2021 College Fantasy Football Mock Draft

Every day I appreciate how fortunate I am to play fantasy sports. In the Seventies and Eighties, I followed MLB and NFL religiously and collected baseball and football cards like millions of other kids. In the early Nineties, I started playing fantasy sports, and 12 years ago, I participated in a college fantasy football league for the first time…my alternative-reality life changed forever.

Now, I have the honor of posting my preseason player rankings, writing player profiles, and hosting the Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft. When I organized the event in 2014, there were very few CFF mock drafts available. I wanted to provide the hobby with a baseline of player value before training camps opened on campuses across the nation.

I invited 11 of the foremost College Fantasy Football All-Americans to partake in the eighth annual Summa Cum Laude Draft. Afterward, all answered three pressing questions for additional insight for readers.

Also check out my latest College Fantasy Football Rankings!

College Fantasy Football provides alternative-reality zealots, NFL Draftniks, and Dynasty and Devy owners a competitive advantage against their opponents. What are you waiting for this summer? Get off the sideline and into the game on Fantrax. We guarantee that you will not regret playing in a CFF league this fall.

2021 Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft:

College Fantasy Football Post-Draft Analysis

The half-point PPR format consisted of the following starting lineup: two quarterbacks, two running backs, three wide receivers, one flex, one tight end, and a team defense. (I am no longer interested in playing with kickers.)

The CFF All-Americans, Twitter accounts: Please follow all 11.

• Nicholas Ian Allen, @CFBWinningEdge
• Mike Bainbridge, @MBainbridgeCFF
• Scott Bogman, @BogmanSports
• Kevin Brown, @KHookEm
• CFFInsiders, @InsiderCff
• Josh Chevalier, @CFFguys
• Eric Froton, @CFFroton
• Mitch Hardt, @aceholesrule
• John Laub, @GridironSchol91
• Nate Marchese, @CFFNate
• Jared Palmgren, @CFF_Jared
• Dwight Peebles, @FFPeeblesChamp

Enjoy my fellow college fantasy football diehards!

Draft Date: June 3, 2021

2021 CFF Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft Analysis

1. What is your 2021 CFF Draft Strategy? Did it work in this draft?

I haven’t had a standard strategy in drafts this year, but most of the time I’ve followed one of two paths. I’ve either drafted a quarterback in the first round or taken wide receivers with my first two picks. I prefer to draft my first quarterback much later. I think there are a few elite signal-callers this year, and lots of very good ones. This time I opted for Matt Corral, Mississippi at No. 3 overall, though I’ve taken David Bell, Purdue in the same spot before.

This was actually the first draft I participated in since I finalized my official rankings, which are based on statistical projections rather than my opinion of individual players. I tried to stick to taking the “best player available” in those rankings. Honestly, I’ve drafted other teams this year I like a lot better than this one.

Nicholas Ian Allen

I rarely have a set strategy entering CFF Drafts. That may sound like blasphemy as a CFF analyst, but the strategy will morph and evolve depending on how the draft is playing out. In a half-point PPR format, I could probably wait on a wide receiver. The running back position is incredibly deep this year, so once I nabbed Bijan Robinson and Xazavian Valladay, I felt that I could wait it out until the latter portion of the draft. And because of that depth at practically every skill position, I had no issue going defense or tight end “relatively” early, landing the best available at each spot. Follow your rankings early and don’t be afraid to take some longshots late that have higher upside.

Mike Bainbridge

My strategy every year is to take receivers early because it’s the position with the most turnover in performance. It kind of worked for me but I like the start that Josh, Eric, and Nate had more than mine because of their wide receiver depth.  

Scott Bogman

Strategy this year is a bit different due to the fact I’m not 100% sold on some of the “elite rushing” playmakers this season. I’ve found myself loading up with running backs and wide receivers until, at the very earliest double-digit rounds, before I start considering quarterbacks. Even in 2-QB leagues. Guys like Jayden Daniels, Arizona State, Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State, and Grant Gunnell, Memphis are all available in the teen rounds. 

