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Fantasy Football Draft Guide: 12-Team PPR Draft Strategy

By Jared Smola | Updated on Sat, 20 Jul 2024 . 10:14 AM EDT

 

 

Draft Strategy: Tips & Tricks

Draft Strategy: Tips & Tricks

  • Discover 7 expert-level drafting tips.
  • 3 fatal drafting mistakes you must avoid.

Jump to Tips & Tricks »

Round-by-Round Draft Guide

Round-by-Round Draft Guide

  • Top targets & alternate players for each round.
  • Based on the latest rankings & ADP data.

SELECT YOUR DRAFT SPOT:

Advanced Draft Strategy

Advanced Draft Strategy

  • 7 key strategies for tailored player rankings.
  • Live-draft sync that strategizes while you draft.

Jump to Advanced Draft Strategy »

 

Draft Strategy: Tips & Tricks

7 Expert-Level Drafting Tips

1. Use Unique Rankings To Give Yourself an Edge

Many of your competitors will be drafting off of the same rankings (think: ESPN or Yahoo). Tough to get an edge that way. Put in the work. Stay up-to-date on the news. And don’t be afraid to break away from the herd when it comes to your rankings. It’s an easy way to out-draft your competition.

2. Weaponize ADP To Outsmart Your Competition

ADP is like having your opponent’s playbook. Whether subconsciously or not, ADP has a huge influence on draft behavior. Drafters rarely stray too far from it. Knowing which players your opponents are likely – and unlikely – to draft next can give you a big strategic advantage.

3. Catch League-Winning Breakout Candidates

Leagues are won by nailing one or two breakout late-round picks. Think Puka Nacua or Nico Collins last year. When you’re on the clock and deciding between two or more players, always ask yourself: “Which of these guys is more likely to be the league-winning, had-to-have player?” Then take that guy.

4. Learn to Predict Your Opponents’ Picks

Drafting is part science (rankings, ADP, positional value) and part art. No two drafts will play out same. It’s your job to recognize the flow of your draft and react accordingly. It’s especially important to track positional needs. For example, if teams near you have selected a bunch of WRs but few RBs, you can assume they’ll be targeting RBs soon. Get out ahead of them and snag a RB with your next pick.

5. Discover the Next Kyren Williams

Let your league mates waste later-round picks on handcuffing their own RBs. You can get the jump on them by targeting RBs behind fragile starters. That was Williams, Devin Singletary, and Ty Chandler this time last year. And we’re eyeing some intriguing new candidates for 2024.

6. Draft Immobile QBs in 2024 (Wait … What?!)

Running QBs are fantasy gold. Problem is, that’s no longer a secret. In many cases, the pendulum has swung too far toward those guys. And that’s turned some non-mobile QBs into values. Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott, and Matt Stafford pop as undervalued QBs in 2024 drafts – despite their lack of rushing yards.

7. Chase opportunity at RB… and talent at WR

Fantasy scoring at RB is closely tied to playing time and touches. Target RBs who project to get the rock a lot. WR is a more talent-driven position. Targets are earned, not given. That’s why advanced metrics like targets per route and yards per route run should be key factors in your WR rankings.

3 Fatal Draft Mistakes

1. Base Your Rankings On What Has Changed … Not Last Year’s Stats

Weighing last year’s final stats into this year’s player rankings could cost you on draft day. Too much changes from year to year. That includes coaching staffs, offensive schemes, rookies, free agents, etc. That’s why it’s crucial that you live in the present – and weigh all the offseason changes when creating your 2024 player rankings.

2. Don’t Be Stubborn About Your Pre-Draft Plan

Instead, be flexible. You might go in with a Zero-RB strategy. But if enough teams grab WRs by the second round – a workhorse RB might fall into your lap. That’s when it’s time to scoop up the player who will best help your team win … not reach for a position because it was part of your pre-draft plan.

3. Don’t Pass Up Player Value to Chase Positional ‘Need’

NFL teams that try to fill “needs” (instead of adopting the BPA “best player available” model) most often crap out on their draft picks. Same holds true for you. Reaching for a “need” player most often blows your chances at winning. And remember: Drafting the BPA gives you valuable trade chips down the road. 

 

Advanced Draft Strategy

7 Key Strategies for Tailored Player Rankings

The most advanced fantasy football draft strategy for any format, and any league, is a “Value Based Draft Strategy.” It can take different forms, and be based on any number of draft-value indicators.

Draft Sharks' value-based draft strategy actually has 17 Draft Value Indicators. Here are 7 crucial ones you can use in your draft:

1. Master Cross Positional Value

Which positions are most valuable in your league? Maybe QBs in a superflex. How do RBs stack up vs. WRs in PPR leagues? Understanding values across positions involves using a specific algorithm to analyze player values. It weighs various factors like scoring rules, starting-lineup requirements, ADP, and league settings. 

2. Track Positional Scarcity on the Fly

This one is super important but also super hard. To measure positional scarcity, you need to track each pick – and see how it impacts the player pool. If there are nine QBs taken by the fourth round, that position becomes scarce. And QBs suddenly increase in value in your draft. 

3. Prioritize Players With Greater Upside

You’re in the 11th round and torn between three players with roughly the same draft value. You need to highlight the player with the highest fantasy ceiling. Then make sure he doesn't slip by you in the heat of the draft. It might sound simple, but it’s mission-critical to identify these breakout players and pull the trigger when the time is right. 

4. Look Out for “Bust” Red Flags

You probably know the red flags of a potential bust. But are you factoring them into your value of each player? Age, declining production, bad offensive line, competition for touches, a new offensive scheme that de-emphasizes a player’s role. Don’t blow your draft capital on a player who is screaming “bust!”  

5. Use a Scientific Injury Risk Assessment

You know the scenario… You spend a second-round pick on a stud WR – and in Week 2, he suffers a soft-tissue injury and misses the next four weeks. Brutal. Injuries aren’t 100% predictable. But you can get reliable scientific data to avoid the biggest potential injury risk players. 

6. Always Use Correlated ADP

This one is huge. Using ADP (Average Draft Position) is the ultimate measure to find value. The problem is this: If you use a redraft PPR ADP to prepare for your non-PPR Dynasty league, you’re doing yourself more harm than good. Find reliable ADP that is correlated to your specific rules and format. 

7. Avoid Bye-Week Conflicts

You’d think this one would be so easy. But you know the truth. You’re in the heat of your draft, you’re on the clock, and bang … you double-up on the same bye week at a crucial position. You’re now forced to fix that mistake at some point in your draft – or later in your season.

Key Insights: There are a lot of factors that go into drafting for true player value. It’s not just about using “position tiers” or employing a “Zero” or “Hero” RB strategy. It’s about using some scientific metrics and educated guesses in predicting player production. And how you and your opponents behave during critical times in your draft.

