasy's WR1 (as long as Rodgers is under center for the Packers) in 2021.

More: Green Bay Packers 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

2.04 - Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Missing a significant chunk of time due to injury and playing at less than 100 percent when returning to the field, Ekeler averaged 5.5 yards per touch and scored only three touchdowns, both of which were career lows. Especially given his immense upside as a receiver, Ekeler is a top-12 running back when healthy.

3.09 - D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

Swift was much more involved in the second half of the season and he finished his rookie campaign with 114/521/8 (4.6 YPC) rushing and 46/357/2 (7.8 Y/R) receiving. Swift had three-plus catches in 12 of 13 games and his ability as a receiver gives him the upside to outperform his draft slot.

4.04 - Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams

It was a disappointing season for Woods and the Rams offense in general. Woods tied a career high in receptions (90), but his receiving yardage (936) and yards from scrimmage (1,091) were three-year lows. Replacing Jared Goff with Matthew Stafford generates some optimism for all of the skill-position players.

More: Los Angeles Rams 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

5.09 - Kenny Golladay, WR, New York Giants

Golladay exceeded the 1,000-yard milestone in back-to-back seasons (2018 and 2019) with the Lions and led the NFL in receiving touchdowns (11) in 2019. Although 2020 was a lost season due to a hip injury, Golladay had either 50-plus yards and a score or 100-plus yards in the four games he played before sustaining the injury. Signing a four-year deal with the Giants, the QB downgrade from Matthew Stafford to Daniel Jones and more crowded receiver room limits his ceiling a bit, but he's still a solid No. 3 fantasy wide receiver for this team.

6.04 - Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Andrews missed a couple of games and Marquise Brown (58/769/8) outproduced Andrews (58/701/7) over the full season, but the third-year tight end led the team in YPG (50.1). Even if he gets the biggest slice of the pie, the team's passing offense ranked last in the NFL (171.2 YPG) in 2020.

7.09 - Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

It was a tale of two seasons for Wilson. In his first eight games, Wilson averaged 29.52 fantasy points per game and scored no fewer than 21.9. In his final eight games, he averaged only 17.08 and scored more than 21.9 only once during that span.

Despite Pete Carroll's prioritization to establish the run, Wilson has never finished worse than the QB11 (2016) and has finished as a top-six fantasy quarterback in five of the past seven seasons. While the Titans may be the "favorites," the Seahawks are also in the mix for a potential Julio Jones trade.

More: Seattle Seahawks 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

8.04 - Ronald Jones, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs re-signing Leonard Fournette likely slides Jones back into his secondary role behind Fournette. Despite missing a couple of games and the fact that Fournette emerged as the team's primary back, Jones had his best season as a pro with career highs as a runner -- 192 carries, 978 yards, 5.1 YPC and seven touchdowns. RoJo took a step back as a receiver, however, with a 66.7% catch rate (77.5% in 2019) and 5.9 Y/R (10.0 in 2019).

9.09 - Kenyan Drake, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Josh Jacobs and Drake combined for a total of 570 touches last season as lead backs of their respective teams and that combined number will (obviously!) drop significantly. The Raiders plan to use Drake in a variety of ways including at receiver, but Drake shouldn't be drafted as anything more than a flex option in 2021. His value as my RB4 in Round 9 is certainly fair, though.

More: Las Vegas Raiders 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup

10.04 - Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

In 2018, Williams had 10 touchdowns. In 2019, he led the NFL with 20.4 Y/R and posted his first (and only) 1,000-yard season. Not only were overall numbers (48/756/5) disappointing, but he had only four top-36 performances (half-PPR) out of his 15 games last season.

11.09 - Jamaal Williams, RB, Detroit Lions

In his four NFL seasons, Williams has averaged 736.5 scrimmage yards, 155.5 touches and 30.5 receptions per season with the Packers. While he remains his team's RB2 (to D'Andre Swift instead of Aaron Jones), Williams should get 8-10 touches per game even with both Swift and Williams healthy. For this team, he provides some insurance in case Swift misses any time.

12.04 - Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals

With DeAndre Hopkins dominating targets, Kirk's targets dropped from 108 (8.31/G) in 2019 to 79 (5.64/G) in 2020. The vast majority of his fantasy production including all of his touchdowns occurred during a five-game stretch from Weeks 4-9 (20/343/6, 17.15 Y/R, WR7). While Larry Fitzgerald has not yet retired, the team has signed A.J. Green and drafted Rondale Moore, which means that Kirk's 2021 numbers are unlikely to improve much from last season.

