Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Non-PPR mock draft format yields expected run on running backs

We have not performed a non-PPR mock draft shortly, so it was enjoyable to get again to this format throughout our Twitch stream Tuesday night time. And it was fascinating to see the completely different strategy by two managers on this 12-team draft.

Ben Gretch selecting at No. 4 total began his crew with 4 running backs in a row: Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones, Jonathan Taylor and Leonard Fournette. He can play all 4 since this league has a beginning lineup of QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, 2 FLEX (RB/WR/TE) and DST with six reserves, and Ben has 4 potential top-24 running backs coming into the season — even when he did draft Taylor too quickly at No. 28 total.

He nonetheless managed to get a stable receiving corps with D.J. Chark, Stefon Diggs, Will Fuller, N’Keal Harry and Mecole Hardan. And he has Matthew Stafford at quarterback and Mike Gesicki and T.J. Hockenson at tight finish. He additionally added Matt Breida and Justin Jackson for depth at running again.

I like this roster rather a lot due to the running again corps, and this can be a good technique to make use of on this format. But it was utterly completely different from Michael Kiser, who picked at No. 12 total.

He began his crew with three receivers in a row: Tyreek Hill, Julio Jones and Adam Thielen. He additionally ended up with Marvin Jones, Sterling Shepard, John Brown and Golden Tate on his crew.

Michael has Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, with Darren Waller at tight finish, which is phenomenal for these two spots. But his running again corps may very well be an issue with Mark Ingram, Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen and A.J. Dillon as the one ones on his roster.

What I’d have performed in another way with Michael’s crew is targeted extra on running backs within the center and later rounds. Instead of Marvin Jones in Round 8, he may have drafted somebody like Darrell Henderson, Kerryon Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, Breida or Marlon Mack. And in Round 10, as a substitute of Shepard, Michael may have drafted somebody like Joshua Kelley, James White, Antonio Gibson, Tony Pollard or Darrynton Evans. He additionally may have chosen Ryquell Armstead or Boston Scott as a substitute of Brown in Round 12.

I like Michael’s crew if Ingram and Howard are respectable starters, however extra depth at running again would have been preferrred. That’s how I constructed my roster, which was just like Ben’s crew.

I drafted three running backs in a row from No. 9 total with Joe Mixon, Kenyan Drake and Todd Gurley. I additionally took Ronald Jones in Round 5, Ke’Shawn Vaughn in Round 7 and Chase Edmonds in Round 9. I drafted Jones too quickly, however at that time there have been 26 running backs off the board. He was the subsequent running again in my rankings, and I like him as a flex on this league.

I’m very happy with my receiving corps of Tyler Lockett, Terry McLaurin, Diontae Johnson, Justin Jefferson and Mike Williams, and I stole Josh Allen in Round 10. I waited on tight finish, however I just like the duo I drafted of Jonnu Smith in Round 13 and Blake Jarwin in Round 15. Both have breakout potential this 12 months.

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.  

Our draft order is as follows:

1. Andrew Baumhor, CBS Sports HQ Producer
2. R.J. White, NFL Editor
3. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
4. Ben Gretch, Fantasy Editor
5. Meron Berkson, CBS Sports HQ Producer
6. George Maselli, Fantasy Editor 
7. Frank Stampfl, Fantasy Baseball Podcast Host
8. Heath Cummings, Senior Fantasy Writer
9. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
10. Adam Aizer, Podcast Host  
11. Chris Towers, Senior Editor, Fantasy  
12. Michael Kiser, Director, VOD and Video Optimization