There is no more important part of preparing for fantasy football drafts than doing a mock. While things may play out differently in the real thing, the key is to be comfortable in your thinking so you can adjust on the fly and move quickly from Plan A to Plan B and even Plan C if needs be.
But if you’ve run out of time to do your own mocks, we have you covered here at PFN with our own mock draft with analysis. In this 2022 fantasy football mock draft, we break down the decision-making in the first two rounds and then analyze how our team turned out and what we learned from this mock.
If you have any questions about this 2022 fantasy football mock draft, come on over to our PFN Discord server, where all our analysts are dropping in throughout the day to answer your questions.
2022 fantasy football mock draft | Non-PPR 1QB
We changed up the format of this mock draft to be a non-PPR, 1QB format. This differs from the PPR Superflex format we did last week, so be sure to check that one out if that format is what your league uses. Going forward, we will be further mixing up the formats between non-PPR, half-PPR, and PPR, as well as both 1QB and Superflex.
Our starting lineup for this mock was: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, two flex spots, with six bench spots. Neither D/ST nor kickers were included in this mock, as all four analysts agreed that the general theory is both positions are selected in the final two rounds. For more insight into the ideas behind drafting D/STs and kickers, sign up for our draft guide available through the PFN Pass.
The format of this mock saw four of our analysts each selecting three different teams. Tommy Garrett (TG) had teams 1, 5, and 9. Jason Katz (JK) had teams 2, 6, and 10. Ian Wharton (IW) had teams 3, 7, and 11. Ben Rolfe (BR) had teams 4, 8, and 12.
The pick in parentheses from Round 2 onwards is the overall pick in the draft.
Round 1
Pick 1: Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND
TG: In 2022, I feel we have a definitive 1.01 for both Superflex or 1QB leagues. In a 1QB league such as this, Jonathan Taylor is the runaway 1.01, especially in standard formats. With receptions equating to only yardage or scores, I am looking for as much volume as possible.
You will be hard-pressed to find a running back with more talent or volume than Taylor. The RB1 of 2021, Taylor rushed a staggering 332 times for 1,811 yards (5.5 ypc), clearing Nick Chubb at No. 2 by 552 yards. Taylor found the end zone 18 times thanks to his league-leading 85 red-zone carries. Barring injury, which is a caveat with all players, Taylor will be right up there with Derrick Henry for the league lead in touches and opportunities.
Pick 2: Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR
JK: Without any PPR, it’s very difficult to take a wide receiver this early. If I’m going running back with Taylor off the board, it has to be Christian McCaffrey.
There’s no arguing that McCaffrey is riskier than someone like Derrick Henry or Austin Ekeler. However, I don’t like playing for safety — I want to chase upside. McCaffrey would be the unquestioned first overall pick in any non-Superflex format if we knew he’d play 17 games.
Pick 3: Derrick Henry, RB, TEN
IW: I’m more than happy to take Henry with Taylor and McCaffrey off the board. In a non-PPR league, I would’ve still taken Henry No. 2. The Titans will again rely heavily on the big man to be their offensive catalyst. I’m not sure there was another back left besides maybe Najee Harris who could make that claim.
Grabbing Henry over a receiver this early is a no-brainer still because there’s so much flexibility I can take from here on out. At my next pick, I’ll have the chance to get a strong RB2, or I can do something more unique since I have two picks within six of each other. The Henry pick ends up being a foundational pick that opens flexibility for the rest of my draft.
Pick 4: Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC
BR: This was an easy choice. While Ekeler is not as valuable relative to those around him in non-PPR formats, his receiving work still carries huge value for the yards and TD potential. One thing to remember is that it’s extremely likely Ekeler sees regression from his 20 touchdowns in 16 games. He’s only had double-digits once before in his career (2019 – 11).
It seems unlikely anyone on the Chargers will take enough carries to reduce Ekeler’s workload. Additionally, if his catch rate rebounds above 80%, then 1,750 total yards could very much be on the cards. That should help make up for a potential 10+ drop in touchdowns this year.
Pick 5: Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN
TG: It’s crucial to draft players who will find the end zone in standard fantasy drafts, as this is where the bulk of points will come. Few have been better at this than Dalvin Cook. Over the last four seasons, Cook has scored 40 touchdowns. In fact, last year was the first time since 2018 that Cook failed to top 1,500 scrimmage yards and double-digit touchdowns in a season. Playing in 13 games, Cook rushed 249 times for 1,159 yards (fifth-most) with six rushing touchdowns. I’ll take that for a “down year.”
Averaging 106.4 yards per game, Cook was fourth in the NFL in total yards but 15th in fantasy points and tied eighth in points per game (13.3). I expect Cook to return to his average and be in the double-digit range in what should be a more explosive offense under Kevin O’Connell.
Pick 6: Joe Mixon, RB, CIN
JK: I’m compelled to go running back in the first round here. Mixon is the lead runner on one of the league’s best offenses, and with an improved offensive line, he has legitimate 20-touchdown upside.
I went Mixon over Harris due to concerns about Harris’ TD upside behind a bad offensive line. In a post-Ben Roethlisberger world, Harris won’t benefit from a bunch of check downs, and in non-PPR, those aren’t as valuable anyway.
Pick 7: Najee Harris, RB, PIT
IW: This is the point in the first round where I can either force a running back or take one of the top receivers without feeling uneasy about the decision. I still happily take Harris over the receivers. Harris will be the identity of the Steelers’ offense once again, and the team improved his offensive line from last year.
