NFL.com held it's first experts league mock draft of the year on Monday, May 20th. The standard scoring league consists of NFL Fantasy LIVE members Dave Dameshek, Elliot Harrison, Michael Fabiano, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Jaime Maggio, Adam Rank, Matt "Money" Smith and Jason Smith. Also in the league are NFL.com fantasy editor Marcas Grant and NFL.com features editor Alex Gelhar. Each owner was required to put together a lineup of one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one flex (RB/WR/TE), one tight end, one kicker and one defense/special teams unit.
Note: To view the entire 15-round mock draft, **click here**.
My main goal was to get two great running backs right off the top and wait on a quarterback. With so many great second-year quarterbacks, there is more depth at the position than I can recall in recent memory. So I filled up on runners and receivers in the first five rounds.
Did your draft strategy work?
Absolutely. It's easy to stack your running backs when you're able to get Peterson. And that's the great thing about picking second - the decision is made for you, and nobody will fault you for taking him. Forte will have a solid season, and I'm really excited by Newton. He was a first- or second- round pick last year, and I was able to get him at the top of the sixth-round.
What was your favorite pick(s)?
I loved the Cam pick, but I'm absolutely delighted with McFadden as a flex starter. This will be the steal of the draft If he can regain his form and thrive in the power-blocking scheme. There are some risks with Forte and McFadden, but it will be good in the long run. And getting Rudolph that late? Wonderful.
What pick(s) do you most regret?
I'm not crazy about taking LeShoure, Bradshaw and Ingram. But I should get one serviceable back between the three of them, I hope. It's almost like my team would be a halfway house for high-risk running backs.
Who drafted the best fantasy team?
I like my team, but Fabiano is the Hall of Famer for a reason. He did some nice work from the No. 7 spot. Gelhar did some things I really liked, too. As did Grant.
