Fantasy Football Mock Draft 2012: Full 8th Round with Pick-by-Pick Analysis
The 2012 NFL draft is now just a memory. As free agency winds down over the next few weeks, NFL teams hold organized team activities, and we approach the beginning of training camp another fantasy football season will begin as leagues across the land gather in person or online to conduct their 2012 drafts.
Doing some research prior to your draft can have a huge impact on the chances for your team's fantasy success this season, so this will continue a series of articles that take an in-depth, pick-by-pick look at an entire fantasy draft, from the first running back selected to the very last kicker off the board.
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For this mock draft, we'll assume a standard 12-team league with 16 roster spots in which you start one quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker and one team defense. This league has no "flex" position, but does award one point per reception and six points for all touchdowns, be they passing, rushing or receiving. The draft is serpentine, meaning the draft order is reversed in even-numbered rounds.
Other scoring is "standard," meaning 10 rushing/receiving yards per point, 25 passing yards per point, three points for all field goals (with a two-point bonus for field goals of over 50 yards) and defensive scoring that awards points for turnovers, sacks and yardage and points allowed. Lost fumbles and interceptions thrown are a two-point deduction.
Now that the rules have been laid out, Team 12 is on the clock.
Team 12 (8.01): Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best seemed well on his way to a breakout sophomore season in 2011, gaining over 100 total yards in four of his first six games. However, the concussion issues that have dogged Best since college once again reared their ugly heads, prematurely ending Best's season.
Best is reportedly healthy, and when he's on the field the third-year pro is more than capable of Top 20 fantasy running back production. However, the risk of injury with Best appears substantial, so drafting the former Cal standout is something of a roll of the dice.
Roster: Wes Welker, WR, NE -- Roddy White, WR, ATL -- Fred Jackson, RB, BUF -- Marques Colston: WR, NO -- Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ -- Philip Rivers, QB, SD -- Fred Davis, TE, WAS
Team 11 (8.02): Sidney Rice, WR, Seattle Seahawks
The past two seasons have been something of a nightmare for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice, who has missed 17 games over the past two years while failing to top 500 receiving yards in either season.
However, a healthy Rice reeled in over 80 catches for over 1,300 yards in 2009, and if Rice can return to anywhere near that form in 2012 the sixth-year pro could represent an excellent value as a fantasy WR3 this late in the draft.
Roster: Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN -- Tom Brady, QB, NE -- Mike Wallace, WR, PIT -- Julio Jones, WR, ATL -- Chris Wells, RB, ARI -- Vernon Davis, TE, SF -- DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR
Team 10 (8.03): Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore Ravens
For the second straight season since joining the Baltimore Ravens, ninth-year wide receiver Anquan Boldin failed to top 1,000 receiving yards in 2011, and his 57 catches a year ago were his lowest since 2004.
With that said, the 31 year-old cracked the top 25 fantasy wide receivers every season from 2006-2010, and if Boldin can bounce back a bit in his 10th NFL season he should at the very least serve as an adequate third fantasy wideout.
Roster: Matt Forte, RB, CHI -- Darren McFadden, RB, OAK -- Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC -- Matthew Stafford, QB, DET -- Jason Witten, TE, DAL -- Reggie Wayne, WR, IND -- Justin Blackmon, WR, JAX
Team Nine (8.04): Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Seemingly since the days of leather helmets, tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Atlanta Falcons has been a force at the tight end position, finishing among among the top six fantasy tight ends every season since 2000.
Granted, Gonzalez is 36 years old, and there's always a chance that this is the year the wheels fall off. However, Gonzalez showed little sign of slowing down a year ago, and the potential for top five production from an eighth-round pick is a very tempting proposition.
Roster: Andre Johnson, WR, HOU -- Jamaal Charles, RB, KC -- Frank Gore, RB, SF -- Steve Smith, WR, CAR -- Antonio Brown, WR, PIT -- Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR -- Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT
Team Eight (8.05): Isaac Redman, WR, Pissburgh Steelers
The torn ACL suffered by starting running back Rashard Mendenhall last December makes it a very real possibility that he will open the season on the Physically Unable to Perform List. That would hand the reins in the Pittsburgh running game, for at least the first six games, to Isaac Redman.
Redman played well last season when afforded the opportunity, including topping 100 rushing yards in Pittsburgh's playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. There's a chance that if Redman comes out of the gate strong, Mendenhall may not get his starting job back once his knee checks out.
Roster: Chris Johnson, RB, TEN -- Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE -- Jordy Nelson, WR, GB -- Darren Sproles, RB, NO -- Percy Harvin, WR, MIN -- Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens -- Matt Ryan, QB, ATL -- Isaac Redman, RB, PIT
Team Seven (8.06): Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints
2011 was a disappointing rookie year for former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, who missed six games and failed to rush for 500 yards while managing an unimpressive 3.9 yards per carry for the season.
