The era of starting your draft with one wide receiver and one running back has arrived.
In our most recent 12-team PPR #AskFFT Fan Mock Draft, 10 managers opted to begin their builds with one RB and one WR. As anticipated back when we were mocking months ago, this is going to be the most preferred way to start drafts.
Does it mean it's the right way?
Two teams went in a different direction by opting for WR-WR starts. Both had top-three selections and took CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill, neither of which was surprising. But then the team that took Hill also took Jaylen Waddle, which is kind of a no-no since both play for the same team. The other team paired Lamb with Adams, then took Mike Evans in Round 3 to triple-down on receivers.
One of the drawbacks to going with two players at the same position to start your draft is the eventual pressure you'll feel to draft for need. That leads to reach picks, and it's what ultimately happened to the manager who started with Lamb, Adams, and Evans because he chose Zamir White in Round 4 and Rhamondre Stevenson in Round 5, both of whom went at least a round earlier than CBS ADP suggests they should.
The other manager followed up his dynamic Dolphins duo with James Cook, Jalen Hurts, and Trey McBride. He opted to stick with a combination of trusting ADP and drafting the best player available. There wasn't a worry about filling his second RB spot -- he took Tyjae Spears in Round 8. Honestly, his biggest mistake was taking Hill and Waddle -- they've combined for eight games where both have scored at least 15 PPR points in the past two seasons with Tua Tagovailoa. That's not enough bang for his buck.
You can plan for any draft strategy you want, but keeping yourself cool and in position to not reach is always going to work out well for you. If you're worried about that very scenario causing havoc on Draft Day, be like the other 10 managers and aim to start with one RB and one WR, knowing your options are open for at least the next couple of rounds.
Every manager in our mock fielded a team that must start a QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, a TE, and a FLEX (RB/WR/TE) along with seven reserve spots. Our scoring includes six points for all touchdowns along with one point per reception, one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving, one point for every 25 yards passing, and minus-two points for every turnover.
The results are listed below -- please take the time to review each team, and don't be afraid to ask your questions or share your critiques with me on X (@daverichard).
| Round 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 1 | TEAM 1 | C. McCaffrey RB SF |
| 2 | TEAM 2 | C. Lamb WR DAL |
| 3 | TEAM 3 | T. Hill WR MIA |
| 4 | TEAM 4 | J. Chase WR CIN |
| 5 | TEAM 5 | B. Hall RB NYJ |
| 6 | TEAM 6 | J. Jefferson WR MIN |
| 7 | TEAM 7 | B. Robinson RB ATL |
| 8 | TEAM 8 | A. St. Brown WR DET |
| 9 | TEAM 9 | A. Brown WR PHI |
| 10 | TEAM 10 | J. Taylor RB IND |
| 11 | TEAM 11 | P. Nacua WR LAR |
| 12 | TEAM 12 | J. Gibbs RB DET |
