Steal Alert: Nacua & Love Plummet in Latest Mock Draft
ESPN Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 10-Team Half-PPR Preseason Showdown
Welcome to the ultimate breakdown of ESPN’s latest fantasy football mock draft! If you’re new to fantasy football, don’t worry—we’ll explain everything like you’re five. This mock draft happened right after the first week of NFL preseason games, and boy, was there some drama to react to.
Big Preseason News That Shook the Draft
Before we dive into the picks, here’s the chaos that had everyone talking:
Important Preseason Developments
- Potential Suspensions: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported possible suspensions for several stars, including Puka Nacua (WR, Rams) and Josh Jacobs (RB, Packers).
- Major Injury: Cardinals rookie RB Jeremiyah Love (the #3 overall NFL draft pick) suffered a high ankle sprain and will miss the rest of preseason.
- Timing: All this happened during the mock draft week, forcing managers to adjust strategies on the fly.
Mock Draft Basics (ELI5 Version)
| Detail | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Format | 10 teams, 1/2 PPR (Half Point Per Reception) |
| What’s PPR? | Players get 0.5 extra fantasy points for every catch. Makes pass-catching RBs and WRs more valuable. |
| Platform | Hosted live on ESPN’s Fantasy Focus podcast |
| Participants | 10 ESPN fantasy experts (analysts, writers, podcasters) |
| Rounds | 16 rounds (standard roster + bench + K/DEF) |
| Practice Tool | You can try your own mock drafts in the ESPN Mock Draft Lobby |
The 10 Drafters (in 1st-round order)
- Liz Loza
- Matt Bowen
- Eric Karabell
- Mike Clay
- Dave Presley
- Daniel Dopp
- Cameron Wolfe
- Field Yates
- Eric Moody
- Tristan H. Cockcroft
Round-by-Round Highlights & Trends
Round 1: RBs Rule the Roost
- 6 RBs, 4 WRs went in the top 10
- Bijan Robinson (ATL) went 1.01 to Loza – consensus #1 overall
- Puka Nacua still went 1.08 to Yates despite suspension news
- First WR: Ja’Marr Chase at 1.03 (Karabell)
Round 2: More RBs, Elite WRs Emerge
- Ashton Jeanty (rookie, LV) went 2.01 – first rookie off board
- CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Derrick Henry all snapped up
- Zero QBs or TEs in first two rounds
Round 3: TE Run Starts + QB Watch
- First TE: Trey McBride (ARI) at 3.07 (Wolfe)
- Brock Bowers (rookie TE, LV) at 3.08 (Yates)
- Still no QBs – position pushed to later rounds
Rounds 4-6: QB Floodgates Open
- Josh Allen first QB at 5.07 (Wolfe)
- Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, Drake Maye, Joe Burrow all go Rounds 6-7
- Rookie WRs like Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, Brian Thomas Jr. start appearing
Rounds 7-10: Depth & Upside
- Backfield committees targeted (e.g., Blake Corum, Jaylen Warren)
- Late-round QBs: Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott
- Defenses & Kickers wait until Rounds 13-16
Rounds 11-16: Bench Stashes & Special Teams
- D/ST run starts Round 13 (Texans first)
- Kickers go Round 15-16 (Brandon Aubrey first at 15.06)
- Deep sleepers: Rookie WRs (Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon), backup RBs (RJ Harvey, Kyle Monangai)
Full Draft Results (All 160 Picks)
Click to Expand Complete Round-by-Round Breakdown
### **Round 1**
| Pick | Player | Pos | Team | Drafter |
|——|——–|—–|——|———|
| 1.01 | Bijan Robinson | RB | ATL | Loza |
| 1.02 | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | DET | Bowen |
| 1.03 | Ja’Marr Chase | WR | CIN | Karabell |
| 1.04 | Christian McCaffrey | RB | SF | Clay |
| 1.05 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | DET | Presley |
| 1.06 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | SEA | Dopp |
| 1.07 | Jonathan Taylor | RB | IND | Wolfe |
| 1.08 | Puka Nacua | WR | LAR | Yates |
| 1.09 | James Cook III | RB | BUF | Moody |
| 1.10 | De’Von Achane | RB | MIA | Cockcroft |
### **Round 2**
| Pick | Player | Pos | Team | Drafter |
