Footballguys Staff Mock Draft 2 team with Flex, TD pass 6 pts, PPR

Photo: USA Today Sports

On July 12th, twelve members of the Footballguys staff got together for the site's second mock draft of 2017. Below is the league scoring format and bylaws. Chad Parsons provides an in-depth evaluation summary of each team's draft. 

League Parameters

• 12 teams
• 20 roster spots
• Starting Lineup
• 1 quarterback
• 2 running backs
• 3 wide receivers
• 1 tight end
• 1 flex (either a running back, wide receiver, or tight end)
• 1 team defense

League Scoring

• Offensive Players
• 6 points - passing touchdown
• 6 points - rushing/receiving touchdown
• 0.05 points - passing yard
• 0.1 points - rushing/receiving yard
• 1 point - reception
• Team Defense
• 6 points - touchdown
• 2 points - turnover recovered
• 2 points - safety
• 1 point - sack
• 10 points - Offensive points against: 0-0
• 7 points - Offensive points against: 1-6
• 4 points - Offensive points against: 7-20
• 1 point - Offensive points against: 21-29
• -3 points - Offensive points against: 30-99
• 6 points each - Number of Defensive and Special Teams Touchdowns

THE DRAFT ORDER

The draft order was created randomly. After the first round, the draft continues in a regular serpentine manner. Click here for team rosters and Grid Format of the draft. 

1. Matt Williamson
2. Jason Wood
3. Justin Howe
4. Dan Hindery
5. Jeff Tefertiller
6. John Norton
7. BJ Vanderwoude
8. Andy Hicks
9. Ari Ingel
10. Stephen Holloway
11. Chris Kuczynski
12. Mark Wimer

Starting with Matt Williamson from the 1.01 spot, Chad Parsons provides an unbiased evaluation of each team's draft performance.

Slot 1 - Matt Williamson

Overall Strategy

Seek unsettled depth charts and inexpensive targets

Best Pick(s)

James Conner, 13.01, RB48. While Conner may appear as a backup running back shot in the dark to some on a fantasy draft board, he is a must own for LeVeon Bell owners. Williamson took Bell at 1.01 and attaching Conner as a handcuff outside the top-45 running backs is a no-brainer. No back should challenge Conner for the No.2 role behind Bell on the depth and should Bell miss time (via injury or otherwise), Conner steps into RB1 upside.

Worst Pick(s)

Devin Funchess, 17.01, WR76. While the cost is low for Funchess this year after not fulfilling breakout expectations in a lost 2016, the story for impact is daunting in 2017. Carolina added two weapons on offense in the top-50 (Christian McCaffrey, Curtis Samuel) and Kelvin Benjamin is still (painfully) occupying the No.1 receiver role. Taking a running back shot over Funchess, who is losing support from Carolina, with Alvin Kamara and Darren McFadden would have optimized the selection.

Evaluation

The balanced approach to team-building offers a solid outlook exiting a draft. Williamson locked up the Steelers backfield but also the Packers with late-round selections of Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones added to Ty Montgomery. The key to Williamson’s success will center on his wide receivers. Sammy Watkins’ health and getting a top-20 season from one of Golden Tate, Breshad Perriman, Cameron Meredith, or Brandon Marshall is the biggest watch area for this team.

Slot 2 - Jason Wood

Overall Strategy

Build around high-floor players

Best Pick(s)

Larry Fitzgerald, 5.02, WR26. The Arizona pass game focused on Fitzgerald and David Johnson in 2016. With few tweaks outside of (ideally) improved health from John Brown to offer more of a downfield presence, Fitzgerald is a lock-and-load high target option in 2017. No Cardinal other than Fitzgerald and Johnson saw more than 75 targets a year ago and Fitzgerald is a strong bet to finish in the top-20 of receivers once again.

Worst Pick(s)

Dalvin Cook, 4.11, RB17. Wood did secure Latavius Murray in Round 13 to pair with Cook, however, mid-RB2 prices for Cook is a rich investment. Murray is the likely goal line option and higher volume back of the Minnesota ground game. The Vikings also lack a high-powered ceiling as an offense, tempering expectations of any singular weapon. In the following two rounds backs to offer unquestioned starter workload potential include Carlos Hyde and Spencer Ware.

