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