How To Execute This Strategy: You’ve got a lot to focus on if you want to execute these draft strategies in real-time – amid the chaos of your draft. In fact, it’s humanly impossible for anyone to implement every key strategy… AND work out every algorithm essential to a winning draft. The real solution is to get real-time help from an AI “Draft War Room.”  

Discover the Live-Draft Sync That Strategizes While You Draft

If what you’ve read so far makes sense, here’s a draft tool you need to learn more about. 

It’s actually TWO tools that pair together so you can dominate your draft with one super tool!

A live-draft sync super-powered by a “Draft War Room” (DWR)

This super draft tool automatically re-ranks players on your draft board in real-time. Those dynamic player values are based on a variety of factors including positional scarcity, team needs, injury risk, breakout potential, and bust risk. In fact, there are 17 draft-value indicators it calculates in real-time to come up with your player suggestions.

How It Works:

You literally click 3 times, and your league and draft are live-synced. From there, you’re on the road to draft domination. And it works across multiple platforms (ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Underdog, and Sleeper, to name a few). For multiple league formats (dynasty, rookie, keeper, best ball, auction, superflex – and, of course, redraft).  

What It Means For You:

Bottom line is, you get dynamic player values customized to your league. Simply. And in real-time. When it's your turn to pick, the Draft War Room offers instant player suggestions tailored to everything happening in your draft. You’ll be unburdened from the pressure of being "on the clock." While at the same time getting specific player suggestions that are scientifically based and strategically sound.

Key Insights: No one who’s serious about winning their draft can use 2014 technology in the competitive environment of 2024. It’s really that simple. We know too much about the science behind successful drafting to keep basing decisions on “gut” and “educated guesses.” Yes, sometimes we roll with those two things. But we need to have a lot more (technology) at our disposal to be consistent fantasy football champions.

Way to Execute This Strategy: Make sure you pick a “live-draft sync” over a simple “league sync.” A league sync has too many steps to set up, can break down during your draft, and doesn't adjust player values in real-time throughout your draft. To learn more about the live-sync option, check out this page explaining our live-sync tool

Fantasy Football Draft Guide: 12-Team PPR Draft Strategy

   

Fantasy Football Draft Guide: Round-by-Round

Fantasy drafts are hard. There’s a lot to think about each time you’re on the clock:

  • Scoring system
  • Positional value
  • Team needs
  • ADP
  • Upside
  • Injury risk

It’s easy to be overwhelmed and make costly draft mistakes.

And is there anything worse than seeing your top picks falter while your opponents land the late-round league winners?

The solution: A round-by-round draft strategy guide to maximize value with every pick.

The 12-team PPR draft strategy guide below will take you through top targets for every pick of your draft.

We’re using our 3D Values and recent ADP to pinpoint the best picks in each round.

Consider this your game plan heading into your draft.

No fantasy football draft goes exactly as planned, of course. You’ll likely need to adjust your strategy throughout the draft to maximize value.

That’s where the customized, dynamic fantasy football cheat sheet on your Draft War Room comes into play, instantly analyzing 17 value indicators each time you’re on the clock to help you make the best pick.

 

Combine the Draft War Room with this round-by-round game plan and you’ll be armed with the ultimate fantasy football draft guide.

Note: This strategy guide assumes a 16-round draft and starting lineup of 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 TE, 1 Flex, 1 K and 1 DST. The Draft War Room will help you adjust your strategy if your league settings are different.

  

Fantasy Draft Guide for Pick 1, 2, or 3

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy for Pick 1, 2, or 3

Round 1

Top target: CeeDee Lamb

You might be surprised to see Lamb -- and not Christian McCaffrey -- topping our PPR rankings.

But Lamb is coming off a massive 2023 season, leading all WRs in PPR points. The 25-year-old has grown his target share and yards per route run each season. And he returns to the same offense with the same QB in 2024.

It all makes Lamb arguably the safest pick in fantasy football.

Next best: Christian McCaffrey

McCaffrey’s 24.7 PPR points per game last year beat all other RBs by more than 3.0. He set career highs in numerous categories, including:

  • Yards per carry
  • Yards after contact per attempt
  • Missed tackles forced per attempt

McCaffrey turns just 28 this June and should still have at least one more big fantasy season in him.

The only downside: Our Injury Predictor gives him a 63.6% chance of injury and 3.0 projected games missed this season.

Other option

  • Tyreek Hill

 

Rounds 2 & 3

Top targets: Travis Etienne & Cooper Kupp

Etienne ranked third at his position in PPR points last year, tallying the fourth-most carries and seventh-most targets among RBs.

Tank Bigsby will need to be much better this season to take significant work from Etienne, a 25-year-old former first-round pick.

Puka Nacua might be the Rams' new No. 1 WR. But the gap between he and Kupp likely isn't as big as current ADP suggests.

In 11 healthy regular-season games together, Nacua out-targeted Kupp just 95 to 94. Kupp's 14.6 PPR points per game in those outings ranked 20th among WRs.

Next best: De'Von Achane & Jaylen Waddle

Achane’s 11 games last year included PPR explosions of:

  • 51.3 points
  • 27.0 points
  • 25.3 points
  • 23.7 points
  • 23.5 points

He averaged an absurd 7.8 yards per carry and took 13 of his 103 attempts (12.6%) for 15+ yards.

The 188-pounder will never be a workhorse. But he doesn’t need to be to deliver bunches of fantasy points thanks to his big-play ability.

Waddle missed three games and parts of a couple more last season. And he got unlucky in the TD department, scoring on just four of 72 catches.

Yet he still finished 22nd among WRs in PPR points per game. Waddle set a career high and ranked eighth among 84 qualifying WRs in yards per route run.

This is a young, explosive WR in a strong offense that still boasts WR1 upside.

Other options

  • Isiah Pacheco
  • Derrick Henry

       

Rounds 4 & 5

Top targets: Joe Mixon & Tee Higgins

The Texans traded for Mixon before he could hit the open market -- and then signed him to a three-year, $27 million extension. That all points to Mixon operating as the clear lead back for a Texans offense that could explode in QB C.J. Stroud's second season.

Higgins battled through injuries last year but still flashed week-winning upside with four top-10 finishes among his 12 outings. He ranked top-14 in PPR points per game in both 2021 and 2022 and is just 25.

Joe Mixon and Tee Higgins are key pieces in optimal 12-team PPR draft strategy.

Joe Mixon and Tee Higgins figure to pop as strong Round 4/5 targets on your Draft War Room.

Next best: James Cook & Mark Andrews

Cook was a big winner of Buffalo's switch to OC Joe Brady, who's back for 2024. He averaged 16.7 carries, 3.7 targets, and 16.6 PPR points per game under Brady.

