Fantasy Clicks: Mock, mock, mock your way to draft-day gold

BY JAY CLEMONS Recent Fantasy Clicks 07-23-10: Have You Hugged A Mock Draft Lately? 07-22-10: The Fantasy Tao Of Greg Jennings 07-19-10: Walkoff Wins Just Look Better Outdoors 07-16-10: Survivor Pool Act Of Self-Preservation 07-14-10: The Obligatory All-Star Revelations 07-12-10: Chicago's (Figuratively) On Fire 07-09-10: Meet 'The Attainables' Fantasy Brigade 07-07-10: Search For Tomorrow's Sidney Rice 07-02-10: The Early, Early Fantasy Spectacular 06-18-10: Meet Your Fantasyland All-Stars 06-16-10: Elite Tight Ends -- Dare To Compare 06-14-10: The Grandest Of Slam Kings 06-10-10: Charles In Charge ... Of Kansas City 06-07-10: The Ubaldo & Tulo Go-Loco Show 06-03-10: SI's Own Bout Of Mock Madness 06-01-10: A Fish Called Cody Saves Miami 05-28-10: The Ultimate Draft Do-Over 05-26-10: A PPR Quandary For The Masses 05-24-10: Sunny Rays Take Houston By Storm 05-20-10: Let The Mock Madness Begin 05-17-10: For Whom The Kubel Tolls 05-14-10: Less Bang For Your Bucs 05-12-10: The Marshall Plan Hits South Beach 05-10-10: The Mother Of All Perfect Games 05-06-10: Fantasy Love Is Blind Sometimes 05-03-10: Phantastic Fantasy Fun In Philly 04-30-10: Kings Of Command 04-28-10: The Post-Draft Mock Madness Quotient 04-26-10: Here Come The Sun Kings 04-21-10: Fantasy Breakdown Of 2010 NFL Sked 04-19-10: Nothing Beats A Royal Flush 04-16-10: Oh, The Cantu-Man Can 04-14-10: Santonio's Fly-By-Night Move to N.Y. 04-12-10: Something Wild In The D 04-09-10: The Tao Of Jose Reyes 04-07-10: Donovan's D.C. Cab ... To Landover 04-05-10: Welcome To Opening Night Revelations 04-02-10: Nothing Beats A Real Fantasy Draft 03-31-10: One More Mock For The Road 03-26-10: A Fantasy-Fueled NFL Draft Breakdown 03-22-10: Fantasyland Prose & Cons: Mauer Power 03-19-10: The NL-Only Fantasy Spectacular 03-15-10: The AL-Only Fantasy Spectacular 03-12-10: Post-free agency adjustments in fantasy 03-10-10: In Case Of Emergency: Twins' Closer 03-08-10: Fantasy Preview Breakdown, Part III 03-03-10: Fantasy Preview Breakdown, Part II 03-01-10: NFL Combine Revelations 02-26-10: A Fantasy Preview Breakdown 02-24-10: Green Flag Goodness: Hitters 02-17-10: Green Flag Goodness: Pitchers 02-15-10: Red Flag Alerts: Pitchers 1-27-10: Red Flag Alerts: Infielders 1-25-10: Championship Sunday Revelations 1-22-10: Playing A Championship Sunday Hunch 1-20-10: Early Mock Draft Madness 1-18-10: Divisional Playoff Revelations 1-15-10: Divisional Playoff Round Clicks 1-13-10: Back In The Baseball Business 1-11-10: Wild Card Revelations 1-06-10: Fantasy Clicks Year-End Spectacular 1-04-10: Wild Card Round Clicks 12-28-09: Week 16 Revelations/Week 17 Clicks 12-23-09: All You Need To Know For Week 16 12-21-09: Week 15 Revelations 12-18-09: Thursday Night Revelations (Week 15) 12-16-09: Dontcha Hate When That Happens? 12-13-09: Week 14 Revelations 12-11-09: Thursday Night Revelations (Week 14) 12-09-09: Fantasy Playoff Rules To Live By 12-07-09: Week 13 Revelations 12-04-09: Thursday Night Revelations (Week 13) 12-02-09: The Believers Of Calvinism 11-30-09: Week 12 Revelations 11-27-09: Turkey Day Revelations 11-25-09: All Hail The Perfect Showdown 11-23-09: Week 11 Revelations

Mock Draft, Vol. I -- Standard Scoring

DeAngelo Williams: Chris Keane/Icon SMI

I was blissfully awash in fantasy football on Thursday, participating in three separate mock drafts (morning/noon/night). But it was all done with Fantasy Clicks in mind, as we attack the draft, via three different methods: 1) Standard-scoring leagues, 2) Points Per Reception leagues and 3) Auction leagues. Enjoy!

