We haven't talked much about Rob Gronkowski so far in our recent mock drafts, but he remains a prominent figure in the first round in the majority of leagues. And in this 12-team PPR mock draft, he went at No. 3 overall.

Now, some of you might consider that too soon, which is understandable. He doesn't have Tom Brady for the first four games of the season because of his suspension, and the Patriots added some new weapons in Martellus Bennett and Chris Hogan to go with Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Dion Lewis, which means more mouths to feed.

We also could see better play from tight ends around the league this season with Jordan Reed, Greg Olsen, Coby Fleener and possibly Ladarius Green, among others, closing the gap on Gronkowski as the best player at his position. It's also potentially risky to draft him ahead of Julio Jones, which happened here (Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham went first and second overall), and you can argue that DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green are better options as well.

But if you want Gronkowski, who I still consider the best tight end by far and the best option in this New England passing game, then you draft him when available. And for Will Brinson, that was at No. 3.

Will filled out his team with Carson Palmer at quarterback, Carlos Hyde and Thomas Rawls at running back, Jarvis Landry and Demaryius Thomas at receiver and Duke Johnson as his flex, with Gronkowski. His bench consists of Kenyan Drake, Christine Michael, Darren Sproles, Michael Crabtree, Devin Funchess and Mohamed Sanu.

I didn't love the Landry pick in Round 2 (Mike Evans and Brandin Cooks were available), but Will's starting lineup is solid in this format if Hyde and Rawls can play 16 games. And he has the best tight end in the NFL, which should give him an advantage over most other owners.

I picked at No. 10 overall, and I expected to take a receiver in the first round, which happened with Dez Bryant. And then I gambled on Ezekiel Elliott in Round 2 even though he's dealing with a hamstring injury.

The time to panic on Elliott will be if he's still out for the third preseason game, which is three weeks from now, but the Cowboys expect him back well before then. And don't be afraid to take two stud players on the same team, even with early-round picks.

Remember last year, Devonta Freeman and Jones for the Falcons and Brown and DeAngelo Williams for the Steelers were top-five players at their positions in Fantasy points. The same could easily happen with Bryant and Elliott.

I filled out my roster with Eli Manning at quarterback, Elliott and C.J. Anderson at running back, Bryant and Sammy Watkins at receiver, Fleener at tight end and Michael Floyd at flex. My bench is Charles Sims, DeAndre Washington, Kenneth Dixon, Karlos Williams, Sterling Shepard and Michael Thomas.

Waiting for a quarterback like Manning can pay huge dividends, and this receiving corps should be excellent if Watkins is healthy. He's expected to return to practice this week, and if that happens then he'll move up my rankings. I also love the upside for guys like Shepard and Thomas.

Fleener is my favorite mid-round tight end to target, and I expect him to finish as a top-five option. And my running backs should do well if Elliott is healthy and Anderson rebounds from last year's down season. So far, all the reports are positive. There's also plenty of upside in PPR leagues for Sims and Washington.

I wanted to handcuff Anderson with Devontae Booker in Round 11, but George Maselli drafted Booker in Round 10. We'll see if that move comes back to haunt me, but otherwise I'm pleased with this roster.

In this league, all touchdowns are worth six points, and we award one point for every 10 yards rushing and receiving and one point for every 25 yards passing. We also have one point for every reception. We feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST and a FLEX (RB/WR/TE). There will also be six reserve spots for a 15-round draft.

Our draft order is as follows:

  1. Joe Polito, Social Media Coordinator
  2. Ryan Bass, Video Host
  3. Will Brinson, NFL Writer
  4. Nick Kostos, Video Host
  5. George Maselli, Editor
  6. Matthew Coca, College Football Analyst
  7. Michael Long, Video Producer
  8. Meron Berkson, Video Producer
  9. R.J. White, NFL Editor
  10. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
  11. Chris Towers, Fantasy Writer
  12. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
Mock Draft Results
Round by Round
Round 1
PickTeamPlayer
1PolitoAntonio Brown, WR, PIT
2BassOdell Beckham, WR, NYG
3BrinsonRob Gronkowski, TE, NE
4KostosJulio Jones, WR, ATL
5MaselliDavid Johnson, RB, ARI
6CocaTodd Gurley, RB, LAR
7LongCam Newton, QB, CAR
8BerksonDeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU
9WhiteA.J. Green, WR, CIN
10EisenbergDez Bryant, WR, DAL
11TowersLamar Miller, RB, HOU
12RichardAdrian Peterson, RB, MIN
Round 2
PickTeamPlayer
13RichardJordy Nelson, WR, GB
14TowersJamaal Charles, RB, KC
15EisenbergEzekiel Elliott, RB, DAL
16WhiteAllen Robinson, WR, JAC
17BerksonAlshon Jeffery, WR, CHI
18LongAmari Cooper, WR, OAK
19CocaLe'Veon Bell, RB, PIT
20MaselliKeenan Allen, WR, SD
21KostosBrandon Marshall, WR, NYJ
22BrinsonJarvis Landry, WR, MIA
23BassMike Evans, WR, TB
24PolitoDevonta Freeman, RB, ATL
Round 3
PickTeamPlayer
25PolitoRandall Cobb, WR, GB
26BassBrandin Cooks, WR, NO
27BrinsonDemaryius Thomas, WR, DEN
28KostosT.Y. Hilton, WR, IND
29MaselliDoug Martin, RB, TB
30CocaKelvin Benjamin, WR, CAR
31LongJordan Reed, TE, WAS
32BerksonEddie Lacy, RB, GB
33WhiteLeSean McCoy, RB, BUF
34EisenbergSammy Watkins, WR, BUF
35TowersGolden Tate, WR, DET
36RichardMark Ingram, RB, NO
Round 4
PickTeamPlayer
37RichardLatavius Murray, RB, OAK
38TowersGreg Olsen, TE, CAR
39EisenbergC.J. Anderson, RB, DEN
40WhiteJulian Edelman, WR, NE
41BerksonAaron Rodgers, QB, GB
42LongJeremy Maclin, WR, KC
43CocaJohn Brown, WR, ARI
44MaselliDoug Baldwin, WR, SEA
45KostosAndrew Luck, QB, IND
46BrinsonThomas Rawls, RB, SEA
47BassDanny Woodhead, RB, SD
48PolitoDion Lewis, RB, NE
Round 5
PickTeamPlayer
49PolitoGiovani Bernard, RB, CIN
50BassDeMarco Murray, RB, TEN
51BrinsonCarlos Hyde, RB, SF
52KostosMatt Forte, RB, NYJ
53MaselliDonte Moncrief, WR, IND
54CocaRussell Wilson, QB, SEA
55LongChris Ivory, RB, JAC
56BerksonRyan Mathews, RB, PHI
57WhiteJeremy Langford, RB, CHI
58EisenbergMichael Floyd, WR, ARI
59TowersLarry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI
60RichardAllen Hurns, WR, JAC
Round 6
PickTeamPlayer
61RichardDeVante Parker, WR, MIA
62TowersEmmanuel Sanders, WR, DEN
63EisenbergCoby Fleener, TE, NO
64WhiteEric Decker, WR, NYJ
65BerksonTyler Lockett, WR, SEA
66LongJordan Matthews, WR, PHI
67CocaKevin White, WR, CHI
68MaselliDrew Brees, QB, NO
69KostosDelanie Walker, TE, TEN
70BrinsonDuke Johnson, RB, CLE
71BassLadarius Green, TE, PIT
72PolitoBen Roethlisberger, QB, PIT
Round 7
PickTeamPlayer
73PolitoTravis Kelce, TE, KC
74BassMatt Jones, RB, WAS
75BrinsonMichael Crabtree, WR, OAK
76KostosJeremy Hill, RB, CIN