Andrews still looks like an elite fantasy TE. His PPR scoring average in nine healthy games last year would have ranked third at his position.

Andrews' 1.96 yards per route run ranked third among 33 TEs with 40+ targets. He has now ranked top 6 in YPRR at his position in all six of his NFL seasons.

Other options

  • Anthony Richardson
  • Ken Walker
  • D.K. Metcalf
  • DeVonta Smith
  • Trey McBride

       

Rounds 6 & 7

Top targets: James Conner & Evan Engram

Conner tallied career highs and ranked top 5 among 49 qualifying RBs in:

  • Yards per carry
  • Rush yards over expected per attempt
  • Yards after contact per attempt
  • Pro Football Focus rushing grade

He's set to again operate as Arizona's clear lead back in 2024 and is a big-time value at this point of your fantasy draft.

Engram's 114 catches last year were the second most by a TE in NFL history. He's back in HC Doug Pederson's TE-friendly offense this season and should remain busy after the departure of WR Calvin Ridley.

Next best: Chris Godwin & DeAndre Hopkins

Godwin scored just twice last year but ranked 15th among WRs in catches (83) and 23rd in receiving yards (1,024). Better TD luck will make him a strong value in 2024 fantasy drafts.

The Titans paid up for WR Calvin Ridley in free agency -- but Hopkins easily beat Ridley in key metrics last year like yards per route run and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. We're betting on Hopkins leading the team in targets this season. And there will be more targets to go around with the arrival of pass-leaning HC Brian Callahan.

Other options

  • Joe Burrow
  • Dak Prescott
  • Rhamondre Stevenson
  • D'Andre Swift
  • Calvin Ridley

 

The Draft War Room is the most powerful drafting tool in fantasy football.

Rounds 8 & 9

Top targets: Javonte Williams & Jayden Daniels

This is a nice spot for RB value, with Williams leading the way.

His 2023 inefficiency was no surprise coming off a nasty knee injury. He should be much closer to pre-injury form this season. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught 59 passes across his first 21 NFL games.

Daniels' combination of deep-passing and rushing skills give him immediate top-5 fantasy upside. For more on Daniels, check out our list of 2024 fantasy football breakouts.

Next best: Jonathon Brooks & Diontae Johnson

Brooks is a rookie RB with a limited college resume coming off a torn ACL. That's the bad news.

The good news:

  • Brooks was awesome in his 10 games as Texas' feature back last year, averaging 114 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards per game.
  • Carolina traded up to make him the first RB off the board in this spring's draft.
  • He joins a backfield with weak competition from Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.
  • New Panthers HC Dave Canales just helped Rachaad White to a breakout season.

Brooks has easy top-20 fantasy upside, making him an attractive pick this deep into your fantasy draft.

TIP

Prioritizing high-upside players in the later rounds is 1 of 7 key tenets of our fantasy football draft strategy.

Johnson isn't as exciting as Brooks, but he's a good bet for steady production this year. He's been a strong target earner throughout his career and should continue to gobble up targets in Carolina amid a shaky WR corps.

Other options

  • Jaylen Warren
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba
  • Christian Watson
  • Dallas Goedert

        

Rounds 10 & 11

Top targets: Courtland Sutton & Tyler Lockett 

This is a good spot to add to your WR corps. Neither of these two targets is exciting, but they both look like solid values.

Sutton is coming off a WR35 finish and could see a target boost this year with WR Jerry Jeudy off to Cleveland.

Lockett is on the downswing of his career, finishing with his fewest PPR points last year since 2017. But he still ranked 34th at his position and is now outside the top 50 WRs in ADP.

Next best: Curtis Samuel & Trevor Lawrence

Samuel inked a three-year, $24 million deal in free agency with Buffalo, where he'll reunite with OC Joe Brady. Brady was Panthers OC in 2020 when Samuel turned in a career-best WR23 PPR finish. He's locked in as the starting slot receiver for a high-scoring Bills offense.

Lawrence is a nice value here if you're still looking for a QB1. He's finished as a top-10 fantasy QB in each of the past two seasons.

Other options

  • Chase Brown
  • Zach Charbonnet
  • Mike Williams
  • Pat Freiermuth

       

Rounds 12 & 13

Top targets: Kendre Miller & Jahan Dotson

Injuries marred Miller's rookie season. But he was an exciting prospect heading into the league last offseason and flashed in Week 18. Miller finds himself in a 2024 Saints backfield with a pair of declining veterans in Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. He's one of our favorite 2024 fantasy football sleepers.

Dotson is coming off an underwhelming 2023 season but is now super cheap for a 24-year-old, former first-round pick. He's essentially locked into a top-two WR job this year. And Washington upgraded at QB with the selection of Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick of this spring's draft.

Next best: Ty Chandler & Rashid Shaheed

The Vikings signed Aaron Jones to be their lead back -- but expect Chandler to remain involved in a committee backfield after a nice finish to 2023. But his real upside is as a handcuff to Jones, who turns 30 in December and has missed multiple games in five of seven NFL seasons.

Shaheed has flashed in limited opportunities through two NFL seasons, averaging a huge 11.1 yards per target. He looks like the Saints' clear No. 2 WR heading into 2024 and should find himself in a more creative offense under new OC Klint Kubiak.

Other options

  • Antonio Gibson
  • MarShawn Lloyd
  • Brandin Cooks

 

Rounds 14, 15 & 16

Top targets: High-upside bench stash, K & DST

Pinpoint a player with upside in Round 14. Your Draft War Room will flip to Upside Mode in the second half of your draft and highlight players with lofty ceilings.

Use your final two picks on a K and DST. We typically recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at both positions throughout the season. Here are a few Ks and DSTs with favorable Week 1 matchups:

Kickers
  • Ka'imi Fairbairn (at IND)
  • Jason Sanders (vs. JAC)
  • Michael Badgley (vs. LAR)
  • Tyler Bass (vs. ARI)
DSTs
  • NO (vs. CAR)
  • CIN (vs. NE)
  • CHI (vs. TEN)
  • SEA (vs. DEN)

       

  

Fantasy Draft Guide for Pick 4, 5, or 6

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy for Pick 4, 5, or 6

Round 1

Top target: Justin Jefferson

Injuries cost Jefferson seven games and parts of two others last year. But his PPR scoring average in the other eight would have led all WRs.

Jefferson also set career highs last year in:

  • Target share (30.0% in eight healthy games)
  • Yards per route run
  • Pro Football Focus receiving grade

Minnesota's QB situation sans Kirk Cousins is a slight concern for Jefferson's outlook. But note that he averaged 7.5 catches, 119 yards, and 0.5 TDs across four healthy games without Cousins last year.

