Fantasy football is fun, exciting, and sometimes a little confusing—especially if you’re new. But here’s one simple secret all great fantasy managers know: practice makes perfect. And the best way to practice is by using a fantasy football mock draft.
A mock draft is like a trial run. It helps you see how a real draft might go. You get to test different strategies, figure out where to pick your favorite players, and understand when other people might take them. The best part? It doesn’t count, and it’s totally free.
Whether it’s your first season or your tenth, doing a fantasy football mock draft gives you a huge edge. And trust me, the more you mock, the more confident and prepared you’ll be on real draft day.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to run a fantasy football mock draft, what tools to use, how to avoid rookie mistakes, and how to build your winning team step-by-step.
Let’s kick things off and build the perfect team—one mock at a time.
What Is a Fantasy Football Mock Draft?
A fantasy football mock draft is a practice version of a real draft. You join a pretend draft room, and just like in a live draft, you take turns picking NFL players. These drafts are online and use the same rules as your real league, but the results don’t count toward a season.
Think of it like a dress rehearsal before the big show. You choose players, try different draft strategies, and learn how teams are built. A mock draft is a smart way to prepare without pressure. You can learn from your picks and see what worked or didn’t.
It’s quick, fun, and very helpful—especially if you’re not sure when to draft your quarterback or how many running backs you need early on.
Why You Should Always Do a Mock Draft First
A fantasy football mock draft can make a huge difference when draft day arrives. Here’s why. First, it takes away the “surprise” factor. You learn when players are usually picked. You’ll see which rounds certain positions get thin. You’ll understand how your draft spot affects your choices.
Second, you get better with every mock you do. Need more WRs? You’ll notice. Did you wait too long for a tight end? You’ll remember. Each mock is a chance to improve your strategy. It’s also a chance to try new ideas and see what works best.
Most of all, it gives you confidence. When it’s time to pick your real team, you won’t feel confused or rushed. You’ll be calm, smart, and ready to crush your league.
How a Fantasy Football Mock Draft Works
Here’s how to do a fantasy football mock draft from start to finish:
- Pick a draft platform like ESPN, Yahoo, Sleeper, or FantasyPros.
- Select draft settings that match your league (like number of teams and scoring Type).
- Choose your draft position or let the site pick for you.
- Join a public room or simulate it with bots.
- Draft players every round until your team is full.
After the draft, you’ll normally get a team grade or score. Don’t worry too much about this grade. The real value comes from learning how the draft flows, understanding when to grab certain players, and testing your personal draft strategy.
And you can do as many mock drafts as you want. It’s free!
Top Free Sites for Fantasy Football Mock Drafts
There are many awesome platforms where you can do a fantasy football mock draft for free. Here are the best ones:
- ESPN Fantasy: Great for beginners, easy to use, shows player projections.
- Yahoo Fantasy Sports: Clean user experience with strong player rankings.
- Sleeper App: New and fun platform with features fans love, especially for mobile drafting.
- FantasyPros Draft Simulator: Super fast drafts against bots based on expert rankings.
- NFL Fantasy: The official site of the NFL has a polished draft experience.
Try them all! Some are quicker. Some show extra advice. But they all help you get better at drafting.
Match Your Mock to Your Real League Settings
Before you start a mock draft, you need to match the settings to your real league. Why? Because different rules change how valuable certain players are.
Here’s what to double-check:
- Scoring Type: Is your league PPR (point per reception), half-PPR, or standard?
- Lineup Setup: How many WRs, RBs, FLEX spots, or Superflex positions are there?
- Number of Teams: Most leagues have 10 or 12 teams, which affects pick value.
- Bench Size: How deep is the roster? This helps with late-round planning.
Don’t blindly join a random fantasy football mock draft. Always adjust settings so your practice is as close as possible to the real deal.
Draft Position Tips: Early, Middle, or Late
Your draft spot can affect how your team turns out. That’s why it’s smart to try several mock drafts from different positions.
Early Picks (1–4): You get stars early, like Christian McCaffrey or Ja’Marr Chase. But you’ll wait longer between picks after that.
Middle Picks (5–8): More balanced. You’re in the middle of the action and can adjust more easily to draft trends.
Late Picks (9–12): You pick close together at the turn. Great for stacking players, but top-tier stars may be gone.
Mock draft from each position to get a feel for different game plans.
Smart Draft Strategies to Try in Your Mock Drafts
A fantasy football mock draft lets you try different game plans. You won’t know what works best for you until you practice them.
Here are a few solid strategies worth testing:
- RB-heavy (Running Back, Running Back): Focus on top RBs early while others focus on receivers.
