2010 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: FanHouse's Mock for 12-Team Leagues

FanHouse hosted its first fantasy football mock draft of 2010, a 12-team, 15-round setup. League rules require a starting lineup of: one QB, two RBs, three WRs, one TE, one Flex, one K and one DEF, with five bench slots. The scoring rules: 20 passing yards per point, 4 points per passing TD, -2 points per interception, 10 rushing/receiving yards per point, 6 points per rushing/receiving TD, standard kicking and defensive points. (Also See: Steals and Reaches of Draft)

The Mockers

1. Jimmy, Fantasy Football Cafe -- Cincy Keepers
2. Chris Burke, FanHouse -- It's On Like Ndamukong
3. Paul Bourdett, FanHouse -- Prince Hakeem
4. Ryan Dembinsky, FanHouse -- Huey Lewis - Gonna Grbac in Time
5. Dan Graziano, FanHouse -- Quanis Phillips' Revenge
6. Matt Snyder, FanHouse -- The ShowStoppers
7. Tom Herrera, FanHouse -- My Girl Likes to Cromartie All the Time
8. Sean Lalley, FanHouse -- Takin' My Talents to South Beach
9. Will Brinson, FanHouse -- Brinsanity
10. Knox Bardeen, FanHouse -- Suh Suh Suhdio
11. Michael, Fantasy Football Cafe -- Bungle-A-Mock
12. R.J. White, FanHouse -- The Boldin, The Beautiful

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Round 1

1.1. Jimmy - Chris Johnson, RB, TEN
1.2. Chris - Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN
1.3. Paul - Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC
1.4. Ryan - Ray Rice, RB, BAL
1.5. Dan - Drew Brees, QB, NO
1.6. Matt - Michael Turner, RB, ATL
1.7. Tom - Frank Gore, RB, SF
1.8. Sean - Andre Johnson, WR, HOU
1.9. Will - Steven Jackson, RB, STL
1.10. Knox - Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB
1.11. Michael - DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR
1.12. R.J. - Randy Moss, WR, NE



Share Last year, a whopping 11 running backs went in the first round of our 12-team draft, so the dynamic has definitely changed a bit. That top four is probably what you can expect to see in most fantasy drafts heading into 2010, but Dan threw a bit of a curveball by jumping at Brees in the No. 5 slot. Will that pay off? We'll have to wait and see how Frank Gore and a slimmed-down Michael Turner perform. Both Michael and R.J., as you'll see, passed on QBs until the ninth round, so their strategies of loading up at RB and WR began here. R.J.'s Moss selection paired with Shonn Greene at the top of Round 2 handed him a nice talent base.

Round 2

2.1. R.J. -- Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ
2.2. Michael -- Calvin Johnson, WR, DET
2.3. Knox -- Ryan Grant, RB, GB
2.4. Will -- Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI
2.5. Sean -- Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT
2.6. Tom -- Reggie Wayne, WR, IND
2.7. Matt - Knowshon Moreno, RB, DEN
2.8. Dan -- Ryan Mathews, RB, SD
2.9. Ryan -- Peyton Manning, QB, IND
2.10. Paul -- Jamaal Charles, RB, KC
2.11. Chris -- Matt Schaub, QB, HOU
2.12. Jimmy -- Roddy White, WR, ATL

Johnson and Fitzgerald land close together here, but given the Cardinals' new QB and Anquan Boldin's departure from Arizona to Baltimore, taking Megatron over Fitz seems like the smart pick. Don't be shocked if Mendenhall winds up being a gift, even in the second round -- Willie Parker's in Washington, rookie Jonathan Dwyer needs some time to adjust to a non-option offense, and with Ben Roethlisberger suspended for at least four weeks, the Steelers could run a lot in the early going. Just like in Round 1, Dan jumped a bit off the board, this time to take Ryan Mathews. He should produce, but his rookie status and Darren Sproles' presence are cause for concern. The Jamaal Charles selection might wound up being a miss -- Thomas Jones could seriously cut into his production in Kansas City. And in hindsight, I wish I'd gone with a WR here, considering I then took Beanie Wells in Round 3. Schaub's a fantasy monster, but I could've found some value at QB later and rounded things out better.

Round 3

3.1. Jimmy -- Miles Austin, WR, DAL
3.2. Chris -- Beanie Wells, RB, ARI
3.3. Paul -- Brandon Marshall, WR, MIA
3.4. Ryan -- Sidney Rice, WR, MIN
3.5. Dan -- DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI
3.6. Matt -- Ronnie Brown, RB, MIA
3.7. Tom -- LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI
3.8. Sean -- Philip Rivers, QB, SD
3.9. Will -- Felix Jones, RB, DAL
3.10. Knox -- Joseph Addai, RB, IND
3.11. Michael -- Cedric Benson, RB, CIN
3.12. R.J. -- Greg Jennings, WR, GB

Nothing seems way out of place here, though again I wish I had gone WR. Wells might have come off the board a bit early, and you could definitely justify swapping where he and Benson went, even with Benson facing a possible suspension for an off-field incident this summer. Addai will have to fend off Donald Brown, but he feels like a safer pick than Felix Jones, who has heated company in the Dallas backfield, plus a bevy of talented Cowboys receivers to share the ball with.

