2024 Fantasy Football Mock Draft- Drafting From The 1.01

One way to prepare for the upcoming fantasy football season is to do mock drafts. While mock drafts can't predict the madness that goes on in every draft, they are a great tool to help understand players' values and prepare for upcoming drafts. Mock drafts also allow players to try out different draft strategies to get a good idea of how to build their ideal team based on the draft spot.

Every spot in the draft offers positives and negatives. Picking early in the draft offers a chance at a premium player, but also means waiting a long time for the next pick. Picking in the middle offers a chance to grab a solid player every round, but doesn't really allow for the chance to capitalize on players falling outside of the first round. Picking late may seem bad because of the wait, but it allows players to double up on 2 top-15 players most of the time. Every draft slot has its positives and negatives, but understanding how to maximize each draft slot can go a long way.

This article will break down how to maximize the 1.01 in PPR drafts and build the best possible team. The format of the mock draft is 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex, 1 K, I DST, and 7 bench players.

When drafting from the 1.01, every player is available to be drafted, and while there are many great options such as Tyreek Hill, Ceedee Lamb, and others, there is a clear 1.01. The number 1 player in fantasy barring injury is Chrisitan McCaffrey, and that was the selection.

1.01- Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers: McCaffrey is coming off a monster season where he had 1,459 yards with 14 touchdowns on the ground, with another 564 yards through the air and 7 touchdowns. McCaffrey was not only the RB 1 in fantasy last year, but he was the RB 1 in PPR formats by over 100 points. In a league where the running back position has lost so much value, McCaffrey is one of the few backs who has gained value. He is an elite receiver out of the backfield, as well as an elite rusher, and is the league's most dominant back. Having CMC in lineups last season felt like a free 20 points every week at least.

In a 3 receiver format, everyone wants to load up on receivers and that's understandable, but having the chance to add CMC is hard to pass up on. There is no player as consistent, and especially no one as consistent at the running back position. Drafting CMC as the 1.01 allows for the player to load up on receivers going forward due to McCaffrey's dominance at the position.

2.12- Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonvile Jaguars:

Drafting 2 running backs with the first 2 selections in a league that requires 3 starting receivers minimum seems crazy. The reason why it makes sense here is because of the running backs being selected. McCaffrey is the most consistent player in fantasy who brings receiver production as a running back, but Etienne is a bit more of a wild card. Etienne is a threat to take it 75 yards to the house every time he gets the ball as he is one of the more explosive backs in football, but has also been inefficient at times. For these reasons is the perfect compliment to CMC for a fantasy roster.

Etienne was the RB 3 last season as he put up 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns along with a quiet 476 yards and 1 touchdown through the air. The numbers don't seem crazy as he barely reached 1,000 yards, but it's the home run upside of Etienne that makes him worth a selection in the 2nd round. Of Etienne's 11 rushing touchdowns, 8 came across 4 games including 6 in the first three games. Etienne was never going to keep up his insane scoring pace, but he hit a rough spot along with the rest of the Jags which hurt his fantasy owners. If Etienne can return to a form that replicates his early season success, then he will be a top 5 RB once again.

The truth is outside of a few RBs, every RB has ups and downs. Etienne makes the most sense of the next tier because his highs can help win a week by themselves and he gets enough volume to produce enough, even at his worst weeks.

3.01- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins:

The first receiver to be added to the team is Jaylen Waddle, the electric deep threat of the Miami Dolphins. Taking Waddle at the 3.01 may seem a bit high given his current ADP, but Waddle has every right to be the pick here. He is an explosive receiver who would be the number 1 option on most teams, but he is teammates with Tyreek Hill who is one of the league's best.

Waddle is coming off a season where he didn't live up to fantasy expectations as he only had 72 catches for 1,014 yards and 4 touchdowns in 14 games. While those numbers are solid, Waddle was expected to be closer to his previous season's stat line of 75 receptions for 1,356 yards and 8 touchdowns while sharing the field with Tyreek Hill. Between sharing the field with Tyreek, having 2 vastly different seasons production-wise, and leaving numerous games due to injury last season, fantasy managers are torn on Waddle.