Snake This ... Draft That!

For what it's worth, here's my team:
Round 1 -- RB DeAngelo Williams, Panthers (but now I can't grab J-Stew until Round 4)
Round 2 -- RB Cedric Benson, Bengals
Round 3 -- WR Anquan Boldin, Ravens (should finish top-5 in receiving targets, if healthy)
Round 4 -- RB Matt Forte, Bears (if healthy, I'm guaranteeing 1,700 total yards/10 TDs)
Round 5 -- WR Percy Harvin, Vikings
Round 6 -- RB C.J. Spiller, Bills (excellent value for my No. 20 running back)
Round 7 -- RB Clinton Portis, Redskins (should be the workhorse back in D.C.)
Round 8 -- QB Matt Ryan, Falcons (had to choose between him and D-McNabb)
Round 9 -- TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings (perhaps my only reach of the day)
Round 10 -- WR Jerricho Cotchery, Jets (safest pick among that three-headed WR monster)
Round 11 -- QB Matthew Stafford, Lions (nothing like reconnecting with a man-crush)
Round 12 -- RB Steve Slaton, Texans (he was a Round 2 pick this time last year -- amazing)
Round 13 -- WR Devin Thomas, Redskins (gets my vote for Sidney Rice-style breakout)
Round 14 -- PK Garrett Hartley, Saints
Round 15 -- D/ST New England Patriots
Round 16 -- WR Laurent Robinson, Rams (love this kid's game -- too bad he doesn't have a QB to get him the ball)

Disclaimer: I always treat mocks like the real thing, which hopefully justifies grabbing five running backs in the first seven picks -- and then going for another home run in Round 12 with Steve Slaton. Bottom line: You can NEVER have enough RB depth with a live (or fake) fantasy league ... and you can always convert that wealth into a top-5 receiver, via trade. But right here, right now, I have tremendous faith in Devin Thomas as the No. 3 or 4 wideout.

Into The Great Wide Open

Here is my up-to-the-minute Top 25 for wide receivers in fantasyland:
1. Andre Johnson, Texans (tops in PPR or standard leagues)
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
3. Randy Moss, Patriots
4. Calvin Johnson, Lions
5. Roddy White, Falcons (ranked No. 2 in WR Targets last year)
6. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins
7. Reggie Wayne, Colts (borderline Hall of Famer too smart to sit out)
8. Greg Jennings, Packers
9. Sidney Rice, Vikings
10. DeSean Jackson, Eagles
11. Miles Austin, Cowboys
12. Anquan Boldin, Ravens
13. Marques Colston, Saints (still missing that je ne sais quoi to his game)
14. Michael Crabtree, 49ers
15. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals
16. Steve Smith, Panthers
17. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
18. Vincent Jackson, Chargers (sinking like a stone -- and camp hasn't started yet)
19. Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars
20. Percy Harvin, Vikings (simply too good to pass up in PPR/standard leagues)
21. Jerricho Cotchery, Jets
22. Kenny Britt, Titans (fingers crossed that he's in monster-year shape)
23. Hines Ward, Steelers
24. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks
25. Steve Smith, Giants

Into The Great Wide Open, Part II

While we're at it, here are the next-best 30 wideouts:
26. Devin Thomas, Redskins
27. Antonio Bryant, Bengals
28. Derrick Mason, Ravens
29. Mike Wallace, Steelers
30. Devin Aromashodu, Bears
31. Donald Driver, Packers
32. Laurent Robinson, Rams
33. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (first 1st-rounder to sign ... REJOICE!)
34. Braylon Edwards, Jets
35. Julian Edelman, Patriots (your PPR golden chariot awaits, sir)
36. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
37. Robert Meachem, Saints
38. Pierre Garcon, Colts
39. Steve Breaston, Cardinals
40. Chris Chambers, Chiefs
41. Lee Evans, Bills
42. Early Doucet, Cardinals (primed for a substantial breakout in the desert)
43. Nate Burleson, Lions
44. Mario Manningham, Giants
45. Kevin Walter, Texans (oh, how the once-thought-to-be-mighty have fallen)
46. Donnie Avery, Rams
47. Santonio Holmes, Jets
48. Hakeem Nicks, Giants
49. Roy Williams, Cowboys
50. Austin Collie, Colts
51. Justin Gage, Titans
52. Lance Moore, Saints
53. Santana Moss, Redskins
54. Wes Welker, Patriots (ACL tear in December + minimal rehab time = no thanks)
55. Arrelious Benn, Buccaneers

