My RotoExperts 2012 Mock Draft Team

I took part in another Fantasy Football writer’s league mock draft this week, this time as part of the RotoExperts group. This 2012 Mock Draft team came out pretty good, in my opinion, although I had to practice what I preach in the early going. (The draft is part of the RotoExperts.com 2012 NFL Xclusive Edge Offseason Package.) The following is a review of the team I ended up with when the dust settled.

As I mentioned, I had to do what I’ve been saying to do: I took Ray Rice with the first overall draft pick, rather than Arian Foster. This was the first mock draft I’ve done with the first overall pick, and I’m happy with the results, although I’d like a few do-overs, now that I know what happened throughout the draft.

Remember that this is a 12-team PPR mock draft, with passing TDs at four points each, three starting wide receivers and a flex position (RB, WR, TE).

RotoExperts 2012 Mock Draft Roster

Quarterbacks

• Cam Newton, CAR (Pick 3.01)
• Alex Smith, SF (14.12)

Analysis: Getting the super sophomore with the first pick in the third round seemed like a good idea at the time, but I would have done much better had I picked up a second running back earlier, and waiting on a QB like Ben Roethlisberger in Round 8 … This is the second straight mock I’ve taken Alex Smith as my backup QB in Round 14. I was hoping to grab Josh Freeman here, but he went just after my pick in Round 13 – so I should have grabbed him there.

Running Backs

• Ray Rice, BAL (Pick 1.01)
• Frank Gore, SF (Pick 4.12)
• Shonn Greene, NYJ (Pick 6.12)
• Ben Tate, HOU (Pick 9.01)
• Felix Jones, DAL (Pick 12.12)

Analysis: Look, I’m not saying Foster is going to be bad, I just like Rice more. If I could trade down a pick, I would have, but since it’s a mock, it was not allowed … I’m not overly excited about Gore as my RB2, but this is what I have to deal with when I take a QB among my first three picks. I do like Greene at the end of Round 6, however, especially now with a new offensive coordinator. QB Tim Tebow will steal some touches and possibly some goal-line carries, but gone is LaDainian Tomlinson … Since I already bet that Rice would outscore Foster, I figured I might as well go all in and grab Tate as a backup. No one will root harder against Foster this year! … And Jones in Round 12 is a no-brainer. He’ll get 180-200 touches even as a backup to DeMarco Murray, but if the Oklahoma sophomore stumbles, Jones is a great grab this late in a PPR league.

Wide Receivers

• Wes Welker, NE (Pick 2.12)
• Demaryius Thomas, DEN (Pick 5.01)
• Reggie Wayne, IND (Pick 7.01)
• Michael Crabtree, SF (Pick 8.12)
• Brandon LaFell, CAR (11.01)
• Alshon Jeffery, CHI (Pick 13.01)

Analysis: Starting three wide receivers and a flex, remember, so my fourth wide receiver (Crabtree) will see lots of action. Welker at the end of Round 2 in a PPR league is a solid value, despite his age, the presence of two great tight ends and the arrival of WR Brandon Lloyd. QB Tom Brady knows he can go to Welker at any time (except late in the Super Bowl) … Thomas should explode with a swap-out of Tebow for Peyton Manning at QB in Denver, and I need Wayne and Crabtree to pick up their game a bit … I like taking a WR2 or WR3 that’s teammates with my stud quarterback, so that his four catches per game score extra points for me … Jeffery should see single coverage his entire rookie season in Chicago, and the big fella might surprise. I expect his value to rise from this 2012 Mock Draft to upcoming ones.

Tight End:

• Brent Celek, PHI (Pick 10.02)

Analysis: I continue to pass on the upper crust tight ends, looking to take advantage of the incredible depth at the position. Owners who were out of the Fantasy playoffs last season might remember Celek having a subpar season, but he finished strong and is ready for 2012 after some offseason surgeries.

Kicker:

• Nate Kaeding, SD (Pick 16.12)

Analysis: With the last pick in the draft, I was very happy to get the kicker for a top-five NFL offense. Granted, a kicker returning from a torn ACL isn’t ideal, but Kaeding is a good gamble late. If he loses the job to Nick Novak, I’ll grab another kicker (Novak?), and it’s as if THAT kicker would have been the last pick of the draft.

Defense/Special Teams:

• Green Bay Packers DST (Pick 15.01)

Analysis: I love taking a defense/special teams that has a high-scoring offense as its counterpart, as I detailed in my Fantasy Defense Rankings. Teams are forced to play catch-up against Aaron Rodgers and Co., and the Packers can rack up a ton of interceptions and opportunities for pick-sixes.

What did you think of my 2012 Mock Draft final roster? It looks like a middle-of-the-road squad, with good potential. I’d like to come back to this draft in late August to see what might have changed.