Fantasy football requires fluidity, and mock drafts are one of the most helpful tools to understand ADP (average draft position). They provide a risk-free environment to test roster-building theories, experiment with sleeper picks, and understand how drafts are trending over time.
But honestly, more than anything, they’re just fun.
Today, we are fortunate to get a behind-the-scenes look into the minds of the entire Ballers’ Team – including our hosts, producers, and writers. In a rare twist of fate, Jason, Andy, and Mike drew back-to-back-to-back picks in the heart of the draft, providing interesting insight on team-building philosophies while simultaneously teaching us how to navigate a draft between close friends.
This mock draft used the following settings: 12 teams starting 1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, and a FLEX, with four bench spots and full-PPR.
Round 1:
Jason: Bijan Robinson, Mike: Christian McCaffrey, Andy: Amon-Ra St. Brown
With 3WRs and full-PPR scoring, our mock started with a top-tier run at the WR position. Puka Nacua hit his draft ceiling at 1.04, with five of the next six picks representing pass-catching RBs. Jason was thrilled that his RB1, Bijan Robinson, fell to him at 1.05, and Mike took Christian McCaffrey. Obviously. Andy chanted a mantra of all 16 WRs drafted ahead of Amon-Ra before taking him at 1.07, and RB Ashton Jeanty was taken at 1.10 for the second straight month.
Round 2:
Andy: Derrick Henry, Mike: Garrett Wilson, Jason: Tee Higgins
Julia and Brooks stocked up at WRs on the turn, and Borg flexed right through his shirt with back-to-back RBs in Saquon Barkley and Devon Achane. Andy ended the fall of Derrick Henry (who he had taken at 1.08 in last month’s draft), with Garrett Wilson and Tee Higgins taken by Mike and Jason, respectively. All three of the Ballers left Round 2 with balanced teams, consisting of one RB and one WR, and Brock Bowers and Trey McBride became the first TEs off the board at the end of the round.
Round 3:
Jason: Mike Evans, Mike: Davante Adams, Andy: Jonathan Taylor
Papa Josh drew praise for his impressive start at WR, and Jason’s “best player available” fell to him in Mike Evans. Davante Adams and Jonathan Taylor went next, while Borg continued his WR-punt with George Kittle as the third TE taken. With a lot of uncertainty around the status of Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton closed Round 3 as the second rookie drafted in this mock. His ADP has remained very steady over the past month, and it will be interesting to monitor as we learn more about Najee Harris‘ injury timeline.
Najee Harris training camp POV pic.twitter.com/2DBC8fSS05
— Mike’s Takes (@mikee_takes) July 25, 2025
Round 4:
Andy: Jayden Daniels, Mike: Terry McLaurin, Jason: Jalen Hurts
Round 4 began the rise of the QBs. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson came off the board first, leaving Andy to take Jayden Daniels as this draft’s QB3 – much to Jason’s chagrin. Mike took Terry McLaurin, cementing three WRs in his top-20, and after missing out on Jayden, Jason took his consolation prize of Jalen Hurts, who provides just as much upside as any of the names above him. “Stupid Baby Jake” would snipe both of Jason’s next two picks in George Pickens and James Conner, and Betz got “My Guy” candidate Kenneth Walker at 4.12.
Round 5:
Jason: Joe Mixon, Mike: Joe Burrow, Andy: Xavier Worthy
Tetairoa McMillan opened Round 5 as the third rookie taken, and Jason selected the draft’s first real question mark in Joe Mixon. We don’t have much information about Mixon’s health or timeline, which will likely make him a polarizing pick over the next month. Mike waited a full extra round to draft his QB, and was rewarded with Joe Burrow on a silver platter. Given the latest about Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown, Andy was very happy to end up with Xavier Worthy, as Round 6 ended with a run of five (of the last six) picks at the WR position.
Round 6:
Andy: Rome Odunze, Mike: D’Andre Swift, Jason: Kaleb Johnson
Stefon Diggs and TreVeyon Henderson represented the first Patriots off the board, displaying potential value at 6.01 and 6.02. Andy had considered Rome Odunze in Round 5 and was thrilled to have his guy fall to him once again in Round 6. Mike added his RB2 in D’Andre Swift, and Jason matched with Kaleb Johnson, making him the first Baller to roster three RBs. Other notable picks in this round were RJ Harvey at 6.03 and Jayden Reed at 6.11, who both have the potential to fluctuate quite a bit this preseason.