Evaluation

Between landing David Johnson at 1.02 and surrounding him with Aaron Rodgers, DeAndre Hopkins, and Larry Fitzgerald, Wood has a strong floor of core players. Matt Forte and Samaje Perine offer weekly starter potential for RB2 and Jamison Crowder offers quality depth, even if lacking upside punch. Wood projects as a top-half roster exiting the draft with title aspirations if a player or two beyond his core hit as a strong fantasy starter.

Slot 3 - Justin Howe

Overall Strategy

Balanced approach and wide receiver by committee

Best Pick(s)

Mike Wallace, 11.03, WR52. Baltimore led in the NFL in 2016 with a gaudy 679 passes. Wallace front-lined the receiver corps with 116 targets and Steve Smith’s 101 targets are gone from a year ago. Breshad Perriman is a breakout candidate but development will be key. Jeremy Maclin was acquired but could be distressed goods. Wallace is the lone stable returning receiver on a team with volume to spare. As a depth receiver in cost, Wallace was outstanding value outside the top-50 receivers off the board.

Worst Pick(s)

Cameron Brate, 13.03, TE18. With Travis Kelce already secured in Round 2, Brate was a luxury pick. However, the ceiling is capped with established receivers in Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson plus O.J. Howard to mix in at tight end as the season wears on. Brate offers little profit potential from TE18 when another upside back or receiver would have optimized Howe’s squad.

Evaluation

The risk of Howe’s roster lies in potentially having a bevy of receivers in the low-WR2 to WR4 zone of production. With Jerick McKinnon and Shane Vereen as satellite backs, his running back stable runs only four deep and Frank Gore projects as a critical piece.

Slot 4 - Dan Hindery

Overall Strategy

Late-round quarterback, shoot for big roles

Best Pick(s)

Darren McFadden, 18.09, RB68. McFadden offers RB1 production any game Ezekiel Elliott is out, which could be a game or two to open the season by the latest reports of potential suspension. Regardless, Hindery landed a high-upside option in the final rounds after building a strong running back corps.

Worst Pick(s)

Broncos DST 15.04, DST1. Being first into the defensive unit pool offers only downside and often emotionally ties an owner to starting the unit in spite of non-optimal matchups early in the season. Plus in a shallow format with stock scoring holding Denver through their early (Week 5) bye would require sacrificing a skill position asset.

Evaluation

Hindery was savvy in pairing a late pick of Dwayne Allen with oft-injured stud Rob Gronkowski. Pierre Garcon and Doug Martin offer a quality floor and ceiling combination beyond Hindery’s frontline starters. This team’s success will hinge on Carlos Hyde or Joe Mixon producing RB1 numbers and Dez Bryant bouncing back to prominence.

Slot 5 - Jeff Tefertiller

Overall Strategy

High variance, shoot for the moon

Best Pick(s)

Danny Woodhead, 7.05, RB31. With Kenneth Dixon suspended to start the season Woodhead is earmarked for a substantial role out of the gate. Baltimore led the NFL in passes in 2016 and was No.2 in running back targets (119). Woodhead is an easy RB2 (or higher) projection, especially early in the season.

Worst Pick(s)

Martavis Bryant, 4.08, WR23. Bryant has been a big play machine in his smattering of games over three seasons. However, Bryant is on thin ice to complete the season given his off-field risk and is the No.2 option, at best, to Antonio Brown. Paying WR2 prices factors in nearly none of the downside with Bryant in the early rounds. Joe Mixon and Larry Fitzgerald were notables still on the board at 4.08.

Evaluation

Tefertiller made upside and variance his calling card in this draft. Marcus Mariota and Tyrod Taylor offer breathtaking upside any week but rely of rushing more than most quarterbacks. Leonard Fournette and Derrick Henry may be league winners, or in the RB20+ zone at season’s end. Martavis Bryant is conditionally reinstated but a misstep away from being a lost selection in Round 4 by Tefertiller. Ted Ginn Jr., DeSean Jackson, and Corey Coleman also align with the ‘go big or go home’ mantra. 