| Round 2 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 13 | TEAM 12 | M. Harrison Jr. WR ARI |
| 14 | TEAM 11 | S. Barkley RB PHI |
| 15 | TEAM 10 | G. Wilson WR NYJ |
| 16 | TEAM 9 | D. Henry RB BAL |
| 17 | TEAM 8 | K. Williams RB LAR |
| 18 | TEAM 7 | C. Olave WR NO |
| 19 | TEAM 6 | T. Etienne RB JAC |
| 20 | TEAM 5 | D. London WR ATL |
| 21 | TEAM 4 | I. Pacheco RB KC |
| 22 | TEAM 3 | J. Waddle WR MIA |
| 23 | TEAM 2 | D. Adams WR NYJ |
| 24 | TEAM 1 | N. Collins WR HOU |
| Round 3 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 25 | TEAM 1 | P. Mahomes QB KC |
| 26 | TEAM 2 | M. Evans WR TB |
| 27 | TEAM 3 | J. Cook RB BUF |
| 28 | TEAM 4 | D. Achane RB MIA |
| 29 | TEAM 5 | B. Aiyuk WR SF |
| 30 | TEAM 6 | D. Moore WR CHI |
| 31 | TEAM 7 | D. Samuel WR SF |
| 32 | TEAM 8 | S. LaPorta TE DET |
| 33 | TEAM 9 | J. Mixon RB HOU |
| 34 | TEAM 10 | R. White RB TB |
| 35 | TEAM 11 | T. Kelce TE KC |
| 36 | TEAM 12 | K. Walker III RB SEA |
| Round 4 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 37 | TEAM 12 | D. Smith WR PHI |
| 38 | TEAM 11 | G. Pickens WR PIT |
| 39 | TEAM 10 | M. Pittman WR IND |
| 40 | TEAM 9 | M. Andrews TE BAL |
| 41 | TEAM 8 | J. Allen QB BUF |
| 42 | TEAM 7 | J. Jacobs RB GB |
| 43 | TEAM 6 | C. Kupp WR LAR |
| 44 | TEAM 5 | D. Metcalf WR SEA |
| 45 | TEAM 4 | A. Kamara RB NO |
| 46 | TEAM 3 | J. Hurts QB PHI |
| 47 | TEAM 2 | Z. White RB LV |
| 48 | TEAM 1 | T. Higgins WR CIN |
| Round 5 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 49 | TEAM 1 | D. Kincaid TE BUF |
| 50 | TEAM 2 | R. Stevenson RB NE |
| 51 | TEAM 3 | T. McBride TE ARI |
| 52 | TEAM 4 | A. Cooper WR BUF |
| 53 | TEAM 5 | J. Conner RB ARI |
| 54 | TEAM 6 | A. Jones RB MIN |
| 55 | TEAM 7 | L. Jackson QB BAL |
| 56 | TEAM 8 | M. Nabers WR NYG |
| 57 | TEAM 9 | Z. Flowers WR BAL |
| 58 | TEAM 10 | S. Diggs WR HOU |
| 59 | TEAM 11 | C. Kirk WR JAC |
| 60 | TEAM 12 | K. Pitts TE ATL |
| Round 6 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 61 | TEAM 12 | N. Harris RB PIT |
| 62 | TEAM 11 | J. Burrow QB CIN |
| 63 | TEAM 10 | D. Montgomery RB DET |
| 64 | TEAM 9 | T. Dell WR HOU |
| 65 | TEAM 8 | J. Brooks RB CAR |
| 66 | TEAM 7 | R. Mostert RB MIA |
| 67 | TEAM 6 | G. Kittle TE SF |
| 68 | TEAM 5 | E. Engram TE JAC |
| 69 | TEAM 4 | A. Richardson QB IND |
| 70 | TEAM 3 | C. Godwin WR TB |
| 71 | TEAM 2 | C. Stroud QB HOU |
| 72 | TEAM 1 | M. Brown WR KC |
| Round 7 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 73 | TEAM 1 | D. Swift RB CHI |
| 74 | TEAM 2 | J. Ferguson TE DAL |
| 75 | TEAM 3 | L. McConkey WR LAC |
| 76 | TEAM 4 | C. Watson WR GB |
| 77 | TEAM 5 | R. Rice WR KC |
| 78 | TEAM 6 | B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS |
| 79 | TEAM 7 | C. Ridley WR TEN |
| 80 | TEAM 8 | K. Allen WR CHI |
| 81 | TEAM 9 | J. Reed WR GB |
| 82 | TEAM 10 | T. McLaurin WR WAS |
| 83 | TEAM 11 | D. Johnson WR HOU |
| 84 | TEAM 12 | E. Elliott RB LAC |
| Round 8 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 85 | TEAM 12 | J. Smith-Njigba WR SEA |
