Damian Paton
- Jul 13, 2022
- 11 min read

Bolt Up Fantasy’s 12 Team PPR Mock Draft

Written by Damian Paton (@boltupfantasy)

With the fantasy football draft season quickly approaching, I’ve decided to share my draft strategies and player analysis through in-depth mock drafts! I have found that mock drafts are most beneficial when you treat them as an opportunity to exercise your ability to pivot and adapt to what the draft board gives you. I hope you all enjoy!

Link to Draft Board:

https://sleeper.app/draft/nfl/852262464576942080

● PPR scoring

● 12 Teams

Roster Format:

● QB

● RB

● WR

● TE

● Flex

● DEF

● 6-man bench

1st Round, Pick 1.10: RB- D’Andre Swift (DET)

Other players considered: RB- Aaron Jones, TE- Travis Kelce, WR- Davante Adams

I have D’Andre Swift as my RB6

, just barely ahead of his ADP of RB8. With 6 running backs taken before my pick, I figured I would have zero chance of him falling to my next selection. While I was also considering tight end Travis Kelce (KC) and wide receiver Davante Adams (GB), I believe that investing foundational draft capital into the running back position is one of the safest options for fantasy managers. As many have quoted around the industry, you can’t win your league in the draft, but you can certainly lose it.

The third year running back has finished as a top 20 player at the position in his first two seasons as a pro, despite missing 3 games in 2020 and 4 in 2021. Last year, Swift finished with the 10th highest points per game at the position in PPR scoring, averaging 16.2 points. I’d say it’s safe to believe that Swift can break out as a top 10 RB based off the promise he has shown on the field as a pro. None of Swift’s injury is directly correlated which suggests that he’s been unlucky regarding injuries than he has been or will be prone to them. So, I took my swing at the young talented back.

2nd Round, Pick 2.3: RB- Aaron Jones (GB)

Other players considered: WR- CeeDee Lamb, TE- Mark Andrews, RB- Saquon Barkley

If you’ve followed me on Twitter long enough, you know how bullish I am about the Green Bay Packers’ RB1. I currently have Aaron Jones as my RB3 for the 2022 season, only behind Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor. Although Jones is higher in my rankings than Swift, who I selected with my first pick, I was willing to gamble on Jones making it back to me at the top of the second, considering his ADP of RB12 and 21 overall. Thankfully for me, my gamble pays off, which has me leaving the first two rounds with two of my top 8 players at the running back position.

With Green Bay’s current roster, I project Aaron Jones to be the number option in an Aaron Rodgers led offense. Davante Adams is now a Las Vegas Raider. Aaron Jones has played 7 games without Davante Adams since 2019. Over those games, Jones has averaged 26.82 PPR points per game. That average would have led all positions in PPR scoring in 2021, Cooper Kupp led the league last year with 25.9 PPR points per game. I’m calling my shot on Aaron Jones delivering for fantasy managers in a massive way this year. The link below will lead you to more analysis.

https://twitter.com/boltupfantasy/status/1544738432336928769?s=20&t=NOG_791MHE2DSyeH61wgUw

3rd Round, Pick 3.10: WR- Michael Pittman Jr. (IND)

Other players considered: TE- George Kittle WR- Terry McLaurin, WR- Diontae Johnson

Selecting two top caliber running backs with my first to draft picks placed me in a position to lock up my top wide receiver or tight end. As far as tight ends go, ideally I want to pick up a top 4 talent (Kelce, Andrews, Waller, or Kittle) or wait until the end of the draft to see what values fall to me. Eventually, I decided to go with the value that my rankings suggest, which is selecting my WR9, Michael Pittman Jr. as the 34th overall player off the board. Terry McLaurin isn’t far behind Pittman Jr. in my rankings, as I have him ranked as my WR11. Ultimately, my gut is to draft the player with the higher rated quarterback, which I believe Pittman Jr. has in this scenario with Matt Ryan coming to town.

Since 2011, QB Matt Ryan has supported NINE top 10 PPR finishes at the wide receiver position (Julio Jones 8x, Calvin Ridley 1x). The Colts wide receivers are facing the 8th easiest strength of schedule (per @TheFFBallers). In 2021 Pittman Jr. finished as the WR21, with a 25.7% target share, 88 catches, 1,082 yards, 12.3 yards per catch, and 6 touchdowns. I believe he’s currently being drafted around the baseline of his floor. I’d gladly take him as my WR1. The link below provides further context and analysis.

https://twitter.com/boltupfantasy/status/1536391580101246976?s=20&t=rolQL7sL4Jp0qI9Hes9PpQ

4th Round, Pick 4.3: RB- David Montgomery (CHI)

Other players considered: TE- Darren Waller, WR- Terry McLaurin, QB- Lamar Jackson

I wouldn’t feel particularly comfortable leaving the first four rounds without selecting my first wide receiver. Taking Pittman Jr. assured me that I have a guaranteed weekly producer, with breakout potential. I had a very tough time deciding between McLaurin, Waller, Jackson, and Montgomery. Ultimately, I decided that David Montgomery falling to this value was something I should take advantage of. I have the Chicago Bears RB as my RB10 on the season. Having THREE top 10 running backs is an advantage I would have over the rest of the league. Plus, I like my chances at finding value later in the draft at QB, WR, and TE.

Despite missing time last season due to a knee injury that knocked him out for 4 games, David Montgomery still finished with the 7th highest PPR points per game at the RB position and the 9th most rushing attempts in the NFL. RB Khalil Herbert, who many view as a sleeper this season, put up impressive numbers as a starter. Despite his success as the team’s starter, after Montgomery returned from injury through the end of the season (9 games) Herbert only played an average of 16% of the Bears’ offensive snaps, microscopic compared to the average 83% snap share he saw in his games as a starter. Montgomery is one of the only true workhorse caliber running backs in the NFL, and I’m confident in taking him at the top of the 4th round.

5th Round, Pick 5.10: WR- Brandin Cooks (HOU)

Other players considered: RB- Miles Sanders, WR- Darnell Mooney, WR- Adam Thielen

My last selection was the last of my high-end draft capital I intended to spend on the RB position. It was now crucial for the construction of my roster that shore up my depth at wide receiver.

Over the last two years as a member of the Houston Texans, Brandin Cooks has managed to finish as the WR16 (2021) and WR17 (2020). As a member of the Rams, Patriots, and Saints, Cooks put up 4 top 15 finishes at the WR position in PPR scoring. Since 2015, he has been one of the most consistent and guaranteed producers in fantasy football. With my WR1 being Michael Pittman Jr., who I believe will break out this year, I found it important to add the safety that Cooks would provide to my roster.