More: 2022 NFL Mock Draft

13.09 - Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Mack missed nearly all of 2020 with a torn Achilles, but he has re-signed with the Colts this offseason. For this team, he is purely a bench stash that would need an injury to Jonathan Taylor to become a useful fantasy option.

14.04 - Baltimore Ravens DST, DST, Baltimore Ravens

15.09 - Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens

16.04 - Robert Tonyan, TE, Green Bay Packers

Entering 2020 with 14 career receptions, Tonyan scored nearly as many touchdowns (12 counting the playoffs) as he had career receptions prior to last season. While teammate Davante Adams led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions, Tonyan's 11 regular-season scores tied a position high with Travis Kelce. The biggest threat to Tonyan's 2021 outlook is the offseason drama between the Packers and Aaron Rodgers.

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Fantasy Football Projections 2021: Cincinnati Bengals

Our 2021 Fantasy Football Projections will be viewable by both position and team.

Below you will find our 2021 fantasy football projections for the Cincinnati Bengals.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for more NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS

PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Joe Burrow584.23874060.224.837.366247.54.62299.6
Brandon Allen40.625.8247.71.441.064.47.70.0214.44

Joe Burrow: Sustaining his season-ending knee injury in Week 11, the only quarterback to throw more pass attempts than Burrow (404, 36.7/G) through that point in the season was Tom Brady (433, 36.1/G). Assuming Burrow remains on track for the start of the season and is able to stay healthy, he should rank near the top of the NFL in pass attempts in 2021. That volume makes last year's No. 1 overall pick a worthy back-end QB1 in drafts this summer.

RUNNING BACKS

PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
Joe Mixon272.711596.6855.7516.93253.52
Samaje Perine59.4246.51.4912.486.20.551.41
Trayveon Williams2294.60.444.121.50.116.9
Chris Evans5.523.40.122.121.50.16.86

Joe Mixon: Mixon appeared in only six games in 2020 and he has now missed multiple games in three of his four NFL seasons. That said, Mixon had a minimum of 19 touches in the six games in which he appeared in 2020. Through Week 6, Mixon had more carries (119) than all running backs not named Derrick Henry (123) and was top 10 among running backs in targets (26). With Giovani Bernard now in Tampa, Mixon should be even more involved as a receiver.

Samaje Perine: Perine averaged 6.6 YPC last season for the Bengals and he slides in as the RB2 behind Mixon with Bernard now longer on the roster. Given Mixon's durability history, Perine will be one of the top handcuffs to target late whether your fantasy roster has Mixon or not.

WIDE RECEIVERS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Ja'Marr Chase91.81033.96.21.15.90.01187.14
Tee Higgins83.6969.36.34.424.20.04179.19
Tyler Boyd82.6883.15.14.427.30.04163.18
Auden Tate33376.92.200067.39
Trent Taylor5.221.50.10005.35
Stanley Morgan3.121.50.10004.3

Ja'Marr Chase: Former college teammate Justin Jefferson dominated as a rookie in 2020. If Chase were draft-eligible last year, the 2019 Biletnikoff award winner would have been the first receiver off the board. Reunited with his former college quarterback, Chase should be able to establish chemistry early. While Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will still see substantial targets as well, Chase should emerge sooner than later as the team's WR1.

Tee Higgins: From Week 2 until Week 11 (Joe Burrow's knee injury), Higgins scored the 19th-most fantasy points (half-PPR scoring) amongst wide receivers. With the Bengals drafting Ja'Marr Chase over Penei Sewell, it took some steam out of Higgins' opportunity to build upon his strong rookie season. On the other hand, A.J. Green and his 104 targets (6.5/G) are no longer on the roster.

MORE: Tee Higgins 2021 Fantasy Football Profile

Tyler Boyd: Boyd had just one catch for one yard in Weeks 15 and 17 -- he was out in Week 16 -- as he failed to extend his 1,000-yard streak to three seasons. Through Week 11 (when Joe Burrow tore his ACL), however, Boyd was averaging 71.0 yards per game, which put him on a 16-game pace of 1,136 yards. Even though the Bengals drafted Chase, a healthy Burrow keeps Boyd in the WR3 mix.

Auden Tate: As The Athletic's Jay Morrison notes, the Bengals could use more four-WR sets in 2021 with what expects to be an improved offensive line and quick processing skills of Joe Burrow.

TIGHT ENDS

PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Drew Sample21.7183.11.200036.36
C.J. Uzomah16.5161.51.100031
Mason Schreck110.80.10002.18

Drew Sample: C.J. Uzomah has been fully cleared from his torn Achilles. Over 16 games last season, Sample had 40 catches for 349 yards and one touchdown. With Ja'Marr Chase being added to the receiving corps and the possibility for more four- and even five-WR sets, the Sample/Uzomah duo are unlikely to be much of a factor in the receiving game.