At worst, I can have a hero RB strategy in place with Harris. I felt the drop-off from Harris to whoever would be there at the 2.6 was large enough to not go for a receiver. After seeing my next pick and who was on the board still at WR, I think I made the right decision at the 1.07.
Pick 8: Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN
BR: The back end of the first round is intriguing. There are five or six running backs who are a lock, but then it becomes time to look at receivers. With all five of those backs gone, taking the first receiver off the board was the smart option. In PPR, Cooper Kupp would be that player, but in the non-PPR format, Justin Jefferson is more than a match with potential room for growth.
Starting the draft with a WR is always a risk, given the uncertain landscape at RB. However, that is what mocks are for — to see how things play out. The lesson from this is that there is enough RB depth in Rounds 4-6 that you don’t have to chase the position in the first couple of rounds. Equally, the talent at RB at the back end of Round 1 is reasonably flat, allowing you to go WR in the first if that’s what you want to do.
Pick 9: Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR
TG: Yes, I know this is a standard format, but with RBs making six of the first seven picks, I could not pass up adding Cooper Kupp to this roster. At the end of the day, I am looking for as much potential yardage as I can. In 2021, only Taylor (2,271) had more yards from scrimmage than Kupp with 1,965.
The Triple Crown winner, Kupp led the NFL in targets (191), receptions (145), yards (1,957), and touchdowns (18). Even an 85% version of this would still be the WR1 again in 2022. With an expected regression, Kupp can still be penciled in for 120 receptions and 1,600 yards with double-digit touchdowns. With Kupp in the first round, I’ll look to add a running back with my next pick to balance out the team, something critical in standard drafts.
Pick 10: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, CIN
JK: After starting with running backs at my previous two positions, I wanted to switch it up here. Ja’Marr Chase is my clear WR3, and I took him as such. On a high-powered Bengals offense, his ceiling is as high as anyone.
In retrospect, perhaps an RB would’ve been the right call. As I came to realize in the rounds that followed, wide receivers fall while running backs go quickly. Although, Chase wasn’t really the issue. It was more my pick in Round 2 that caused the concerns.
Pick 11: Nick Chubb, RB, CLE
IW: For as much as I like having turn picks, it can be a real gamble on who you land. I’m happy to get Nick Chubb here in a non-PPR league since he’s the workhorse in Cleveland. Chubb should benefit massively once Deshaun Watson is eligible to play as well, giving me a good value with this pick. I figured Ben would take at least one RB with his two selections, so it was better to wait on a receiver.
If Chubb was off the board, I would likely reach for Aaron Jones and pair him with another back at 2.2. But having a hero RB opened the door for a different approach with the next pick.
Pick 12: Deebo Samuel, WR, SF
BR: Much like with the selection of Ekeler at pick 4, it was hard to pass up a player who can contribute on the ground and through the air. Deebo Samuel is primarily a receiver, but the role the 49ers use him in out of the backfield gives him a tremendous ceiling. In 2021, Samuel had 23.7% of the team rushing work inside both the 20-yard and 10-yard lines.
With the combination of receiving work and rushing work, Samuel presents the perfect opportunity. He has a fantastic floor and incredible ceiling. His 1,405 receiving yards are enough to give him borderline WR1-level output. The potential of rushing touchdowns boosts that up to top five at the position potential.
Round 2
Pick 1 (13): Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG
BR: This may not be the safest selection, but the upside with Saquon Barkley is incredibly high. There is no legitimate competition for significant touches in the Giants’ backfield, which gives Barkley a huge ceiling.
The concern is that after going WR in the first round, if Barkley gets injured, it could leave the roster short at RB. Having Barkley provides a huge upside, but it comes with a very low floor.
Pick 2 (14): Stefon Diggs, WR, BUF
IW: I wanted Samuel, but Ben took him directly after my Chubb pick. That’s okay, as I still landed a top-notch receiver in Stefon Diggs. Diggs has been spectacular with Josh Allen, and I think the best might still be coming this year. I knew I’d be waiting a while for my next pick, so I decided to go with the top potential point scorer over forcing a back I didn’t love here.
Taking Diggs over Davante Adams was a tougher choice than a rusher over Diggs. I still like Adams’ potential in Vegas, but I thought I’d take more of the sure thing since we can be confident in Diggs’ volume and opportunities.
Pick 3 (15): Travis Kelce, TE, KC
JK: This was not a good pick. Taking Travis Kelce seems like a great idea — get a clear edge at tight end. In hindsight, I should’ve gone Leonard Fournette here.
I was able to recover well by grabbing Breece Hall in the third, AJ Dillon in the fifth, and J.K. Dobbins in the sixth. While I like all three, by no means do I feel confident in this RB trio. I would have been much better off passing on Kelce in favor of Fournette and just rolling with Dawson Knox as my TE1, who I got in the 11th round.
The question is whether I like my starting lineup better with Kelce and Dobbins or Fournette and Knox. If Dobbins is fully healthy, this may work out. But if he’s not, it’s pretty clearly Fournette and Knox — especially if I end up having to start Allen Lazard or Isaiah Spiller in Week 1 — would’ve been the better play.
Pick 4 (16): Alvin Kamara, RB, NO
TG: Watching nine RBs come off the board, I can’t wait until the third to select the first one, so I grab one who could be a massive steal or hurt my team in Alvin Kamara. If you could guarantee a full season of Kamara, he’d never make it out of Round 1. Yet, given the uncertainty of his off-the-field issues, Kamara is in a state of limbo for the fantasy community.
