In the third installment of a 12-part mock draft series, we give you the best-possible scenario when tasked with picking fourth overall in a 12-team, half-point PPR draft. Like all the mocks in this series, the picks were made through our mock draft simulator with the other 11 teams being auto-picked based on ADP and team need.
Here's how it turned out.
1. Julio Jones, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
Adrian Peterson was still on the board here. A total of 99 percent of the time, we'd go in that direction. However, we wanted to see how it would play out, especially with potential value at both the end of the second and top of the third later. In Jones, you'd be getting a player that rivaled Antonio Brown as the best fantasy receiver in the NFL last season. He averaged nearly 20 points per game, nearly a full point more than the No. 3 fantasy receiver last season. The production would be too real here.
2. Doug Martin, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Some may conclude that Martin's 2015 campaign was an outlier. After all, the dude struggled being anywhere near a viable roster option in the previous two seasons. However, it must be noted that Jameis Winston and his ability to get the ball down the field in the passing game helped big time last year. When it was all said and done, Martin finished the 2015 campaign as the third-best fantasy running back, ranking ninth in consistency. Getting a true RB1 at the bottom of the second will never hurt anyone.
3. LeSean McCoy, Running Back, Buffalo Bills
McCoy did struggle with injuries last season. That has some thrown off a bit heading into the 2016 season. Though, it must be noted that he played in all 16 games in each of the past two years with Philadelphia. He's not an injury-prone running back. Despite missing a quarter of the season to injury, McCoy still finished as the 16th-best fantasy running back. He also finished seventh in consistency. With Karlos Williams suspended the first four games of the season, the expectation here has to be that a healthy McCoy will destroy the production we saw from him last season.
4. Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs
In a surprising turn of events, especially with Alex Smith under center, Maclin found a way to finish as the 15th-best fantasy receiver. He caught a ridiculous 70 percent of the 124 passes thrown in his direction, scoring eight touchdowns in the process. Being able to nab him in the fourth round as a WR2 would be an absolute coup.
5. Greg Olsen, Tight End, Carolina Panthers
Not only did Olsen finish last season as the fifth-best fantasy tight end, he ranked in the top three in consistency and racked up the third-most targets of anyone at that position. A truly consistent fantasy performer, there's no reason to believe he won't be in the top five again this year.
6. John Brown, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals
Consistency was surely an issue for Brown as a sophomore last season. In fact, he finished 31st among receivers in that category in 2015. This doesn't change the fact that Brown was still able to finish as a bottom end WR2 en route to putting up 1,000-plus yards and six scores. With Larry Fitzgerald getting up there in age and Brown overtaking Michael Floyd as Carson Palmer's No. 2 receiver, the expectation here has to be that this youngster will progress leaps and bounds from last year. If so, acquiring him in the sixth round would be a coup.
7. Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants
After finishing the 2014 campaign as the NFL's 11th-best fantasy quarterback, Manning took that next step last season. He finished in the top 10 en route to tallying over 4,400 yards and 35 scores. In his first season with Ben McAdoo as the Giants' head coach, there's no reason to believe that Manning won't put up even better numbers in 2016.
8. Arian Foster, Running Back, Miami Dolphins
It now looks like Foster is going to be Miami's starting running back this upcoming season. These reports come just weeks after he signed on with the team. While we can't rely on the veteran to be a RB1 or RB2 this season, his upside is much higher than anyone else we can take in the mid rounds. Here's a guy that's finished in the top five among running backs in four of the past six seasons. Injuries are definitely a concern, but we're banking on him remaining somewhat healthy this year. Even if it's for just half the season, the mid-round value you'd be getting from Foster is too much to pass up on.
9. Rashad Jennings, Running Back, New York Giants
Jennings actually finished last season as a bottom end RB2 option. That's pretty surprising considering he attempted less than 200 rushes during the year. Now, fully locked in as the Giants' starter, we can expect solid production from the veteran running back again. Utilizing him as a RB4, and basing said value on previous production, you wouldn't go wrong with Jennings in the mid rounds.
10. Tony Romo, Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
Putting Romo's injury-plagued 2015 season aside, why not add him as a QB2 this year? Here's a guy who finished as the NFL's 12th-best fantasy quarterback in 2014. In fact, Romo hasn't finished outside of QB1 territory any season he's remained fully healthy. Adding someone of his ilk does a couple things. First off, you can turn around and move him for a player at another position should he get off to a hot start. Secondly, you can play matchups with your top two quarterbacks depending on who each one is going up against in a given week.
11. Torrey Smith, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers
While Smith only caught 33 passes in his first season with San Francisco, he did lead the NFL in yards per reception (20.1). In Chip Kelly's system, there's no reason to believe Smith's overall production won't increase this season. That will only be magnified should a strong-armed Colin Kaepernick earn the starting gig.
12. DeAndre Washington, Running Back, Oakland Raiders
Washington, a rookie mid-round pick out of Texas Tech, has been super impressive for the Raiders this summer. Considering just how inconsistent Latavius Murray was (31st among running backs) last season, there's a chance Washington could earn the starting gig out of camp. With Oakland's dominating run-blocking offensive line, that could mean big things for the rookie.
The Rest
13. Jason Witten, Tight End, Dallas Cowboys
14. Stephen Gostkowski, Kicker, New England Patriots
15. Cincinnati Bengals, Defense/Special Teams