My Early Fantasy Mock Draft: Round One

My Early Fantasy Mock Draft: Round One

1st round  mock 12 team PPR Snake Draft:

1. Saquon Barkley RB (NYG)

Barkley looks to build off a great rookie campaign. With an upgraded offensive line and loss of Odell Beckham expect Saquon to be a workhorse with the giants. With 91 receptions last season he is seen as a threat not just in the running game but will add value in the passing game. Barkley should be number 1 on everyone’s board. 

2.  Ezekiel Elliott RB DAL

Zeke showed everyone last season that he is still in the best running back in the league conversation. His pass catching ability increased dramatically from his first two seasons. Since he is in a little trouble with the league keep an eye on what Goodell does with the Las Vegas incident. I would expect him to miss week 1. Zeke still ran for 1400 yards last season as the offensive line battled injuries. When he’s in the lineup on this healthy Dallas team expect him to be a fantasy stud once again.

3. Alvin Kamara RB NO

Kamara started off last season and proved to everyone he was more than a pass catcher. When Mark Ingram came back off the suspension he remained effective but his carries decreased. There should be no doubt about Kamara heading into the 2019 season with a quarterback who isn’t getting any younger Alvin and Michael Thomas will be the stars of the show in the big easy. 

4. Deandre Hopkins WR HOU 

Hopkins continues to build more chemistry with Watson. Last season with a 115 receptions and a 1500 yard season he proved he can be a top 5 pick in fantasy. As much as Watson loves to throw to him seeing how last year went when the Texans made him the star of the show they should look to make him the focus to get back to the playoffs. His ability to run after the catch and being such a red zone threat make him draftable in the early first round.

5. Christian McCaffrey RB CAR

McCaffrey was very effective for the Panthers last season.Cam Newton is coming off of serious shoulder surgery. His ability to throw the deep ball will be affected. This is a good thing for Christian he had over a 100 receptions last season expect more this year. To help Cam heal up they are going to build the offense around their Stanford product. Expect another big year and consider him a solid RB1 in your lineup for 2019.

6. Julio Jones WR ATL 

Julio has proved that he can go off any given Sunday. Matt Ryan continues to love giving Julio a chance to go get the ball in the red zone. The Falcons improved through the draft and free agency. With a better supporting cast around Ryan and Julio, this will allow them to have more opportunities to score points and take some defenders away from Jones’ side of the ball. Julio is a safe pick in the middle of the first round. He is an elite WR1 on most rosters.

7. Odell Beckham Jr. WR CLE

Beckham was the headline of the offseason. The trade that sent him to Cleveland and Jabrill Peppers and picks to New York shocked the world. Odell is now wearing the same uniform as his best friend Jarvis Landry and the hottest up and coming quarterback, Baker Mayfield. This browns offense is going to be explosive. Beckham finally gets a quarterback who matches the talent he has and a talented supporting cast. Expect Odell again to prove he can be considered the best wideout in the game. If he wasn’t apart of such a loaded receiving core he would be higher on most draft boards. Expect a big year out of the LSU standout.

8. Todd Gurley RB LAR

Many forget how great of a season Gurley was having before his knee injury. He still remained top 3 in fantasy points after missing a few games. He was a touchdown machine for the Rams catching and running out of that backfield. As the younger players that lead that Rams team get more experienced they will become more of an elite offense. Gurley’s ability to do pretty much everything a running back needs him to do makes him a solid round 1 pick. As long as Gurley's knee holds up he will remain a deadly fantasy player to an opponent you may come across.

9. Le’ Veon Bell RB NYJ

After James Connor and Jaylen Samuels made it look easy to run the ball in Pittsburgh people forgot about Bell. Bell used to be the best player in fantasy. His unique ability to be patient as a runner and still find a way to find holes often is remarkable. His catching and blocking ability let him play almost all the snaps when he was in the black and gold. Sam Darnold will love having a guy like Le’Veon to dump the ball down to and punch it in at the goalline. Bell seems hungry to play, Don’t let the fact that Connor and Samuels also succeeded in Pittsburgh scare you cause they are good players just like Bell. Le’Veon is still a middle RB1.

10. Melvin Gordon RB LAC

Gordon and the chargers had a successful season in 2018. Melvin averaged the most yards per rush in his career last season. He lost carries and receptions by dealing with injuries throughout the season and the emergence of running back Austin Ekeler who played a key role for the bolts in their playoff run. Expect the chargers to be good again and with that explosive of an offense, Gordon will get his red zone touches he remains a low RB1 and worthy of a first round pick. 

11. Michael Thomas WR NO

Thomas had a coming out party last season. His build and speed he has led him to a first-round 1400 yard season. The Ohio State product also had 125 catches, to be Drew Brees’ favorite target isn’t a bad thing. His accuracy and durability make a successful season for Thomas almost a given. Consider him a very good WR1 and a mid first round pick without a doubt.

12. Patrick Mahomes QB KC

Mahomes is the most entertaining player in the National football league. His arm strength and ability to move outside the pocket is unreal. Last year setting records and winning a lot of games for the chiefs he was a fantasy superstar. His talent allows him to be successful with any group of players even with a questionable Tyreek Hill he will a must-start every Sunday. With all eyes on Mahomes to have a second legendary season expect him to ball out again. I usually wouldn’t recommend drafting a QB in the first round but players like Mahomes don’t come around often. 

-By: Sam Kirk