With that said, I am willing to take the risk knowing the talent Kamara brings, even in a standard draft. Kamara set a new career-high rushing average at 17.5 attempts per game (12 games). His targets took a hit, dropping from 7.1 in 2020 to 5.4 in 2021. In 13 games, Kamara rushed 240 times for 898 yards (3.7 ypc) with four touchdowns.
As noted, his targets did drop. However, he was still No. 6 among RBs with 67 targets. Of those, Kamara hauled in 47 passes (tied ninth) for 439 yards (seventh) and five touchdowns. Sure, I am not getting the bonuses for the receptions, but yards are yards at the end of the day.
A safer pick would have been to select either Fournette or Jones, who followed this, but banking on the upside and the fact he plays in 2022 has me taking the shot on Kamara in Round 2. By taking Kamara, I also make sure to draft his handcuff, Mark Ingram, in Round 11. Ingram will be a top-24 RB in games where Kamara is out.
Pick 5 (17): Leonard Fournette, RB, TB
BR: The way the Buccaneers are tanking the fantasy value of all their assets recently means we could yet see them add a veteran that hurts Leonard Fournette’s value. However, right now, Fournette has a nice mix of floor and ceiling. He should see the majority of the work in the Buccaneers’ backfield, and he proved last year that the ceiling is sky high.
Brady trusts Fournette, and therefore, so should fantasy managers.
Pick 6 (18): Aaron Jones, RB, GB
IW: I was thrilled to see Barkley, Fournette, and even Kamara come off the board before Aaron Jones. For as much as I like Dillon’s role in Green Bay for 2022, Jones is healthy now and can be released after the season. He should see a lot of targets before the Packers make a financial decision.
A Harris-Jones start is as solid as it gets even if I don’t have the upside of some of the other backs. My lack of a star receiver at this point means I’ll have to prioritize the position in the coming rounds. But the only other players I would have considered here were Davante Adams and CeeDee Lamb, so I’m happy with this pick.
Pick 7 (19): Davante Adams, WR, LV
JK: I was hoping to get Fournette here, but he didn’t make it back. The best running back on the board was D’Andre Swift, who is downgraded without any PPR, and it felt too early for the likes of Javonte Williams.
So, I went with the top wide receiver on my board. Adams may not have the ceiling he once did, but his floor is extremely high. At worst, he should be a low WR1.
Looking ahead, I was fortunate to grab Travis Etienne in the fourth round. Had I not, my RB situation might have been dire.
Pick 8 (20): D’Andre Swift, RB, DET
TG: The more and more I draft, the more I like having a top-five pick this year. Even here, I feel I can let the draft come to me and find value. Given that RBs carry increased value in a standard draft, D’Andre Swift is my next pick to shore up this part of my roster.
Swift does lose upside in this format as he crushed last year thanks to his pass-catching prowess, finishing fourth in targets last season (78) and tied for the lead amongst RBs in targets per game (six). Paired with his rushing volume, Swift averaged 17.6 opportunities per game.
From Weeks 1-11, Swift was the RB9 in standard formats on a struggling but improving Lions offense. I expect this team to take another step forward, along with Swift’s ceiling. In hindsight, perhaps Williams would have fit the scoring format better, but Swift should have no issues living up to his ADP.
Pick 9 (21): Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA
BR: In PPR, I may have looked at CeeDee Lamb here because his floor feels higher. However, Tyreek Hill’s game-breaking ability makes him a very intriguing fantasy asset. There might be the odd bump as he transitions to Tua Tagovailoa at QB, but Hill is a rock solid start-him-and-forget-it option who comes with exciting upside based on his talent.
Additionally, at this point, there were still a handful of backs in the current tier. Therefore, it was worth the risk that one of Javonte Williams, Ezekiel Elliott, or David Montgomery would slide. This RB-WR start set the roster up nicely to allow flexibility the rest of the way down the draft.
Pick 10 (22): Josh Allen, QB, BUF
IW: I didn’t enter this draft with my heart set on landing Josh Allen, but as the second round played out, he became a much more viable option for me. I have the second-tier of backs all rated similarly, so seeing Javonte Williams, Cam Akers, Ezekiel Elliott, and David Montgomery still on the board opened the possibility of Allen here. On face value, yes, I took Allen 10 picks before Mahomes, but I was worried either Katz or Tommy would grab him since they owned the next four picks.
I’m happy to land Allen alongside Henry. Both have the upside to be the top overall scorer at their position, putting my team in a great position to win the league. Importantly to me as well is that they have high floors. They just need to stay healthy.
Pick 11 (23): CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL
JK: The lack of PPR pushes wide receivers down the board. Lamb enters the 2022 season as Dak Prescott’s clear WR1 for the first time in his career. Lamb has improved every year of his career and is poised to truly break out this season.
What I’ve gathered is picking at the front presents an advantage in being able to draft a high-end WR while also being able to secure a strong RB2. Looking ahead, I was able to grab Cam Akers at my next pick and then basically ignore running back the rest of the way. In retrospect, I probably should’ve grabbed a third RB in the sixth or seventh round. But hey, that’s why we practice!
Pick 12 (24): Javonte Williams, RB, DEN
TG: Now at the turn with Taylor already on my team, I seriously contemplated going RB/RB to load up at the position, knowing it would be depleted by the time it comes back in the fourth round. Seeing Javonte Williams on the board made this pick an easy choice.