Round 4

4.1. R.J. -- Marques Colston, WR, NO
4.2. Michael -- Steve Smith, WR, NYG
4.3. Knox -- Dallas Clark, TE, IND
4.4. Will -- Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL
4.5. Sean -- Chad Ochocinco, WR, CIN
4.6. Tom -- Tom Brady, QB, NE
4.7. Matt -- Michael Crabtree, WR, SF
4.8. Dan -- Antonio Gates, TE, SD
4.9. Ryan -- Mike Sims-Walker, WR, JAC
4.10. Paul -- Steve Smith, WR, CAR
4.11. Chris -- Percy Harvin, WR, MIN
4.12. Jimmy -- Vernon Davis, TE, SF

The wide receivers started coming off the board fast and furious in Round 4, and the TE run began as well. Clark's always a strong pick, and shouldn't fall out of the fourth round. Gates, though, could be a major steal here given San Diego's desire to take to the air and the potential holdout of Vincent Jackson. Rivers has to throw to someone in the red zone, so why not his TE? Harvin's got to stay healthy to warrant a fourth-round pick, but he has high upside. Same goes for Crabtree, who might slide further than this in other drafts.

Round 5

5.1. Jimmy -- Matt Forte, RB, CHI
5.2. Chris -- Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR
5.3. Paul -- Pierre Thomas, RB, NO
5.4. Ryan -- Jahvid Best, RB, DET
5.5. Dan -- Arian Foster, RB, HOU
5.6. Matt -- Tony Romo, QB, DAL
5.7. Tom -- Hines Ward, WR, PIT
5.8. Sean -- C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF
5.9. Will -- Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG
5.10. Knox -- Ricky Williams, RB, MIA
5.11. Michael -- Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG
5.12. R.J. -- Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC

A major RB spurt in Round 5 and it's a bit all over the map. You could basically flip-flop any of the first four picks in this round and wind up with the same amount of uncertainty. Will Forte ever score? Will Stewart be healthy? Will Thomas get enough carries? Is Best a No. 1 back in Detroit? We don't know those answers, but one thing seems certain: Foster in Round 5 is a major reach. The Houston RB situation is terribly unsettled, and even though Foster looks like the lead back right now, he struggled to get on the field in 2009, and the Texans just drafted Auburn's Ben Tate in April. One last comment on Round 5: Bowe, paired with new Chiefs OC Charlie Weis, could be in line for big things.

Round 6

6.1. R.J. -- Justin Forsett, RB, SEA
6.2. Michael -- Jermichael Finley, TE, GB
6.3. Knox -- Robert Meachem, WR, NO
6.4. Will -- Jerome Harrison, RB, CLE
6.5. Sean -- Vincent Jackson, WR, SD
6.6. Tom -- Santana Moss, WR, WAS
6.7. Matt -- Pierre Garcon, WR, IND
6.8. Dan -- Donald Driver, WR, GB
6.9. Ryan -- Jason Witten, TE, DAL
6.10. Paul -- T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA
6.11. Chris -- Wes Welker, WR, NE
6.12. Jimmy -- Kevin Kolb, QB, PHI

This is a good example of the WR talent you can get in the middle rounds. Tom was particularly pleased with his Moss pick -- and that happiness might prove justified if Moss avoids a suspension and forms a bond with Donovan McNabb (and T.O. stays away from Washington). Welker could be major value in Round 6 if his injured knee continues healing as rapidly as it has been. If he plays all 16 weeks, he's a virtual lock to top 100 receptions. Sean's Vincent Jackson pick will leave him with some anxious moments between now and the season. If Jackson ends his holdout, Sean's found a No. 1 WR in a mid-round pick; if he doesn't, that's a wasted opportunity.

Round 7

7.1. Jimmy -- Malcom Floyd, WR, SD
7.2. Chris -- Brent Celek, TE, PHI
7.3. Paul -- Jay Cutler, QB, CHI
7.4. Ryan -- LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, NYJ
7.5. Dan -- Mike Wallace, WR, PIT
7.6. Matt - Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, MIN
7.7. Tom -- Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI
7.8. Sean -- Marion Barber, RB, DAL
7.9. Will -- Brett Favre, QB, MIN
7.10. Knox -- Derrick Mason, WR, BAL
7.11. Michael -- Antonio Bryant, WR, CIN
7.12. R.J. -- Tony Gonzalez, TE, ATL

The second wave of TEs heads off the board and it's hard to argue the value of any in Round 7. Celek played well in Kevin Kolb's 2009 audition, Shiancoe's a red-zone weapon for Favre and Gonzalez is a pass-catching machine. The Barber pick in this round sort of emphasizes why Jones was a third-round reach. There's not a major gap between the two guys, and both figure to see plenty of carries. Favre and Cutler are fine picks here (assuming Favre returns), but you have to take the good and bad with both guys.