77MaselliAmeer Abdullah, RB, DET
78CocaJosh Gordon, WR, CLE
79LongJonathan Stewart, RB, CAR
80BerksonFrank Gore, RB, IND
81WhiteArian Foster, RB, MIA
82EisenbergSterling Shepard, WR, NYG
83TowersWillie Snead, WR, NO
84RichardMelvin Gordon, RB, SD
Round 8
PickTeamPlayer
85RichardRashad Jennings, RB, NYG
86TowersDeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT
87EisenbergCharles Sims, RB, TB
88WhiteZach Ertz, TE, PHI
89BerksonDeSean Jackson, WR, WAS
90LongJavorius Allen, RB, BAL
91CocaT.J. Yeldon, RB, JAC
92MaselliGary Barnidge, TE, CLE
93KostosJay Ajayi, RB, MIA
94BrinsonCarson Palmer, QB, ARI
95BassTom Brady, QB, NE
96PolitoVincent Jackson, WR, TB
Round 9
PickTeamPlayer
97PolitoPhillip Dorsett, WR, IND
98BassDerrick Henry, RB, TEN
99BrinsonDarren Sproles, RB, PHI
100KostosTheo Riddick, RB, DET
101MaselliPaul Perkins, RB, NYG
102CocaKamar Aiken, WR, BAL
103LongBlake Bortles, QB, JAC
104BerksonAntonio Gates, TE, SD
105WhiteShane Vereen, RB, NYG
106EisenbergDeAndre Washington, RB, OAK
107TowersMarvin Jones, WR, DET
108RichardPhilip Rivers, QB, SD
Round 10
PickTeamPlayer
109RichardJulius Thomas, TE, JAC
110TowersJordan Howard, RB, CHI
111EisenbergEli Manning, QB, NYG
112WhiteTyler Eifert, TE, CIN
113BerksonC.J. Prosise, RB, SEA
114LongJames Starks, RB, GB
115CocaDST DEN Broncos
116MaselliDevontae Booker, RB, DEN
117KostosJustin Forsett, RB, BAL
118BrinsonDevin Funchess, WR, CAR
119BassTevin Coleman, RB, ATL
120PolitoChris Thompson, RB, WAS
Round 11
PickTeamPlayer
121PolitoJerick McKinnon, RB, MIN
122BassLaquon Treadwell, WR, MIN
123BrinsonChristine Michael, RB, SEA
124KostosCorey Coleman, WR, CLE
125MaselliTravis Benjamin, WR, SD
126CocaTorrey Smith, WR, SF
127LongLeGarrette Blount, RB, NE
128BerksonTavon Austin, WR, LAR
129WhiteTony Romo, QB, DAL
130EisenbergKenneth Dixon, RB, BAL
131TowersIsaiah Crowell, RB, CLE
132RichardChris Hogan, WR, NE
Round 12
PickTeamPlayer
133RichardSammie Coates, WR, PIT
134TowersWendell Smallwood, RB, PHI
135EisenbergMichael Thomas, WR, NO
136WhiteBilal Powell, RB, NYJ
137BerksonJosh Ferguson, RB, IND
138LongStefon Diggs, WR, MIN
139CocaEric Ebron, TE, DET
140MaselliDST SEA Seahawks
141KostosTim Hightower, RB, NO
142BrinsonKenyan Drake, RB, MIA
143BassJason Witten, TE, DAL
144PolitoJimmy Graham, TE, SEA
Round 13
PickTeamPlayer
145PolitoDarren McFadden, RB, DAL
146BassMartellus Bennett, TE, NE
147BrinsonMohamed Sanu, WR, ATL
148KostosSpencer Ware, RB, KC
149MaselliJameis Winston, QB, TB
150CocaDorial Green-Beckham, WR, TEN
151LongCameron Artis-Payne, RB, CAR
152BerksonDST ARI Cardinals
153WhiteDST CAR Panthers
154EisenbergStephen Gostkowski, K, NE
155TowersMatt Ryan, QB, ATL
156RichardDST HOU Texans
Round 14
PickTeamPlayer
157RichardDerek Carr, QB, OAK
158TowersDST KC Chiefs
159EisenbergKarlos Williams, RB, BUF
160WhiteMatthew Stafford, QB, DET
161BerksonTyler Boyd, WR, CIN
162LongDST PIT Steelers
163CocaAlfred Morris, RB, DAL
164MaselliJustin Tucker, K, BAL
165KostosMason Crosby, K, GB
166BrinsonDST MIN Vikings
167BassDST GB Packers
