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. Derrick Henry in Round 3 is also a nice value from the No. 2 pick.

Picks 1, 3, and 4 are the next best draft positions in 12-team PPR. There's a drop-off in value in the back-half of Round 1. Those early picks also allow you to land values such as De'Von Achane, Travis Etienne, Joe Mixon, and Ken Walker.

The No. 10 spot is easily the worst draft position in 12-team PPR leagues, according to ADP. Our projections show Puka Nacua (Round 1), Patrick Mahomes (Round 3), and George Kittle (Round 5) as relatively poor values from that draft spot.

The No. 10 pick captures 17.6% fewer 3D Value points than the No. 2 pick.

After No. 10, picks 6 and 7 follow 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 at every 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 319.0 3D Value points using Draft Sharks player rankings mark a 6.8% increase over the 298.8 points you'd land by picking straight from ADP from the No. 1 spot.

You get a 6.2% 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 3.1`% at every single draft position -- and by 6% or more at eight spots.
2. The No. 10 pick remains the worst draft position here, but you can secure 14.1% more 3D Value points by drafting from the Draft Sharks rankings. In fact, those 282.1 3D Value points are more than all but the top four draft positions by ADP.

Best Draft Position for 12-Team Half-PPR Leagues

The No. 1 spot is NOT the best draft position in 12-team half-PPR by ADP. But the equation changes when using 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 half-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 third-best draft position in 12-team half-PPR leagues, according to ADP.

The best spot? That honor goes to pick No. 3. Pick No. 9 follows closely behind as the second-best draft position in 12-team half-PPR.

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

The No. 2 pick lands particularly strong values in Round 1 (Tyreek Hill), Round 2 (De'Von Achane), and Round 5 (Tank Dell).  

On the flip side, you don’t wanna be drafting by ADP from the No. 10 spot in half-PPR leagues. That spot lands below-average values in five of the first six rounds.

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 .. and a new answer to the best draft position.

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

Drafting optimally from the No. 1 or 2 spot in 12-team half-PPR drafts lands you on the same team through six rounds -- and a whopping 328.6 3D Value points. That's more than a 10.0% increase over the 3D Value points you'd get picking straight from ADP at either 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.

Picking earlier in Round 1 is generally better in 12-team half-PPR drafts, although Pick Nos. 7 and 9 sneak into the top-six here.

But the big takeaway is this: Drafting optimally gives you an edge in 3D Value over ADP at every draft position. The Draft Sharks optimal is better by at least 2% at every single draft position -- and by 9% 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 non-PPR league, according to the most recent fantasy ADP data. Draft positions are ordered from most total 3D Value points to least.

The top-three picks are strong in 12-team non-PPR drafts. But it's the No. 9 spot that's 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. 9 pick lands strong values in Breece Hall (Round 1), Kyren Williams (Round 3), and David Montgomery (Round 6) to edge out the No. 1 pick with 300.7 3D Value points.

Compare that to the worst pick in 12-team non-PPR drafts, pick No. 10, which nets just 250.2 3D Value points. That's 50.5 fewer points (or 16.8%) than the No. 9 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 a whopping 337.6 3D Value points. That's a 12.5% increase over the 300.0 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.

The higher you can pick in your 12-team non-PPR draft, the better. The best draft spots go almost exactly from 1 down to 12.

But regardless of where you're picking, you can get an edge using Draft Sharks rankings. The Draft Sharks optimal is better at every spot -- and by 10% or more at 10 of 12 draft positions.  

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 6-7% 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.

Who should I pick first in fantasy football 2024?

Who you should pick first in fantasy football 2024 will likely be RB Christian McCaffrey or WR CeeDee Lamb. McCaffrey is a stud in almost any fantasy scoring format, particularly PPR leagues. Lamb's upside isn't quite as high as McCaffrey's, but he has less injury risk.

What is the statistically best position to draft in fantasy football?

The statistically best position to draft in fantasy football is going to be the 1st or 2nd pick in 2024. Our research shows these positions will give managers are statistical advantage when you factor in true player value. 

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 sixth among 158 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.