Fantasy Footballers Mock Draft Recap: Heavy RB vs Zero RB

As we get closer and closer to the 2020 NFL season, The Fantasy Footballers have started releasing Saturday episodes. In the latest weekend edition, Mike and Jason completed a thirteen round mock draft. 

A few weeks ago I wrote a piece on making the most of your mock drafts. One of the tips I emphasized was to use mocks to experiment with different draft strategies, and that’s exactly what the guys did in their latest mock. Jason went with a predetermined heavy RB approach from the three spot in the draft, while Mike locked in a zero RB strategy from the four spot.

Make sure to check out the full episode for all the details, but here’s how the drafts played out.

Jason’s Heavy RB Draft

Per usual, Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley were gone with the first two picks, leaving Jason to start his team with Ezekiel Elliot. Another nine running backs were drafted before his next pick came, which left him lamenting the pre-determined strategy. Had it been a real draft he admittedly would’ve selected Chris Godwin, but he stuck to the practice and took a shot on Chief’s rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire. In the third round, he debated between a handful of elder statesmen running backs like Todd Gurley, David Johnson, Melvin Gordon, and Le’Veon Bell. He stayed true to his rankings and picked Johnson, even though he had the lowest average draft position (ADP) of the grouping.

After starting the draft with three straight running backs, he was forced to start looking at wide receivers. He debated between Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett, ultimately landing on Locket as his first wide receiver based on his proven track record. He continued to stockpile mid-round wideouts by taking Terry McLaurin, Michael Gallup, and Marvin Jones in successive rounds.

In the eighth round, Jason was prepared to go off-brand and actually draft Ronald Jones. Mike, however, robbed him of the chance by taking him one pick earlier. Jason pivoted and went with the high upside backup Alexander Mattison, selecting him over less exciting starters like Sony Michel and Jordan Howard.

Down the homestretch of the draft Jason bet on the talent of rookie wideout Jerry Jeudy in the ninth round before finally locking up a quarterback, Carson Wentz, in the tenth round and a tight end, Mike Gesicki, in the eleventh. Instead of punting defense to the last pick, he went with the potentially dominant Baltimore Ravens defense in the twelfth round. He finished the draft by selecting Preston Williams. 

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Mike’s Zero RB Draft

Using the zero RB approach made Mike’s first pick pretty easy, as Michael Thomas was still on the board at number four overall. If you’re going to fade running backs early it helps to lock up the wideout that all three of The Ballers have projected as the top fantasy wideout in the Ultimate Draft Kit.

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In round two he looked to secure a positional advantage with an elite fantasy tight end. He was targeting Travis Kelce, who was sniped two picks before his selection. Despite briefly contemplating Chris Godwin, he ultimately went with George Kittle, who still offers a positional advantage at tight end and has a chance to finish as the TE1 in 2020.

In the third and fourth rounds, he doubled down on D.J. wideouts. Despite it being a slight ADP reach, Mike followed his rankings and grabbed D.J. Moore and the 3.04, then followed that up by getting D.J. Chark at the 4.09.

Jason’s selection of Terry Mclaurin just ahead of him in the fifth round sent Mike reeling as he debated numerous players and positions before ultimately landing on Kyler Murray, his highest-ranked quarterback left on the board.

He finally caved and drafted Mark Ingram as his first running back in round six. That kicked off a running back streak for his team that featured Raheem Mostert, Ronald Jones, and Damien Williams, giving him plenty of late value at the position. His running back streak finally ended in the tenth round when he grabbed Golden Tate, who could be the target leader for the Giants in 2020.

In the eleventh round, Mike looked to add some more running back depth and debated between Chase Edmonds and Antonio Gibson. While Edmonds could have some sneaky value in Arizona’s offense behind Kenyan Drake, Mike stayed on brand and drafted one of his favorite rookie sleepers in Gibson, who’s college football experience played out oddly similar to David Johnson’s.

With his last positional pick, Mike took Desean Jackson, another late-round wide receiver that could lead his team in targets. He wrapped up the draft by grabbing the Kansas City defense.