2012 Draft Prep: Our 10-team mock draft

There are unexpected picks in every draft. Some happen sooner than others. Nothing exemplifies that more than what happened in our recent 10-team standard mock draft.

CBSSports.com NFL blogger Josh Katzowitz has a beat on the league as well as anyone. So when he took Steven Jackson with a first-round pick, he didn't blink an eyelash while the rest of the league did a virtual spit-take. Jackson is considered a borderline No. 1 Fantasy running back and a potential second-round pick, but Katzowitz sees something greater.

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"I originally thought about taking Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. With it being a snake draft, I knew I would get one of those guys in the second round," Katzowitz reasoned. "Because of that early running back run, I wasn't sure that Jackson would have still been there. I know Jackson is getting older, kind of getting toward the end of his career, but I still think he's a workhorse who, even when the Rams are bad, he still produces. Obviously, we saw with Sam Bradford struggling last year with a lack of receivers, there's still a question on whether or not Bradford is a franchise quarterback. You bring in Jeff Fisher, who has had success with Eddie George, Chris Johnson and even Travis Henry, and you know the Rams will run the ball. Looking back on it, I'd do the exact same thing."

While you might disagree with his selection, Katzowitz did several things right that every Fantasy owner should take note of:

1. Recognizing that it would have been suicide for the owner picking 10th to take two elite-tier quarterbacks, he knew he could wait until his next pick to take one.

2. Recognizing the first-round running back frenzy he knew that if he was going to take a quarterback with his next pick, he needed a running back before the talent pool thinned out when it was his turn in Round 3.

3. And perhaps most importanly of all, Katzowitz went with his gut. He has his pulse on the news around the NFL, he's no Fantasy rookie and he's got a good eye for talent. Every Fantasy owner will do his or her own research and make their own decisions about who they like and who they don't like before their draft. He didn't listen to the experts, he made his own choice. We applaud that (partially because he can't blame us later for it).

You might find some other unusual picks in this draft, and that's par for the course for 10-team leagues. Quarterbacks and tight ends were devalued quite a bit in our mock, not a surprise given that there's 10 teams and more than 10 quality quarterbacks and tight ends to start on a weekly basis. As a result, several running backs and receivers were either picked where you might expect or a little bit higher -- nearly all the "steals" were at the deeper positions. This should happen in your 10-team drafts this summer, so be ready for it. Not to mention any unexpected draft choices -- be ready for those too.

We'd love to hear your take on our mock draft. Share your thoughts on our Fantasy Football Twitter feed (@CBSFantasyFB) or post more elaborate comments on our Fantasy Football Facebook page. We're always around and will respond to what you have to say.

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 feature a starting lineup of QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, TE, K, DST and a FLEX (RB/WR/TE). There will also be five reserve spots for a 14-round draft. This lineup reflects our CBSSports.com free Fantasy Football game.

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We also had a special guest join us for this draft as Seth Kolbrenner, a randomly selected reader, was chosen on Twitter to mock with us. This is something we plan to do going forward, so be on the lookout for your chance to draft with us on Twitter @CBSFantasyFB.

Our draft order was as follows ...

1. Nando Di Fino, Senior Fantasy Writer
2. Jeff Tobin, Associate Managing Editor
3. Jamey Eisenberg, Senior Fantasy Writer
4. J. Darin Darst, College Football Production Editor
5. Denny Burkholder, NFL Production Editor
6. Dave Richard, Senior Fantasy Writer
7. Adam Aizer, Podcast/Video Host
8. Aleese Kopf, Social Media Coordinator
9. Josh Katzowitz, NFL Blogger
10. Seth Kolbrenner, Twitter follower

