2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Results: Consider Ronnie Hillman in 7th Round

If there is a running back who continues to garner little respect in mock drafts this summer, it’s the Denver Broncos' Ronnie Hillman. One of the hotter backfields to watch this summer, Hillman, not Montee Ball, opened Denver’s training camp atop the depth chart.

Only time will tell if Hillman can hold off Ball to open the season, but we also need to see if Ball can prove he’s ready to understand the offense and his responsibilities to be trusted with an expanded role.

This will be Ball’s first year playing in a zone-blocking scheme, and Hillman’s jump-cut ability is perfect for this scheme as opposed to the power-blocking scheme the team ran a season ago.

While Hillman is going in the later rounds of 10-team standard leagues, consider the sixth or seventh round to be the area we should expect to see him come off the board by the end of August, if he remains the projected starter.

61. Pierre Garcon, Washington Redskins —

We should be concerned about Garcon’s continued foot problems, but he’s back on the practice field in camp, and that’s a good sign. Not sure he will hold up for a full 16 games, but Garcon is worth a selection at this point in the draft and is capable of playing at a WR2 level with Robert Griffin III as his quarterback.

62. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys —

It is likely Austin’s final year in Dallas because of cap problems, but he should be a respectable WR3 selection. Now the fourth option in the offense behind Dez Bryant, Jason Witten and DeMarco Murray, Austin should still see enough targets on a team that will have to post 30 points most weeks to win.

63. Rashard Mendenhall, Arizona Cardinals —

I like the addition of right tackle Eric Winston this week, and he should help the running game. Mendenhall needs all the help he can get from his offensive line, especially when you consider he plays against the 49ers, Seahawks and Rams six games out of the year.

At the end of the day, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Mendenhall to play at a level that justifies the veteran holding the starting job for the entire season.

64. Eric Decker, Denver Broncos —

Decker is falling in drafts because many see him as the third receiver in the offense now with Wes Welker on the team. I think Decker will be a terrific WR3, and if you can acquire him in the seventh round, take him.

65. Greg Jennings, Minnesota Vikings —

Jennings seems to be more concerned with talking smack to former teammates than helping his new team. I'm not a fan of Jennings going forward, and I would recommend you avoid him at this point in the draft. Maybe 10th round and down.

66. Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts —

We know Bradshaw will have foot problems during the season, and he won’t hold up for a full 16-game schedule. Bradshaw will likely produce as a low-end RB2 when on the field and should begin the season over Vick Ballard on the depth chart.

67. Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos —

This is about the right area to target Hillman, and I believe his value will rise as we move through August. Hillman is the starting running back in Denver until Montee Ball proves he can take the job.

Don’t sleep on Hillman this season, as the change in offensive blocking schemes is an underrated topic when comparing the two, and Hillman should have the advantage early in the new zone-blocking scheme.

68. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions —

With Titus Young off the team and Reggie Bush in the backfield, expect a bounce-back season from Stafford. He won’t throw for 40 touchdowns like he did back in 2011, but Stafford will be a solid QB1 option weekly.

69. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts —

After a breakout rookie season, it will be interesting to see what Hilton has for an encore. Consider the second-year receiver a boom or bust option at this point in the draft, but at worst case he should be worthy of holding as a backup receiver.

Darrius Heyward-Bey may start over Hilton early in the season, but we shouldn’t expect that to last if Hilton proves to be a consistent pass-catcher.

70. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers —

Kaepernick was likely to be a player selected in the first five rounds of drafts before Michael Crabtree went down. I like the 49ers young star quarterback, and he’s a fair low-end seventh-round pick.

Mock Draft Results are compliments from Fantasy Football Calculator.

2013 10-Team Mock Draft Results – 1st RD | 2nd RD | 3rd RD | 4th RD | 5th RD