Now that the NFL draft has completed and teams have a vast majority of their 53-man rosters pretty much set heading into the summer months, we can really start to focus on the 2014 fantasy football season. As crazy as it sounds, rookie drafts are already starting to take place and start-up drafts aren't too far away.
Here at eDraft, we have partnered up with the Fantasy Pro's to bring you a great fantasy football tool. It's the mock draft simulator, which enables you to get an idea where certain players might go and how your start-up team might look based on current ADP's (average draft positions) and other factors you decide to filter in to the equation.
That's going to be the premise of mock drafts here on eDraft throughout the offseason and leading up to training camps. Here is the first version. For this particular draft, assume we have the second overall pick in a 12-team league.
1. LeSean McCoy, Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles
Went with McCoy over Jamaal Charles here. There is a simple reason for that. He's more of a sure-fire fantasy bet at this point. Charles might have provided more consistency with either 100 rushing yards or a score in 12 of his 16 games, but McCoy led the NFL in touches at nearly 20 per game while still averaging 5.1 yards per rush. Charles and McCoy were No. 1 and No. 2 among fantasy running backs last season, so it's all about preference here.
2. Alfred Morris, Running Back, Washington Redskins
Doubling down on running back here with another running back who finished in the top 15 in fantasy points last season. Morris put up over 1,300 total yards and seven scores in 2013. He was able to do this despite the fact that Washington had little success through the air with Robert Griffin III. With a renewed emphasis on providing balance on offense, Morris should see some more open lanes. I have him projected as a solid RB1 option in 2014.
3. Jordy Nelson, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
Want to talk about production and consistency, you need not look any further than Nelson himself. Green Bay's No. 1 wide receiver put up over 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns without Aaron Rodgers seeing the field for the majority of the season. In total, he finished 11th among fantasy receivers in points and 14th in consistency. That's not too shabby for a WR1 in the third round.
4. Vernon Davis, Tight End, San Francisco 49ers
Davis is a difficult player to rely on in fantasy football simply because his targets vary so much throughout the season. He will see 10 targets one week and only see the ball two times the following week. When targeted, Davis is among the best overall pass catchers in the NFL. Selecting him in the fourth round is putting a lot of stock in the 49ers' plans to open up their offense in 2014. Simply put, give Davis the targets and he will be a top-three fantasy tight end. He put up the 14th-most targets and finished as the second-ranked tight end last season. Just think about that for a second.
5. DeSean Jackson, Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins
Was Jackson's production last season more of a product of Chip Kelly's offensive scheme in Philadelphia? That could very well be true. However, it's important to look at what he can do for the Redskins in 2014. As the clear No. 1 wide receiver, Jackson will not see a shortage of targets. He's going to be RGIII's primary receiving target, which should help Jackson put up nearly the same numbers as 2013.
6. Rashad Jennings, Running Back, New York Giants
Jennings has RB1 potential in 2014, and getting him in the sixth round would be an absolute steal. The likes of David Wilson and rookie Andre Williams aren't going to provide much competition in terms of touches. Playing his first major role in an offense since 2010, Jennings put up over 1,000 total yards and six scores for the Raiders in 2013. He also put up either 100 yards or a touchdown in nearly half his starts.
7. Tony Romo, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
No reason to expect Romo will take a step back in terms of fantasy production this season unless his back isn't 100 percent healed after offseason surgery. Romo ranked 10th among quarterbacks in fantasy points last season and put up the fifth-highest consistency ranking of any starter in the NFL. He's a proven fantasy star and will provide great value in the mid rounds.
8. Mike Evans, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The one rookie on this team, Evans has WR2 potential in an offense that is going to be relying on him and Vincent Jackson to put up some big numbers in the passing game. He's going to be lining up against the second-best cornerback, which is an indication that Josh McCown will look in his direction a lot. In addition to that, Evans' frame suggests ample red-zone opportunities.
Other Selections
9. Mike Wallace, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
10. Russell Wilson, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
11. Charles Clay, Dolphins, Tight End, Miami Dolphins
12. Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, St. Louis Rams
13. Andre Brown, Running Back, Houston Texans
14. Tyler Eifert, Tight End, Cincinnati Bengals
15. Cleveland Browns, Defensive/Special Teams
16. Justin Tucker, Kicker, Baltimore Ravens