168PolitoDST NYJ Jets
Round 15
PickTeamPlayer
169PolitoChris Boswell, K, PIT
170BassGraham Gano, K, CAR
171BrinsonSteven Hauschka, K, SEA
172KostosDST LAR Rams
173MaselliAustin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, TB
174CocaBrandon McManus, K, DEN
175LongJosh Brown, K, NYG
176BerksonDan Bailey, K, DAL
177WhiteChandler Catanzaro, K, ARI
178EisenbergDST CIN Bengals
179TowersBlair Walsh, K, MIN
180RichardAdam Vinatieri, K, IND
Team by Team
Ryan Bass
Rd.PkPlayer
1.2Odell Beckham, WR, NYG
2.11Mike Evans, WR, TB
3.2Brandin Cooks, WR, NO
4.11Danny Woodhead, RB, SD
5.2DeMarco Murray, RB, TEN
6.11Ladarius Green, TE, PIT
7.2Matt Jones, RB, WAS
8.11Tom Brady, QB, NE
9.2Derrick Henry, RB, TEN
10.11Tevin Coleman, RB, ATL
11.2Laquon Treadwell, WR, MIN
12.11Jason Witten, TE, DAL
13.2Martellus Bennett, TE, NE
14.11DST GB Packers
15.2Graham Gano, K, CAR
Meron Berkson
Rd.PkPlayer
1.8DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU
2.5Alshon Jeffery, WR, CHI
3.8Eddie Lacy, RB, GB
4.5Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB
5.8Ryan Mathews, RB, PHI
6.5Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA
7.8Frank Gore, RB, IND
8.5DeSean Jackson, WR, WAS
9.8Antonio Gates, TE, SD
10.5C.J. Prosise, RB, SEA
11.8Tavon Austin, WR, LAR
12.5Josh Ferguson, RB, IND
13.8DST ARI Cardinals
14.5Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN
15.8Dan Bailey, K, DAL
Will Brinson
Rd.PkPlayer
1.3Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE
2.10Jarvis Landry, WR, MIA
3.3Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN
4.10Thomas Rawls, RB, SEA
5.3Carlos Hyde, RB, SF
6.10Duke Johnson, RB, CLE
7.3Michael Crabtree, WR, OAK
8.10Carson Palmer, QB, ARI
9.3Darren Sproles, RB, PHI
10.10Devin Funchess, WR, CAR
11.3Christine Michael, RB, SEA
12.10Kenyan Drake, RB, MIA
13.3Mohamed Sanu, WR, ATL
14.10DST MIN Vikings
15.3Steven Hauschka, K, SEA
Matthew Coca
Rd.PkPlayer
1.6Todd Gurley, RB, LAR
2.7Le'Veon Bell, RB, PIT
3.6Kelvin Benjamin, WR, CAR
4.7John Brown, WR, ARI
5.6Russell Wilson, QB, SEA
6.7Kevin White, WR, CHI
7.6Josh Gordon, WR, CLE
8.7T.J. Yeldon, RB, JAC
9.6Kamar Aiken, WR, BAL
10.7DST DEN Broncos
11.6Torrey Smith, WR, SF
12.7Eric Ebron, TE, DET
13.6Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, TEN
14.7Alfred Morris, RB, DAL
15.6Brandon McManus, K, DEN
Jamey Eisenberg
Rd.PkPlayer
1.10Dez Bryant, WR, DAL
2.3Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL
3.10Sammy Watkins, WR, BUF
4.3C.J. Anderson, RB, DEN
5.10Michael Floyd, WR, ARI
6.3Coby Fleener, TE, NO
7.10Sterling Shepard, WR, NYG
8.3Charles Sims, RB, TB
9.10DeAndre Washington, RB, OAK
10.3Eli Manning, QB, NYG
11.10Kenneth Dixon, RB, BAL
12.3Michael Thomas, WR, NO
13.10Stephen Gostkowski, K, NE
14.3Karlos Williams, RB, BUF
15.10DST CIN Bengals
Nick Kostos
Rd.PkPlayer
1.4Julio Jones, WR, ATL
2.9Brandon Marshall, WR, NYJ
3.4T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND
4.9Andrew Luck, QB, IND
5.4Matt Forte, RB, NYJ
6.9Delanie Walker, TE, TEN
7.4Jeremy Hill, RB, CIN