Next best: Ja'Marr Chase

With a healthy Joe Burrow over the first nine games of last season, Chase averaged 7.7 catches, 91 yards, and 0.6 TDs per game.

An elite talent in the prime of his career, Chase is a safe pick with the upside to lead all WRs in fantasy points.

Other options

  • Breece Hall
  • Bijan Robinson
  • Amon-Ra St. Brown

 

Round 2

Top target: Drake London

London disappointed fantasy owners last year but remained strong on a per-target and per-route basis.

Now he's freed from Arthur Smith and in what should be a much pass-heavier offense under new HC Zac Robinson. And he got a big QB upgrade with the arrival of Kirk Cousins.

London is a prime 2024 bounce-back candidate.

TIP

London headlines our list of 2024 fantasy football breakouts.

Next best: Travis Etienne

Etienne ranked third at his position in PPR points last year. He tallied the fourth-most carries and seventh-most targets among RBs.

The 25-year-old former first-round pick is a good bet for another hefty workload in 2024.

Other options

  • De'Von Achane
  • Chris Olave

 

Round 3

Top target: Cooper Kupp

Puka Nacua might be the Rams' new No. 1 WR. But the gap between he and Kupp likely isn't as big as current ADP suggests.

In 11 healthy regular-season games together, Nacua out-targeted Kupp just 95 to 94. Kupp's 14.6 PPR points per game in those outings ranked 20th among WRs.

Note: Kupp's ADP currently sits in the middle of Round 4, so you could gamble that he makes it back to your next pick. But it's also fine to "reach" for him here. He's a solid value.

Next best: Jaylen Waddle

Waddle missed three games and parts of a couple more last season. And he got unlucky in the TD department, scoring on just four of 72 catches.

Yet he still finished 22nd among WRs in PPR points per game. Waddle set a career high and ranked eighth among 84 qualifying WRs in yards per route run.

This is a young, explosive WR in a strong offense that still boasts WR1 upside.

Other options

  • Jalen Hurts
  • Derrick Henry
  • Deebo Samuel

 

Round 4

Top target: Joe Mixon

The Texans traded for Mixon before he could hit the open market -- and then signed him to a three-year, $27 million extension.

That all points to Mixon operating as the clear lead back for a Texans offense that could explode in QB C.J. Stroud's second season.

Next best: Mark Andrews

Andrews still looks like an elite fantasy TE.

His 1.96 yards per route run last year ranked third among 33 TEs with 40+ targets. He has now ranked top 6 in YPRR at his position in all six of his NFL seasons.

And Andrews’ PPR scoring average in nine healthy games last year would have ranked third at his position.

Mark Andrews' ranks among TEs in yards per route:

  • 2018 - 4th
  • 2019 - 2nd
  • 2020 - 4th
  • 2021 - 3rd
  • 2022 - 3rd
  • 2023 - 3rd

Other options

  • Rachaad White
  • James Cook
  • D.K. Metcalf
  • DeVonta Smith

 

Round 5

Top target: Tee Higgins

Higgins battled through injuries last year but still flashed week-winning upside with four top-10 finishes among his 12 outings. He's an easy bounce-back bet this year with better health for both he and QB Joe Burrow.

Don't forget that Higgins ranked top-14 in PPR points per game in both 2021 and 2022. He's still just 25.

Next best: Ken Walker

Consider Walker if you have just one RB through four rounds.

The presence of RB Zach Charbonnet adds some risk to Walker's profile. But in 14 games together last year, Walker averaged 13.8 carries and 2.4 targets per game to Charbonnet's 5.4 carries and 2.4 targets.

Other options

  • Anthony Richardson
  • Tank Dell

 

Round 6

Top target: James Conner

Conner remained excellent in his age-28 season last year, setting career highs and ranking top 5 among 49 qualifying RBs in:

  • Yards per carry
  • Rush yards over expected per attempt
  • Yards after contact per attempt
  • PFF rushing grade

Conner finished 13th at his position in PPR points per game and should again be Arizona's clear lead back in 2024. He's a strong value here.

Next best: Evan Engram

Engram's 114 catches last year were the second most by a TE in NFL history.

He's back in HC Doug Pederson's TE-friendly offense this season and should remain busy after the departure of WR Calvin Ridley.

Other options

  • Joe Burrow
  • Rhamondre Stevenson
  • Chris Godwin
  • Christian Kirk

 

Round 7

Top target: DeAndre Hopkins

The Titans paid up for WR Calvin Ridley in free agency -- but Hopkins easily beat Ridley in key metrics last year like yards per route run and Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

We're betting on Hopkins leading the team in targets this season. And there will be more targets to go around with the arrival of pass-leaning HC Brian Callahan.

3D Values identify exactly what a player is worth in YOUR league.

Next best: Dak Prescott

His future in Dallas beyond 2024 might be uncertain, but Prescott is a strong fantasy value for this year.

He's coming off a QB3 finish and returns his top three targets in WR CeeDee Lamb, TE Jake Ferguson, and WR Brandin Cooks.

Other options

  • Tony Pollard
  • Raheem Mostert
  • Chris Godwin
  • Calvin Ridley
  • Jake Ferguson
  • David Njoku

 

Round 8

Top target: Javonte Williams 

This is a nice range for RB value.

Williams’ 2023 inefficiency was no surprise coming off a nasty knee injury. He should be much closer to pre-injury form this season.

Remember that Williams averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught 59 passes across his first 21 NFL games.

Next best: Jonathon Brooks

Brooks is a rookie RB with a limited college resume coming off a torn ACL. That's the bad news.

The good news:

  • Brooks was awesome in his 10 games as Texas' feature back last year, averaging 114 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards per game.
  • Carolina traded up to make him the first RB off the board in this spring's draft.
  • He joins a backfield with weak competition from Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.
  • New Panthers HC Dave Canales just helped Rachaad White to a breakout season.

Brooks has easy top-20 fantasy upside, making him an attractive pick this deep into your fantasy draft.

Other options

  • Jaylen Warren
  • Diontae Johnson
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba

 

Round 9

Top target: Jayden Daniels

With a lethal combination of deep passing and rushing ability, Daniels boasts immediate top-five fantasy upside.

Washington is a nice landing spot, with a solid group of weapons and an OC in Kliff Kingsbury who has experience with young, mobile QBs. Kingsbury guided Kyler Murray to a QB11 finish in fantasy points per game as a rookie back in 2019.

Next best: Dallas Goedert

Goedert is coming off an underwhelming 2023 season, missing three games and finishing 12th among TE in PPR points per game.

But that followed TE9 and TE5 finishes the previous two years. Goedert should remain a big part of a high-scoring Eagles offense that figures to play faster this season under new OC Kellen Moore.

