Previously, myself and columnist Jon Sousa reviewed our picks from rounds one-six in a recent mock draft that we participated in. Check the end of the article to see our final rosters. Here are the final results.
Seventh Pick: Pierree Thomas, RB New Orleans Saints
Jon’s Thoughts: One thing I love about Pierre Thomas: He led all running backs in receptions last season and plays in an offense that attempted the fourth-most passes in the NFL in that same year. One thing I hate about Pierre Thomas: He didn’t have a single gmae with 100 rushing yards, and he only scored twice on the ground the whole year. Sure, Thomas has great hands and gets a lot of looks in a pass-first offense, but will he lose touches based on his poor running ability to Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson? Thomas will be a great flex option, but a borderline RB2 at best.
Seventh Pick: Fred Jackson, RB Buffalo Bills
Jack’s Thoughts: I really think Bryce Brown is going to take over the rushing attack at some point during the season, but Jackson was a top-10 back in 2013 who provided his owners with consistency. I just don’t think the coaching staff has figured out how to utilize C.J. Spiller, and Jackson will still be a focal point of the offense barring injury.
Eighth Pick: Hakeem Nicks, WR Indianapolis Colts
Jack’s Thoughts: If Wayne has a hard time returning from his ACL injury, Nicks will be the favorite target of Andrew Luck. He had a down year last season, but he also played for an offense that had a down year. I don’t see any reason why Nicks can not be a top-15 wide receiver in 2014.
Eighth Pick: Terrance Williams, WR Dallas Cowboys
Jon’s Thoughts: Williams was very impressive as a rookie, catching 44 passes for 736 yards and four touchdowns. With everybody and their mother looking at Dez Bryant as the first option in a pass-happy scheme, Williams could quietly be a 1,000-yard receiver and a great steal in the later rounds of fantasy drafts everywhere.
Ninth Pick: Danny Woodhead, RB San Diego Chargers
Jon’s Thoughts: We all know that Woodhead is a nightmare to cover in the passing game, when I’m looking for a flex player in the later rounds, I love a running back that can catch passes. With Ryan Mathews being unreliable and Donald Brown not providing too much safety as a potential backup, Woodhead could ascend into the starting position in San Diego a lot sooner than you would think.
Ninth Pick: Danny Amendola, WR New England Patriots
Jack’s Thoughts: Even if he has trouble staying on the field, Amendola is a steal in the ninth round and a low-risk option at this position. Even in his limited action last season, he still racked up three games with 100 or more receiving yards, and he was able to turn 4 receptions in Week 9 into 122 receiving yards and a touchdown.
10th Pick: Christine Michael, RB Seattle Seahawks
Jack’s Thoughts: Running back depth was looking very slim, so I took a player with upside at this spot. I am not sure what is going on with the reports in Seattle, as I have heard everything from Marshawn Lynch planning to retire to Michael sharing half of the workload with Lynch. Regardless, the coaching staff seems determined to find a bigger role for Michael in the offense this season, and he could end up having similar value to Joique Bell.
10th Pick: Kelvin Benjamin, WR Carolina Panthers
Jon’s Thoughts: One of the biggest risk/reward players of the NFL Draft this season will be one of the biggest risk/reward players in fantasy this season as well. The though of the 6-foot-5 Benjamin becoming the Panthers go-to possession and goal-line targets isn’t far fetched, but he doesn’t have breakaway speed. Carolina is also a run-first team, which will limit his value. At any rate, someone will have to be catching passes from Cam Newton, and if Benjamin learns fast, watch out.
11th Pick: Carolina Panthers D/ST
Jon’s Thoughts: Luke Kuechly is the best linebacker in the NFL, and this front seven is scary good. Even with holes in the secondary, I think that this unit has the chance to be the best fantasy defense by the end of the season. It allowed a measly 15.1 points per game last year, and only the Seattle Seahawks(14.4 points allowed per game) were lower.
