2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft, 1.0: Brendan Donahue (Team 3)
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.
With the 2014 NFL Draft now behind us, we have wasted no time in starting a new fantasy football mock draft.
In this mock draft, four of our site's contributors (Kevin Hanson, Brendan Donahue, Dan Yanotchko and Sean Beazley) will each draft for three teams per round and the mock will run for 10 rounds.
Mock By Contributor: Kevin Hanson | Brendan Donahue | Sean Beazley | Dan Yanotchko
Here are all the picks from Brendan Donahue - Team 3:
1.11 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis Rams
With only one carry in the team's first four games, Stacy was given 250 of them in the final 12. In the final nine games of the season, Stacy had exactly 200 carries for 759 yards (only 3.80 yards per carry), 20 receptions for 96 yards and a total of seven touchdowns.
Stacy should get a larger (overall) workload in 2014. GM Les Snead was quoted as saying in February that Stacy "should be more productive (in '14) because he should have more carries."
Compared to the other backs currently on the roster, the team drafted stiffer competition for touches by selecting Auburn's Tre Mason in the third round on Friday night. But the selection of Mason's teammate Greg Robinson with the second overall pick helps improve the running game overall.
So, in other words, I expect Stacy to average less than the 22.22 carries per game he averaged in his final nine games, but I also expect him to average more than the 3.80 YPC he averaged during that stretch.
2.02 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Even though Lovie Smith is a defensive coach, the team went offense heavy in the draft adding two wide receivers, a tight end and two offensive lineman. In addition, they drafted West Virginia running back Charles Sims with the fifth pick of the third round.
The Muscle Hamster had a disappointing sophomore campaign as a season-ending injury cut his season short after just six games. Even before the injury, however, Martin was not running the ball well as he averaged a yard less per carry (3.6) than he did as a rookie (4.6 YPC). That said, Adrian Peterson was the only running back to have more YFS than Martin in 2012.
Assuming good health in 2014, I expect a bounce-back year (on a per-touch and overall basis) for Martin.
3.11 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
The good news is that Gronkowski set career highs in yards per game (84.6) and yards per reception (15.2) last year. The better news is that Gronkowski has scored a total of 43 touchdowns in the 50 career games he has played as a dominant red-zone weapon.
Of course, the bad news is that he did not play all 16 games for a second season in a row. The worse news is that his season ended due to a torn ACL, which leads to some uncertainty about his status heading into 2014. Early reports, however, indicate that he should be ready for the 2014 season. If, perhaps a big if, he can play all 16 games, Gronk would turn into a bargain at this spot.
4.02 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Pierre Garcon, WR, Washington Redskins
While Garcon set career highs in receptions (a league-high 113) and yards (1,346), the addition of DeSean Jackson means that Garcon will likely get fewer than the 182 targets he had last season. That said, I don't expect a huge drop in production and can see him finish with around 1,200 yards in 2014.
5.11 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Trent Richardson, RB, Indianapolis Colts
What to make of Richardson? With first-round running backs becoming rare in the real NFL, Richardson was essentially two first-rounders. Not only did the Browns draft him with the third-overall pick in 2012, but the Colts gave up their first-round pick this year to acquire T-Rich in 2013.
Despite his first-round ADP (in fantasy drafts), Richardson was arguably the biggest disappointment in fake football last season. Even with an upgrade at quarterback (Andrew Luck), Richardson averaged a paltry 2.92 yards per carry and was demoted in favor of Donald Brown.
With Brown in San Diego, Richardson should get the first opportunity to lead the team in carries this year. That said, it's hard to have any faith in Richardson. This could turn out to be a steal ... or a waste of a draft pick.
6.02 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Patterson tops the list of receivers with the potential to breakout in 2014. After watching Josh Gordon have a huge sophomore campaign with Norv Turner last year, it would be unrealistic to expect Gordon's league-leading numbers for Patterson but perfectly reasonable to expect a big year-over-year jump for Patterson in Turner's offense.
One of the league's most dangerous players in the open field, Patterson led the NFL in kickoff return average (32.4 Y/R). In the final eight games of the season, Patterson had 29 receptions for 323 yards, 10 carries for 156 yards and a total of seven touchdowns.
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7.11 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Riley Cooper, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Perhaps I'm too low on Cooper (he's my WR48 yet he has an ADP of WR37), but there are several wide receivers that I'd prefer over him. On a positive note, however, he is coming off a career year (47/835/8) and the team's leading receiver from last year is now in Washington.
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.
9.11 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Terrance Williams, WR, Dallas Cowboys
As a rookie, Williams had 44 receptions for 736 yards and five touchdowns. Like most rookie receivers, Williams was a bit inconsistent as half of his production came in just five games (21/384/4 from Weeks 4 to 8). Going into the 2014 season, however, Williams will be the unquestioned No. 2 wideout opposite Dez Bryant and will have another year of building chemistry with Tony Romo.
10.02 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans
Only one rookie receiver had more yards than Hopkins (802) last season: San Diego's Keenan Allen (1,046). I'd like Hopkins more if the quarterback situation were better, but Hopkins should build upon his rookie success in Year 2.
- See Donahue's other two teams: Team 1 - Team 2
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
