B/R Fantasy Mock Draft Analysis: Rounds 4-6 from Position #7

Rob TongJun 26, 2012

Rounds 4-6 of the Bleacher Report Fantasy Football Mock Draft are in the books. I've found some interesting nuggets we can glean from the results.

And in case you missed it, you can still read my analysis of Rounds 1-3.

This mock draft featured 10 Bleacher Report Featured Columnists:

1. Alexander Onushco

2. Ryan Lester

3. Tim Keeney

4. Ralph Longo

5. Gary Davenport

6. James Reagan

7. Rob Tong (that's me)

8. Daniel Stack

9. Matt Madsen

10. Marco Patitucci

Without further ado, let's jump into the fourth round and see what happened.

Fourth Round

1 of 4

1. Marco: WR Julio Jones

2. Matt: RB Fred Jackson

3. Dan: WR Victor Cruz

4. Rob: WR Jordy Nelson

5. James: RB Steven Jackson

6. Gary: RB Frank Gore

7. Ralph: QB Michael Vick

8. Tim: WR Dez Bryant

9. Ryan: QB Tony Romo

10. Alex: WR Kenny Britt

Analysis

I was open to RB2 or WR2 in this round because none of the QBs appealed to me here.

I like Doug Martin so much that I considered taking him here in the fourth round. But, of the teams drafting before I pick again in the fifth round, only two teams (James and Gary) do not have two RBs already.

With at least four other remaining RBs listed higher than Martin on ADP lists, and given that a lot of people are not as high on Martin as I am, I was pretty confident James and Gary would not take Martin.

So I decided to go WR here in the fourth.

I was interested in Victor Cruz, but since he was taken just before me, I was happy to take Jordy Nelson.

Nelson is younger than teammate Greg Jennings by two years, so I think Nelson's arrow is still pointing up. What many fantasy owners don't realize is that Nelson (12.1 FPPG) finished ahead of Jennings (11.5 FPPG) last year as the most productive Packers receiver, yet Jennings is the first Packers receiver taken in this year's fantasy drafts. So I'm thrilled to take Nelson in the fourth round.

And my gamble ended up paying off, as James and Gary chose Steven Jackson and Frank Gore, respectively.

Solid Values

Fred Jackson is a great fourth-round pickup. Jackson was the fourth-best RB last year (normalizing for injuries), and, despite the emergence of C.J. Spiller in this year's Bills offense, Jackson should still be the primary ball-carrier.

Victor Cruz in the fourth is just like Jordy Nelson in that Cruz (12.1 FPPG) was the most productive fantasy receiver on the Giants last year, yet Hakeem Nicks (9.8 FPPG) is the first Giants receiver to be taken in this year's fantasy drafts.

Questionable Values

While the fourth round seems like a safe spot to take running backs Steven Jackson and Frank Gore, I personally am avoiding both. With their high mileage and advancing RB age, respectively, and their NFL teams drafting rookie running backs as competition, I'm looking elsewhere to fill my RB2 role.

Fifth Round

2 of 4

1. Alex: WR Demaryius Thomas

2. Ryan: WR Mike Wallace

3. Tim: WR Dwayne Bowe

4. Ralph: WR Steve Smith

5. Gary: WR Marques Colston

6. James: RB Michael Turner

7. Rob: RB Doug Martin

8. Dan: RB Roy Helu

9. Matt: WR Percy Harvin

10. Marco: RB Ahmad Bradshaw

Analysis

This was a no-brainer. Anyone who's followed me on Bleacher Report knows I've been quietly touting Doug Martin as a must-have in fantasy football this season.

Martin will finish as a Top 10 fantasy back yet is a fantastic value (ADP in the mid-to-low 50s).

Interestingly, James took a third RB. Thankfully for me, it was Michael Turner and not Martin.

Solid Values

Besides Martin, nothing really stands out, though Marques Colston in the fifth round is a nice pickup.

Questionable Values

While Demaryius Thomas will take the next step in his progression as a receiver with Peyton Manning throwing him the ball, I don't see him outproducing Marques Colston (80 catches, 1143 yards and 8 TDs in 2011). Drafting Thomas over Colston was a bit curious.

Sixth Round

3 of 4

1. Marco: TE Aaron Hernandez

2. Matt: WR Miles Austin

3. Dan: RB Mikel Leshoure

4. Rob: WR Vincent Jackson

5. James: RB Reggie Bush

6. Gary: RB Shonn Greene

7. Ralph: WR DeSean Jackson

8. Tim: RB Jonathan Stewart

9. Ryan: WR Brandon Lloyd

10. Alex: QB Robert Griffin III

Analysis

Still not compelled with the remaining quarterback options at this point in the draft, I decided to go for my WR3.

Vincent Jackson averaged 10.4 FPPG last year with a sub-par Philip Rivers as his quarterback. A sub-par Rivers is probably equivalent to a decent Josh Freeman, so expecting Vincent Jackson to produce another 10.4 FPPG season is not a real stretch, even as he acclimates to a new quarterback and a new offensive system.

Freeman could actually surprise this year with an improved offensive line and significantly upgraded talent at the offensive skill positions.

So now I have a fantasy receiver corps where all three starters project to average double digits. Add that to Ryan Mathews and Doug Martin as the starting backs and Jimmy Graham as the starting tight end, and that is a pretty strong team so far.

My weakness is at quarterback, as I still don't have one. So the question is: who? And when?

Solid Values

None.

Questionable Values

Jonathan Stewart is in a crowded backfield that includes DeAngelo Williams, touchdown vulture Mike Tolbert and even quarterback Cam Newton. I would not take Stewart in the sixth round.

Also, RG3 is a great pick as a QB2, but Alex took him as his QB1. Griffin presents some risks as a starting fantasy quarterback.