Kevin Brown

My strategy is to target wide receivers or quarterbacks early depending on who falls to me. Drafting at the start, I chose to target wide receivers early and was able to snag three of my top 10 (Kayshon Boutte, LSU, Khalil Shakir, Boise State and Josh Downs, UNC) in the first three rounds.

I love the depth at running back so I feel comfortable waiting on ball carriers and was able to grab both Jerome Ford, Cincinnati, and Jalen Berger, Wisconsin below their ADP on Fantrax. 

At quarterback, I decided to target several in the middle rounds that fall in the QB No. 2 range in my personal rankings (D’Eriq King, Miami, Chevan Cordeiro, Hawaii, and Max Duggan, TCU) and then took a flyer on the potential starter 2-in Mike Leach’s system, Will Rogers. If this was a real draft, I would have picked Jack Abraham at the very end to ensure the QB No. 1 for Leach this year. Overall, I was pleased with the results of this draft.

Joshua Chevalier

My strategy was to try and acquire a top-five quarterback to fill my QB No. 1 spot, then take skill players for the next several selections and wait to see which QB No. 2s that I favor slip to the double-digit rounds. Wait until after Round 10 on tight ends since we only start one in this format, and the TE class is as deep as I can remember.

Eric Froton

The objective we have chosen to pursue in any draft is to attack value on the board rather than focus on need. Having Camerun Peoples, Appalachian State as a third option at running back speaks to how well this approach worked. This year’s quarterback class also allows for quality depth in the later rounds, and we passed on some of the more top-of-the-line quarterbacks. It paid off nicely.

CFF Insider

My strategy for 2021 remains the same. Pick guys who get touches! My results last night would likely garner a grade of B when it comes to this strategy, as picking from the first slot is certainly not my favorite. My selections of Ronnie Rivers, Fresno State, and Leddie Brown, West Virginia at the Round 2-3 elbow were solid strategy picks. Both get the ball a ton and “fit my mold” better than Jamyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech five picks later. Travell Harris, Washington State could be a PPR-machine this year, and getting him in Round 6 was a very nice surprise. Pick guys that get the ball….it really is that easy!

Mitch Hardt

Twitterverse on Fire!

At quarterback, Who Ya Got as a mid-round value based on early CFF ADP by @CFF_Jared.

• Jeff Sims, Georgia Tech: 13.6%
• Michael Penix, Jr., Indiana: 36.4%
• Phil Jurkovec, Boston College: 43.9%
• Other, post below: 6.1%

“I find myself constantly looking for Jurkovec in the mid-rounds. Great value there!” @CFF_Jared

 “If he can stay healthy, Michael Penix, Jr. is soooo intriguing. He lit Ohio State up last year.” @CffNation

 “Phil Jurkovec for me.” @SportsfanaticMB

With the eighth pick overall, I sought to start my team by double tapping at the quarterback position. I wanted to acquire two of my Top Ten signal-callers for weekly high-end production, and hopefully, ignite an early run at the position. It did not happen. I could not pass up selecting two of my Top Ten running backs: Sincere McCormick, UTSA, and Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M. 

In the next two rounds, I acquired two quarterbacks (Sam Howell, UNC, and Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati) who rank among my Top Twelve signal-callers. I like to draft at least one dual-threat playmaker, and Ridder has rushed for over 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns in three seasons. Of course, my receivers are not a strong unit at the top but I have a lot of depth. With eight wideouts on the roster, I just need four to become high-end scorers. 

John Laub

 My plan was to wait on selecting a quarterback a handful of rounds and load up on running backs and wide receivers early. Not necessarily a punt on quarterback, but more of a delay at the position. I didn’t take a signal-caller until Rounds 4 and 10, which is later than I normally will go in a 2-QB CFF draft. I also wanted to wait on acquiring a tight end as I think it is a deep group. 

I would say it went average at best. My quarterbacks are just okay. A few of the running backs and wide receivers I wanted were sniped from me, so it didn’t leave me feeling as satisfied with those spots as I would have liked given my strategy. However, I do feel waiting on tight ends worked out just fine. I got two of my Top 10 TEs while I was one of the last owners to select one.

