Andy Richardson
What better way to spend a couple afternoon hours in mid-July than a mock draft? Well, there are probably one or two. Still, 11 lucky readers of this website took the time out of their schedules to do a mock draft with me. Here's how it turned out.
We went 14 rounds, drafting for a lineup of 1 QB, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 PK, and 1 Team D. TD passes were 4 points, all others 6. A point for every 10 rushing or receiving yards, and every 25 passing yards. A point for receptions, as well.
The draft was held at MockDraftCentral.com, and you can see the results in grid format at this link or in a cruder format below. I'm not going to recap every pick, but here's a good, bad and ugly for each team (whose names have been turned into 5-digit names below for my formatting ease).
Index:
Best pick: I'll go with Mr. Irrelevant, Arian Foster. People are underestimating his real chance to be Houston's starter this season. I also considered Chester Taylor here.
Worst pick: Some might say Spiller, although at least it's a PPR format. For me I really hated drafting Reggie Bush at 7.01, just because he's an unreliable start. But in a PPR format, he's functional, and the most appealing back available at that point.
Summary: Rookies Spiller and Dez Bryant may be needed to start for this team, so there's some risk involved. If one or both of those guys -- arguably the two most talented rookies -- emerges, it will be a competitive team.
Smash:
Best pick: Either Clark or Favre. Clark should be his usual top-3 tight end, and since there's little doubt Favre will be back, he's a nice value in the 7th.
Worst pick: Best went a little high at 2.11, but I'm going with Santana Moss, who's too unreliable in terms of production and health to be a sixth-rounder.
Summary: The starting lineup will be fine, but I'm not optimistic about the bench players contributing as starters if injuries strike.
Event:
Best pick: Between Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams he should get one good starter, and have a nice No. 2 running back with mid-round picks.
Worst pick: Vernon Davis isn't a bad pick, but I don't see him as a fourth-rounder, either. Although he's only a kicker, Shaun Suisham doesn't have a job right now, and is no lock to be on a roster this year.
Summary: This looks like a pretty balanced team, with the one concern being that two of four running backs are coming off injury and another (Cadillac) an injury risk.
Drank:
Best pick: I was all set to draft Celek when Drank took him three picks earlier. Nice value in the sixth. Pierre Thomas in the fourth is also solid.
Worst pick: We're not Dwayne Bowe fans, and I'm not sure Laurent Robinson or Golden Tate protect that pick particularly well.
Summary: Nice depth at running back, but that third receiver spot might be tricky most weeks.
Pheno:
Best pick: We like Gaffney as Denver's No. 1 receiver this year, so the 10th round is a nice value.
Worst pick: Philip Rivers with Manning still on the board leaps to mind. Maybe his plan to snag three other Colts factored in.
Summary: Having to sweat out which Colts wideout to start, and rely on Shiancoe at tight end, could hurt this team's weekly performance. Nice depth at wideout, but question marks surround the starters there.
DaveD:
Best pick: I considered Jonathan Stewart in the fifth; lot of upside there. I also sort of like Devin Thomas in the ninth.
Worst pick: Julian Edelman in the sixth is too early even if you're sure Welker will open the season on the PUP list. And we're not sure about that.
Summary: If you're sensing a trend, it's that a lot of people (myself included) will have a question mark at the No. 3 receiver spot this year. Apart from that, I like this lineup -- it will probably win the quarterback spot most week, and has two potential star runners.
Matts:
Best pick: Landing Zach Miller in the 7th is ample reason to wait on the tight end position this year.
Worst pick: I love Maclin, but the fourth round is too early.
Summary: Nice acknowledgment of PPR by loading up on pass catchers. I thought Maclin was too early, but this team goes four-deep with quality wideouts and should be pretty strong. Marion Barber's year will probably determine how this team does, but I like the receiving corps
Royal:
Best pick: Manning late in the third and Forsett and Hightower in the eighth and 11th leap to mind. Particularly given the PPR scoring for those runners.
Worst pick: Moreno at No. 8 overall generated the most debate during the draft; I agree it's a bit high for him.
Summary: Clearly a loyal Index reader here, as guys we like (Finley, Chambers, Forsett) abound. Good team, if we turn out to be correct.
Dewey:
Best pick: Love Jamaal Charles midway through the second.
Worst pick: Vincent Jackson's season is too uncertain, plus he'll definitely miss three games, to go in the fourth.
Summary: If VJax holds out and Aromashodu doesn't start in Chicago (and Boldin gets hurt...) the wideouts will kill this team.
Rocks:
Best pick: I"m not buying all the Ryan Mathews hype, but he certainly shouldn't last until the bottom of the third round. I considered him strongly at 3.01. Chris Cooley way down in the 13 is a steal.
Worst pick: Either Hines Ward in the fifth or Welker in the sixth. Ward went too high, and Welker's health is too uncertain to count on him that early.
Summary: Some interesting lottery tickets here. I don't like the receiving corps much, but if Welker IS able to play early in the season....
Fever:
Best pick: I'm a Harvin fan, so getting him late in the fifth looks good to me. Driver in the seventh is also decent.