|——|——–|—–|——|———|
| 2.01 | Ashton Jeanty | RB | LV | Cockcroft |
| 2.02 | CeeDee Lamb | WR | DAL | Moody |
| 2.03 | Derrick Henry | RB | BAL | Yates |
| 2.04 | Justin Jefferson | WR | MIN | Wolfe |
| 2.05 | Omarion Hampton | RB | LAC | Dopp |
| 2.06 | Chase Brown | RB | CIN | Presley |
| 2.07 | Saquon Barkley | RB | PHI | Clay |
| 2.08 | Drake London | WR | ATL | Karabell |
| 2.09 | A.J. Brown | WR | NE | Bowen |
| 2.10 | Kenneth Walker III | RB | KC | Loza |
### **Round 3**
| Pick | Player | Pos | Team | Drafter |
|——|——–|—–|——|———|
| 3.01 | Malik Nabers | WR | NYG | Loza |
| 3.02 | **Jeremiyah Love** | RB | ARI | Bowen |
| 3.03 | Josh Jacobs | RB | GB | Karabell |
| 3.04 | Rashee Rice | WR | KC | Clay |
| 3.05 | Garrett Wilson | WR | NYJ | Presley |
| 3.06 | Chris Olave | WR | NO | Dopp |
| 3.07 | Trey McBride | TE | ARI | Wolfe |
| 3.08 | Brock Bowers | TE | LV | Yates |
| 3.09 | George Pickens | WR | DAL | Moody |
| 3.10 | Nico Collins | WR | HOU | Cockcroft |
### **Rounds 4-16** *(Condensed for readability – full data preserved in team rosters below)*
**Key Trends:**
– **Round 4:** Tetairoa McMillan (WR, CAR) first pick; Breece Hall, Kyren Williams, Zay Flowers
– **Round 5:** First QB (Josh Allen), Colston Loveland (TE), Davante Adams, Tee Higgins
– **Round 6:** Jameson Williams, D’Andre Swift, Rome Odunze, Jaylen Waddle
– **Round 7:** Jayden Daniels (QB), Courtland Sutton, Mike Evans, Lamar Jackson
– **Round 8:** Marvin Harrison Jr., Jalen Hurts, Tony Pollard, Sam LaPorta
– **Round 9:** Blake Corum, Jaylen Warren, Alec Pierce, Matthew Golden
– **Round 10:** Jordan Addison, Kyle Monangai, Justin Herbert, Jordyn Tyson
– **Round 11:** Trevor Lawrence, Jayden Reed, Travis Kelce, Jaxson Dart
– **Round 12:** Bo Nix, Khalil Shakir, Rashid Shaheed, Alvin Kamara
– **Round 13:** Tyler Allgeier, RJ Harvey, Patrick Mahomes, **Texans D/ST** (first defense)
– **Round 14:** Keaton Mitchell, Jalen Coker, Mike Washington Jr., **Broncos D/ST**
– **Round 15:** **Seahawks, Steelers, Rams, Ravens, Eagles D/STs**; Brandon Aubrey (first K)
– **Round 16:** Remaining kickers (Ka’imi Fairbairn, Jason Myers, Cam Little, etc.); **Packers, Lions, Chargers D/STs**
Team Rosters at a Glance
Each expert built a unique roster. Here’s the starting lineup skeleton for every team (full benches in expandable sections):
Team Loza (Pick 1.01)
- QB: Jayden Daniels, Trevor Lawrence
- RB: Bijan Robinson, Kenneth Walker III, Aaron Jones Sr., Blake Corum, Tyler Allgeier
- WR: Malik Nabers, Ladd McConkey, Carnell Tate, Stefon Diggs, Jayden Higgins, Jerry Jeudy
- TE: Colston Loveland
- K: Tyler Loop | D/ST: Seahawks
Full Roster with Pick/Bye Info
*See original content for complete list with (Round.Pick | Bye) notation*
Team Bowen (Pick 1.02)
- QB: Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray
- RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, Jeremiyah Love (INJ), TreVeyon Henderson, Jaylen Warren, RJ Harvey
- WR: A.J. Brown, Emeka Egbuka, Davante Adams, Courtland Sutton, Josh Downs, Jayden Reed
- TE: Jake Ferguson
- K: Cairo Santos | D/ST: Steelers
Team Karabell (Pick 1.03)
- QB: Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes
- RB: Josh Jacobs, Travis Etienne Jr., Rhamondre Stevenson, Kenny Gainwell, Chris Rodriguez Jr.
- WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Drake London, Tee Higgins, Mike Evans, Alec Pierce, Wan’Dale Robinson
- TE: Travis Kelce
- K: Jake Bates | D/ST: Rams
Team Clay (Pick 1.04)
- QB: Lamar Jackson, Jaxson Dart
- RB: Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Quinshon Judkins, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jordan Mason
- WR: Rashee Rice, Zay Flowers, Luther Burden III, Matthew Golden, KC Concepcion, Caleb Douglas
- TE: Harold Fannin Jr.
- K: Eddy Piñeiro | D/ST: Ravens
Team Presley (Pick 1.05)
- QB: Dak Prescott, Caleb Williams
- RB: Chase Brown, Cam Skattebo, Bucky Irving, Zach Charbonnet, Tyrone Tracy Jr.
- WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Garrett Wilson, Parker Washington, Michael Pittman Jr., Michael Wilson, Kayshon Boutte
- TE: Tyler Warren
- K: Harrison Mevis | D/ST: Eagles
Team Dopp (Pick 1.06)
- QB: Drake Maye, Tyler Shough
- RB: Omarion Hampton, Jadarian Price, David Montgomery, Rachaad White
- WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, DeVonta Smith, Brian Thomas Jr., Quentin Johnston, Makai Lemon
- TE: Sam LaPorta, George Kittle
- K: Brandon Aubrey | D/ST: Lions
Team Wolfe (Pick 1.07)
- QB: Josh Allen, Malik Willis
- RB: Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams, Rico Dowdle, J.K. Dobbins, Alvin Kamara
- WR: Justin Jefferson, Jaylen Waddle, DK Metcalf, Jordyn Tyson, Travis Hunter, Denzel Boston
- TE: Trey McBride
- K: Cam Little | D/ST: Broncos
Team Yates (Pick 1.08)
- QB: Justin Herbert
- RB: Derrick Henry, Javonte Williams, Tony Pollard, Chuba Hubbard, Mike Washington Jr.
- WR: Puka Nacua, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Christian Watson, De’Zhaun Stribling, Rashid Shaheed, Dontayvion Wicks
- TE: Brock Bowers
- K: Cameron Dicker | D/ST: Packers
Team Moody (Pick 1.09)
- QB: Jalen Hurts
- RB: James Cook III, Breece Hall, D’Andre Swift, Jonathon Brooks, Kyle Monangai, MarShawn Lloyd
- WR: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Terry McLaurin, Jakobi Meyers, Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker
- TE: Dallas Goedert
- K: Jason Myers | D/ST: Texans
Team Cockcroft (Pick 1.10)
- QB: Brock Purdy, Bo Nix
- RB: De’Von Achane, Ashton Jeanty, Bhayshul Tuten, Keaton Mitchell
- WR: Nico Collins, Tetairoa McMillan, Jameson Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., Jordan Addison, Chris Godwin Jr.
- TE: Kyle Pitts Sr., Tucker Kraft
- K: Ka’imi Fairbairn | D/ST: Chargers
Key Takeaways for Your Draft
Draft Strategy Cheat Sheet
- RB Early, Often: 12 RBs went in first 2 rounds – secure your anchor early.
- WR Depth is Real: You can wait on WR2/3 (elite options available Rounds 3-5).
- TE Premium: Top 3 TEs (McBride, Bowers, Kelce) gone by Round 3. Next tier (LaPorta, Kittle, Warren) Rounds 5-8.
- QB Patience Pays: 12 QBs drafted Rounds 5-12. No need to reach.
- Rookie Fever: 7 rookies in first 3 rounds (Jeanty, Love, Nabers, Hampton, Bowers, McMillan, McConkey).
- News Reactivity: Nacua (1.08) and Jacobs (3.03) still went high despite suspension clouds.
- D/ST & K Last: Zero defenses/kickers before Round 13. Stream these spots.
Summary
This mock draft perfectly captures the 2024 fantasy landscape: running backs dominate early, wide receiver depth allows patience, tight end is a "get elite or wait" position, and quarterbacks are devalued in half-PPR. The big storylines—Nacua/Jacobs suspensions and Love’s injury—didn’t drastically drop their ADP (Average Draft Position), showing managers bet on talent over preseason uncertainty.
Your Move: Use the Mock Draft Lobby to practice. Test strategies like "Hero RB," "Zero RB," or "TE Premium." Note bye weeks (listed in rosters) to avoid lineup crunches.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. What does "1/2 PPR" mean and why does it matter?
Half-PPR awards 0.5 points per reception. It boosts pass-catching backs (Gibbs, Achane) and slot receivers (St. Brown, Smith-Njigba) compared to standard scoring.
2. Why did Puka Nacua and Josh Jacobs go so high with suspension rumors?
Fantasy managers often bet on talent and opportunity. Both are WR1/RB1 for their teams when healthy. Suspensions (if any) might only cover a few games.
3. Should I draft a defense or kicker early like these experts?
No. Experts waited until Rounds 13-16. Stream defenses based on matchups; kickers are nearly interchangeable.
4. How important are bye weeks during the draft?
Moderately. Avoid stacking too many players with the same bye (e.g., Loza has 4 players with Bye 7). Check the roster tables above for each player’s bye.
5. Can I see a video of this mock draft?
Yes! The draft was streamed live on the Fantasy Focus podcast. Check ESPN’s YouTube or podcast feed for the full recording (link in original article).
Happy drafting! Remember: the best fantasy managers adapt to news, trust their prep, and have fun.