Monday Mini-Mock: PPR probing
So here's how this works. Each Monday, the Yahoo fantasy crew jumps on a conference call to discuss the week that was/will be. As part of this process, we've decided to include a short mock draft - roughly, one-eighth the size of a normal draft, I shall call it mini mock. This week's mini mock draft (10 rounds) is a study in PPR values at the wide receiver and tight end positions (don't worry, we'll address running backs soon). We've asked our Yahoo experts to each draft six WRs, three TEs and one Flex (WR/TE), using Point Per Reception scoring as the basis for this exercise. Here's how it turned out:
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Round 1 Pick 1 — Calvin Johnson, WR, DET (Scott Pianowski)
Pianowman says – Thought about Graham for a second for this jumbo-sized TE league, but Megatron's floor pushed me that way.
Round 1 Pick 2 — Jimmy Graham, TE, NO (Brandon Funston)
Funston says – In this must-draft three TE setting, Top Jimmy's likely 90/1200/12 line is close to a no brainer (only Demaryius Thomas gave me cause for pause).
Round 1 Pick 3 — Dez Bryant, WR, DAL (Dalton Del Don)
3D says – With a poor defense and in that division, Dallas is going to throw a ton this season. Bryant is going to be a monster.
Round 1 Pick 4 — Brandon Marshall, WR, CHI (Brad Evans)
Noise says – Cutler has tunnel vision for Marshall. Throw in a still-bad Bears D and he's sure to log his sixth 100-catch season in eight years.
Round 1 Pick 5 — Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN (Andy Behrens)
Behrens says – Nothing surprising here, or with my next pick. Thomas is a beast of a receiver, tied to a QB coming off an all-time season.
Round 2 Pick 1 — A.J. Green, WR, CIN (Behrens)
Behrens says – It won't matter what happens to the run/pass balance in Cincinnati, as far as Green's value is concerned. He's an uncoverable monster.
Round 2 Pick 2 — Julius Thomas, TE, DEN (Evans)
Noise says – He may not get Jimmy cash, but he'll likely be leaned on more inside the red-zone sans Decker. Fearless forecast: 75-850-12.
Round 2 Pick 3 — Julio Jones, WR, ATL (Del Don)
3D says – The foot injury is a concern, but Jones was on pace to record 131 catches with 1,856 receiving yards before going down last season.
Round 2 Pick 4 — Antonio Brown, WR, PIT (Funston)
Funston says – He was seventh in PPR scoring last season (110 catches) and, with Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery gone, there's more of the passing game pie available for Brown in '14.
Round 2 Pick 5 — Jordy Nelson, WR, GB (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – Brown was my pick in this PPR format, but Nelson's setup is easy to love. Health is the only concern.
Round 3 Pick 1 — Alshon Jeffery, WR, CHI (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – The Bears were the ultimate fantasy carnival last year: solid QB, genius HC, no defense, thin passing tree. Repeat until rich.
Round 3 Pick 2 — Randall Cobb, WR, GB (Funston)
Funston says – In this must-draft three TE setting, Top Jimmy's likely 90/1200/12 line is close to a no brainer (only Demaryius Thomas was cause for pause)
Round 3 Pick 3 — Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE (Del Don)
3D says – Sure, Gronk is a real injury risk, but he'd otherwise be a first round fantasy pick. He's scored 42 TDs in 50 career games.
Round 3 Pick 4 — Keenan Allen, WR, SDG (Evans)
Noise says – Absolutely brilliant in his rookie campaign, he will be the primary weapon of choice for Rivers. Sophomore slump be damned, I'm counting on 85-plus receptions.
Round 3 Pick 5 — Jordan Cameron, TE, CLE (Behrens)
Behrens says – Cameron is the No. 2 tight end on my board. He's a massively talented player in a contract year, and clearly the top option in his team's passing game.
