Ninth Pick: Kenyan Drake, RB, Arizona Cardinals

It’s possible that you might be as shocked as I am that I have Kenyan Drake ranked this high. I just couldn’t get around just how high the ceiling is on this guy coming into this season. He doesn’t have David Johnson in front of him anymore after the trade with Houston. As has been pointed out, QB Kyler Murray is ready for a huge step forward in his second season. And, the Cardinals have all-everything WR Deandre Hopkins in the fold. All of that means the Arizona offense should be cooking on full blast this coming year.

Additionally, Drake has the stats to justify this high of a pick on his own, although the season stats may not seem like it. Inside his 817 yards rushing and 8 TDs are two performances that can stand with anyone. In weeks 14 and 15 against Cleveland and Seattle, Drake combined for 303 yards and an unbelievable 6 touchdowns. A full season anywhere close to that would look great on anyone’s roster. Don’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

Tenth Pick: Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Filling out the top ten of a fantasy football standard mock draft is Josh Jacobs. He has the look of a player that will really step forward in his second season. He wasn’t too shabby as a rookie, either. He carried the football 242 times for 1,150 yards and 7 touchdowns. His YPC was a solid 4.8. He rushed for over 100 yards five times in 2018 and just missed a sixth with 99 yards. He eclipsed 120 yards three times.

He’s not much of a pass catcher, but that’s not really a problem in standard leagues. The Raiders are known for throwing the ball around, but head coach Jon Gruden knows how important the run game is. He will get Jacobs heavily involved. You should, too, and take advantage of his youth. You will be pleased.

Thanks for taking the ride with me into this first round fantasy football standard mock draft. Please feel free to make a comment about the selections and their order. I welcome any and all input. Let the debate begin! The selections will be updated as the season gets closer and more information becomes available. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and make sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest NFL and sports news!