Nathan Marchese

The draft strategy I’ve grown comfortable with this offseason has been to aim for a wide receiver in the mid-late first round, and then build my team. Receiver is the position I’ve found where the top tiers dry up the quickest, so getting one in the first two rounds has become a must in drafts. In this exercise, however, I was seated at the 1.02, and Breece Hall, Iowa State was going to be my pick. He was the best fantasy player available. 

I didn’t feel confident enough to grab David Bell, Purdue with the second selection, and count on a great quarterback or running back to pair with him at the tail end of the second. Thus, I had to change my draft strategy from the very beginning. I had to uncover ways to find value at wideout, which I did. I felt my starting wide receiver core of Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama, Justin Hall, Ball State, and Jordan Addison, Pittsburgh was more than enough to support me.

As I hinted at before, my greatest challenge was picking so close to the turn. While having picks close to each other was nice if I was aiming to grab two players I really wanted, it was not balanced out by the 20 picks I’d have to wait between my odd- and even-round selections. 

In those long waits, I found myself on the tail end of both tight end and defensive team runs that started well after I’d made my last pick. I lost out on value at both of those positions, especially since they were being taken earlier in this draft than they’d typically been. Overall, I felt this wasn’t my best roster constructed, and I definitely need to work on my flexibility during drafts when picks don’t come my way.

Jared Palmgren

I sought one of the top three quarterbacks but ended up going for high college production at the position from small school guys instead. I acquired really strong production from David Bell, Purdue, Kyren Williams, Notre Dame, Tyler Allgeier, BYU and Zay Flowers, Boston College, and thought it afforded me a lot to do. Strategy evades me: tend to go with the flow and let the board dictate player value and selections.  

Dwight Peebles

2021 CFF Fearless Forecast

2. Identify your top sleeper candidate this season.

The top sleeper on my squad might be Central Michigan running back Kobe Lewis. He was often a first-round pick in 2020 and had three 100-yard performances in his first four games, but lost ground to Lew Nichols, III toward the end of the year. He’ll still split carries with Nichols, but I’m surprised Lewis has dropped so much since he still led the Chippewas in carries and touchdowns. I have him ranked higher than Nichols, for what it’s worth, and think he’s a great value in Round 11. Elsewhere, Georgia State QB Cornelius Brown, IV is one of my favorites. I think the Panthers will be a lot of fun to watch, and Brown has huge upside.

Nicholas Ian Allen

I was on the WR Elijah Canion, Auburn train back in February and not going to stop now. After seeing minimal snaps as a freshman during the regular season, the 6-foot-4 wideout saw extended time in the Bowl game versus Northwestern and rewarded the coaching staff with 80 yards and a TD. Canion then followed that up with another touchdown in the team’s spring game, leading to many projecting him as the WR No. 1. 

No matter how you slice it, whether looking at new head coach Bryan Harsin or offensive coordinator Mike Bobo over the years, the top target typically puts up big-time numbers in their systems. As of now, that projects to be Canion.

Mike Bainbridge

The Scholar’s All-Summa Cum Laude Waiver Wire Team

QB Michael Penix, Jr., Indiana

QB Tyler Shough, Texas Tech

RB Re’Mahn Davis, Vanderbilt

RB Rahjai Harris, ECU

RB Keaontay Ingram, USC

WR Victor Tucker, Charlotte

WR Donavon Greene, Wake Forest

WR Parker Washington, Penn State

TE Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State

I like QB Frank Harris, UTSA. He’s had some injury issues, but last season in his first two games, he scored 33 and 37 points and finished the season with two games over 30 points.  He has established starters coming back in RB Sincere McCormick, WRs Joshua Cephus and Zakahri Franklin, and TE Leroy Watson. He’s worth a flier late, or in the last round, as I selected him.

Scott Bogman

RB Tre Henderson, Ohio State: I have a feeling by mid-season that Henderson will be, at the very worst, a 50/50 split with Master Teague in the Buckeyes’ backfield. Henderson likely gets the passing-down work. So I’ll take the late-round upside in the hopes he can take the lead role.

