Mock drafts are a place to let your wildest ideas play out in hopes of developing a new strategy for how to attack your 2020 drafts. In this 12-team redraft mock, I selected out of the 10th spot. I chose this spot because I typically don’t like to draft from the end. So, to be as prepared as possible, I wanted to see what kind of team I could come up with selecting at the end of this snake draft.
Going into the draft I did not have a set plan on what I wanted to do other than to choose who I felt was the best available player on the board regardless of position. This process turned into a zero-RB approach, which I have never endorsed or tried previously. So join me as I venture into the always polarizing strategy of the zero-RB.
1.10 – Julio Jones
As my first pick was getting closer I saw most of the guys I had hoped to draft go off the board. By the tenth pick, seven running backs had already been taken, Michael Thomas and Davante Adams were gone and it seemed necessary to grab one of the best wide receivers to ever play the game of football. Julio. Jones. In redraft, I do not care about age, simply production. On a Falcons team that threw the ball more than any other NFL team last season, I love having their most elite WR.
2.03 – Tyreek Hill
In the four picks after my Julio selection, we saw four straight running backs go off the board. This opened the door for me to get my hands on a top tier receiver who catches passes from the best quarterback in the NFL on another pass-happy team, Tyreek Hill. To this point I have two guys who I believe could compete for WR1 numbers in 2020. When both played all 16 games in 2018, they finished as WR 3 (Hill) and WR 4 (Jones).
3.10 – D.J. Moore
After I chose Hill, eight more running backs went off the board before I was able to select my next player. At that point, the next best running backs available were Chris Carson and Le’Veon Bell. When it came down to it, having to decide between taking one of those two running backs or D.J. Moore, the decision was pretty easy. I grabbed the WR 1 in Carolina. A guy who, again, could very well put up WR 1 numbers this season. Through three rounds, I have three wide receivers who could all be WR 1s.
4.03 – JuJu Smith-Schuster
Four more selections between my 3.10 and 4.03 and three running backs get taken. I feel that this “zero-RB” strategy was a casualty of how the draft played out and not by choice. If I wanted to take a running back now, I’d be choosing between Mark Ingram and David Johnson. Both guys I think should have a decent season, but not guys that I value higher than my next pick, Juju Smith-Schuster. Now, I have been a pretty vocal Juju critic this offseason. He has finished as WR 23, WR 8, and WR 65 through his first three seasons in Pittsburgh. I do believe he has the talent. But, I have always said, relying on him as your WR 1 is not something I want to do. This played out perfectly for that logic, as I am relying on Juju as my WR 4.
What a strange draft it has been to this point as I feel all of my first four selections have the potential to be WR 1s. If you’re going to go zero-RB, this is a nice start.
5.10 – Devin Singletary
Four more running backs off the board. Now is my time to strike. I selected Devin Singletary a guy who I am high on for this season. Getting him this late in the draft after guys like D’Andre Swift and David Johnson went feels like a nice spot. Singletary was explosive last season, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt on the ground and 6.7 yards per reception. Sure, the Bills drafted Zack Moss, but I still believe Singletary is the guy in that offense, at least for this season. Singletary was able to gain almost 1,000 scrimmage yards in only 12 games played in 2019. My hope is with the addition of Stefon Diggs, and the need to account for Josh Allen’s powerful arm, the box should be a little bit less stacked for Singletary and he will continue to elude defenses in 2020.
6.03 – Sony Michel
James White went off the board with the pick prior to my selection, so I chose his backfield mate, Sony Michel. Do I love Michel? No. But, is he a guy that should still get the lion share of carries in New England? Yes. For as questionable as he preformed last season he still had over 1,000 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. In this strategy, a guy who could get that type of production as your RB 2 seems like a nice grab this late. I also assume that the Patriots with Cam at the helm and a rockstar defense shouldn’t be coming from behind too much in 2020. That should allow for the Patriots to pound the rock with Michel late in games, giving me some junk time points.
7.10 – Kyler Murray
With my wide receivers, flex, and running backs pretty much set, now felt like the right time to get the dark horse QB 1 this season, Kyler Murray. The usual five quarterbacks had already been taken (Mahomes, Jackson, Wilson, Watson, Prescott) and the names that went after Kyler were guys like Marvin Jones and Christian Kirk. Snagging a hybrid quarterback who just added DeAndre Hopkins this offseason gives me great joy this late in the draft. I did give some thought to punting quarterbacks until very late in the draft and grabbing an older guy like Roethlisberger, but Murray was too good to pass up at this point.
8.03 – Jordan Howard
More running back insurance. Jordan Howard was my selection at 8.03. He has been very productive at every stop he has made in his short career. At age 25 he has never had a season with less than 7 touchdowns. He has hit over 1,000 rushing yards twice in his first four seasons and is going to a pretty fun offense in Miami. He does have Matt Breida in the backfield with him but Howard should be the guy to get the majority of the carries early in the season. Howard is a criminally undervalued asset for both redraft and dynasty formats.
9.10 – Hunter Henry
Time to round out my starting lineup with a tight end. The best on the board is Hunter Henry and that is exactly who I targeted. We got a nice glimpse of what he can be if he stays on the field last season finishing as TE 9 despite playing in only ¾ of his team’s games. If Henry remains healthy he is a top-five talent in redraft leagues.
The Rest
10.03 – Jerry Jeudy – High upside, elite route runner, fun offense.
11.10 – Allen Lazard – Potential to be Rodgers’ number two option, has built a good rapport with him over the 2019 season.
12.03 – Tom Brady – Murray insurance here, Brady is working with the best offensive skill players he has ever had, should be in for a fun statistical season.
13.10 – Jonnu Smith – Henry insurance here, it is Smith’s job in Tennessee and if Henry falters, Smith is an easy plug and play.
14.03 – Randall Cobb – With the departure of Deandre Hopkins, the iffy-health of Fuller and Cooks, Cobb is a great option this late in the draft. He should be on the field a ton.
15.10 – Mohamed Sanu Sr – Dart throw – after Edelman, who knows who Cam Newton will find rapport with, maybe it is Sanu who has had a wonderful under the radar career.
All in all, I don’t know that I would necessarily advise you to go with a zero-RB strategy in your redraft leagues. It worked for me in this mock draft and I think it may be a good option to use if you’re selecting late in the draft as I did. If you have the ability to grab four receivers who could all finish top 12, then I would endorse the zero-RB strategy. Mock as much as you can pre-draft, choose from different drafting spots, and use different strategies each time. That is the best way to prepare for the upcoming season. Best of luck in your drafts!
Thanks for reading, follow me on Twitter @DFF_Ztrain for more fantasy football insight and discussion!
