Fantasy Football 2024: Examining Expert Mock Drafts After Preseason Week 1 (2024)

The opening slate of the 2024 NFL preseason is in the rear view, and while exhibition games don't count, they can provide a little insight for fantasy enthusiasts.

Managers will likely note that promising rookies and potential fantasy stars like Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams and Brock Bowers all fare well in their preseason debuts.

Mock drafts can also provide aid to managers preparing for the coming season. While they won't say much about how players will actually perform in 2024, they can provide a snapshot of how certain players are being valued—especially in the early rounds.

With this in mind, let's dissect a few fantasy mock drafts from around the web.

Round 1

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

2. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

3. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

4. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

5. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

6. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

7. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

8. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

9. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

10. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

ESPN's fantasy team conducted a 10-team mock draft with a half-point-per-reception (PPR) scoring format. There weren't many surprises in this mock, though it's worth noting that 10 running backs were selected within the first 17 picks.

The emphasis on running backs likely stems from the current NFL landscape, which features a slew of quality receivers but few true every-down running backs. Wideouts Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown make up a relatively thin elite tier of receivers, but there's a wide second tier at the position.

Matt Bowen and Tristan H. co*ckcroft were the only drafters to double up on receivers in the first two rounds.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the first signal-caller off the board, taken with the third pick in Round 5 by Jim McCormick. While that may feel low for the QB1, it's worth noting that quarterbacks tend to go later in 10-team leagues.

Managers typically have little trouble finding a viable starting quarterback in smaller leagues, but top-tier running backs and receivers remain at a premium. The same is true at tight end, a position managers usually won't start in the flex. Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was the first tight end off the board, going to Eric Moody with the fourth pick in Round 4.

In past years, Kelce has been a popular target in Rounds 1 and 2, but at 34 years old and coming off a sub-1,000-yard season, Kelce is no longer in a tier of his own.

Round 1

1. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

2. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

3. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

4. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

5. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

6. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

7. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

8. Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts

9. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

10. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

The ESPN fantasy team also conducted a 10-team superflex league, and we're going to dive into it to highlight the strategy shift that a two-quarterback league involves.

For those unfamiliar, superflex leagues allow managers to play a second quarterback in the flex position. Since signal-callers typically have a high weekly floor, that's usually an option managers will exercise.

Unsurprisingly, quarterbacks—especially those who provide a strong scrambling baseline—are at a premium in superflex leagues. Allen was again the top quarterback off the board, but six quarterbacks went in Round 1. Give more quarterbacks went in Round 2, and only Moody and Mike Clay eschewed taking a signal-caller within the first two rounds.

Tight ends tend to hold even less value in superflex leagues since they're highly unlikely to ever see flex play. Detroit Lions standout Sam LaPorta was the first off the board, going with the seventh pick in Round 5 to Clay.

Christian McCaffrey was again the first running back off the board, while Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb was again the first receiver to be drafted. It's mildly surprising to see Lamb continue to be valued so highly since he continues to hold out for a new contract.

Breece Hall of the New York Jets was the second running back off the board. With Hall going as a top-three RB in each of our first two mocks, it's clear that fantasy experts expect him to shine with a healthy Aaron Rodgers under center in 2024.

Round 1.

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

2. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions

4. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

5. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

6. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

7. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

8. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

9. A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

10. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

11. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

12. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport did things a little differently. Instead of simply running a 12-team full PPR mock draft, he posted the results of a live competitive draft:

"This particular draft isn't a 'mock' at all. It's 12 fantasy analysts and veterans gathering together to play for reals. It offers a better glimpse into how drafts are shaking out in 2024 than picking against robots or just to practice."

As previously noted, quarterbacks tend to go a bit higher in larger leagues, and we saw that in the B/R mock with Allen going with the fourth pick in Round 3.

Receivers were slightly more popular early than in ESPN's 10-team mock—15 were off the board by the end of Round 2 versus 13 within the first 24 picks of ESPN's mock—which is likely a reflection of having a full point per reception.

High-volume backs are hard to find in any format, but those with a strong PPR ceiling are even more limited. LaPorta was again the first tight end off the board here, going in the fourth round.

It's worth noting that Davenport waited until Round 10 to grab his quarterback—Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels. This, again, highlights how managers can wait on the position in most formats and still find value, even in larger leagues.

Top-tier signal-callers are going to go earlier in 12- and 14-team leagues, but reaching at the position will often cost managers a shot at a league-winning receiver or tight end.