Kevin Brown

I wanted to choose a sleeper who wasn’t taken in the Summa Cum Laude Mock Draft: Toledo QB Carter Bradley. Bradley has barely raised a blip on the CFF radar screen this offseason after 2020 starter Eli Peters retired due to a medical hardship, which is interesting considering how powerful the Toledo offense could be this year. 

In the truncated 2020 season, Toledo quietly averaged 326 passing yards per game, ninth-most in the nation. Additionally, the Rockets averaged 35 points per game, a mark that is trending up as they return 95% of their team production from 2020, the third-highest returning production percentage in the country. All three of Toledo’s top wideouts return, as well as six offensive linemen who have started at least seven games in their collegiate career.

Bradley will battle sophomore Dequan Finn for starting duties in 2021. When he was given the starting reins in the last two games of the season, Bradley threw for 697 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions while leading Toledo to victories over CMU and NIU to close out 2020 on a high note. Bradley was clearly the preferred option for coach Jason Candle last season, as Finn threw only one pass all season. Finn’s cost of acquisition is minuscule and should obviously be heavily prioritized in the later rounds of CFF Dynasty and 14+ team leagues with deep rosters as a handcuff to Bradley. 

It’s not going to cost you much additional draft capital to keep your house in order and possibly strike gold on a weekly QB No. 2-3. The MAC entered an offensive renaissance last year behind quarterbacks Drew Plitt, Ball State, Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan, Preston Hutchinson, Eastern Michigan, and Dustin Crum, Kent State. Bradley has the potential to have his name mentioned alongside these potent Mid-American signal-callers by year’s end.

Eric Froton

I’m a big fan of RB Don Chaney, Miami this year. Miami OC Rhett Lashlee has made it clear that he wants to have a feature ball carrier who gets 20-25 touches per game. All the reports out of the spring were that Don Chaney was on his way to being the guy until he tweaked his shoulder in the second scrimmage of spring ball. He had shoulder surgery but is projected to be ready for Week 1 versus Alabama. If he is healthy, look for Chaney to have a big year.

Joshua Chevalier

From our team, QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland is the player we like the most as a sleeper. Tagovailoa is a player you can get whenever you want and has a favorable skillset in CFF. Maryland added WR Marcus Flemming from Nebraska, and the Terrapins face the most favorable schedule they’ve had in years.

CFF Insider

Running Backs are normally my top sleepers and this year is no different. While I missed out on my top sleeper RB Chris Smith ULL, (guess people are not sleeping on him anymore), I did snag another one, Marcus Williams, Jr., Louisiana Tech. Marcus left a crowded stable of backs at Appalachian State and found a nice landing spot for runners. He led all players in rushing during the spring game, and the offense really sputtered until they focused on Williams. Coach Holtz knows how to ride hot backs and this year will be no different. I picked Williams in Round 13, and he could easily outpoint backs drafted in Rounds 5 and 6.

Mitch Hardt

Twitterverse on Fire!

At running back, Who Ya Got as a mid-round value based on early CFF ADP by @CFF_Jared.

• Chris Smith, Louisiana-Lafayette: 37%
• Jo’Quavious Marks, Miss. State: 9.3%
• Frank Gore, Jr., Southern Mississippi: 51.9%
• Other, post below: 1.9%

“Chris Smith looks to be more explosive than Mitchell or Ragas and will be inheriting a large chunk of their carries! Could be a potential league winner here in the mid-rounds!” @CFF_Jared

“Love Frank Gore Jr’s upside, but Chris Smith in that system with that O-line…money in the bank.” @CffNation

QB Michael Pratt is an afterthought in most College Fantasy Football drafts: Do not make the same gaffe as many CFF fanatics. As a freshman last year, the Tulane dual-threat signal-caller started nine games and tossed at least one touchdown pass in every contest he played while completing multiple touchdowns eight times. Among true freshmen, he led the nation with 20 aerial strikes. Pratt also added 229 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on the ground.

Pratt is determined to improve on the gridiron and as a leader in 2021 “…just really being the best that I can be. I’m trying to push at least 35 touchdowns. Some huge things I’m trying to accomplish. Really offseason goals right now are just to push our team,” stated the Green Wave sophomore in the offseason (fox8live.com). Pratt owns the skills to reach his 35 total touchdown goal in 2021. I am scooping up as many shares as possible in CFF drafts.

