Fantasy Football Best Ball Draft 4.0

This fantasy football mock draft was an 18-round Best Ball slow draft done on Underdog in a .5 PPR format. The starting lineup consists of one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE and one Flex, and there are 10 bench spots. We went back to a 12-team league for this one. 

Pick 1.11 - A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

With what I believed to be a significant drop off at wide receiver after Brown, I opted for him over a running back with just two picks in between my first and second-round selections, and Jahmyr Gibbs, Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor all still on the board. 

Pick 2.2 - Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Both Barkley and Gibbs went with the next two picks and I was left with my highest-ranked running back in the group. I love Taylor this season and was thrilled he fell to me in the second round. 

Pick 3.11 - Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

Pacheco is a back I'm extremely high on this year and have been drafting every opportunity I get. He will be a top-10 back this season and could finish closer to five than 10. 

Pick 4.2 - Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

This is a player I go back and forth on according to the day. However, I like him more in best ball leagues because I get the benefit of his big explosion games and don't have to worry as much about his duds since I don't have to actually set a lineup each week. 

Pick 5.11 - Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans

Ridley is a player I wanted some exposure to this year. DeAndre Hopkins going down with an injury only made me like this pick more even though it was actually made just prior to that news breaking. 

Pick 6.2 - Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks

I don't quite understand why Walker gets so overlooked. Before getting injured last season he was mid-range RB1 and has the talent to break a big play on any carry with the size to be pounded between the tackles. No one should be shocked if he ends up finishing as an RB1 this season. 

Pick 7.11 - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

The clock actually timed out on me here. I had worked a 16-hour overnight shift the night before and fell asleep for 13 hours. If it hadn't I probably would have drafted D'Andre Swift, nevertheless, there is no reason this pick can't work out just as well or better. 

Pick 8.2 - Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals

In hindsight now I don't love this pick. I've gotten higher on Chase Brown and lower on Moss. However, he is still listed as the RB1 on the team depth chart and has a potential opportunity to see a ton of touches in a great offense. This just goes to show how quickly things change and my view changed in the middle of a slow draft. 

Pick 9.11 - David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

When I miss out on the top tier of tight ends, Njoku is generally my go-to guy at the position. The talent and opportunity are both there. He just needs Deshaun Watson to play like an NFL quarterback and throw the ball his way. 

Pick 10.2 - Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Purdy isn't the sexiest pick in the world, but we know he's going to pile up points in that offensive system with all those weapons around him. 

Pick 11.11 - Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

You can pretty much copy and paste the Purdy section for Goff. Despite getting Goff a round later, he's probably the better option of the two. 

Pick 12.2 - Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints

Miller has since gotten hurt and people are generally down on him heading into the season. I'd still be surprised if he doesn't earn the early-down role over Jamaal Williams, who looked completely cooked last season. 

Pick 13.11 - Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Hubbard was excellent down the stretch last season and Jonathon Brooks is not expected to be ready for the first month of the season. There is a lot of value to be had when you can grab Hubbard this late in a best-ball league. It's no guarantee that Brooks will immediately come in off of a torn ACL and make Hubbard irrelevant this season either. 

Pick 14.2 - Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders

This is a guy I don't particularly love and reports around him have been negative. Still, I wanted some exposure to him just in case he pops off in an offense where the tight end will be relevant. 

Pick 15.11 - Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Jones is a bad NFL quarterback and an inconsistent fantasy QB. His rushing ability does give him a high ceiling that is perfect for a QB3 in best ball behind two consistent QBs. 

Pick 16.2 - Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots

Bourne is one of the guys I'm always drafting late in best ball drafts thanks to his upside and play-making ability. It is possible that he will once again be the primary playmaker in the Patriots' passing attack this season. 

Pick 17.11 - Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals

This a dart throw pick targeting an athletic starting tight end in a high-powered offense that just lost both their primary safety blankets. With Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon gone, there is an opportunity for Gesicki to earn those dump-off passes. 

Pick 18.2 - Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants

With Jones already on my roster, I stacked Hyatt with his QB. He will serve as the Giants' primary deep threat and was a highly touted prospect entering last year's draft. If he has a few boom games he'll be more than worth my final pick.