8.9Jay Ajayi, RB, MIA
9.4Theo Riddick, RB, DET
10.9Justin Forsett, RB, BAL
11.4Corey Coleman, WR, CLE
12.9Tim Hightower, RB, NO
13.4Spencer Ware, RB, KC
14.9Mason Crosby, K, GB
15.4DST LAR Rams
Mike Long
Rd.PkPlayer
1.7Cam Newton, QB, CAR
2.6Amari Cooper, WR, OAK
3.7Jordan Reed, TE, WAS
4.6Jeremy Maclin, WR, KC
5.7Chris Ivory, RB, JAC
6.6Jordan Matthews, WR, PHI
7.7Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR
8.6Javorius Allen, RB, BAL
9.7Blake Bortles, QB, JAC
10.6James Starks, RB, GB
11.7LeGarrette Blount, RB, NE
12.6Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN
13.7Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, CAR
14.6DST PIT Steelers
15.7Josh Brown, K, NYG
George Maselli
Rd.PkPlayer
1.5David Johnson, RB, ARI
2.8Keenan Allen, WR, SD
3.5Doug Martin, RB, TB
4.8Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA
5.5Donte Moncrief, WR, IND
6.8Drew Brees, QB, NO
7.5Ameer Abdullah, RB, DET
8.8Gary Barnidge, TE, CLE
9.5Paul Perkins, RB, NYG
10.8Devontae Booker, RB, DEN
11.5Travis Benjamin, WR, SD
12.8DST SEA Seahawks
13.5Jameis Winston, QB, TB
14.8Justin Tucker, K, BAL
15.5Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, TB
Joe Polito
Rd.PkPlayer
1.1Antonio Brown, WR, PIT
2.12Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL
3.1Randall Cobb, WR, GB
4.12Dion Lewis, RB, NE
5.1Giovani Bernard, RB, CIN
6.12Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT
7.1Travis Kelce, TE, KC
8.12Vincent Jackson, WR, TB
9.1Phillip Dorsett, WR, IND
10.12Chris Thompson, RB, WAS
11.1Jerick McKinnon, RB, MIN
12.12Jimmy Graham, TE, SEA
13.1Darren McFadden, RB, DAL
14.12DST NYJ Jets
15.1Chris Boswell, K, PIT
Dave Richard
Rd.PkPlayer
1.12Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN
2.1Jordy Nelson, WR, GB
3.12Mark Ingram, RB, NO
4.1Latavius Murray, RB, OAK
5.12Allen Hurns, WR, JAC
6.1DeVante Parker, WR, MIA
7.12Melvin Gordon, RB, SD
8.1Rashad Jennings, RB, NYG
9.12Philip Rivers, QB, SD
10.1Julius Thomas, TE, JAC
11.12Chris Hogan, WR, NE
12.1Sammie Coates, WR, PIT
13.12DST HOU Texans
14.1Derek Carr, QB, OAK
15.12Adam Vinatieri, K, IND
Chris Towers
Rd.PkPlayer
1.11Lamar Miller, RB, HOU
2.2Jamaal Charles, RB, KC
3.11Golden Tate, WR, DET
4.2Greg Olsen, TE, CAR
5.11Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI
6.2Emmanuel Sanders, WR, DEN
7.11Willie Snead, WR, NO
8.2DeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT
9.11Marvin Jones, WR, DET
10.2Jordan Howard, RB, CHI
11.11Isaiah Crowell, RB, CLE
12.2Wendell Smallwood, RB, PHI
13.11Matt Ryan, QB, ATL
14.2DST KC Chiefs
15.11Blair Walsh, K, MIN
R.J. White
Rd.PkPlayer
1.9A.J. Green, WR, CIN
2.4Allen Robinson, WR, JAC
3.9LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF
4.4Julian Edelman, WR, NE
5.9Jeremy Langford, RB, CHI
6.4Eric Decker, WR, NYJ
7.9Arian Foster, RB, MIA
8.4Zach Ertz, TE, PHI
9.9Shane Vereen, RB, NYG
10.4Tyler Eifert, TE, CIN
11.9Tony Romo, QB, DAL
12.4Bilal Powell, RB, NYJ
13.9DST CAR Panthers
14.4Matthew Stafford, QB, DET
15.9Chandler Catanzaro, K, ARI