RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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It's fun to compare different drafts when you have the same picks. It's even better when you can learn something from those drafts. We held another 12-team, PPR mock draft in July, and I also had the No. 7 overall pick. Like this draft, I also started with the same two players in Jonathan Taylor in Round 1 and Kenneth Walker III in Round 2. In that draft, which you can see here , I drafted a receiver in Round 3 in Emeka Egbuka. I also drafted a receiver in Round 3 here in Chris Olave. Round 4 was the biggest difference between the drafts. In the other draft, I went with Breece Hall to lock up my flex and a dominant running back corps. Here, I selected a receiver in Terry McLaurin, and I like this start better since this is a three-receiver league. Another big difference between the drafts happened in Round 5. In the first draft, I went with Lamar Jackson, which is great, but my receiving corps was thin. I passed on Christian Watson in that draft, but that's who I selected here. Now, what made that selection even better in this draft was getting Joe Burrow in Round 6. I love this team, which you'll see below. This is our 12-part, pick-by-pick series where me, Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jacob Gibbs, Dan Schneier and Heath Cummings all took part in a six-person PPR mock draft. We each built two of the 12 teams in this 14-round draft to show you a different strategy from each spot. This is an outline that you can follow if you pick No. 7 overall in your league. The key is to study the strategy and not necessarily the players to see if this works for you. As a reference point, all touchdowns in this league are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We also award one point for every reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE and FLEX (RB/WR/TE).
As a reference point, all touchdowns in this league are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We also award one point for every reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, and FLEX (RB/WR/TE)."
1.7: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts 2.6: Kenneth Walker, RB, Chiefs 3.7: Chris Olave, WR, Saints 4.6: Terry McLaurin, WR, Commanders 5.7: Christian Watson, WR, Packers 6.6: Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals 7.7: Chris Godwin, WR, Buccaneers 8.6: Isaiah Likely, TE, Giants 9.7: JK Dobbins, RB, Broncos 10.6: Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Buccaneers 11.7: Jalen Nailor, WR, Raiders 12.6: Dylan Sampson, RB, Browns 13.7: Jack Bech, WR, Raiders 14.6: Emmett Johnson, RB, Chiefs
We know not everything will work out as you plan following the draft, but I love this strategy of starting RB-RB at No. 7 overall. You should have your choice of Taylor or Christian McCaffrey in Round 1, and in Round 2 you will likely be able to choose from Walker, Omarion Hampton, Saquon Barkley or Derrick Henry based on the CBS Sports Average Draft Position. And Chase Brown, Ashton Jeanty or De'Von Achane could also fall to No. 18 overall. The receivers you could select in Round 2 are solid, and I had the choice here of George Pickens, Nico Collins and A.J. Brown instead of Walker. But I'm expecting Walker to be dominant in Kansas City, and he could be a top-five Fantasy running back this season. In Round 3, you could pivot to a running back, and I had the choice of Josh Jacobs, Kyren Williams or Javonte Williams at No. 31 overall. But I prefer to select a receiver in this spot, and Olave is a potential steal if healthy. Like the previous draft mentioned above, I could have selected Hall again in Round 4. But I didn't like my receivers in that first draft, and I wanted to take McLaurin here. If the Commanders don't add another receiver prior to Week 1 -- see Stefon Diggs or Keenan Allen -- then McLaurin should dominate targets from Jayden Daniels. And in 2024, when both were healthy, Daniels helped McLaurin have a career season at 15.8 PPR points per game. Watson just averaged a career-best 13.2 PPR points per game in 2025, and the Packers have 131 vacated targets this season with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks gone. This should be another big year for Watson, who is the perfect WR3 with upside to target as early as Round 5. Passing on Jackson in Round 5 isn't ideal, but it worked out when Burrow was there in Round 6. Burrow doesn't have Jackson's upside, but I like the combination of Watson and Burrow better than Jackson and Brian Thomas Jr. or Marvin Harrison Jr since those were the best receivers on the board where I selected Burrow. I also considered Tucker Kraft in Round 6 (he went three picks after Burrow) and then Kyle Pitts in Round 7. I took Godwin instead of Pitts, and I wouldn't be shocked if Godwin is a top-20 Fantasy receiver this year. He should be the slot receiver once again in Tampa Bay, and Baker Mayfield will lean on Godwin -- maybe more than Egbuka. I felt justified passing on Kraft and Pitts when I landed Likely in Round 8. While Kraft and Pitts have a higher ceiling than Likely, he should be No. 2 on the Giants behind Malik Nabers in targets. And if Nabers (knee) misses any time during the season, then Likely could be a borderline top-five Fantasy tight end. This could be one of my favorite starting lineups if everyone is healthy, with Burrow at quarterback, Taylor and Walker at running back, Olave, McLaurin and Watson at receiver, Likely at tight end and Godwin at flex. And there are quality reserves in Dobbins and Gainwell, as well as a decent friendship strategy with Nailor and Bech. I also handcuffed Walker with Johnson, and I'll be watching closely to see who wins the No. 2 running back job in Indianapolis between D.J. Giddens and Seth McGowan in case I want to handcuff Taylor. But if everyone on this Fantasy roster stays healthy, then I should be competing for a playoff spot -- and a potential championship.
We'll obviously keep an eye on Nabers, but Likely should be at least s...
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