NEWSLETTER
It’s never too early to get prepared to win your fantasy football league, and that’s exactly what we’ll be aiming to do today!
Through the DraftHero mock draft simulator app on 4for4, I’ve run a 12-team full-PPR mock draft to get a broad idea of player values and what types of macro-level strategies we can see forming ahead of the NFL season.
Today we’ll be using Yahoo!-specific scoring settings, with a single quarterback and full-PPR scoring. With three wide receiver slots, they will be very valuable commodities through the draft. The full 2023 fantasy football mock draft board will be inserted at the end of the article, showcasing Justin Jefferson as the no. 1 overall pick and other Round 1 WR1 and WR2 options, such as Cooper Kupp, Ja’Marr Chase, or Tyreek Hill.
You’ll notice we’ve skipped D/ST in this mock, but we will revisit team defense later in the offseason.
Fantasy Football Rankings
Roster Settings: 1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1 FLEX, 1K, and 6 Bench Spots
*Check out the full Yahoo! ADP at 4for4!
(Expand board in a new tab for easiest viewing)
PPR Mock Draft: Rounds 1-4
Biggest Reach: Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints (Round 2, Pick 11)
There weren’t a lot of reaches here in the first rounds, which makes this five-pick reach seem like more than it is. It’s hard to say exactly what the target tree in New Orleans will be like if Michael Thomas is back in form, but Olave still has plenty of upside. Newly acquired Derek Carr has a history of supporting two fantasy options, so Olave thriving with Thomas is not out of the question.
Biggest Fall: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots (Round 3, Pick 6)
A great pick in any format, Rhamondre Stevenson could absorb a vast majority of the running back targets this season, in addition to a monster early-down role. Full-PPR or not, Stevenson should be a target in your redraft leagues. He has the ability to build on a great 2022 season as a pass-catcher, and with some further touchdown upside, he’s a real option to become an RB1 for fantasy managers this year.
PPR Mock Draft: Rounds 5-8
Takeaways
The wide receivers rule this middle portion of the draft right now, with 21 coming off the board in these four rounds. Be wary of getting caught up in these huge WR runs; there’s a big difference between Diontae Johnson and Jordan Addison in a PPR league. Wide receivers are incredibly valuable, but if there’s a chance to zig into a falling quarterback, running back, or tight end, it may be worth it. Don’t let a great fantasy asset pass you by in Round 7 just because you’re scared of getting left behind and subsequently taking a lowly WR4.
PPR Mock Draft: Rounds 9-12
Biggest Reaches: Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens (Round 9, Pick 4), and Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears (Round 10, Pick 5)
After the long run on wide receivers in the middle rounds, teams are left scrambling for options later on, and this is the outcome. Both of these options are on extremely run-heavy offenses and are very unlikely to be target hogs. They can both have explosive games from time to time, but in a PPR league, they are especially inconsistent fantasy producers.
PPR Mock Draft: Rounds 13-16
Takeaways
Depending on your particular league settings, you are either forced to leave your draft with a kicker and a defense, or you are not. I decided not to enforce that rule in this draft so we could see some extra names at the end. If your league does force you to leave the draft with both, I prefer to select my D/ST in the 15th and my kicker in the 16th. Some of my favorite D/ST picks so far have been the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Biggest Fall: Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 13, Pick 5)
As a late-round dart throw, Jaylen Warren is one of the better choices you could go with, especially if your running back room feels light. Warren continued to gain usage throughout his rookie campaign and arguably looked better in the running and passing game than Najee Harris. He could push for a bigger chunk of the split in the 2023 season.
*Check out the full set of 4for4’s award-winning Rankings, customized for your Yahoo! league here.
This is the first mock draft of 2023, but we will be doing fantasy football drafts throughout the NFL offseason now that the NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror. We will have half-PPR mock drafts, 10-team mocks, and everything in between throughout the fantasy draft season.
Who is ranked at 1.01 in this PPR mock draft?
Justin Jefferson is ranked at 1.01 in this mock draft.
Which team does Justin Jefferson play for in the NFL?
Justin Jefferson plays for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL.
Which round did Cooper Kupp get drafted in?
Cooper Kupp was drafted in round 1.
Who are some rookies I should be targeting later on in drafts?
There are a lot of interesting rookies who are in muddied situations that we should keep in the back of our minds. Options such as running back Zach Charbonnet for the Seattle Seahawks or wideout Jonathan Mingo of the Carolina Panthers are two such options, who may end up getting a lot more usage than we currently have them projected for.
What is a f PPR fantasy football mock draft?
A PPR fantasy football mock draft is a simulation exercise where participants pretend to draft players for a fantasy football team using the PPR (points per reception) scoring system.
What is the significance of the term “RB” in this PPR mock draft?
The term “RB” stands for running back, a position in the NFL played by players who primarily carry the ball.
What is the significance of the term “WR” in this PPR mock draft?
The term “WR” stands for wide receiver, a position in the NFL played by players who primarily catch passes.
What is the difference between PPR and half PPR?
The key difference between PPR (points per reception) and half PPR formats in fantasy football is how points are awarded for receptions. In PPR leagues, players receive one point for each reception they make, regardless of the distance gained. This favors players who accumulate a high number of receptions, such as wide receivers and pass-catching running backs.
On the other hand, in half PPR leagues, players receive half a point for each reception, meaning they are not as heavily rewarded for simply catching the ball. This format strikes a balance between traditional standard scoring and full PPR. Half PPR caters to a wider range of player roles, as it not only rewards reception-heavy players but also places more importance on yardage gained after catching the ball. Ultimately, the choice between PPR and half PPR depends on personal preference and the desired level of scoring differentiation between players.
How many teams are participating in this PPR mock draft?
There are 12 teams participating in this mock draft.
