Fantasy Football half-point PPR mock draft 2023: Training camp buzz players already shooting up the board

Get ready for the trendy players in August to reset their ADP

Now that training camp has started, the season is officially here. And we kicked things off Tuesday with a 12-team, 0.5-PPR mock draft. The best part was watching where the buzzworthy players got selected since plenty of news is happening around the NFL, especially at running back.

The first player of note to get drafted was Saquon Barkley, who agreed to a one-year contract with the Giants and reported to training camp on time. He went at No. 8 overall as the fourth running back, behind Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler and Bijan Robinson. While you can argue Barkley vs. guys like Nick Chubb, Jonathan Taylor and Tony Pollard, this is a great spot to draft Barkley this year.

Josh Jacobs, who is going to hold out of training camp because he was given the franchise tag, was drafted with the third pick in Round 2 at No. 15 overall. I don't mind him at that spot for now, but he went ahead of Taylor and Pollard, which could be a mistake. And the longer he stays away from the team, the more we'll likely see him slide in Fantasy drafts.

Taylor (ankle) was actually placed on the PUP list after this draft happened, but all indications are he'll be fine. However, if he stays out of practice, he will also start to slide, and he was picked at No. 16 overall here.

Breece Hall (knee) was placed on the PUP list at the start of training camp, and he fell to Round 3 here at No. 34 overall. This is later than he's gone in our previous mock drafts this offseason, and I expect him to slide to this range if not into Round 4 if he remains out. Hopefully, he'll be cleared to practice soon, but running backs coming off a torn ACL have a terrible track record in their first season back, which is why I'm concerned about drafting Hall too early this year.

I drafted J.K. Dobbins in Round 5, and he also opened training camp on the PUP list. The official injury designation is undisclosed, but the Ravens are likely being cautious after he dealt with knee problems last year. He's now two years removed from his ACL tear, but he's expected to be fine this season. I'm counting on Dobbins to have a breakout year if healthy, and I love him at this spot.

Javonte Williams avoided the PUP list after suffering a torn ACL last year, which is great news, but I'm still concerned about his production this season. He was drafted in Round 6 here, and that's the perfect spot to gamble on him. If he's healthy and can get the majority of touches for the Broncos then he still has top-20 upside in all formats. However, I still like drafting Samaje Perine as a sleeper, and he was drafted in Round 7 here.

For the receivers of note dealing with injury situations, here is where they went in this draft: Amari Cooper (leg) in Round 5, Kadarius Toney (knee) in Round 7, Michael Thomas (toe) in Round 8 and Rashod Bateman (foot) in Round 10.

Cooper is expected to be fine, and Round 5 would be a steal to get him there. Toney might not be ready for Week 1, and he was overdrafted here. I would rather have Skyy Moore, who was drafted in Round 9, and Rashee Rice also went in Round 12.

Thomas was cleared for practice, and hopefully he stays healthy all season. He has been limited to just 10 games over the past three seasons, but he could be a steal if he stays in this range for most Fantasy drafts.

As for Bateman, he opened training camp on the PUP list, and hopefully he'll be healthy soon. It's going to be interesting to track the progress for him, Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr., and whoever emerges as the No. 1 receiver in Baltimore could be a low-end starter in the majority of leagues. Flowers, who is my favorite Ravens receiver for now, went in Round 9, and Beckham was drafted in Round 10.

I selected Beckham as my No. 4 receiver, and my receiving corps is the strength of my team. My first three picks from No. 1 overall were Justin Jefferson, DeVonta Smith and Tee Higgins. While I didn't intend to do that, even though we start three receivers in this league, I felt like Smith and Higgins were better than Joe Mixon, Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts at that point.

Part of the reason I went WR-WR-WR was I knew the running back options at the Round 4-5 turn would be OK, which proved to be true, and I got Dameon Pierce and Dobbins. I love those first five picks.

I did have a little regret passing on Allen and Hurts, and I also drafted those running backs ahead of Justin Fields, who fell to Round 5. But I was able to get Trevor Lawrence in Round 6, and I love that. Lawrence is one of my favorite breakout candidates this season.