Despite a dead even 50/50 split on carries with Melvin Gordon III last year at 203 a piece, Williams finished 13th in touches with 246 (14.6 per game). He also maximized his touches and made them count, finishing No. 5 in forced missed tackles, No. 7 in 10+ yard rushes, and No. 7 in yards after contact despite being 15th in carries.
I expect this backfield to be more of a 60/40 split with Williams leading the way for the now Russell Wilson-led Broncos. Knowing that teams can’t stack the box against them, Williams is primed to dominate in 2022.
Fantasy mock draft | Rounds 3-14
Round 3
Pick 1 (25): Mike Evans, WR, TB
Pick 2 (26): Cam Akers, RB, LAR
Pick 3 (27): Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL
Pick 4 (28): David Montgomery, RB, CHI
Pick 5 (29): Mark Andrews, TE, BAL
Pick 6 (30): Tee Higgins, WR, CIN
Pick 7 (31): Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS
Pick 8 (32): Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC
Pick 9 (33): James Conner, RB, ARI
Pick 10 (34): Breece Hall, RB, NYJ
Pick 11 (35): Kyle Pitts, TE, ATL
Pick 12 (36): Josh Jacobs, RB, LV
Round 4
Pick 1 (37): DJ Moore, WR, CAR
Pick 2 (38): Diontae Johnson, WR, PIT
Pick 3 (39): Michael Pittman Jr., WR, IND
Pick 4 (40): Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL
Pick 5 (41): Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS
Pick 6 (42): Justin Herbert, QB, LAC
Pick 7 (43): Travis Etienne, RB, JAX
Pick 8 (44): A.J. Brown, WR, TEN
Pick 9 (45): Keenan Allen, WR, LAC
Pick 10 (46): George Kittle, TE, SF
Pick 11 (47): Darren Waller, TE, LV
Pick 12 (48): Courtland Sutton, WR, DEN
Round 5
Pick 1 (49): Jalen Hurts, QB, PHI
Pick 2 (50): Allen Robinson, WR, LAR
Pick 3 (51): Marquise Brown, WR, ARI
Pick 4 (52): Elijah Mitchell, RB, SF
Pick 5 (53): Mike Williams, WR, LAC
Pick 6 (54): Joe Burrow, QB, CIN
Pick 7 (55): Chris Godwin, WR, TB
Pick 8 (56): DK Metcalf, WR, SEA
Pick 9 (57): Dalton Schultz, TE, DAL
Pick 10 (58): AJ Dillon, RB, GB
Pick 11 (59): Kenneth Walker III, RB, SEA
Pick 12 (60): Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, ATL
Round 6
Pick 1 (61): Brandin Cooks, WR, HOU
Pick 2 (62): Kyler Murray, QB, ARI
Pick 3 (63): J.K. Dobbins, RB, BAL
Pick 4 (64): Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA
Pick 5 (65): Devin Singletary, RB, BUF
Pick 6 (66): Miles Sanders, RB, PHI
Pick 7 (67): Adam Thielen, WR, MIN
Pick 8 (68): Damien Harris, RB, NE
Pick 9 (69): Darnell Mooney, WR, CHI
Pick 10 (70): Amari Cooper, WR, CLE
Pick 11 (71): JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC
Pick 12 (72): Rashod Bateman, WR, BAL
Round 7
Pick 1 (73): Melvin Gordon, RB, DEN
Pick 2 (74): Dak Prescott, QB, DAL
Pick 3 (75): Kareem Hunt, RB, CLE
Pick 4 (76): Tony Pollard, RB, DAL
Pick 5 (77): Jerry Jeudy, WR, DEN
Pick 6 (78): Chase Edmonds, RB, MIA
Pick 7 (79): Treylon Burks, WR, TEN
Pick 8 (80): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, ARI
Pick 9 (81): Drake London, WR, ATL
Pick 10 (82): Gabriel Davis, WR, BUF
Pick 11 (83): Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, KC
Pick 12 (84): Tom Brady, QB, TB
Round 8
Pick 1 (85): Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, DET
Pick 2 (86): DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI
Pick 3 (87): Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB
Pick 4 (88): Rashaad Penny, RB, SEA
Pick 5 (89): James Robinson, RB, JAX
Pick 6 (90): Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI
Pick 7 (91): Elijah Moore, WR, NYJ
Pick 8 (92): Michael Thomas, WR, NO
Pick 9 (93): Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA
Pick 10 (94): Hunter Renfrow, WR, LV
Pick 11 (95): Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF
Pick 12 (96): Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE
Round 9
Pick 1 (97): T.J. Hockenson, TE, DET
Pick 2 (98): Michael Carter, RB, NYJ
Pick 3 (99): James Cook, RB, BUF
Pick 4 (100): Gus Edwards, RB, BAL
Pick 5 (101): Russell Wilson, QB, DEN
Pick 6 (102): Zach Ertz, TE, ARI
Pick 7 (103): Michael Gallup, WR, DAL
Pick 8 (104): Kenny Golladay, WR, NYG
Pick 9 (105): Ronald Jones, RB, KC
Pick 10 (106): Allen Lazard, WR, GB
Pick 11 (107): Kadarius Toney, WR, NYG
Pick 12 (108): Mecole Hardman, WR, KC
Round 10
Pick 1 (109): Darrell Henderson, RB, LAR
Pick 2 (110): Marlon Mack, RB, IND
Pick 3 (111): Isaiah Spiller, RB, LAC
Pick 4 (112): Robert Woods, WR, TEN
Pick 5 (113): Russell Gage, WR, ATL
Pick 6 (114): Chris Olave, WR, NO
Pick 7 (115): Dameon Pierce, RB, HOU
Pick 8 (116): Alexander Mattison, RB, MIN
Pick 9 (117): Chase Claypool, WR, PIT
