It's February, and that means it's time for fantasy football mock drafts. No, seriously, let's not pretend the first football-free weekend of the year was an easy one. So let's get to the mock draft.
A lot of times these one-man mock drafts can be a bit skewed because, let's be honest, every league has people of varying skill levels. You have the experts, the novices and the noobs. So I wanted to get another voice involved here that could capture a different take. To give a more honest approach to this, instead of one filled with my bias.
Once again I've turned to my mother-in-law, Patty McGillicuddy. You might remember her from her first turn in the Super Bowl FAQ. She's become very popular, so we will do this draft together with alternating picks with 10 different teams.
And yes, she's playing the role of the fantasy expert, and I am of course your fantasy noob. Sorry to steal that joke from you.
Mrs. McGillicuddy has the honors.
First round
- Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings (PM)
Paddy McGillicuddy: Is this not a good pick?
Adam Rank: Yes, it's a good one. But why Peterson?
PM: He was so good last year and the Vikings don't have a lot of good players so he's going to have to run the ball even more next year.
AR: No worries about him being able to return after a magical season?
PM: He looked pretty good playing on a bad leg last year, I think he'll be fine.
- Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans (AR)
AR: This is going to be the debate for the offseason, Peterson or Foster. Fortunately for those of you sitting at No. 2, the decision is made for you. The only thing that troubles me about Foster is he's way too serious. Just look at his exchange with the Iron Sheik over the weekend. Michael Ian Black showed you how to engage the former WWF champion. You know, I'm not sure I can draft a guy who disrespects the legend. Oh wait, I'm sure I can.
PM: The Iron Sheik is still alive?
AR: Oh yeah.
PM: Should I look him up on Twitter?
AR: Oh no. He's not for the faint of heart. Or for people who love grammar.
- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (PM)
PM: Why are you looking at me like that?
AR: I just don't like going with quarterbacks this early in drafts.
PM: Didn't Rodgers have the most fantasy points last year?
AR: Well, he was second. But there are a lot of quarterbacks who score a ton of points. So it might be better to take a running back.
PM: So you want me to change my pick?
AR: I want you to take who you would take in this spot.
PM: Well, I'm taking the guy who scored the second-most points last year. I don't see why this is wrong.
- LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (AR)
AR: I nearly blew my fantasy championship last year when I took McCoy with the second overall pick (in my defense, I didn't realize Elliot Harrison took Rodgers first overall). McCoy struggled with injuries but should be better in Chip Kelly's new offense.
PM: Do you think the Eagles will have a bunch of color combinations like Oregon did in years past?
AR: That would be cool.
- Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
PM: Now you're definitely mad aren't you?
AR: I'm not mad.
PM: But Drew Brees scored the most points last year. Now his coach is back. I don't see what's wrong with this. What am I missing about fantasy that everybody seems to get? I would think you want to draft guys who would score you the most points. Am I crazy?
AR: No.
PM: But you seem mad about this pick.
AR: It's your pick. This is why I invited you. It's not wrong. Just not what I would do.
PM: But he had the most points last year, right?
AR: Yes.
PM: So, I should draft guys who score points, right?
AR: Let's move on.
- Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks (AR)
AR: The Seahawks are one of those teams on the cusp of a championship bid. Along with Russell Wilson, the Seahawks offense should be very dynamic heading into next season. I'd be very happy with Lynch at the sixth spot.
- Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (PM)
AR: I feel you only did this to make me happy.
PM: I like Charles, and I like Andy Reid. I hope Reid doesn't ignore Charles like he did McCoy.
AR:That's the fear. But nice pick.
- Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland Browns (AR)
AR: Richardson had an amazing season when you consider he missed some time very early and never truly got healthy. He had a nose for the endzone and this is a guy headed for a breakout year. This is going to be a good season for the Browns and Richardson will benefit.
- Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers (PM)
PM: Now I can tell you're mad.
AR: I just don't understand why you want to get me fired.
PM: Who is going to fire you because I picked Cam Newton in a mock draft?
AR: Fabiano is going to fire me.
PM: Oh stop it. He's such a nice young man. Why again is this a bad pick?
AR: Don't you remember me telling you how I lost my "League of Record?"
PM: The one they did on the NFL Fantasy Live show? I thought you won that one.
AR: I won that one. But I lost against my friends from Corona, Calif. and it was because I took Cam Newton at the end of the first round.
PM:But he was good down the stretch. If Michael is upset with this pick, I'll talk to him for you.
- Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AR)
AR: If I was sitting in the 10-hole and landed Doug Martin, I would be the happiest man in the world.
PM: My daughter is one lucky girl.
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Second round
10.Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos (PM)
PM: I know this won't please you because of your disdain for Peyton Manning.
AR: I don't hate him.
PM: Nonetheless, you said yourself that he won a league for you last year and now he's going to play the easiest schedule this year. So he looks like a great pick.
- Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens (AR)
AR: There was much to rejoice when Jim Caldwell was elevated to offensive coordinator. But if you can read between the lines, you'll notice the Ravens are moving dangerously close to a RBBC with Bernard Pierce.
PM: Whats a RBBC?
AR: Oh, sorry. It's a running back-by-committee.
- Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots (PM)
AR: I can already read the letter, "Dear Adam, we wish you well on your future endeavors."
PM: Stop it. Who are you going to take next?
AR: Probably C.J. Spiller.
PM: Brady had way more points than Spiller. Maybe I'm not cut out for fantasy. Is this like golf where the lowest score wins?
AR: No need for the sass.