While there are some questions about Waddle when it comes to fantasy, there are 2 main reasons he makes sense as the pick here. The first of the 2 is Waddle's health. Last season Waddle played in 14 of 17 games but was injured during so many of his games causing him to leave early or miss portions of the game. It honestly became hard to trust Waddle because he was always getting banged up. While players are always at an injury risk out on the field, the chances of Waddle missing as much time as he did in the games seem low.

The other reason that has numbers to back it up is Waddle's upside. Waddles has a lot of similarities to 2nd-round pick Travis Etienne in terms of the highs are phenomenal, but the lows hurt. Last season Waddle had games of 8 catches for 142 yards and 1 TD against an elite Jets defense and 7 for 121 and 1 against the Patriots. The previous season Waddle had a game of 11 for 171 and 2, and a game of 5 for 143 and 1. Waddle has shown elite upside every season of his career but has not been able to put up elite numbers consistently.

Waddle possesses immense upside in the Dolphin's offense, and if he returns to a form similar to his 2022 season he will crush his ADP, and crush the 3.01 spot. Waddle also fits a team with CMC as CMC provides such a strong floor, it allows for other players to have a down week because their highs are week-winning performances.

4.12- Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans:

Tank Dell was one of the most fun rookies in the league last season for the Texans until he suffered a season-ending injury. Coming into the league Tank was viewed as a slot receiver/gadget player because of size but he was much more than that.

Last season Tank put up 47 catches for 709 yards and 7 touchdowns in 11 games and was becoming C.J. Stroud's favorite target. Those are impressive numbers in 11 games for a rookie receiver, but Tank really only played in 9 games as he left multiple games early with injury. Before Tank's season-ending injury, he was on a 4-game run of 25 catches for 369 yards and 5 touchdowns on 43 targets. Prior to the injury, Tank was on pace for a season of 64 receptions for 1,112 yards and 11 touchdowns which certainly would have had him inside the top 20 receivers.

Had Tank stayed healthy who knows what his numbers would have been at the end of the season, but it's a new season and there are new questions surrounding Tank. This off-season the Texans traded for star receiver Stefon Diggs from the Bills to form an elite receiver trio of Diggs, Dell, and Nico Collins.

Most people assume Dell will be the 3rd option in that trio but odds are all three will produce and there will be a new number 1 target every week. As mentioned earlier, Dell was becoming C.J. Stroud's go-to target and the 2 have built elite chemistry both on and off the field. Between the production on the field last season, and the bond between the 2 teammates, it appears Tank could very well be the Texan's number 1 receiver, or at worst the number 2. Diggs is also a free agent following the season, so while he will help the Texans this season it doesn't appear he is part of their long-term plans like Dell is. Due to Diggs's impending free agency, keeping Tank involved as a main piece of the offense is key to continuing his development for the long term.

At the 4.12 Tank is a safe pick as he will receive plenty of volume, but he is a pick that offers upside as he is a player that works all areas of the field. Dell is the perfect compliment to Waddle for those reasons, as he doesn't quite have the same upside as Waddle due to the Texans loaded offense, but is a bit safer. Between the 2, this team has a team full of players that complement each other between the floors(and upside) of CMC and Dell, and the upside of Etienne and Waddle.

5.01- Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens:

Taking an early tight end isn't ideal unless the player is Travis Kelce, but Andrews at the 5.01 is too good to pass up. In a league where tight ends are so inconsistent Andrews has become one of the most reliable in the league.

Last season Andrews missed a lot of time, but produced in the games he appeared in. Andrews played in 10 games putting up 45 catches for 544 yards and 6 touchdowns. What bodes well for Andrews is the production of his backup once he went down. The Ravens have one of the league's best backups in Isaiah Likely who had 21 catches, 322 yards, and 5 touchdowns in the 6 games after Andrews's injury. Despite the fact Likely would be a starter on other teams, those are the numbers most tight ends wouldn't produce over 6 games. Those numbers show that had Andrews not missed time he was set up to have a very strong finish to the season as the number 1 option in the Ravens offense. Andrews will be back to full strength this year and should be Lamar Jackson's go-to target once again.

