The Beginner’s Guide to Fantasy Football Mock Drafts: Practice Like a Pro
Are you getting ready for fantasy football season? Want to crush draft day instead of guessing your picks? The best thing you can do before the real draft is to run a fantasy football mock draft.
A mock draft is a practice draft. It’s where you try different strategies, pick players in different rounds, and see what works. And yes—it’s free, fast, and fun.
Even expert fantasy players do several mock drafts before the real season begins. Why? Because it’s the best way to understand draft trends, player values, and your own comfort zone.
Whether you’re playing for cash or just bragging rights with friends, this beginner-friendly guide will teach you everything you need to know. By the end, you’ll feel confident, focused, and fully prepared to tackle your real fantasy draft like a champion.
Let’s jump in!
What Is a Fantasy Football Mock Draft?
A fantasy football mock draft is a test run for your real fantasy football draft. It’s practice. You build a team by drafting players, round by round, based on where you think they’ll perform best. But the results don’t count. Think of it like a warm-up before a big game.
Mock drafts let you try out strategies. You can see how your team looks if you grab two running backs early or wait on a quarterback. You get to experiment without stress. And when draft day comes? You’ll feel much more confident.
You can do mock drafts any time, multiple times, and on your own schedule. The more you practice, the better your odds of building a strong, balanced team that can win your league.
Why Mock Drafting Is a Must-Have Step
Imagine showing up on draft day without knowing what to expect. That’s like jumping into a game with no rules! A fantasy football mock draft gives you the experience you need.
You’ll know:
- When different players are usually taken
- How to adjust if someone grabs your favorite sleeper
- Which positions run out the quickest
- How your draft spot shapes the entire draft
Mock drafts are also a great place to make mistakes. Drafted a kicker too early? Passed on a key quarterback? No worry! It’s only practice. You learn, adjust, and improve every time.
By draft day, you’ll not only be ready—you’ll be ahead of most of your league.
How a Fantasy Football Mock Draft Works
A fantasy football mock draft works just like a real draft. You pick your spot in the order, and when it’s your turn, you select one player from the remaining options. Everyone else does the same until all teams are full.
Here’s what the typical process looks like:
- Pick a fantasy platform (like ESPN, Yahoo, Sleeper, or FantasyPros).
- Choose your mock draft settings (number of teams, scoring settings, position rules).
- Join a room with other users or bots.
- Start drafting round by round.
- Review your final roster and team score.
Each mock helps you understand draft patterns, ADP (Average Draft Position), and roster depth.
Want to learn fast? Do multiple mocks from different draft spots. It’ll feel like second nature soon.
Best Free Sites and Apps for Mock Drafting
You don’t need to spend money to get better. Here are the top free places to do a fantasy football mock draft today:
ESPN Fantasy Football
Trusted and easy to use. Great for beginners and veterans.
Yahoo Fantasy Sports
Helpful draft notes on every pick. Mobile-friendly, too.
Sleeper App
Modern interface, exciting features, and seamless group mocks for leagues.
FantasyPros Draft Simulator
Fastest way to run many mocks. You draft against computer-ranked experts.
NFL Fantasy
Official platform of the league. Simple layout and intuitive tools.
Try all of them. Each tool can help sharpen a new skill. Plus, some are better for mobile, while others are richer in expert analytics.
Always Match Your Mock to Your Real League’s Rules
Doing a mock draft with random settings won’t help much. You need to mimic your actual league rules. Otherwise, it’s like training in the wrong game.
What to check:
- Scoring system: Standard, Half-PPR, or Full PPR?
- Roster format: Are you starting 2 WRs, 2 RBs, 1 FLEX, or more?
- Superflex or 2QB setups: That makes quarterbacks more valuable.
- Bench size: Larger benches change your draft depth.
- Number of teams: 10-team leagues are very different from 14-team leagues.
Before starting a fantasy football mock draft, match your league’s settings. That way, your practice is meaningful—and your real draft will feel familiar.
Draft Spot Matters More Than You Think
Where you draft in the order shapes your whole team. So mock drafting from different spots gives you a big edge.
Early Picks (1–4):
You’ll likely land a superstar like Christian McCaffrey or Ja’Marr Chase.
Middle Picks (5–8):
Balanced choices. You can build smart without missing key players.
Late Picks (9–12):
Back-to-back picks give you great control, but top-tier talent might be gone early.
Running a fantasy football mock draft from multiple spots shows how different each round can feel. Master picks from every angle—so when draft night comes, you’re ready for anything.
Popular Draft Strategies to Test in Your Mock Drafts
One of the best things about a mock draft is strategy practice. You can try new tricks, find patterns that work, and learn what feels right for your style.
