Fantasy Football: Mock Draft 2012 Vol. I (Pre-Season)

By Muntradamus

 

BEAST DOME NATION.

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This will be a 12 Team Mock Draft. Before I get into the Draft Strategy which will be featured in another article. I want to mention that it is VITAL to try to get Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, or Drew Brees on your Fantasy Football team. The only players who have the Hall pass in my eyes are (Arian Foster, LeSean McCoy, Calvin Johnson.) If you can have three of the Leading Point Scorers in the NFL (Brady, Rodgers, Brees.) Then why pass on them? I will cover this topic more as we get closer to Draft Day.

To see all my Pre-Season Rankings.  Click the #RANKINGS.

12 TEAM – Starting Lineup (QB/RBx2/WRx2/FLEX/TE/K/D)

 

ROUND 1

 

TEAM 1 – Team Brady Bunch

TOM BRADY – QB – NE

Yes, I am very confident you should take Tom Brady #1. The point of Fantasy Football is to have the most points, and Tom Brady should have the most points after all the weapons the Patriots have added.  If you want to read more on my stance with Brady click this link. But here is the strategy.  If you do not take Brady, chances are Michael Vick may be your best QB option coming back, and that is just a maybe.  I would rather guarntee the top point scorer, and then hope some of my other picks turned out to be Studs.  Guaranteed championship.  If you want to read why I would even prefer Tom Brady as the #1 QB, read this article.

 

TEAM 2- Team Godgers

AARON RODGERS – QB – GB

You could make the same case for Arian Foster and guaranteeing the #1 Fantasy RB.  But I would rather guarntee the #2 and possibly #1 scorer in Aaron Rodgers.  Arian Foster does sound good on paper, but Ben Tate is a legitimate threat to eat into his stats.  That with Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub at 100% could lead to some games where Arian is more of an effective decoy than anything.  You will be happy to be getting legendary performances from Rodgers instead.

 

TEAM 3 – Team Foster on the cake.

ARIAN FOSTER – RB – TEX

It may be wise to take the 3rd ELITE QB, but Drew Brees does come with a little bit of concern with the Saints in complete disarray right now.  I would rather have the best ELITE RB, and hope that Matt Stafford or possibly Cam Newton fall my way.

 

TEAM 4 – Team Shady McCoy

LESEAN MCCOY – RB – PHI

LeSean could be more than Dangerous this season if Michael Vick is on his game.  Which there should be no doubt he will be back to his vintage self.  The Eagles do have a tough schedule, but McCoy is the type of RB that can score from anywhere on the field, and he catches the ball with the best of the RBs in the league.  Do not pass of LeSean if you are in this situation.

 

TEAM 5 – Team MegaTron

CALVIN JOHNSON – WR – DET

If you draft Calvin Johnson, you better hope to your future with this team for 17 Weeks that you have the STAR QB who is throwing all your passes to this man.  I think it is vital to get the star QB of your star WR, if the star QB is ranked in the top 5.  That is this situation right here.  Roll the dice and hope that it all works out, as Calvin is in a league of his own at this position.

 

TEAM 6 – Team Breezy

DREW BREES – QB – NO

Nothing wrong with getting a star QB who could throw for over 5,000 Yards and 50 TDs.  Especially when the defense of the Saints is only getting worst with all of these bounty penalties.  The Saints will be forced to be throwing the football all season, which they already have no problem doing.

 

TEAM 7 – Team Run DMC

DARREN MCFADDEN – RB – OAK

You may think this pick is way too early, but I would much rather have Darren McFadden and his cupcake schedule when you compare it to the daunting schedule Ray Rice has to go through.  I would rather have McFadden than Maurice Jones-Drew as he is clearly unhappy with his situation on the last place Jaguars.  I would rather have McFadden than Chris Johnson who should be a lot better this season, but still McFadden is a very dangerous Fantasy Football player, and the only reason this pick is in question.  Is his injury history.  If he stays healthy, he is a lock for top 3 at this position.

 

TEAM 8 – Team CJ1.047K

CHRIS JOHNSON – RB – TEN

Read what I have to say about McFadden, and you will see why I went with Chris Johnson over Rice and MJD.  Last season there was a lockout, and Chris Johnson was on a lockout with his contract dispute.  He came into the season out of shape, and with no chemistry with the O-line.  He started to look a little better in the second half of the season, but you know he will be determined to get back to ELITE form.  I see him returning to that state.

