The NFLFreaks 2006 Mock Draft

Where We Picked Them and Why We Got Them

These are all fantasy football experts who have played in several leagues per year for at least a decade, so study the picks closely because there is a lot of knowledge here. For detailed commentary on what each of the front offices were thinking, click the links on each team name below.  

If you have questions, comments or derisive rants about any of the picks or strategies discussed in this feature, have a go and send your feedback to Ask the Freaks.

For a single table / printable view, please click here.

The first five rounds generally followed a standard set of rules...

1. Running backs are the most consistent position in fantasy football, and it is critical to lock up 2 or 3 top-notch backs. In the first three rounds, when in doubt take a back. In my book, I would rather take 3 backs in a row and "find" QBs, TEs and WRs in later rounds who can produce as a solid compliment.

Notice that right around the beginning of round 3 we see the last of the go-to backs (23. Willis McGahee) get picked. At that point you only have guys left with question marks attached (competition, holdouts, off-season injuries). A number of these guys will pan out nicely, but you have to cross your fingers.

In leagues where you can only start two backs, it is still important to have a reliable number three for bye weeks and to cover yourself in case of injury. 

2. There is only one quarterback (Peyton Manning) that scores well enough to warrant taking him over the top 20 backs. However, I wouldn't suggest going for him if you are picking in the first 4-5 slots. It is too long until your next selection, and by then you are looking at backs out of the top 15.

If you don't go for Manning, you can wait on a QB. Some solid performers went in rounds six and seven. (Not to mention rounds 14-15!)

3. There is a competitive advantage to taking Gates early as your tight end. Did you know that Gates had 28% more fantasy points in 2005 than the next best tight end (Jeremy Shockey) and 41% more than the 4th best (Alge Crumpler)?  By putting him on your squad you are significantly outscoring 7 out of 10 teams (or more) in your league at a single position.

Note:  Gates went significantly later this year then in previous seasons due to questions about rookie quarterback Phillip Rivers.  Expect the same in your draft.

4. In 2005, only 3 of the 10 teams in our mock draft took more than one wide receiver in the first five rounds.  This year only 2 teams didn't.  That says a lot about the lack of confidence across the board in the QB and TE positions. 

The other interesting note is that none of the receivers this year were hot enough to go for early.  Once teams were fairly stocked up on running backs though, a major run kicked off in the fourth round, yielding 13 straight wide receiver picks.

Warning:  Teams in 12 team leagues will be turning to wide receivers earlier as the running back position will dry up sooner. 

For comments on each team's selections, click the links on each team name below.

Here come the quarterbacks.  As soon as the Sandman jumped for Delhomme, (a sweetheart pick) everyone jumped for their favorite in round six.  A few teams bucked the trend, noticeably Hindsight (me) who went a little early in drafting Mike Anderson to backup the questionable Jamal Lewis.

Once the dust settled, it was time to start getting deeper at running back.  The aging workhorses got picked up (Taylor, Martin), as did the rookies who pretty much all got snapped up in round seven. 

In round nine, the first three picks went to teams who were "handcuffing" their running backs.  This means that they picked players that either back up their running back or compete with him for carries. (i.e. Fred Taylor / Greg Jones, DeShaun Foster / DeAngelo Williams, Chester Taylor / Mewelde Moore) This is critical if the player in question has the ability to perform once they get on the field.  Don't wait too long to get your guy either, as StingRay stole Samkon Gado from D. Barrett at pick 91, and Hurlbomb stole Marion Barber from Sandman at pick 106. 

The second and third tier tight ends are pretty easy to spot, going in rounds 8 and 10 respectively.  By the end of round 11, every team had a tight end.

Depth is important at all positions, but its really critical to get stocked up on receivers as their performance is flaky year-to-year.  Of the top 15 fantasy receivers each season, around five are not guys you would have expected to see there before the season began.  So get plenty of receiver help because you never know how they will pan out.

As you can see, this is generally still too early in the draft to go for defenses or kickers.

For comments on each team's selections, click the links on each team name below.

At this stage of the game most teams have a QB, at least 4 RBs, 4 WRs and a TE.  Unless you have a must-grab handcuff player this is a good time to get an elite defense if you can.  Don't go reaching though, because after the top four you can wait several rounds to go after a defense from the next tier.

Another important need at this point is to lock up a quality backup quarterback.  Nothing can kill a fantasy season faster than having to scour the waiver wire for a decent QB after your starter goes down to injury, all because you waited too long on draft day.  I believe in getting the best guy on your board, but place serious consideration in taking a guy that has a good match-up on your starter's bye week.

On the subject of kickers, I truly believe that you can wait until the last rounds of your draft to grab one.  In this mock draft we went earlier than we normally would because we have to draft two (no waiver wire, remember?).  The reason why you should wait is that kicker scoring is pretty flat across the top 15 players.  The difference between the best fantasy kicker and the 7th ranked kicker in 2004 was 3.1 points per game.  The difference between the 7th and the 20th ranked kicker was 1.7 points per game.  So the message is you don't have to jump early if there is someone else on your board who is ripe for the picking.  However, if you are looking at 7-15 players who are all the same guy to you, what the heck, grab a "stud" kicker.

Remember, backup your running backs before other teams start picking them off!

For comments on each team's selections, click the links on each team name below.

The final rounds in a draft are pretty much anarchy.  Keep these thoughts in mind during the closing rounds of your draft.

1.  Don't mail it in.  There are absolute gems that are picked in the closing rounds.  Pay attention!

2.  Look for values, particularly wide receivers that are #2's in their offense (151. Joe Jurevicius, 154. David Givens, 157. Robert Ferguson, etc.) 

3.  Get a good second tight end.  Those guys can't seem to stay on the field and there are always good finds.  StingRay picked Antonio Gates in the 20th round in 2004 and he has been the top tight end in fantasy ever since.  In 1999 Hindsight selected Tony Gonzalez in the 17th round and he led all fantasy tight ends with 849 yards and 11 touchdowns. (Funny how I bring that up year after year.)

4.  I am not a big believer in taking three quarterbacks, but if you have the roster space and some questions at QB then go for it.

5.  NONE of the freaks believe in drafting a backup defense, as you can always grab one off the waiver wire to cover the bye week.  In this draft we had to take two per the rules, but do not copy our example.

6.  Rookies who may get some playing time that have slipped under the radar (196. Santonio Holmes, 199. Sinorice Moss) are good picks in rounds 19 and 20.

For comments on each team's selections, click the links on each team name below.