Fantasy Football Mock Draft 2021: Travis Kelce in first round for 12-team PPR?

Dec 6, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) gestures before the game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) gestures before the game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
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Fantasy Football
Chuba Hubbard. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 13

  • Team 1 (13.01): Michael Carter, RB, Jets
  • Team 2 (13.02): Trey Sermon, RB, 49ers
  • Team 3 (13.03): Latavius Murray, RB, Saints
  • Team 4 (13.04): Alexander Mattison, RB, Vikings
  • Team 5 (13.05): Tony Pollard, RB, Cowboys
  • Team 6 (13.06): Gus Edwards, RB, Ravens
  • Team 7 (13.07): Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Rams
  • Team 8** (13.08): Chuba Hubbard, RB, Panthers
  • Team 9 (13.09): Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, WFT
  • Team 10 (13.10): Austin Hooper, TE, Browns
  • Team 11 (13.11): Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
  • Team 12 (13.12): Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams

When Christian McCaffrey went down last season with an injury, Mike Davis came in and, though he wasn’t the top player in fantasy football, he did finish as the RB12 simply because of how much the Panthers prefer to involve their backs in the offense, especially in the passing game.

Now that Davis is gone and rookie Chuba Hubbard appears to be CMC’s primary backup, he’s worth drafting in the late rounds as the handcuff in Carolina. That opens up so many doors with a player who could be valuable if McCaffrey gets hurt, both as a starter or a trade chip. And the worst-case scenario is that he’s as unstartable as any other back taken in this range.

Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 14

  • Team 12 (14.01): 49ers D/ST
  • Team 11 (14.02): Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins
  • Team 10 (14.03): Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
  • Team 9 (14.04): Phillip Lindsay, RB, Texans
  • Team 8** (14.05): John Brown, WR, Raiders
  • Team 7 (14.06): Darrel Williams, RB, Chiefs
  • Team 6 (14.07): Sony Michel, RB, Patriots
  • Team 5 (14.08): Ravens D/ST
  • Team 4 (14.09): Breshad Perriman, WR, Lions
  • Team 3 (14.10): Allen Lazard, WR, Packers
  • Team 2 (14.11): Bills D/ST
  • Team 1 (14.12): Broncos D/ST

John Brown is the perfect late-round flyer to take at this point when there aren’t any real needs and you’re looking for the boom-or-bust type player. Last season with the Raiders, Nelson Agholor finished as WR34 due to averaging 18.7 yards per reception and scoring eight times.

If he can stay healthy, that’s something Brown can replicate. His ability to take the top off of defenses has never been called into question and that’s the role he’ll occupy in Vegas, especially now that Agholor is gone to New England. And if he doesn’t, there should be a fine option on the waiver wire to replace him with. That said, he’s worth the early test drive.