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Blitz Mock 1st Overall Pick Strategy: 12-team, 0.5 PPR


Photo Courtesy of : Gary Vasquez, USA Today


Written By: Phillip Salmo


How exciting it is for the start of the fantasy football season! I know it’s early, but Blitzalytics is here to give our insight in how you can strategize for your fantasy football drafts this summer. This week I’m drafting from pick #1 in our 0.5 PPR format. In addition to 0.5 PPR, Blitz will be releasing mocks from all sorts of league types, including 2QB, Standard, Dynasty, and Auction. These mocks are done using Fantasy Pros’ Mock Draft Wizard, and the roster settings for today’s mock are as follows: 1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, 1Flex (RB/WR/TE), D/ST (team defense), and K, with 0.5 PPR. Make sure to be on the lookout for more mocks throughout the summer!


Final Roster:

QB: Russell Wilson (SEA)

RB: Saquon Barkley (NYG)

RB: Mark Ingram (BAL)

WR: Mike Evans (TB)

WR: Tyler Lockett (SEA)

WR: Robby Anderson (NYJ)

TE: George Kittle (SF)

FLX: Rashaad Penny (SEA)

DST: Baltimore Ravens

K: Jake Elliott (PHI)


Bench:

WR: Sterling Shepard (NYG)

RB: Kenny Stills (MIA)

QB: Jared Goff (LAR)

RB: Adrian Peterson (WAS)

WR: M. Valdes-Scantling (GB)

TE: Jordan Reed (WAS)


Overview: This is my first draft of the season, so I drew on past draft experience for my overall strategy. Based on the somewhat added weight given to receptions in 0.5 PPR in comparison to standard drafts, it was very important for me to have excellent production from receivers and depth at the position. This doesn’t just mean wide receiver. There are a select few tight ends (about 3-4) in the NFL that have the type of production similar to the best wide receivers, and they’re all going towards the top of the draft. One of them that I selected, George Kittle, is set to build on his record-setting numbers from last season. His production was particularly impressive given the fact that he played with backup quarterbacks all season, and I expect him to match, if not exceed, those numbers with starter Jimmy Garoppolo back in the lineup. In addition, Mike Evans and Tyler Lockett are poised to again be the top targets on their respective teams, making them solid choices at starting wide receivers. I have extremely high hopes for Evans this season because offensive guru Bruce Arians will be coaching the team for the first time. He will undoubtedly maximize both Jameis Winston’s and Evans’ potentials.

While receiver is important, since high-producing running backs are few and far between (and since this is a 0.5 PPR and not a pure PPR one), it was incredibly important to strike a balance between starting-caliber receivers and running backs. That’s in part why I went with Saquon Barkley as my first pick, plus the fact that I expect him to be the #1 fantasy player this season. Barkley was 2nd in total fantasy points scored last year (according to FantasyPros’ scoring) and the Giants upgraded their offensive line with Kevin Zeitler. Aside from Barkley, given that the depth at running back is thin this year compared to wide receiver, it was important to use one more high pick on the running back position with Mark Ingram. The Ravens will once again have an extremely run heavy offense, and it will feature Ingram.


These two elements of my strategy reduced the emphasis placed on finding a top quarterback. This year might be the deepest QB ever, and I got Russell Wilson, who was tied for third in touchdowns thrown last season, in the sixth round, and Jared Goff, who was sixth in touchdowns thrown last season on his way to his first Super Bowl berth, in the eleventh round. Either of these quarterbacks could compete for the starting job on a fantasy team. As this is a 1 QB mock instead of a 2 QB mock, the depth at QB was not as important as depth at other positions. Regardless of league format, a 1 QB mock will typically yield similar strategies with regards to picking up quarterbacks.

Very briefly, for defense and kicker strategy, wait until the last two rounds. The value simply isn’t there to get them any earlier. We will have an article about this in detail later in the summer when we talk about position strategy.


Overall, I was pretty pleased with how my draft turned out. I have great starting receivers, an excellent RB1 and a solid RB2, a league-leading TE, great options at quarterback, a top defense, and a good amount of depth at wide receiver. Look out for upcoming drafts in standard and PPR formats, as the strategies for these leagues differ from 0.5 PPR.


