Fantasy Football Mock Draft, 10-team PPR: Ekeler in Round 2

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Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Round 2

Team 10 (2.01): Miles Sanders, RB, PHI
Team 9 (2.02): Kenyan Drake, RB, ARI
Team 8 (2.03): Josh Jacobs, RB, LV
Team 7* (2.04): Austin Ekeler, RB, LAC
Team 6 (2.05): Aaron Jones, RB, GB
Team 5 (2.06): Julio Jones, WR, ATL
Team 4 (2.07): Nick Chubb, RB, CLE
Team 3 (2.08): Travis Kelce, TE, KC
Team 2 (2.09): Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL
Team 1 (2.10): Tyreek Hill, WR, KC

The 2019 season was both frustrating and impressive from Austin Ekeler in regards to his fantasy football output. Overall, the Chargers back finished as RB4 on the year with 132 carries for 557 yards and three scores to go with 92 receptions, 993 yards and eight scores. However, his output as an elite fantasy back did take a hit once Melvin Gordon returned and he was relegated to being used as primarily a pass-catcher.

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Gordon is gone, though, and Ekeler figures to be a focal point of the LA offense. Not only will Captain Checkdown Tyrod Taylor look to him as a receiving option still but he should see something similar to the 14-16 carries per game he got last year when Gordon was holding out. If that happens, he could be a lock as an RB1 in PPR leagues, which is why I love his value in the second round.

Round 3

Team 1 (3.01): DeAndre Hopkins, WR, ARI
Team 2 (3.02): Chris Godwin, WR, TB
Team 3 (3.03): David Johnson, RB, HOU
Team 4 (3.04): Mike Evans, WR, TB
Team 5 (3.05): George Kittle, TE, SF
Team 6 (3.06): Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC
Team 7* (3.07): Kenny Golladay, WR, DET
Team 8 (3.08): James Conner, RB, PIT
Team 9 (3.09): Chris Carson, RB, SEA
Team 10 (3.10): Adam Thielen, WR, MIN

Last season, Kenny Golladay proved to be one of the NFL’s elite deep threat wide receivers. He finished the season as WR9 in PPR leagues while catching 65 passes for 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns on 116 targets. It’s clear that the youngster has the goods to succeed. But that impressive year doesn’t even tell the whole story.

Golladay only played eight games with Matthew Stafford last season. In those games, he was on a 16-game pace for 124 targets, 70 receptions, 1,280 yards and 14 touchdowns. And now Stafford is back healthy in an offense that should be even more dynamic and comfortable taking shots down the field. That could mean an absolutely superb season from the wideout and, in my mind, a lock to be a solid WR1 for the 2020 fantasy season.

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