There were hopes that Ingram might be set for a bounce back campaign in 2012, but recent knee surgery casts some doubt over Ingram's prospects for this season, making this one of the bigger chances that Team Seven has taken to this point in the draft.
Roster: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, AZ -- Ryan Mathews, RB, SD -- Cam Newton, QB, CAR -- Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE -- Reggie Bush, RB, MIA -- Eric Decker, WR, DEN -- Robert Meachem -- WR, SD
Team Six (8.07): James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers
The Packers apparently have no intention of bringing back free agent running back Ryan Grant this season, which should open to door for increased touches in the backfield for third-year pro James Starks.
Green Bay's pass-heavy offense caps Starks fantasy upside somewhat, but he did manage to average a respectable 4.3 yards a carry in 2011. With Rodgers and Starks in the fold, the majority of the touchdowns scored by the Packers' prolific offense will also end up on Team Six's scoreboard.
Roster: Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB -- Jimmy Graham, TE, NO -- Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG -- Dez Bryant, WR, DAL -- Vincent Jackson, WR, TB -- Brandon Lloyd, WR, DEN -- Roy Helu, RB, WAS
Team Five (8.08): Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
After a mostly disappointing first two seasons in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree, the ligtbulb finally appeared to come on a bit in 2012, as the former Texas Tech star set career highs in receptions and yardage.
49ers coach Jim Harbaugh recently stated that Crabtree has "the best hands I've ever seen on a wide receiver", and while that bit of coachspeak may be stretching it a bit, it wouldn't be a huge shock to see Crabtree post his first 1,000 yard receiving season in 2012.
Roster: Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAX -- Drew Brees, QB, NO -- Brandon Marshall, WR, CHI -- Miles Austin, WR, DAL -- Doug Martin, RB, TB -- Jermichael Finley, TE, GB -- Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS
Team Four (8.09): Owen Daniels, TE, Houston Texans
Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels rebounded somewhat from an injury plagued 2010 season last year, although his 54 receptions, 677 yards, and three touchdowns were only enough to make the seventh-year pro the 16th-best fantasy tight end in 2011.
Those numbers are a far cry from the top 10 fantasy finishes that Daniels posted in 2007 and 2008. Daniels may not reach those lofty heights again, but he's a serviceable starter for fantasy teams that wait a while before drafting a tight end.
Roster: Calvin Johnson, WR, DET -- Greg Jennings, WR, GB -- Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA -- Michael Turner, RB, ATL -- Stevie Johnson, WR, BUF -- Peyton Manning, QB, DEN -- Willis McGahee, RB, DEN
Team Three (8.10): Donald Brown, RB, Indianapolis Colts
It's awfully hard to find many bright spots in the Indianapolis Colts' 2011 season, but the play of third-year running back Donald Brown showed marked improvement, including averaging nearly five yards a carry and scoring five touchdowns in limited duty.
The departure of running back Joseph Addai opens the door for significantly more playing time for Brown in 2012. One has to think that the Colts will attempt to lean on the ground game this year in an effort to keep some pressure off rookie quarterback Andrew Luck.
Roster: LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI -- Trent Richardson, RB, CLE -- Victor Cruz, WR, NYG -- Kenny Britt, WR, TEN -- DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI -- Antonio Gates, TE, SD -- Eli Manning, QB, NYG
Team Two (8.11): Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears
Much like with the selection of Ben Tate a round ago, Team Two is making something of an "insurance" pick here, as Michael Vick's extensive injury history makes acquiring a quality backup quarterback essential for the fantasy team that drafts him.
A broken thumb ended the season of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler last year after 10 games, but the seventh-year veteran was very durable in the four years prior to last season. Given the additions to the Chicago passing game this year, it's very possible that a healthy Cutler could be poised for his best season in the Windy City since joining the Bears in 2009.
Roster: Arian Foster, RB, HOU -- Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG -- DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL -- Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN -- Michael Vick, QB, PHI -- Santonio Holmes, WR, NYJ -- Ben Tate, RB, HOU
Team One (8.12): Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Team One is still in need of a third wide receiver at this juncture in the draft, and rather than select a wideout who may be a bit more proven, but doesn't have a ton of upside, the Unos are going to roll the dice a bit on a talented rookie.
Michael Floyd caught 100 passes last season for Notre Dame, and playing opposite to Larry Fitzgerald, the biggest hindrance to his potential this season is probably whether or not the Arizona quarterbacks can hit the wide-open Floyd in stride.
Roster: Ray Rice, RB, BAL -- A.J. Green, WR, CIN -- Steven Jackson, RB, STL -- Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI -- Tony Romo, QB, DAL -- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, DAL -- BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, CIN
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