In our sixth preseason fantasy football mock draft, we select from the 12th position in a 12-team league. While some don't like this specific positioning, others are quite fond of it. In reality, it enables you to potentially stack the same position with consecutive picks at the end of the first and beginning of the second.
On that note, here's our 12-team mock conducted via the eDraft mock draft simulator. We pick for this team, while the system picks for the other 11 squads using a combination of ADP and team needs.
1. Dez Bryant, Wide Receiver, Dallas Cowboys
When healthy, Bryant has proven himself to be among the best receivers, if not the best receiver, in the game. Prior to missing seven games to injury last season, Bryant had finished in the top seven in fantasy points among receivers in each of the previous three years. During that very same span, the Pro Bowler has caught 63 percent of the balls thrown in his direction with a whopping 41 touchdowns.
There's no better option when picking 12th overall than to nab a consistent WR1 option. It sure the heck beats reaching for a second-tier running back or a quarterback at that slot. Bryant is as good as anyone when healthy.
2. Allen Robinson, Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
If picking consecutively at the end of the first and top of the second, why not double down on wide receivers? If you were able to come out of the first two rounds with Bryant and Robinson, it would enable you flexibility moving forward in the draft.
As it relates to Robinson, he's among the most-dynamic young receivers in the game. The former second-round pick from Penn State caught 80 passes for 1,400 yards and a league-best 14 touchdowns last season. This enabled him to finish as the fourth-best fantasy receiver in the game. Now add in a building relationship with Blake Bortles, and the sky really does seem to be the limit here.
3. Carlos Hyde, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers
If you're forced (or decide) to stray away from running backs in the first two rounds, your philosophy should then be to go high upside with your RB1 option later. In this, Hyde seems to be a perfect fit.
The former Ohio State standout was a top-five fantasy running back before suffering a foot injury five games in last season. Now, asked to shoulder the load in Chip Kelly's running back-friendly scheme, Hyde truly represents RB1 upside here. It's just a matter of him staying healthy. Should that happen, there's no reason to believe he won't be a top-10 guy.
4. Randall Cobb, Wide Receiver, Green Bay Packers
Cobb struggled filling in for the injured Jordy Nelson as the Packers' No. 1 receiver a season ago. He put up just 829 yards and six scores, significant declines from the previous season. Though, Cobb's 79 receptions still enabled him to finish as a mid-tier FLEX option.
Now with Nelson back at 100 percent and ready to go, Cobb returns to his more natural position as a slot receiver. That's a role he filled perfectly in 2014, accumulating 91 receptions for 1,287 yards and 12 scores — numbers that enabled him to finish as the sixth-best fantasy receiver. Look for much of the same in 2016.
5. Jonathan Stewart, Running Back, Carolina Panthers
The unfortunate thing about waiting on running backs is having to bite the bullet on a less-than-stellar option. That's what we're forced to do here, adding a low-upside veteran in Stewart. Though, it also must be noted that his floor is relatively high for a fifth-round pick. Last season saw Stewart put up nearly 1,100 total yards and seven scores. Those numbers enabled him to finish as a mid-tier RB2.
In reality, that's all you're going to be asking for after absolutely stacking the wide receiver position earlier in the draft. If Stewart can simply repeat last year's performance, you're going to be more than okay relying on him as a RB2 option.
6. Drew Brees, Quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Steal. If you're able to wait until the top of the sixth round to add someone of Brees' ilk as your QB2, you are doing just fine. Think about this for a second. Brees has finished as a top-nine fantasy quarterback in each of the past 12 seasons, finding himself among the top two five different times during that span.
Even at his advanced age (37), Brees is still capable of slinging that thing around the field. He put up a league-best 4,870 passing yards with 32 touchdowns last season, good enough for a No. 6 ranking among quarterbacks.
Looking at his 2016 outlook, there's no reason to believe Brees wouldn't be a steal in the sixth round. Not only does he have the previous success to bank on, he has a tremendous amount of weapons at his disposal. The likes of Brandin Cooks, Brandon Coleman, Willie Snead and Michael Thomas at wide receiver might be the best four-some in the league. Add in Coby Fleener at tight end and Mark Ingram at running back, and Brees has the weapons to dominate again in 2016.
7. Jeremy Langford, Running Back, Chicago Bears
We were stuck going with an unsexy option with our RB2 in the fifth round. Now, we add a high-upside player that should dominate touches for the Bears this season. Langford's presence in Chicago enabled the team to move on from Matt Forte during the spring, a clear indication that the team plans on giving him north of 250 touches this season.
As a rookie in 2015, this Michigan State product put up 816 total yards and seven scores on just 170 touches. Give him 80-100 more with Forte out of the mix this season, and you're talking about over 1,300 yards and double-digit scores. Those are true RB1 numbers right there.
8. Melvin Gordon, Running Back, San Diego Chargers
Our theory here is why not? Following a dismal rookie season that saw him put up just 641 rushing yards, the Chargers are relying on this former first-round pick to create some balance on offense for Philip Rivers.
While Gordon has been impressive during the summer, the fact that he's still losing red-zone touches to Danny Woodhead should be of concern. With that said, you'd be hard-pressed to find a higher upside RB4 option this late in the draft. Whatever Gordon brings to the table here would be nothing less than a bonus.
9. Zach Ertz, Tight End, Philadelphia Eagles
It's definitely our recommendation that you wait until the second half of the draft to add a tight end. Short of selecting Rob Gronkowski in the first round, there's really no value in going this position early in the draft. It's that simply.
As it relates to Ertz, here's a guy that seems to have found a solid connection with Sam Bradford in Philadelphia. The former Stanford star caught 75 passes for 853 yards. And despite the fact that he put up just two scores, Ertz still finished as the 10th-best fantasy tight end. Add a few more scores, and we're looking at top-five potential here.
The Rest
10. Torrey Smith, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers
11. Kenneth Dixon, Running Back, Baltimore Ravens
12. Devin Funchess, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers
13. Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Tennessee Titans
14. Kansas City Chiefs Defense/Special Teams
15. Blair Walsh, Kicker, Minnesota Vikings