Pick 10 (118): Trey Lance, QB, SF
Pick 11 (119): Christian Kirk, WR, JAX
Pick 12 (120): Skyy Moore, WR, KC
Round 11
Pick 1 (121): Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN
Pick 2 (122): Kenneth Gainwell, RB, PHI
Pick 3 (123): Jameson Williams, WR, DET
Pick 4 (124): Darrel Williams, RB, ARI
Pick 5 (125): Khalil Herbert, RB, CHI
Pick 6 (126): Rachaad White, RB, TB
Pick 7 (127): Sony Michel, RB, LAR
Pick 8 (128): Cole Kmet, TE, CHI
Pick 9 (129): Mark Ingram, RB, NO
Pick 10 (130): Dawson Knox, RB, BUF
Pick 11 (131): Christian Watson, WR, GB
Pick 12 (132): Kenyan Drake, RB, LV
Round 12
Pick 1 (133): Tyler Allgeier, RB, ATL
Pick 2 (134): Alec Pierce, WR, IND
Pick 3 (135): Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ
Pick 4 (136): Tim Patrick, WR, DEN
Pick 5 (137): Jamaal Williams, RB, DET
Pick 6 (138): Brian Robinson Jr., RB, WAS
Pick 7 (139): Jarvis Landry, WR, NO
Pick 8 (140): Jahan Dotson, WR, WAS
Pick 9 (141): Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, KC
Pick 10 (142): Raheem Mostert, RB, MIA
Pick 11 (143): D’Onta Foreman, RB, CAR
Pick 12 (144): Deshaun Watson, QB, CLE
Round 13
Pick 1 (145): Nyheim Hines, RB, IND
Pick 2 (146): Jakobi Meyers, WR, NE
Pick 3 (147): K.J. Osborn, WR, MIN
Pick 4 (148): Matthew Stafford, QB, LAR
Pick 5 (149): Jalen Tolbert, WR, DAL
Pick 6 (150): Pat Freiermuth, TE, PIT
Pick 7 (151): Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, CLE
Pick 8 (152): DJ Chark, WR, DET
Pick 9 (153): Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, SF
Pick 10 (154): J.D. McKissic, RB, WAS
Pick 11 (155): A.J. Green, RB, ARI
Pick 12 (156): Sammy Watkins, WR, GB
Round 14
Pick 1 (157): Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, DEN
Pick 2 (158): Kirk Cousins, QB, MIN
Pick 3 (159): Robbie Anderson, WR, CAR
Pick 4 (160): Julio Jones, WR, TB
Pick 5 (161): Jamison Crowder, WR, BUF
Pick 6 (162): Odell Beckham Jr., WR, FA
Pick 7 (163): Joshua Palmer, WR, LAC
Pick 8 (164): Irv Smith Jr., TE, MIN
Pick 9 (165): Mike Gesicki, TE, MIA
Pick 10 (166): Hunter Henry, TE, NE
Pick 11 (167): Derek Carr, QB, LV
Pick 12 (168): Van Jefferson, WR, LAR
2022 fantasy football mock draft | Final rosters
The full draft board from this 2022 fantasy mock is available from Sleeper.
Team 1 – TG
R1: Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND
R2: Javonte Williams, RB, DEN
R3: Mike Evans, WR, TB
R4: Courtland Sutton, WR, DEN
R5: Jalen Hurts, QB, PHI
R6: Rashod Bateman, WR, BAL
R7: Melvin Gordon III, RB, DEN
R8: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, NE
R9: T.J. Hockenson, TE, DET
R10: Skyy Moore, WR, KC
R11: Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN
R12: Deshaun Watson, QB, CLE
R13: Nyheim Hines, RB, IND
R14: Van Jefferson, WR, LAR
Overall, I am very happy with how this team turned out. At QB, I have loads of upside in Jalen Hurts but have even more with Deshaun Watson, assuming he plays in 2022. All signs point to this, giving me an interesting pair I can play matchups with down the road.
It was hard to screw this up at RB after going Taylor and Williams to start. I considered selecting Akers at the turn, and perhaps I should have as that role for the Rams could be, on average, 18 touches a game. With that said, adding Rhamondre Stevenson in the mid-rounds could be a significant move, as I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he outscores Damien Harris.
As far as the pass catchers go, Mike Evans, Courtland Sutton, and Rashod Bateman are all the WR1s for their respective rosters, and T.J. Hockenson should push for around 90 targets. Although I prefer Dalton Schultz at TE, Hockenson in at the 9.01 is one of the best values on this roster. Throw in potential breakout Skyy Moore and Tyler Boyd, and this is a team ready for a deep run into the playoffs.
Team 2 – JK
R1: Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR
R2: CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL
R3: Cam Akers, RB, LAR
R4: Darren Waller, TE, LV
R5: Allen Robinson, WR, LAR
R6: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, KC
R7: Dak Prescott, QB, DAL
R8: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF
R9: Michael Carter, RB, NYJ
R10: Christian Kirk, WR, JAX
R11: Kenneth Gainwell, RB, PHI
R12: D’Onta Foreman, RB, CAR
R13: Jakobi Meyers, WR, NE
R14: Derek Carr, QB, LV
I really like the way this team played out…mostly. Getting two running backs I can rely on in the first three rounds feels paramount in a non-PPR format. I was also able to do a couple of other things to improve the value of my team.