In fantasy, if there is a chance to grab an elite tight end it needs to be done because after the first few it gets rough. Every tight end has their big weeks but they all lack consistency for the most part. Andrews is quite the opposite as he is one of the most consistent tight ends in the game and while he may not offer game-breaking upside he will never lose a week. Grabbing a set-it-and-forget-it top 5 tight end at the 5.01 is too easy, and Andrews fits in so well with the team's current makeup.

6.12- Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans:

After five rounds the team has its 2 starting running backs, 2 of its 3 receivers, and a starting tight end. Adding a receiver here is a must in a league that requires 3 starting receivers and possibly 4 with the flex position. While many receiving options at this spot have questions including Ridley, Ridley offers the most upside while guaranteeing targets. There are plenty of rookies available such as Xavier Worthy, Brian Thomas, and others, but rookie's roles are always uncertain which makes them a risky pick this early.

Ridley is the pick here because he received a giant contract this off-season from the Titans, and also showed flashes last year of the player he used to be after missing almost 2 full years. In his first season back after almost 2 years, Ridley had 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and 8 touchdowns. Ridley certainly showed some rust after missing so much time, but didn't look like a player who had missed 2 years of pro football.

After signing a 4 year deal with the Titans Ridley has the chance to play with 2nd year QB Will Levis who is not afraid to let it fly. Levis loves to go deep and Ridley is a true deep threat, but he was not able to get on the same page at times as Trevor Lawrence last season. Levis will have his ups and downs as this is his first year as a full-time starter, but he will give Ridley plenty of chances to go make a play, and that's all you want.

Being an owner of Ridley last year in fantasy was a roller coaster as he was up and down all year. This year could be more of the same but Ridley was going as high as the 2nd round last season and did not return on his ADP. As a 6th-7th round pick this year fantasy managers don't need to expect WR 1 production from Ridley, but can get it from time to time which is all you want at this point in the draft. Had Ridley put up last year's stats as a 6th-round pick there would have been fewer complaints, and as long as Levis is serviceable Ridley should have solid production with upside.

7.01- Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals:

Adding another receiver here would have been nice but the options weren't great and Kyler was too good to pass up.

Kyler is going lower in drafts than he should due to the fact he is returning from a torn ACL 2 seasons ago. Last season Kyler returned to play in 8 games on a bad Cardinals team. In those 8 games, he put up 1,799 yards with 10 touchdowns while adding 244 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. When Kyler returned last year the team's number 1 receiver Marquise Brown was hurt which left Kyler without a lot of weapons. 2nd-year tight end Trey McBride became the focal point of the offense and fan favorite Greg Dortch had some nice production as well but it wasn't enough.

In the 2024 NFL draft, the Cardinals selected Marvin Harrison Jr. with the 4th pick in the draft making him Kyler's number 1 target. Harrison is one of the best-receiving prospects in recent memory and is expected to contribute in a big way fairly quickly. Between McBride and Harrison Jr, Kyler has 2 go-to options in the air which will be great.

The real reason though why Kyler is a value in the 7th-8th round is because of his rushing upside. Outside of Lamar Jackson, Kyler is probably the most feared rusher at the QB position with his ability to change direction and evade tackles. Adding Harrison will surely help Murray's upside as a passer but the rushing upside is what sets him apart from other QBs in this range. Between the air and ground, Kyler should combine for at least 30 total touchdowns and over 4,300 cumulative yards, and in this range of the draft, it's hard to find a QB with that kind of upside. Other QBs in this range like Dak Prescott offer upside in the passing game or run game but not both and that's what sets Kyler apart.

Drafting both a QB and TE in the first 7 rounds usually isn't the best way to go about a draft but the values of Kyler and Mark Andrews made it too hard to say no.

8.12- Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills; 9.01- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks:

After taking a QB and TE through the first seven rounds this team needs more help at the RB/WR positions. RB isn't a need with CMC and Etienne but the flex position is still open and a WR is ideal. At the 8/9 turn grabbing 2 young, talented receivers made more sense than anything.

