Best Draft Position Fantasy Football: 12-Team 2024

Your draft position plays a big role in the fantasy football team you’re able to put together.

You can certainly assemble a championship-winning team from any spot. But the numbers are clear: Some draft positions are more advantageous than others.

Let's look at the best draft position for 2024 fantasy football drafts -- and how you can combat a bad draft spot.

What’s the Best Draft Position in Fantasy Football for 2024?

The best draft position varies from year to year depending on the fantasy landscape.

What’s shaping up as the best draft position for 2024? We ran the numbers … and the results might surprise you.

Best Draft Position for 12-Team PPR Leagues

The best draft position for 12-team PPR leagues changes depending on how closely you follow ADP. Let's look at the differences -- and how much you can improve your fantasy team by shunning ADP and drafting optimally.

Based on ADP

The table above shows the total fantasy value (we call it 3D Player Value) you would capture from each draft position in a 12-team PPR league, according to the most recent fantasy ADP data.

Draft positions are ordered from most total 3D Value points to fewest.

We explain 3D Values in the video below. It’s important to note because using 3D Values shows you how to outwit your competition – no matter your draft position.

Here’s a more detailed look at where ADP lands players at each draft position:

Surprise! The No. 1 pick is NOT the best draft position in 12-team PPR leagues if you draft according to ADP.

Instead, it's the No. 2 pick that checks in as the most valuable. The No. 2 pick allows you to land our top-ranked player by 3D Value in PPR leagues: CeeDee Lamb. Ken Walker in Round 5 and Rashee Rice in Round 6 are also nice values from the No. 2 pick.

Interestingly, a couple of middle draft positions -- picks 5 and 8 -- are the next-best spots to pick from. Those draft positions land strong values such as De'Von Achane, Jaylen Waddle, James Cook, Mark Andrews, and Rhamondre Stevenson.

The No. 12 spot is the worst draft position in 12-team PPR leagues, according to ADP. Our projections show Garrett Wilson (Round 1), A.J. Brown (Round 2), Terry McLaurin (Round 5), and Anthony Richardson (Round 6) as relatively poor values from that draft spot.

The No. 12 pick captures 9.4% fewer 3D Value points than the No. 2 pick.

After No. 12, the Nos. 11 and 6 spots follow closely as the next two worst draft positions.

Based on Draft Sharks Rankings

We just looked at the best draft positions if you were picking exactly by ADP.  That's clearly not optimal. You can do better.

How much better?

We ran through the same exercise as above ... but instead of picking based on ADP, we picked the most valuable player at each spot according to the custom and dynamic fantasy football cheat sheet on the Draft War Room.

The result was a significant increase in total 3D Value -- and a new answer to the question of best draft position.

In 12-Team PPR, the best draft position is pick No. 1 or 2

Drafting optimally from the No. 1 or 2 spot in 12-team PPR drafts lands you on the same start through six rounds.

Those 286.7 3D Value points using Draft Sharks player rankings mark a 13.1% increase over the 253.6 points you'd land by picking straight from ADP from the No. 1 spot.

You get a 9.5% increase in value from Draft Sharks rankings vs. ADP in the No. 2 spot.

Best 12-Team PPR Draft Positions Ranked

Here's how all 12 spots stack up in terms of maximum 3D Value points in 12-team PPR drafts. You'll also find the 3D Value at each spot drafting by ADP, plus the percent increase you'll get using Draft Sharks rankings.

Two takeaways from those numbers:

1. The Draft Sharks optimal is better by at least 4.6% at every single draft position -- and by 8% or more at eight spots.
2. Drafting optimally even at the worst spot (pick No. 9) lands you only 2.9 fewer 3D Value points than by drafting by ADP at the best spot (and more 3D Value points than by ADP at every other draft position).

Best Draft Position for 12-Team Half-PPR Leagues

The No. 1 spot is NOT the best draft position in 12-team half-PPR, whether you're drafting by ADP or optimally with Draft Sharks rankings. Let's dive into the numbers and find out where you want to pick from.

Based on ADP

The table above shows the total fantasy value (we call it 3D Player Value) you would capture from each draft position in a 12-team PPR league, according to the most recent fantasy ADP data. Draft positions are ordered from most total 3D Value points to fewest.

The No. 1 pick is the second-best draft position in 12-team half-PPR leagues, according to ADP.

The best spot? That honor goes to pick No. 2.

Here’s a look at where ADP places players by draft position in 12-team half-PPR leagues:

The No. 2 pick lands strong values in each of the first four rounds: CeeDee Lamb, De'Von Achane, Nico Collins, and Joe Mixon.

On the flip side, you don’t wanna be drafting by ADP from the No. 9 spot in half-PPR leagues. A.J. Brown (Round 1) and Travis Kelce (Round 3) are both poor values.

