Twelve Team PPR Mock Draft

Another mock draft is in the books thanks to the https://fanspeak.com/fantasyotc/. For this draft I was asked to perform a twelve team draft with the PPR rule settings. Using an online random number generator website, I was awarded the eighth pick in the draft. I am always a fan of these middle of the order draft spots. I love not having to wait forever to take my pick, but even more so I love that I am not sacrificing a strong second round pick for a top notch pick in the first.

How can you not draft Adrian Peterson with a mid-first round pick?

Though he may not be the top running back in a PPR league, if Adrian Peterson falls to the eighth spot in this type of draft, you have to pull the trigger on him. He may not have had great receiving numbers last season, but the Vikings are set on getting Peterson more involved in the passing game this year. It is very likely he will be the league’s leading rusher so he definitely has value there. Grabbing him in the middle of the first round is definitely well worth it.

I wanted a top five wide receiver in the second round, but this did not happen. I could have taken Julio Jones here but I did not want to take on a player coming off injury as my top wide receiver. Instead I went with Drew Brees. Brees is the only quarterback in history to have thrown for 5,000 in consecutive seasons. In fact, there have only been eight 5,000 passing seasons in the history of the NFL. Brees accounts for four of those. Obviously, he is a top three quarterback and has the potential to be the number one this season. I would take him ahead of Aaron Rodgers any day.

After ensuring a strong quarterback and running back it was time to go wide out. I took Larry Fitzgerald. Larry had a down year in 2013. However, keep in mind he was dealing with hamstring issues throughout most of the season. Even on a down year he scored team times and caught 85 passes. There is no harm in having him as a number one wide receiver, but a good second and strong backup at the position is important.

I spent my fourth round pick on tight end Cameron Jordan. Jordan had the second most receptions of any tight end in 2013 next to Jimmy Graham. When I was looking at the draft board I was noticing a couple wide receivers that would still potential be there for me in the fifth round. I also noticed the tight ends were starting to move. I could have gotten Vernon Davis, but since my wide receivers are not going to be incredible, it was better to go with a more consistent player. Receptions are always the consistent route in PPR leagues. Jordan was an easy choice here.

Cameron Jordan actually had the second most receptions by a tight end in 2013.

I was getting worried in the fifth round. I was sitting there watching as the next tier of running backs were being swiped off the board. I was just praying somebody would fall to me. Luckily, I was able to get Rashad Jennings. Jennings is a good second running back in PPR leagues because he is good at catching the ball out of the backfield. Even if one of the other Giants’ backs starts to steal carries from Jennings, Jennings will always be the main guy on passing downs.

Next I grabbed Mike Wallace. He is the Dolphins’ main wide receiver and should perform better this season. I believe Ryan Tannehill is going to make major strides this season. I think Tannehill has the ability to accumulate over 4,000 passing yards this season. This would mean Mike Wallace could definitely see a 1,000 yard season.

With Jennings as a second running back, I thought it would be a good idea to spend my seventh on another back just to ensure I can swap them in and out as needed if some were to go wrong with Jennings. I choose Danny Woodhead. Woodhead led all running backs in receptions last season. He is the guy who is going to be in the Chargers lineup anytime a passing situation presents itself. They also line him up in the slot and even on the outside. The Chargers may have a crowded backfield, but Woodhead is the most valuable of the three in PPR scoring formats. However, even after taking Woodhead, I knew another running back was necessary.

I skipped on the running backs with the next pick because I figured I could still maybe grab the one I had my eye on with my next pick. Instead I took Reggie Wayne. This was a well spent pick. He was one of the top scoring wide receivers in terms of fantasy points per game in PPR leagues last season. He may be getting old, but he should still have one more year left in his tank. He is definitely a nice backup to have. He would probably end up starting a number of games for me.

The chances of Ray Rice losing his starting job have dropped a lot now that we know how long he will be suspended for.

It was time for me to pull the trigger on the running back I had been eyeing. I really wanted Ray Rice. Last year, Rice was a huge bust. However, after a number of seasons as a surefire first round pick; getting him in the ninth just seems too good to be true. He has only been suspended for the first two games of the season so there is plenty of time for him to be useful. The suspension possibility is really what everyone has been so put off by all this time. Now that we know how long it is, it is definitely not that big of a deal. If it were a four or six game suspension I would not take him. Two games is not enough time for the Ravens to feel comfortable enough to hand over Rice’s starting job to Pierce.

Then I took Trent Richardson. Yes, other than Adrian Peterson, all my running backs are high risk options. However, if just one of them pans out I am in business. Richardson, like Ray Rice, was a major bust in 2013. I am confortable drafting him as a fourth running back option though.

I spent a pretty high pick to have a good quarterback. If you are willing to spend a lot to get the best, you should be willing to draft a strong backup just in case the unspeakable happens. So I grabbed my sleeper quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

In the twelfth round I went with Robert Woods. I am very high on Woods this season. Maybe a little too high if I think he can be a fourth option for me at the wide receiver position in a PPR league. Still, I like the pick so I am happy.

Then I had to go with a more consistent backup wide receiver. I took Nate Washington. Washington is a forgotten about wide receiver. It always seems like he puts up good enough stats to warrant him a spot start for someone bye week or injury, but never good enough to be relied on full time. Since he has never played for flashy passing teams and has always been a slot receiver, he just is not given the respect he deserves.

Then I grabbed the Panthers defense with my second to last pick. I have said time and time again, I think they are awesome. Because of this I am not going to go much more into them.

Then I picked Nick Novak. The Chargers play the type of offense that is very suitable for a strong kicker. Kickers get the most field goal opportunities when they are on teams who play a more conservative style of offense. The Chargers are not going to risk not putting up points on the board to convert a fourth down. They are not high powered enough to score every time they get the ball, but they are good enough to be able to move the ball into field goal range on a consistent basis. These factors, combined with his strong leg, makes Novak a very good option for owners who waited too long to grab one of the top players at the position.

After completing the fanspeak.com On The Clock mock draft simulator for a twelve team PPR league, my team looked like this:

Brees is set for another big season. For some reason everyone takes Rodgers and Manning before him, but Brees has a strong history behind to make a case that he should be the first QB taken in fantasy drafts.

• QB: Drew Brees
• RB: Adrian Peterson
• RB: Rashad Jennings
• WR: Larry Fitzgerald
• WR: Mike Wallace
• TE: Jordan Cameron
• FLEX: Danny Woodhead
• K: Nick Novak
• DEF: Carolina Panthers
• BENCH: Reggie Wayne
• BENCH: Ray Rice
• BENCH: Trent Richardson
• BENCH: Ryan Tannehill
• BENCH: Robert Woods
• BENCH: Nate Washington

All in all, I find this team very interesting. I really do not know if I like it or not. I love have Peterson and Brees, but the wide receivers seem a bit thin to me. I like the depth at running back, but they are all risky. This one just looks like a team that if I were to be blessed by some luck, would be very good. However, I know from past experience that luck is not often something that is one my side, so more than likely this team would probably get blown away. I just do not know. It is not a bad team, but it is not a good team either. I could see a boring .500 season happen.

If you think you can do a better twelve team PPR mock draft go to https://fanspeak.com/fantasyotc/ and try it out for yourself!