Waller and Robinson both fell to me far beyond where I’m willing to draft them. In the seventh round, I was able to grab Prescott to stack him with Lamb. Overall, I really like the start.
Now, for the lessons learned. Taking a quarterback and a tight end in the first seven rounds doesn’t really work. It now forces Aiyuk into my starting lineup when he’s better served as a bench player.
I also waited way too long on my RB3, ending up with Carter in the ninth round. He should be my RB4. In retrospect, I probably should’ve taken one of Kareem Hunt, Tony Pollard, or Chase Edmonds at the 6-7 turn, either in lieu of JuJu Smith-Schuster or Prescott.
Team 3 – IW
R1: Derrick Henry, RB, TEN
R2: Josh Allen, QB, BUF
R3: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL
R4: George Kittle, TE, SF
R5: Marquise Brown, WR, BAL
R6: Amari Cooper, WR, CLE
R7: Kareem Hunt, RB, CLE
R8: Hunter Renfrow, WR, LV
R9: James Cook, RB, BUF
R10: Trey Lance, QB, SF
R11: Jameson Williams, WR, DET
R12: Raheem Mostert, RB, MIA
R13: K.J. Osborn, WR, MIN
R14: Hunter Henry, TE, NE
I tried to balance landing high-floor players until the middle rounds with late stabs on players who could breakout if they stay healthy. I loved my middle rounds since I’m higher on Elliott than the public, and Kittle was one of the last two elite tight ends on the board when I took him. I was able to stack Kittle with Lance, in case Allen gets hurt or Lance emerges as an elite option.
My receivers aren’t the most dynamic, but Brown and Cooper should see a good mix of volume and scoring opportunities. Renfrow and Williams can hopefully win me a matchup when I need them to play, but I don’t expect either to have consistently high outputs. Osborn was a low-risk bet that Minnesota’s offense will continue to expand.
My running backs outside of Henry and Elliott are only decent. Hunt is terrific when he plays but has injury concerns. I like Cook’s ability to win the starting job in Buffalo eventually, but he’s a rotational back for now. Mostert was another low-risk upside play since I didn’t care for any of the remaining backs.
Team 4 – BR
R1: Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC
R2: Tyreek Hill, WR, KC
R3: David Montgomery, RB, CHI
R4: Keenan Allen, WR, LAC
R5: Elijah Mitchell, RB, SF
R6: Darnell Mooney, WR, CHI
R7: Tony Pollard, RB, DAL
R8: Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA
R9: Gus Edwards, RB, BAL
R10: Chase Claypool, WR, PIT
R11: Darrel Williams, RB, ARI
R12: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, KC
R13: Matthew Stafford, QB, LAR
R14: Mike Gesicki, TE, MIA
The way this played out was a really nice build, alternating RB and WR for the first 12 rounds. The strategy allowed for building a solid roster, knowing there were usable options at QB and TE in the later rounds. Stafford is a nice starter, but being left with Gesicki is not ideal. The hope is that he can be George Kittle-lite in this offense, but he could also be the fourth or fifth pass-catching option.
Elsewhere, there’s a nice balance of safety and upside. Ekeler, Hill, Montgomery, Allen, and Mitchell present every week starters. Then there is upside in Mooney, Pollard, Lockett, Edwards, Claypool, Williams, and Valdes-Scantling. If one of them emerges, fantastic. But if not, playing the matchups with them is solid enough.
Team 5 – TG
R1: Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN
R2: D’Andre Swift, RB, DET
R3: Mark Andrews, TE, BAL
R4: A.J. Brown, WR, PHI
R5: Mike Williams, WR, LAC
R6: Damien Harris, RB, NE
R7: Jerry Jeudy, WR, DEN
R8: Michael Thomas, WR, NO
R9: Russell Wilson, QB, DEN
R10: Alexander Mattison, RB, MIN
R11: Khalil Herbert, RB, CHI
R12: Jahan Dotson, WR, WAS
R13: Jalen Tolbert, WR, DAL
R14: Irv Smith Jr., TE, MIN
The draft board did not fall perfectly in favor of this slot, but I still am rather happy with the squad. Starting with Cook and Swift had me in an excellent direction. It continued with Mark Andrews at the 3.05, opting to take the positional value he brings.
I would like a better RB3 than Damien Harris as he is a regression candidate after a 15-TD season on just 202 carries, but the board did not fall in a way I felt reaching was appropriate at the time. Yet, if he can duplicate his RB8 season of a year ago, this pick will look sensational.
I opted to wait on QB, selecting Russell Wilson in the ninth, something more in line with my typical draft philosophy. At receiver, A.J. Brown, Mike Williams, Jerry Jeudy, and Michael Thomas provide tons of both floor and room to vastly exceed their ADPs. Thomas is the true wild card as we don’t know what he will look like having played in seven games in the last two seasons. However, if he is healthy, Thomas should lead the Saints in targets and would have WR2 upside at a fraction of the price.
In the later rounds, I went for upside. Alexander Mattison is the necessary handcuff for Cook, Khalil Herbert will see more work than David Montgomery fans will be comfortable with, and both Jahan Dotson and Jalen Tolbert are potential breakout rookie receivers in 2022.
