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Redraft season is right around the corner! As NFL training camps open up, now is the perfect time to start mock drafting against the top experts in the fantasy football industry. You can use FantasyPros’ FREE mock draft simulator to do just that. Let’s dive into my latest mock draft and player notes.

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Round 1, Pick 10: Najee Harris (RB – PIT) Najee Harris had an incredibly productive rookie season, making the most of being a high-volume, multi-purpose running back for the Steelers in 2021. Harris averaged 15.5 fantasy points per game while finishing in the top five in total fantasy points (263.7) and gets a rejuvenated roster with younger arm talent.

Harris sliding down draft boards to tenth overall was a no-brainer for me, as he led all running backs in receptions (74) and will yield massive production in the passing game in 2022. His 3.9 YPC average is not concerning, as Harris joined Jonathan Taylor as the only running backs to exceed 300 carries, resulting in a 1,200-yard rushing campaign for the talented Pittsburgh running back.

Expect Harris to receive a similar volume in his second year, which means positive touchdown regression. Ten total touchdowns on 381 touches is relatively low, meaning Harris could easily take the RB1 title in 2022.

Round 2, Pick 3: Aaron Jones (RB – GB) Aaron Jones is another exciting running back prospect that is sliding outside the first round due to the emergence of A.J. Dillon. When assessing Jones’ role in Green Bay in 2022, expect the passing volume to increase from 65 targets to 80-plus targets. Dillon is a bruiser and could eat into many valuable goal-line carries; however, receptions are the currency to chase in PPR formats.

Aaron Rodgers has an entirely new receiving corps outside of Allen Lazard, so expect Jones to play a similar role to Najee Harris in pass-catching utilization. Rostering the potential second top target on a team with the back-to-back MVP is an intelligent decision, and it allows me to create a solid foundation of high-volume, pass-catching running backs. Jones is no slouch in the run game either, averaging 4.7 YPC to finish 171-799-4 last season. He’s elusive, strong, and possesses soft hands to make Jones the most desirable RB2 in redraft leagues.

Round 3, Pick 10: Tee Higgins (WR – CIN) Tee Higgins is a constant value due to the presence of Ja’Marr Chase. While Chase has built-in chemistry with Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Higgins has flashed his athletic profile and elite receiving ability during his first two years in Cincinnati.

Higgins finished as the WR22 in total fantasy points (182.1) in half-PPR formats and the WR12 in fantasy points per game (13 FPPG) despite missing three regular-season games. A six-game drought in touchdown production during the middle of 2021 still impacts fantasy managers’ perception of Higgins and his usage. Higgins saw 15 fewer snaps than Chase and finished with a 22.1 percent target share, separating himself from Tyler Boyd and just behind Chase at 25.7 percent.

If anything, Higgins is entering his third year in the league; typically, the year young wideouts make their most significant stride in terms of development. Higgins has 108 targets or more in both seasons and went from 908 yards in 2020 to 1,091 yards in 2021 but stayed at six touchdowns. If Higgins continues this trajectory and reaches double-digit touchdowns, he becomes a fringe WR1 on a potent Bengals offense in 2022.

Round 4, Pick 3: Travis Ettiene Jr. (RB – JAC) I’ve been skeptical of Travis Ettiene’s ADP (34.7) since it’s been climbing for weeks but seeing him available in the fourth round was a value I had to take. A pre-season injury kept the talented running back out of a bad situation in Jacksonville during the chaotic 2021 season under former head coach Urban Meyer.

Doug Pederson is a massive coaching upgrade for the Jaguars, and he’ll get the most out of second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The chemistry Etienne shares with Lawrence from their time playing together at Clemson is even more enticing. Etienne wound up rushing for 1,600 yards during his sophomore and junior seasons and was also a menace in the receiving game, finishing with at least 37 receptions, 432 yards, and two touchdowns in his final two years with the Tigers. Pederson deployed a running back-by-committee (RBBC) approach in Philadelphia during their Super Bowl run in 2017, but he should elevate Etienne into the RB1 role ahead of James Robinson in 2022.

Round 5, Pick 10: Marquise Brown (WR – ARI) Marquise “Hollywood” Brown’s trade to Arizona on draft night set the league on fire. At the time, DeAndre Hopkins’ six-game suspension had yet to be publicly announced, so Brown’s presence was exhilarating, albeit slightly confusing. As it stands now, Brown will be the default WR1 in the Cardinals’ offense for at least the first six games in 2022.

Chemistry is a big theme of this mock draft. Kyler Murray and Brown displayed elite production while playing at the University of Oklahoma should mitigate the transition from a run-centric Baltimore offense. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury likes to run four wide receiver sets and calls a lot of air raid-style passes, which Murray delivers accurately with a flick of his wrist. Brown dealt with Lamar Jackson’s volatile passing mechanics for three seasons but still progressed in his development, finishing 2021 with his first 1,000-yard receiving campaign.

