2024 FGT Fantasy Football Mock Draft – Rounds 1 & 2

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

As I mention every year, we here at Football Garbage Time are all about helping out our readers.  And the 2024 season is just around the corner in September, so we all know what that means…the FANTASY FOOTBALL season is ALSO around the corner in September!

So as everyone gets ready to root for their favorite NFL team and commit entire Sunday afternoons to eating tons of junk food and yelling at the TV screen when refs inevitably make yet another bad call on the field, some of us, including you I suspect, will be furiously tinkering with our fantasy football lineups and eventually wondering why the fantasy gods hate us when we end up losing by 0.01 fantasy points because Jalen Hurts took one too many knees at the end of the game.  Phew, that was a ridiculously long sentence.

Say what you will about whether Fantasy Football is “good” for the NFL or not.  One thing we all agree on here is that playing Fantasy Football is a lot of fun…but much more so if you’re winning.😎

So, as we do every year, we’re conducting a live Mock Fantasy Football Draft on Twitter (just check out #FGTMockDraft) for a mock PPR standard scoring Yahoo 10-team league (1 QB, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 Non-QB FLEX, 1 K & 1 DEF) so that all of you can get some insight as to who we like for the upcoming 2024 season, and hopefully help all of you with your drafts.

This year, ten different writers & podcasters from five different sites participated, including:

Each one is taking part in a mock draft live over several weeks on Twitter, so follow along on Twitter by searching for #FGTMockDraft!  What trends and surprises did we see?

Below are the results of the first two rounds along with some comments from those who made the picks.  We also include the Expert Consensus Ranking (ECR) for PPR leagues as of August 11, 2024 as per Fantasy Pros so you can see how we differ from how other experts have ranked them for PPR leagues.

Don’t forget to also check back for our Rounds 3 & 4 Picks and our Rounds 5 & 6 Picks!

Don’t agree?  Well, it’s a free country, so sound off in the comments!

– Ha Kung Wong, Editor-In-Chief

Joanne Kong

1st Round – Pick 1 – Christian McCaffrey (RB) [Current ECR: 1]

2nd Round – Pick 20 – Sam LaPorta (TE) [Current ECR: 27]

This is what Joanne had to say about her picks:

Christian McCaffrey is the overall number one pick and the top running back for the upcoming NFL season. In 2023, McCaffrey averaged over 24 fantasy points per game, totaling 1459 rushing yards, 564 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. With 2000 career touches, he’s been one of the few workhorse backs in the NFL, and that didn’t change last year with the 49ers as McCaffrey pumped up his touches with a 19.3% target share, good for best among all RBs. Although injuries can’t be predicted, McCaffrey potential for injury can’t be out of the equation. Even with phenomenal numbers in 2023, McCaffrey did suffer from a periodic calf strain throughout last season. On a positive note, McCaffrey has been relatively healthy for the last two seasons. Wide Receivers are deep this season, and quarterback options exist for later rounds. There is no argument for drafting any other player 1st overall than Christian McCaffrey.

Sam LaPorta dominated the league his rookie year in a position that many wouldn’t consider critical. Of course, tell that to Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, as well as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. A reliable tight end gives a quarterback options, and Jared Goff might have found his on field bro-mance with LaPorta. With 120 targets, 86 receptions, 889 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns to start his NFL career, LaPorta finished his rookie season as the 5th best tight end in the league in receiving yards, and first in touchdowns. With 18 picks between the 1st and 2nd pick, it comes down to “who you want and best available” and trying to craft a well-rounded fantasy team requires thinking several steps ahead.

LaPorta’s success lies in Goff, which makes this pick a little concerning. But the Lions are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season with +1200 to +1000 odds, behind only the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. Sam LaPorta looks good for TE 1 in the upcoming season and getting him gives my team an advantage at a scarce position.

Scott King

1st Round – Pick 2 – Tyreek Hill (WR) [Current ECR: 3]

2nd Round – Pick 19 – Mike Evans (WR) [Current ECR: 25]

This is what Scott had to say about his picks:

With the second overall pick I decided to go WR and grab Tyreek Hill. He continues to dominate and now that Tua is healthy and has his money, they should do exciting things.

Mike Evans continues to produce and with stability at QB should put up another solid season

I’m waiting on RB, let’s see if that bites me later.

