There are some mock draft teams that you like, and there are some mock draft teams that you don't like. Back in May, we held our first mock draft of the 2016 season ... and I liked it a lot. As far as this one goes, well, I'm not in love with it. Maybe that's because I took a tight end in the first round and was forced to wait on a wide receiver until the 30th pick. Or maybe it's because I just missed out on a few players who were drafted a spot or two ahead of me.
Oh the woes of the fantasy football owner.
Anyway, here's a look at the team I built in our second mock of the season. It's a competitive squad to be sure, but I'd need a pair of wideouts to earn their draft position for it to be a championship contender.
Round 1, Pick 10: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots - I could have taken Lamar Miller in this spot and Dez Bryant in Round 2, but I sided with Gronkowski. The best tight end in fantasy football, he's a virtual lock to post 1,000-plus yards and 10 or more touchdowns ... even without Tom Brady for four games. Gronkowski has recorded 180-plus fantasy points in each of the last two full seasons.
Round 2, Pick 11: Lamar Miller, RB, Texans - I can't tell you how much I love Miller's potential in the Texans offense this season. Will he be the next Arian Foster? Well, that's a lot to expect from the Miami (FL) product, but he should be damn good as the new top runner under coach Bill O'Brien. The Texans should do what the Dolphins didn't ... ride Miller as a true featured running back.
Round 3, Pick 30: Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills - There are some questions about Watkins due to his injured foot, but it was nice to see him running a 25-yard sprint in a recent Instagram video to ease the mind (at least somewhat). Barring any setbacks in his return, I can see him moving up the rank lists and become a No. 1 fantasy wideout in 2016. He won't last beyond the end of Round 4 in drafts.
Round 4, Pick 31: Matt Forte, RB, Jets - I almost went with Brandon Marshall, but I was worried that people would eat up running backs between this pick and my next one. As a result, I went with Marshall's teammate and the best runner left on the board in Forte. He's a nice fit for the offense of Chan Gailey and should continue to see a role as a runner and receiver in his age-30 season.
Round 5, Pick 50: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers - I'm looking to add depth to the running back and wide receiver positions in the next few rounds, and Stewart should fit in well as a No. 3 runner on this roster. While there's cause for concern due to his proneness to injuries, the Oregon product should remain the top backfield option in a Carolina offense that likes to run the football.
Round 6, Pick 51: Eric Decker, WR, Jets - I wanted to land someone like T.Y. Hilton in this spot, but I knew I had little chance that he would last. Instead, I ended up with the best wideout left in Decker. Am I concerned that his stock will plummet without Ryan Fitzpatrick? That would be an emphatic heck yes, but there's still a lot of time for the veteran to come to his senses, right?
Round 7, Pick 70: DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins - Parker is one of the more popular sleeper/breakout candidates in fantasy football, so I was pleased to grab him in the seventh round. I'll need him to meet or exceed expectations, even more so if Decker is catching passes from Geno Smith. Dolphins coach Adam Gase should get the most out of this talented wide receiver in his second pro season.
Round 8, Pick 71: Frank Gore, RB, Colts - Yes, Gore is old and should have flamed out two seasons ago. But the man is like the Energizer bunny ... he just keeps going and going and going. It also doesn't hurt that the veteran has little to no competition of backfield touches (at least, unless you love Josh Ferguson). I'll take the old man as a No. 4 fantasy back even at his extended age.
Round 9, Pick 90: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers - Roethlisberger lost some of his luster when the Steelers lost Martavis Bryant (suspension), but he's still in what should be one of the league's best pass attacks. Furthermore, he averaged more than 19 fantasy points per game in his 12 starts last season. He's a good bet to score 300-plus points in 2016, making him a nice bargain.
Round 10, Pick 91: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Vikings - I admit that I don't have the sort of depth I'd like at wide receiver, but that's what happens when you draft Gronkowski in Round 1 and pass on a wideout in Round 2. As a result, I wanted to get a receiver with the potential to be the most-targeted player on his roster. Treadwell fit the bill in a Vikings offense without a set No. 1 option.
Round 11, Pick 110: Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants - Jennings has some competition in the form of rookie Paul Perkins, but he's a decent bargain at this point in the draft. Remember, he led all running backs in rushing yards (432) and was sixth in carries (79) over the final four games of last season. He's a bit long in the tooth at age 31, but Jennings is far better than a fifth fantasy back.
Round 12, Pick 111: Tavon Austin, WR, Rams - Austin finished last season tied with Amari Cooper in fantasy points, but you don't hear much about him because he's in a Los Angeles offense that lacks firepower. Still, the former first-round pick is still well worth a look as a No. 5 wideout in fantasy land. He could see more targets and opportunities with Jared Cook no longer in the mix, too.
Round 13, Pick 130: Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys - Is this a little bit of a homer pick for this die-hard Dallas fan? Sure, but why not take a good fantasy quarterback like Romo at this late stage of the draft? I know he's had major issues with his collarbone, but that concern in the fantasy world could turn Romo into one heck of a draft bargain. I consider him an attractive No. 2 fantasy option.
Round 14, Pick 131: Chiefs defense - Outside of the Seahawks, there has not been a better defensive option in fantasy football over the last three seasons. In 2013, the Chiefs led the position in fantasy points with a ridiculous 204 in standard leagues. After a major decline the following season, this unit re-emerged as an elite option with 174 fantasy points and a No. 2 rank among defenses in 2015.
Round 15, Pick 150: Cairo Santos, K, Chiefs - I will target Stephen Gostkowski earlier than most fantasy owners (maybe Round 10-11), but not earlier than Adam Rank who took him in the fifth round of this mock. As a result, the kicker position moved back to the end of the line and Santos was the best option on the board. He finished 2015 ranked a solid seventh in fantasy points among kickers.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