Round 4 Pick 1 — Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI (Behrens)
Behrens says – Fitz is a Hall of Fame talent coming off an 82-catch, 10-touchdown season, entering his second year under Bruce Arians. It was him or Wes or Roddy on my short list.
Round 4 Pick 2 — Wes Welker, WR, DEN (Evans)
Noise says – Injury reduced his overall worth last year, but on a per game basis in PPR he finished No. 14. More of the same in high-powered DEN offense.
Round 4 Pick 3 — Michael Crabtree, WR, SF (Del Don)
3D says – Finally back to 100 percent and in an offense that projects to throw more this year, Crabtree could easily flirt with WR1 type fantasy status.
Round 4 Pick 4 — Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS (Funston)
Funston says – Happy to take the receiver with the most targets (182) and receptions (113) in '13 as the No. 15 WR off the board in this PPR draft. DeSean Jackson's presence should only help open things up for Garcon.
Round 4 Pick 5 — Vernon Davis, TE, SF (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – Not a specific fit for the format, but he's a matchup freak who rarely misses games (unlike so many of his TE counterparts).
Round 5 Pick 1 — Victor Cruz, WR, NYG (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – When it comes to the great NYG Train Wreck of 2013, I blame it on the departed (Gilbride, Nicks) more than Manning or Cruz. Feed the slot machine.
Round 5 Pick 2 — Roddy White, WR, ATL (Funston)
Funston says – I made my case for a Roddy rebound here, but worth a reminder that he finished '13 season on a healthy note, as in 43 catches in the final five games of the season (only Julian Edelman had more at the WR position).
Round 5 Pick 3 — Andre Johnson, WR, HOU (Del Don)
3D says – He's averaged 110.5 receptions and 1,503 yards over the past two seasons. Maybe the new regime in Houston (where I expect him to be back) will throw to him more in the RZ.
Round 5 Pick 4 — Percy Harvin, WR, SEA (Evans)
Noise says – Health is always a concern, but, as previewed in the Super Bowl, he should be heavily utilized -- 90-plus catches aren't out of the question.
Round 5 Pick 5 — Vincent Jackson, WR, TB (Behrens)
Behrens says – OK, so he hasn't been a PPR machine. But V-Jax still saw double-digit targets nine different times last season and finished with 1,224 yards.
Round 6 Pick 1 — Kendall Wright, WR, TEN
(Behrens)
Behrens says – Wright is a clear threat for 95 to 105 catches, a high-volume wideout in a less-than-loaded offense. In this format, he's worth a slight reach.
Round 6 Pick 2 — Brandin Cooks, WR, NO (Evans)
Noise says – Nicknamed "Lightning" by Saints players, the multi-purpose tool is blazing fast, ultra-versatile and primed to contribute big PPR numbers right away.
Round 6 Pick 3 — Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, MIN (Del Don)
3D says – Should improve as a route runner in Year 2, and the upside is through the roof. The rushing attempts really help.
Round 6 Pick 4 — Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI (Funston)
Funston says – Reportedly now looks 100 percent after ACL injury last July. He's the clear go-to target in an offense that should challenge for the most offensive snaps in the NFL. And free agency looming at the end of the season provides plenty of incentive.
Round 6 Pick 5 — Greg Olsen, TE, CAR (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – The only plus target Cam Newton has to work with; 1659 yards over the last two years.
Round 7 Pick 1 — Julian Edelman, WR, NE (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – Yeah, he's ordinary in real football. Fantasy isn't real football. And PPR is Edelman's middle name - in truth, he's the poster child against the format.
Round 7 Pick 2 — Jason Witten, TE, DAL (Funston)
Funston says – Need a TE, so with five off the board already, I'll take the guy that hasn't finished outside the top 6 among TEs in PPR scoring in any of the past seven seasons.
Round 7 Pick 3 — Michael Floyd, WR, ARI (Del Don)
3D says – He broke out last year and should be even better during his third season in the league. I actually have Floyd ahead of Fitzgerald on my WR ranks.