The rest of my running back corps is James Cook, Khalil Herbert, Elijah Mitchell and Zamir White, who could be a steal if Jacobs misses any games this season. I also have Darnell Mooney and Zay Jones as reserve receivers, and Pat Freiermuth is my tight end. This should be a playoff-caliber team in this league.

In this league, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We also award 0.5 points for every reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE and FLEX (RB/WR/TE) with six reserves for a 14-round draft.

Our draft order is as follows:

1. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer

2. Frank Stampfl, FBT Podcast Host

3. Chris Towers, Senior Editor, Fantasy Sports

4. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer

5. George Maselli, Fantasy Editor

6. Meron Berkson, CBS Sports HQ Producer

7. Daniel Schneier, Senior Fantasy Editor

8. Jack Capotorto, FFT HQ Producer

9. Heath Cummings, Senior Fantasy Writer

10. Zach Brook, FFT Social Media Coordinator

11. Adam Aizer, FFT Podcast Host

12. Jacob Gibbs, SportsLine Fantasy Analyst

Round By Round

Round 1
Pos	Team	Player
1	Jacob Gibbs
2	Daniel Schneier
3	Dave Richard
4	Jack Capotorto
5	Frank Stampfl
6	Meron Berkson
7	Jamey Eisenberg
8	Zach Brook
9	Heath Cummings
10	Chris Towers
11	Adam Aizer
12	George Maselli
Round 2
Pos	Team	Player
13	George Maselli
14	Adam Aizer
15	Chris Towers
16	Heath Cummings
17	Zach Brook
18	Jamey Eisenberg
19	Meron Berkson
20	Frank Stampfl
21	Jack Capotorto
22	Dave Richard
23	Daniel Schneier
24	Jacob Gibbs
Round 3
Pos	Team	Player
25	Jacob Gibbs
26	Daniel Schneier
27	Dave Richard
28	Jack Capotorto
29	Frank Stampfl
30	Meron Berkson
31	Jamey Eisenberg
32	Zach Brook
33	Heath Cummings
34	Chris Towers
35	Adam Aizer
36	George Maselli
Round 4
Pos	Team	Player
37	George Maselli
38	Adam Aizer
39	Chris Towers
40	Heath Cummings
41	Zach Brook
42	Jamey Eisenberg
43	Meron Berkson
44	Frank Stampfl
45	Jack Capotorto
46	Dave Richard
47	Daniel Schneier
48	Jacob Gibbs
Round 5
Pos	Team	Player
49	Jacob Gibbs
50	Daniel Schneier
51	Dave Richard
52	Jack Capotorto
53	Frank Stampfl
54	Meron Berkson
55	Jamey Eisenberg
56	Zach Brook
57	Heath Cummings
58	Chris Towers
59	Adam Aizer
60	George Maselli
Round 6
Pos	Team	Player
61	George Maselli
62	Adam Aizer
63	Chris Towers
64	Heath Cummings
65	Zach Brook
66	Jamey Eisenberg
67	Meron Berkson
68	Frank Stampfl
69	Jack Capotorto
70	Dave Richard
71	Daniel Schneier
72	Jacob Gibbs
Round 7
Pos	Team	Player
73	Jacob Gibbs
74	Daniel Schneier
75	Dave Richard
76	Jack Capotorto
77	Frank Stampfl
78	Meron Berkson
79	Jamey Eisenberg
80	Zach Brook
81	Heath Cummings
82	Chris Towers
83	Adam Aizer
84	George Maselli
Round 8
Pos	Team	Player
85	George Maselli
86	Adam Aizer
87	Chris Towers
88	Heath Cummings
89	Zach Brook
90	Jamey Eisenberg
91	Meron Berkson
92	Frank Stampfl
93	Jack Capotorto
94	Dave Richard
95	Daniel Schneier
96	Jacob Gibbs
Round 9
Pos	Team	Player
97	Jacob Gibbs
98	Daniel Schneier
99	Dave Richard
100	Jack Capotorto
101	Frank Stampfl
102	Meron Berkson
103	Jamey Eisenberg
104	Zach Brook
105	Heath Cummings
106	Chris Towers
107	Adam Aizer
108	George Maselli
Round 10
Pos	Team	Player
109	George Maselli
110	Adam Aizer
111	Chris Towers
112	Heath Cummings
113	Zach Brook
114	Jamey Eisenberg
115	Meron Berkson
116	Frank Stampfl
117	Jack Capotorto
118	Dave Richard
119	Daniel Schneier
120	Jacob Gibbs
Round 11
Pos	Team	Player
121	Jacob Gibbs
122	Daniel Schneier
123	Dave Richard
124	Jack Capotorto
125	Frank Stampfl
126	Meron Berkson
127	Jamey Eisenberg
128	Zach Brook
129	Heath Cummings
130	Chris Towers
131	Adam Aizer
132	George Maselli
Round 12
Pos	Team	Player
133	George Maselli
134	Adam Aizer
135	Chris Towers
136	Heath Cummings
137	Zach Brook
138	Jamey Eisenberg
139	Meron Berkson
140	Frank Stampfl
141	Jack Capotorto
142	Dave Richard
143	Daniel Schneier
144	Jacob Gibbs
Round 13
Pos	Team	Player
145	Jacob Gibbs
146	Daniel Schneier
147	Dave Richard
148	Jack Capotorto
149	Frank Stampfl
150	Meron Berkson
151	Jamey Eisenberg
152	Zach Brook
153	Heath Cummings
154	Chris Towers
155	Adam Aizer
156	George Maselli
Round 14
Pos	Team	Player
157	George Maselli
158	Adam Aizer
159	Chris Towers
160	Heath Cummings
161	Zach Brook
162	Jamey Eisenberg
163	Meron Berkson
164	Frank Stampfl
165	Jack Capotorto
166	Dave Richard
167	Daniel Schneier
168	Jacob Gibbs