Round by Round Round 1 Pick Owner Player 1 Di Fino Arian Foster, RB, HOU 2 Tobin LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI 3 Eisenberg Ray Rice, RB, BAL 4 Darst Calvin Johnson, WR, DET 5 Burkholder Ryan Mathews, RB, SD 6 Richard Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC 7 Aizer Chris Johnson, RB, TEN 8 Kopf Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA 9 Katzowitz Steven Jackson, RB, STL 10 Kolbrenner Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB Round 2 Pick Owner Player 11 Kolbrenner Darren McFadden, RB, OAK 12 Katzowitz Tom Brady, QB, NE 13 Kopf Roddy White, WR, ATL 14 Aizer Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI 15 Richard Greg Jennings, WR, GB 16 Burkholder Drew Brees, QB, NO 17 Darst DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL 18 Eisenberg Trent Richardson, RB, CLE 19 Tobin Wes Welker, WR, NE 20 Di Fino Michael Turner, RB, ATL Round 3 Pick Owner Player 21 Di Fino Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE 22 Tobin Matt Forte, RB, CHI 23 Eisenberg Andre Johnson, WR, HOU 24 Darst Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG 25 Burkholder Jimmy Graham, TE, NO 26 Richard Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG 27 Aizer Matthew Stafford, QB, DET 28 Kopf Cam Newton, QB, CAR 29 Katzowitz A.J. Green, WR, CIN 30 Kolbrenner Victor Cruz, WR, NYG Round 4 Pick Owner Player 31 Kolbrenner Fred Jackson, RB, BUF 32 Katzowitz Frank Gore, RB, SF 33 Kopf Jamaal Charles, RB, KC 34 Aizer Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN 35 Richard Mike Wallace, WR, PIT 36 Burkholder Jordy Nelson, WR, GB 37 Darst Darren Sproles, RB, NO 38 Eisenberg Julio Jones, WR, ATL 39 Tobin Brandon Marshall, WR, CHI 40 Di Fino Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ Round 5 Pick Owner Player 41 Di Fino Marques Colston, WR, NO 42 Tobin Reggie Bush, RB, MIA 43 Eisenberg Michael Vick, QB, PHI 44 Darst Antonio Gates, TE, SD 45 Burkholder Miles Austin, WR, DAL 46 Richard Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN 47 Aizer Steve Smith, WR, CAR 48 Kopf Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE 49 Katzowitz Jermichael Finley, TE, GB 50 Kolbrenner Dez Bryant, WR, DAL Round 6 Pick Owner Player 51 Kolbrenner Jason Witten, TE, DAL 52 Katzowitz Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC 53 Kopf Percy Harvin, WR, MIN 54 Aizer Isaac Redman, RB, PIT 55 Richard Tony Romo, QB, DAL 56 Burkholder BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, CIN 57 Darst Eli Manning, QB, NYG 58 Eisenberg Doug Martin, RB, TB 59 Tobin Philip Rivers, QB, SD 60 Di Fino Beanie Wells, RB, ARI Round 7 Pick Owner Player 61 Di Fino DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI 62 Tobin Roy Helu, RB, WAS 63 Eisenberg Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI 64 Darst Vincent Jackson, WR, TB 65 Burkholder