Mock Draft, Vol. II -- 14-Team Experts' PPR

Andre Johnson (with ball): Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Next up, we have a high-stakes, high-pressure PPR draft, featuring fantasy shamans like Andy Behrens (Yahoo!), Mike Harmon (FOX Sports), Adam Ronis (RotoExperts/Newsday), Adam Levitan (Rotoworld), Derek Van Riper (Rotowire), Geoff Stein (Fanball), Nicholas Minnix (KFFL) and the humorously boastful Dan Roemhild (MockDraft Central), among others. Full disclosure here: I didn't realize it was a 14-team draft until Round 10 ... which explains why the running backs were picked clean by Round 8, a rarity in PPR drafts.

Round 1
1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings
2. Chris Johnson, Titans
3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars
4. Ray Rice, Ravens
5. Frank Gore, 49ers
6. Andre Johnson, Texans (my pick)
7. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
8. Michael Turner, Falcons
9. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
10. Drew Brees, Saints
11. Steven Jackson, Rams
12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins
13. Randy Moss, Patriots
14. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers

Round 2
15. Reggie Wayne, Colts
16. Shonn Greene, Jets
17. Roddy White, Falcons
18. Calvin Johnson, Lions
19. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
20. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers
21. Miles Austin, Cowboys
22. Ryan Grant, Packers
23. Knowshon Moreno, Broncos (my pick)
24. Greg Jennings, Packers
25. Ryan Mathews, Chargers
26. Cedric Benson, Bengals
27. LeSean McCoy, Eagles
28. DeSean Jackson, Eagles

Round 3
29. Marques Colston, Saints
30. Sidney Rice, Vikings
31. Anquan Boldin, Ravens
32. Peyton Manning, Colts
33. Beanie Wells, Cardinals
34. Michael Crabtree, 49ers (my pick)
35. Dallas Clark, Colts
36. Steve Smith, Panthers
37. Pierre Thomas, Saints
38. Joseph Addai, Colts
39. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers
40. Antonio Gates, Chargers
41. Jahvid Best, Lions
42. Steve Smith, Giants

Round 4
43. Matt Forte, Bears
44. Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars
45. Felix Jones, Cowboys
46. Vernon Davis, 49ers
47. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals
48. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
49. Tom Brady, Patriots
50. C.J. Spiller, Bills
51. Percy Harvin, Vikings (my pick)
52. Hakeem Nicks, Giants
53. Jermichael Finley, Packers
54. Hines Ward, Steelers
55. Tony Romo, Cowboys
56. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks

Round 5
57. Matt Schaub, Texans
58. Pierre Garcon, Colts
59. Philip Rivers, Chargers
60. Donald Driver, Packers
61. Jason Witten, Cowboys
62. Reggie Bush, Saints (my pick)
63. Wes Welker, Patriots
64. Robert Meachem, Saints
65. Mike Wallace, Steelers
66. Brent Celek, Eagles
67. Marion Barber, Cowboys
68. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
69. Vincent Jackson, Chargers
70. Brandon Jacobs, Giants

Snake This, Draft That, Part II

Here's my team:
Round 1 -- WR Andre Johnson, Texans (the NFL leader in Targets and receiving yards in '09)
Round 2 -- RB Knowshon Moreno, Broncos (a risky pick for sure ... but I believe in this kid)
Round 3 -- WR Michael Crabtree, 49ers (the sky's the limit here)
Round 4 -- WR Percy Harvin, Vikings (lead-pipe cinch for PPR greatness, avec Favre)
Round 5 -- RB Reggie Bush, Saints (unfortunately, Reggie's studliness only covers PPR leagues)
Round 6 -- TE Tony Gonzalez, Falcons (last of the Tier I tight ends; let's hope for 85 catches)
Round 7 -- QB Matt Ryan, Falcons
Round 8 -- WR Devin Thomas, Redskins
Round 9 -- WR Kenny Britt, Titans (club's best receiver between the 20s AND in the red zone)
Round 10 -- WR Dexter McCluster, Chiefs (Harvin clone + Charlie Weis = Hail, yes!)
Round 11 -- WR Jerricho Cotchery, Jets
Round 12 -- D/ST Minnesota Vikings
Round 13 -- RB Glen Coffee, 49ers (it was either him or Correll Buckhalter at this slot)
Round 14 -- PK Nate Kaeding, Chargers
Round 15 -- QB Josh Freeman, Buccaneers
Round 16 -- RB Brian Westbrook, Free Agent (last year's Round 1 pick could be this year's Mr. Irrelevant gold)

