It's always sad to see the fantasy football season end, but now is where the fun begins for 2015 ... that's right, it's never too soon to mock! Before I start, keep in mind that a total of 16 quarterbacks had at least 250 fantasy points in 2014. That's half of the entire league's starters! Back in 2009, a mere eight signal-callers reached that mark. This just adds fuel to the fire of waiting on a quarterback. Based on this draft philosophy, I've reached the postseason 17 times with 11 championship appearances in my last 20 fantasy football leagues.
Keep this in mind when you look at the mock draft below (and before sending angry tweets), as quarterbacks have been de-valued at the expense of more premium positions like running back and wide receiver. Another thing you'll notice is that there are not a lot of fantasy runners you can trust ... or at least feel confident in selecting in the first round. As a result, taking a quarterback in one of the first two stanzas is still very likely to leave you without either one reliable back or an elite wide receiver.
So without further ado, here's the first one-man mock draft for 2015. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section!
This mock draft is based on NFL.com's standard 10-team leagues with a basic (non-PPR) scoring system that rewards four points for touchdown passes and six points for all other touchdowns scored. Each numbered position represents an individual fantasy team, so no more than one quarterback, three running backs, three wide receivers or one tight end will be selected per roster.
Round 1
1. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (RB1): Bell might be the most talented youngster in the entire league at the running back position. A versatile performer, he is as dangerous a runner as he is a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Bell's one downfall, though, is a potential two-game suspension for a DUI that could drop him out of the top overall spot in 2015 fantasy drafts.
2. Eddie Lacy, RB. Green Bay Packers (RB2): A bruising, young runner out of Alabama, Lacy has finished in the top 10 in fantasy points at the position in each of his first two NFL seasons. An underrated receiver, he's a three-down back who also has the advantage of playing in an offense that features superstar Aaron Rodgers. At 24, Lacy is just entering the prime of his career too.
3. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears (RB3): Forte is one of the most versatile running backs in the league, which was evident during his 102-catch campaign in 2014. While he did lose a bit of his luster when the Bears fired coach Marc Trestman, he'll remain a featured runner under new head man John Fox. At 29, however, this could end up being Forte's last huge year in the stat sheets.
4. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (RB4): I know, McCoy was one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football a year ago. But at 26 and in the offense of coach Chip Kelly, it's hard to look past him at what is a thin running back position. McCoy has also finished second in fantasy points at the position in each of his last two odd-numbered seasons. Just a fun stat there.
5. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (RB5): Charles experienced a decline in statistics across the board last season, but he still ranked among the top fantasy running backs in the league. A speedster who can take it to the house any time he touches the football, he's a lock to remain one of the first five players selected at his position. He'll enter the season at 28 years old.
6. DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys (RB6): Here's where things get a little worrisome at running back. While Murray was the top-scoring player at his position last season, he also had an enormous number of touches (436 including the playoffs). When that happens, the trend is for that runner to experience a decline the following year. We don't know if Murray will be in Dallas, either.
7. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks (RB7): No running back has had more carries than Lynch over the last four years, so fantasy owners have to be concerned about him breaking down entering his age-29 campaign. However, anyone who has seen "Beast Mode" run would be very hard pressed to notice him slowing down out on the gridiron. This assumes, of course, that he'll be back in 2015.
8. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans (RB8): Foster missed three games last season due to injuries, but he still finished among the five-best running backs in fantasy football. One of the few featured backs left in the league, Foster has rushed for over 1,200 yards in each of his last four "full" seasons. While injuries are a concern, Foster's still worth the risk at the end of Round 1.
9. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (WR1): The top wide receiver in fantasy football, Brown is coming off a career-best campaign that saw him post league highs in both receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,698). At the age of 26 and just now entering the prime of his NFL career, Brown could have his name called in Round 1 in some standard drafts and countless PPR formats as well.
10. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (QB1): Did you know that Rodgers has finished no worse than second in fantasy points among all players in each of his last five full years? That's the absolute epitome of a consistent fantasy point producer. That's why he's the one quarterback I would think about taking in the first round. Plus, I can grab a running back with the very next selection.
Round 2
11. C.J. Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos (RB9): Anderson was one of the top waiver-wire pickups last season, scoring 19-plus fantasy points in six of his final eight games. While Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball are also in the mix for carries in Denver, it would be a shock if Anderson didn't lead the team in backfield touches. He could move into the first round as the offseason progresses.
12. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings (RB10): Will Peterson return to football in 2015? And if he does, where will he play? Those questions need to be answered before I can rank him much higher, but the former star could wind up back in the first-round discussion when all's said and done. His situation is one that all fantasy fans need to pay close attention to in the coming months.
13. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos (WR2): Over the last three years, few wide receivers have been more consistent in the stat sheets than Thomas. In that time, he's finished no worse than fifth in fantasy points at the position while catching passes from a future Hall of Famer in Peyton Manning. Even if the Broncos run the ball more often, Thomas will still get his opportunities.
14. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots (TE1): The unquestioned top fantasy tight end heading into 2015, Gronkowski produced 82 catches, 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns in 15 games last season. A true touchdown machine, he's found the end zone a combined 54 times in his 65 career regular-season contests (0.83 per game). Some fantasy fans might even take Gronkowski in the first round.
15. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions (WR3):Megatron missed three games last season due to injuries, which was a huge part of the reason he fell out of the top 15 in fantasy points among wideouts. It's tough to see a scenario where he doesn't bounce back, however, as he still has one of the elite resumes in the league at his position. Johnson will be drafted higher in some PPR formats.
16. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (WR4): Want to talk wide receivers and touchdowns? Let's talk about Bryant, who has found the end zone 41 times as a wideout in the last three seasons combined. That's the most of any wide receiver during that time. Fantasy fans should keep tabs on his contract situation, though, as Bryant could decide not to attend offseason camps if he's franchised.
17. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants (WR5): I've heard plenty of fans suggest that Beckham is worth a first-round pick in 2015. That would be true if we were guaranteed to get the 17 fantasy points per game he averaged as a rookie, but we all know there are no guarantees in the NFL. While he's clearly an other-worldly talent, I see Beckham Jr. as more of a second-round selection.
18. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons (WR6): Jones might have scored just six touchdowns last season, but he also produced career bests in receptions (104) and yards (1,593). His success should continue in the "X" receiver position under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, and the fact that he's entering a contract year makes Jones even more attractive both on the field and in fantasy football drafts.
19. Jeremy Hill, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (RB11): A lot of people would argue that Hill has first-round talent, and I would agree with that assessment. However, I still wonder how much of a dent Giovani Bernard will put into his opportunities next season. I like him as a high-end No. 2 fantasy runner moving forward, but I wouldn't draft Hill until the second round in most scoring systems.
20. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts (QB2): Luck is the lone field general to throw for 40 touchdowns in 2014, and at age 25 he hasn't even reached the prime of his career. So why has he lasted so long in this mock draft? Simple supply and demand, friends. As awesome as Luck is in the stat sheets, running back and wideout are the two positions to focus on in the first several rounds.
Round 3
21. Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers (WR7): Nelson finished tied for second in fantasy points among wideouts last season, posting 1,519 yards with 13 touchdowns. If the Packers decide to let Randall Cobb walk as a free agent, Nelson could see his overall draft value rise even further.
22. Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints (TE2): Graham might have scored 10 touchdowns last season, but he was a huge disappointment based on his overall numbers and draft position. Still, he will be in a good position to rebound and push Gronkowski for the top spot among fantasy tight ends.
23. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (WR8): Green missed three games due to injuries and was banged up in a few others last season, so it's not a surprise that he posted his worst numbers at the NFL level. With that said, he has second-round talent and could be a draft bargain in 2015.
24. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears (WR9): Jeffery has passed his teammate, Brandon Marshall, as one of the top wide receivers in fantasy football. A gifted athlete with some of the stickiest hands in the entire league, Jeffery has moved into the top 10 at his position for next season.
25. Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers (WR10): Cobb was a top-five fantasy wideout last season, and he could remain at that level if he remains as member of the Packers. Should Cobb leave as a free agent, though, his production is likely to decline without Rodgers throwing him the football.
26. Justin Forsett, RB, Baltimore Ravens (RB12): If Forsett re-signs with the Ravens and retains a featured role under Trestman, he could push his way into the second round in a lot of fantasy drafts. Where he ultimately ends up for 2015 is one of the bigger offseason fantasy storylines.
27. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts (WR11): Hilton has seen both his yardage and touchdown totals increase in each of the last two seasons, and at 25 he still hasn't hit his statistical ceiling at the pro level. It also doesn't hurt that he'll have Luck throwing him the old pigskin.
28. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (WR12): Maclin shed his label of being brittle in 2014, posting career bests in receptions (85) and yardage (1,318) while also tying a personal high with 10 touchdowns. Expectations are that the free-agent wideout will remain with the Eagles.
29. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints (RB13): It took four years, but Ingram finally looked like a first-round running back in 2014. Whether or not he can do it again remains to be seen, however, as the Alabama product is a free agent and could wind up wearing a new uniform in 2015.
30. Alfred Morris, RB, Washington Redskins (RB14): Morris has seen his carries and rushing yards decline in each of his first three seasons at the pro level, but he's still a virtual lock to perform like a No. 2 fantasy runner. He should benefit from the addition of Bill Callahan too.
Round 4
Brooks: Grading 2014 rookie classes
In a division-by-division series, Bucky Brooks reviews 2014 draft classes. Plus, team-specific primers for the 2015 combine. **READ**
Round 5
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