Round 8

8.1. R.J. -- Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG
8.2. Michael -- Montario Hardesty, RB, CLE
8.3. Knox -- Austin Collie, WR, IND
8.4. Will -- Donovan McNabb, QB, WAS
8.5. Sean -- Darren McFadden, RB, OAK
8.6. Tom -- Laurence Maroney, RB, NE
8.7. Matt -- Steve Breaston, WR, ARI
8.8. Dan -- Dez Bryant, WR, DAL
8.9. Ryan -- Joe Flacco, QB, BAL
8.10. Paul -- Thomas Jones, RB, KC
8.11. Chris -- Kenny Britt, WR, TEN
8.12. Jimmy -- Michael Bush, RB, OAK

Obviously, there's still talent at wide receiver left. With Boldin out of the picture in Arizona, Breaston might be in a line for a big statistical bump, while Bryant could be a Rookie of the Year candidate in Dallas. Britt needs to find the end zone more (three TDs in '09), but given my lack of WR depth, he was a necessary pick. The RBs in this round are interesting -- Jones, Bradshaw and Hardesty could all put up big numbers, but will have to start out sniping carries. It's likely that only one of the McFadden-Bush duo emerges. And Maroney's a guy that you almost forget about until you realize he's still the No. 1 back in New England. Ryan didn't need Flacco with Peyton Manning on board.

Round 9

9.1. Jimmy -- Donald Brown, RB, IND
9.2. Chris -- Clinton Portis, RB, WAS
9.3. Paul -- Fred Jackson, RB, BUF
9.4. Ryan -- Ben Tate, RB, HOU
9.5. Dan -- New York Jets, DEF
9.6. Matt -- Darren Sproles, RB, SD
9.7. Tom -- Carnell Williams, RB, TB
9.8. Sean -- Matthew Stafford, QB, DET
9.9. Will -- Owen Daniels, TE, HOU
9.10. Knox -- Tim Hightower, RB, ARI
9.11. Michael -- Matt Ryan, QB, ATL
9.12. R.J. -- Eli Manning, QB, NYG

Michael and R.J. finally dip into the QB pool to land a couple of guys that could've gone off the board earlier. Still, neither's in the upper echelon for fantasy quarterbacks. Another big RB run kicked off this round, and it's a cluster of backups and guys in platoon situations. If Portis emerges as the No. 1 back in Mike Shanahan's Washington offense, the fact that he slipped to Round 9 will look downright silly. Same goes for Tate in Houston -- he probably should've gone closer to where Dan took Arian Foster, way back in Round 5.

Round 10

10.1. R.J. -- Reggie Bush, RB, NO
10.2. Michael -- Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT
10.3. Knox -- Kevin Smith, RB, DET
10.4. Will -- Jacoby Jones, WR, HOU
10.5. Sean -- Kellen Winslow, TE, TB
10.6. Tom -- Zach Miller, TE, OAK
10.7. Matt -- Devin Aromashodu, WR, CHI
10.8. Dan -- Braylon Edwards, WR, NYJ
10.9. Ryan -- Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN
10.10. Paul -- Santonio Holmes, WR, NYJ
10.11. Chris -- Mario Manningham, WR, NYG
10.12. Jimmy -- Carson Palmer, QB, CIN

It's time to start taking some risks (though several guys had already), and the result is what you see here. Guys like Manningham, Bush, Aromashodu, Thomas, Edwards and Holmes will fluctuate anywhere from Rounds 7 to 15, so it's hard to nitpick any of those selections -- though, as the season goes on, it's hard to see both Holmes and Edwards thriving. Jacoby Jones is the biggest outside-the-box pick here. If he wins a spot in the Texans' starting lineup, opposite Andre Johnson, he could have a solid year. If he doesn't, that's a big reach with no payoff.

