Entering the home stretch, it only takes one well-placed tweet, camp report, or training video to toss already dynamic ADPs further into the blender. As a historically boring, value-seeking, and conservative drafter, I tend to miss on my guys come the 11th hour. Why? Too worried about overpaying relative to early summertime prices, the train often leaves the station without me on it.

Not this time …

One last time before my biggest leagues, I’m determined to make all the big splash picks — you know, the ones spawning sound effects throughout the draft room.

Since my home leaguemates are all a few bricks short of a wall, I decided to really put an awesome fantasy tool to the test—Fantasy Life's fantasy football mock draft simulator, Draft Champion, presented by Gopuff.

You can actually custom-set all types of different drafting tendencies (Balanced, Hero RB, Zero RB, WR-Heavy, etc) to mimic the wild west scenario I’m about to encounter. While this can mean some sure values, my head’s staying on a swivel for irrational positional runs.

Here we go …

12-Team Fantasy Football Mock Draft Results From Pick 1.03

Round 1, Pick 3 — Bijan Robinson, RB, ATL

Bijan Robinson just handled 365 touches in 2024 on mediocre efficiency metrics to finish as fantasy’s RB3. With an answer at quarterback and a healthy offseason of preparation, there’s a strong case to be made that we haven’t even scratched the surface of Bijan’s fantasy potential. Wheels up in a weak division and a shot at the game’s top overall score.

Round 2, Pick 22 — Ladd McConkey, WR, LAC

Los Angeles’ re-acquisition of Keenan Allen created a downward thrust on Ladd McConkey’s ADP—and I’m more than fine scooping up the second-year standout at a discount. Well beyond his era of stretching secondaries, Allen’s addition to the WR room could mean more sustained drives and ultimately benefit McConkey.

If Jim Harbaugh manages to pile any extra production on top of McConkey’s 2.40 yards/route and 1.42 fantasy points/target from last year, the result could spell first-round returns.

Round 3, Pick 27 — Tee Higgins, WR, CIN

A big part of why I’ve been so aggressive drafting elite RBs at the top half of the first is the availability of stud WRs trickling into the third. As someone who’s never been great at receiving gifts, I’ve come to grips with accepting Tee Higgins or Jaxon Smith-Njigba with open arms every single chance I get.

Dispel the title “WR2” when addressing Higgins; 9-plus targets/game and 2.0-plus yards/route rival most other teams’ receiving leaders.

Round 4, Pick 46 — Tetairoa McMillan, WR, CAR

To this point, I’ve accomplished the goal of drafting impact players who move the fantasy needle, though none far enough out of pocket to warrant any vocal groans. Time for that to change, as I bypass DeVonta Smith’s steady veteran production for uncertainty in Carolina’s rookie first-round WR Tetairoa McMillan.

I started drinking the Panthers’ neon-blue Kool-Aid during Bryce Young’s end-of-year breakout, so this was an easy sell. Carolina looked great at points of 2024 but clearly lacked a big-bodied, contested catch alpha on the outside. Well, Young’s prayers have been answered, targeting his newest toy on 40%-plus of routes together so far.

Round 5, Pick 51 — TreVeyon Henderson, RB, NE

(Clicks draft button, audibly grunts, gives self high-five) 

Exactly the type of pick I’ve always been too afraid to make with live games on the horizon, TreVeyon Henderson looks like the absolute truth out there for New England. With preseason explosivity matching the nonstop offseason praise, the Patriots’ second-round pick out of Ohio State appears poised to take the NFL by storm.

Dreaming on his ceiling outcome, the combination of a new coaching staff and potential sophomore leap from QB Drake Maye made passing on TreVeyon impossible outside pick 50. Play to win the game.

Round 6, Pick 70 — Emeka Egbuka, WR, TB

Victims of nonstop injury news in their wide receiver room, Tampa’s now lost 120 targets between Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan. Inevitable as time itself, we knew Mike Evans was firmly poised for another 1,000-yard season, no shocker there. However, now the runway for full playing time to start the season has been thoroughly cleared for TB’s 19th overall pick, Emeka Egbuka.

An incessant drumbeat of glowing reports up and down the organization has given me the courage to skip on more proven commodities like Jameson Williams and DK Metcalf for the rookie’s fantasy services. This team’s hype train is really rolling, and I’m loving it—no stopping now.

Round 7, Pick 75 — Tyler Warren, TE, IND

Like they say, three good turns deserve another … or something like that. Get your guy season continued for me here in the seventh round, jumping consensus for Colts’ first-year TE Tyler Warren. Is there such a thing as too many rookies on a fantasy squad? Probably, but whatever.

The tight end position is such a flavorless glob this year that it’s hard to get excited about anyone outside the big three of Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, and George Kittle. Give me the one player available late who could wind up leading his team in targets.

Round 8, Pick 94 — Drake Maye, QB, NE

Still without a quarterback approaching pick 100, pickings were slim. Why not continue steering right into social media hype? By the sounds of the drafting public, you’d never know the Pats scored the NFL’s third-fewest points on the back of very average QB play.

That was then and this is now …

Everyone seems so excited for a monumental leap from New England’s sophomore shot caller, Drake Maye—I guess now you can add me to the list. Always focused on the fantasy floor provided by rushing quarterbacks, Maye represented the last available dual-threat option.

Am I worried about the play calling, offensive line, and surrounding talent? Yes, yes, and yes—sometimes, you just gotta risk it for the biscuit. 

Starting Squad’s Name: “It’s A Young Man’s Game”

QB — Drake Maye, NE

RB1 — Bijan Robinson, ATL

RB2 — TreVeyon Henderson, NE

WR1 — Ladd McConkey, LAC

WR2 — Tetairoa McMillan, CAR

WR2 — Emeka Egbuka, TB

TE — Tyler Warren, IND

Time to move on to the bench unit ...

Round 9, Pick 99 — Keon Coleman, WR, BUF

Potentially the prime target on a top-five scoring offense, Keon Coleman is backed by first-round draft capital, making for an extremely easy gamble at cost.

Round 10, Pick 118 — Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, WAS

No all-hype team would be complete without Jacory Croskey-Merritt, affectionately known as “Bill”. Trading Brian Robinson to San Francisco created the wildest min/max ADP spread in fantasy football. Count me in on the excitement once we’ve reached the double-digit rounds.

Round 11, Pick 123 — Tyler Allgeier, RB, ATL

Handcuffing your workhorse RB hardly classifies as an exciting draft pick, but Tyler Allgeier is on the shortest list of backups who could step into 20-plus weekly touches if duty calls. 

Round 12, Pick 142 — Dylan Sampson, RB, CLE

Finding any sort of projectable volume, including goal-line carries, borders on impossible after pick 140. Yet that’s exactly the opportunity afforded us—if we can hold our nose and draft any Cleveland Browns.

Kidding aside, Joe Flacco could theoretically run a functional offense, in which case one of the Browns’ RBs goes way too early. I’ve seen enough from Jerome Ford to know he’s easily supplanted by Sampson’s talent if things break right.

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