It is now June. We’re not quite fully in the throes of preparing for the upcoming redraft fantasy football season, but we’re getting there. It’s never too early to start getting an idea of what draft boards look like.
Here is a 1QB non-PPR mock draft analyzed through the lens of the No. 6 pick.
Later in the summer, we will have mock drafts with all of the Pro Football Network fantasy analysts, as well as with our great Discord community. For now, though, you’re stuck with just me.
I am only one person. As much as I’d like to, if I’m drafting for every team, it’s not possible for me to truly and honestly make every pick without factoring in what my other teams look like.
My last mock draft was a full-PPR mock draft which I picked from the corners. In this mock, I am going to draft against the computer from directly in the middle. I am only drafting from one position because I do not want to risk my selections being influenced by what I want to do with a second team that is only 5-6 spots away.
In these mocks, I will explain my thought process behind each pick. This will be less of a player analysis and more of a fantasy football draft strategy discussion and explaining why I am targeting a specific position or taking one player instead of another.
Now that my long-winded prologue is complete, let’s get to the mock draft.
This is a non-PPR league with a starting lineup of one QB, two RBs, two WRs, one TE, and two Flexes. My mocks never include kickers or defenses.
Redraft Mock Draft From the No. 6 Spot
1.06) Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Even in non-PPR formats, wide receivers rule the land. That’s just the shift in modern fantasy football. Nevertheless, the most valuable asset in fantasy remains the elite running back. That’s even more true nowadays as there are so few of them.
Bijan Robinson underwhelmed as a rookie, but it had nothing to do with his talent. Now playing for a head coach and offensive coordinator who will use him properly, there’s a very real chance we’re talking about Robinson as the overall RB1 next year.
2.07) Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons
I guess we’re doubling up on the Atlanta Falcons here. I don’t love taking two players from the same team with my first two selections, but the draft board kind of dictated this pick.
I didn’t want to start RB-RB. Plus, of the top players available, they are primarily running backs, along with Josh Allen and Sam LaPorta. Drake London possesses an elite WR1 upside with Kirk Cousins under center, and he is the top WR left on my board.
3.06) Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
This is where things get a little tricky. Once you get to the middle of the third round, the value of players flattens. As a result, it’s imperative that fantasy managers look at who they are likely to have available in Round 4 before making their Round 3 selection.
I see that the running backs and Mark Andrews are more appealing at my Round 4 pick than the wide receivers. Therefore, I went with the top WR on my board here, Jaylen Waddle.
I previously wrote about how NFL WR1s are more likely to be fantasy WR1s than NFL WR2s. However, that doesn’t mean we completely ignore other factors.
The Miami Dolphins’ passing attack is incredibly conducive to WR scoring. Waddle was a bit unlucky last year to only be a WR2 in fantasy. He was banged up multiple times and only scored four touchdowns.
Waddle should return to his high-WR2 ways. Plus, while Tyreek Hill has shown no signs of slowing down, he is 30 years old. If Hill misses time, Waddle can and will be a WR1.
4.07) Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
This was another very tricky selection. DJ Moore is the top WR on my board and by a decent margin over the WRs behind him. However, I already have two WRs, and looking at the projected best available options next round, it is far more likely there will be a receiver I want than a running back.
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Adding another wrinkle to the equation is my affinity for Mark Andrews this year. This would be the spot. Ultimately, I went with Joe Mixon because I am very high on him and have him ranked considerably higher than the next running back available.
5.06) Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
Amazingly, Mark Andrews almost made it back to me. I’m kind of glad he didn’t, though, because that creates unrealistic expectations for fantasy managers. Oftentimes, things happen in mocks, especially against the computer, that we know would never happen in actual drafts. I know I am never getting Andrews in the fifth round, so I’m glad I don’t have to take him.
The good news is my projection was otherwise correct. I don’t like any of the running backs that typically go in this spot. The best player on my board by far is Amari Cooper, making this the easiest selection of the draft thus far.