Round 1:

1) Saquon Barkley, RB - NYG

2) Ezekiel Elliott, RB - DAL

3) Todd Gurley, RB - LAR

4) Christian Mccaffrey, RB - CAR

5) Alvin Kamara, RB - NO

6) Melvin Gordon, RB - LAC

7) Davante Adams, WR - GB

8) David Johnson, RB - ARI

9) Deandre Hopkins, WR - HOU

10) Julio Jones, WR - ATL

11) Odell Beckham, WR - CLE

12) Le'veon Bell, RB - NYJ


Round 2:

13) James Conner, RB - PIT

14) Michael Thomas, WR - NO

15) Dalvin Cook, RB - MIN

16) Joe Mixon, RB - CIN

17) Juju Smith-Schuster, WR - PIT

18) Travis Kelce, TE - KC

19) Aaron Jones, RB - GB

20) Patrick Mahomes, QB - KC

21) Antonio Brown, WR - OAK

22) Nick Chubb, RB - CLE

23) T.y. Hilton, WR - IND

24) George Kittle, TE - SF


Round 3:

25) Mike Evans, WR - TB

26) Amari Cooper, WR - DAL

27) Zach Ertz, TE - PHI

28) Tyreek Hill, WR - KC

29) Adam Thielen, WR - MIN

30) A.J. Green, WR - CIN

31) Keenan Allen, WR - LAC

32) Sony Michel, RB - NE

33) Damien Williams, RB - KC

34) Marlon Mack, RB - IND

35) Julian Edelman, WR - NE

36) Derrick Henry, RB - TEN


Round 4:

37) Stefon Diggs, WR - MIN

38) Chris Carson, RB - SEA

39) Andrew Luck, QB - IND

40) Leonard Fournette, RB - JAC

41) Kenny Golladay, WR - DET

42) Devonta Freeman, RB - ATL

43) Brandin Cooks, WR - LAR

44) Phillip Lindsay, RB - DEN

45) Kerryon Johnson, RB - DET

46) Robert Woods, WR - LAR

47) Cooper Kupp, WR - LAR

48) Mark Ingram, RB - BAL


Round 5:

49) Tyler Lockett, WR - SEA

50) James White, RB - NE

51) Allen Robinson, WR - CHI

52) Derrius Guice, RB - WAS

53) Chris Godwin, WR - TB

54) Alshon Jeffery, WR - PHI

55) Tyler Boyd, WR - CIN

56) Aaron Rodgers, QB - GB

57) Jarvis Landry, WR - CLE

58) D.J. Moore, WR - CAR

59) Josh Jacobs, RB - OAK

60) James Washington, WR - PIT


Round 6:

61) Deshaun Watson, QB - HOU

62) Hunter Henry, TE - LAC

63) David Montgomery, WR,RB - CHI

64) Evan Engram, TE - NYG

65) Calvin Ridley, WR - ATL

66) Sammy Watkins, WR - KC

67) Corey Davis, WR - TEN

68) O.J. Howard, TE - TB

69) Eric Ebron, TE - IND

70) Tarik Cohen, RB - CHI

71) Mike Williams, WR - LAC

72) Russell Wilson, QB - SEA


Round 7:

73) Robby Anderson, WR- NYJ

74) Baker Mayfield, QB - CLE

75) Matt Ryan, QB - ATL

76) Will Fuller, WR - HOU

77) Kareem Hunt, RB - CLE

78) Drew Brees, QB - NO

79) Cam Newton, QB - CAR

80) Marvin Jones, WR - DET

81) Dante Pettis, WR - SF

82) Kenyan Drake, RB - MIA

83) Geronimo Allison, WR - GB

84) Jared Cook, TE - NO


Round 8:

85) Emmanuel Sanders, WR - DEN

86) Jameis Winston, QB - TB

87) Miles Sanders, RB - PHI

88) Carson Wentz, QB - PHI

89) Lamar Miller, RB - HOU

90) Tevin Coleman, RB - SF

91) Jerick Mckinnon, RB - SF

92) Larry Fitzgerald, WR - ARI

93) Ben Roethlisberger, QB - PIT

94) Courtland Sutton, WR - DEN

95) Golden Tate, WR - NYG

96) Rashaad Penny, RB - SEA


Round 9:

97) Sterling Shepard, WR - NYG

98) Christian Kirk, WR - ARI

99) Curtis Samuel, WR - CAR

100) Dede Westbrook, WR - JAC

101) Chicago Bears, DST - CHI

102) Jordan Howard, RB - PHI

103) Lesean Mccoy, RB - BUF

104) Latavius Murray, RB - NO

105) D.k. Metcalf, WR - SEA

106) N'keal Harry, WR - NE

107) Dion Lewis, RB - TEN

108) Los Angeles Rams, DST - LAR


Round 10:

109) Desean Jackson, WR - PHI

110) Ronald Jones, RB - TB

111) Michael Gallup, WR - DAL

112) Royce Freeman, RB - DEN

113) Keke Coutee, WR - HOU

114) Austin Ekeler, RB - LAC

115) Anthony Miller, WR - CHI

116) Devin Funchess, WR - IND

117) Matt Breida, RB - SF

118) Marquise Goodwin, WR - SF

119) Daesean Hamilton, WR - DEN

120) Kenny Stills, WR - MIA


Round 11:

121) Jared Goff, QB - LAR

122) Jamison Crowder, WR - NYJ

123) Elijah Mcguire, RB - NYJ

124) Zay Jones, WR - BUF

125) D'onta Foreman, RB - HOU

126) Adam Humphries, WR - TEN

127) Peyton Barber, RB - TB

128) John Brown, WR - BUF

129) Jacksonville Jaguars, DST - JAC

130) Nyheim Hines, RB - IND

131) Ito Smith, RB - ATL

132) Nelson Agholor, WR - PHI


Round 12:

133) Josh Adams, RB - PHI

134) Kyler Murray, QB - ARI

135) Robert Foster, WR - BUF

136) Mecole Hardman, WR - KC

137) David Njoku, TE - CLE

138) Tyrell Williams, WR - OAK

139) Antonio Callaway, WR - CLE

140) Mohamed Sanu, WR - ATL

141) Kirk Cousins, QB - MIN

142) John Ross, WR - CIN

143) Albert Wilson, WR - MIA

144) Adrian Peterson, RB - WAS


Round 13:

145) Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR - GB

146) Vance Mcdonald, TE - PIT

147) Philip Rivers, QB - LAC

148) Austin Hooper, TE - ATL

149) Parris Campbell, WR - IND

150) Delanie Walker, TE - TEN

151) Dak Prescott, QB - DAL

152) Chris Herndon, TE - NYJ

153) Tom Brady, QB - NE

154) Greg Olsen, TE - CAR

155) Trey Burton, TE - CHI

156) C.J. Uzomah, TE - CIN


Round 14:

157) Darren Sproles, RB - FA

158) Hakeem Butler, WR - ARI

159) Jack Doyle ,TE - IND

160) Carlos Hyde, RB - KC

161) Rex Burkhead, RB - NE

162) Jalen Richard, RB - OAK

163) Kenneth Dixon, RB - BAL

164) Mike Davis, RB - CHI

165) T.J. Yeldon, RB - BUF

166) Jay Ajayi, RB - FA

167) Jaylen Samuels, RB - PIT

168) Jordan Reed, TE - WAS


Round 15:

169) Baltimore Ravens, DST - BAL

170) Los angeles Chargers, DST - LAC

171) Minnesota Vikings, DST - MIN

172) Houston Texans, DST - HOU

173) Jimmy Graham, TE - GB

174) New orleans Saints, DST - NO

175) Cleveland Browns, DST - CLE

176) Denver Broncos, DST - DEN

177) T.J. Hockenson, TE - DET

178) New York Jets, DST - NYJ

179) Buffalo Bills, DST - BUF

180) Demaryius Thomas, WR - NE


Round 16:

181) Greg Joseph, K - CLE

182) Greg Zuerlein, K - LAR

183) Justin Tucker, K - BAL

184) Ka'imi Fairbairn, K - FA

185) Harrison Butker, K - KC

186) Stephen Gostkowski, K - NE

187) Wil Lutz, K - NO

188) Robbie Gould, K - SF

189) Mason Crosby, K - GB

190) Matt Prater, K - DET

191) Michael Badgley, K - LAC

192) Jake Elliott, K - PHI

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