With fantasy football hitting on all cylinders right now, mock drafts, regular drafts, and rookie drafts are going on all over the sports industry right now. Regardless, whatever type of draft you plan on doing right now will always help you in the long run. Every year, I do a ton of mock drafts for my site, as well as other sites. Since I started doing this more often, I have found out that drafting this early in the year helps prepare you for any draft. It simply puts you in a zone that will help you bring the pain to your competition. That being said, I couldn’t turn down a shot to do a legend with some of the best drafters in the industry. So here are the players that I selected, and my thoughts along the way, to help all of you understand what was going on in my mind during this draft.
I hope all of you enjoy this article, and I hope it encourages you to draft more often, so you can slay your leagues this year. Have a great day, everyone, and may the draft be with you.
This draft is from a snake draft for a 12-team league, in which I was drafting from the fifth spot.
1.05
WR Puka Nacua, LAR
You could say this was a homer pick, but both Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua were available until JSN went fourth overall. Drafting a staple in the Rams offense is a no-brainer, especially after catching 129 receptions, for 1,715 receiving yards, and 11 total touchdowns. I expect Nacua to match those statistics, as long as Matthew Stafford stays healthy.
2.08
RB Omarion Hampton, LAC
Drafting a running back in the second round with game-breaking potential is what I was looking for, and I have that with Omarion Hampton. The Chargers completely revamped the offensive line by signing center Tyler Biadasz and re-signing fullback Alec Ingold. Hampton should easily eclipse 1,000 yards this season, and I could even see him scoring over 10 touchdowns, to go with it.
3.05
RB Chase Brown, CIN
With quarterback Joe Burrow injured most of the year, last year, Chase Brown decided to take that workload and run with it. That led to Brown racking up 1,456 total yards, with 11 total touchdowns to go with it. If Brown can exceed those numbers with Burrow back this year, you could be looking at one of the biggest steals in this draft.
4.08
WR A.J. Brown, PHI/TBD
When I got to this point of the draft, I had to come up with a strategy and a backup plan as well. So drafting a player like A.J. Brown at this point in the draft could either work out or backfire. If Brown is traded to the Patriots, I’ll have the clear alpha in New England, with a great quarterback like Drake Maye. That would lead to him scoring more than 11 touchdowns this year, where, if he isn’t traded, he’ll score his usual seven.
5.05
RB D’Andre Swift, CHI
What was a big steal for me last year, for many fantasy football leagues, now comes with a cost this year. When I looked at the players left, no one intrigued me other than D’Andre Swift. If I can get over 1,000 total yards and 11 touchdowns in a pass-happy offense again, Swift should be the anchor in Ben Johnson’s offense again.
6.08
QB Matthew Stafford, LAR
At this point in the draft, it was time to draft someone who is reliable, and that’s the reigning 2025 MVP, Matthew Stafford. Stafford had an amazing season, which could have ended with a Super Bowl win, outside of a muffed punt. Pairing Stafford with Nacua gives me a shot at 4,000 yards passing with 35-plus touchdowns, easily.
7.05
WR Michael Wilson, ARI
Here’s the point of the draft where I simply become chaotic, by sniping some of the better wide receivers left, since I went running back heavy at first. Michael Wilson showed that he isn’t in Marvin Harrison Jr’s shadow last year, by lighting up the fantasy football playoffs. With the Cardinals adding players like Jeremiyah Love and James Conner coming back from injury, it only solidifies my theory that Wilson is going to have a breakout year this year.
8.08
WR Michael Pittman, PIT
Since I wasn’t going to pay up for D.K. Metcalf, Michael Pittman became a late-round priority for me. With Aaron Rodgers resigning with the Steelers, Pittman is the perfect route-running receiver, as he wasn’t last year. Look for all of those routes that Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington ran last year to become Pittman’s. That means you’re looking at around 88 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns to go with it.
9.05
WR Khalil Shakir, BUF
When I said I like to break drafts, it happened here, with the selection of Khalil Shakir. Everyone “thinks” that DJ Moore is now the number one in Buffalo, and they’re sorely wrong. Outside of James Cook, Josh Allen only trusts Shakir, which means my team now has a player I can count on all year, this year. However, Shakir will need more than four touchdowns this year if we’re going to consider him a sleeper.
10.08
WR Romeo Doubs, NE
So here’s the backup plan I was talking about earlier, in my A.J. Brown section. If Brown isn’t traded, Doubs will step into a huge role, which is why he wanted to leave Green Bay. That would make this selection a draft-breaking one. However, if Brown is traded to New England, it makes it just a pick, and will thus give me a handcuff as well. I do see Doubs still getting six touchdowns, but you could see his reception total dip below 50.
11.05
TE Juwan Johnson, NO
Juwan Johnson was one of my steals last year that helped me win my hometown league championship. Johnson was targeted 102 times last year, which turned into 77 receptions and three touchdowns. I’m fine with Johnson being my number one tight end, and you should be too, if we can get those numbers again, with more touchdowns. Don’t sleep on Johnson this year, or you’ll regret it when he bounces your team from the playoffs.
12.08
RB Jonathon Brooks, CAR
Here’s a true swing for the fence, as I decided to pull the trigger on Jonathon Brooks. With the departure of Rico Dowdle, it’s clear that the Panthers have a game plan for Brooks if he can stay healthy. For me, I needed a running back at this point, and I’ve never been a Chuba Hubbard believer. Hubbard also has missed six games in the past two years, averaging three a year. Hubbard also looked terrible by recording fewer than 600 rushing yards in 2025 and scoring seven fewer touchdowns in the process. Brooks will be the starting running back for the Panthers soon enough, making this the steal of the century, if it works out.
13.05
QB Baker Mayfield, TB
I’m a firm believer in having two competent quarterbacks, no matter the cost. However, when you can select someone like Baker Mayfield, this late in the draft, you do it. Even with Mike Evans departure, Mayfield’s numbers could get even better this year. With the addition of Ted Hurst, Emeka Ebuka’s ability, and Chris Godwin’s leadership, Mayfield should be able to throw more than 30 touchdowns this season.
14.08
RB Alvin Kamara, NO
As you can see, I wanted to add a little more running back depth at this point of the draft, and it’s hard to turn down Alvin Kamara, who seems to be an afterthought at this point. Kamara is coming off one of his worst seasons ever, and it’s almost like a trade is needed to put him out of his misery in New Orleans. However, I’m not impressed with the Saints other running backs, and I drafted Kamara in hopes that he can be electric for the first five weeks of the year, before he mentally checks out. If Kamara stays healthy and is productive this season, you could see him score more than six touchdowns, and he is a bargain in the 14th round.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on DrRoto.com —
Here is a look at some other great Articles: The Big Lead
