Fantasy: 12-team mock draft with analysis after every round

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theScore staff took part in a 12-team, 12-round mock fantasy draft to offer some insight on what to watch for in each round.

This is a half PPR (point per reception) scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We omitted defenders and kickers, as they're normally selected in the final two rounds.

Draft participants: Justin Boone, Brandon Wile, Dane Belbeck, Gianluca Nesci, Gordon Brunt, Navin Vaswani, Caitlyn Holroyd, Branden Deeg, Caio Miari, Dan Wilkins, Taylor Rohaly, Mike Dickson.

Round 1

Round 1: There isn't anything overly notable to discuss from the first round, other than Garrett Wilson sneaking in as the sixth receiver taken. It's two WR spots higher than I have him ranked, but after a breakout rookie campaign and the addition of Aaron Rodgers, Wilson is on the verge of becoming the next superstar at the position. Would anyone be surprised if he's mentioned in the same breath as Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase by the end of this season?

My pick: Like most of the opening-round picks here, I went with the chalk and took Jefferson first overall. The 24-year-old has had a storybook start to his NFL career and is the safest fantasy selection entering his fourth season.

Round 2

Round 2: Tony Pollard continues to be a first-round value who's consistently available outside the top 12. Enjoy it while it lasts, because if this draft is any indication, his ADP could creep into the late first before the season arrives.

My pick: There's a lot of risk in investing in a player who's missed most of the last two seasons with injuries and a gambling suspension. However, to Calvin Ridley's credit, he's returned in peak form and is already establishing himself as Trevor Lawrence's No. 1 receiver. While his ADP on some platforms says he's going in the early fourth round, we can assure you the training camp hype is pushing his value much higher.

Round 3

Round 3: There are some very interesting builds shaping up through three rounds, with Team Wile, Team Brunt, and Team Miari steering away from running backs. While you'd always prefer to be the only team waiting at a specific position, plenty of talented ball carriers are still available since only 11 have been selected so far.

My pick: I was close to joining the RB-less teams, with Josh Allen, Mark Andrews, and DeVonta Smith all being considered as potential options at 3.01. In the end, I went with a more balanced approach and bet on the upside of rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. Early-first-round running backs have a strong history of Year 1 production. The 12th-overall pick in this year's draft will be the next success story, propelled by his usage as a receiving threat out of the Lions' backfield.

Round 4

Round 4: Team Wile and Team Miari found their RB1s in this round, snagging a pair of worthwhile options in Joe Mixon and Alexander Mattison. That leaves Team Brunt as the only roster on a zero-RB trajectory.

The real story in the fourth round was Jaxon Smith-Njigba being selected 38th overall, which looks like a massive reach. It's possible the first-rounder could emerge as the next star rookie wideout, but volume could be an issue in a receiving corps that already features DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. This is at least one round, and maybe two, earlier than you'll need to take him in most drafts.

My pick: Going with a quarterback in this range was a difficult decision, but based on where we're picking, we likely won't have a shot at anyone from the current QB tier if we don't act now. From Week 5 on last year, Justin Fields was on par with the elite fantasy quarterbacks, averaging the third-most FPPG (24.1). Even if he can't match his impressive rushing numbers from 2022, the addition of wideout DJ Moore will help elevate the Bears' passing attack and keep Fields as a weekly difference-maker in fantasy.

Round 5

Round 5: Team Brunt finally broke the running back seal by drafting Cam Akers. Though Akers isn't without flaws, his performance in the second half of last season provides hope he can get his career back on track. Over the last eight games, the 24-year-old averaged the eighth-most fantasy points among RBs and posted four straight outings with at least 100 yards from scrimmage. If he maintains that kind of usage, Akers will be a smash in this spot.

My pick: Another draft and another share of Brandon Aiyuk. It shouldn't be a shock that I continue to select one of my favorite players, but it's also understandable if people are sick of hearing me sing Aiyuk's praises. Just note, getting him as your WR3 is the perfect scenario.

Round 6

Round 6: George Kittle has been sidelined with an adductor strain, which must be why he's fallen behind the likes of Kyle Pitts, Darren Waller, and Dallas Goedert. While all three of those tight ends are strong fantasy starters, you're rarely going to see Kittle drafted as the TE7. A nice steal for Team Nesci.

