2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft, 1.0: Sean Beazley (Team 2)
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 Sean Beazley - Team 2:
1.08 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
Although I'd personally go with A.J. Green as my WR2, Thomas would be in the mix and deserves consideration for that honor. That said, I'd personally go with Jimmy Graham or a running back here as it's possible that Thomas would be available at Sean's next pick (2.05).
Even so, Thomas has once again posted huge numbers and should be in line for another monster season. In his second with Peyton Manning, DT's numbers were nearly identical to his first season. Last year, Thomas had 92 receptions (94 in 2012), 1,430 yards (1,434) and 14 touchdowns (10).
With Eric Decker departing via free agency, the Broncos added Emmanuel Sanders via free agency and Cody Lattimer via the draft. Either way, Thomas appears to be a lock for 90/1,400/10.
2.05 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Although he saw a year-over-year drop in yardage from 1,382 to 1,233 yards, Bryant set career highs (barely, by one in each case) in receptions (93) and touchdowns (13). Battling a back injury, Bryant still played in all 16 games this season although he got plenty of attention/criticism for the minute or so he missed against the Packers. Despite some (im)maturity concerns, Bryant is one of the most physically-gifted players in the league and should be a lock for another 1,200-yard season with double-digit touchdowns.
3.08 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Chris Johnson, RB, New York Jets
There are a few running backs that I'd prefer here, but Sean is a die-hard Titans' fan and perhaps this pick is a bit nostalgic. After being released by the Titans, Johnson signed a two-year deal with the Jets worth up to $9 million. Even though he rushed for a career-low 3.9 yards per carry last season, he still managed to go over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his sixth consecutive season. Not only is he one of the league's fastest players, he has been extremely durable playing 16 games in each of the past five seasons.
4.05 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
While I considered Brees with my last few picks, I decided to hold off and wait to draft my quarterback but I think Brees is a tremendous bargain here.
For a long time, 5,000 passing yards seemed like a special feat. And it is ... for everyone else. For Brees, however, it's become an expectation. Brees has thrown for 5,000-plus yards in three consecutive seasons. With four 5,000-yard seasons in his career, Brees is tied with all other quarterbacks in the history of the NFL combined. In addition, Brees has thrown for 128 touchdowns over the past three years.
Even if Brees doesn't reach 5,000 passing yards this season, he's going to come close and he's a lock to be a top-three producer in fantasy points at the position.
5.08 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Knowshon Moreno, RB, Miami Dolphins
While this team is loaded at quarterback (Drew Brees) and wide receiver (Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant), it leaves a bit (or a lot) to be desired at running back (CJ1K and now Moreno). Perhaps the QB/WR strength of this team will more than neutralize its weakness at RB, but I'd feel much more comfortable adding a WR2 of Harvin (the previous pick) or Victor Cruz (the next pick) than I'd be in making Moreno my RB2.
As the featured back in Denver's high-powered offense, Moreno ranked fifth in fantasy points among running backs last season. Transitioning from Denver to Miami, it's unlikely that Moreno produces anywhere close to the numbers he had last year, but I expect him to at least enter the season as the Phins' first-team back. As poorly as Miami protected Ryan Tannehill last year, Moreno's ability in pass protection bodes well for his snap count.
6.05 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
After playing a full 16-game season from 2002 to 2012, Wayne missed nine games due to a torn ACL. Before the injury, Wayne had 38 catches for 503 yards and two touchdowns, which would have put him on pace for 87 catches and 1,150 yards. Even though he will turn 36 in November, Wayne has a good chance of reaching the 1,000-yard milestone provided he stays healthy.
FanDuel MLB: Win the $1 MILLION top prize in FanDuel's DFBC
7.08 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders
Perhaps one of these years, McFadden will stay healthy and be productive for an entire season. And perhaps Aussie supermodel Miranda Kerr will fall madly in love with me one of these years. (So, you're telling me there's a chance?)
In all seriousness, sadly, McFadden has yet to play a full 16-game season and it's been worse over the past three years (29 total games) than it was in his first three seasons (38 games). Largely in part to overall durability, I'd prefer Maurice Jones-Drew over Run DMC, but McFadden's ceiling is higher if everything comes together.
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.
9.08 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers
With Jonathan Stewart missing the majority of the year, Williams rushed 201 times for 843 yards and three touchdowns. It was the first time that Williams reached 200 carries since the 2009 season and he's unlikely to repeat that feat provided The Daily Show stays healthy in 2014. That said, the Panthers should continue to be a run-first team and I'd expect the 31-year-old RB to lead the team in carries again.
10.05 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
By drafting Hill, it would appear that The Law Firm's days in Cincy are numbered. Either way, I would expect him to get a sizable amount of touches behind Giovani Bernard. A big and powerful runner, Hill rushed for 2,156 yards (6.2 YPC) and 28 touchdowns on 345 carries over the past two seasons at LSU.
- See Beazley's other two teams: Team 1 - 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