 

TEAM 9 – Team Ray Rice

RAY RICE – RB – BAL

Little Ray is one of the best RB’s in the game because he is essentially the Ravens everything.  Their best RB and way of moving the ball, and their best WR after the catch.  The Ravens have a very tough schedule this season, but you have to hope that if the Ravens do anything this season.  It is Ray Rice who is racking up all the fantasy points.  Last season I took Ray Rice #1 in my Fantasy Football draft because of the easy schedule and no Willis McGahee to steal the goal-line TDs.  This season the schedule went from easiest, to possibly toughest in the league.

 

TEAM 10 – Team MJD

MAURICE JONES – DREW – RB – JAX

Despite being on the worst team in the NFL with no other offensive weapons.  MJD was still the leading rusher in the game for the 2012 season.  Hopefully the contract dispute gets figured out soon so Jones-Drew does not pull a CJ1.047k on us.

 

TEAM 11 – Team Stafford

MATTHEW STAFFORD – QB – DET

Stafford throws the Football better than most of us can throw a baseball.  That may not be saying much, but essentially he makes it easy.  Him and Calvin Johnson are only getting better, which makes me believe Matt Stafford’s upside in an offense that throws the ball 40+ Times with consistency is the safe choice.

 

TEAM 12 – Team Matthews

RYAN MATTHEWS – RB – SD

Chances are, you will not see a quality Elite RB like Matthews if you wait for it to snake back.  I will take Ryan, and know that an injury is the only thing holding him back from a lock of the top 10 at the position.  With no Mike Tolbert or Vincent Jackson, the offense is turning into a run 1st type of team, with no other goal-line threat.

 

ROUND 2

TEAM 12 – Team Matthews

CAM NEWTON – QB – CAR

If you have the chance to grab Cam Newton, you are probably getting one of the most exciting QBs in the game.  His running yards make him unstoppable, and if he can continue to improve as a QB, you are getting ELITE value if you get anywhere after the 1st round.

 

TEAM 11 – Team Staff

ANDRE JOHNSON – WR – TEX

You missed out on your Ryan Matthews, but you are still happy you have Stafford.  The best thing to do in this situation, is take the best player off the board.  In my mind, I would rather have Andre Johnson than Brandon Marshall.  Andre is a STUD and was the #1 Fantasy WR going into last season.  Brandon Marshall should also be great, but Johnson seems to be the guy who should be on track.  Plus the Texans have the easiest schedule in the NFL, especially their playoff schedule.

 

TEAM 10 – Team MJD

BRANDON MARSHALL – WR – CHI

You could take Matt Forte here, but I would rather have Brandon Marshall as Forte does not have to deal with Michael Bush stealing some of the production.  With Brandon Marshall paired back together with Jay Cutler, I see a fantastic season where Marshall reclaims his glory days.

 

TEAM 9 – Team Ray Rice

MATT FORTE – RB – CHI

The number of great RBs is starting to dwindle down.  Grabbing Matt Forte is great in this position if it is a PPR league.  Despite the fact that Michael Bush is now with the Bears, and Marshall brings more of  a passing style of offense to the team.  Matt Forte may finally have some running wholes in terrible Bears O-Line.  Injuries are a concern, but it is worth the risk.

 

TEAM 8 – Team CJ1.047k

MARSHAWN LYNCH – RB – SEA

BEAST MODE, not to be confused with BEAST DOME. Is the best option in this scenario.  You have a RB that could potentially rush for over 1,300 Yards and 12+ TDs.  He was unstoppable last season, and you have to think the addition of Matt Flynn will only make that offense better.  Getting him this late is the best Steal you could ask for.  He will still be great in PPR leagues despite not catching the ball.

 

TEAM 7 – Team RUN DMC

FRED JACKSON – RB – BUF

 

Jackson was possibly the best RB in the game last season before missing the last 6 weeks of the season.  He is healthy, and the Bills are hungry.  They signed Mario Williams which shows they are going to attempt to be a winning football team, and that all starts with Fred Jackson running the show for the Bills.  Pairing him up with DMC gives you two ELITE RB’s.

 

TEAM 6 – Team Breezy

JIMMY GRAHAM – TE – NO

You have Drew Brees, and the other RB’s at this point do not get you too excited.  Why not grab possibly the best TE in the game, and possibly the #1 Target on the Saints.  Jimmy Graham may not be Rob Gronkowski, but he does not have 5 other guys to compete with for consistent targets.