Round 7 Pick 4 — Jordan Reed, TE, WAS (Evans)
Noise says – His scrambled head enhances the risk, but his role is expected to grow significantly in what should be a pass-heavy WASH attack. A dice roll worth taking.
Round 7 Pick 5 — Torrey Smith, WR, BAL (Behrens)
Behrens says – Torrey is developing into more than a vertical threat. He saw 139 targets last season, catching 65 for 1,128 yards. This year's offense will be better.
Round 8 Pick 1 — DeSean Jackson, WR, WAS (Behrens)
Behrens says – Another guy who doesn't perfectly fit the PPR format, but he has big-play ability and a chip-on-shoulder mindset. D-Jax should thrive in DC.
Round 8 Pick 2 — Terrance Williams, WR, DAL (Evans)
Noise says – Grade A breakout candidate. Dallas D will again be god-awful and attention lured by Dez/Witten should gift Williams tons of single coverage opportunities.
Round 8 Pick 3 — T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND (Del Don)
3D says – Hilton had 28 catches and 482 receiving yards over the final three games last season (including playoffs) and could emerge as Indy's No. 1 target.
Round 8 Pick 4 — Mike Wallace, WR, MIA (Funston)
Funston says – He's averaged 70 catches over the past three seasons, so he's not completely a one-trick (go deep) pony. And, as with Maclin, I like him being the top target in a Chip Kelly-influenced offensive system.
Round 8 Pick 5 — Dennis Pitta, TE, BAL (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – A profit if he makes it back to 2012 levels, and he still has some upside, too.
Round 9 Pick 1 — Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – I know the BSOHL meme generates many eye rolls, but I'd rather read that than the opposite. And maybe he'll be a better fit for Reid 2, Electric Boogaloo.
Round 9 Pick 2 — Marques Colston, WR, NO (Funston)
Funston says – Says he is no longer dealing with foot issues. And if that's the case, no reason not to expect his usual 80-plus catches, 1,100 yards and 7-10 TDs. At this point (after Dwayne Bowe!), it's an easy bet to make.
Round 9 Pick 3 — Zach Ertz, TE, PHI (Del Don)
3D says – In a Chip Kelly offense that lost DeSean Jackson, Ertz is primed for a huge breakout this season.
Round 9 Pick 4 — Kyle Rudolph, TE, MIN (Evans)
Noise says – The Red-Zone Reindeer could gift good little fantasy girls and boys with a top-five TE line. Norv Turner's offense and possible rookie QB could create a productive environment.
Round 9 Pick 5 — Martellus Bennett, TE, CHI (Behrens)
Behrens says – Bennett was at his best with Cutler behind center last season. Four guys will handle all the heavy lifting in this receiving corps, and he's one of 'em.
Round 10 Pick 1 — Charles Clay, TE, MIA (Behrens)
Behrens says – There was almost no way I could avoid getting three very good TEs here, in a five-man mock. Clay was the best thing about Miami's offense in 2013.
Round 10 Pick 2 — Golden Tate, WR, DET (Evans)
Noise says – One of the most physical after-the-catch receivers in the league, he has the potential to flourish in the air-centric, Saints-styled Detroit offense.
Round 10 Pick 3 — Ladarius Green, TE, SDG (Del Don)
3D says – An athletic freak, Green could easily be a top-10 fantasy tight end should San Diego give him the opportunity. Gates looks just about done.
Round 10 Pick 4 — Delanie Walker, TE, TEN (Funston)
Funston says – As he did when he took Cordarrelle Patterson just a pick before me earlier, Del Don stuck it to me again by nabbing Ladarius Green, forcing me to settle on Walker for my final TE. But Walker's not a bad consolation in an offense that is likely to feature him even moreso than his breakout season of a year ago.
Round 10 Pick 5 — Reggie Wayne, WR, IND (Pianowski)
Pianowman says – Ancient, coming off a major injury, lots of competition, I get it. But he might have one more 80-catch season left in him.