John Laub

I think of a “sleeper” as anyone being undervalued in drafts, no matter where they are going. Eric Froton selected a couple of guys I view as sleepers when he took DeWayne McBride, UAB in Round 6 and Chris Smith, ULL in Round 7. Both take over in perennial RB-producing offenses with major vacancies. As running backs No. 26 and No. 32 in this draft, that’s too sleepy for me.

Nathan Marchese

My sleeper candidate this season has been QB Jayden Daniels, Arizona State. Many were disappointed in last year’s performance during a shortened season. However, the Sun Devils were one of many programs affected disproportionately last year by COVID. Without a full spring practice and a muted fall camp, Daniels was not given the opportunity to develop chemistry with a very young and green wide receiver core outside of Frank Darby, who would go on to be injured most of the season. 

Arizona State was forced to rely on their run game, which saw Rachaad White and Chip Trayanum break out; however, Daniel’s rushing ability was finally put to use with 33 attempts in four games. The junior earned 223 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, which was good for 6.8 yards per carry. If his rushing ability continues to be used, and Daniels is given the full offseason to develop chemistry with young receivers such as LV Bunkley-Shelton and Elijah Badger, he’ll be more than an asset for your fantasy team.

Jared Palmgren

Where he is going, WR Chris Autman-Bell, Minnesota is so valuable and in a spot to be one of the top-producing wideouts in college football. Minnesota should rebound, and Autman-Bell is going to see a ton of targets. I selected him in the eighth, that’s criminal in my opinion!

Dwight Peebles

3. Select one player who becomes a weekly CFF starter drafted in the 10th round or later not on your roster.

QB Cornelius “Quad” Brown, IV, Georgia State was a Round 13 selection, so he fits here. Nevertheless, I think WR Jordan Whittington, Texas might have an easier path. Given the performance of Alabama receivers under Steve Sarkisian, it’s easy to project Texas producing at least one CFF superstar at the position. If Whittington has the inside track to the most targets, and that seems to be the current belief among many, he will put up numbers far, far better than his Round 15 selection.

Nicholas Ian Allen

It’s becoming increasingly evident that people do not realize the success of running back No. 1s under head coach Scott Satterfield, because if that were the case, Jalen Mitchell would not be lasting until Round 16 as he fell into Josh Chevalier’s lap. A 1,000-yard rusher in every season between 2014-2019 and that streak would have continued into last year had it not been for Javian Hawkins opting out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Mitchell came out of spring ball with rave reviews from the coaching staff. He enters the summer as the clear-cut starter. Don’t forget he finished last year with a 168-yard performance in the finale versus Wake Forest so we have proven evidence he is capable.

Mike Bainbridge

I really like RB Zach Evans, TCU, who Kevin took in Round 10. He’s a 5-star recruit who should get the bulk of the carries for the Horned Frogs. Evans averaged 7.7 yards per carry last season, and fellow running back Darwin Barlow who out carried him last year entered the transfer portal.

Scott Bogman

The top sleeper for me this season is going to be freshman WR Agiye Hall, Alabama. He was very involved in the spring game. At 6’3” and 195-pounds, he’s got the size, and what seems like, a clear path to targets with both Smith and Waddle in the NFL. 

Kevin Brown

RB Kimani Vidal, Troy is a player I see falling in most drafts that I think could be a weekly CFF starter. As a true freshman, he had a great year, averaging 24 touches per game over his final three outings. He also logged 20 receptions over that span. I expect him to carry that late-season success into this season as the potential focal point of the Troy offense.

Joshua Chevalier

There were some excellent quarterback values in the later portions of the draft. Phil Jurkovec, Clayton Tune, Jeff Sims, Kaleb Eleby, and Tanner Mordecai could all start the majority of the games for their respective owners. For skill position players, J’Shaun Poke, Kent St. has the potential to be an elite weekly receiver option for the low price of a late 13th-round selection.