Here are a few strategies to test during your fantasy football mock draft sessions:
- Zero RB: Skip RBs early. Load up on elite WRs and pass-catching TEs.
- RB-RB: Lock down two strong RBs first. Forget chasing later.
- Late-Round QB: Wait on quarterbacks and focus on RB/WR depth.
- Hero RB: Grab one elite RB early, then stack WRs.
- Best Player Available: No plan—just value each round.
Mock drafts help you fine-tune your approach. What sounds great on paper might not feel right until you try it.
What Is Average Draft Position (ADP)?
ADP, or Average Draft Position, tells you when a player is usually picked in fantasy drafts. Sites calculate it based on thousands of real and mock drafts.
If Tee Higgins has an ADP of 40, it means he’s typically drafted around pick 40.
Why it matters in a fantasy football mock draft:
- Avoid reaching: Don’t draft a player 25 spots too early.
- Find value: Sometimes great players drop below their ADP.
- Plan ahead: Know who might be gone before your next pick.
ADP is easy to follow—and very helpful. Most mock draft sites show it on the draft board for every round.
Don’t Ignore Bench Strength
Some people stop trying after building their starters. Big mistake.
Injuries happen. Bye weeks happen. Poor performances? Oh, they definitely happen.
That’s why bench picks matter just as much as your top few rounds.
Use your fantasy football mock draft to balance safe depth with exciting upside. Draft solid backups. Grab high-upside rookies late. Secure handcuffs if your RB is injury-prone.
One good bench player can win you a matchup when starters are out.
Know the Risks: Common Mock Draft Mistakes
Anyone can do a mock, but not everyone learns from them. Avoiding these mistakes can help you grow:
- Auto-picking often: Always try to think through each selection.
- Reaching too far: Trust ADP unless you have a valid reason.
- Only drafting your favorite team’s players: Fantasy is about performance, not loyalty.
- Not checking bye weeks or depth: You may end up unprepared mid-season.
- Ignoring position tiers: There’s a steep drop at some positions.
Mock wisely. Make every draft you do count.
Practice Drafting With Real People
Mock drafts with bots are fast, but they don’t react like real humans. Try joining real public mock drafts with live people.
Real drafters:
- Make surprising picks
- Cause position runs
- Force you to improvise
That’s more like the real thing. Try doing at least a few fantasy football mock drafts against live opponents to improve under pressure.
Better yet, run a mock with your actual league members. You’ll learn their tendencies—and their favorite sleepers.
Real Example: One of My Mock Drafts (PPR, 12 Teams)
To give you a real taste, here’s how I drafted in one mock from the 6th position (Full PPR):
- Round 1: Bijan Robinson
- Round 2: Garrett Wilson
- Round 3: Travis Etienne
- Round 4: Christian Watson
- Round 5: Lamar Jackson
- Round 6: George Pickens
- Bench: Samaje Perine, Zay Flowers, Nico Collins
What I learned: I needed more RB depth and reached early for Watson. But I loved the balance. In the next mock, I shifted strategy based on that experience. And that’s the point—you learn, adjust, and get better every time.
Review Your Draft and Take Notes
When your mock draft ends, don’t just exit. Use it to improve.
Ask yourself:
- Did I balance positions well?
- Who were the best value picks?
- Where did I waste value or reach too far?
- Which rounds were hardest to navigate?
Keep a few notes on what worked and what didn’t. Over time, these lessons prepare you for the real draft—and the real wins that follow.
FAQs
- How many mock drafts should I do before my real draft?
Aim for 5–10 well-planned mocks. Focus on quality over quantity. - Are fantasy football mock drafts free?
Yes! All major platforms offer free mock drafts anytime. - How long does a fantasy football mock draft take?
Most take 10–30 minutes depending on the number of teams and live participants. - Is it better to mock draft with real users or bots?
Real users. They offer more realistic competition and unpredictability. - Do mock draft results affect my real team?
No. They’re for practice only. A fantasy football mock draft doesn’t carry over. - How do I know if my mock draft went well?
Review your roster balance, bye weeks, and position depth—not just the score or grade.
Conclusion
A fantasy football mock draft is more than just practice. It’s your secret weapon. It gives you insight, builds your confidence, and shows you how to win before the season even starts.
Don’t let draft day sneak up on you. Jump into a few mock drafts today. Try new strategies. Test different positions. Learn what works and what doesn’t. By doing mock drafts now, you’ll be ahead of your competition later.
So what are you waiting for? Start a mock draft today, and get ready to dominate your fantasy football league. And when you’re done, come back and share your team—I’d love to see what you come up with!