My pick: With just one running back on my roster after five rounds, we need to make up ground at the position. Alvin Kamara's ADP is on the rise after he received just a three-game ban, but he still stayed on the board until the end of the sixth in this draft. With the short suspension and him apparently looking more explosive in practice this year, he's an incredible value in this range.

Round 7

Round 7: The seventh and eighth rounds have become one of my favorite stretches this year thanks to all the value that remains on the board in the form of upside young players and underrated veterans. Every running back and receiver selected in this frame has a path to a top-24 fantasy season at their position.

My pick: We continue to fill out our RB depth chart with a breakout candidate in James Cook. The Bills' lead back is another ADP riser over the last few weeks after a strong showing in training camp and a steady drumbeat about his involvement in the offense. There are still concerns about his TD ceiling with Josh Allen, Damien Harris, and Latavius Murray possibly vulturing goal-line carries, but that's all baked into his current draft price.

Round 8

Round 8: As we mentioned in the last round, the eye-popping values continue well into the eighth. Seeing Isiah Pacheco drop to this point was odd considering his ADP is almost a full round earlier. The fact that he's been rehabbing from offseason surgery might have made people forget what he accomplished down the stretch in 2022. Pacheco had at least 80 yards from scrimmage and/or a touchdown in his last nine regular-season outings. He's a great value as the 31st running back taken.

My pick: Sadly, none of the players I was targeting fell to me at the end of the eighth round. But when in doubt, aim for upside, and a first-round rookie receiver attached to a franchise quarterback like Justin Herbert fits that description. Quentin Johnston is one Keenan Allen or Mike Williams injury away from vastly outproducing his ADP.

Round 9

Round 9: Anthony Richardson in the ninth round could be a league-winning pick given his dual-threat skills. Team Holroyd also did a nice job pairing him with Michael Pittman, who she got one round earlier.

My pick: The signing of DeAndre Hopkins mixed with an LCL sprain with a multi-week recovery timeline has pushed Treylon Burks down draft boards. With the option to take a luxury pick in the ninth, we'll stash Burks on our bench and hope he can get back to 100% health early in the season and continue his anticipated sophomore leap.

Round 10

Round 10: We've officially hit the high-upside backup running back phase of the draft, as seven ball carriers get their names called in this round. Every one of them offers weekly flex potential while also providing a significant ceiling if their starter gets hurt.

My pick: Raheem Mostert is being overlooked in the Miami backfield and arguably should be selected a round or two before this. With the threat of Dalvin Cook gone, Mostert has as good of a chance as anyone to lead the Dolphins' backfield in fantasy production this year. He could also be a nice early-season flex option for me, while Kamara serves his suspension.

Round 11

Round 11: Nico Collins and Jonathan Mingo stand out in this round as young receivers who could become No. 1 options in their passing attacks this year. Collins is already being billed as C.J. Stroud's top target in practice. Meanwhile, the second-round rookie Mingo is consistently running with the starting unit and only has D.J. Chark and Adam Thielen to beat out. Finding an impact fantasy wideout this late would be a big win for your fantasy roster.

My pick: Non-first-round rookie running backs often don't hit their stride until the second half of the season. Roschon Johnson is likely heading in that direction, with Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman handling more work in the opening month. If you're drafting Johnson, make sure you're ready to wait for him to return value - which we can do since he's the fifth RB on our roster.

Round 12

Round 12: After bypassing the position early, Team Brunt did well to fill out his RB depth with Akers and James Conner as his starters, as well as De'Von Achane, Elijah Mitchell, and Jeff Wilson on his bench. Achane and Wilson give him two shots at hitting on Miami's lead back, while Mitchell when healthy has been a flex option even with Christian McCaffrey in town.

My pick: Waiting on tight end can be a dangerous game. While veterans like Tyler Higbee or Dalton Schultz might have a higher floor, we're putting our chips down on Lions' rookie Sam LaPorta in hopes he can catch lightning in a bottle and turn into an immediate producer while Jameson Williams serves a six-game suspension. If that doesn't occur, we haven't taken on much risk and there'll be plenty of tight ends on the waiver wire to stream.