Fantasy Football: Quarterbacks Top 3rd Round, ESPN Draft Reveals Surprises

ESPN Fantasy Football Draft Analysis: Early Picks and Key Strategies

Each year, at the conclusion of ESPN’s Fantasy Football Marathon, ESPN analysts and other network personalities gather to conduct a mock draft. This event provides an early look at selection trends and strategies that could dominate the season. This year, the 10-team PPR (Points Per Reception) draft featured Dan Graziano, Mike Clay, Tyler Fulghum, Daniel Dopp, Liz Loza, Stephania Bell, Damien Woody, Eric Moody, Anita Marks, and Adam Schefter, who represented a variety of perspectives and expertise. The early draft selections revealed some surprises. Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty was selected before established players like Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley. In addition, two tight ends were chosen before the first quarterback was selected, indicating a strategic focus on other positions.

Round by Round Selections

The following are the selections from each round, providing a detailed view of how the draft unfolded.

• Round 1:

• Ja’Marr Chase, Cin (WR1) – Graziano
• Bijan Robinson, Atl (RB1) – Clay
• Jahmyr Gibbs, Det (RB2) – Fulghum
• Justin Jefferson, Min (WR2) – Dopp
• Ashton Jeanty, LV (RB3) – Loza
• Christian McCaffrey, SF (RB4) – Bell
• Saquon Barkley, Phi (RB5) – Woody
• CeeDee Lamb, Dal (WR3) – Moody
• Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det (WR4) – Marks
• Malik Nabers, NYG (WR5) – Schefter

• Round 2:

• Brock Bowers, LV (TE1) – Schefter
• Jonathan Taylor, Ind (RB6) – Marks
• Derrick Henry, Bal (RB7) – Moody
• Nico Collins, Hou (WR6) – Woody
• Puka Nacua, LAR (WR7) – Bell
• Drake London, Atl (WR8) – Loza
• De’Von Achane, Mia (RB8) – Dopp
• Trey McBride, Ari (TE2) – Fulghum
• Brian Thomas Jr., Jax (WR9) – Clay
• Bucky Irving, TB (RB9) – Graziano

• Round 3:

• Josh Allen, Buf (QB1) – Graziano
• Josh Jacobs, GB (RB10) – Clay
• Lamar Jackson, Bal (QB2) – Fulghum
• Chase Brown, Cin (RB11) – Dopp
• Jalen Hurts, Phi (QB3) – Loza
• Jayden Daniels, Wsh (QB4) – Bell
• A.J. Brown, Phi (WR10) – Woody
• Kyren Williams, LAR (RB12) – Moody
• Ladd McConkey, LAC (WR11) – Marks
• Omarion Hampton, LAC (RB13) – Schefter

• Round 4:

• James Cook, Buf (RB14) – Schefter
• Joe Burrow, Cin (QB5) – Marks
• Tee Higgins, Cin (WR12) – Moody
• George Kittle, SF (TE3) – Woody
• Terry McLaurin, Wsh (WR13) – Bell
• Kenneth Walker III, Sea (RB15) – Loza
• Tyreek Hill, Mia (WR14) – Dopp
• Davante Adams, LAR (WR15) – Fulghum
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sea (WR16) – Clay
• TreVeyon Henderson, NE (RB16) – Graziano

• Round 5:

• Sam LaPorta, Det (TE4) – Graziano
• Marvin Harrison Jr., Ari (WR17) – Clay
• Breece Hall, NYJ (RB17) – Fulghum
• Garrett Wilson, NYJ (WR18) – Dopp
• Mike Evans, TB (WR19) – Loza
• Alvin Kamara, NO (RB18) – Bell
• James Conner, Ari (RB19) – Woody
• DK Metcalf, Pit (WR20) – Moody
• Chuba Hubbard, Car (RB20) – Marks
• DJ Moore, Chi (WR21) – Schefter

• Round 6:

• Calvin Ridley, Ten (WR22) – Schefter
• Travis Kelce, KC (TE5) – Marks
• RJ Harvey, Den (RB21) – Moody
• Courtland Sutton, Den (WR23) – Woody
• T.J. Hockenson, Min (TE6) – Bell
• Jameson Williams, Det (WR24) – Loza
• Rashee Rice, KC (WR25) – Dopp
• George Pickens, Dal (WR26) – Fulghum
• Xavier Worthy, KC (WR27) – Clay
• DeVonta Smith, Phi (WR28) – Graziano

• Round 7:

• Zay Flowers, Bal (WR29) – Graziano
• D’Andre Swift, Chi (RB22) – Clay
• Jaylen Waddle, Mia (WR30) – Fulghum
• Evan Engram, Den (TE7) – Dopp
• Isiah Pacheco, KC (RB23) – Loza
• Rome Odunze, Chi (WR31) – Bell
• Patrick Mahomes, KC (QB6) – Woody
• Tetairoa McMillan, Car (WR32) – Moody
• Jaylen Warren, Pit (RB24) – Marks
• Baker Mayfield, TB (QB7) – Schefter

