Fantasy football is over for almost everyone, but that doesn’t mean the fantasy gears in your brains stop turning. Here is a way-too-early mock first round for a 12-team, standard scoring league. It may look very, very different from 2015.
1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
Running back was more volatile in 2015 than ever before, but one man who was drafted in every first round, and lived up to the hype, was Adrian Peterson. After missing almost all of 2014 Peterson has carried the rock 308 times, amassed 1,418 yards and scored 10 touchdowns with one more game to go. With the position becoming even more scarce than was conceivable at the beginning of the year, Peterson’s value is through the roof.
Best Bargains At Each Position In Week 17
2. Todd Gurley, RB, Rams
The Rams had a pathetic passing game in 2015, and yet Gurley looked like the future of the position. Despite starting just 12 games, Gurley topped 1,000 yards and has scored as many touchdowns as Peterson. He’s also proven he’s capable as a receiver too. At 21 years old, a strong argument can be made for him as the No. 1 pick – in keeper or redraft leagues – but it’s Peterson’s all-time great pedigree that keeps him in front of Gurley for now.
3. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Steelers
Bell is constantly injured, and will enter 2016 coming off a horrific-looking knee injury. That said, no RB in football right now combines rushing and receiving dominance like Bell. He can score both ways, from anywhere on the field, and with the Steelers’ passing game posing such a threat defenses can’t load up on him. As you will see on this list, receivers are more important than ever. That said, Bell is a stud worth taking very, very early.
Top Value Picks Of 2015 Based On ADP
4. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
Like we said, RB isn’t what it used to be. In past years fantasy owners would spend first-round picks on RBs regardless, thinking the more they invested in the position the safer they were. Not anymore. Entering Week 17, there are only four 1,000-yard rushers. There are many more elite WRs.
Getting a top-flight pass-catcher has become just as important as nailing the RB position, and Brown is the absolute cream of the crop. He’s topped 1,600 receiving yards in back-to-back years, and is one TD away from double-digits again. Ben Roethlisberger will be back in 2016, so that means Brown will lead the league in receiving, targets, and receptions.
5. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Giants
ODB was in the headlines last week for all the wrong reasons, and they obscured the fact that he’s quickly making an argument for being the best receiver in the NFL. He doesn’t have Julio Jones’ size, or Brown’s raw production, but he arguably is the most talented football player in the world.
Assuming the Giants hang onto offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, whose pass-happy offense has been an elixir for Eli Manning’s career, Beckham has an opportunity to surpass Brown.
6. Julio Jones, WR, Falcons
Jones is the NFL leader in targets, receptions and yards. He’s a physical freak. The only thing stopping him from being arguably No. 1 overall are lingering injury concerns, even though he’s started 15 games in back-to-back seasons, and is on track to start 16 games in this campaign.
The inconsistency of the Falcons’ offense can be maddening, but Jones is an absolute target-hound with a very high floor.
7. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans
Hopkins is every bit the talent that Brown, Beckham and Jones are. He’s caught 104 passes for 1,432 yards and 11 touchdowns despite catching the ball from a combination of Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates, and Ryan Mallett. Don’t have any doubts about him heading into 2016, and if the Texans manage to upgrade at QB, Hopkins could rise even higher.
8. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots
Gronkowski does not offer the reception upside of the wide receivers ranked ahead of him, but that matters very little in standard scoring. Gronk is a lock for double-digit touchdowns when healthy, as well as 1,000 receiving yards from a position where even the upper-echelon options have zero-point floors.
9. Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons
Freeman was the shock of the year in the early going, ripping off a four-game stretch in which he averaged 116 yards and two touchdowns, and totaled nine scores. Freeman’s stock is dinged by two factors: first, his season has fizzled down the stretch with four consecutive sub-75-yard games. Second, he has a talented runner in Tevin Coleman behind him, so if he struggles out of the gate he can easily lose the gig.
10. Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars
Surprise! Robinson’s name may be jarring at this lofty a position, but he’s a 22-year-old receiver with a stat-stuffing QB (Blake Bortles), elite size (6’3, 220 pounds), and a knack for scoring touchdowns (14!). Robinson is a star, and even better, his name still doesn’t shine like some other players, so he’s still going to be discounted.
11. Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers
Martin shocked us all by finishing the season second in rushing yards. He’s been durable, consistent, and on a bit of a touchdown tear in the closing weeks of 2015. Martin is a bit of a boring pick, but his 235-yard game shows the upside is there. With Jameis Winston in the mix, Tampa Bay’s offense has a higher floor than it used to, and it means Martin will deliver Top 10 production, even if he’s a longshot to be inside the Top 3 again.
12. Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
Sure, sure you can find worthy QBs late in the draft, or even on the waiver wire. But with RB being as down as it is, why not pick up a RB masquerading as a QB at the end of Round 1?
Saying that isn’t meant to denigrate what Newton has accomplished this year as a passer. Newton has thrown for 3,544 yards and 33 touchdowns this season and Ted Ginn was his No. 1 receiver. Imagine what he will do with Kelvin Benjamin back in the mix.
On the ground, he’s never rushed for fewer than five touchdowns. That’s going to continue next year – even if his attempts decrease. They’ll never have a better red zone option than plunging it in with Cam.
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