Fantasy Football 2022: Breaking Down Mock Draft, Bold Picks and Strategy

Never go into a fantasy football draft blind, having not done any preseason research or mocks to help prepare you for the event that is about to unfold. Managers who do that are less likely to have success during the upcoming season.

With fantasy football time just around the corner, many leagues will be holding drafts throughout August, while some will do so in early September. Either way, the fantasy season will begin Sept. 8, when the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills kick off the 2022 campaign.

Now is the time to do the most preparation for your draft. And mocks are a great way to do that, as you'll get an idea of who may still be on the board at each pick throughout every round.

Using the FantasyPros Mock Draft Simulator, here's an example of how the first two rounds of a draft may unfold this year. Then, we'll look at some strategies and bold picks that come out of that mock.

Round 1

1. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

3. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

4. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

5. Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

6. Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

7. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

8. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

9. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

10. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

11. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

12. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

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Round 2

13. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

14. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

15. Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

16. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

17. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

18. Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

19. D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

20. Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

21. CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

22. Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos

23. Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

24. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers

In this simulated mock, nine of the 12 players selected during the first round were running backs. That shouldn't come as a surprise. Most managers like to begin the draft by taking an RB who can anchor their team for the upcoming season.

The only non-RB who should be taken within the first five picks this year is Cooper Kupp, who is coming off an incredible 2021 season in which he won Offensive Player of the Year. Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase are also wide receivers who should be selected late in the opening round.

But for the most part, the best strategy is to take a running back in the first. There's a ton of depth at WR, and that's also a position that's easier to replace on the waiver wire once the season arrives. If you miss out on the star RBs and then they mostly stay healthy, you could be in trouble trying to find decent options for those slots in your lineup.

So don't overthink what you should do first. Jonathan Taylor is the clear best option at No. 1 overall, while others such as Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, Dalvin Cook, Najee Harris and Derrick Henry should quickly get drafted.

Over the past few years, there's been no question regarding who should be the first tight end taken in fantasy drafts. It was Travis Kelce, without a doubt, because of how much better the Chiefs playmaker had been faring than every other player at the position.

However, there's a debate to be had entering the 2022 season. Is Kelce still the top TE on the board, or is it now the Baltimore Ravens' Mark Andrews?

Both should get taken before the end of the second round. But in this simulated mock, Andrews (No. 15 overall) actually got taken two picks before Kelce (No. 17). Even though Andrews is Baltimore's top receiving option and is coming off a stellar 2021, that's still a bold pick.

It's hard to argue against Kelce as the TE1 because of the consistency he's had over his nine-year NFL career, particularly during the past six seasons. He's also the clear No. 1 receiving option in Kansas City with Tyreek Hill now in Miami.

Taking Andrews when Kelce is still on the board is a bold move that shouldn't happen. Maybe Andrews has a slightly higher ceiling, but Kelce is a safer play.

Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill were wide receivers with first-round fantasy consideration last year. Adams was catching passes from two-time defending NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, while Hill constantly connected with Patrick Mahomes for big plays in Kansas City.

Both receivers were on the move this offseason, and now, Adams will be playing in Las Vegas while Hill is in Miami. How will that impact their fantasy values? At this point, each is being taken around the second round of drafts (Adams at No. 16 overall and Hill at No. 23 in this simulation), and it's unlikely either would fall much farther.

There's a higher risk of drafting Adams and Hill than there's been in the past, but both should be strong receivers in 2022. Especially Adams, who will now be catching passes from Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, a three-time Pro Bowler and Adams' former teammate at Fresno State.

The Dolphins are relying on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who's endured some struggles over his first two NFL seasons. But Hill gives that offense a top-tier receiver who could take the unit (as well as Tagovailoa) to another level.

Adams is the better choice in the second round, but fantasy managers shouldn't shy away from Hill around that time, either.