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Fantasy football: The ideal mock draft for 2018

By Chris Wilson

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams leaps over Bashaud Breeland #26 of the Washington Redskins before scoring a touchdown during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams leaps over Bashaud Breeland #26 of the Washington Redskins before scoring a touchdown during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Fantasy Football 2018 mock draft
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 18: Running back David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals scores a seven yard touchdown against cornerback B.W. Webb #28 of the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter of the NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Round 1: RB David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

If you can, grab one of the four top running backs — Gurley, Le’Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott or David Johnson — because there’s a significant drop-off after the first RB tier. After these four established runners, you have group of rookie and second-year players with less experience, and more questions surrounding them in 2018.

The only questions surrounding the top tier is their ability to stay on the field. Provided they steer clear of injuries, suspensions or holdouts, these four have defined three-down roles with no real competition at the position.

You could instead go with a stud wideout at pick No. 5, but then you’re stuck with a Christian McCaffrey-type running back — if you’re lucky — with your next selection, while a number of top wide receivers will still be on the board. If you go WR-WR with your first two picks, you’re entering dangerous territory, as you’ll likely end up with a back like Derrick Henry or Alex Collins as your RB1.

With our first pick, we try to block out how badly his injury-shortened season burned us last year, and then select dual-threat running back David Johnson, of the Arizona Cardinals.