NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Fantasy Football Mock Draft, 12-team PPR: Calvin Ridley starts WR run

By Cody Williams

Dec 8, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 11
Next
Fantasy Football Mock Draft
Javonte Williams (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Fantasy Football Mock Draft 2021: Round 5

  • Team 1 (5.01): Chris Godwin, WR, TB
  • Team 2 (5.02): Damien Harris, RB, NE
  • Team 3 (5.03): Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF
  • Team 4 (5.04): Miles Sanders, RB, PHI
  • Team 5* (5.05): Javonte Williams, RB, DEN
  • Team 6 (5.06): Kyle Pitts, TE, ATL
  • Team 7 (5.07): Tee Higgins, WR, CIN
  • Team 8 (5.08): Kareem Hunt, RB, CLE
  • Team 9 (5.09): Adam Thielen, WR, MIN
  • Team 10 (5.10): D.J. Moore, WR, CAR
  • Team 11 (5.11): Mark Andrews, TE, BAL
  • Team 12 (5.12): Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL

With three wide receivers on the roster, taking another would’ve been irresponsible for roster construction. Thus, the pick at 5.05 came down to either Broncos rookie running back Javonte Williams or Falcons rookie tight end Kyle Pitts. Call it a gut decision but I decided the former was the better option.

Not only was the hole in my RB2 spot on the roster glaring but there is quietly just as easy of a path to success for Williams as there is for Pitts. Yes, the tight end figures to be the No. 2 target in Atlanta but Williams could legitimately be the top ball-carrier in Denver sooner rather than later.

In the preseason, the Broncos have seen what Williams is capable of and it’s hard not to be impressed with the second-round pick. There are already rumblings that he’s ready to usurp Melvin Gordon and could be a huge weapon in the Teddy Bridgewater-led offense, especially behind one of the better offensive lines in the league.

It’s a bit of a gamble for the RB2 spot on the roster but there are ways to mitigate that risk moving forward. Taking Williams was a strategic upside play and one that you can manage later on while also getting the possibility of striking gold on a fifth-round running back.

Home/Fantasy Football