Steve Johnson, WR, BUF 66 Richard Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET 67 Aizer Kenny Britt, WR, TEN 68 Kopf Stevan Ridley, RB, NE 69 Katzowitz Willis McGahee, RB, DEN 70 Kolbrenner Donald Brown, RB, IND Round 8 Pick Owner Player 71 Kolbrenner Brandon Lloyd, WR, NE 72 Katzowitz Torrey Smith, WR, BAL 73 Kopf Eric Decker, WR, DEN 74 Aizer Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR 75 Richard Vernon Davis, TE, SF 76 Burkholder Reggie Wayne, WR, IND 77 Darst DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR 78 Eisenberg Antonio Brown, WR, PIT 79 Tobin Denarius Moore, WR, OAK 80 Di Fino James Starks, RB, GB Round 9 Pick Owner Player 81 Di Fino Santonio Holmes, WR, NYJ 82 Tobin C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF 83 Eisenberg Peyton Hillis, RB, KC 84 Darst Robert Meachem, WR, SD 85 Burkholder Michael Bush, RB, CHI 86 Richard Jahvid Best, RB, DET 87 Aizer Toby Gerhart, RB, MIN 88 Kopf LeGarrette Blount, RB, TB 89 Katzowitz Mark Ingram, RB, NO 90 Kolbrenner Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL Round 10 Pick Owner Player 91 Kolbrenner Ben Tate, RB, HOU 92 Katzowitz Justin Blackmon, WR, JAC 93 Kopf Titus Young, WR, DET 94 Aizer Lance Moore, WR, NO 95 Richard Peyton Manning, QB, DEN 96 Burkholder Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS 97 Darst Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT 98 Eisenberg Matt Ryan, QB, ATL 99 Tobin Jacob Tamme, TE, DEN 100 Di Fino Matt Schaub, QB, HOU Round 11 Pick Owner Player 101 Di Fino Jay Cutler, QB, CHI 102 Tobin Carson Palmer, QB, OAK 103 Eisenberg Ryan Williams, RB, ARI 104 Darst Daniel Thomas, RB, MIA 105 Burkholder Brandon Jacobs, RB, SF 106 Richard Ronnie Hillman, RB, DEN 107 Aizer Randy Moss, WR, SF 108 Kopf Felix Jones, RB, DAL 109 Katzowitz Joe Flacco, QB, BAL 110 Kolbrenner Robert Griffin III, QB, WAS Round 12 Pick Owner Player 111 Kolbrenner Jets DST 112 Katzowitz 49ers DST 113 Kopf Laurent Robinson, WR, JAC 114 Aizer Brent Celek, TE, PHI 115 Richard Greg Little, WR, CLE 116 Burkholder Packers DST 117 Darst Steelers DST 118 Eisenberg Fred Davis, TE, WAS 119 Tobin Pierre Thomas, RB, NO 120 Di Fino Malcom Floyd, WR, SD Round 13 Pick Owner Player 121 Di Fino Ravens DST 122 Tobin Eagles DST 123 Eisenberg Giants DST 124 Darst Sidney Rice, WR, SEA 125 Burkholder Andy Dalton, QB, CIN 126 Richard Texans DST 127 Aizer Bears DST 128 Kopf Patriots DST 129 Katzowitz Dan Bailey, K, DAL 130 Kolbrenner Sebastian Janikowski, K, OAK Round 14 Pick Owner Player 131 Kolbrenner Coby Fleener, TE, IND 132 Katzowitz Jermaine Gresham, TE, CIN 133 Kopf David Akers, K, SF 134 Aizer Alex Henery, K, PHI 135 Richard Matt Prater, K, DEN 136 Burkholder Randy Bullock, K, HOU 137 Darst Mason Crosby, K, GB 138 Eisenberg Stephen Gostkowski, K, NE 139 Tobin Rob Bironas, K, TEN 140 Di Fino Lawrence Tynes, K, NYG