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Los Angeles Rams Post-Draft 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Los Angeles Rams rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 6.4 (7th)
  • Best ranking: 4th (ESPN)
  • Worst ranking: 9th (CBS Sports)

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the Rams in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 4

Players who benefited most from draft: OL Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton and Austin Corbett

The Rams lost center Austin Blythe to the Chiefs in free agency and did not draft a replacement. That means Allen, Shelton and Corbett will compete for the starting job in 2021 and possibly earn the opportunity snap to quarterback Matthew Stafford for several seasons beyond. Allen has the most experience after starting nine games as a second-year pro in 2019, but he has not appeared in a game since suffering a season-ending knee injury that year. Shelton has no NFL experience at the position, and Corbett, who started the past two seasons at guard, has played the position in only the preseason. -- Lindsey Thiry

NFL.com -- Rank: 7

As you undoubtedly know, the Rams are obsessed with trading top draft assets for established veterans, and no amount of oceanfront square footage at a Malibu Airbnb will make them a buzzy team this time of year. Still, we found some intrigue in their first pick at 57 overall: Tutu Atwell, the 155-pound Louisville receiver who became the lightest draft pick to enter the league since at least 2006, per ESPN. Atwell's diminutive build feels like it could be a problem at the next level, but he also adds another element to a solid receiver room that already includes Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 6

Getting Matt Stafford to go with that dominant defense should help this team get in the playoff mix again. But will not having first-round picks for five years come back to bite this team?

USA Today -- Rank: 9

The secondary of last season's top-ranked defense has suffered key personnel losses, but that could be a moot point if new QB Matthew Stafford can threaten opposing secondaries in a way that restores the offense to an elite level.

The Athletic -- Rank: 6

They have one of the most top-heavy rosters in the league. If the Rams can stay healthy -- they had the second-best injury luck last year -- they have a Super Bowl ceiling with Matthew Stafford. But depth is a big question. The Rams have used just one draft pick on the offensive line in the last two years. Defensively, what does this group look like if Aaron Donald or Jalen Ramsey misses time? It's hard to look past the fact that the Packers put 484 yards up on the Rams with Donald banged-up in the NFC Championship game last season.

The reason to bet on Los Angeles is that an efficient offense can make up for a lot of shortcomings. In four seasons with Sean McVay, the Rams have produced a top-10 offense three times and have never finished lower than 12th.

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Detroit Lions Post-Draft 2021 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Detroit Lions rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 31.0 (31st)
  • Best ranking: 30th (CBS Sports)
  • Worst ranking: 32nd (NFL.com)

Below you will find a post-draft roundup for the Lions in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 31

Player who benefited most from draft: QB Jared Goff

Ahead of the draft, the new Lions quarterback was assured by the front office that the team wouldn't select another QB. They didn't, which he said gave him a "nice foot of confidence" entering his first year in Detroit. They also beefed up the offensive line by drafting a potential generational talent in Oregon OT Penei Sewell to help protect him. Although building up the offensive and defensive lines was a priority, Goff was also "excited" for fourth-round WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, who could be a good fit. -- Eric Woodyard

NFL.com -- Rank: 32

The Lions are playing for tomorrow, so it's best to look at the team's 2021 draft as a foundation-building exercise. It started with a franchise left tackle in Oregon stud Penei Sewell, followed by three picks that addressed defense in the second and third rounds. That's not going to help Jared Goff complete more passes this fall, but that's not really the point. Goff feels more like a placeholder until 2022, when the Lions can use another premium draft asset on their future at QB. Unless, I suppose, Goff goes full Aaron Rodgers and sticks it to all his doubters in a profound way. Crazier things have happened!

CBS Sports -- Rank: 31

They have a new general manager, a new coach and a new quarterback in Jared Goff. They also drafted well. But this is a rebuild that is going to take time.

USA Today -- Rank: 30

Their new regime pretty much took this roster down to the studs, but then got busy drafting studs. They're admittedly a year or two away, but that doesn't mean they'll be a freebie on anyone's 2021 schedule.

The Athletic -- Rank: 31

Can we all agree that the RedZone Channel should commit to airing every Dan Campbell post-game press conference live, regardless of what else is happening around the league? The Lions could be pretty good on both sides of the line of scrimmage, but expecting Jared Goff to move the ball effectively with their group of pass-catching options is asking a lot. Detroit is wisely building for the long haul.

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