- Zero RB Strategy: Skip RBs early, stack WRs and elite TEs, then find value RBs later.
- Late-Round QB: Wait until the late rounds for your quarterback and use early picks on other positions.
- Best Player Available: Don’t follow a position formula—always pick the best value on the board.
Mix and match. Learn what fits your draft style.
ADP: What It Is and Why It Matters in Mock Drafts
ADP stands for “Average Draft Position.” It’s where players are usually being picked in fantasy drafts.
For example, if a player has an ADP of 25, that means most people pick them around the 25th pick. Every site updates ADP daily based on real drafts.
Use ADP in your fantasy football mock draft to:
- Know when players are expected to go.
- Find value picks who fall past their ADP.
- Avoid reaching too early for a player who would have lasted another round.
ADP is a powerful tool. Watch how it changes during the preseason.
Watch for Common Mistakes in Mock Drafts
Even experienced managers make mistakes. Lucky for you, a fantasy football mock draft shows you those errors without costing you anything!
Watch out for these common slip-ups:
- Reaching too early for your favorite player.
- Drafting a QB too soon in 1QB leagues.
- Ignoring backup players—you’ll need depth for bye weeks and injuries.
- Falling into position runs—don’t panic-pick just because others are.
Mock drafts help you build good habits. So when draft day comes, you’re ready to roll.
Real Fantasy Football Mock Draft Example and Lessons Learned
Let me share a real fantasy football mock draft I completed using Sleeper on a 12-team PPR format from the 8th spot:
Round 1: CeeDee Lamb
Round 2: Nick Chubb
Round 3: Tee Higgins
Round 4: Justin Fields (QB)
Round 5: James Conner
Round 6: Dallas Goedert
I loved my WR strength. But I realized I felt weaker at RB depth and should’ve waited on QB. It helped me plan better in the next mock. That’s what makes mock drafting so valuable—you learn what works and what doesn’t before it really matters.
Best Time to Do Your Fantasy Football Mock Drafts
The best time to start mock drafting is early in the preseason, and keep going until your real draft.
Here’s a simple schedule:
- Early July: Just getting used to platforms and draft flow.
- August: Testing real strategies and following player news.
- Late August to Early September: Final mocks that match your real league exactly.
The closer to the season, the more accurate the ADP becomes. That’s when the most helpful mocks happen.
Mock Draft With Friends for Extra Fun and Strategy
Want to have some laughs and learn more? Do a group fantasy football mock draft with your league friends. Not only is it fun, but you also get to learn each other’s habits.
Maybe your friend always drafts tight ends too early. Maybe someone always picks players from their favorite team. Use this information to your advantage in the real draft!
Try it as a weekend mock event. You learn, bond, prepare, and have way more fun than drafting alone.
Learn How to Read Your Mock Draft Results
After every fantasy football mock draft, take a few minutes to check your team. Don’t just look at your starters—review every pick. See if you reached too early. Check bench depth. Trust your gut, but listen to critiques too.
Ask yourself:
- Do I have bye week problems?
- What if one of my starters gets injured?
- Did I miss out on better players by waiting too long?
Keep notes on each draft. It helps you avoid repeating mistakes and pattern success.
FAQs
1. How many fantasy football mock drafts should I do?
Try 5 to 10 before your real draft. The more you do, the sharper your skills become.
2. Are all mock drafts free?
Yes! Platforms like ESPN, Yahoo, Sleeper, and FantasyPros offer free fantasy football mock drafts anytime.
3. Should I mock draft with real people or bots?
Both work, but real drafts with people are more realistic. Bots are great for quick simulations.
4. How long does a mock draft take?
Most take 15–30 minutes with live users. Simulated mocks can take just 5–10 minutes.
5. Will I use the team I drafted in the mock?
No, mock draft results do not carry into your league. They’re only for practice.
6. Are mock draft grades accurate?
Grading is fun, but it doesn’t always reflect real success. Focus on learning, not just letter grades.
Conclusion
A fantasy football mock draft is more than just fun—it’s a game-changer. It helps you prepare, learn, and test new strategies before anything counts. And the best part? It costs nothing and only takes minutes to complete.
Mock drafts give you the power to be confident on draft day. You learn the flow of picks, test smart strategies, and avoid big mistakes. Whether you’re playing for bragging rights with friends or chasing a big prize, mock drafts can be the difference between finishing last—or taking the crown.
So go start your fantasy football mock draft right now. Choose your draft spot, test a new plan, and take control of your season before it even starts.
If you’ve done a few mocks already, leave a comment and share your strategy—I’d love to hear how it’s going!