Mock Draft, Vol. III -- Auction Draft

Jay Cutler: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The last mock in today's Clicks was actually the first owner vs. owner battle of the day -- a straightforward 12-team auction draft on ESPN.com ... with each team sporting a $200 budget. Like most auctions, I stuck to the time-tested game plan of breaking the bank for one stud running back and one top-10 wide receiver, before letting patience run its course with approximately 30-40 minutes of doing absolutely nothing -- except for humorously inflating the price tags of Tier II prospects with Mr. Mousepad (like Shonn Greene, for example).

After that period of inactivity, I breathlessly pursued the remaining lot of prominent tailbacks, receivers and tight ends ... knowing full well that good-to-great quarterbacks could be had for pennies on the dollar by this time. Let's see how I fared:

Phase I -- Early Spending Spree
RB Steven Jackson, Rams -- $63
WR Calvin Johnson, Lions -- $29

Phase II -- Restrained, Yet Jubilant Spending
RB Jahvid Best, Lions -- $12
TE Jermichael Finley, Packers -- $11
WR Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs -- $13
RB Jerome Harrison, Browns -- $13
D/ST Philadelphia Eagles -- $4

Phase III -- Extremely Smart Shopping
QB Jay Cutler, Bears -- $4
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks -- $6
RB Donald Brown, Colts -- $4
RB Justin Forsett, Seahawks -- $3
WR Devin Aromashodu, Bears -- $6

Phase IV -- Bargain Bins
QB Kevin Kolb, Eagles -- $4
PK Ryan Succop, Chiefs -- $1

Phase V -- Money-To-Burn Guilty Pleasures
WR Dez Bryant, Cowboys -- $15
RB Montario Hardesty, Browns -- $9

Verdict: I realize it's foolish to pay big monies for backup quarterbacks in auction leagues. But seriously, there is no greater fantasy high than grabbing Jay Cutler and Kevin Kolb -- both top-10 QBs in my rankings -- FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF EIGHT BUCKS! In fact, those magical acquisitions more than canceled out the do-re-mi spent on Steven Jackson and Calvin Johnson early on ... while accounting for the beaucoup bucks to burn when drafting the final two reserves -- rookies Montario Hardesty (Jerome Harrison handcuff) and Dez Bryant (19 TD catches at Oklahoma State in 2008). Life is good!

Auction That

In case you care, these 29 fantasy stars garnered bids of $28 or more in Thursday's mock:
RB Chris Johnson, Titans -- $69
RB Ray Rice, Ravens -- $67
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings -- $66
RB Steven Jackson, Rams -- $63
RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars -- $60
RB Michael Turner, Falcons -- $56
WR Andre Johnson, Texans -- $55
RB Frank Gore, 49ers -- $54
WR Randy Moss, Patriots -- $50
RB Cedric Benson, Bengals -- $48
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals -- $44
RB Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers -- $41
RB Ryan Grant, Packers -- $41
RB DeAngelo Williams, Panthers -- $40
QB Drew Brees, Saints -- $39
WR Brandon Marshall, Dolphins -- $38
QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers -- $37
WR Miles Austin, Cowboys -- $35
QB Peyton Manning, Colts -- $35
WR Reggie Wayne, Colts -- $34
QB Tom Brady, Patriots -- $33
WR Roddy White, Falcons -- $33
RB Shonn Greene, Jets -- $32
QB Matt Schaub, Texans -- $31
RB Beanie Wells, Cardinals -- $31
RB Knowshon Moreno, Broncos -- $30
RB Jamaal Charles, Chiefs -- $30
WR Calvin Johnson, Lions -- $29
RB Ryan Mathews, Chargers -- $29

In Case I Don't Write Next Week ...

... Enjoy the SI.com Fantasy Football Preview in early August (I'll still be on vacation by then), and please look for my Fantasy Clicks on Aug. 9 -- on the heels of the first NFL preseason game, Cowboys-Bengals at Canton, Ohio. Until then, David Komer will get you through the last two weeks of summertime boredom.

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