Fantasy owners should always enjoy having a pick in the back half of 12-team drafts. Depending on your league, an elite running back or receiver will fall to you at pick No. 8, depending on the current hot draft strategy. It’s important to not overreact to the draft board and let the best player available come to you rather than worry about certain positions flying off the board.
Read more: “How to draft” from the… 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 spot
Here’s how I attacked the Roto Street Journal 12-team mock draft with Half-PPR scoring (QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, and FLEX) from the 8 spot:
1.8: Bijan Robinson, RB, ATL
2.5: Tony Pollard, RB, DAL
3.8: Calvin Ridley, WR, JAX
4.5: Justin Herbert, QB, LAC
5.8: Jerry Jeudy, WR, DEN
6.5: James Cook, RB, BUF
7.8: Jordan Addison, WR, MIN
8.5: Quentin Johnston, WR, LAC
9.8: Pat Freiermuth, TE, PIT
10.5: Allen Lazard, WR, NYJ
11.8: Kendre Miller, RB, NO
12.5: Kareem Hunt, RB, FA
13.8: Jalin Hyatt, WR, NYG
14.5: Gerald Everett, TE, LAC
EARLY ROUNDS
With everyone on the pass-catcher train this season, I knew I would likely have an elite workhorse waiting for me at pick No. 8.
With five pass-catchers off the board, I felt very comfortable taking Bijan Robinson, the rookie generational talent, out of the Falcons backfield. Running behind one of the top offensive lines in the league, Robinson is a true three-down back with overall RB1 upside. I see the concerns regarding Arthur Smith’s approach, but I trust the talent and the draft capital to build my team around the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson.
Cowboys’ workhorse Tony Pollard fell into my lap after another six receivers went off the board before the 2.5. I was eyeing Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.2) and Garrett Wilson (2.3), but they both went a few picks before me. I decided to switch up my draft strategy by going RB-RB to start. If Pollard were unavailable, I likely would’ve drafted Jaylen Waddle or Chris Olave.
After going RB-RB, I needed a receiver, and my boy Calvin Ridley was waiting for me. I felt more than comfortable with the Jaguars WR1 as my WR1. I think the league felt a significant WR tier drop after Ridley because another wideout was not selected for eight more picks until Deebo Samuel at 4.4. Ridley has his question marks, yet his play in camp has mesmerized beat writers, and the talent is undeniable.
Justin Herbert, who I believe has overall QB1 upside, was available in the middle of round four. With a significant upgrade at offensive coordinator, a bevy of weapons to choose from, and rushing upside (8 rushing TDs the last two seasons), Herbert can enter the elite echelon of fantasy quarterbacks. Sign me up.
I rounded out my strong early rounds with two risky picks. Because we were idiots and did a slow draft, I drafted Jerry Jeudy the day before his significant hamstring injury. Obviously, I wouldn’t have drafted Jeudy if I had a crystal ball, and I would have targeted Brandon Aiyuk or Mike Williams to solidify my WR2 spot.
But it is what it is.
Next, I secured the Bills’ RB1 in James Cook. To be honest, this makes the RB-RB start even better because Cook is my RB3 and he can start in my FLEX. Cook dominated Bills’ camp and has a three-down role on lock. Sure, he may lose some goal-line touches to Damien Harris, but his pass-catching upside can make up for the potential low touchdown numbers.
Outside of Jeudy, I love this start.
MIDDLE ROUNDS
I went back-to-back high-upside rookie receivers in the seventh and eighth rounds.
You won’t find anyone higher than me on Jordan Addison, who will absolutely feast across from Justin Jefferson. Addison is an elite route-runner with soft hands and enters a receiver room begging for a playmaking WR2 with 199 available targets (31%) and 1,163 available air yards (24.1%). The former Biletnikoff Award winner developed a quick rapport with Kirk Cousins, and he’s my dark horse to win OROY.
I wanted a piece of the Chargers’ offense to pair with Herbert, and Quentin Johnston was there for the choosing. Do I love QJ as a player? Not really. But, he’ll be the WR3/WR4 in this electric offense and we all know about Keenan Allen and Mike Williams’ durability throughout a 17-game schedule. Johnston will get his chance to shine at some point this season. Looking at the draft board, Brandin Cooks or Michael Thomas could’ve brought more stability to my receiver room.
Next, I rounded out my starting lineup with Pat Freiermuth, one of The Wolf’s favorite late-round tight ends. Going over three rounds after Kyle Pitts, I feel very good about my new starting tight end, especially with Kenny Pickett leveling up this off-season. Expect the Steelers’ passing game to take a leap this year.
I added a veteran to my receiver room through Allen Lazard to finish the middle rounds. I really don’t like Lazard at all as a player, but if Aaron Rodgers forced the Jets to sign him, I’m cool with him as my potential WR3, WR4, or WR5. Garrett Wilson will command a lot of eyes from opposing secondaries, and Lazard is a reliable red-zone target for Rodgers.
LATE ROUNDS
I finished the draft with a few low-floor, high-ceiling selections.
Kendre Miller will get a chance to make an early impression with Alvin Kamara suspended for the first three games and only has to beat out the plodding Jamaal Williams for Saints RB2 duties once Kamara returns.
There’s no way Kareem Hunt, who is still only 28 with limited mileage on his legs, will not be signed this season, right? He will likely make his way onto a team once an injury happens over the first few weeks. Out of the eight running backs that were taken after Hunt, I don’t see any that I truly “missed” on, outside of maybe Jeff Wilson Jr.
I have decided to leave every draft with Jalin Hyatt. I needed a piece of the Giants offense, and after missing out on Darren Waller, the 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner will have to do. Hyatt is Will Fuller 2.0, and although he’ll be extremely frustrating to start or rely on, he can give you random blow-up days if the matchup is right. I expect him to have a major second half once he settles into his role.
I rounded out my draft with my favorite TE2, Gerald Everett. The Chargers’ TE1 has his role, and he excels in it. Everett saw 87 targets last year and had career-highs in receptions (58), yards (555), and touchdowns (4). His target share will not be ideal, but he will give you a consistent 7-12 points when called upon.
Overall, I’m very happy with my draft, and if you follow this blueprint by taking what the draft board gives you, you will have a very solid squad that will compete for a championship. Don’t overreact, and let the value fall to you.
You can find the link to the draft board here.