11th Pick: Cincinnati Bengals D/ST
Jack’s Thoughts: I normally don’t advocate drafting a defense before the 13th round, but this was a super competitive draft and depth at the key positions was getting harder to find. This team wasn’t as well know as some of the defenses in the NFC, but it tied with the Chicago Bears for the second-most touchdowns among fantasy defenses. It also finished fourth in points in standard scoring leagues, so I think the Bengals have a chance to finish in the top three in 2014. There was also a run on defenses after Jon picked the Panthers, and a total of five defenses were drafted in the 11th round. The defenses for the Seahawks and 49ers were off the board, so I know it was the right time to land a defense.
12th Pick: Miles Austin, WR Cleveland Browns
Jack’s Thoughts: Someone has to catch passes from Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel. I watched the game type from Hoyer’s starts in 2013, and I really liked what I saw. He improved dramatically from his first start to his second, and I think he is being severally underrated. He was once the backup to Tom Brady, and the Patriots are not going to just give that job to anyone. Defenses will focus on Jordan Cameron, and that will allow for Austin to be the beneficiary in the passing attack. If he can stay healthy, Austin is invaluable.
12th Pick: LeGarrette Blount, RB Pittsburgh Steelers
Jon’s Thoughts: People want to write Blount off as just a handcuff to Le’Veon Belll. Not so fast. Blount showed signs of brilliance in New England last season when Stevan Ridley and company couldn’t get the job done, and I’m not 100% sold on Bell being steller in his second season. Keep Blount on your radar, and you can thank me later.
13th Pick: Carlos Hyde, RB San Francisco 49ers
Jon’s Thoughts: Frank Gore is getting old and Marcus Lattimore has a history of injuries(see his senior season at South Carolina and that disgusting leg injury), so where does that leave this rookie from Ohio State? Competing with Kendall Hunter for back up duties if(and most likely when) Gore can’t get the job done. Watch out for Hyde to make a nice impact and provide decent sleeper value this season. If anything, he makes for a more attractive handcuff option than Hunter or Lattimore.
13th Pick: Roy Helu, RB Washington Redskins
Jack’s Thoughts: With new coach Jay Gruden in town, I think Helu will see more opportunities as a dual-threat back. Teammate Alfred Morris is not know for his pass-catching ability, and that is where Helu will find his value. There is some misconception about how much Gruden used Giovani Bernard in the passing attack, as Bernard finished eighth in receptions among running backs in 2013, but I still feel Helu will be used more under his new coach.
14th Pick: Charles Sims, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jack’s Thoughts: Sims hooped around schools, so I think that is why he is not a well-known name for most fantasy football players. I have no confidence in Doug Martin, and I think Sims could take over the starting job with Tampa by the middle of the season. He almost has the build of a big wide receiver, and he has great vision and understands the game. He clocked a 4.48 40-yard dash at the combine, Tampa has already stated that it plans to use him in the passing game.
14th Pick: Mason Crosby, K Green Bay Packers
Jon’s Thoughts: Crosby was hurt bad by the injury to Aaron Rodgers and the overall decline of the Packers’ offense last season, but if it can return to 2012 form, then I think Crobsy will be a top option this year. He did hit a 57 yard field goal last season against the New York Giants in Week 11, which was the fourth longest in the league last season.
15th Pick: Ladarius Green, TE San Diego Chargers
Jon’s Thoughts: Get used to this name, because you are going to be hearing it a lot this season. Antoni Gates’ better days are behind him, and Green averaged a stellar 22 yards per catch last season in limited action. If he can improve his blocking, then the could easily be a top-10 tight end by seasons’ end.
15th Pick: Matt Bryant, K Atlanta Falcons
Jack’s Thoughts: The Falcons should have a better offense in 2014, and that will mean more points. Bryant is a reliable option.
Jon’s Final Roster
Jack’s Final Roster
There were a few thing we would have done differently, but we were generally happy with how our teams turned out. Competitive mocks are important to learn from though, and I encourage anyone that hasn’t been in one yet, to jump right in.
Categories: Fantasy Football
Your Fantasy Football Coach 
Is it just me, or does Miles Austin keep moving up on WR rankings each week? I might have to re-evaluate his projections this year, as the 12th round seems like a steal for a semi-WR1 starter.
I think as it looks more likely Gordon is completely done and the durability of Ben Tate continues to raise concerns, Austin will keep climbing higher. He can produce if he can stay on the field, and I love where you can get him.