 

TEAM 5 – Team Megatron

MICHAEL VICK

Well you did not end up with Matt Stafford like you hoped for.  But last season if you went into the league with a QB/WR combo of Michael Vick and Calvin Johnson, chances are you would be ready to dominate your league.  With Vick motivated for a big season, and MegaTron always ready to take his game to the next level.  This is a great upside pick.

 

TEAM 4 – Team Shady McCoy

ROB GRONKOWSKI – TE – NE

 

Gronkowski and McCoy have a very dangerous/team I would never want to face ring to it.  Gronk is a man child and he could literally be the highest scoring position player.  The Patriots did add a lot of weapons which could hurt his consistency, but he could also be more wide open which makes him an ELITE threat.  Him and Shady is a great COMBO!

 

TEAM 3 – Team Foster on the Cake

AHMAD BRADSHAW – RB – NYG

 

Reaching for a QB at this point does not seem to be worth it.  Plus you already know the teams in front of you will not be taking a QB as they already have Brady and Rodgers.  With no more Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw has no excuse not be a top 15 RB.  He is a little bit brittle, but his best games of the season last year occured when Brandon Jacobs was injured.  Finally the goal-line will be all his.

 

TEAM 2 – Team Godgers

GREG JENNINGS – WR – GB

I love taking combos, and this is a combo I just cannot resist.  Jennings is the most proven WR on the Packers, and now that he is healthy he should be instore for a giant season.  I would take this pick and hope to be able to get Jordy Nelson to complete this package.

 

TEAM 1 – Team Brady Bunch

WES WELKER – NE – WR

Wes and the Patriots will figure out the contract dispute, and then Welker will lead your combo package of having him and Tom Brady.  That duel is lethal in PPR leagues, and I would do my best to make that happen.  Nothing worse than seeing Welker have such a huge game and you played against him, while you had Brady and a WR who under performed.  Brady will be consistently great all season long.

 

Round 3

 

TEAM 1 – Team Brady Bunch

AARON HERNANDEZ – NE – TE

 

You now have Brady, Welker, so why not complete the trio and grab Aaron Hernandez.  With those three, you will have the potential for a lot of MONSTER WEEKS.  You could easily be the highest scoring team of your league for the week if Brady goes 400 Yards with 4 TDs.  Chances are your guys will grab three of them.  Aaron Hernandez was also the top Fantasy TE before injuring his leg and missing a few games before Gronk took over as the man.  He could reclaim his fame.

 

TEAM 2 – Team Godgers

JORDY NELSON – WR – GB

 

So you have Greg Jennings, and you have Aaron Rodgers.  The only thing in this situation to do is draft…Jordy Nelson.  Now you have a great Trio, and it is very possible to get Finley coming back.  Remember, you go big or you go home in Fantasy Football.  Gambling on Aaron Rodgers having an Elite season seems to be safe, so you might as well take the guys who will get his points.

 

TEAM 3 – Team Foster on the Cake

MARQUES COLSTON – WR – NO

With no more Robert Meachem, and Tony Romo/Eli Manning/Matt Ryan all in the same category in my eyes.  I will reach for Marques Colston to have a big season on a Saints team with no defense.  Colston will get a lot of garbage yards, and this should finally be the season he cracks the top 5 at his position.  With Foster and Bradshaw already on my roster, grabbing Colston seems like the perfect plan.

 

TEAM 4 – Team Shady McCoy

VICTOR CRUZ – WR- NYG

Hakeem Nicks is missing a lot of precious chemistry time with Eli Manning.  Essentially all of that precious time is going to Victor Cruz who should be ready for a Full Season of Break Out Performances.  Hakeem Nicks will be ready by Week 1, but Victor Cruz will be the #1 WR in that tandem.  McCoy/Gronkowski/Cruz.  That is a dangerous team.

 

TEAM 5 – Team MegaTron

STEVE SMITH – WR – CAR

 

You might as well grab the ELITE WR’s while they are still on the board instead of the questionable RB’s.  Steve Smith is the #1 WR for a top 5 QB in Cam Newton.  Cam is only going to get better, which should lead to Steve Smith only being more important to that offense.  A team with C.Johnson/Vick/S.Smith looks to be a very dangerous high scoring team all season long.

 

TEAM 6 – Team Breezy

RODDY WHITE – WR – ATL

So you missed out of Marques Colston, and you already stuck with the combo of Jimmy Graham and Drew Brees.  You could grab Adrian Peterson here which would be interesting, but I would rather grab the guy who has had 100+ Catches and one of the league leaders in targets every season, Roddy White.  You do not get more solid than Roddy, and the last thing you want is to be stuck with a bad WR’s.

 

TEAM 7 – Team Run DMC

LARRY FITZGERALD – WR – ARI

 

With Fred Jackson and Darren McFadden on your team, it is important to grab a WR who could make a difference.  Larry Fitzgerald is easily that guy as he probably be the #1 WR on this list if he had a legitamate QB.  Fitz will be a BEAST this season, and you would be off your game if you let a talent like this slip.

 

TEAM 8 – Team CJ1.047K

JULIO JONES – WR – ATL

 

With already having Chris Johnson and Marshawn Lynch.  You are going to need a play-maker who could have those monster weeks.  Instead of drafting a QB as you could take the chance to wait, I would grab what could be a top 5 WR in Julio Jones.  Jones was EXPLOSIVE to close out the season, and he should only get better with his first full Training Camp.  A lot of big scoring guys on this team.

 

TEAM 9 – Team Ray Rice

A.J. GREEN – WR – CIN

 

Rice and Forte are two solid RB’s to build a foundation off of.  You could grab a QB here, but chances are you will get the guy want if you wait for it to snake back to you.  A.J. Green will be force fed the ball all season long, and despite the tough schedule that is a situation I would want for my #1 WR.  Green will have some big games, and he Dalton will improve after a full season together for the first time, and now Training Camp.

 

TEAM 10 – Team MJD

ADRIAN PETERSON – RB – MIN

 

With Brandon Marshall and MJD as your two stars, you are going to need another RB as the field is really getting slim.  Adrian Peterson is the type of player that could play like a 1st round pick, but he could also be a Bust.  I would not be super excited about this pick, but I would make it anyways with the upside of having by far the best RB on the board.

 

TEAM 11 – Team Staff

STEVE JACKSON – RB – STL

RB’s are key once again as the field is getting slim.  Going with Andre Johnson and Stafford has still left me with the chance of getting a great RB.  I will accept Steven Jackson with the chance of being very good if Sam Bradford can get it going on offense in his 3rd season.

 

TEAM 12 – Team Matthews

SHNON GREENE – RB – NYJ

 

So you have Matthews and Cam.  Steve Smith is no longer on the board, and chances are you will be without a top RB if you do not take one now.  Greene should have a great season similar to what Willis McGahee was able to do when Tim Tebow took over.  The lack of 3rd down does hurt, but Greene will be looked upon to move the ball all season.

 

Round 4/5  with all team analysis will come out soon.

Team Recap, thus far.

Team 1: Brady Bunch
QB. TOM BRADY
WR. WES WELKER
TE. AARON HERNANDEZ

Team 2: Godgers
QB. AARON RODGERS
WR. GREG JENNINGS
WR. JORDY NELSON

Team 3: Foster on the Cake
RB. ARIAN FOSTER
RB. AHMAD BRADSHAW
WR. MARQUES COLSTON

Team 4: Shady McCoy
RB. LESEAN MCCOY
TE. ROB GRONKOWSKI
WR. VICTOR CRUZ

Team 5: MegaTron
WR. CALVIN JOHNSON
QB. MICHAEL VICK
WR. STEVE SMITH

Team 6: Breezy
QB. DREW BREES
TE. JIMMY GRAHAM
WR. RODDY WHITE

Team 7: Run DMC
RB. DARREN MCFADDEN
RB. STEVEN JACKSON
WR. FITZGERALD

TEAM 8: CJ1.047K
RB. CHRIS JOHNSON
RB. MARSHAWN LYNCH
WR. JULIO JONES

TEAM 9: Team Ray Rice
RB. RAY RICE
RB. MATT FORTE
WR. A.J. GREEN

TEAM 10: Team MJD
RB. MAURICE JONES-DREW
WR. BRANDON MARSHALL
RB. ADRIAN PETERSON

TEAM 11: Team Staff
QB. MATT STAFFORD
WR. ANDRE JOHNSON
RB. STEVEN JACKSON

TEAM 12: Team Matthews
RB. RYAN MATTHEWS
QB. CAM NEWTON
RB. SHNON GREENE

Feel free to ask any questions as they come up, also if you have a favorite team of the bunch feel free to share.