We held our first mock draft since Chiefs operating again Damien Williams introduced Wednesday that he was opting out for the season over considerations associated to COVID-19, and I wished to see the place Clyde Edwards-Helaire can be chosen. I did not have to attend lengthy.
I had the No. 8 total choice on this 14-team, PPR mock draft, and Edwards-Helaire was my choose. I might have drafted him as early as No. 6 total, and I took him forward of different operating backs like Miles Sanders, Austin Ekeler, Joe Mixon, Kenyan Drake, Nick Chubb, Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry.
Edwards-Helaire went after the common high six of Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas and Dalvin Cook, however Ben Schragger drafted Davante Adams at No. 7 total. I’ve no downside with any of these picks, however I might draft Edwards-Helaire forward of Thomas and Adams as of now.
Even although he’ll doubtless be thrown into the beginning job following a restricted coaching camp and no preseason video games, he is nonetheless acquired super expertise round him, together with the tutelage of Andy Reid. During Reid’s tenure as a head coach in Philadelphia and Kansas City, he is had a high 12 PPR operating again in factors per recreation 15 instances in 21 seasons, together with 9 finishes in the high 5.
Kareem Hunt, as a rookie in 2017, was the No. 5 PPR operating again in factors per recreation at 18.4, and he led the NFL in speeding that season with 1,327 yards. He additionally scored eight speeding touchdowns with 53 receptions, 455 yards and three touchdowns.
Is Edwards-Helaire succesful of that sort of manufacturing? Probably not. But I’ll gamble on Reid’s observe file, in addition to what Edwards-Helaire did at LSU final season with 215 carries for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns, together with 55 catches, 453 yards and a landing.
Now, I did attempt to handcuff Edwards-Helaire with DeAndre Washington, who I count on to be the No. 2 operating again in Kansas City, barring a veteran free agent being added like Devonta Freeman or Lamar Miller. But Adam Aizer drafted Washington in Round 9, so I missed out.
Aizer additionally drafted Darwin Thompson in Round 13, and Ben Gretch drafted Darrel Williams in Round 12. We’ll see what the Chiefs do with their depth chart behind Edwards-Helaire, however he ought to be the lead again if he is wholesome now that Damien Williams is out.
After drafting Edwards-Helaire, I chosen Aaron Jones in Round 2, however I made a mistake with my third-round choose. Since large receiver is so deep, I assumed taking a 3rd operating again made sense on this bigger format, and I drafted Melvin Gordon over Allen Robinson.
But when it got here again to my choice in Round 4, the high receiver on the board was Courtland Sutton. He’s not the greatest No. 1 receiver, however he is wonderful. However, the cause I remorse drafting Gordon in Round 3 and passing on Robinson was that Jonathan Taylor was nonetheless obtainable at 4.07.
I might reasonably have Robinson and Taylor as a substitute of Gordon and Sutton. Good factor this can be a mock draft.
The relaxation of my receiving corps options two breakout candidates in Marquise Brown and Diontae Johnson, in addition to two sleepers in Anthony Miller and Laviska Shenault. I even have backup operating backs in Zack Moss, Chase Edmonds and A.J. Dillon.
I waited on quarterback and tight finish, and I ended up with Tom Brady in Round 12, which is unbelievable in a 14-team league. I assumed I may get Blake Jarwin or Jared Cook after drafting Brady, however Schragger (Jarwin) and Heath Cummings (Cook) every took a second tight finish earlier than my choose in Round 13.
As a consequence, I settled for Jack Doyle, however I additionally backed him up with T.J. Hockenson in Round 14. Hopefully, one of these guys emerges as a No. 1 Fantasy tight finish this yr.
For these of you who play in 14-team leagues, you realize the expertise pool thins out rapidly. But it additionally provides you an opportunity to draft guys you usually would not in a 12-team league or smaller. It’s difficult, but it surely’s additionally lots of enjoyable.
In this league, all touchdowns are value six factors, and we award one level for each 10 yards speeding and receiving and one level for each 25 yards passing. We additionally award one level for each reception. We function a beginning lineup of QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, FLEX (RB/WR/TE), Okay and DST. There are also six reserve spots for a 16-round draft.
Our draft order is as follows:
1. George Maselli, Fantasy Editor
2. Adam Aizer, Fantasy Football Podcast Host
3. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
4. R.J. White, NFL Editor
5. Michael Kiser, Director, VOD and Video Optimization
6. Heath Cummings, Senior Fantasy Writer
7. Ben Schragger, Podcast Producer
8. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
9. Frank Stampfl, Fantasy Baseball Podcast Host
10. Meron Berkson, CBS Sports HQ Producer
11. Andrew Baumhor, CBS Sports HQ Producer
12. Chris Towers, Senior Editor, Fantasy
13. Ben Gretch, Fantasy Editor
14. Jack Capotorto, CBS Sports HQ Producer
