10-Team Fantasy Mock Analysis: Drafting From All 10 Spots 

We’ve done quite a few fantasy football mock drafts this summer, but I haven’t gone all out just yet. In this article, I’m showing you how to get a winning fantasy roster, no matter which spot you draft from in a 10-team league. To save on time and article cramming, I’ll simply list the rosters and then provide brief analysis.

And to save even more time with the mocking process, I used the awesome Cheat Sheet Wizard. It is literally the best fantasy tool I’ve ever used.

You be the judge as to whether or not the mocks were successful:

Note: all mocks in this advice column are 10-team, standard snake draft, with the following starting lineup – QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, FLEX, TE, K, DEF/ST

Drafting From 1

QB: Michael Vick, Jay Cutler

RB: Arian Foster, Jamaal Charles, Donald Brown, Mark Ingram, Isaiah Pead

WR: Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas, Titus Young, Justin Blackmon, Alshon Jeffery, Terrell Owens

TE: Jermichael Finley

K: Jason Hanson

DEF/ST: Baltimore Ravens

Analysis:

I had the top pick, so I roll with the most consistent player in the game – Arian Foster. I also roll with my RB, RB strategy, which is pretty crucial in a year with very few proven feature backs. You don’t have to do it every time, but when two quality backs are present for your first two picks, I don’t suggest passing up the chance to secure those two important starters early.

Vick is a major steal in rounds four or five, so even though he gets hurt in basically every game he plays, I can’t pass on him. I know he’s a big risk, and that’s why I grabbed Cutler to back him up. I’ve got play-makers at all the other positions, namely the receiver I covet the most outside of Calvin Johnson – Julio Jones. I landed a stud defense and an elite kicker, and I barely even planned it. Wait until the last three rounds for defenses, and an elite one almost always is there. Ditto for kickers in the final round of your draft.

Drafting From 2

QB: Matt Ryan, RG3

RB: LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles, Jonathan Stewart, David Wilson, Rashad Jennings, Alex Green

WR: Andre Johnson, Julio Jones, Dez Bryant, Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright

TE: Antonio Gates

K: Jason Hanson

DEF/ST: Pittsburgh Steelers

Analysis:

Ryan is an elite quarterback hiding in an accountants body. He started his tear last year, and should only get better. Pairing him with a potential stud rookie like RG3 gives me a very dangerous duo at quarterback. LeSean McCoy carries my running backs by himself if the others can’t get it going, but we all know Sproles can ball, while Jennings is the steal of the draft if MJD can’t get his mind right.

My wide receiving corps is to die for. AJ, Julio and Dez, and then Britt off the bench? That’s just sick. Wright is a toss-in potential-ridden rookie who makes the Britt pick far less of a risk. Getting a stud tight end, defense and kicker is just the icing on the cake.

Drafting From 3

QB: Peyton Manning, RG3

RB: Ray Rice, Steven Jackson, Peyton Hillis, Toby Gerhart, Alex Green

WR: Wes Welker, Percy Harvin, Reggie Wayne, Justin Blackmon, Alshon Jeffery, Devery Henderson

TE: Antonio Gates

K: Jason Hanson

DEF/ST: Chicago Bears

Analysis:

I went RB, RB here and shored up that position quickly, and still found time to get an elite tight end and a very solid group of wide receivers. Peyton Manning is a risk as my QB1, but I feel confident in his ability, and I also feel better knowing that RG3 is waiting if he fails. Landing the Bears elite defense in round 13 is a nice way to close the draft.

Drafting From 4

QB: Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck

RB: Frank Gore, Reggie Bush, Donald Brown, Peyton Hillis, David Wilson, Bernard Scott

WR: Andre Johnson, Kenny Britt, Titus Young, Kendall Wright, Mike Williams

TE: Jimmy Graham

K: Alex Henery

DEF/ST: New York Jets

Analysis:

I don’t normally stray from my RB, RB strategy to start drafts, but I did this time to show that you can grab your elite quarterback and still put together a solid roster from this spot. Ultimately, it all worked out.

I know I didn’t get a single elite running back, but I have a strong stable of running backs who can rotate in and out of my starting lineup, and I have elite options at every other spot. This is a well balanced roster with enough studs to give any opponent a run for it’s money.

Drafting From 5

QB: Matt Ryan, Eli Manning

RB: Trent Richardson, Darren Sproles, Doug Martin, Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart, David Wilson

WR: Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, Pierre Garcon, Terrell Owens

TE: Jared Cook

K: Alex Henery

DEF/ST: Baltimore Ravens

Analysis:

Again, in 12-team leagues or less, I usually stick with a RB, RB strategy to start the draft, but since a lot of fantasy owners aren’t comfortable with a lot of the running backs beyond the top-three, I’m switching up my strategy beyond round three to give you an idea of what else you can do. I kicked this draft off with the best receiver in the game (Megatron), and ended up rounding out a quality roster.