Other options

  • Tyjae Spears
  • Zack Moss
  • Christian Watson
  • Keon Coleman

 

Round 10

Top target: Courtland Sutton

Sutton isn't an exciting pick. But he's coming off a WR35 finish and could see a target boost this year with WR Jerry Jeudy off to Cleveland.

Next best: Brian Robinson

Another unexciting but rock-solid pick in Round 10.

Robinson's upside is capped by RB Austin Ekeler, who figures to handle most of the pass-catching work out of Washington's backfield. But Robinson is a good bet to control rushing work. He beat Ekeler last year in every major rushing efficiency metric, including rush yards over expected per attempt, yards after contact per attempt, and Pro Football Focus Elusive Rating.

Other options

  • Chase Brown
  • Tyler Lockett
  • Jameson Williams
  • Curtis Samuel

 

Round 11

Top target: Mike Williams

Williams is coming off a September 2023 ACL. But that's where the bad news ends.

The good news:

  • He's turned in three straight top-24 finishes in PPR points per game.
  • He has a clear path to the No. 2 WR job for the Jets.
  • He sports a career 10% TD rate.
  • His QB, Aaron Rodgers, owns a career 6.2% TD rate.

Next best: Pat Freiermuth

Freiermuth disappointed last year, but this offseason has been good to him.

The Steelers upgraded at QB with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields; hired a TE-loving OC in Arthur Smith; and traded away target hog Diontae Johnson.

Other options

  • Trevor Lawrence
  • Zach Charbonnet
  • Jerome Ford
  • Jerry Jeudy
  • Jakobi Meyers

       

Round 12

Top target: Kendre Miller

Injuries marred Miller's rookie season. But he was an exciting prospect heading into the league last offseason and flashed in Week 18.

Miller finds himself in a 2024 Saints backfield with a pair of declining veterans in Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams.

He's one of our favorite 2024 fantasy football sleepers.

Next best: Rashid Shaheed

Shaheed has flashed in limited opportunities through two NFL seasons, averaging a huge 11.1 yards per target.

He looks like the Saints' clear No. 2 WR heading into 2024 and should find himself in a more creative offense under new OC Klint Kubiak.

For more on Shaheed, check out 2024 WR Sleepers.

Other options

  • Jerry Jeudy
  • Gabe Davis
  • Luke Musgrave

   

Round 13

Top target: Ty Chandler

The Vikings signed Aaron Jones to be their lead back -- but expect Chandler to remain involved in a committee backfield after a nice finish to 2023.

But his real upside is as a handcuff to Jones, who turns 30 in December and has missed multiple games in five of seven NFL seasons.

Next best: Jahan Dotson

Dotson is coming off an underwhelming 2023 season but is now super cheap for a 24-year-old, former first-round pick.

He's essentially locked into a top-two WR job this year. And Washington upgraded at QB with the selection of Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick of this spring's draft.

Other options

  • Deshaun Watson
  • Antonio Gibson
  • MarShawn Lloyd
  • Brandin Cooks
  • Dontayvion Wicks

 

Rounds 14, 15 & 16

Top targets: High-upside bench stash, K & DST

Pinpoint a player with upside in Round 14. Your Draft War Room will flip to Upside Mode in the second half of your draft and highlight players with lofty ceilings.

Use your final two picks on a K and DST. We typically recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at both positions throughout the season. Here are a few Ks and DSTs with favorable Week 1 matchups:

Kickers
  • Ka'imi Fairbairn (at IND)
  • Jason Sanders (vs. JAC)
  • Michael Badgley (vs. LAR)
  • Tyler Bass (vs. ARI)
DSTs
  • NO (vs. CAR)
  • CIN (vs. NE)
  • CHI (vs. TEN)
  • SEA (vs. DEN)

 

     

Fantasy Draft Guide for Pick 7, 8, or 9

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy for Pick 7, 8, or 9

Round 1

Top target: Amon-Ra St. Brown

St. Brown has boosted his catches, receiving yards, receiving TDs, yards per target, and yards per route in each of his first three NFL seasons.

Last year’s monster 119-1,515-10 line landed him third among WRs in PPR points.

With QB Jared Goff and OC Ben Johnson back for 2024, St. Brown is one of the safest picks in fantasy football.

Next best: Breece Hall

Hall is coming off a PPR RB6 finish ... a year after tearing an ACL ... on an offense that lost QB Aaron Rodgers and finished bottom four in total yards and points.

Rodgers is back for 2024, and the Jets made some significant upgrades on the offensive line this offseason.

Hall has the upside to challenge Christian McCaffrey for the RB scoring lead.

Other options

  • Bijan Robinson
  • Puka Nacua

3D projections factor in ceiling and floor to give you a complete look at every player's fantasy value.

 

Round 2

Top target: Jonathon Taylor

Taylor has been dogged by injuries the past two years, missing 12 total games.

But he's still averaged 90 total yards and 0.6 TDs per game across that span -- after topping 2,100 total yards and leading all RBs in fantasy points in 2021.

Still just 25, Taylor is an easy 2024 bounce-back bet in an ascending Colts offense.

Note: We don't advise opening your PPR draft with two RBs. So if you took Breece Hall or Bijan Robinson in Round 1, go with Drake London here instead of Taylor.

Next best: Drake London

London disappointed fantasy owners last year but remained strong on a per-target and per-route basis.

Now he's freed from Arthur Smith and in what should be a much pass-heavier offense under new HC Zac Robinson. And he got a big QB upgrade with the arrival of Kirk Cousins.

London is primed for a career-best season in 2024.

Other options

  • Saquon Barkley
  • Kyren Williams
  • Chris Olave

 

Round 3

Top target: Jaylen Waddle

Waddle missed three games and parts of a couple more last season. And he got unlucky in the TD department, scoring on just four of 72 catches.

Yet he still finished 22nd among WRs in PPR points per game. Waddle set a career high and ranked eighth among 84 qualifying WRs in yards per route run.

This is a young, explosive WR in a strong offense that still boasts WR1 upside.

Next best: Isiah Pacheco

Pacheco finished RB14 in PPR points per game last year – and was even better in games without RB Jerick McKinnon, who is still a free agent.

With mega-bust Clyde Edwards-Helaire behind him on the depth chart, Pacheco is in for a heavy workload on a high-scoring Chiefs offense.

Other options

  • Jalen Hurts
  • Deebo Samuel

 

Round 4

Top target: Cooper Kupp

Puka Nacua might be the Rams' new No. 1 WR. But the gap between he and Kupp likely isn't as big as current ADP suggests.

In 11 healthy regular-season games together, Nacua out-targeted Kupp just 95 to 94.