Team 6 – JK
R1: Joe Mixon, RB, CIN
R2: Davante Adams, WR, LV
R3: Tee Higgins, WR, CIN
R4: Travis Etienne Jr., RB, JAX
R5: Joe Burrow, QB, CIN
R6: Adam Thielen, WR, MIN
R7: Chase Edmonds, RB, MIA
R8: Elijah Moore, WR, NYJ
R9: Zach Ertz, TE, ARI
R10: Dameon Pierce, RB, HOU
R11: Rachaad White, RB, TB
R12: Jarvis Landry, WR, NO
R13: Pat Freiermuth, TE, PIT
R14: Joshua Palmer, WR, LAC
Normally, at pick six in the first round, I’m taking one of the top three wide receivers. Not in this format. Having Mixon and Etienne is a solid RB duo, but Etienne is riskier because his upside is in the receiving department. If he loses goal-line work to James Robinson, this running back duo might be a little weak.
At receiver, I have a good mix of reliable veterans and ascending young talent. Adams and Thielen are reliable old guys, while Higgins and Moore are young and still improving.
I love that I was able to stack Higgins with Burrow in the fifth round. At the same time, I wonder if I should’ve taken AJ Dillon there. While I do like Edmonds this year, he’s not as good of an RB3 in non-PPR as in PPR formats. Pierce and White are nice upside plays late, but there’s a very real chance they have no value at all this season, especially early on. That would leave me perilously thin at RB.
This was the only one of my three teams where I waited on tight end. Obviously, Waller and Kelce are way better than Ertz, but I think I like Ertz in Round 9 better than Waller in the fourth or Kelce in the second. Edmonds or Moore as my final starting flex feels a lot better than Aiyuk. The lesson here is you can take a QB or TE early, but not both.
Team 7 – IW
R1: Najee Harris, RB, PIT
R2: Aaron Jones, RB, GB
R3: Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS
R4: Justin Herbert, QB, LAC
R5: Chris Godwin, WR, TB
R6: Miles Sanders, RB, PHI
R7: Treylon Burks, WR, TEN
R8: Dallas Goedert, TE, PHI
R9: Michael Gallup, WR, DAL
R10: Chris Olave, WR, NO
R11: Sony Michel, RB, MIA
R12: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, WAS
R13: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, CLE
R14: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, FA
I was able to quickly add some high-upside receivers following my two backs. Grabbing McLaurin and Godwin was a solid recovery after passing on the position. With Godwin injured, I made sure to find some stopgaps in Burks and Olave in case he’s not ready for Week 1.
I added another injured but talented starter in Gallup. It’s a risk that I might be relying on two rookies if Gallup and Godwin don’t work out, but at least the rookies will be top-two options in their respective offenses.
I was thrilled I could get Herbert in the fourth round once I noticed the top four quarterbacks were taken. I didn’t think I could wait longer for an elite QB, and it appears I was right. I used the same strategy at TE, where I landed Goedert as the last high-upside player at his position.
My RB depth is a concern. I took dice rolls on Michel and Robinson since both can vulture goal-line carries. I like Sanders to be a productive flex option, but I’m already anticipating needing a fourth back at some point with this roster.
Team 8 – BR
R1: Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN
R2: Leonard Fournette, RB, TB
R3: Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC
R4: Antonio Gibson, RB, WAS
R5: DK Metcalf, WR, SEA
R6: Devin Singletary, RB, BUF
R7: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, ARI
R8: James Robinson, RB, JAX
R9: Kenny Golladay, WR, NYG
R10: Russell Gage, WR, TB
R11: Cole Kmet, TE, CHI
R12: Jamaal Williams, RB, DET
R13: DJ Chark, WR, DET
R14: Jamison Crowder, WR, BUF
Taking a QB in the first five rounds is rarely a tactic that I utilize. However, in Round 3, the value at the other positions was very flat, and Mahomes is a potential differentiator at the position. It actually worked out quite nicely and is something I would advocate if there are not tremendous drop-offs at other positions.
The trio of backs in Fournette, Gibson, and Singletary offers three solid starters, while Jefferson is a great anchor to the receiving group. Having Metcalf, Golladay, and Hopkins is risky for the first six weeks. The hope is that either Gage or Crowder can be an emergency starter for those first six weeks if Metcalf or Golladay prove to be too inconsistent. Kmet was the last tight end that I felt confident about, and I should have taken him in the 10th round to ensure I got my guy instead of risking him being taken.
Team 9 – TG
R1: Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR
R2: Alvin Kamara, RB, NO
R3: James Conner, RB, ARI
R4: Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL
R5: Dalton Schultz, TE, DAL
R6: Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA
R7: Drake London, WR, ATL
R8: Rashaad Penny, RB, SEA
R9: Ronald Jones, RB, KC
R10: Robert Woods, WR, TEN
R11: Mark Ingram, RB, NO
R12: Tim Patrick, WR, DEN
R13: Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, SF
R14: Julio Jones, WR, TB
You never draft the same team in the back half of a fantasy draft as the board will always dictate your picks, not the other way around. Unfortunately, I did miss on a few players I love, but that’s the case for every draft. It’s all about not losing your cool and pivoting.
By going early on both QB (Lamar Jackson) and TE (Dalton Schultz), I did nothing but draft RBs and WRs, focusing my attention on two player pools. Selecting Kupp in the first allowed me to wait on my WR2. I filled that with Jaylen Waddle in the sixth, followed by my rookie WR1, Drake London, in the seventh. Robert Woods provides some decent value assuming training camp goes well on his repaired ACL.
