Fantasy Football
Keith Lipscomb, ESPN.com 9y

Fantasy football mock draft: 12-team standard

Fantasy, Fantasy NFL

August always goes quickly for us here at ESPN Fantasy. One reason for that: our weekly mock drafts that we look forward to conducting as a staff. While I can't speak for our other analysts, one thing I make sure to do in each mock is to try a different approach, even if it's something I might be extremely hesitant to do when my actual drafts roll around.

Since I knew I would be writing the recap for this one, I decided to "get crazy" and stay away from the running back position for at least the first three rounds to see how things turned out. It wasn't a true "zero RB" strategy that I've seen others employ this summer, but since it's truly something I've never done in an actual draft in my 30-plus years playing fantasy football, I figured it would give me a new perspective on what it's like to scrounge at the position. Needless to say: mission accomplished.

If there was one common theme from the draft, it's that depth at wide receiver made many of us feel that you must get involved in the running back derby early on.

For this latest mock draft, we went with a 12-team standard setup, and instead of breaking down each round with extended analysis, we'll give you a glimpse inside the draft room by simply including some of the comments made mostly in the chat area. Here are the 12 owners -- a combination of fantasy writers, editors and NFL Nation reporters -- listed in order of draft position: Tristan H. Cockcroft, Matthew Berry, Jim McCormick, Tom Carpenter, Mike Triplett, Mike Clay, Dan Graziano, Matt Williamson, myself, KC Joyner, Joe Kaiser and Field Yates.

Before revealing the round-by-round picks and all of the comments, here's a quick rundown of the final team to select each of the four skill positions:

QB: Williamson (Ryan Tannehill, 113th overall)
RB: Lipscomb (Joseph Randle, 40th overall)
WR: Triplett (DeSean Jackson, 53rd overall)
TE: Lipscomb (Dwayne Allen, 153rd overall)

NOTE: News of DeSean Jackson's shoulder injury broke just after the completion of this mock draft.

Notable thoughts and observations
Cockcroft: "In 10- and 12-team standard leagues ... increasingly feeling like [Le'Veon] Bell and [Adrian] Peterson are the correct first two, as the per-game upside plays considering what you'll inevitably get at 20-21 or 24-25 ... and remember this comes from an AP pessimist."

Clay: "I debated [Antonio] Brown over [C.J.] Anderson (at No. 6). Tough call."

Graziano: "I debated Brown at No. 7 as well, but I feel like the WR1 selection at 18 is going to be better than the RB1 selection at 18."

Williamson: "I'm not reaching for a RB; give me the sure stud instead. I want to see what happens with a Gronk start."

Notable thoughts and observations
Yates: "Obviously expecting a repeat of last year (for DeMarco Murray) is wishful thinking, and I'm not ignoring the fact that he's going to have to split carries. But keep this in mind: While Dallas took the most time per play in the NFL last season, Philadelphia was the fastest offense. His workload will be steady."

Graziano: "See, yeah. If I'd taken [Brown] at 7, I'd be looking at Mark Ingram as my RB1. Now I can pick between Odell [Beckham Jr.], Calvin [Johnson] and A.J. [Green] for WR1."

Triplett: "The RB list starts to have a ton of question marks after Ingram. I don't expect much more than 1,000 yards and 10 TDs tops from Ingram, but I don't have question marks with him. I know he'll be heavily involved, especially near the goal line in New Orleans."

Notable thoughts and observations
McCormick: "I went [Mike] Evans (over T.Y. Hilton) for target share and TD upside. To have been a top-12 fantasy wideout in his age-21 season offers hope for even more."

Clay: "Was extremely tempted by [Andrew] Luck over [Lamar] Miller, especially in a non-PPR with only 2 starting WRs. In the end, I like the values to come at QB way too much to take a passer in the third round."

Williamson: "Obvious reach here with J-Stew (Jonathan Stewart), but loved his tape at the end of last year. This is the cost of going TE/WR with my top two picks."

Joyner: "Very happy to see [Justin] Forsett fall this far (34th). Am thinking he can replicate last year's top-10 RB finish."

Kaiser: "Going WR with the first two picks was a gamble that didn't work out. I thought I could maybe get [Carlos] Hyde and/or [Melvin] Gordon with my next two picks, but with both off the board, I was forced to reach on [Todd] Gurley."

Notable thoughts and observations
Lipscomb: "As nice as it is to have a core of Luck, Brown and Dez [Bryant], I will really need [Joseph] Randle to be the bell cow in Big D because there are very few known quantities left already. My team is going to have a decidedly top-heavy feel to it, unless the backs I pick fall into greater opportunity (which is always possible, of course)."

Williamson: "I will end up with [Isaiah] Crowell on a lot of teams this year. Tons of ability behind great OL. Underrated in fantasy circles."

Triplett: "[Brandin] Cooks fell further than he should have ... 90-plus catches, 1,000-plus yards very realistic. No. 1 target for sure; still a pass-first offense."

Notable thoughts and observations
Cockcroft: "Very much a can't-decide pick there between [Andre] Ellington and Bell. Feeling a little more comfortable with Ellington in the health department today, and that sways it, being that I already have a guy slated to miss time (Le'Veon)."