• Round 8:

• Tony Pollard, Ten (RB25) – Schefter
• Jakobi Meyers, LV (WR33) – Marks
• Bo Nix, Den (QB8) – Moody
• David Montgomery, Det (RB26) – Woody
• Aaron Jones Sr., Min (RB27) – Bell
• David Njoku, Cle (TE8) – Loza
• Kaleb Johnson, Pit (RB28) – Dopp
• Ricky Pearsall, SF (WR34) – Fulghum
• Travis Hunter, Jax (WR35) – Clay
• Chris Olave, NO (WR36) – Graziano

• Round 9:

• Brian Robinson Jr., Wsh (RB29) – Graziano
• Kyler Murray, Ari (QB9) – Clay
• J.K. Dobbins, Den (RB30) – Fulghum
• Jerry Jeudy, Cle (WR37) – Dopp
• Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG (RB31) – Loza
• Cam Skattebo, NYG (RB32) – Bell
• Jordan Addison, Min (WR38) – Woody
• Mark Andrews, Bal (TE9) – Moody
• Michael Pittman Jr., Ind (WR39) – Marks
• Matthew Golden, GB (WR40) – Schefter

• Round 10:

• Brock Purdy, SF (QB10) – Schefter
• Deebo Samuel, Wsh (WR41) – Marks
• Javonte Williams, Dal (RB33) – Moody
• Justin Fields, NYJ (QB11) – Woody
• Emeka Egbuka, TB (WR42) – Bell
• Stefon Diggs, NE (WR43) – Loza
• Dak Prescott, Dal (QB12) – Dopp
• Cooper Kupp, Sea (WR44) – Fulghum
• Colston Loveland, Chi (TE10) – Clay
• Chris Godwin, TB (WR45) – Graziano

• Round 11:

• Travis Etienne Jr., Jax (RB34) – Graziano
• Drake Maye, NE (QB13) – Clay
• Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (RB35) – Fulghum
• Jordan Mason, Min (RB36) – Dopp
• Caleb Williams, Chi (QB14) – Loza
• Jauan Jennings, SF (WR46) – Bell
• Jaydon Blue, Dal (RB37) – Woody
• Austin Ekeler, Wsh (RB38) – Moody
• Jerome Ford, Cle (RB39) – Marks
• Tyjae Spears, Ten (RB40) – Schefter

• Round 12:

• Tyler Warren, Ind (TE11) – Schefter
• Khalil Shakir, Buf (WR47) – Marks
• Keon Coleman, Buf (WR48) – Moody
• Darnell Mooney, Atl (WR49) – Woody
• Jack Bech, LV (WR50) – Bell
• Trey Benson, Ari (RB41) – Loza
• Jayden Higgins, Hou (WR51) – Dopp
• Joe Mixon, Hou (RB42) – Fulghum
• Tank Bigsby, Jax (RB43) – Clay
• Josh Downs, Ind (WR52) – Graziano

• Round 13:

• Denver Broncos DST (D/ST1) – Graziano
• Keenan Allen, LAC (WR53) – Clay
• Jayden Reed, GB (WR54) – Fulghum
• Justin Herbert, LAC (QB15) – Dopp
• Marvin Mims Jr., Den (WR55) – Loza
• Isaac Guerendo, SF (RB44) – Bell
• Houston Texans DST (D/ST2) – Woody
• Ray Davis, Buf (RB45) – Moody
• Tre Harris, LAC (WR56) – Marks
• Brandon Aubrey, Dal (K1) – Schefter

• Round 14:

• Rashid Shaheed, NO (WR57) – Schefter
• Tyler Allgeier, Atl (RB46) – Marks
• Tucker Kraft, GB (TE12) – Moody
• Rachaad White, TB (RB47) – Woody
• Jordan Love, GB (QB16) – Bell
• Chig Okonkwo, Ten (TE13) – Loza
• Jake Ferguson, Dal (TE14) – Dopp
• Jared Goff, Det (QB17) – Fulghum
• J.J. McCarthy, Min (QB18) – Clay
• Dallas Goedert, Phi (TE15) – Graziano

• Round 15:

• Dalton Kincaid, Buf (TE16) – Graziano
• Pittsburgh Steelers DST (D/ST3) – Clay
• Minnesota Vikings DST (D/ST4) – Fulghum
• Jake Bates, Det (K2) – Dopp
• Seattle Seahawks DST (D/ST5) – Loza
• Baltimore Ravens DST (D/ST6) – Bell
• Quinshon Judkins, Cle (RB48) – Woody
• New England Patriots DST (D/ST7) – Moody
• Detroit Lions DST (D/ST8) – Marks
• Dylan Sampson, Cle (RB49) – Schefter

• Round 16:

• Philadelphia Eagles DST (D/ST9) – Schefter
• Chase McLaughlin, TB (K3) – Marks
• Cameron Dicker, LAC (K4) – Moody
• Jason Sanders, Mia (K5) – Woody
• Tyler Bass, Buf (K6) – Bell