Fantasy Football Picks 2016: 2-Round Mock Draft and Top Players to Grab Early

Fantasy football feels strange this year with Calvin Johnson gone.

Alas, the fantasy realm goes on, swapping out names like Megatron for the next generation, one headed up by DeAndre Hopkins and Todd Gurley.

The key to fighting through the minefield that is the first round of fantasy drafts isn’t easy to figure out. Injury concerns (Jamaal Charles), usage questions (Ezekiel Elliott) and names that are new to the scene make it an uphill battle.

Below, let’s mock out how a typical standard draft should unfold. Rather than rehash guys such as Antonio Brown and Adrian Peterson, let’s look at some of the newer top players to draft early, as fans will need to keep up with the power transition of the league to stand a chance. 

   

Top Players to Draft Early Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams 

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One could go on for days about how Peterson will still be a workhorse in Minnesota or throw around theoretical usage rates for Elliott in Dallas despite his rookie status.

Gurley, though, seems like the closest thing fantasy owners have to a sure thing at running back.

The No. 10 pick in the 2015 draft is the reason why many have hopes for Elliott. Gurley played in only 13 games last year but finished fifth among running backs in scoring, going for double-digit output in 10 games.

A bruiser of a back, Gurley averaged 4.8 yards per carry on his way to 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. This year seems like it will be even better, too, which Gurley isn’t shy about …

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