For those of us fantasy players who become bored at the MLB All-Star Break and turn our attention to the notion of fantasy football being right around the corner, I bring to you my “Do’s” and “Don’ts” regarding mock drafts. This tight three-day window of special, inconsequential baseball is often the unofficial start to the annual fantasy football season build-up to actual draft day/night.
As someone on the outside looking in at the Scott Fish Bowl (SFB) drafts, I am certainly a little jealous and relieved at the same time. I am jealous because I have my annual case of fantasy football FOMO and am relieved as I am truly focused on my baseball rosters and have done little to no preparatory work for football season.
Then, out of nowhere, as if it is a new phenomenon, here come the football mock draft tweets, podcasts, and chat room fodder. Like a car accident, I have tried to look away, yet I find myself with piqued curiosity and a thought that maybe, just maybe, a mock draft will help me prepare for my upcoming football draft.
As I recount prior mock drafts, I have determined they are both a useful tool and a waste of time. Below you will find my list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” to help you decide to entertain none, one, or a hundred and one mock drafts this Summer. If you jump into the deep end, I will provide thoughts on maximizing your mock draft time while bringing the most bang for your mock buck.
What stories do you have to share about current or past mock drafts? Do you think mock drafts are beneficial or a time vacuum? What did I miss or nail? I am here for all the comments, so please jump in and give me your thoughts and questions at the bottom of this thread.
Do #1:
Grab a cold beverage and sign up for as many mock drafts as your calendar will allow. If nothing else, the mock drafts will scratch the fantasy football off-season itch. Option 2: Get into fantasy baseball and the itch will be scratched another way and you will have something to bridge between fantasy football seasons.
Don’t #1:
Enter mock drafts with people from your leagues unless you do so to gain insight into their strategy or you have some plan to thwart their plans by presenting players you are truly disinterested in acquiring. Seriously, you do not need your future opponents behind the curtain as it pertains to your strategy.
Do #2:
Stick around for about six to seven rounds with the understanding that Rounds 8+ will be all on you vice some deep, dark draft secrets you learn from a mock draft. My experience with mock drafts shows participants are really dialed in for the first few rounds and their excitement wanes in about the late fifth and into the sixth round. Your goal is to test your plan for the core of your roster and then use average draft position (ADP) and additional research to determine how best to fill in your roster as the draft moves into the middle to late rounds.
Don’t #2:
Allow your entire draft strategy to be focused on mock drafts, no matter how many you complete. Consider, if you will, real life football and all the mock drafts you see/read prior to the NFL Draft. How many of those mocks are blown up in the first round? Now, in our fake football world, the same thing is bound to occur, so be prepared to flex when Travis Kelce goes 1.04, and you thought, based on the many mock drafts that you would land the clear TE1 at 1.05.
Do #3:
Realize some of the people doing mock drafts have nothing else to do and are simply killing time versus providing any valuable information to you, my reader, and I am here for you and you only. I want you to be successful and not waste your time thinking some of the clowns in your mock draft room are there for the same reason you are.
Don’t #3:
Take mock draft season too seriously. Enter some mocks. Get your information. Get out. Take the mock face value and enjoy the hour you put into it.
What did I miss? What are your thoughts on mock draft season? Hit me up below.
Thank you for coming back to read our stuff and be a part of the podcast by listening and commenting. We are here for you! We will come in the next few weeks to discuss other NFL tidbits.
-Mitch-
