Fantasy football 12-team mock draft roundup for 2022

Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles catches the football during an open practice at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. on Aug. 7, 2022.
Colleen Claggett/for PhillyVoice

It's August, and that means two things. It's probably ungodly hot where you are right now, and if you clicked to read this article you are starting to think about fantasy football.

With many drafts not slated to start until the end of the month, or in early September, it's still a very smart idea to start gauging where players might go in your draft. Staring endlessly at rankings is one thing, but seeing how an actual draft shakes out can really help you mentally prepare.

It also can help you decide which draft slot you want for 2022, which is something a lot of leagues are figuring out right now, and allowing team owners (or luck of the draw) determine where you pick. 

We've done a lot of the work for you here, as we have compiled mock 12-team drafts with full PPR or .5 PPR from Fansided, Bleacher Report, Pro Football Network and The Athletic. We also included an ESPN.com non PPR.

After each of the first four rounds, we've listed a few of our observations and some tips for your own draft strategy. .

Take a look:

ROUND 1

PickFansidedESPNBRPFNAthletic
1.01Jonathan TaylorTaylorTaylorTaylorHarris
1.02Christian McCaffreyKuppMcCaffreyMcCaffreyTaylor
1.03Austin EkelerHenryEkelerEkelerMcCaffrey
1.04Najee HarrisCookCookKuppChubb
1.05Justin JeffersonEkelerMixonHenryKupp
1.06Dalvin CookHarrisKuppJeffersonHenry
1.07Cooper KuppMcCaffreyJeffersonHarrisJefferson
1.08Derrick HenryMixonHenryChaseChase
1.09J'Marr ChaseWilliamsChaseCookAdams
1.10Joe MixonConnerHarrisDiggsMixon
1.11Travis KelceJeffersonKelceMixonCook
1.12D'Andre SwiftChubbJonesAdamsEkeler

• So, let's start by acknowledging that The Athletic's draft was kind of bonkers, with Ekeler dropping to 12th.

• Are you a Najee Harris believer? It went from first overall (The Athletic) to 10th overall (Bleacher Report). Is he going to get a ridiculous amount of touches again with the Steelers not expected to be very good? Will the team be playing from behind so much that he becomes a passing only back in the fourth quarter? He's an interesting first round player. 

• There is no consensus as to the top receiver, but it's likely going to be either Cooper Kupp or Justin Jefferson in your league. Kupp went second in ESPN and seventh in Fansided, but he doesn't drop further than that.

ROUND 2

PickFansidedESPNBRPFNAthletic
2.01Stefon DiggsChaseDiggsSwiftKelce
2.02Devante AdamsDiggsHerbertJonesDiggs
2.03Aaron JonesFournetteSwiftLambLamb
2.04Saquon BarkleyKamaraAdamsKelceLamar Jackson
2.05CeeDee LambAdamsChubbFournetteSwift
2.06Javonte WilliamsSamuelBarkleySamuelKamara
2.07Leonard FournetteSwiftLambKamaraBarkley
2.08Alvin KamaraLambFournetteBarkleySamuel
2.09Tyreek HillHillAndrewsChubbEvans
2.10Mark AndrewsJonesJ. WilliamsAndrewsAndrews
2.11Nick ChubbAkersSamuel Hill
Hill
2.12Mike EvansEvans
HillEvansPitts


• The Athletic draft saw Lamar Jackson go in the second round so, yeah, interpret that as you will.

• There is some extremely good value here. Nick Chubb at 2.11 is a steal. 

• At least two drafters valued Javonte Williams as a second rounder. Is that an overpay for a player who has just one half good season under his belt?

• CeeDee Lamb could dominate targets in a depleted Cowboys offense. He might be a reasonable second round choice. Getting Ja'Marr Chase in the second round is also kind of a steal.

ROUND 3

PickFansidedESPNBRPFNAthletic
3.01Keenan AllenKelceEvansK. AllenJ. Allen
3.02Deebo SamuelHigginsKamaraJ. WilliamsBrown
3.03Tee HigginsJ. AllenJ. AllenElliottJones
3.04Michael PittmanAndrewsK. AllenHigginsFournette
3.05Kyle PittsBarkleyJacobsMooreK. Allen
3.06AJ BrownMooreAkersSutton Higgins
3.07Josh AllenElliottHigginMontgomeryKittle
3.08James ConnerJosh JacobsConnerPittmanConner
3.09DJ MooreJK DobbinsPittmanHallMontgomery
3.10Diontae JohnsonBrownBrownConnerJ. Williams
3.11Ezekiel ElliottPittsHuntJohnsonElliott
3.12David MontgomeryHallElliottPittsM. Williams


• Is Josh Allen really a third round pick? Will Dobbins be healthy, and worth of a third round choice as he returns from his torn ACL? 

• It looks like AJ Brown and his crazy high target share (we expect) will land him in the third round.

ROUND 4

PickFansidedESPNBRPFNAthletic
4.01Jaylen Waddle McLaurinKyler MurrayBrownHall
4.02Travis EtienneMetcalfHallJ. AllenWaddle
4.03Mike WilliamsEtienneMcLaurinAkersMoore
4.04Terry McLaurinDarnell Mooney
Courtland SuttonMahomesDobbins
4.05Breece Hall Chris GodwinPittsMcLaurinAkers
4.06Cam AkersElijah MooreMooreRobinsonMurray
4.07Brandin CooksGabriel DavisJohnsonEtienneJohnson
4.08Antonio GibsonJerry JeudyWallerMooneyWaller
4.09Allen RobinsonPatrick MahomesWaddleMetcalfMahomes
4.10Justin HerbertHerbertM. WilliamsJacobsJacobs
4.11DK MetcalfKareem HuntMontgomeryCooksPittman
4.12George KittleSanders
EtienneAJ DillonMitchell


• Depending on how your league values quarterbacks, Mahomes and Herbert look like they'll go in the fourth. They are the MVP candidates (along with Allen) and there is a bit of a drop-off in QBs after that trio.

• There are a few scattered stretches here. Darnell Mooney with an unproven QB in Chicago? Will Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy emerge as Russell Wilson's top target? AJ Dillon, the second running back in Green Bay, as a fourth rounder?

Notable drafted players

PlayerFansidedESPNBRPFNAthletic
Miles Sanders5.044.126.047.7 6.09
Amon-Ra St. Brown6.036.117.046.107.01
Jalen Hurts6.128.068.037.35.05
DeVonta Smith7.077.129.028.107.03
Allen Lazard8.048.037.098.67.12
Dallas Goedert8.118.08
14.049.26.11
Aaron Rodgers12.0211.065.1114.6
Kenny Gainwell11.1112.0611.7 —


• We included some Eagles players here for our Philly-centric readership. Sanders has a fairly large range, going everywhere from the fourth to seventh round. Goedert too, is all over the board.

• After proclaiming he would be a Hall of Ffamer and the second coming of Davante Adams, we were curious how drafters saw Allen Lazard. It looks like he's coveted in the seventh or eighth rounds.

• Amon-Ra St. Brown is another skill player who was relatively anonymous this time last year, but had a great second half and looks like he'll be off the board pretty quickly despite the lack of a track record.

• Rodgers, without a stud wideout, is pretty far down in most leagues, but there is no consensus whatsoever. In Bleacher Report he went in the fifth. In The Athletic, he was not chosen in their nine rounds.


Follow Evan on Twitter: @evan_macy

Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports