2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft, 1.0: Round 8
Mock Draft Start Date: Monday, May 12th
Mock Draft End Date: Saturday, May 24th
Scoring: This mock draft is based on re-draft leagues (2014 season only). Passing touchdowns are worth four points while rushing and receiving touchdowns are worth six points. In addition, one point is earned per 25 passing yards, 10 rushing yards and 10 receiving yards.
Here are Round 8 results (commentary from Kevin Hanson):
8.01 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 3): Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers
In the past two seasons, Olsen has 142 receptions for 1,659 yards and 11 touchdowns. While he lacks the upside of some tight ends still on the board, he's extemely safe and should be a lock for 70/800/5 or more.
Not only did Olsen lead the team in receiving across the board last season, but all of the wide receivers that had a reception last season for the Panthers are no longer on the roster. Even though the Panthers signed a few, as Richard Sherman would call them, mediocre receivers in free agency and drafted Kelvin Benjamin in the first round, Olsen should once again lead the team in receiving.
8.02 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Even though he didn't throw a pass last season until Week 4, Foles still finished the year with 27 touchdowns, eighth-most in the NFL, and just two interceptions. In addition, Foles had success running the ball as he ranked 10th among quarterbacks in rush attempts (56) and 12th in rushing yards (225) while also scoring three touchdowns.
Unfortunately for Foles (and Brendan), the Eagles let his top target (DeSean Jackson) from last season go and he landed within the division. For me, that was the factor that caused me to move the next guy in this mock ahead of Foles in my fantasy quarterback rankings.
8.03 - Kevin Hanson (Team 3): Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins
Rested for the offseason, RG3 will go into the 2014 fully healthy and with a new weapon (as noted in the previous pick). If tight end Jordan Reed (concussions) can stay healthy, he has one of the league's better young trios of pass-catchers with Pierre Garcon, D-Jax and Reed. Part of the risk with Griffin III is the injury risk associated with his running style, but his elite straight-line speed can lead to long rushing touchdowns and the potential for monster performances.
With the depth at the position, there will be plenty of quality QB2s later in the draft or in the waiver pool if I want to protect myself from his injury risk. In a 12-team league, however, I'd be comfortable maintaining just one QB on my roster and then pick one up, when necessary.
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8.04 - Sean Beazley (Team 3): Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Oakland Raiders
Once a potential first-overall pick (and perhaps still by MJD himself) in fantasy drafts, Jones-Drew heads to the Bay Area to play professional football. Only a few years removed from a league-high 1,606 rushing yards (in 2011), MJD rushed for a career-low 3.4 yards per carry last season.
For various reasons (suspension, injury, talent, etc.), the supporting cast was lackluster in Jacksonville and that led to part of his struggles last year. Unfortunately for Jones-Drew, the supporting cast isn't much better in Oakland and he will compete with Darren McFadden for touches (when McFadden is healthy). Pocket Hercules turned 29 in March, however, and his 2,139 career touches is also beginning to take a toll.
8.05 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Mike Wallace, WR, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins made a splash in free agency two offseasons ago by signing 60 minutes, but he failed to live up to expectations last year. Wallace had a career-high 73 catches, but he averaged a career-low 12.7 yards per reception and failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards for a second year in a row.
While he is one of the league's fastest receivers, Wallace and Ryan Tannehill never seemed to get on the same page. Perhaps with another year to develop chemistry and better protection for Tannehill, who was sacked a league-worst 58 times last year, perhaps things will be better in 2014.
8.06 - Kevin Hanson (Team 2): Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
It was a disappointing season for Brady 4,343 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Twelve other quarterbacks scored more fantasy points than Brady.
Whether or not he bounces back in 2014 will depend partly (or largely) on the health of tight end Rob Gronkowski, whose season ended prematurely due to a torn ACL. In the seven games that Gronkowski was active, Brady averaged 315 passing yards and 1.86 touchdown passes compared to averages of 237.56 yards and 1.33 touchdowns in games he missed.
8.07 - Brendan Donahue (Team 2): Bernard Pierce, RB, Baltimore Ravens
While he won't face any jail time for his Atlantic City incident in February, Ray Rice could be subject to league discipline as a result. Either way, Rice was unimpressive on the field last season, which could open the door to more work for Pierce this season. That said, Pierce's production dropped off from his rookie season last year as well.
8.08 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 2): Cecil Shorts, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
It appears that Justin Blackmon won't play at all for the Jaguars in 2014. While the Jags drafted a pair of second-round rookies (Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson), Shorts will most likely be the team's most productive receiver in 2014.
After a breakout season in 2012 (55/979/7), Shorts had 66 receptions for 777 yards (only 11.8 Y/R) and three touchdowns. He missed the final three games of the year and is recovering from the sports hernia surgery he had in December.
8.09 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis Rams
It was a disappointing season for Austin and his fantasy owners. Austin finished with 40/418/4 (receiving) and 9/151/1 (rushing) while adding a return touchdown in 13 games. Coach Jeff Fisher says that the Rams will "do a better job of using him now that we know what hes capable of doing. Kind of looking forward to see him improve from year one to year two."
8.10 - Kevin Hanson (Team 1): Dennis Pitta, TE, Baltimore Ravens
The hopes of a breakout season that many had expected were dashed in July when Pitta suffered a hip injury that nearly kept him out for the entire season. Back in 2012, Pitta finished with 61/669/7 and I expect him to set career highs across the board in 2014.
8.11 - Brendan Donahue (Team 1): Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins
The good news is that Reed has been cleared from the concussion symptoms that forced him to miss an extended period of time last season. When he was on the field, he was highly productive: 45/499/3 in nine games. On a per-game basis, Reed has top-five upside at the position, but I would be a little hesitant to draft him much earlier than this due to concerns about concussions. Reed had a history of concussions at Florida as well.
8.12 - Sean Beazley (Team 1): Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints
Although Ingram is now the first Saints running back off the board, he would be my third based on preference. Not only is Pierre Thomas a more complete back, but Khiry Robinson has drawn comparisons to HOFer Curtis Martin from Bill Parcells.
In 11 games last season, Ingram carried the ball 78 times for 386 yards a career-high 4.9 yards per carry and just one touchdown.
> Continue to Round 9
> Go back to Round 7
2014 Fantasy Football rankings from Kevin Hanson:
- 2014 Fantasy Football QB rankings
- 2014 Fantasy Football RB rankings
- 2014 Fantasy Football WR rankings
- 2014 Fantasy Football TE rankings