Team by Team Adam Aizer Rd.Pk Player 1.7 Chris Johnson, RB, TEN 2.4 Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI 3.7 Matthew Stafford, QB, DET 4.4 Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN 5.7 Steve Smith, WR, CAR 6.4 Isaac Redman, RB, PIT 7.7 Kenny Britt, WR, TEN 8.4 Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR 9.7 Toby Gerhart, RB, MIN 10.4 Lance Moore, WR, NO 11.7 Randy Moss, WR, SF 12.4 Brent Celek, TE, PHI 13.7 Bears DST 14.4 Alex Henery, K, PHI Denny Burkholder Rd.Pk Player 1.5 Ryan Mathews, RB, SD 2.6 Drew Brees, QB, NO 3.5 Jimmy Graham, TE, NO 4.6 Jordy Nelson, WR, GB 5.5 Miles Austin, WR, DAL 6.6 BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, CIN 7.5 Steve Johnson, WR, BUF 8.6 Reggie Wayne, WR, IND 9.5 Michael Bush, RB, CHI 10.6 Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS 11.5 Brandon Jacobs, RB, SF 12.6 Packers DST 13.5 Andy Dalton, QB, CIN 14.6 Randy Bullock, K, HOU J. Darin Darst Rd.Pk Player 1.4 Calvin Johnson, WR, DET 2.7 DeMarco Murray, RB, DAL 3.4 Hakeem Nicks, WR, NYG 4.7 Darren Sproles, RB, NO 5.4 Antonio Gates, TE, SD 6.7 Eli Manning, QB, NYG 7.4 Vincent Jackson, WR, TB 8.7 DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR 9.4 Robert Meachem, WR, SD 10.7 Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT 11.4 Daniel Thomas, RB, MIA 12.7 Steelers DST 13.4 Sidney Rice, WR, SEA 14.7 Mason Crosby, K, GB Nando Di Fino Rd.Pk Player 1.1 Arian Foster, RB, HOU 2.10 Michael Turner, RB, ATL 3.1 Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE 4.10 Shonn Greene, RB, NYJ 5.1 Marques Colston, WR, NO 6.10 Beanie Wells, RB, ARI 7.1 DeSean Jackson, WR, PHI 8.10 James Starks, RB, GB 9.1 Santonio Holmes, WR, NYJ 10.10 Matt Schaub, QB, HOU 11.1 Jay Cutler, QB, CHI 12.10 Malcom Floyd, WR, SD 13.1 Ravens DST 14.10 Lawrence Tynes, K, NYG Jamey Eisenberg Rd.Pk Player 1.3 Ray Rice, RB, BAL 2.8 Trent Richardson, RB, CLE 3.3 Andre Johnson, WR, HOU 4.8 Julio Jones, WR, ATL 5.3 Michael Vick, QB, PHI 6.8 Doug Martin, RB, TB 7.3 Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI 8.8 Antonio Brown, WR, PIT 9.3 Peyton Hillis, RB, KC 10.8 Matt Ryan, QB, ATL 11.3 Ryan Williams, RB, ARI 12.8 Fred Davis, TE, WAS 13.3 Giants DST 14.8 Stephen Gostkowski, K, NE Josh Katzowitz Rd.Pk Player 1.9 Steven Jackson, RB, STL 2.2 Tom Brady, QB, NE 3.9 A.J. Green, WR, CIN 4.2 Frank Gore, RB, SF 5.9 Jermichael Finley, TE, GB 6.2 Dwayne Bowe, WR, KC 7.9 Willis McGahee, RB, DEN 8.2 Torrey Smith, WR, BAL 9.9 Mark Ingram, RB, NO 10.2 Justin Blackmon, WR, JAC 11.9 Joe Flacco, QB, BAL 12.2 49ers DST 13.9 Dan Bailey, K, DAL 14.2 Jermaine Gresham, TE, CIN Seth Kolbrenner Rd.Pk Player 1.10 Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB 2.1 Darren McFadden, RB, OAK 3.10 Victor Cruz, WR, NYG 4.1 Fred Jackson, RB, BUF 5.10 Dez Bryant, WR, DAL 6.1 Jason Witten, TE, DAL 7.10 Donald Brown, RB, IND 8.1 Brandon Lloyd, WR, NE 9.10 Anquan Boldin, WR, BAL 10.1 Ben Tate, RB, HOU 11.10 Robert Griffin III, QB, WAS 12.1 Jets DST 13.10 Sebastian Janikowski, K, OAK 14.1 Coby Fleener, TE, IND Aleese Kopf Rd.Pk Player 1.8 Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA 2.3 Roddy White, WR, ATL 3.8 Cam Newton, QB, CAR 4.3 Jamaal Charles, RB, KC 5.8 Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE 6.3 Percy Harvin, WR, MIN 7.8 Stevan Ridley, RB, NE 8.3 Eric Decker, WR, DEN 9.8 LeGarrette Blount, RB, TB 10.3 Titus Young, WR, DET 11.8 Felix Jones, RB, DAL 12.3 Laurent Robinson, WR, JAC 13.8 Patriots DST 14.3 David Akers, K, SF Dave Richard Rd.Pk Player 1.6 Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAC 2.5 Greg Jennings, WR, GB 3.6 Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, NYG 4.5 Mike Wallace, WR, PIT 5.6 Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN 6.5 Tony Romo, QB, DAL 7.6 Mikel Leshoure, RB, DET 8.5 Vernon Davis, TE, SF 9.6 Jahvid Best, RB, DET 10.5 Peyton Manning, QB, DEN 11.6 Ronnie Hillman, RB, DEN 12.5 Greg Little, WR, CLE 13.6 Texans DST 14.5 Matt Prater, K, DEN Jeff Tobin Rd.Pk Player 1.2 LeSean McCoy, RB, PHI 2.9 Wes Welker, WR, NE 3.2 Matt Forte, RB, CHI 4.9 Brandon Marshall, WR, CHI 5.2 Reggie Bush, RB, MIA 6.9 Philip Rivers, QB, SD 7.2 Roy Helu, RB, WAS 8.9 Denarius Moore, WR, OAK 9.2 C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF 10.9 Jacob Tamme, TE, DEN 11.2 Carson Palmer, QB, OAK 12.9 Pierre Thomas, RB, NO 13.2 Eagles DST 14.9 Rob Bironas, K, TEN

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