Ezekiel Elliott heads up a 2018 mock fantasy draft

Continuing our look into the future, we look at what a re-draft draft could look like in 2018. This mock is based even less on facts and more on theory than our 2017 re-draft mock draft. The chances of career-altering injuries go up, progression and regression go deeper. And that's all before taking into account the unknowns of a free agency period and draft that will be held two years from now. As last time, the particulars are three rounds in a standard 12-team league with a flex and four points for passing touchdowns. Next year’s draft-eligible players are ranked and drafted based on where they were selected to go in Steve Palazzolo’s 2017 mock draft; the 2018 rookies are placed based on conjecture.

The top of the 2018 mock draft doesn’t look that dissimilar to 2017. Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley could easily be ranked 1 and 1A for a few years. There are also old favorites David Johnson and Odell Beckham Jr. Eight running backs were taken in the first round, one more than the 2017 mock, and there are several new names, including ever more 2017 rookies. This pushed several veterans and current first-round picks down to the second and third rounds. Only one player combined from the quarterback and tight end positions appear in the draft, and that’s Rob Gronkowski, who should hold his value into 2018. It’s debatable at best if another tight end could come along to rival Gronk’s production. At quarterback, the gap between the first, second and even third tiers that far down the road is so close, it doesn’t make sense to take one this early when there’s still plenty of WR1s and potential RB1s still available.

First Round

1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys (23) — As mentioned above, Elliott and Gurley could easily flip-flop in this spot for the foreseeable future. However, I’m giving a slight edge to Elliott, who will have two NFL seasons of NFL experience behind him but less wear and tear than Gurley. One or two pieces might be missing from the Cowboys’ current dominant offensive line, but it won't make enough of a difference to keep Elliott down.
   
   

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