McCormick: "Saw a good deal of parity at RB and WR on the board and took the somewhat pricey leap at [Travis] Kelce and his superb YAC skills."

Clay: "I feel like [Amari] Cooper's floor is 70 catches, and I'm not buying into much Michael Crabtree hype. (Cooper's) pro-ready and a superstar in the making. I feel like I took a third-year vet, not a rookie there."

Lipscomb: "And I feel like you just took my lunch money. Really wanted Cooper there. But I'll take V-Jax (Vincent Jackson), since I feel confident last year's lack of TDs was an aberration."

Kaiser: "I have Demaryius [Thomas] and [Emmanuel] Sanders, and I passed on [Peyton] Manning for LeGarrette Blount? Off my game today."

Notable thoughts and observations
Joyner: "QB run started. Had to get Ben [Roethlisberger], who is third on my QB board."

Lipscomb: "No doubt eschewing RBs in the first three rounds stings the rest of the way. Really tough to pass on guys like [Brandon] Marshall and [Allen] Robinson."

Triplett: "Did not intend to make so many Saints-related picks in this draft (Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Drew Brees) but couldn't let Brees fall any further in good conscience as a Saints reporter. I still like him as the third-best fantasy QB. Still a pass-first team, still capable of a typical 4,800-yard, 35-TD season."

Notable thoughts and observations
Cockcroft: "(Doug Martin and Jeremy Maclin are) so not me, those two... but easily tops on my board at those spots, especially Maclin."

Carpenter: "Kevin White's health seems to be dropping him far enough to make him a value play with the second half of the season in mind."

Graziano: "[Nelson] Agholor was the guy in my queue there. Well done (Triplett)."

Williamson: "I am one of the few who thinks [Devonta] Freeman is Atlanta's lead RB all year, and that system produces giant fantasy numbers. I'll keep adding RBs and see who hits."

Kaiser: "[Martellus] Bennett was my pick at 83. Drafted one pick ahead of me. Guess I'll wait for TE."

Notable thoughts and observations
Lipscomb: "Was excited to grab [Ryan] Mathews here, but KC beat me to him. Had to settle for [Tre] Mason. Definitely possible Gurley will be eased into game action."

Williamson: "Love the Mathews pick. Can win the league for you if/when Murray goes down ... and in meantime, Mathews is startable as flex or on byes."

Clay: "[Breshad] Perriman is quickly becoming a guy I get in all my drafts. Steve Smith is 36 years old, shaky TE situation, null WR depth (Kamar Aiken? Really?). Perriman is a bigger, better Torrey Smith, and he'll have Joe Flacco delivering him long balls. Insane upside here, but he needs to get healthy."

Notable thoughts and observations
Clay: "Tons of capable WRs still left, but RB has dried up in a hurry. Really makes you want to go RB early and often."

Lipscomb: "I've been a round late too often in this draft. Missed out on [Davante] Adams and [Zach] Ertz in this particular round, then should've taken John Brown instead of [Brandon] LaFell."

Williamson: "Not exactly sure which Cards WR I want, but [Michael] Floyd has the most upside and wasn't nearly as bad last year as some think, despite having me or Berry throwing him the ball!"

Notable thoughts and observations
Clay: "[Marques] Colston = Steal."

Cockcroft: "In hindsight, maybe I should've let Matt Ryan go, but Eli [Manning] and Cam [Newton] also gone. QB would've been a little below where I'd have wanted to be."

Williamson: "[Brian] Quick is ranked way too low. Nice pick (McCormick)."

Notable thoughts and observations
Carpenter: "F-Jax [Fred Jackson] is another regular on my rosters. The guy ain't dead yet."

Clay: "Missed my C.J. [Anderson] handcuff by one pick. Ouch."

Graziano (to Williamson): "If you already have a QB you like, which you do, [Sam] Bradford is the way to go. Home run potential with Kelly."

Joyner: "Kelly's QBs have averaged 18 PPG the past two years."

Notable thoughts and observations
Cockcroft: "Like the [Kenny] Stills pick (by Clay). Had him queued."

Graziano: "I think Rueben Randle is a great bye-week WR. Issues last year were spats with coaching staff re: lateness, etc. When on the field, his production is actually pretty steady."

Notable thoughts and observations
Clay: "[Danny] Woodhead finished 19th among RBs in fantasy points in 2013 (in non-PPR) despite 106 carries. Catching 76 balls for 605 yards and six touchdowns will do that. I expect he'll slide right back into that role this year, especially considering Melvin Gordon's blocking/receiving concerns."

Williamson: "I do believe the [Michael] Crabtree hype and liked his game pre-injury. Raiders' offense is better than given credit for."

Notable thoughts and observations
Lipscomb: "I was debating between [Brandon] Coleman's upside and Dan Herron's potential if [Frank] Gore were to go down in Indy."

Clay: "Like (Williamson's) pick. [Dorial] Green-Beckham could be one of those guys who doesn't catch many balls this year, but steals 6-8 TDs."

Triplett: "[Austin] Seferian-Jenkins is another guy I've targeted in multiple drafts; NFL Nation reporter Pat Yasinskas high on his potential."

Notable thoughts and observations
Graziano: "I hate my team, but I always hate my team after the draft. I'm a trader, not a drafter."

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