2022 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Updated 4-Round Selections and Strategy

The 2022 NFL season is here.

Or, almost here, at least.

The preseason contests are in the books. The final rosters are taking shape. The campaign's official kickoff is barely a week away.

If you haven't finalized your fantasy football draft strategy yet, you're running out of time. You made the right call by coming here, though, as we're running through a four-round mock draft, courtesy of FantasyPros' mock draft simulator, before highlighting a few draft tips to carry into your war room.

10-Team, PPR, 4-Round Mock-Draft Results

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 09: Running back Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

For this exercise, I was randomly assigned to draft out of the No. 3 spot in a 10-team league that awards one point per reception. The results of that mock are as follows.

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Round 1

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

3. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

4. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

5. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

6. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

8. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

9. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

10. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

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Round 2

11. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

12. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

13. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

14. D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

15. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

16. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

17. Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

18. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

19. Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos

20. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

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Round 3

21. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

22. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

23. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

24. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

25. Leonard Fournette, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

26. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

27. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

28. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

29. Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

30. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

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Round 4

31. Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

32. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

33. James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

34. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

35. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins

36. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

37. David Montgomery, RB, Chicago Bears

38. Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

39. DJ Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers

40. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

Take Your RBs as Early as Possible

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 20: Jonathan Taylor #28 of Indianapolis Colts seen following the game against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

In an increasingly pass-happy NFL, you might think quarterbacks and wide receivers now control the fantasy football world.

However, nothing trumps the fantasy impact of an elite running back.

Just look at the mock. The first three picks are running backs. So are six of the first seven selections. Through the four rounds, the position tally went as follows: 17 running backs, 18 receivers, three tight ends and two quarterbacks. The numbers skewed heavily toward running backs early in the mock and would have stayed that way if there were more elites to go around at the position.

That scarcity of top-shelf talent is the reason you want to pounce on this position early—so long as the draft board allows it. We are not—let's repeat that, not—advocating for you to reach on a running back just to put a check in that box. However, if the players are in the right draft range, you should try coming away with two backs from the first three rounds.

Don't Shy Away from Risks, but Balance Them with 'Safe' Picks

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - AUGUST 27: Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins takes the field prior to the preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Hard Rock Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Upside should intrigue fantasy football managers as much as it does their real-life counterparts during the NFL draft. If you can snag a star without paying star prices, you just moved that much closer to a league championship.

Having said that, upside doesn't always equate to stardom. In fact, more often than not, production lags behind potential.

So, if all you do at your draft is chase high ceilings, then there's a decent chance the floor will eventually drop out on you.

Roster-building, in fantasy or the NFL, is all about balance. Have a hunch that Tyreek Hill can remain an elite fantasy wideout while catching pass from Tua Tagovailoa instead of Patrick Mahomes? Maybe you're right, but you should safeguard that wager by also adding a reliable pass-catcher in case Hill can't keep it up in Miami.