Team by Team

Jacob Gibbs
Rd	Pk	Player
1	1
2	24
3	25
4	48
5	49
6	72
7	73
8	96
9	97
10	120
11	121
12	144
13	145
14	168
Daniel Schneier
Rd	Pk	Player
1	2
2	23
3	26
4	47
5	50
6	71
7	74
8	95
9	98
10	119
11	122
12	143
13	146
14	167
Dave Richard
Rd	Pk	Player
1	3
2	22
3	27
4	46
5	51
6	70
7	75
8	94
9	99
10	118
11	123
12	142
13	147
14	166
Jack Capotorto
Rd	Pk	Player
1	4
2	21
3	28
4	45
5	52
6	69
7	76
8	93
9	100
10	117
11	124
12	141
13	148
14	165
Frank Stampfl
Rd	Pk	Player
1	5
2	20
3	29
4	44
5	53
6	68
7	77
8	92
9	101
10	116
11	125
12	140
13	149
14	164
Meron Berkson
Rd	Pk	Player
1	6
2	19
3	30
4	43
5	54
6	67
7	78
8	91
9	102
10	115
11	126
12	139
13	150
14	163
Jamey Eisenberg
Rd	Pk	Player
1	7
2	18
3	31
4	42
5	55
6	66
7	79
8	90
9	103
10	114
11	127
12	138
13	151
14	162
Zach Brook
Rd	Pk	Player
1	8
2	17
3	32
4	41
5	56
6	65
7	80
8	89
9	104
10	113
11	128
12	137
13	152
14	161
Heath Cummings
Rd	Pk	Player
1	9
2	16
3	33
4	40
5	57
6	64
7	81
8	88
9	105
10	112
11	129
12	136
13	153
14	160
Chris Towers
Rd	Pk	Player
1	10
2	15
3	34
4	39
5	58
6	63
7	82
8	87
9	106
10	111
11	130
12	135
13	154
14	159
Adam Aizer
Rd	Pk	Player
1	11
2	14
3	35
4	38
5	59
6	62
7	83
8	86
9	107
10	110
11	131
12	134
13	155
14	158
George Maselli
Rd	Pk	Player
1	12
2	13
3	36
4	37
5	60
6	61
7	84
8	85
9	108
10	109
11	132
12	133
13	156
14	157

Add CBS Sports on Google

Join the Conversation

comments