Mocking the Fantasy Draft Positions: The First Pick

Something that I started earlier on in the Fantasy Football Preseason was a series of posts doing mock drafts from each draft slot. This came to a sudden halt when I was preparing for an experts draft in which I had the number three pick and did not want to tip my hand at all. Over the next week we will hash this thing and have a look at each draft slot. What went wrong, right, and could have been done differently. This will also give you an idea where some players may fall in your upcoming fantasy football draft.

In each post we will have a look at my pick and some other observations by round. At the end of the whole thing we will go back and look at the mocks as a group and figure out which position we feel we had the best draft in. So we thought we would try something wacky here and do the first mock draft from the first draft slot. Didn’t see that coming, did you?

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Pick 1.01 Adrian Peterson RB MIN

Adrian Peterson is still the top guy. The easiest pick in the first round. Of course there is some urge to go with a Maurice Jones-Drew here…Peterson is a pretty safe pick though. It’s the later rounds that are going to build this team.

First Round Observations: Four WR in the first round with Fitz going as early as pick No. 4. If the Rams get it together the No. 9 pick could have grabbed a steal in Steven Jackson.

Pick 2.12 Steve Smith WR CAR

At this point there have been seven WRs that have already come off the bard and the drop off is coming. Smith should be a solid No. 1 WR for me.

Second Round Observations: The first two QBs came off the board (Tom Brady 2.2, Drew Brees 2.5).

Pick 3.01 Anquan Boldin WR, AZ

Here is where we have to make a decision. Go with another RB like a Clinton Portis or make a move for another WR before the are gone. I decided to go with the WR and hope I can get a decent No. 2 RB later. By the way…Portis went the next pick and I cringed a little.

Third Round Observations: I was kind of hoping that Aaron Rodgers may fall to me in the 4th round but he and Peyton Manning went off the board with the 4th and 6th pick in the third round. Five more WRs came off the board in the round after my Boldin pick.

Pick 4.12 Thomas Jones RB, NYJ

As mentioned I was kind of hoping for Aaron Rodgers to fall here. Kind of “settled” with a Thomas Jones pick. Not really excited about him this year as the Jets start to use Leon Washington more. Should make for a decent No. 2 though.

Fourth Round Observations: Six more WRs in the fourth round. Feeling better about getting my second one now.

Pick 5.01 Eddie Royal WR DEN

The way that WRs are coming off the board there is no way I can wait until the end of the 6th to take another one. Eddie Royal falls into my No. 3 WR slot.

Fifth Round Observations: Three QBs came off the board. Looks like I’m going to be landing someone that I would rather not of had as my No. 1 QB but I feel good about my other starting positions filled.

Pick 6.12 Jay Cutler QB, CHI

I have not done a mock or real draft this year where I thought, “I hope I get Jay Cutler…”  There is potential for some big games…as well as some busted games. The story of Jay Cutler, right? Well, he is brought on as my QB right here.

Sixth Round Observations: Too bad Matt Schaub fell before my pick. They were the only two QBs taken in the round.

Pick 7.01 Santana Moss WR, WAS

Starting three WRs I want to be sure I have a decent back up. Moss can actually swap spots with Royal depending on matchups.

Seventh Round Observations: Kellen Winslow comes off the board. In most drafting circles that I have witnessed he has officially been passed by Greg Olsen.

Pick 8.12 Owen Daniels TE HOU

I wanted to grab another starter position here and felt much better going after TE than K or DT in the eighth round. I was hoping for Chris Cooley to fall but he went at 8.05.

Eighth Round Observations: Three rookies in a row came off the board with Percy Harvin, Michael Crabtree and Donald Brown. If I had to choose between the three it would be Brown.

Pick 9.01 Earnest Graham RB TAM

I missed the boat on RB3 a bit. Most that are left are backups or backup to the backup. Graham has kind of been lost in the Derrick Ward shadow. He can still have some impact.  Not real worried about a Caddy Williams comeback until I see it.

Round Nine Observations: Three Defensive teams come off the board with Pittsburgh, NY Giants, and Baltimore.

Pick 10.12 Philadelphia Eagles DT PHI

Watching four DTs come off the bard I decided to pull the trigger. It is a starting position after all. I like Philly despite losing Jim Johnson. Should be the same scheme running.

Round Ten Observations: Wondering where Brett Favre is falling? Round Ten here.

Pick 11.01 David Garrard QB JAX

I’m putting a lot of trust in Garrard as my backup QB this season in a lot of places.  Hopefully he shakes off 2008.

Round Eleven Observations: Three more DT and a couple QBs go off the board, making me feel better about my timing of the last two picks.

Pick 12.12 Zach Miller TE OAK

Not one of the big names yet but I love the idea of Miller as my second TE. He should be a great target for JaMarcus Russell again this year.

Round Twelve Observations: we see our first kicker come off the board in Gostkowski.  I don’t care what people say about not drafting kickers. They are starters on your team and getting one of the top guys can mean the difference between you and a loss.

Pick 13.01 Fred Taylor RB NE

Who knows what will happen at RB in New England. I do know that Freddy isn’t ready to quit and in the 13th round can be a solid RB backup who may never even have to be used.

Round Thirteen Observations: Six running backs came off the board so it was a good thing I got RB4 when I did.

Pick 14.12 Mason Crosby K GB

I usually like to land Nate Kaeding but he went at 14.01. Crosby should do it for me and I’m happy to have him.

Round Fourteen Observations: Michael Vick. Yup, this is the round someone takes a wildcat player who they will figure they can’t start unless they put him at QB.

Pick 15.01 Steve Smith WR NYG

Putting myself at risk of starting the wrong Steve Smith in a given week I throw him a bone.  Someone will emerge in New York this season. If it isn’t him this spot will be used to pick up someone up off the waiver wire.

Round Fifteen Observations: This is where the two rookie QBs came off the board.  Wonder how Sanchez’s stock will rise now that he has been named starter.

So there is the pick from the No. 1 spot. Overall thoughts? I’m not real comfortable with my squad. QB really bothers me but I was happy sealing up the positions before Cutler. I would have been happier I think had I taken McNabb at 5.01 and then Santana Moss and a Donald Driver in the next two rounds.  That is something I have mentioned earlier in the preseason. If you wait past the 6th round (which 6.12 basically was) you are likely to get stuck with a QB you don’t want.

Be sure to swing by and check out the rest of the draft slots.

The complete mock can be viewed HERE.

After having a look around at the different mock draft services, my favorite continues to be Fantasy Football Calculator.  Run some mocks for yourself!