Kupp's 14.6 PPR points per game in those outings ranked 20th among WRs.

KUPP VS. NACUA IN 11 HEALTHY GAMES TOGETHER

Kupp

94 targets

58 catches

726 yards

5 TDs

Nacua

95 targets

57 catches

874 yards

3 TDs

Next best: Mark Andrews

Andrews still looks like an elite fantasy TE. His PPR scoring average in nine healthy games last year would have ranked third at his position.

Andrews' 1.96 yards per route run ranked third among 33 TEs with 40+ targets. He has now ranked top 6 in YPRR at his position in all six of his NFL seasons.

Other options

  • Joe Mixon
  • Rachaad White
  • James Cook
  • Malik Nabers
  • Trey McBride

 

Round 5

Top target: Tee Higgins

Higgins battled through injuries last year but still flashed week-winning upside with four top-10 finishes among his 12 outings. He's an easy bounce-back bet this year with better health for both he and QB Joe Burrow.

Don't forget that Higgins ranked top-14 in PPR points per game in both 2021 and 2022. He's still just 25.

Next best: Ken Walker

Consider Walker if you have just one RB through four rounds. (Although we'll find plenty more RB value in the next few rounds.)

The presence of RB Zach Charbonnet adds some risk to Walker's profile. But in 14 games together last year, Walker averaged 13.8 carries and 2.4 targets per game to Charbonnet's 5.4 carries and 2.4 targets.

Other options

  • Anthony Richardson
  • Keenan Allen
  • Christian Kirk

 

Round 6

Top target: James Conner

Conner remained excellent in his age-28 season last year, setting career highs and ranking top 5 among 49 qualifying RBs in:

  • Yards per carry
  • Rush yards over expected per attempt
  • Yards after contact per attempt
  • PFF rushing grade

Conner finished 13th at his position in PPR points per game and should again be Arizona's clear lead back in 2024.

Next best: Evan Engram

Engram's 114 catches last year were the second most by a TE in NFL history.

He's back in HC Doug Pederson's TE-friendly offense this season and should remain busy after the departure of WR Calvin Ridley.

Other options

  • Joe Burrow
  • Rhamondre Stevenson
  • Christian Kirk
  • Terry McLaurin
  • George Kittle

 

Round 7

Top target: DeAndre Hopkins

The Titans paid up for WR Calvin Ridley in free agency -- but Hopkins easily beat Ridley in key metrics last year like yards per route run and Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

We're betting on Hopkins leading the team in targets this season. And there will be more targets to go around with the arrival of pass-leaning HC Brian Callahan.

Next best: Dak Prescott

His future in Dallas beyond 2024 might be uncertain, but Prescott is a strong fantasy value for this year.

He's coming off a QB3 finish and returns his top three targets in WR CeeDee Lamb, TE Jake Ferguson, and WR Brandin Cooks.

Other options

  • Tony Pollard
  • Raheem Mostert
  • Calvin Ridley
  • Jake Ferguson
  • David Njoku

   

Round 8

Top target: Javonte Williams 

This is a nice range for RB value.

Williams’ 2023 inefficiency was no surprise coming off a nasty knee injury. He should be much closer to pre-injury form this season.

Remember that Williams averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught 59 passes across his first 21 NFL games.

Next best: Jonathon Brooks

Brooks is a rookie RB with a limited college resume coming off a torn ACL. That's the bad news.

The good news:

  • Brooks was awesome in his 10 games as Texas' feature back last year, averaging 114 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards per game.
  • Carolina traded up to make him the first RB off the board in this spring's draft.
  • He joins a backfield with weak competition from Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.
  • New Panthers HC Dave Canales just helped Rachaad White to a breakout season.

Brooks has easy top-20 fantasy upside, making him an attractive pick this deep into your fantasy draft.

Other options

  • Jaylen Warren
  • Diontae Johnson
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba

TIP

Put this draft strategy to the test with the FREE Mock Draft Simulator.

 

Round 9

Top target: Jayden Daniels

With a lethal combination of deep passing and rushing ability, Daniels boasts immediate top-five fantasy upside.

Washington is a nice landing spot, with a solid group of weapons and an OC in Kliff Kingsbury who has experience with young, mobile QBs. Kingsbury guided Kyler Murray to a QB11 finish in fantasy points per game as a rookie back in 2019.

Next best: Dallas Goedert

Goedert is coming off an underwhelming 2023 season, missing three games and finishing 12th among TE in PPR points per game.

But that followed TE9 and TE5 finishes the previous two years. Goedert should remain a big part of a high-scoring Eagles offense that figures to play faster this season under new OC Kellen Moore.

Other options

  • Tyjae Spears
  • Zack Moss
  • Christian Watson
  • Keon Coleman

   

Round 10

Top target: Courtland Sutton

Sutton isn't an exciting pick. But he's coming off a WR35 finish and could see a target boost this year with WR Jerry Jeudy off to Cleveland.

Next best: Brian Robinson

Another unexciting but rock-solid pick in Round 10.

Robinson's upside is capped by RB Austin Ekeler, who figures to handle most of the pass-catching work out of Washington's backfield. But Robinson is a good bet to control rushing work. He beat Ekeler last year in every major rushing efficiency metric, including rush yards over expected per attempt, yards after contact per attempt, and Pro Football Focus Elusive Rating.

Other options

  • Chase Brown
  • Tyler Lockett
  • Jameson Williams
  • Curtis Samuel

 

Round 11

Top target: Mike Williams

Williams is coming off a September 2023 ACL. But that's where the bad news ends.

The good news:

  • He's turned in three straight top-24 finishes in PPR points per game.
  • He has a clear path to the No. 2 WR job for the Jets.
  • He sports a career 10% TD rate.
  • His QB, Aaron Rodgers, owns a career 6.2% TD rate.

Next best: Pat Freiermuth

Freiermuth disappointed last year, but this offseason has been good to him.

The Steelers upgraded at QB with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields; hired a TE-loving OC in Arthur Smith; and traded away target hog Diontae Johnson.

Other options

  • Trevor Lawrence
  • Zach Charbonnet
  • Jerome Ford
  • Jerry Jeudy
  • Jakobi Meyers

       

Round 12

Top target: Kendre Miller

Injuries marred Miller's rookie season. He dealt with knee, hamstring, and ankle injuries, missing nine regular-season games.

But he was an exciting prospect heading into the league last offseason, running for 1,399 yards and 17 TDs on 6.2 yards per carry as a junior in 2022. 

And he flashed in last year's finale with 73 yards and a score on 13 carries (6.0 YPC)

Miller finds himself in a 2024 Saints backfield with a pair of declining veterans in Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams.

The youngster could capture a big role and is a top value pick near the end of fantasy drafts.