Drafting From 6

QB: Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler

RB: Darren McFadden, DeMarco Murray, Darren Sproles, Stevan Ridley, David Wilson, Jacquizz Rodgers

WR: Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Bowe, Kenny Britt, Justin Blackmon, Kendall Wright

TE: Rob Gronkowski

K: Jason Hanson

DEF/ST: Baltimore Ravens

Analysis:

With A-Rod and Megatron gone, I go back to my RB, RB strategy in this one, just to change the pace, as well as show again that getting two good running backs early is a good way to start your draft.

I preach two things more than anything in drafts: Make sure you have balance (depth), and protect your investments. I know Rivers was a turnover machine last year, but I love his potential. I know he could repeat that tornado, though, so I grabbed a backup with high upside in Cutler. The same goes for Kenny Britt. He could be a beast if healthy, but if not, rookie teammate Kendall Wright could light it up for the Titans. Get your depth and make sure your shaky starters (if you take risks) have quality guys directly behind them.

Drafting From 7

QB: Tom Brady, RG3

RB: Steven Jackson, Mark Ingram, DeAngelo Williams, David Wilson, Jacquizz Rodgers, Isaiah Pead

WR: Julio Jones, Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, Antonio Brown, Kenny Britt

TE: Antonio Gates

K: Alex Henery

DEF/ST: New York Jets

Analysis:

Here’s a curve ball. If I draft a QB early, it’s always A-Rod. I’m switching it up here and going with Tom Brady with my first pick, and then seeing how the cards fall from there.

After Brady, I made sure I got Julio Jones, saw Welker fall into my lap, and somehow rounded out my wife receivers with Britt as my WR5. Anytime Britt is your 5th receiver, you’re doing OK at the position. I backed up the solid Steven Jackson with his handcuff, Isaiad Pead, and got a solid corps of running backs that all carry nice potential. Running back is my only weakness on this roster, although it’s actually the deepest position I have. Sometimes you have to sacrifice immediate gain to find the gem in the middle of the year. Wilson, Rodgers or Pead could be that gem.

Drafting From 8

QB: Drew Brees, Jake Locker

RB: Steven Jackson, Donald Brown, Peyton Hillis, Roy Helu, David Wilson, Isaiah Pead

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Percy Harvin, Titus Young, Anquan Boldin

TE: Antonio Gates

K: Mason Crosby

DEF/ST: San Francisco 49ers

Analysis:

Kicking it off with Drew Brees this time. I get that people aren’t comfortable with a lot of the running backs available at this spot and later, so I’ll steer from that with the eight pick in the first round.

When you go quarterback early, you’re obviously passing up on two solid running backs. You can still recover from that, but you need to make a point of really going after the ones you like, and sometimes that can mean you have to reach a round or two earlier, just to make sure they’re not taken. Overall, this is a balanced and explosive roster. Running back will be weak to start the year on this team, but it still has the potential to be a strong spot.

Drafting From 9

QB: Tony Romo, RG3

RB: Adrian Peterson, Doug Martin, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Julio Jones, Wes Welker, Dwayne Bowe, Justin Blackmon, Terrell Owens

TE: Jacob Tamme

K: Mason Crosby

DEF/ST: Baltimore Ravens

Analysis:

I don’t want to waste my first-rounder on a holdout (MJD) or a guy who can’t stay healthy (Ryan Mathews), so I opt to roll with two wide receivers to start this mock. I’m not disappointed with Larry Fitzgerald and Julio Jones.

Passing on two stud backs with major questions still allowed me to get one of the same in Adrian Peterson. As long as I got his handcuff (Gerhart), I’d feel good about it. Landing potential rookie stud back Doug Martin helps ease the pain at that position, too.

The best part of this mock is the wide receiver position. I still got great value and balance at every other roster spot, but no team in any league could possibly rival these receivers on paper. Drafting on pure value is sometimes the best way to go – especially the further back in drafts you are.

Drafting From 10

QB: Michael Vick, Peyton Manning

RB: Darren McFadden, Matt Forte, Mark Ingram, Stevan Ridley, Ryan Williams

WR: A.J. Green, Dwayne Bowe, Reggie Wayne, Justin Blackmon, Sidney Rice, Alshon Jeffery

TE: Antonio Gates

K: David Akers

DEF/ST: Baltimore Ravens

Analysis:

You’re dead last in a 10-team snake. No problem. It probably depends on who falls to you, and that will dictate your strategy. I went into this wanting to revert back to my safe RB, RB strategy, and Darren McFadden let me do it. If you can start with two running backs and feel good about them, it’s the preferred route. If not, then look for the best value. Just remember to keep in mind, that when drafting off of value, you need to remember how thin running back is, and that you don’t want to reach for a defense or kicker until round 13 at the earliest. If you live by those rules, you’ll have a successful draft.