| 86 | TEAM 11 | N. Chubb RB CLE |
| 87 | TEAM 10 | T. Pollard RB TEN |
| 88 | TEAM 9 | J. Warren RB PIT |
| 89 | TEAM 8 | D. Hopkins WR KC |
| 90 | TEAM 7 | D. Njoku TE CLE |
| 91 | TEAM 6 | D. Prescott QB DAL |
| 92 | TEAM 5 | T. Benson RB ARI |
| 93 | TEAM 4 | B. Bowers TE LV |
| 94 | TEAM 3 | T. Spears RB TEN |
| 95 | TEAM 2 | D. Singletary RB NYG |
| 96 | TEAM 1 | J. Williams RB DEN |
| Round 9 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 97 | TEAM 1 | X. Worthy WR KC |
| 98 | TEAM 2 | J. Dobbins RB LAC |
| 99 | TEAM 3 | R. Odunze WR CHI |
| 100 | TEAM 4 | Z. Moss RB CIN |
| 101 | TEAM 5 | R. Doubs WR GB |
| 102 | TEAM 6 | C. Sutton WR DEN |
| 103 | TEAM 7 | K. Coleman WR BUF |
| 104 | TEAM 8 | J. Addison WR MIN |
| 105 | TEAM 9 | J. Love QB GB |
| 106 | TEAM 10 | K. Murray QB ARI |
| 107 | TEAM 11 | C. Brown RB CIN |
| 108 | TEAM 12 | A. Ekeler RB WAS |
| Round 10 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 109 | TEAM 12 | T. Tagovailoa QB MIA |
| 110 | TEAM 11 | J. Ford RB CLE |
| 111 | TEAM 10 | B. Thomas Jr. WR JAC |
| 112 | TEAM 9 | B. Purdy QB SF |
| 113 | TEAM 8 | G. Edwards RB LAC |
| 114 | TEAM 7 | D. Goedert TE PHI |
| 115 | TEAM 6 | J. McLaughlin RB DEN |
| 116 | TEAM 5 | D. Wicks WR GB |
| 117 | TEAM 4 | C. Samuel WR BUF |
| 118 | TEAM 3 | Z. Charbonnet RB SEA |
| 119 | TEAM 2 | B. Corum RB LAR |
| 120 | TEAM 1 | T. Allgeier RB ATL |
| Round 11 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 121 | TEAM 1 | T. Lockett WR SEA |
| 122 | TEAM 2 | J. Palmer WR LAC |
| 123 | TEAM 3 | J. Williams WR DET |
| 124 | TEAM 4 | J. Jeudy WR CLE |
| 125 | TEAM 5 | T. Chandler RB MIN |
| 126 | TEAM 6 | P. Freiermuth TE PIT |
| 127 | TEAM 7 | J. Wright RB MIA |
| 128 | TEAM 8 | T. Hockenson TE MIN |
| 129 | TEAM 9 | D. Schultz TE HOU |
| 130 | TEAM 10 | J. Daniels QB WAS |
| 131 | TEAM 11 | R. Shaheed WR NO |
| 132 | TEAM 12 | T. Tracy Jr. RB NYG |
| Round 12 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 133 | TEAM 12 | B. Irving RB TB |
| 134 | TEAM 11 | E. Mitchell RB SF |
| 135 | TEAM 10 | M. Lloyd RB GB |
| 136 | TEAM 9 | J. Meyers WR LV |
| 137 | TEAM 8 | K. Shakir WR BUF |
| 138 | TEAM 7 | J. Herbert QB LAC |
| 139 | TEAM 6 | C. Hubbard RB CAR |
| 140 | TEAM 5 | J. Goff QB DET |
| 141 | TEAM 4 | A. Thielen WR CAR |
| 142 | TEAM 3 | R. Dowdle RB DAL |
| 143 | TEAM 2 | J. Dotson WR PHI |
| 144 | TEAM 1 | W. Robinson WR NYG |
| Round 13 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 145 | TEAM 1 | T. Franklin WR DEN |
| 146 | TEAM 2 | C. Kmet TE CHI |
| 147 | TEAM 3 | A. Gibson RB NE |
| 148 | TEAM 4 | K. Vidal RB LAC |
| 149 | TEAM 5 | C. Williams QB CHI |
| 150 | TEAM 6 | J. Downs WR IND |
| 151 | TEAM 7 | K. Miller RB NO |
| 152 | TEAM 8 | J. Polk WR NE |
| 153 | TEAM 9 | B. Cooks WR DAL |
| 154 | TEAM 10 | H. Henry TE NE |
| 155 | TEAM 11 | R. Bateman WR BAL |
| 156 | TEAM 12 | A. Mitchell WR IND |
| Round 14 | ||
| Pos | Team | Player |
| 157 | TEAM 12 | T. Lawrence QB JAC |
| 158 | TEAM 11 | T. Conklin TE NYJ |
| 159 | TEAM 10 | R. Johnson RB CHI |
| 160 | TEAM 9 | A. Estime RB DEN |
