Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images.
Mock my mock: Drafting from the back of round one
The fantasy season is almost upon us which means it's time to bring back my yearly article about how to approach your fantasy draft depending on where you are drafting. I will write two more versions of this article where I draft from the No. 6 spot, and another where I have the No.1 pick. For this exercise I will draft from No. 12 but with a bit of a twist. This is a standard draft that I participated in and I did not take a running back until the third round. I wanted to see if I could build a team I would like without taking a running back early. My advice to everyone is to attack running back in the first two rounds if possible, but if you don't like who's left on the board, you do have options. Try to get at least one of these running backs with one of your first two picks.
McCaffrey, Barkley, Elliott, Kamara, Cook, Sanders, Edwards-Helaire, Jacobs, Ekler, Henry, Chubb. (If you're in a standard league I would take Henry right after Cook).
Here's what my team looked like when I avoided running back in the first 2 rounds. Keep in mind this is a standard draft, which is unusual for me. My next 2 mocks will deal with PPR. Let's get started!
1. D. Adams WR
2. T. Hill WR
3. J. Conner RB
4. J. Taylor RB
5. K. Hunt RB
6. A. Green WR
7. H. Henry TE
8. M. Mack RB
9. M. Ryan QB
After my 9th pick I put my team on autodraft, but this gives you a good picture of what a team drafting in the No. 12 spot could look like. This team is actually pretty solid. Adams and Hill are great in standard leagues because of big play ability and TD production. Since I took receivers with my first 2 picks, I knew I would target the running back position next. Getting Conner with the last pick of the 3rd round felt like a steal, and I love Jonathan Taylor's upside. I think he could breakout like Zeke Elliott did as a rookie, but with the COVID-shortened offseason, these rookies may take a while to get going. I don't expect him to put up Zeke's rookie year numbers, but I think their talent is similar. Because of the unusual offseason, I made sure to draft Marlon Mack in the 8th round. I can roll with him until Taylor takes off. If I didn't take Taylor in Round 4, Melvin Gordon, Le'Veon Bell, and Ronald Jones would have been my other options. Gordon is the only other back I would have considered there, but I like Taylor better than Gordon.
This league starts 1QB, 2RBs, 2WRs, 1Flex, 1TE, 1 Defense and a Kicker. So having either A.J. Green or Kareem Hunt as my flex is pretty nice. In Round 10 I would likely have drafted Hayden Hurst. This is a good year to take a couple of TEs and see which one works out best. Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers were both available at the end of Round 9, so there's no need to reach for a QB.
Okay, that's all I have for this edition of Mock My Mock. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or hit me up on Twitter.
@JoshJordan975 is where you can find me. Or you can catch Jerry Bo and me on MoneyLine, Sundays 10-noon on ESPN 97.5 FM. You can also watch the show on Twitch.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Yordan makes loud statement in Astros shutout win
Aug 27, 2025, 10:00 pm
The Houston Texans finalized their roster ahead of Week 1, and while some choices raised eyebrows, the moves also revealed how the front office and coaching staff plan to approach the start of the season.
On offense, the decision to keep three quarterbacks stood out. Graham Mertz’s strong showing against the Lions erased any doubt about his value, and Houston wasn’t willing to risk losing him. That left the team with extra insurance behind C.J. Stroud, even at the cost of flexibility elsewhere.
Tight end was another surprise. The Texans opted to keep only Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover, moving Irv Smith Jr. to injured reserve and releasing Harrison Bryant. Analyst John Harris noted Houston may lean on the practice squad for depth and could also experiment with six offensive linemen in heavy sets, with Cam Robinson as a candidate to fill that hybrid blocking role. However, KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson is now reporting that Bryant is re-signing with the team, and expected to be on the roster against the Rams Week 1.
The running back room was just as interesting. With Joe Mixon on the NFI list, the Texans found a way to retain depth by carrying Nick Chubb, Damien Pierce, Woody Marks, Dare Ogunbowale, and British Brooks. Brooks’ ability to contribute on special teams and line up as a fullback helped him earn a spot.
Along the offensive line, Trent Brown was a notable cut. Still recovering from a patellar tendon injury, he just wasn't healthy during camp. Aaron Wilson suggested Brown could circle back on the Texans’ practice squad.
Defensively, there were fewer surprises. C.J. Gardner-Johnson made the active roster, a signal that his recovery timeline isn’t overly concerning. If he’s not ready for Week 1, Houston can turn to MJ Stewart or shift Jalen Pitre into a safety role with Jaylin Smith sliding into nickel duties. Veteran pass rusher Denico Autry was placed on the PUP list, and while his absence will be felt early, his return could provide a valuable boost to the defensive front later in the year.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The NFL season is almost upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Texans on Tap podcast, which drops each Wednesday during the preseason! More episodes will ramp up when the regular season begins! We'll go live on YouTube after every regular-season game.
___________________________
*ChatGPT assisted.
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!