2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft, 1.0: Dan Yanotchko (Team 1)
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 Dan Yanotchko - Team 1:
1.04 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
As noted in my one-man fantasy mock before the (real) draft, I'd go with six running backs before going with another position. As much as I like Megatron, who would my top choice at receiver, there is a strong likelihood that a RB/RB/WR start would feel as though I'm in a better position than a Megatron/RB/RB start after three rounds.
With that said, Megatron is my favorite player in the NFL. Even though he missed two games last season (and Josh Gordon led the league in receiving), Johnson had 84 receptions for 1,492 yards and 12 touchdowns. In his record-setting campaign in 2012, he had only five touchdowns, but he now was 12-plus receiving touchdowns in three of the past four seasons. Over the past three seasons, Megatron has averaged an absurd line of 101/1,712/11.
Regardless of where you draft Calvin, there is no disliking having him on your roster.
2.09 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Alfred Morris, RB, Washington Redskins
While he won't add much at all as a receiver and his numbers overall dropped last season, Alf has averaged 1,444 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over his first two seasons in the NFL.
With the transition to the team's new offensive scheme, there are some concerns that Morris could see a decline in touches, but he has fair value in this spot of the draft.
3.04 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Shane Vereen, RB, New England Patriots
I expected big things from Vereen in 2013 and things got off to a great start for him last year, sort of. Vereen carried the ball 14 times for 101 yards and added seven receptions for 58 yards in the opener, but unfortunately he also broke his wrist in that game, which landed him on short-term IR. In eight games, Vereen had 208 rushing yards as well as 47 receptions for 427 yards and a total of four touchdowns.
While he's better in PPR formats, if you double Vereen's numbers for a full-season pace, he would have finished with 1,270 yards from scrimmage. That would have ranked 14th among running backs.
4.09 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
There are several receivers that I'd prefer over Hilton at this point.
With Reggie Wayne sidelined for half of the season, Hilton took another step forward in Year 2 with 82 receptions for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns. It's possible that he takes another step forward in Year 3, but my expectations are a little tempered.
I think Hilton finished with numbers similar to those he had last season, but better health from Wayne and the addition of Hakeem Nicks in free agency could contain Hilton's upside. In fact, I think Nicks will exceed the depressed expectations most have for him as he plays for his next contract.
5.04 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Darren Sproles, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Hmmm ... I think this is a bit early for a complementary running back that is 31 years old. More than likely, Dan would have been able to take Sproles in the next round (or later). Based on the picks up to this point, Sproles is the RB27 yet he is my RB39 in my fantasy football rankings.
6.09 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens
One of the league's faster receivers, Smith set career highs in receptions (65) and yards (1,128) but a career low in touchdowns (four) last season. In addition, Smith was nearly as productive in his first five games (27/556/1 — 20.49 Y/R) as he was in the final 11 games (38/572/3 — 15.05 Y/R).
Meanwhile, Joe Flacco had a career-worst season: 19-to-22 TD-to-INT ratio, 73.1 rating, 6.4 yards per attempt and 48 sacks. All of those numbers were the worst of his career. With better protection for Flacco, only Ryan Tannehill was sacked more often, the Ravens' pass offense should be better in 2014.
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7.04 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
For this team, Dan took some players earlier than I would take them (specifically Megatron, Hilton and Sproles), but Luck is not one of them. Luck finished fourth in fantasy points among quarterbacks last season and he has improved weapons this year. Not only did the Colts add Hakeem Nicks in free agency, but Luck will hopefully have a healthy Reggie Wayne for the entire season.
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 he’s capable of doing. Kind of looking forward to see him improve from year one to year two."
9.04 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos
What's not to like about a free-agent wide receiver signing with the Broncos? Well, perhaps the selection of Cody Latimer in the second round, but at least to start the season, Sanders will have an opportunity as the team's third receiver behind Demaryius Thomas and Wes Welker. And we've seen how productive DT, Welker and Eric Decker could be as a trio last season. Compared to his ADP (via Fantasy Football Calculator) of 66th overall, Sanders is an excellent bargain here.
10.09 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Martellus Bennett, TE, Chicago Bears
In his first with the Bears, Bennett finished as the 10th-highest scoring fantasy tight end and set career highs with 65 receptions for 759 yards and tied a previous career high of five touchdowns. Bennett is the 11th tight end off the board in this mock and the 11th-ranked tight end in my fantasy rankings.
- See Yanotchko's other two teams: Team 2 - Team 3
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