| 161 | TEAM 8 | X. Legette WR CAR |
| 162 | TEAM 7 | R. Wilson WR PIT |
| 163 | TEAM 6 | G. Smith QB SEA |
| 164 | TEAM 5 | B. Allen RB NYJ |
| 165 | TEAM 4 | M. Williams WR PIT |
| 166 | TEAM 3 | Q. Johnston WR LAC |
| 167 | TEAM 2 | D. Mooney WR ATL |
| 168 | TEAM 1 | O. Beckham Jr. WR MIA |
| TEAM 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 1 | C. McCaffrey RB SF |
| 2 | 24 | N. Collins WR HOU |
| 3 | 25 | P. Mahomes QB KC |
| 4 | 48 | T. Higgins WR CIN |
| 5 | 49 | D. Kincaid TE BUF |
| 6 | 72 | M. Brown WR KC |
| 7 | 73 | D. Swift RB CHI |
| 8 | 96 | J. Williams RB DEN |
| 9 | 97 | X. Worthy WR KC |
| 10 | 120 | T. Allgeier RB ATL |
| 11 | 121 | T. Lockett WR SEA |
| 12 | 144 | W. Robinson WR NYG |
| 13 | 145 | T. Franklin WR DEN |
| 14 | 168 | O. Beckham Jr. WR MIA |
| TEAM 2 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 2 | C. Lamb WR DAL |
| 2 | 23 | D. Adams WR NYJ |
| 3 | 26 | M. Evans WR TB |
| 4 | 47 | Z. White RB LV |
| 5 | 50 | R. Stevenson RB NE |
| 6 | 71 | C. Stroud QB HOU |
| 7 | 74 | J. Ferguson TE DAL |
| 8 | 95 | D. Singletary RB NYG |
| 9 | 98 | J. Dobbins RB LAC |
| 10 | 119 | B. Corum RB LAR |
| 11 | 122 | J. Palmer WR LAC |
| 12 | 143 | J. Dotson WR PHI |
| 13 | 146 | C. Kmet TE CHI |
| 14 | 167 | D. Mooney WR ATL |
| TEAM 3 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 3 | T. Hill WR MIA |
| 2 | 22 | J. Waddle WR MIA |
| 3 | 27 | J. Cook RB BUF |
| 4 | 46 | J. Hurts QB PHI |
| 5 | 51 | T. McBride TE ARI |
| 6 | 70 | C. Godwin WR TB |
| 7 | 75 | L. McConkey WR LAC |
| 8 | 94 | T. Spears RB TEN |
| 9 | 99 | R. Odunze WR CHI |
| 10 | 118 | Z. Charbonnet RB SEA |
| 11 | 123 | J. Williams WR DET |
| 12 | 142 | R. Dowdle RB DAL |
| 13 | 147 | A. Gibson RB NE |
| 14 | 166 | Q. Johnston WR LAC |
| TEAM 4 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 4 | J. Chase WR CIN |
| 2 | 21 | I. Pacheco RB KC |
| 3 | 28 | D. Achane RB MIA |
| 4 | 45 | A. Kamara RB NO |
| 5 | 52 | A. Cooper WR BUF |
| 6 | 69 | A. Richardson QB IND |
| 7 | 76 | C. Watson WR GB |
| 8 | 93 | B. Bowers TE LV |
| 9 | 100 | Z. Moss RB CIN |
| 10 | 117 | C. Samuel WR BUF |
| 11 | 124 | J. Jeudy WR CLE |
| 12 | 141 | A. Thielen WR CAR |
| 13 | 148 | K. Vidal RB LAC |
| 14 | 165 | M. Williams WR PIT |
| TEAM 5 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 5 | B. Hall RB NYJ |
| 2 | 20 | D. London WR ATL |
| 3 | 29 | B. Aiyuk WR SF |
| 4 | 44 | D. Metcalf WR SEA |
| 5 | 53 | J. Conner RB ARI |
| 6 | 68 | E. Engram TE JAC |
| 7 | 77 | R. Rice WR KC |
| 8 | 92 | T. Benson RB ARI |
| 9 | 101 | R. Doubs WR GB |
| 10 | 116 | D. Wicks WR GB |
| 11 | 125 | T. Chandler RB MIN |
| 12 | 140 | J. Goff QB DET |
| 13 | 149 | C. Williams QB CHI |
| 14 | 164 | B. Allen RB NYJ |
| TEAM 6 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 6 | J. Jefferson WR MIN |
| 2 | 19 | T. Etienne RB JAC |
| 3 | 30 | D. Moore WR CHI |
| 4 | 43 | C. Kupp WR LAR |
| 5 | 54 | A. Jones RB MIN |
| 6 | 67 | G. Kittle TE SF |
| 7 | 78 | B. Robinson Jr. RB WAS |
| 8 | 91 | D. Prescott QB DAL |
| 9 | 102 | C. Sutton WR DEN |
