2014 Fantasy Football Mock Draft — 2-QB League: Round 8
Scoring: This mock draft is based on 2-QB fantasy football leagues (i.e., each team starts two quarterbacks) and uses standard (i.e., non-PPR) scoring. Passing touchdowns are worth four points while rushing and receiving touchdowns are worth six points. In addition, one point is earned per 25 passing yards, 10 rushing yards and 10 receiving yards.| FanDuel Week 1 NFL Contests |
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Mock Draft End Date: Sunday, August 31
Four of our site's contributors — Kevin Hanson, Brendan Donahue, Sean Beazley and Dan Yanotchko — will make picks for three teams of this 12-team mock. The mock will go 12 rounds with no kickers or team defenses selected.
Although this is a slow draft, we will post picks as they occur, along with comments from Kevin Hanson, as opposed to waiting for the entire mock draft to be completed.
More Rounds: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Teams
Here are Round 8 results:
8.01 - Sean Beazley (Team 3): Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints
Thomas set a career high with 77 receptions in 2013. (His previous career high was 50, 2011). Now that Darren Sproles is in Philadelphia, it seems likely that PT will at least finish with 70-plus receptions again with the upside for more. While he's better in PPR formats, he is still a flex, at least, in standard-scoring formats.
[Poll: How many receptions will Pierre Thomas have in 2014?]
8.02 - Brendan Donahue (Team 3): Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets
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While their offensive woes last season were partly due to their lack of weapons, Decker enters a new role as a team's No. 1 wide receiver and will draw a more difficult assignment every week. On a positive note, though, he should see his targets increase.
8.03 - Kevin Hanson (Team 3): Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots
In his first four seasons, Patriots receiver Julian Edelman had a total of 69 catches for 714 yards and four touchdowns. Exceeding those numbers last year alone, Edelman had 105 receptions, fourth-most in the NFL, for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. Over Edelman's final eight games counting both playoff games, he racked up a stat line of 69/729/5.
Assuming good health for the team's other pass catchers, it's unlikely Edelman reaches last year's numbers, but he remains Brady's clear No. 1 option after Gronk.
8.04 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 3): Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots
One season after rushing for 1,263 yards, seventh-most in 2012, and 12 touchdowns, Ridley fumbled his way to a reduced role within the Patriots backfield rotation in 2013. Even though LeGarrette Blount, who had eight TDs in his past three games, signed with the Steelers, it's hard to have a ton of confidence in predicting Ridley's workload in 2014.
Provided he doesn't drop the ball (literally), he at least has the talent as a runner to put up numbers like he had in 2012. Whether he gets that opportunity remains to be seen.
8.05 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 2): Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints
I can see the ultra-quick and ultra-productive Cooks, who has generated buzz from Saints reporters and players alike this offseason, finishing as the top rookie receiver in 2014. In addition to their eight home games, the Saints have a couple of road dome games (Atlanta and Detroit), where he could be especially dangerous.
8.06 - Brendan Donahue (Team 2): Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills
The most complete rookie receiver in this year's draft class, Watkins has big-time speed, great hands and is a dangerous runner in the open field. While he should lead the Bills in targets and production, it's disappointing that he ends up in a cold-weather environment on a run-first team with a less-than-ideal quarterback situation. After all, it's already difficult for rookie receivers to make significant impacts in Year 1.
8.07 - Kevin Hanson (Team 2): Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions
Going from a run-first offense in Seattle to Detroit's pass-first offense could lead to a significant boost in fantasy production for Tate. Without a strong (healthy) No. 2 receiver opposite Calvin Johnson for several seasons, Tate helps take some pressure off Megatron. But, of course, Megatron's presence on the other side will open things up more so for Tate, who should always see single coverage.
Tate set career highs in receptions (64) and yards (898) to go along with five touchdowns last season, but I would expect the 25-year-old receiver to set new career highs in 2014.
8.08 - Sean Beazley (Team 2): Trent Richardson, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Much cheaper than last year, it's still not easy to feel confident in Richardson. Perhaps he outperforms this draft slot, but I'm comfortable with letting someone else roll the dice on him.
The excuse often cited for last year's lackluster performance was lack of familiarity with the offense. To a certain degree, I can buy that considering he was traded with the season already under way. With an entire offseason to learn the offense, however, it's been the same unproductive T-Rich so far in the preseason. Actually, he's averaging only 2.55 yards per carry (20 carries for 51 yards).
This could turn out to be a steal ... or a wasted pick.
8.09 - Sean Beazley (Team 1): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins
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8.10 - Kevin Hanson (Team 1): Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Witten set seven-year lows in receptions (73) and yards (851) last season, but he finished with eight touchdowns, the second-highest total of his career. Two seasons ago, Witten set a single-season tight end record for receptions (110). In an offense that should be one of the league's best (unfortunately due in part to a defense that should be one of the league's worst), I see a bounce-back season for Witten in the range of 80-90 receptions and 900-975 yards.
8.11 - Brendan Donahue (Team 1): Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos
Not only did Sanders sign a free-agent deal with the league's most-explosive offense, but he could see an even larger role (amount of targets) should Wes Welker miss time. In the team's third preseason game, Welker suffered another concussion — his third over the past 10 months or so.
8.12 - Dan Yanotchko (Team 1): Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers
In the past two seasons, Olsen has 142 receptions for 1,659 yards and 11 touchdowns. While he lacks the upside of some tight ends, he should be a lock for 70/800/5 or better.
> Continue to Round 9 of 2-QB Fantasy Mock Draft
> Go back to Round 7 of 2-QB Fantasy Mock Draft
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2014 Fantasy Football rankings:
- 2014 Fantasy Football QB rankings
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- 2014 Fantasy Football WR rankings
- 2014 Fantasy Football TE rankings
- Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
- 2014 Fantasy Football Player Projections
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- 2014 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule
- Fantasy Football ADP Movers