Kendre Miller is a top 2024 fantasy football sleeper.

Kendre Miller headlines our list of 2024 Sleepers

Next best: Rashid Shaheed

Shaheed has flashed in limited opportunities through two NFL seasons, averaging a huge 11.1 yards per target.

He looks like the Saints' clear No. 2 WR heading into 2024 and should find himself in a more creative offense under new OC Klint Kubiak.

For more on Shaheed, check out 2024 WR Sleepers.

Other options

  • Jerry Jeudy
  • Gabe Davis
  • Luke Musgrave

 

Round 13

Top target: Ty Chandler

The Vikings signed Aaron Jones to be their lead back -- but expect Chandler to remain involved in a committee backfield after a nice finish to 2023.

But his real upside is as a handcuff to Jones, who turns 30 in December and has missed multiple games in five of seven NFL seasons.

Next best: Jahan Dotson

Dotson is coming off an underwhelming 2023 season but is now super cheap for a 24-year-old, former first-round pick.

He's essentially locked into a top-two WR job this year. And Washington upgraded at QB with the selection of Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick of this spring's draft.

Other options

  • Deshaun Watson
  • Antonio Gibson
  • MarShawn Lloyd
  • Brandin Cooks
  • Dontayvion Wicks

       

Rounds 14, 15 & 16

Top targets: High-upside bench stash, K & DST

Pinpoint a player with upside in Round 14. Your Draft War Room will flip to Upside Mode in the second half of your draft and highlight players with lofty ceilings.

Use your final two picks on a K and DST. We typically recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at both positions throughout the season. Here are a few Ks and DSTs with favorable Week 1 matchups:

Kickers
  • Ka'imi Fairbairn (at IND)
  • Jason Sanders (vs. JAC)
  • Michael Badgley (vs. LAR)
  • Tyler Bass (vs. ARI)
DSTs
  • NO (vs. CAR)
  • CIN (vs. NE)
  • CHI (vs. TEN)
  • SEA (vs. DEN)

       

       

Fantasy Draft Guide for Pick 10, 11, or 12

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy for Pick 10, 11, or 12

Rounds 1 & 2

Top targets: Puka Nacua & Jahmyr Gibbs

Nacua is coming off a historic rookie season, scoring the third most PPR points by a first-year WR in NFL history. The two guys ahead of him on that list: Randy Moss and Ja’Marr Chase.

Returning to the same offense with the same QB as an ascending 23-year-old, Nacua is a safe bet for WR1 production with upside into the top-5.

Gibbs also turned in an awesome rookie campaign, finishing eighth among RBs in PPR points per game.

He did a ton of damage in the passing game, ranking top 10 among RBs in targets (71) and catches (51).

And his share of Detroit's rushing work grew as the season went on.

Gibbs' carry share climbed from 29% over the first half of last season to 42% over the second.

Next best: Garrett Wilson & Jonathan Taylor

Wilson has topped 80 catches and 1,000 receiving yards in two straight seasons to open his NFL career, despite crappy QB play. A healthy Aaron Rodgers could mean a breakout into elite fantasy status in 2024.

Despite ankle and thumb injuries, Taylor finished 11th among RBs in PPR points per game last year. He’s still in his prime at 25 and will remain a huge part of an ascending Colts offense.

Other options

  • Saquon Barkley
  • A.J. Brown

 

Rounds 3 & 4

Top targets: Cooper Kupp & Isiah Pacheco

Don't be afraid to take both of the Rams' top two WRs. This should remain a concentrated passing attack this season.

Kupp remained productive when healthy last season, scoring as the PPR WR20 in his 11 full regular-season games with Nacua.

Pacheco finished RB14 in PPR points per game last year – and was even better in games without RB Jerick McKinnon, who is still a free agent.

With mega-bust Clyde Edwards-Helaire behind him on the depth chart, Pacheco is in for a heavy workload on a high-scoring Chiefs offense.

Next best: Jalen Hurts & Jaylen Waddle

Hurts has finished QB3 and QB2 in fantasy points the past two years and will operate in new OC Kellen Moore's fast-paced offense this season. Hurts is an especially attractive pick here if you nabbed WR A.J. Brown with one of your first two selections.

Waddle missed three games and parts of a couple more last season and got unlucky in the TD department, scoring on just four of 72 catches.

Yet he still finished 22nd among WRs in PPR points per game. Waddle set a career high and ranked eighth among 84 qualifying WRs in yards per route run.

This is a young, explosive WR in a strong offense that still boasts WR1 upside.

Other options

  • Deebo Samuel
  • Mark Andrews

 

Rounds 5 & 6

Top targets: James Conner & Tee Higgins

Conner remained excellent in his age-28 season last year, setting career highs and ranking top 5 among 49 qualifying RBs in:

  • Yards per carry
  • Rush yards over expected per attempt
  • Yards after contact per attempt
  • PFF rushing grade

Conner finished 13th at his position in PPR points per game and should again be Arizona's clear lead back in 2024. He's a nice value here.

Higgins battled through injuries last year but still flashed week-winning upside with four top-10 finishes among his 12 outings. He ranked top-14 in PPR points per game in both 2021 and 2022 and is just 25.

Next best: Rhamondre Stevenson & Anthony Richardson

After a slow start last year, Stevenson ranked 10th among RBs in PPR points over his final six healthy games. The four-year, $36 million extension he signed earlier this offseason is a clear sign that New England's new coaching staff views Stevenson as their lead back, despite the addition of RB Antonio Gibson.

Richardson is an exciting pick. He has a big arm, elite rushing upside, and plays under proven talent maximizer Shane Steichen. Richardson has the upside to push Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen for the QB scoring lead. Just note that we'll find plenty more QB value in the next few rounds.

Other options

  • Joe Burrow
  • D'Andre Swift
  • Chris Godwin
  • Keenan Allen
  • Christian Kirk
  • Evan Engram
  • George Kittle
  • Kyle Pitts

 

Rounds 7 & 8

Top targets: Javonte Williams & DeAndre Hopkins

Williams’ 2023 inefficiency was no surprise coming off a nasty knee injury. He should be much closer to pre-injury form this season. Remember that he averaged 4.4 yards per carry and caught 59 passes across his first 21 NFL games.

The Titans paid up for WR Calvin Ridley in free agency -- but Hopkins easily beat Ridley in key metrics last year like yards per route run and Pro Football Focus receiving grade. We're betting on Hopkins leading the team in targets this season. And there will be more targets to go around with the arrival of pass-leaning HC Brian Callahan.

Next best: Jonathon Brooks & Jake Ferguson

Brooks is our top-rated rookie in the 2024 RB class. He's recovering from a November ACL tear but is expected to be ready for the start of the season. The talented 6'0, 216-pounder has three-down potential and is an upside target at this point of your draft.