Worst pick: In a 3-WR league, I don't think you can afford to draft a tight end as early as he drafts Gates. I like the Harvin and Driver picks, as noted, but not necessarily as his top 2 wideouts.
Summary: One more wide receiver atop this lineup would make it look pretty nice.
Bruss:
Best pick: I like Romo as much as the "elite" QBs, so getting him in the fourth is nice value. I'm also a Hardesty fan.
Worst pick: Eagles should use a committee at running back, so I'm not keen on McCoy over the next few running backs off the board.
Summary: Pretty good balance on this team; he drafted enough running backs and wide receivers that his starting lineup should be fairly strong.
Agree or disagree? Let me know, and I think a few participants may weigh in with comments. A few weeks from now, maybe we'll do another one of these.
1.1 Index Adrian Peterson
1.2 Smash Maurice Jones-Drew
1.3 Event Chris Johnson
1.4 Drank Frank Gore
1.5 Pheno Ray Rice
1.6 DaveD Andre Johnson
1.7 Matts Michael Turner
1.8 Royal Knowshon Moreno
1.9 Dewey DeAngelo Williams
1.10 Rocks Steven Jackson
1.11 Fever Drew Brees
1.12 Bruss Rashard Mendenhall
2.1 Bruss Calvin Johnson
2.2 Fever Cedric Benson
2.3 Rocks Brandon Marshall
2.4 Dewey Jamaal Charles
2.5 Royal Randy Moss
2.6 Matts Roddy White
2.7 DaveD Aaron Rodgers
2.8 Pheno Miles Austin
2.9 Drank Larry Fitzgerald
2.10 Event Reggie Wayne
2.11 Smash Jahvid Best
2.12 Index DeSean Jackson
3.1 Index Sidney Rice
3.2 Smash Marques Colston
3.3 Event Greg Jennings
3.4 Drank Steve Smith
3.5 Pheno Philip Rivers
3.6 DaveD Shonn Greene
3.7 Matts Steven Smith
3.8 Royal Peyton Manning
3.9 Dewey Anquan Boldin
3.10 Rocks Ryan Mathews
3.11 Fever Antonio Gates
3.12 Bruss LeSean McCoy
4.1 Bruss Tony Romo
4.2 Fever Chris Wells
4.3 Rocks Tom Brady
4.4 Dewey Vincent Jackson
4.5 Royal Ryan Grant
4.6 Matts Jeremy Maclin
4.7 DaveD Michael Crabtree
4.8 Pheno Hakeem Nicks
4.9 Drank Pierre Thomas
4.10 Event Vernon Davis
4.11 Smash Chad Ochocinco
4.12 Index Matt Schaub
5.1 Index CJ Spiller
5.2 Smash Dallas Clark
5.3 Event Ronnie Brown
5.4 Drank Kevin Kolb
5.5 Pheno Joseph Addai
5.6 DaveD Jonathan Stewart
5.7 Matts Marion Barber
5.8 Royal Jermichael Finley
5.9 Dewey Jason Witten
5.10 Rocks Hines Ward
5.11 Fever Percy Harvin
5.12 Bruss Felix Jones
6.1 Bruss Mike Wallace
6.2 Fever Matt Forte
6.3 Rocks Wes Welker
6.4 Dewey Matt Ryan
6.5 Royal Antonio Bryant
6.6 Matts Johnny Knox
6.7 DaveD Julian Edelman
6.8 Pheno Pierre Garcon
6.9 Drank Brent Celek
6.10 Event Mike Sims-Walker
6.11 Smash Santana Moss
6.12 Index Tony Gonzalez
7.1 Index Reggie Bush
7.2 Smash Brett Favre
7.3 Event Jay Cutler
7.4 Drank Dwayne Bowe
7.5 Pheno Visanthe Shiancoe
7.6 DaveD Owen Daniels
7.7 Matts Zach Miller
7.8 Royal Malcom Floyd
7.9 Dewey Devin Aromashodu
7.10 Rocks Devin Hester
7.11 Fever Donald Driver
7.12 Bruss Steve Breaston
8.1 Bruss Montario Hardesty
8.2 Fever Brandon Jacobs
8.3 Rocks Steve Slaton
8.4 Dewey Eli Manning
8.5 Royal Justin Forsett
8.6 Matts Joe Flacco
8.7 DaveD Ben Tate
8.8 Pheno Ricky Williams
8.9 Drank Clinton Portis
8.10 Event Cadillac Williams
8.11 Smash Ahmad Bradshaw
8.12 Index T.J Houshmandzadeh
9.1 Index Dez Bryant
9.2 Smash Jerricho Cotchery
9.3 Event Donovan McNabb
9.4 Drank Fred Jackson
9.5 Pheno Austin Collie
9.6 DaveD Devin Thomas
9.7 Matts Michael Bush
9.8 Royal Darren Sproles
9.9 Dewey Braylon Edwards
9.10 Rocks Minnesota Vikings
9.11 Fever Robert Meachem
9.12 Bruss Matthew Stafford
10.1 Bruss New York Jets
10.2 Fever Pittsburgh Steelers
10.3 Rocks Carson Palmer
10.4 Dewey Jerome Harrison
10.5 Royal Chris Chambers
10.6 Matts Donald Brown
10.7 DaveD Ben Roethlisberger
10.8 Pheno Jabar Gaffney
10.9 Drank Laurent Robinson
10.10 Event Baltimore Ravens
10.11 Smash Eddie Royal
10.12 Index Kellen Winslow
11.1 Index San Francisco 49ers
11.2 Smash Larry Johnson
11.3 Event Lee Evans
11.4 Drank Golden Tate
11.5 Pheno Thomas Jones
11.6 DaveD Derrick Mason
11.7 Matts Roy Williams
11.8 Royal Tim Hightower
11.9 Dewey Marshawn Lynch
11.10 Rocks Darren McFadden