Dan Thury

1st Round – Pick 3 – Breece Hall (RB) [Current ECR: 8]

2nd Round – Pick 18 – Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR) [Current ECR: 16]

Breece Hall’s involvement in the offense has increased year over year and the return of Aaron Rodgers should open up even more opportunities, particularly in light of his involvement in the passing game.

Rushing & Receiving Table
Game Rush Rush Rush Rush Rush Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece Rece
Year Tm G Att Yds TD Y/A Y/G Tgt Rec Yds TD Y/G Ctch%
2022 NYJ 7 80 463 4 5.8 66.1 31 19 218 1 31.1 61.3%
2023 NYJ 17 223 994 5 4.5 58.5 95 76 591 4 34.8 80.0%
Care 24 303 1457 9 4.8 60.7 126 95 809 5 33.7 75.4%

Dave Earl

1st Round – Pick 4 – Bijan Robinson (RB) [Current ECR: 7]

2nd Round – Pick 17 – Davante Adams (WR) [Current ECR: 14]

This is what Dave had to say about his picks:

Bijan Robinson was an obvious selection with an ADP of 1.04 in all redraft PPR leagues and could very well end up RB1 by seasons end. A stable QB in Kirk Cousins who understands the value of a complete RB playing alongside Calvin Cook for 5 years in Minnesota. Playing alongside WR Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts plus running behind the 6th ranked OL in Atlanta (per PFF), Robinson has the complete formula to have a huge breakout season.

As for Davante Adams, the once top WR in all of fantasy football, actually has a high-risk tag to him in my opinion but the value was still there at pick 2.07. The potential inconsistency at the QB position for the Raiders and lack of experienced RB could take a hit on Adams numbers this season. While being flanked by a reliable WR Jakobi Meyers, the addition of TE Brock Bowers and progression TE Michael Mayer will go a long way in determine how much focus opposing defenses will have on Davante Adams. He could be this drafts boom or bust candidate not because of lacking talent but with the pieces around him as a whole.

Ryan Whitfield

1st Round – Pick 5 – CeeDee Lamb (WR) [Current ECR: 2]

2nd Round – Pick 16 – Garrett Wilson (WR) [Current ECR: 10]

Kaiden King

1st Round – Pick 6 – Ja’Marr Chase (WR) [Current ECR: 4]

2nd Round – Pick 15 – Josh Jacobs (RB) [Current ECR: 47]

Will Gentile

1st Round – Pick 7 – Justin Jefferson (WR) [Current ECR: 6]

2nd Round – Pick 14 – Kyren Williams (RB) [Current ECR: 28]

This is what Will had to say about his picks:

Jefferson is great no matter who the QB. I am worried about Kyren Williams losing snaps, but he will still produce #1 RB numbers if healthy.

Wole Akinso

1st Round – Pick 8 – Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) [Current ECR: 11]

2nd Round – Pick 13 – Saquon Barkley (RB) [Current ECR: 15]

Ha Kung Wong

1st Round – Pick 9 – Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) [Current ECR: 5]

2nd Round – Pick 12 – Puka Nacua (WR) [Current ECR: 12]

This is what Ha Kung had to say about his picks:

Amon-Ra St. Brown has increased his receptions and yards per catch every season of his career, and last season he was top five in both receiving yards and points per game.  He was also top 10 in yards per route run (2.27) and targets per route run (26%) since entering the league and essentially the entirety of the Lions offense is back, including Jared Goff on a new 4-year deal. And that’s an offense that was 5th is total points in consecutive seasons. Brown has double digit TDs in every season of his career, further cementing his consistency, something you love to get in the first round.

On the turn, I decided to double down at WR and go with Puka Nacua. Nacua essentially came out of nowhere to snag the most targets (160) and most yards (1,486) of any rookie receiver ever. On top of that his 28.8% target share also ranked seventh amongst all WRs last season. Perhaps he has trouble getting that share again with Cooper Kupp healthy, but the upside is sky high, and even falling 10% off his 2023 numbers is 2nd round worthy.  It’s also worth noting that Nacua managed to out-share Kupp on most metrics when both are healthy last season, plus Kupp helps draw defensive attention, which might explain Nacua’s increased share. In PPR leagues, I don’t shy away from WR-WR in the first two rounds.

Jordan Alexander

1st Round – Pick 10 – AJ Brown (WR) [Current ECR: 9]

2nd Round – Pick 11 – Jonathan Taylor (RB) [Current ECR: 13]

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