Rome Odunze has been dominating training camp, reportedly “unguardable.”
Get ready for a breakout season! pic.twitter.com/mAZpVoCTpW
— Buddy Boy Bets (@Buddyboybets) July 27, 2025
Round 7:
Jason: Ricky Pearsall, Mike: Josh Downs, Andy: Chris Godwin
Betz played the long game with back-to-back picks of Rashee Rice and Jordan Addison, who both hold WR1 upside (when available), but both of who face more-than-likely suspensions early this season. Brilliance or madness? Only time will tell. Jason’s “desperation” at WR initiated another run, with Ricky Pearsall, Josh Downs, and Chris Godwin ending (in my opinion) a tier at the position. T.J. Hockenson and Travis Kelce closed out Round 7 as the fifth and sixth players drafted at their position.
Round 8:
Andy: Deebo Samuel, Mike: Cam Skattebo, Mike: Jayden Higgins
Isaiah Likely‘s foot injury has created a boost in value for Mark Andrews, moving up the board three spots from TE10 to TE7. Borg sniped Emeka Egbuka in front of Andy, forcing him to pivot to Deebo Samuel, and Mike made Cam Skattebo Facebook-official, taking him over Tyrone Tracy for the first time in any of the Ballers’ mock drafts. Rookie WRs Jayden Higgins and Tre Harris went back-to-back, with Jordan Mason ending Round 8 as Betz’s RB3.
“I wasn’t gonna take him, but I really wanted him on my roster.” – Jason (about Cam Skattebo)
Round 9:
Jason: David Njoku, Mike: Luther Burden, Andy: JK Dobbins
Jason was savvy in recognizing that three of the four people (on his side of the snake) had already taken TEs, so he could likely wait until Round 9 and still get his guy. His patience was rewarded with David Njoku, who has top-three upside with Joe Flacco at the helm, and Mike added his WR5 in Luther Burden. Andy took JK Dobbins as his RB3, who is now over one year removed from (any) major injury, and just showed us the best football of his career. Now behind one of the NFL’s most dominant lines, Dobbins should be one of the most valuable handcuffs entering this season, with RB1 upside if RJ Harvey were to miss time.
JK Dobbins straight up violating his trainer
pic.twitter.com/TJm9Xhpshb
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) July 1, 2025
Round 10:
Andy: Evan Engram, Mike: Jack Bech, Jason: Quinshon Judkins
After selecting him in our previous draft, Andy praises Brooks’ pick in Cleveland RB Jerome Ford, and follows up with his second straight Bronco in TE Evan Engram. Mike and Jason both selected rookies in Jack Bech and Quinshon Judkins, who both sparked intriguing but different conversations. Depending on the severity of Judkins’ looming suspension, his ADP could plummet or skyrocket in the next month, making him a high-risk/potential league-winning selection at this point in the draft.
Round 11:
Jason: Wan’dale Robinson, Mike: Colston Loveland, Andy: Demario Douglas
Jason and Andy chose to chase high-volume, low aDot WRs in Wan’Dale and Pop Douglas, and Mike finally took his TE in rookie Colston Loveland. Najee Harris fell all the way to 11.08 – a full three rounds later than our July mock – while Borg closes out an impressive draft with Justin Fields and Justin Herbert in the 11th and 12th rounds.
“You can’t guard him in a phone booth..”
Pats QB Drake Maye drops an absolute BAR about his WR DeMario “Pop” Douglas.@UpAndAdamsShow @DrakeMaye2
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) July 30, 2025
Round 12:
Andy: Keenan Allen, Mike: Dylan Sampson, Jason: Adam Thielen
Julia was the last to take a QB, getting a potential steal in Brock Purdy, who has finished as a QB1 (in PPG) in each of the last two years. Andy and Jason showed mirroring strategies with slot receiver double-taps to end their drafts, while Mike wrapped his up with RB Dylan Sampson, officially closing out his streak of five straight rookie picks. As this draft’s Mr. Irrelevant, Betz selected Braelon Allen, giving us the final piece to our ADP puzzle.
We hope you enjoyed, and “Stay water,” my friends!
from Fantasy Footballers Podcast https://ift.tt/jv8lU34
Reviewed by Admin
on
August 02, 2025
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