Round 11

11.1. Jimmy -- Chaz Schilens, WR, OAK
11.2. Chris -- Devery Henderson, WR, NO
11.3. Paul -- Dustin Keller, TE, NYJ
11.4. Ryan -- Baltimore Ravens, DEF
11.5. Dan -- Chester Taylor, RB, CHI
11.6. Matt -- Alex Smith, QB, SF
11.7. Tom -- Lee Evans, WR, BUF
11.8. Sean -- James Jones, WR, GB
11.9. Will -- Derrick Ward, RB, TB
11.10. Knox -- Johnny Knox, WR, CHI
11.11. Michael -- Julian Edelman, WR, NE
11.12. R.J. -- Willis McGahee, RB, BAL

The top two picks in this round, Schilens and Henderson, could pay dividends if healthy, but are question marks for now. Beyond that, you get about what you'd expect in Round 11: some long-shot guys at the skill positions with a defense mixed in. The Edelman pick has to be made in hopes that Welker's not 100 percent to start the year -- if he's not, then Edelman slides into that productive slot receiver spot for the Patriots.

Round 12

12.1. R.J. -- Chad Henne, QB, MIA
12.2. Michael -- Steve Slaton, RB, HOU
12.3. Knox -- John Carlson, TE, SEA
12.4. Will -- Tashard Choice, RB, DAL
12.5. Sean -- Minnesota Vikings, DEF
12.6. Tom -- Philadelphia Eagles, DEF
12.7. Matt -- Bernard Scott, RB, CIN
12.8. Dan -- Chris Cooley, TE, WAS
12.9. Ryan -- Chris Chambers, WR, KC
12.10. Paul -- Mike Bell, RB, PHI
12.11. Chris -- Pittsburgh Steelers, DEF
12.12. Jimmy -- Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, CLE

Slaton, Scott, Chambers and Bell are what you're looking for here. Slaton's apparently healthy after offseason neck surgery and definitely in the mix for that Texans RB job. Matt could wind up digging the Scott pick in the latter portion of the season if Benson struggles or gets banged up. Chambers has a chance to boost his numbers in Weis' wide-open offense, and Bell has TD scavenger potential.

Round 13

13.1. Jimmy -- Donnie Avery, WR, STL
13.2. Chris -- Toby Gerhart, RB, MIN
13.3. Paul -- Early Doucet, WR, ARI
13.4. Ryan -- Jerricho Cotchery, WR, NYJ
13.5. Dan -- Vince Young, QB, TEN
13.6. Matt -- Golden Tate, WR, SEA
13.7. Tom -- Matt Hasselbeck, QB, SEA
13.8. Sean -- Nate Burleson, WR, DET
13.9. Will -- San Francisco 49ers, DEF
13.10. Knox -- Mark Sanchez, QB, NYJ
13.11. Michael -- Green Bay Packers, DEF
13.12. R.J. -- Eddie Royal, WR, DEN

Are you familiar with that old game show "Let's Make a Deal?" The host would ask contestants to pick one of three doors -- behind one would be some great prize, like a car; behind the other two, you'd win something ridiculous, like a goat. This is the "Let's Make a Deal" portion of the draft. Maybe you get to Round 13, open the door, and find Early Doucet, who could slide into a top-two WR role with Arizona. More often than not, though, you're going to get a goat. Or Jerricho Cotchery.

Round 14

14.1. R.J. -- New Orleans Saints, DEF
14.2. Michael -- Legedu Naanee, WR, SD
14.3. Knox -- Dallas Cowboys, DEF
14.4. Will -- Dexter McCluster, WR, KC
14.5. Sean -- Nate Kaeding, K, SD
14.6. Tom -- Larry Johnson, RB, WAS
14.7. Matt -- Chicago Bears, DEF
14.8. Dan -- Leon Washington, RB, SEA
14.9. Ryan -- Devin Thomas, WR, WAS
14.10. Paul -- San Diego Chargers, DEF
14.11. Chris -- Heath Miller, TE, PIT
14.12. Jimmy -- Stephen Gostkowski, K, NE

Kickers and defenses aren't sexy, they're just necessary evils in fantasy drafts. Legedu Naanee, on the other hand, might be a no-name now, but could be one of those lightning-in-a-bottle players you search for relentlessly at the end of drafts. Some might make the case that Larry Johnson's one of those players, too. I am not one of those people.

Round 15

15.1. Jimmy -- New York Giants, DEF
15.2. Chris -- David Akers, K, PHI
15.3. Paul -- Mason Crosby, K, GB
15.4. Ryan -- Garrett Hartley, K, NO
15.5. Dan -- Ryan Longwell, K, MIN
15.6. Matt -- Robbie Gould, K, CHI
15.7. Tom -- Rob Bironas, K, TEN
15.8. Sean -- Tony Scheffler, TE, DET
15.9. Will -- Sebastian Janikowski, K, OAK
15.10. Knox -- Matt Prater, K, DEN
15.11. Michael -- Lawrence Tynes, K, NYG
15.12. R.J. -- Neil Rackers, K, HOU

Was this the most boring round in NFL fantasy draft history? Only Tony Scheffler's potential as a go-to target for Stafford in Detroit saved Round 15 from being a total snooze-fest. Ah well, nothing else you can do at the end of a draft.