Round 6, Pick 3: Kyler Murray (QB – ARI) Kyler Murray is a fantasy cheat code when he’s healthy. Unfortunately, his lack of rushing upside in 2021 resulted from the lower-body injury he sustained halfway through the season, which held him out of four games and mitigated his scrambling ability during the Cardinals’ playoff push.

While Murray did not hit double-digit rushing touchdowns as he did in 2020, he’s still an elite passer, finishing with over 3,700 passing yards in all three seasons. He has yet to reach 30 touchdowns in his career, but the addition of Marquise Brown should let Murray exceed this mark in 2022. Durability remains a concern when rostering Murray, but he has all of the skill and opportunity to return to the overall QB3 as he did in 2020. Securing my QB1 and correlating him with his newly minted WR1 is a massive addition to my current roster.

Round 7, Pick 10: Dalton Schultz (TE – DAL) Waiting to draft a tight end is usually the right decision, but Dalton Schultz became a value at the end of the seventh round. He’s still in contract discussions with the Cowboys, but this should not prevent you from drafting Schultz in 2022.

Dallas has a top-heavy offense led by CeeDee Lamb and Ezekiel Elliot, but Dalton Schultz ended 2021 on fire, scoring at least 15.6 points per game in three of his final four games. His connection with Dak Prescott is palpable, and Schultz’s big frame (6-5, 244-pounds) makes him a quality blocker, earning him even more opportunity in the passing game. Schultz is a security valve for Prescott when he’s under duress and will surpass 100 receiving yards for the first time in his career during the upcoming fantasy season. He has all the makings to be a top-five fantasy tight end in 2022.

Round 8, Pick 3: Rashaad Penny (RB – SEA) Landing Rashaad Penny as my RB4 is astounding. Durability concerns abound for the fifth-year running back. Still, he’s had plenty of time to acclimate to the league and is in a run-centric offense with underwhelming quarterback options. He exploded with four of his final five games, hitting at least 25 fantasy points per game in half-PPR formats. Penny has the opportunity to replicate this production for an entire season, but his injury history is foreboding.

Penny ranked first in breakaway percentage (12.6%) and committed zero fumbles, so he’s a dynamic runner with few weaknesses outside of health. In addition, he’s got game-breaking speed, ranking inside the 93rd percentile in PlayerProfiler’s speed score index, using his 220-pound frame to bully defenders at the goal line. RB3 would make me slightly more nervous, but as my RB4, I know that Penny will outshine his current 92.9 ADP.

Round 9, Pick 10: Chris Olave (WR – NO) After spending time manicuring the other key positions on my roster, I’ve returned to address the WR3. I’ve got plenty of running backs and love my first two wideouts, which include correlation, plus I’ve already secured a top-five tight end.

Chris Olave is a high-value pick at the end of the ninth round. Rookie wideouts can pop at any given moment in the season, and Olave winds up on a Saints roster built to be an aerial assault in 2022. Jarvis Landry, Michael Thomas, and Olave form a tantalizing wide receiving corps for Jameis Winston to dial up touchdowns all season. Winston threw 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions through seven games before suffering an ACL injury in 2021, so he can limit his interceptions with a quality roster.

Olave had three dominant seasons at Ohio State and racked up double-digit touchdowns and at least 840 yards twice, utilizing elite speed and reliable hands to secure tightly contested throws. He’s a touchdown machine and will be given great looks in coverage with Landry and Thomas on the field, masking Kamara’s initial absence and weak offensive line. I’m confident Olave will finish 2022 as a WR3 to return immense value this late in drafts.

Round 10, Pick 3: Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR – KC) Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed a three-year, $30 million contract to join the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason. The speedster was volatile but yielded good production when he was hot for Green Bay in 20211, finishing with 13.4 FPPG or higher in three games.

The change of scenery could be massively beneficial to help MVS take his career to the next level. Kansas City has a top-tier quarterback and head coach, so they should be able to utilize his speed and develop his route running to allow for a more consistent role in the passing game. Contrary to public perception, Valdes-Scantling has averaged 8.1 yards per target in three of his four seasons in the league, using his speed after the catch to average an impressive 17.5 yards per reception.

JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman are the only other veteran wideouts. At the same time, rookies Sky Moore and Justyn Ross have a lot of fantasy managers concerned about investing in MVS’ production outlook. I want pieces of great offenses, so I’m happy to draft the potential WR1 in Kansas City as my WR4.

Round 11, Pick 10: Tim Patrick (WR – DEN) I loaded up on my wide receiving depth based on how the draft board fell. Tim Patrick is an underrated wideout for the Denver Broncos and finished just outside the top 36 (40th) in total fantasy points per game (129.9) with Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater in 2021. This is an impressive feat, but Patrick has the size at 6-4, 212-pounds to be a complete game wrecker along the perimeter of the offense.