If that doesn’t work, I have Tim Patrick, who I think could finish ahead of Jeudy, and Julio Jones, a pure upside pick I made with the final pick. Timing is everything, as I was on the clock when news of his signing broke. I apologize for nothing.
Paired with Kamara, James Conner was a fantastic bailout pick in the third, knowing the TD upside he brings. I did take two gambles in the mid-rounds, and how they pan out will determine how competitive this team is come midseason. Rashaad Penny was other-worldly to close the season, rushing for 671 yards with six TDs on 92 carries between Weeks 14 and 18. If he holds off Kenneth Walker III, Penny is closer to a top-20 or better RB than his ADP of RB35.
The other gamble is Ronald Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs. Personally, I feel Jones is on par as a rusher with Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Sure, that might not be saying a lot, but there is a path for Jones to be a significant contributor on the ground for the Chiefs. With Jones on a prove-it deal along with Edwards-Helaire’s injury woes plus his inability to score consistently in goal-to-go carries, Jones will have a role in 2022.
Team 10 – JK
R1: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, CIN
R2: Travis Kelce, TE, KC
R3: Breece Hall, RB, NYJ
R4: Michael Pittman Jr., WR, IND
R5: AJ Dillon, RB, GB
R6: J.K. Dobbins, RB, BAL
R7: Gabriel Davis, WR, BUF
R8: Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB
R9: Allen Lazard, WR, GB
R10: Isaiah Spiller, RB, LAC
R11: Dawson Knox, TE, BUF
R12: Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ
R13: J.D. McKissic, RB, WAS
R14: Robbie Anderson, WR, CAR
My initial thoughts were starting the draft without a running back in the first two rounds is a very bad idea. I still think that, but this really worked out well. Hall, Dillon, and Dobbins could be a very strong RB trio in this format.
At the same time, it could also blow up in my face. Hall could cede too much work to Carter. Dillon could end up not getting as much rushing and goal-line work as I project. And Dobbins may just not be healthy.
I would argue this team has more upside than any roster in the league, but it also has a very low floor. Davis is my final starting flex, which feels very strong. I was able to pull that off by waiting on a quarterback, grabbing Rodgers in the eighth round. Pairing him with Lazard in the ninth was also beneficial. It gives the roster a little more upside.
Based on how things played out, starting without an RB in the first two rounds is viable. However, it’s certainly not recommended. I was fortunate to have three running backs fall into my lap as they did. In another world, I could easily have ended up with just one viable starter. Hero RB builds are very effective, but that first running back needs to be reliable. Hall is the last guy that could fit that mold, and even with him, I wouldn’t say I’m confident. I like how this roster played out, but if I could do it again, I would probably pass on either Chase or Kelce in favor of Fournette.
Team 11 – IW
R1: Nick Chubb, RB, CLE
R2: Stefon Diggs, WR, BUF
R3: Kyle Pitts, TE, ATL
R4: Diontae Johnson, WR, PIT
R5: Kenneth Walker III, RB, SEA
R6: Kyler Murray, QB, ARI
R7: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, KC
R8: DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI
R9: Kadarius Toney, WR, NYG
R10: Marlon Mack, RB, IND
R11: Christian Watson, WR, GB
R12: Alec Pierce, WR, IND
R13: A.J. Green, WR, ARI
R14: Kirk Cousins, QB, MIN
While I liked the talent I amassed in Rounds 3 and 4 with Pitts and Johnson, I should have taken a running back with one of those picks. I tried to get cute by waiting on a second back until the fifth round. Having Dillon go one pick before my 5.11 crushed my soul.
There were other good options even with Dillon gone. I gambled on Walker because I like his talent and think the Seahawks will give him several touches. Much like Harris last year, a lot of bad touches can still be good for fantasy. We’ll see how it pays off.
To compensate for my roster deficiency, I felt I had to grab Murray after the turn in Round 6. Murray was the top dual-threat left besides Deshaun Watson, so this was a great value. But again, this was a sacrifice to pass over a back and solidify my flex position, so the trade-off is severe.
I would probably do my middle rounds over if I could. Walking away with CEH and Marlon Mack as my backups is as risky as it gets. But I also have a bevy of receivers who could emerge as difference-makers.
Team 12 – BR
R1: Deebo Samuel, WR, SF
R2: Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG
R3: Josh Jacobs, RB, LV
R4: DJ Moore, WR, CAR
R5: Cordarrelle Patterson, RB, ATL
R6: Brandin Cooks, WR, HOU
R7: Tom Brady, QB, TB
R8: Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, DET
R9: Mecole Hardman, WR, KC
R10: Darrell Henderson, RB, LAR
R11: Kenyan Drake, RB, LV
R12: Tyler Allgeier, RB, ATL
R13: Sammy Watkins, WR, GB
R14: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, DEN
Picking on the turn means you simply have to take your guys, even if it feels like a reach. That is the case on this roster with the likes of Patterson and Cooks. There is so much upside on this roster, but there are also a lot of risks. If Barkley gets hurt, there is no sure-fire weekly RB option. However, handcuffing Jacobs with Drake and getting the Falcons’ backfield locked down at least offers options.
In terms of the wide receivers on the roster, this is a nice build. Samuel and Moore offer a solid base, allowing high upside selections in Cooks, St. Brown, and Hardman. Having Brady as the QB offers potential top-five upside at the position. The biggest risk is Albert Okwuegbunam as the starting tight end. There were higher relative safety tight ends earlier in the draft, but Albert O has a lot of upside for a late-round selection.