Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Drafting a Top Quarterback and Tight End, with Josh Allen, Trey McBride and More

Most owners go into their fantasy football drafts with a strategy. Some are looking for specific players, and others are more worried about which positions they will value most. Personally, I am usually most focused on loading up on running backs, as they are often the scarcest commodity during the season.

When doing mock drafts before the fantasy season, I like to try out different strategies just to see how my team comes out. Using the same mock strategy 10 times is helpful, but it doesn't provide much new information; we start getting into the definition of insanity.

As I try these different techniques, I like to share the results with our fine readers here at FantasySP. You don't have to go through 20 different strategies if I do it and show you what the outcome looked like. You can see what looks best and put it to use in your own draft even if you put in minimal time preparing.

Below are the results of a recent mock draft I did in which my main rule was drafting one of the top quarterbacks and one of the top tight ends early. These are positions that many owners (including myself) often tend to wait on until later in the draft, but there are top players who stand out clearly above the others, and getting those guys gives you an advantage.

For this exercise, I had the first pick in a 10-team standard scoring league. The number listed with each player is the pick at which he was drafted, starting with my favorite player to take first overall this year.

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First-Round Stud

1. RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

This could have been any top player, including Bijan Robinson, Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and several others. I prefer going with running backs, and there's no reason to think Barkley is going to drop way off after going for 2,000 yards last season.

Philadelphia has one of the best offensive lines in football and a running quarterback who will help open up room for Barkley. The only downside is Jalen Hurts stealing some rushing touchdowns, but I still like Barkley as much as anyone else.

Star Tight End and Quarterback

20. TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

21. QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Here are the guys who are the stars of this strategy. Brock Bowers was taken just a pick or two before I got McBride; I would have rather had the Raiders' tight end, but McBride is a fine consolation prize. Lamar Jackson could have been the quarterback pick, as he and Allen are neck-and-neck for the top QB.

For the purpose of this exercise, these guys work just fine. If you end up using a second- or third-round pick on one or both positions, don't waste a pick later taking a backup. The only time that backup will play is during your guy's bye week, and if there is an injury, you can pick up a suitable player without wasting a bench spot that can go to a running back or receiver, where you'll need the depth.

Starting Skill Players

40. RB Breece Hall, New York Jets

41. WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

60. WR D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears

At this point, I was just looking for the best player available at running back and wide receiver. Hall was seen as a top-five fantasy back as recently as last season, and while he was down, things might be better this year. On top of a highly regarded offensive line, Hall will be working next to Justin Fields, a running quarterback who will help open space for the RB. Though he has never run for 1,000 yards, Hall has combined for 133 receptions, 1,074 yards, and seven touchdowns receiving over the past two seasons.

Evans and Moore are both veteran receivers with good track records. Evans has reached 1,000 yards in all 11 of his seasons and scored 24 touchdowns over the past two years. In two seasons with the Bears, Moore has combined for 194 catches, 2,330 yards, and 14 touchdowns. Ben Johnson is now his new head coach, and I'm expecting the offense to look even better, benefiting Moore (and others). These guys are both solid WR2 fantasy types who won't drop below the WR3 level.

Bench/Flex Running Backs

61. RB Kaleb Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

81. RB J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos

101. RB Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

120. RB Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders

This group is a lot weaker than I prefer from my fantasy teams. I mentioned above that loading up on RBs is my favorite strategy, so I would be very nervous walking away with this group. That's the big downside of taking a top tight end and/or quarterback: you miss out on adding a premium talent at running back or receiver.

Johnson is interesting as a rookie who could take the majority of the carries right away. Jaylen Warren is still in Pittsburgh, but he was only signed to a modest one-year deal, and in all three of his seasons, Warren was the clear second back behind Najee Harris by snap count.

Dobbins is interesting. Denver doesn't have a clear top guy, and Dobbins will be fighting with rookie RJ Harvey for carries. I expect the veteran to get plenty of carries and be the top guy in the passing game, but injuries are always a concern, as Dobbins has missed more games than he has played in his career.

Someone has to carry the ball for the Cowboys, and Williams could get first crack at the job (along with fellow veteran free agent signing Miles Sanders). Williams is a low-ceiling player, but opportunity is most of the battle in fantasy, and Williams is likely to get an opportunity.

Ekeler was a star in the past, but he's now just a deep PPR option. Late in the draft, most guys aren't going to stick on your roster, and Ekeler is probably a guy who won't make a major fantasy impact and is more likely to be dropped than emerge as a starter.

Bench/Flex Wide Receivers

80. WR Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers

100. WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

121. WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

140. WR Christian Kirk, Houston Texans

Every bench player I grabbed was a running back or wide receiver. Again, if you're going to spend a high pick on a quarterback and/or tight end, don't bother drafting a backup at those positions.

Golden could emerge as Green Bay's WR1. They are loaded with WR2/3/4 types, but the team has been aching for a top guy since they traded Davante Adams. Rookies don't always perform right away, but a bet on Golden is a bet on upside and an instant role as a starter.

Jennings is dealing with an injury right now. He is expected back by Week 1, but injuries are always tricky, and those who are risk-averse may want to stay away. (If that's the case, you might like second-year player Ricky Pearsall, who San Francisco drafted in the first round last year.) I like Jennings' chances of being the top receiver for the 49ers, at least until Aiyuk returns.

Speaking of Aiyuk, he has ended up on my roster in almost every mock draft I've done. He is a high risk, high reward option who is recovering from a torn ACL and is expected back around Week 6 (though that's a rough estimate). Taking him at the end of the draft, Aiyuk can easily be dropped if needed and fits well into your IR spot if your league has one.

Kirk is just a flyer and could be replaced with about 50 other guys this late. With Tank Dell out indefinitely, Kirk could have a role right away with Houston, though they drafted a few receivers on Day 2 who have a chance to be involved as rookies.

Defense and Kicker

141. D/ST Minnesota Vikings

160. K Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Raiders

These positions will always come in the last three rounds for me, as they are the least consistent in terms of year-to-year performance. The Vikings seem set to have at least a decent defense if not better, as they have loaded up on the front line over the past two offseasons.

The Raiders have the makings of a functional offense, but they are unlikely to be a top-flight unit. That sounds like a group that can get into field goal range often but not finish with touchdowns. Carlson has been very good since joining the Raiders and is a fine fantasy option; about 20 other kickers could also fit here if you miss out on the top guys.

Conclusion

I like having both Allen and McBride, but I don't like the missing top-tier talent at running back and receiver. This group would be fine if I ended up with it, but I'm more likely to chase running backs like Bucky Irving and Kyren Williams in the second and third rounds.

If I fill one of the QB/TE positions, I'm likely taking a top tight end because there are SO many useful fantasy quarterbacks. From Fields to Caleb Williams and others, you can take care of your QB spot later in the draft, so I'd rather get Bowers or McBride and supplement them with an RB or WR rather than an early quarterback.