Eric Froton

RB David Bailey, Colorado State went off the board for the first time this offseason in any draft we’ve participated in. He did so in Round 11. Bailey’s reconnection with Steve Addazio instantly made him startable, and if he can return to his 2019 form, he’s looking like a Top-15 option at the position.

CFF Insider

My late-round player who could be a starter is QB Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan. Eleby actually averaged more than my early quarterback No. 2 Carson Strong. This let me know that I should have waited on QB No. 2 and picked an additional wide receiver instead, ie. Jalen Cropper, Fresno State or Justyn Ross, Clemson for instance. 

Back to Eleby, who is SHINING in practice. Coming off of an 18:2 TD:INT ratio, the coaches are raving about his progress; even allowing him to call some of his own plays during the scrimmage. He averaged 30 points a game last year and will eclipse that this season. As with many in the MAC, September will be tough as those squads face tough opponents early. Once the calendar hits October it will be smoooooooth sailing for Eleby. Draft him and tell me your stories on how he carried you to the title!

Mitch Hardt

Twitterverse on Fire!

At wide receiver, Who Ya Got as a mid-round value based on early CFF ADP by @CFF_Jared.

• Danny Gray, SMU: 53.3%
• Bo Melton, Rutgers: 15.6%
• Andrew Parchment, Florida State: 22.2%
• Other, post below: 8.9%

“Can Gray hold up after the injury? Love Melton but had to go with Parchment. I think QB McKenzie Milton brings CFF relevance to FSU’s passing game. Parchment should be a constant beneficiary of it.” @CffNation

“None of those three really speak to me. Knowing some of the others going in that range, give me Sam Pinckney, Georgia St, or the No. 1 receiver for Ole Miss this upcoming year, Braylon Sanders!” @CFF_Jared

“I like UNC WR Josh Downs.” @rstern33

In 2007, the Scarlet Knights played in the Big East, which was a long time ago, and Ray Rice was the last impactful Rutgers’ college fantasy football player I can remember.  Therefore, I have not been in the business of targeting Rutgers’ playmakers over the past decade. Yet, WR Bo Melton will ascend up fantasy depth charts in 2021. Currently, Melton comes off the board around overall pick 150 in CFF drafts, which is a tremendous value. Last year, he snatched 47 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. Melton led the club in receiving seven times and averaged over 70 yards per game.

At 5’11” and 195-pounds, Melton returned for a fifth season on campus, benefiting from the NCAA blanket rule. “I speak for our entire staff and program, we’re thrilled…what makes me even more excited? He (Melton) is one of the hardest workers on our team. So, when your best players are your hardest workers, as a head coach, you’ve got something cooking,” coach Greg Schiano proclaimed in the offseason (app.com). Astute CFF diehards are also pumped that the Rutgers’ star returns for another crusade.

John Laub

Jared Palmgren took WR Jordan Whittington, Texas a couple selections before Round 15. I was really eyeballing him there. The Longhorns’ receiver is really good value for a guy that Sark is talking up as the wideout picking up his system the best. If he stays healthy and is able to fend off Jake Smith, Whittington has a chance to shine in a historically high-producing position.

Nathan Marchese

This one comes from some recent transfer news: I believe that grabbing RB David Bailey, Colorado St will be an investment that can grow into a weekly point producer for CFF fantasy teams. Bailey followed his previous coach, Steve Addazio, from Boston College to Colorado State. During Addazio’s tenure at BC, when he identified a workhorse back, he found ways to get them the ball. In Addazio’s last three years in Boston, the lead back averaged 24, 17, and 23 carries per game. The projected usage provides an extremely nice floor in fantasy.

Bailey enrolled at Colorado State in the hopes of being that workhorse back for the Rams this year. If Bailey succeeds, which I believe he will, since the other options on campus are uninspiring, he’ll be somebody you’ll start every single week!

Jared Palmgren

I missed drafting WR Tahj Washington, USC and he is going to bring a new element to the Trojans’ passing game. I loved the transfer to Los Angeles, and Washington is going to be a weekly starter.

Dwight Peebles

Mock Draft Results

You can sort through all 17 rounds of the draft by clicking NEXT at the bottom right of the table.

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