| 10 | 115 | J. McLaughlin RB DEN |
| 11 | 126 | P. Freiermuth TE PIT |
| 12 | 139 | C. Hubbard RB CAR |
| 13 | 150 | J. Downs WR IND |
| 14 | 163 | G. Smith QB SEA |
| TEAM 7 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 7 | B. Robinson RB ATL |
| 2 | 18 | C. Olave WR NO |
| 3 | 31 | D. Samuel WR SF |
| 4 | 42 | J. Jacobs RB GB |
| 5 | 55 | L. Jackson QB BAL |
| 6 | 66 | R. Mostert RB MIA |
| 7 | 79 | C. Ridley WR TEN |
| 8 | 90 | D. Njoku TE CLE |
| 9 | 103 | K. Coleman WR BUF |
| 10 | 114 | D. Goedert TE PHI |
| 11 | 127 | J. Wright RB MIA |
| 12 | 138 | J. Herbert QB LAC |
| 13 | 151 | K. Miller RB NO |
| 14 | 162 | R. Wilson WR PIT |
| TEAM 8 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 8 | A. St. Brown WR DET |
| 2 | 17 | K. Williams RB LAR |
| 3 | 32 | S. LaPorta TE DET |
| 4 | 41 | J. Allen QB BUF |
| 5 | 56 | M. Nabers WR NYG |
| 6 | 65 | J. Brooks RB CAR |
| 7 | 80 | K. Allen WR CHI |
| 8 | 89 | D. Hopkins WR KC |
| 9 | 104 | J. Addison WR MIN |
| 10 | 113 | G. Edwards RB LAC |
| 11 | 128 | T. Hockenson TE MIN |
| 12 | 137 | K. Shakir WR BUF |
| 13 | 152 | J. Polk WR NE |
| 14 | 161 | X. Legette WR CAR |
| TEAM 9 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 9 | A. Brown WR PHI |
| 2 | 16 | D. Henry RB BAL |
| 3 | 33 | J. Mixon RB HOU |
| 4 | 40 | M. Andrews TE BAL |
| 5 | 57 | Z. Flowers WR BAL |
| 6 | 64 | T. Dell WR HOU |
| 7 | 81 | J. Reed WR GB |
| 8 | 88 | J. Warren RB PIT |
| 9 | 105 | J. Love QB GB |
| 10 | 112 | B. Purdy QB SF |
| 11 | 129 | D. Schultz TE HOU |
| 12 | 136 | J. Meyers WR LV |
| 13 | 153 | B. Cooks WR DAL |
| 14 | 160 | A. Estime RB DEN |
| TEAM 10 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 10 | J. Taylor RB IND |
| 2 | 15 | G. Wilson WR NYJ |
| 3 | 34 | R. White RB TB |
| 4 | 39 | M. Pittman WR IND |
| 5 | 58 | S. Diggs WR HOU |
| 6 | 63 | D. Montgomery RB DET |
| 7 | 82 | T. McLaurin WR WAS |
| 8 | 87 | T. Pollard RB TEN |
| 9 | 106 | K. Murray QB ARI |
| 10 | 111 | B. Thomas Jr. WR JAC |
| 11 | 130 | J. Daniels QB WAS |
| 12 | 135 | M. Lloyd RB GB |
| 13 | 154 | H. Henry TE NE |
| 14 | 159 | R. Johnson RB CHI |
| TEAM 11 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 11 | P. Nacua WR LAR |
| 2 | 14 | S. Barkley RB PHI |
| 3 | 35 | T. Kelce TE KC |
| 4 | 38 | G. Pickens WR PIT |
| 5 | 59 | C. Kirk WR JAC |
| 6 | 62 | J. Burrow QB CIN |
| 7 | 83 | D. Johnson WR HOU |
| 8 | 86 | N. Chubb RB CLE |
| 9 | 107 | C. Brown RB CIN |
| 10 | 110 | J. Ford RB CLE |
| 11 | 131 | R. Shaheed WR NO |
| 12 | 134 | E. Mitchell RB SF |
| 13 | 155 | R. Bateman WR BAL |
| 14 | 158 | T. Conklin TE NYJ |
| TEAM 12 | ||
| Rd | Pk | Player |
| 1 | 12 | J. Gibbs RB DET |
| 2 | 13 | M. Harrison Jr. WR ARI |
| 3 | 36 | K. Walker III RB SEA |
| 4 | 37 | D. Smith WR PHI |
| 5 | 60 | K. Pitts TE ATL |
| 6 | 61 | N. Harris RB PIT |
| 7 | 84 | E. Elliott RB LAC |
| 8 | 85 | J. Smith-Njigba WR SEA |
| 9 | 108 | A. Ekeler RB WAS |
| 10 | 109 | T. Tagovailoa QB MIA |
| 11 | 132 | T. Tracy Jr. RB NYG |
| 12 | 133 | B. Irving RB TB |
| 13 | 156 | A. Mitchell WR IND |
| 14 | 157 | T. Lawrence QB JAC |