The first pick of the 2 is Bills rookie receiver Keon Coleman, who they took with the 1st pick of the 2nd round. Coleman is a big, athletic receiver with great hands and the ability to catch just about anything thrown his way. Coleman fell to the 2nd round because he isn't quite the elite separator teams want, but his skill as a jump ball receiver made him a late first/early 2nd round talent.

Coleman enters a perfect situation with the Bills losing both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this off-season, which means Josh Allen needs a new WR 1. Outside of Coleman the other main receiving options on the Bills are Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, and last year's first-round pick Dalton Kincaid who is a tight end. Kincaid is primed for more targets, but the Bills still need a WR to step up. Coleman will certainly have his down weeks, but having the chance to draft Josh Allen's possible WR 1 in the 8th round was an easy selection.

The other selection is Seahawks 2nd year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The entire fantasy community had high hopes for JSN last season, but he was the clear third option behind D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. JSN being the third target was not a shock due to the status of the other 2 wideouts, but he still didn't produce the way people hoped. JSN had a nice season with 63 catches for 628 yards and 4 touchdowns, but never had any huge performances that helped your team last year. There was a thought that the Seahawks could move on from Lockett this off-season but instead extended him. The main reason there is hope that JSN has a mini breakout is because of the new offense in Seattle.

The Seahawks hired Ryan Grubb from the University of Washington to be their new coordinator and there is real buzz. The Huskies ran plenty of 3 receiver sets with Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja'Lynn Polk who were all picked in this year's draft, and they all produced at a high level. In Grubbs's offense, there should be plenty of targets for Metcalf, Lockett, and JSN, and if JSN sees an increase in targets, he should have a much better season.

Both Coleman and JSN have the opportunity to produce and earn plenty of targets, and in the 8th and 9th rounds, the upside of the 2 picks made too much sense for potential flex players.

10.12- Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns:

11.01- Ty Chandler, RB, Minnesota Vikings:

12.12- MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers:

It's been a while since an RB was selected, but that's because there isn't much need for a 3rd starting RB with both CMC and Etienne. Despite not needing another starter, there is a need for backups and this trio of backups all offer different things.

Ford is the safest pick of the bunch because at least early on he will see a good chunk of volume while Nick Chubb works his way back from injury. Last year after taking over for Chubb, Ford played well and was a safe flex play at least every week in fantasy. Ford may not offer much upside, but if given a similar workload to last season he should be a top 30 RB at least and in the 10th round it's an easy pick.

Chandler may offer the most upside of the three picks with his explosiveness, and Aaron Jones's injury history. Last year Chandler had some hype as Alexander Mattison's backup but didn't quite get on the field until midway through the season once Mattison got hurt. Once Mattison got injured Chandler took the starting job and never looked back. Chandler instantly became an RB 2 in fantasy with RB 1 upside. This season he retakes a back seat to newcomer Aaron Jones, but Jones is injury-prone, and if Minnesota wants to keep him healthy they should split the snaps. If Jones misses an extended period, Chandler becomes a home-run pick in the 11th with a league-winning upside.

The last of three backs is Lloyd who is maybe the most intriguing because he is a rookie. There is a chance Lloyd is like most rookie backs not taken in the 1st round and is primarily a backup. There is also a chance Lloyd gets on the field early and often.

Green Bay signed Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs to a 4-year deal this off-season. Despite signing Jacobs, Green Bay felt the need to draft Lloyd in the 3rd round and it seems they could split work right away. Green Bay always wanted to split Aaron Jones's workload with another back but they never found the right one. With Lloyd, the Packers believe they found a perfect back to pair with Jacobs because of how they complement each other. If the Packers continue to use multiple running backs, then Lloyd could be an option early in the season for fantasy owners with the chance to gain more work.

13.01- Brandin Cooks, WR, Dallas Cowboys:

14.12- Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers:

15.01- Jermain Burton, WR, Cincinnati Bengals:

After 3 straight running backs rounding out the bench with receivers became the priority. Some may say taking a backup tight end or QB would have made sense but with the current roster adding more WRs made the most sense.