Slot 6 - John Norton

Overall Strategy

Find the strong offenses

Best Pick(s)

Terrance West, 7.06, RB32. West offers limited profit potential from his Round 7 price. Danny Woodhead’s addition saps any PPR upside and Kenneth Dixon will be back following his short suspension. Empty volume between the 20’s was West’s go-to usage trend last season.

Worst Pick(s)

Matt Ryan, 6.07, QB6. After a QB3 career-high finish in 2016, Ryan is one of the strongest regression candidates with a historic 38-to-7 touchdown to interception ratio, 9.3 yard-per-attempt, and losing offensive guru Kyle Shanahan. Norton’s QB2, Eli Manning, is a quality bet to pace or out-produce Ryan and he was drafted in Round 12.

Evaluation

Norton consistently attached his skill position players to strong quarterbacks. His pass-catchers include pairings with Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, and Tom Brady. Norton’s results will hinge on his RB2 rotation where Spencer Ware, Kareem Hunt, Terrance West, and James White are tasked with completing the puzzle.

Slot 7 - B.J. Venderwoude

Overall Strategy

Stud wide receivers

Best Pick(s)

Keenan Allen, 3.07, WR15. Allen offers the injury discount at WR2 ADP. Vanderwoude was able to get Allen as his WR3. Allen hit 20 points-per-game in 2015, his last extended action.

Worst Pick(s)

Christian McCaffrey, 4.06, RB15. While paired with Jonathan Stewart later in the draft, high-RB2 prices offer little upside outside of Reggie Bush reincarnated for a rookie running back pass-centric role. Carolina is an offense in transition and taking McCaffrey as a fantasy team’s RB1 is a significant leap of faith.

Evaluation

Vanderwoude built his core around three stud receivers and splurging for an early quarterback in Round 5 (Andrew Luck). As a result, his running back core is a hodgepodge of committee options and unknown. Vanderwoude’s tight end quartet offers the same collection of risk. This team needs the perfect storm at running back to contend.

Slot 8 - Andy Hicks

Overall Strategy

Reclamation project

Best Pick(s)

Kevin White, 12.05, WR59. White’s biggest question mark is health as Chicago left the depth chart wide open for the No.1 role. White will get every opportunity to prove his No.7 overall pick worth in Year 3 after a handful of healthy games under his belt to-date. White is the ideal depth shot at upside beyond the top-50 receivers.

Worst Pick(s)

Derek Carr, 6.05, QB5. Carr was drafted at his 2017 ceiling and the value lost was compounded with the selection of Ben Roethlisberger in Round 10. Roethlisberger offers as much upside as Carr for a fraction of the price. While an enviable committee, Hicks squandered an opportunity to add options like Willie Snead or Danny Woodhead in the mid-rounds as a result.

Evaluation

Hicks is betting on a number of reclamation projects among his 18 skill position selections. From Eddie Lacy, Todd Gurley, and Adrian Peterson at running back to Kelvin Benjamin, Kevin White, and Julius Thomas among the pass-catchers, a few need to find their previous (or higher level) of success to balance out this squad.

Slot 9 - Ari Ingel

Overall Strategy

Hang on to stardom

Best Pick(s)

Alvin Kamara, 17.09, RB63. Kamara is a perfect late-round running back stash. The Saints have churned out strong PPR backs in the Drew Brees-Sean Payton era. Kamara could have the Darren Sproles-Travaris Cadet-Pierre Thomas pass-centric role early in the season plus Kamara’s role has expansion possibilities if Mark Ingram or Adrian Peterson should falter.

Worst Pick(s)

Lamar Miller, 3.09, RB13. Miller’s best trait in his career has been durability, missing only five games in five seasons. His upside is tempered and Miller’s volume increasing has sapped his big-play potential. D’Onta Foreman offers a serious threat to Miller’s 299 touches from a year ago and Miller is already a lackluster back if seeking a difference maker.