6.07) David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions
It’s always convenient when things work out such that the pick is an obvious one. In this case, David Montgomery is, by far, the top player on my board.
Especially in a non-PPR format, Montgomery is a very appealing selection in the sixth round. As long as he stays healthy, it’s hard to imagine him not scoring double-digit touchdowns in a prolific Detroit Lions offense that likes to run near the goal line.
7.06) Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Ironically, I like this part of the draft much better than the previous four rounds. With three RBs and three WRs on the roster, I can go in any direction here.
Based on the players projected to be available at my next pick, there are options at both positions (RB/WR) that appeal to me. I won’t have any trouble finding someone I like. Therefore, I am going to go with a onesie position.
Evan Engram is my clear top TE, but Kyler Murray is my clear top QB. There is exactly a 0% chance I can get both. Whichever one I take, the other will not be there next round.
Ultimately, I am much higher on Murray at QB as a potential top-five option than Engram at TE, who while very good is unlikely to move the needle quite like Murray can.
8.07) Zack Moss, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
This was very unfortunate as I was eyeing up Diontae Johnson, who went right before my pick. I do need WRs, as I only have three. However, I am extremely high on Zack Moss, ranking him well above consensus. I believe he is worthy of going as early as the fifth round. From a pure value standpoint, I cannot pass up on him here simply because my WR4 might be a little weaker.
9.06) Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
We have reached the point of the draft where I am purely chasing the upside. Jaxon Smith-Njigba did not have the greatest rookie season. By all accounts, he underwhelmed relative to his draft capital.
With Tyler Lockett another year older and a new coaching staff in control, I still believe last year’s rookie WR1 can make a traditional sophomore leap.
10.07) Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
The real value in mocks is seeing the many different ways a draft can play out, equipping you with the knowledge to make the correct moves in the real thing. My main takeaway so far is that I need to take more WRs early. I like the running backs here far more than the wide receivers. However, I only have four WRs.
Additionally, I should have gone Engram over Murray, as Jayden Daniels is the perfect pick for this spot. But alas, what’s done is done. I must make the best of what is no longer an ideal situation.
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This is a pick where draft philosophy is paramount. I should take a WR. I like Curtis Samuel and Courtland Sutton in this spot. Both are probably better fantasy options overall than Blake Corum, but neither is likely to win me my league. That’s why I went with the running back.
Corum has a legitimate league-winning upside if Kyren Williams goes down. There’s no realistic scenario where any of the WRs here are making massive impacts.
11.06) Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Do I love Pat Freiermuth in this spot … or in general? No. I am not exactly enamored by the idea of taking pass-catchers in an Arthur Smith offense. But with Diontae Johnson gone, there’s an opening for the second option behind George Pickens. Freiermuth is two years removed from being a popular breakout candidate. I really just need someone with touchdown upside.
12.07) Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints
When I decided to go tight end in the 11th round, I was specifically eyeing up Rashid Shaheed with this pick. The New Orleans Saints’ third-year man has WR3 upside in an offense that has room to grow in terms of efficiency. With Michael Thomas out of the picture, Shaheed is set to be the every-down WR2 opposite Chris Olave. I will take a chance on his explosive potential in the 12th round.
13.06) Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Normally, in this spot, I would chase pure upside. However, I feel I’ve done plenty of that. Given that my WR depth isn’t the greatest, a reliable set of hands like Joshua Palmer’s is what I need here.
Palmer is a real threat to lead the Los Angeles Chargers in targets. He may very well be their WR1. How often can you get a potential lead receiver on an NFL team in the 13th round?
14.07) Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
It’s hard to envision a path for Ricky Pearsall to have any fantasy value while Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are healthy, but there’s a lot of time between now and the start of the season. The earlier you draft, the more chances you want to take at injury-contingent upside.
Full Draft Board:
