The Way Too Early 2021 PPR Mock Fantasy Football Draft

The Way Too Early 2021 PPR Mock Draft

It’s never too early to start mock drafting for your upcoming fantasy football drafts. Even if the NFL season is still seven months away, getting an edge on your competition is only going to help you be that much more prepared for your draft.

With that in mind, I recently took part in a 12-team, .5 PPR scoring format in which you are required to start 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 TE, 1 RB/WR Flex, 1 K, and 1 DST.

Here is how my fantasy football draft board shaped up drafting from the 12th position in a snake draft:

[vc_single_image image=”50320″ img_size=”” onclick=”custom_link” link=”http://www.brunoboys.net/”]

1.12: Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills – Diggs was the No. 4 WR was taken in Round 1, but arguably the best one besides Davante Adams in 2020. He finished with 16.6 fantasy points per game (fppg) and should continue to flourish as Josh Allen’s primary target.

[vc_single_image image=”50325″ img_size=”” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://clutchpoints.com/bills-news-bills-stefon-diggs-subtly-influencing-buffalo-to-pick-travis-etienne/”]

2.01: Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers – Ekeler battled through injuries in 2020 and didn’t have the year many fantasy football owners had hoped. He finished as the RB29 overall in .5 PPR leagues. However, his 13.8 fppg was suitable for the 15th pick at the position. The Charger’s offense will only get better with promising rookie Justin Herbert under center. I firmly believe Ekeler is a bounce-back candidate and, if he stays healthy, will finish as a top-10 RB in 2021.

[vc_single_image image=”50317″ img_size=”” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://boltbeat.com/2021/02/22/la-chargers-grading-austin-ekeler-2020/”]

3.12: Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings – I am surprised Jefferson fell to me at 3.12. He was the 11th wideout chosen in the draft, yet finished his rookie season as the WR6 overall and developed into the Vikings‘ primary pass catcher. You shouldn’t expect a dip in production from the second-year pass catcher. A Diggs-Jefferson combo has the makings of one of the elite 1-2 punches in the league.

[vc_single_image image=”50323″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/vikings-justin-jefferson-excited-for-year-2-with-kirk-cousins-names-his-no-1-wr-in-the-2021-nfl-draft/”]

4.01: Chris Carson, RB, Seattle Seahawks – I debated taking Kyler Murray here but ultimately went with Carson because in a league that I can start up to three RBs, and not drafting again until 60 overall, I didn’t want to have only Ekeler at the RB position. Carson finished 2020 with the 19th most fantasy points at RB, but his 15.7 fppg were inside the top-15. I was encouraged by his 4.8 yards per carry and his ability to make plays as a pass-catcher. Expect a more complete year from Carson in 2021.

[vc_single_image image=”50318″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/gm-report/what-packers-re-signing-rb-aaron-jones-means-for-seahawks-and-chris-carson”]

5.12: Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams – Full disclaimer, I was hoping Dak Prescott would fall to me at 5.12, but he was taken four picks before it was my turn. Instead of reaching for a QB, I pivoted and took the sure-handed wideout, Cooper Kupp. Fresh off a 92 reception season, fantasy owners can expect an uptick in production from Kupp with Matthew Stafford under center. Stafford throws a better football than previous Rams QB Jared Goff and should make Kupp even better once they start to gel. I am thrilled to land a pass-catcher of Kupp’s caliber as my WR3.

[vc_single_image image=”50319″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2021/03/09/rams-cooper-kupp-grade-third-down-receiver/”]

6.01: Kenyan Drake, RB, Arizona Cardinals – While Drake struggled at times and lost opportunity to Chase Edmonds, the dual-threat RB averaged 12.8 fppg and his 192.2 fantasy points were suitable for RB16 in .5 PPR formats. Drafted as my RB3, Drake will combine with Carson and Ekeler to have a deep corps of RBs.

[vc_single_image image=”50324″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://raisingzona.com/2021/03/15/predicting-future-arizona-cardinals-free-agents/”]

7.12: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos –Jeudy had an inconsistent rookie season, but that had to do because of the poor play by QB Drew Lock more than anything else. I talked about Jeudy being a potential breakout candidate in 2021, and while some might think I reached for him at No. 73 overall, I really feel he makes a giant leap in production in year two

[vc_single_image image=”50322″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2021/03/12/denver-broncos-jerry-jeudy-offseason-workout-videos/”]

8.01: Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills – Alright, this is where I wish I could’ve done things differently. I am a firm believer in dual-threat QBs and always look for the next big threat. Because of this, I had started to target Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts after not landing Prescott in Round 5. Well, with so many QBs being taken, I felt I had a shot at Hurts in Round 8, only to see two teams draft a backup and Hurts flying off the board eight picks before me! Looking to pivot again, I landed Moss in what is considered exceptional value. In my opinion, it’s only going to be a matter of weeks before he passes up Devin Singletary as the lead back in Buffalo. Not a bad RB4 option for my squad.

[vc_single_image image=”50326″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2021/3/11/22320520/2020-all-22-analysis-buffalo-bills-running-back-zack-moss”]

And here is my remaining team from our fantasy football draft board:

9.12: Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

10.01: Robert Tonyan, TE, Green Bay Packers

11.12: Antonio Brown, WR, Tampa Buccaneers

12.01: Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Football Team

13.12: Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings

14.01: Younghoe Koo, K, Atlanta Falcons

15:12: Arizona Cardinals DST