- C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills (AR)
AR: Spiller could have a monster season under new coach Doug Marrone. I wouldn't worry about Fred Jackson's return from an injury, Spiller is now the guy in Buffalo. This would be an awesome spot for him to fall to. But only possible if somebody in your draft loves quarterbacks.
PM: Stop it.
- Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions (PM)
AR: Interesting pick.
PM: Is this not good, either? There's no pleasing you.
AR: No, I just missed the announcement where Johnson was going to start at quarterback this year.
PM: Hilarious.
AR: I like the pick. I'm not sure he can get close to 2,000 receiving yards again.
PM: Everybody thought the Madden curse was going to wipe him out, too. Even if he's 500-yards worse this season, he will be at 1,500 receiving yards. So he's a good pick.
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- Alfred Morris, RB, Washington Redskins (AR)
AR: Shanahanigans are now officially over. I'm a full convert to the House of Shanahan. Love Freddy Morris' attitude and the way he ran last year. You hate to say things like, "In any other year, he's your rookie of the year," but it's the truth.
PM: You don't fear Shanahanigans at all?
AR: Not at all. Morris earned it.
- Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots (PM)
PM: I like having Patriots on my team. Ridley was good last year so I will take him here.
AR: You know Shanahanigans is now being operated by Bill Belichick in New England. But for this spot, to put him with McCoy, this is a nice pick.
- Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears (AR)
AR: I don't love Forte in this spot. But since somebody picked Rodgers third-overall, I couldn't just ignore the position. This is why you don't take a quarterback that high in the draft.
PM: Is he not good? The sheet you gave me said Forte scored the 12th-most points among fantasy running backs last year.
AR: If you're going to use logic, then I don't want to chitchat.
- Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (PM)
PM: He's playing this year, right?
AR: I think so.
PM: So this is an okay pick?
AR: Well, you would have Arian Foster to go with him. If MJD was able to get close to his former self, you could be looking at a real nice tandem at running back. So I like this.
PM: Oh thank you, exulted one.
- Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons (AR)
AR: There aren't a lot of great running back options left, so I'll go with a top receiver to strive for balance. Jones is poised to become the next big thing and this year will be a huge breakout. I say he's competing for the No. 1 receiver.
Third round
- Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers (PM)
PM: Is this allowed?
AR: Sure.
PM: Not what you'd do?
AR: I see it from a balance standpoint. You have a nice QB, RB and WR. Although, I might have gone with a WR in this spot. But you can't go wrong with Kaepernick right here.
PM: Oh now I'm allowed to draft a quarterback. Good to know.
- Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (AR)
AR: Another guy on the verge of a monster season. Bryant really proved himself at the end of last year, and helped carry a couple of my teams down the stretch. This is an excellent spot for him right here. A guy who amazingly lasts into the third round because of an early run on quarterbacks.
PM: I don't care for your tone there.
- Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers (PM)
PM: Now you're upset with me for drafting a running back? I'm confused.
AR: I'm not upset. He just might see a reduced role in the future with the emergence of guys like LaMichael James.
PM: So you would have gone with a receiver?
AR: Pretty much.
- A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (AR)
AR: Green had a breakout season for the Bengals last year, and he should continue to post tremendous numbers. He's one of those guys who, even when he had a "bad" game, he still put up close to double-digit points nearly each and every week.
- Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans (PM)
AR: Johnson was inconsistent last year, but he's a quality No. 2 running back for most fantasy teams. This is a perfect spot for him to come off the board.
PM: I'm so relieved.
- Brandon Marshall, WR, Chicago Bears (AR)
AR: Marshall continues to be one of the most overlooked elite receivers in the NFL. Marshall should be available in the third round so make sure you grab him.
PM: Is Jay Cutler ever happy?
AR: I have no idea.
PM: He just seems angry.
AR: Have you checked out the Smoking Jay Cutler site yet?
PM: They have it blocked at my work.
- Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins (PM)
PM: Is he going to be ready to play in Week 1?
AR: These are questions you ask before you make a draft pick.
PM: So what happens if he's not ready to go?
AR: Then you just wasted a third-round draft pick.
PM: Well that doesn't seem fair.
- Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos (AR)
AR:Eric Decker had more touchdowns, but Thomas scored the most points among the Broncos receivers last year. Decker and Thomas are both good options, but Thomas seems like the pick right now.
PM: But you loved Decker last year.
AR: He was still good. But Thomas has the upside.
- Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots (PM)
PM: Is this too early for a tight end?
AR: No. I got burned with Jimmy Graham early last year. But end of the third round for a guy who can't seem to stay healthy, is just about right. His talent is that big, so I don't hate this move.
- Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota Vikings (AR)
AR: Harvin could end up moving up the board, especially if the reports of him being traded are true. Harvin to the Patriots would immediately put him into the second-round of the draft for me. Another great spot for him would be Miami, too.
Fourth round
- Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins (PM)
- David Wilson, RB, New York Giants (AR)
- Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (PM)
- Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons (AR)
- Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts (PM)
- Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AR)
- Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants (PM)
- Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints (AR)
- Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys (PM)
- Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders (AR)
Fifth round
- Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers (PM)
- Eric Decker, WR, Denver Broncos (AR)
- Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers (PM)
- Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions (AR)
- Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans (PM)
- Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons (AR)
- Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers (PM)
- Detroit Lions RB (AR)
- Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis (PM)
- Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts (AR)
For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 90K followers, and Fabiano has close to 100K. Me? Just four. See, the odds are better I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook (oh wait, I told you to stop going to Facebook). Go instead to Google+. Also be sure to catch the latest "Dave Dameshek Football Program."