Patrick finished as the WR1 for the Broncos in 2021 in total fantasy points and first in fantasy points per game (8.1) in direct competition with Courtland Sutton. Russell Wilson’s arrival via a blockbuster free agency trade will revitalize a slow, one-dimensional Denver offense into a highly efficient scoring machine in 2022. Targets were never an issue for Patrick in 2021, but he had eight games with five targets and three or fewer receptions.

A vastly improved quarterback and the arrival of Nathaniel Hackett from Green Bay create a high floor and ceiling for Patrick in 2022. He’s valuable as my WR5 and could wind up with WR2 production this season.

Round 12, Pick 3: Marlon Mack (RB – HOU) Marlon Mack is two years removed from a 1,000-yard rushing campaign in Indianapolis. His injuries have piled up, but Mack is now fresh and slated to get massive volume as Houston’s RB1 in 2022.

He averaged 12.4 and 14.1 FPPG in half-PPR formats during 2018 and 2019 for the Colts but just turned 26. Despite the injuries, Mack has been kept fresh in his rehab across the last two seasons, so expect the Texans to use him early and often. Goal-line carries will determine whether rostering Mack is a good decision. He scored at least eight rushing touchdowns in 2018 and 2019 but was extremely limited as a pass-catcher. However, as my RB5, I’m comfortable taking the risk on a player with significant injury history despite Mack’s small projected role in Houston’s passing game.

Round 13, Pick 10: Damien Williams (RB – ATL) RB6 is a slot that demands significant upside, so investing in a quality RB2 like Damien Williams is satisfactory. Atlanta signed Williams after he had a quiet year in 2021 with Chicago, still managing to produce 4.1 YPC and score three touchdowns on just 56 touches.

Williams is 30 years old, but his career achievement thus far came in the Super Bowl for Kansas City in 2019, where he led the Chiefs on a remarkable playoff run with his one-cut ability and elusiveness. Atlanta has a hodge-podge of players on their running back depth chart, but many fantasy managers still want to buy into Cordarrelle Patterson. Unfortunately, as fantastic as he was for the Falcons against bad defenses in 2021, his production ticked way down towards the end of the year. He’s well past his prime, and rookie Tyler Allgeier may be limited to start the year.

Williams has a great chance of winding up Atlanta’s RB2. Their porous defense should demand another year of fast-paced scoring, which translates into increased opportunities for the veteran running back to produce.

Round 14, Pick 3: Mike Gesicki (TE – MIA) Mike Gesicki is too low on draft boards, and his 136 ADP also held up in this mock draft. Miami has brought in entirely new personnel under first-year head coach Mike McDaniel, who should implement a similar zone-run blocking scheme that San Francisco and Green Bay deploy. This means frequent two and three tight end sets, allowing Gesicki to play more snaps and hit a route to execute textbook play-action passes from Tua Tagovailoa this season.

Gesicki started 2021 red-hot, collecting four double-digit finishes in a five-game stretch. However, Jaylen Waddle’s emergence impacted his dip in production, along with Jacoby Brissett being forced to start five games due to Tagovailoa’s injury. The Dolphins’ tight end room is still Gesicki’s until proven otherwise, as Durham Smythe and Adam Shaheen have been utilized as run-blockers much more than as receivers.

I’m banking on Gesicki to recover from a career-low two touchdowns in 2021 and expect him to return or exceed six touchdowns and 800 receiving yards to land firmly inside the TE1 landscape. This late in the draft, protecting the tight end position is a good decision, particularly with the heavy usage my TE1, Dalton Schultz, will receive in 2022.

Round 15, Pick 10: New Orleans Saints D/ST Now that my roster is fully intact regarding the skill position depth, I pivoted to D/ST and opted to draft New Orleans. The Saints retained a lot of their defensive talent and signed Tyran Mathieu this offseason, adding firepower to an impressive secondary. New head coach Dennis Allen has been the Saints’ defensive coordinator for several years, so he’s already adjusted and comfortable with their scheme. As long as All-Pro defensive end Cameron Jordan continues to bring pressure off the edge, the rest of the defense will be set up for great success in 2022.

Round 16, Pick 3: Daniel Carlson (K – LV) Leagues formatted to include a kicker position in lineups add an element of difficulty to fantasy drafts. Do you take the best available kicker on the board a couple of rounds before the final round, or wait and settle for a mid-tier player instead? I was early in the final round based on the snake reversal in this mock draft, so, fortunately, I could roster a quality kicker.

Daniel Carlson is coming off a career year, converting 40/43 field goal attempts, including 18 from 40-plus yards. The Raiders tend to stall out in the red zone, so even under a new coaching regime, expect Carlson to dial up two to three attempts per game in 2022.

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