Evaluation

Ingel collected a number of previous stars needing to string together another strong season. Kirk Cousins had the perfect storm of weapons previously but is turning over his top-2 receivers from 2016. Lamar Miller and DeMarco Murray have strong No.2 backs behind them. Tyler Eifert and Alshon Jeffery need to recapture their former glory for fantasy prominence. Ingel lacks an outright stud at receiver but collected a solid top-4 in the mid-rounds.

Slot 10 - Stephen Holloway

Overall Strategy

Razor thin running backs

Best Pick(s)

Jay Ajayi, 2.03, RB8. Running backs were swift to leave the board and Holloway was smart to side with Ajayi early in Round 2 considering how the landscape changed by his late-Round 3 position where Marshawn Lynch and Christian McCaffery were the next backs off the board following Holloway shifting to wide receiver.

Worst Pick(s)

Jameis Winston and Philip Rivers, QB8 and QB12 respectively. Either one is a fine selection but doubling down in the first nine rounds in a shallow format without a superflex spot is a loss of value. Adding a running back in this range would have improved the overall roster with Mike Gillislee and LeGarrette Blount two notable potential lead backs available.

Evaluation

Holloway focused on wide receiver and took three combined quarterbacks and tight ends within the first nine rounds. As a result his running backs lack any depth. Beyond Jay Ajayi, Mark Ingram is the clear No.2 option but no lock as a runner (Adrian Peterson) or receiver (Alvin Kamara). Duke Johnson, Charles Sims, and Chris Thompson are depth pass-catching specialists. Holloway will need four weekly strong receivers to consistently compete for late-season success.

Slot 11 - Chris Kuczynski

Overall Strategy

Running back by committee

Best Pick(s)

Mike Gillislee, 7.11, RB33. The Patriots’ power back has double-digit touchdown potential on an annual basis and Gillislee offers more big-play upside than the LeGarrette Blount iteration in 2016. For waiting on running back until the mid-rounds and Marshawn Lynch being a tenuous RB1 on his roster, Kuczynski was savvy to snag Gillislee as his RB3.

Worst Pick(s)

Cam Newton, 8.02, QB9. Newton has struggled with accuracy his entire career and the rushing upside is dwindling by the season. Newton’s yards-per-carry has dropped for five straight seasons and his six attempts per game was a career-low in 2016. Adding Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel represent a ‘get the ball out of Newton’s hands quicker’ philosophy shift – at least an attempt – in 2017.

Evaluation

Kuczynski loaded up at wide receiver and invested in two quarterbacks among the opening 12 rounds. As a result, his running back corps is the vital piece to ultimate success. Key questions include if Theo Riddick will maintain his elite pass-catching role and the volume of Mike Gillislee and C.J. Anderson if they can secure the clear lead jobs in New England and Denver. If one of those backs can emerge as an RB1 and Marshawn Lynch supplies at least a couple months of strong work, Kuczynski can be one of the teams to beat.

Slot 12 - Mark Wimer

Overall Strategy

Wide receiver by committee

Best Pick(s)

Marvin Jones, 9.12, WR46. Jones was as hot as any receiver in September last season with four straight games of 70+ yards and 23 receptions over the stretch. The rest of his season was a train wreck by comparison as Jones fell off the map. Jones has minimal expectations in 2017 but offers profit potential if he can string together another strong month or two like last season.

Worst Pick(s)

Adam Thielen, 7.12, WR37. Thielen emerged with a career year in 2016, finishing around this positional rank cost on 92 targets. Minnesota is a low-upside passing attack with Stefon Diggs stationed at the top and Kyle Rudolph a strong tight end. Thielen has minimal chance to out-produce this price and could lose time to former Round 1 pick LaQuon Treadwell if progressing during the season.

Evaluation

Wimer built his squad around a stud quarterback and three backs in the first five rounds. The consequence is a rag-tag collection of receivers with Marvin Jones and Quincy Enunwa the best shots at a true No.1 option on their NFL depth chart. Drew Brees, Devonta Freeman, and Jordan Howard must carry this team with big seasons, justifying their prices, for Wimer to contend.

Full Draft - Photos provided by USA TODAY Sports