Ferguson finished TE9 in PPR points last year, despite underachieving in the TD department. He’ll remain a big part of Dallas’ passing game in 2024 and is a nice value here if you're still looking for your starting TE.

Other options

  • Dak Prescott
  • Tony Pollard
  • Raheem Mostert
  • Calvin Ridley
  • Marquise Brown
  • David Njoku

 

Rounds 9 & 10

Top targets: Jayden Daniels & Tyjae Spears

With a lethal combination of deep passing and rushing ability, Daniels boasts immediate top-five fantasy upside.

Washington is a nice landing spot, with a solid group of weapons and an OC in Kliff Kingsbury who has experience with young, mobile QBs. Kingsbury guided Kyler Murray to a QB11 finish in fantasy points per game as a rookie back in 2019.

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Jayden Daniels' 398-point ceiling projection ranks fifth highest among QBs

The Titans coaching staff has made it clear all offseason that they'll deploy a committee backfield with Spears and Tony Pollard. Spears certainly earned a 2024 role with strong rookie season. He racked up 52 catches and averaged a strong 4.5 yards per carry.

Next best: Christian Watson & Dallas Goedert

Watson's hamstrings were a problem again last year, but he remained in a very fantasy-friendly role when healthy. Watson registered a big 15.6-yard average target depth and 15 end-zone targets -- tops among Packers and sixth among all WRs. There's still exciting upside here if Watson can stay on the field.

Goedert is coming off a down 2023 but still finished as a top-12 PPR TE for the fourth straight season. He's a relatively safe bet at this cost and still has the upside to score as a top-six fantasy TE as a big part of a high-scoring Eagles offense.

Other options

  • Brian Robinson
  • Courtland Sutton
  • Jameson Williams

 

Rounds 11 & 12

Top targets: Mike Williams & Pat Freiermuth

Williams is coming off a September 2023 ACL tear but should be ready for Week 1. He should be the clear No. 2 WR in New York. And Williams' career 10% receiving TD rate pairs well with QB Aaron Rodgers' career 6.2% passing TD rate.

Freiermuth disappointed last year, but this offseason has been good to him. The Steelers upgraded at QB with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields; hired a TE-loving OC in Arthur Smith; and traded away target hog Diontae Johnson.

Next best: Kendre Miller & Rashid Shaheed

Injuries marred Miller's rookie season. But he was an exciting prospect heading into the league last offseason and flashed in Week 18. Miller finds himself in a 2024 Saints backfield with a pair of declining veterans in Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams.

Shaheed has flashed in limited opportunities through two NFL seasons, averaging a huge 11.1 yards per target. He looks like the Saints' clear No. 2 WR heading into 2024 and should find himself in a more creative offense under new OC Klint Kubiak.

Other options

  • Trevor Lawrence
  • Zach Charbonnet
  • Jerome Ford
  • Jerry Jeudy
  • Jakobi Meyers
  • Gabe Davis
  • Luke Musgrave

 

Rounds 13 & 14

Top targets: Ty Chandler & Jahan Dotson

The Vikings signed Aaron Jones to be their lead back -- but expect Chandler to remain involved in a committee backfield after a nice finish to 2023. But his real upside is as a handcuff to Jones, who turns 30 in December and has missed multiple games in five of seven NFL seasons.

Dotson is coming off an underwhelming 2023 season but is now super cheap for a 24-year-old, former first-round pick. He's essentially locked into a top-two WR job this year. And Washington upgraded at QB with the selection of Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick of this spring's draft.

Next best: MarShawn Lloyd & Dontayvion Wicks

Lloyd is an exciting rookie RB. He ripped off 7.1 yards per carry at USC last year and then clocked a 4.46-second 40 time at 220 pounds at the Combine. The Packers made him a Round 3 pick this spring. We'll see if he pushes RB Josh Jacobs for work. But, at minimum, Lloyd is a high-upside handcuff.

Wicks beat both Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs in targets per route and yards per route as a rookie last year. He has a chance in 2024 to win a top-three WR job on an ascending Packers offense.

TIP

Wicks makes our list of top 2024 fantasy football sleepers.

Other options

  • Deshaun Watson
  • Antonio Gibson
  • Kimani Vidal
  • Jaleel McLaughlin
  • Brandin Cooks
  • Marvin Mims
  • Darnell Mooney
  • Demarcus Robinson

 

Rounds 15 & 16

Top targets: K & DST

Use your final two picks on a K and DST. We typically recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at both positions throughout the season. Here are a few Ks and DSTs with favorable Week 1 matchups:

Kickers
  • Ka'imi Fairbairn (at IND)
  • Jason Sanders (vs. JAC)
  • Michael Badgley (vs. LAR)
  • Tyler Bass (vs. ARI)
DSTs
  • NO (vs. CAR)
  • CIN (vs. NE)
  • CHI (vs. TEN)
  • SEA (vs. DEN)

     


  

The Ultimate Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: A Customized, Dynamic Cheat Sheet

Having round-by-round strategy heading into your draft is important.

But fantasy football drafts are unpredictable. You need to be nimble. You need to adjust on the fly to capture the most value.

You need a customized, dynamic cheat sheet.

The Draft War Room takes our award-winning player projections and applies them to your league’s exact rules to give you a precise set of rankings.

Then it recalibrates throughout your draft based on 17 value indicators to make sure you’re making the absolute best pick each time you’re on the clock.

CREATE YOUR DRAFT WAR ROOM NOW!

        


 

Frequently Asked Questions About Draft Strategy

Who is the number one fantasy pick in 2024?

The number one fantasy pick in 2024 will almost certainly be RB Christian McCaffery in most leagues. But some managers might be tempted to pick WR CeeDee Lamb, WR Tyreek Hill, or even RB Breece Hall.  

What position should I draft first in PPR league?

The position you should draft first in a PPR league is either a WR or a pass-catching RB like Christian McCaffery or Breece Hall.

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

The best position order to draft in fantasy football has traditionally been first. But some scientific data suggests that a later position like 6 or 7 can actually be optimal.

How many WR and RB should I draft?

How many WRs and RBs you should draft is typically 5, 6 or 7 in traditional formats with a 20-round draft. Of course, that can change depending on your scoring rules and starting lineup requirements.

What round should I draft a QB?

You should generally draft a QB in the middle rounds – unless you’re in a Superflex league. You can always find value in mid-round QBs like Jayden Daniels or Kyler Murray.

When should I draft a kicker or defense in fantasy?

You should commonly draft a kicker or defense in the very late rounds in fantasy. Sometimes it might even be a good idea to pick up kickers and defenses on the waiver wire and stream them.

               

Jared Smola Author Image
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.
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