Fantasy Football 2012: 12-Team Mock Draft Simulation When Holding the No. 4 Slot

For the year-round thrill ride that is fantasy football, here's a dry run of draft expectations when holding the No. 4 slot in 12-team leagues (standard scoring), working exclusively off MockDraftCentral.com's current Average Draft Position (ADP) rankings.

Round 1, Pick 4 overall: Motive—Best overall player

1st option: QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2nd option: WR Calvin Johnson, Lions
3rd option: RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars

Round 2, Pick 21 overall: Motive—Best player available, preferably tailback

1st option: RB Darren McFadden, Raiders
2nd option: RB Fred Jackson, Bills
3rd option: WR Hakeem Nicks, Giants

Round 3, Pick 38 overall: Motive—Best running back or receiver

1st option: RB Fred Jackson, Bills
2nd option: RB Michael Turner, Falcons
3rd option: RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants

Round 4, Pick 45 overall: Motive—Best receiver or running back

1st option: RB Beanie Wells, Cardinals
2nd option: RB Roy Helu, Redskins
3rd option: WR Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs

Round 5, Pick 62: Motive—Best player available

1st option: RB Trent Richardson, Browns
2nd option: TE Aaron Hernandez, Patriots
3rd option: WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles

Round 6, Pick 69 overall: Motive—Best wide receiver available

1st option: WR DeSean Jackson, Eagles
2nd option: WR Reggie Wayne, Colts
3rd option: WR Kenny Britt, Titans

Round 7, Pick 86 overall: Motive—Best receiver or quarterback available

1st option: WR Sidney Rice, Seahawks
2nd option: QB Matt Ryan, Falcons
3rd option: WR Mario Manningham, Giants

Round 8, Pick 93 overall: Motive—Best high-end talent available

1st option: RB Jahvid Best, Lions
2nd option: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bengals
3rd option: WR Malcom Floyd, Chargers

Round 9, Pick 110 overall: Motive—Best high-end receiver

1st option: WR Nate Washington, Titans
2nd option: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders
3rd option: WR Eric Decker, Broncos

Round 10, Pick 117 overall: Motive—Best tight end available

1st option: TE Brandon Pettigrew, Lions
2nd option: RB Felix Jones, Cowboys
3rd option: TE Jermaine Gresham, Bengals

Round 11, Pick 134: Motive—Best player available

1st option: WR Titus Young, Lions
2nd option: RB Evan Royster, Redskins
3rd option: WR Michael Floyd, Cardinals

Round 12, Pick 141: Motive—Best receiver or running back available

1st option: WR Michael Floyd, Cardinals
2nd option: RB Evan Royster, Redskins
3rd option: RB Doug Martin, Buccaneers

Round 13, Pick 158: Motive—Best tight end or quarterback

1st option: TE Dustin Keller, Jets
2nd option: QB Josh Freeman, Buccaneers
3rd option: WR Steve Breaston, Chiefs

Round 14, Pick 165: Motive—Best quarterback available

1st option: QB Josh Freeman, Buccaneers
2nd option: QB Andy Dalton, Bengals
3rd option: QB Joe Flacco, Ravens

Round 15, Pick 182: Motive—Best defense or kicker

1st option: D/ST Seattle Seahawks
2nd option: D/ST Kansas City Chiefs
3rd option: D/ST Arizona Cardinals

Round 16, Pick 189: Motive—Best kicker available

1st option: PK Josh Scobee, Jaguars
2nd option: PK Nate Kaeding, Chargers
3rd option: PK Rian Lindell, Bills

Breakdown

• It's quite surreal to endorse Aaron Rodgers high in Round 1; that's the perfect time to capitalize on a top-four running back or high-end receiver (like Calvin Johnson). But then again, Rodgers (4,643 yards passing, 48 total TDs last year) is virtually guaranteed to be the overall points leader by season's end, barring injury. He may only need 14-15 starts to earn that distinction.
• I didn't plan on taking four consecutive running backs in Rounds 2-5 (McFadden, Jackson, Wells, Richardson), but that's how the board breaks sometimes. As the old saying goes, you can never have enough high-end tailbacks. Speaking of which, Jahvid Best was a top-21 pick in my recent running back rankings. If this were a real draft, I'd have the best quintet of backs.
• DeSean Jackson should never be anyone's No. 1 receiver in a 12-team draft, and yet, that's where we stand from this mock simulation. Yes, I foresee great things for Jackson this season (top 20 during the preseason), but that's still no excuse for him leading a corps. The remaining four wideouts (Sidney Rice, Nate Washington, Titus Young, Michael Floyd) were all value picks with tangible upside. That said, it remains a somewhat shaky group.
• It's debatable whether I'd take Dustin Keller over Indy's Coby Kleener in a standard-scoring draft; but for the purposes of this exercise, I drew the line at having two rookies on the 16-team roster (Richardson, Floyd)...leaving no wiggle room for Kleener, a prospective Rob Gronkowski clone sometime in 2013 or 2014.
• Landing Brandon Pettigrew (83 catches, 777 yards, five TDs) at 117 is an absolute heist. When healthy, he's a lock for 75 catches and 110 targets. In a Points Per Reception setting, Pettigrew would never squeeze past the 70th pick.
• I couldn't have asked for a better backup QB from Round 14 than Josh Freeman. The kid has immense talent, a new toy at running back (rookie Doug Martin) and the No. 11 trio of wide receivers (thanks to Vincent Jackson's arrival).
• Just a hunch, but the Seahawks will yield top-10 production for defense and special teams by season's end. 

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.