Based on Draft Sharks Rankings

We just looked at the best draft positions if you were picking exactly by ADP.  That's clearly not optimal. You can do better.

How much better?

We ran through the same exercise as above ... but instead of picking based on ADP, we picked the most valuable player at each spot according to the custom and dynamic fantasy football cheat sheet on the Draft War Room.

The result was a significant increase in total 3D Value at every draft position.

In 12-Team Half-PPR, the best draft position is pick No. 2

Drafting optimally from the No. 2 spot in 12-team half-PPR drafts lands you a whopping 306.7 3D Value points. That's a 7.0% increase over the 286.7 points by picking straight from ADP at the No. 2 spot.

Best 12-Team Half-PPR Draft Positions Ranked

Here's how all 12 spots stack up in terms of maximum 3D Value points in 12-team half-PPR drafts. You'll also find the 3D Value at each spot drafting by ADP, plus the percent increase you'll get using Draft Sharks rankings.

The No. 3 pick also beats out No. 1 in optimal 3D Value.

But the big takeaway is this: Drafting optimally gives you a significant edge in 3D Value over ADP at every draft position. The Draft Sharks optimal is better by at least 5.5% at every single draft position -- and by 11% or more at six spots.

Best Draft Position for 12-Team Non-PPR Leagues

The gap between the best draft position and worst in 12-team non-PPR leagues is wide. Let's dig into the numbers -- and look at how you can save your fantasy season even from a bad draft spot.

Based on ADP

The table above shows the total fantasy value (we call it 3D Player Value) you would capture from each draft position in a 12-team PPR league, according to the most recent fantasy ADP data. Draft positions are ordered from most total 3D Value points to least.

It's best to be picking inside the top three in 12-team non-PPR drafts, with the No 1. spot checking in as easily the best draft position according to ADP.

Here’s a look at where ADP places players by draft position in 12-team non-PPR leagues:

The No. 1 pick has the advantage of landing Christian McCaffrey, who is worth nearly 10 more 3D Value points than CeeDee Lamb at pick No. 2. The No. 1 spot also lands strong values in Rounds 3 (Jalen Hurts) and 4 (Mark Andrews).

Compare that to the worst pick in 12-team non-PPR drafts, pick No. 7, which nets just 223.2 3D Value points. That's 47 fewer points (or 17.4%) than the No. 1 pick.

Based on Draft Sharks Rankings

Luckily, you don't need to draft straight by ADP. In fact, you shouldn't. You can assemble a strong team from any draft position using Draft Sharks rankings and 3D Values.

But what's the best draft position to draft from?

We ran through the same exercise as above ... but instead of picking based on ADP, we picked the most valuable player at each spot according to the custom and dynamic fantasy football cheat sheet on the Draft War Room.

The result was a notable increase in total 3D Value at every draft position.

In 12-Team Non-PPR, the best draft position is pick No. 1

Drafting optimally from the No. 1 spot in 12-team non-PPR drafts nets 301.3 3D Value points. That's a big 11.5% increase over the 270.2 points by picking straight from ADP at the No. 1 spot.

Best 12-Team Non-PPR Draft Positions Ranked

Here's how all 12 spots stack up in terms of maximum 3D Value points in 12-team non-PPR drafts. You'll also find the 3D Value at each spot drafting by ADP, plus the percent increase you'll get using Draft Sharks rankings.

Generally speaking, the higher you can pick in your 12-team non-PPR draft, the better.

But we see massive gains in 3D Value at every spot. The Draft Sharks optimal is better by at least 8.7% at every single draft position, by at least 10% at 11 spots, and by more than 15% at seven spots.

Beat Your Draft Position By Picking Smarter

Most fantasy players aren’t able to choose their draft position. That means you might get stuck in a bad spot.

Here’s the good news: You’re not restricted by ADP. You can draft smarter with a custom, dynamic fantasy football cheat sheet on the Draft War Room.

ADP is just one of 17 value indicators the Draft War Room considers to help you make the best pick every time you’re on the clock.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Draft Position

What is the best draft position in fantasy football for 2024?

The best draft position in 2024 fantasy football is either pick No. 1 or 2, depending on scoring system. Draft Sharks rankings show a big advantage from landing either CeeDee Lamb or Christian McCaffrey in the first round.

Where is the best place to pick in the snake draft?

The best place to pick in the snake draft varies from year-year. After some research, and using Draft Sharks rankings, the No. 1 or 2 pick looks to be the most valuable in PPR drafts. You'll net 6.2% more 3D Value points than the average draft position.

What position should I draft first in fantasy football?

Most managers should draft a wide receiver with their first pick in fantasy football this season. Seven of the top 12 players in Draft Sharks' 2024 fantasy football rankings are wide receivers, including four of the top five.

Learn more about how the Draft War Room works.

Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks 1st among 133 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.