Yes, the calendar says that we have yet to reach the summer, but that doesn't mean it's too early to start thinking about the fall.
With the NBA Finals and NHL's Stanley Cup Final nearing their respective conclusions and the dog days of summer yet to hit Major League Baseball, it seems like as good a time as any to focus on football—fantasy football, that is.
With that in mind, we’re here to provide you with a way-too-early fantasy football first-round mock draft.
Let's take a look:
Yes, we know what you're thinking, and we're pretty sure you know what we're thinking, too. Just because it's obvious doesn't make it any less true. McCaffrey, 28, is a PPR dynamo on a high-scoring offense. The 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year led the NFL in rushing yards (1,459) and scrimmage yards (2,203) and shared the league lead with 21 total touchdowns (14 rushing, seven receiving). Heck, he's even on the cover of the Madden NFL 25 video game. Don't overthink this.
Now it gets good, since there are a bevy of wide receivers from which to choose. So, why are we telling you to pick Lamb over Tyreek Hill, Ja'Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson? Well, Lamb has no true competition for targets in Dallas. Hill and Chase have Jaylen Waddle and Tee Higgins, respectively, while Jefferson will need to establish chemistry with a new quarterback. Lamb, 25, broke Hall of Famer Michael Irvin's single-season franchise records in 2023 with an NFL-high 135 catches and 1,749 yards. He also had a career-high 12 TD catches. Expect comparable numbers in 2024.
Like Lamb, Hill put up strong numbers in 2023; heck, he led the NFL in receiving yards (1,799) and receiving touchdowns (13). But if we're picking nits in order to establish a first-round pecking order, Hill turned 30 in March, and the Dolphins have plenty of other toys at their disposal, namely Waddle and a number of running backs. Now, Hill will still get "his" on a high-octane offense; however, he could find himself on the bench should the Dolphins feel the need to cool their jets in the face of a blowout.
A healthy Joe Burrow will lead to a prosperous Ja'Marr Chase, and it wasn't like his numbers were that bad with Jake Browning under center either. Chase, 24, recorded a career-high 100 catches and 145 targets to go along with 1,216 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. A third Pro Bowl selection in as many years followed, two seasons after he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. You want that on your team? We thought so.
Jefferson falling to No. 5 is no knock on his talent but rather the cloudy quarterback situation in Minnesota. After seeing Kirk Cousins depart for Atlanta, the team will need to decide whether J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold will step up to assume the starting role. Jefferson, 24, has all the tools to put up significant numbers with either the rookie or veteran under center. Minnesota feels that way too, as it showed its confidence with its checkbook by signing the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year to a four-year, $140 million extension in the offseason.
Gone are the days of getting St. Brown on the cheap, and the Lions know that too after signing the 24-year-old to a four-year contract extension for $120 million in the offseason. That's the way it goes after the two-time Pro Bowl selection totaled 119 catches for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Your price will come via a high draft pick; however, St. Brown will pay dividends with Jared Goff still under center in the Motor City.
Should you miss out on the five top-tier wide receivers, Robinson provides an intriguing option at No. 7. He totaled 1,463 yards as a rookie in 2023 on a Falcons team that now features Cousins at quarterback and Zac Robinson as the team's new offensive coordinator. Zac Robinson had no issue keeping Kyren Williams busy last season, as the Los Angeles Rams star led all NFL running backs in touches. A similar plan for Bijan Robinson is expected in Atlanta, thus the high price in fantasy circles.
Hall reeled in an NFL-best 76 receptions by a running back to go along with 1,585 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns on one of the league's worst offenses last season. Those numbers were amassed while working his back from a torn ACL. Hall, 23, is healthy, and the Jets' offense should be likewise with Garrett Wilson keeping defenses honest—and, you know, the return of Aaron Rodgers.
Gibbs, 22, rolled up 1,261 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns during his rookie season, all the while sharing time with David Montgomery. While Montgomery is still there in Detroit, so are St. Brown, tight end Sam LaPorta, wideout Jameson Williams. Long story short, the Lions' offense is spread out, and the speedy Gibbs will have a step on every linebacker in the passing game.
The return of rushing quarterback Anthony Richardson should keep defenses on the heels and only benefit the workhorse Taylor, who doesn't need any favors to make an impact. Taylor, 25, is a few seasons removed from rolling up 1,811 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns. Provided he stays healthy, he's more than deserving of a Top-10 pick.
Brown recorded a career-high total in catches (106) last season; however, it felt like he left a bit more meat on the bone. He rolled up six straight games with at least 125 yards receiving before reaching double digits on only one occasion the rest of last season. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is a big-bodied target on a reliable offense. He's a safe, albeit unspectacular, first-round pick.
Last season, fantasy owners rushed to the waiver wire in a bid to scoop up Nacua after the then-rookie caught 10 of his 15 targets for 119 yards in his NFL debut. The price for the 23-year-old BYU product is substantially higher in 2024 after he finished with 105 catches for 1,486 yards last season. The elephant in the room for Nacua is fellow Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, who has missed 13 games over the last two seasons due to ankle and hamstring injuries. We're banking on Nacua to succeed.
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