11.11 Fever Vince Young
11.12 Bruss Dustin Keller
12.1 Bruss Davone Bess
12.2 Fever New Orleans Saints
12.3 Rocks Santonio Holmes
12.4 Dewey Kevin Walter
12.5 Royal Terrell Owens
12.6 Matts Chad Henne
12.7 DaveD Heath Miller
12.8 Pheno Ryan Longwell
12.9 Drank Philadelphia Eagles
12.10 Event Kenny Britt
12.11 Smash Dallas Cowboys
12.12 Index Mark Sanchez
13.1 Index Nate Kaeding
13.2 Smash Garrett Hartley
13.3 Event Leon Washington
13.4 Drank Matt Moore
13.5 Pheno Matt Hasselbeck
13.6 DaveD Green Bay Packers
13.7 Matts Washington
13.8 Royal Stephen Gostkowski
13.9 Dewey Rob Bironas
13.10 Rocks Chris Cooley
13.11 Fever Mario Manningham
13.12 Bruss Arrelious Benn
14.1 Bruss Mason Crosby
14.2 Fever David Akers
14.3 Rocks Lawrence Tynes
14.4 Dewey New York Giants
14.5 Royal Miami Dolphins
14.6 Matts Dan Carpenter
14.7 DaveD David Buehler
14.8 Pheno Tennessee Titans
14.9 Drank Joe Nedney
14.10 Event Shaun Suisham
14.11 Smash Tarvaris Jackson
14.12 Index Arian Foster
- Comments [5]
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Posted by DAVID DIGREGORIO | Jul. 15 at 09:12 PM
Loved the draft. Thanks again. Did you guys ever consider running leagues, like fanball. With all of your subscribers, you have a nice base to draw from. One stop shopping! As far as my team, my plan was wait till the top 7 QBs were drafted, and pick Kolb. Then I was going to wait until about 6 TEs were picked and select Z Miller. Oh well, the best laid plans... I took a lot of heat on Edelman. Rightly so. But, the patriots are notorious liars about injuries. I have a hard time thinking Welker will be back right away with his injuries. I thought they would take a year to heal. I saw him in practice on tape, but it's note a game. It was a reach, but with upside. I only drafted one D and one K. This gave me the luxury of getting 2 extra players.
Posted by Paul Owers | Jul. 15 at 10:41 PM
Thanks for organizing, Andy. It's only July, but it's still a good tune-up for what to expect in September. I agree with your assessment of my team -- question marks surrounding the starters. I mistakenly took Rivers over Manning -- that won't happen in my real draft. You don't seem to be a big fan of V. Shiancoe in a PPR format. He did catch only 56 passes last year, but he at least should be a reliable scorer in that offense. I say middle of the seventh round is nice value for a guy who had more touchdowns last year than Dallas Clark, who went early in the fifth round.
Posted by Matthew Kenerly | Jul. 15 at 11:25 PM
It didn't work out like I expected, but if this counted I would feel okay going to war with this team. I'd argue the Gates pick by noting that I personally don't believe that any of the WRs taken between he and Harvin will outproduce him, and he's one of 2 or 3 TEs I think could grab 80 balls and score 10 TDs. I consider him my #1 WR and contend that the Brees-Meachem connection would win a couple of matchups, as well. The lineup may not be flashy -- Harvin aside -- but I think it'd be a contender. As the other guys said, thanks for the opportunity!
Posted by Duane Stay | Jul. 16 at 12:33 AM
Chris Johnson going 1.3 was a surprise to me.
Posted by Sean Chi | Jul. 16 at 02:34 AM
Gave me a new perspective on magazine mocks drafting this early in the year. Had alot of heartbreak in this draft. Gaffney and Lee Evans going right in front of my face really screwed me at WR. Late in the draft, decided to just swing for the fences with Tate and Robinson. Figure even if they bomb, just how much help would a Kevin Walters really be? That's my philosophy for the draft in general. How many games is a 1,000 rusher with 6 tds and 20 catches really going to win you? Trust me, I had Jamal Lewis in 06, he was no better than a Kevin Faulk. Better to take risks than settle for mediocrity. As for WR, you can find 50 catches and 800 yards on waivers easily. I also actually like Bowe too but really no basis to back it up (actually, his 09 numbers do project to WR3 on per game basis).