It is now late July. By the time you’re reading this, it may be early August. Training camps are underway, and we are fully engrossed in redraft fantasy football season. That means it’s time to really start preparing for our drafts and getting a feel for when players typically go. The best way to do that is with mock drafts.
In the PFN Discord, we’ve already conducted a couple of mocks and will continue to do so throughout the summer. Today, we have a Superflex non-PPR mock draft analyzed through the lens of the No. 10 pick.
In these mocks, I will explain my thought process behind each selection. 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, two Flexes, and one Superflex. My mocks never include kickers or defenses.
Redraft Mock Draft From the No. 10 Spot
1.10) Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Nothing in fantasy is 100%. You can have your preferred plan, but always be willing to change it if the situation calls for it. Yet, when it comes to Superflex drafts, I’m going QB-QB 100% of the time…except when I’m not.
I was completely set on double-tapping quarterback to start this draft, but looking at the board, I just don’t think it’s the right move.
Bijan Robinson is one of three running backs who provide both a volume and talent advantage on the rest of the position. There are four quarterbacks I believe are worth drafting here. Unless both teams at 11 and 12 go QB-QB, I can still get one of them. Then, hopefully, I can get my second quarterback in Round 3 or 4.
2.03) Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Only two quarterbacks were taken, giving me two options at this pick. I went with Kyler Murray because he’s my highest-ranked, but I would have had no issue selecting Dak Prescott here if Murray had gone.
I can’t really fathom any set of circumstances that would compel me to leave the first two rounds of a Superflex draft without a quarterback.
3.10) Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
At these next two picks, I went into them confident I would get the two players I wanted. They are guys I have ranked above consensus, and based on the top available players, ADP suggests there is a high likelihood I can get them both in either order.
I went with the QB first because there are only two I really want as my QB2. While unlikely, it’s possible they both are taken at 11 and 12, whereas the WR I’m targeting is unlikely to go.
4.03) Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Both teams at 11 and 12 wound up going quarterback, validating my decision to take my second QB before my WR1. While Davante Adams and Brandon Aiyuk were the top two receivers on the board by rank — and I would have been fine drafting either of them — neither was my preferred target.
I got my guy in Jaylen Waddle, who is a stronger option in non-PPR formats due to his splash-play ability. Waddle is primed for a huge year and also possesses elite WR1 potential if Tyreek Hill were to get hurt.
5.10) Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
The 5/6 turn was a very tricky spot. I wanted to walk out of here with Mark Andrews and Joe Mixon. Given Andrews’ status as the top player available, combined with the lack of running back from either of the teams behind me, it seemed unlikely.
Ultimately, I went with Andrews because of the value in having an elite TE that I believe is undervalued this season.
6.03) Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
Unfortunately, Mixon didn’t make it back to me. He was far and away the best running back remaining and the only one who interested me at this spot.
Since I already have my hero RB in Robinson, I don’t need to force another running back here. Instead, I will pivot to drafting my WR2.
This was an easy call to take Amari Cooper. I’d prefer to draft him a little bit later, but this is where I pick, and I believe him to be one of the most undervalued players in all of fantasy.
7.10) James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Easily one of the most disrespected running backs of the past three years (including by me!), James Conner is the top player on my board at this spot.
I need an RB2. While that doesn’t mean I can’t go WR here, the available receivers are all very similar to me. As a result, I went with the running back who has legitimate RB1 upside in what could be a much-improved Cardinals offense.
8.03) Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers
This is one of the trickiest parts of the draft. There were several players I liked, but I valued them similarly. It came down to deciding which order to try and pursue them in an effort to maximize value.
I went with Jonathon Brooks here because I like his upside over the second half of the season. We’re getting an injury discount due to the likelihood he starts off slow, which is fine by me. There’s league-winning potential here down the stretch.
9.10) DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans
Based on the available players and projected ADP, I gambled that I could get Zack Moss here, but that did not pay off. I do have Moss ranked ahead of Brooks, but only by one spot. So, I’m not too upset about the decision to go Brooks. Fortunately, my top-ranked remaining WR fell perfectly into my lap.
In an ideal world, I would’ve somehow gotten Brooks, Moss, and DeAndre Hopkins. But two out of three isn’t bad.
Hopkins is not prime Hopkins anymore, but he’s still a very good receiver and far from cooked. On a new-look Titans offense that projects to throw more, I’m all in on a Hopkins’ late-career resurgence. I’m not sure why he goes after Calvin Ridley.
10.03) Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans
I actually don’t think Will Levis is an NFL-caliber starting quarterback. But I just drafted Hopkins, and I see the upside in this secondary stack.
Levis actually isn’t my top-ranked QB remaining. However, all of the ones remaining are nothing more than QB3s. Levis fits better with my team and has mid-QB2 upside in the event I’m wrong about his talent.
11.10) Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
This is another “hedge against myself” selection. Given that I am super high on Moss, it shouldn’t surprise you I don’t see much of a standalone role for Chase Brown. But what if I’m wrong?
Even if this is merely a timeshare, Brown has injury-contingent upside on one of the best offenses in football. He flashed explosiveness last season, which is good enough for me as my RB4.
12.03) Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints
What I learned while doing this draft is I am much higher on Rashid Shaheed than I realized. Perhaps the most useful part of mocks is putting your ranks to the test. When faced with the notion of taking Shaheed or guys like Curtis Samuel, Mike Williams, and Josh Downs, I found myself gravitating toward Shaheed. That means it’s time to bump him up in the rankings.
MORE: PPR Fantasy Rankings
Shaheed appears to have zero competition for the Saints’ WR2 role. In what should be a better offense under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Shaheed has WR3 upside at a WR4 or even WR5 price.
13.10) Joshua Palmer, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
I’m still a little light at wide receiver. Joshua Palmer is not exciting, but as my WR5, he’s a reliable option who won’t get me zero. I’m always down to draft an NFL team’s WR1 in the 13th round, especially one catching passes from Justin Herbert.
14.03) MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
What if Josh Jacobs isn’t good anymore? What if Matt LaFleur uses a true committee? What if Jacobs gets hurt?
There are multiple paths to MarShawn Lloyd seeing more work than expected. He’s the exact type of handcuff fantasy managers should target.
Full Draft Board
