Fantasy Football Picks 2024: 2-Round Mock Draft and Strategy Breakdown

Kristopher KnoxAug 24, 2024

With the 2024 NFL preseason winding down, fantasy enthusiasts are running out of time to prepare for their fantasy drafts.

Managers who haven't drafted yet will do so between now and the September 5 regular-season opener. That's less than two weeks away, which means some managers may find themselves scrambling for information.

Conducting a few mock drafts can help speed up the studying process. While mocks won't tell you who to draft, they can help paint a picture of how players are being valued.

Below, you'll find a two-round point-per-reception (PPR) mock and a few helpful tips for strategic drafting. You'll also find some updated rankings for this year's top skill players.

2-Round 12-Team PPR Mock

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Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb

Round 1

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

2. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

3. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

4. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

5. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions

7. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

8. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

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

10. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

11. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

12. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Round 2

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

3. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

4. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

5. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

6. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams

7. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

8. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

9. Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

10. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

11. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

12. Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Strategy Breakdown

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Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill

Managers who have the time should consider constructing their own positional tiers ahead of their drafts. For example, Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown might make up a manager's top WR tier—or the list of receivers worthy of a first-round selection.

The goal should be to land two top-tier players, regardless of position within the first two rounds. Mock drafts can help with the tier-making process by giving managers an idea of which players are likely to go in that draft range.

Personalized tiers are important because, while draft rankings are a useful tool, they don't account for a manager's own opinion. Lamb, for example, might be ranked as an elite receiver, but the Dallas Cowboys are still trying to get him into camp with a contract extension.

"I don't mean that to be insensitive to our fans or to CeeDee, but we're in good shape there and we are having promising talks," franchise owner Jerry Jones said, per ESPN's Todd Archer.

If you believe that Lamb's contract situation may heavily impact his production in 2024, don't put him in your top tier—it really is that simple.

Typically, managers should be looking for two types of players in the first two rounds—ball-dominant wide receivers and every-down running backs. Backs who regularly see receiving work, like Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson, are likely to go in Round 1. Run-heavy backs like Derrick Henry will usually start coming off the board in Round 2.

There's a good chance that someone in your league will flip the switch on a quarterback like Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts in Round 2 or early Round 3, though it's usually a good idea to wait on a signal-caller.

"Good" starting quarterbacks like Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa are likely to be available in the 5-7-round range, meaning managers can likely fill out the rest of their starting lineup before taking a quarterback.

Mocks can help here too, as they can give managers an idea of how late they can expect to find a serviceable starting QB.

The middle rounds are also where managers can start taking fliers on boom-or-bust players, promising rookies and high-end flex options. Starting lineups should be set by this range, so managers can afford to take a few risks.

If, for example, you believe that second-year Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown is primed for a breakout campaign, you'll probably want to scoop him up shortly after your starting lineup is established. Once again, mock draft can provide a reasonable draft range for sleepers.

The final few rounds should be dedicated to defenses, handcuffs and kickers—and kickers should never be selected before the final two rounds. Don't be afraid to take some real chances at the back end of the draft because players selected in this range can usually be replaced via the early-season waiver wire.