The first of the three is Brandin Cooks, and it really makes no sense why Cooks is being drafted where he is. Cooks started last year extremely slow and made his way to waiver wires across multiple leagues. Cooks wasn't the only Cowboy to start slow last year as the entire offense had a rough start. Following the team's bye week Cooks saw more work and became a go-to red zone target for Dak Prescott.

After the team's bye, Cooks scored 7 touchdowns and had a monster game of 9 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown. By no means was Cooks the go-to target for the Cowboys, but he was an important piece in a pass-first offense. This season Cooks is one of the best late-round picks because the Cowboys are expected to pass even more this season due to their current RB situation. The Cowboy's number 1 WR is Ceedee Lamb, but after that, the targets are up for grabs, and having the chance to grab a possible number 2 option in the 13th round in a pass-heavy offense is a no-brainer.

Wicks has become so many people's favorite underrated WR in the league after last season, and Wicks definitely showed upside, but he is still in a loaded WR core. Wicks is coming off a nice rookie season where he posted 39 receptions for 581 yards and 4 touchdowns. What Wicks has going for him is there is no clear number 1 option in the Packers game which means there is opportunity for everyone. The downside of no clear top option is Wicks isn't guaranteed targets either. Between Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and others, there are a lot of mouths to feed, and there's only 1 ball.

Last season Wicks took advantage of his opportunities and showed he is a legit option, but will most likely work as the team's WR 3/4 again. The reason Wicks is a good pick though is because he plays in an elite offense, and if any WR goes down, he is going to fill in right away. Wicks is a nice player who offers solid upside in the 14th round.

Jermaine Burton has been a popular name in dynasty leagues since the draft and is picking up steam as a re-draft target as well. Burton was the Bengals 3rd round pick in the 2024 NFL draft and has the chance to be the team's starting slot WR right away.

The Bengals lost long-time starter Tyler Boyd in free agency and have to fill the void left by him. While Boyd was more of an intermediate passing game option, Burton brings speed to take the top off the defense which is something the Bengals need. Star WR Ja'Marr Chase can do that, but you want someone else to do it so Chase can work everywhere else. Burton has potential value as Boyd was always a solid option who could be started in a pinch, and Burton would be filling his role on the offense. If Burton gets on the field early, he has a chance to showcase his deep speed and all-around ability and has the chance to be a steal in drafts because of his situation.

16.12- Matt Gay, K, Indianapolis Colts:

17.01- Las Vegas Raiders DST:

Some leagues don't use kickers or defenses, but there is a slot for each here and these are the picks. With Gay, he plays on a Colts team that has the chance to be a high-scoring offense with Anthony Richardson which will lead to more scoring opportunities. As for the Raiders' defense, they finished last season on fire and should only get better with the addition of star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins alongside Maxx Crosby.

The Breakdown:

This team addresses every area teams look for in drafts. The runningback room has the best player in fantasy football, who is almost a lock for 20 points a week along with another top option in Etienne who is a perfect complement to CMC. Rounding out the RB room are 3 backup RBs who all possess RB 2 upside at minimum for one reason or another.

The WR room offers variety with Waddle's upside, Tank Dell's floor, and the unknown of Calvin Ridley in the Titans offense. The 2 young receivers Keon Coleman and JSN, offer highly touted prospects who have the chance to have big-time production this season and fill the flex spot. The other 3 receivers Cooks, Wicks, and Burton all bring different options to the table. Cooks is a proven vet in an elite offense, Wicks showed promise as a rookie last season, and Burton has a chance to be a starter on an elite offense. 8 receivers may seem like a lot, but when required to start at least 3 and usually 4, having depth is great.

Lastly, the QB and TE situation are great as Andrews should be a lock for a top 5 finish and Kyler has the upside to be a top 3 QB. Had the positions been taken care of later, then backups may have been drafted, but with 2 every-week starters, there is no need for a backup who won't play.

Overall this team offers everything a successful fantasy team has, in high-level starters with league-winning upside, consistency from the star player, and great depth with the chance to be more. Every draft goes differently, and the chances of all these players being available at these picks in every draft are unlikely. If the board falls in a way where these players are available, this team build is a great one to use for the 1.01.

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