Fantasy: Strategy for drafting at the end of the round
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theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.
Draft position- Top of the round
- Middle of the round
- End of the round
Here's a look at how to attack the draft if you've been assigned one of the final four picks in a 12-team PPR scoring league.
Round 1Picks: 1.09-1.12
Your first-round pick should be someone who can win you weeks almost by themselves.
At the end of the opening round there are still potentially elite running backs available - however, each has an issue pushing them into this range. So we'll go with a player who could challenge for the fantasy receiver crown and is attached to the league's best quarterback.
Tyreek Hill averaged 21.9 PPR fantasy points per game last year. That was fifth-best at the flex position behind only Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, Alvin Kamara, and Dalvin Cook. He also offers a massive weekly ceiling, which he displayed during Week 12's 13-catch, 269-yard, three-touchdown performance.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
Others to consider: Travis Kelce, Austin Ekeler, Saquon Barkley
Round 2Picks: 2.01-2.04
If Austin Ekeler falls to the early second round, you could consider him over Antonio Gibson since the Chargers' back provides more guaranteed receiving volume.
However, we know Gibson has the pass-catching skills to excel in that role given his usage in college. And he caught 36 balls as a rookie, despite the team admittedly limiting him in that area to limit his workload.
The talk all offseason from Ron Rivera and the coaching staff has focused around a desire to increase Gibson's targets, which makes sense since journeyman J.D. McKissic saw 110 looks a year ago. If they follow through with that plan, Gibson has true top-five fantasy potential.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
Others to consider: Stefon Diggs, Jonathan Taylor, Calvin Ridley
Round 3Picks: 3.09-3.12
Sometimes we can get too caught up in the hype surrounding a player, especially when they're making highlight-reel grabs every day at practice.
This isn't one of those times.
CeeDee Lamb was my top receiving prospect in the 2020 draft class, and prior to Dak Prescott's season-ending ankle injury in Week 5, the young wideout looked like a budding star. Lamb was averaging the 16th-most fantasy points among receivers and could flirt with WR1 numbers as a sophomore - as long as Prescott stays on the field.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
Others to consider: Allen Robinson, D'Andre Swift, Chris Carson
Round 4Picks: 4.01-4.04
Knowing my affinity for Robert Woods, it's shocking it took until the third part of this series to be selected to one of these rosters.
Woods was one of my seven players who will lead you to a fantasy title. He's been a top-15 fantasy wideout for three straight years and now gets a major upgrade at quarterback with the arrival of Matthew Stafford.
Don't just look at his receiving totals, either. He's added rushing stat lines of 19-157-1, 17-115-1, and 24-155-2 over the past three campaigns. With Hill, Lamb, and Woods, we have an impressive trio of receivers through four rounds.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
| WR3 | Robert Woods | 4th |
Others to consider: Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, D.J. Moore
Round 5Picks: 5.09-5.12
In the two previous installments of this series, we found our starting quarterback in Round 9 or later. However, if one of the top-five QBs fall into this zone, you should be willing to pay up.
Dak Prescott is the most likely of that group to tumble given his recent shoulder injury that's expected to keep him sidelined for the entire preseason. Though he might enter Week 1 a little rusty, we'll take the discount on a passer with a QB1 overall ceiling.
In addition to three excellent receivers (one of which we already have on our roster), Prescott has two quality running backs and a healthy offensive line. When all those pieces were in place early last year, he was averaging 31.30 fantasy points per game - most at the position through four weeks.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| QB1 | Dak Prescott | 5th |
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
| WR3 | Robert Woods | 4th |
Others to consider: Brandon Aiyuk, Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams
Round 6Picks: 6.01-6.04
Our wait for a second running back ends with Chase Edmonds. The Cardinals back should open the year atop the depth chart with James Conner serving in the complementary role.
That's what beat writers speculated would happen earlier in the offseason, and with Conner missing time on the COVID list recently - in addition to his longstanding durability issues - we can feel confident Edmonds has the edge.
It's a small sample size, but in the two games Edmonds has seen more than 15 touches, he's delivered a 150-yard, three-touchdown game in 2019 and a 98-yard performance last year. While this is far from a sure thing, there's certainly a path for Edmonds to break out this season.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| QB1 | Dak Prescott | 5th |
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| RB2 | Chase Edmonds | 6th |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
| WR3 | Robert Woods | 4th |
Others to consider: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Jerry Jeudy
Round 7Picks: 7.09-7.12
We're making another upside selection in the seventh round, going with rookie Devonta Smith as our flex.
Despite concerns over his thin frame and how he'll hold up in the pros - as well as a knee sprain that sidelined him for part of training camp - the 10th overall pick should see decent volume in Year 1 on an offense desperate for a No. 1 wideout.
Smith dealt with drops in his preseason debut, which can be partially attributed to a late quarterback change with Joe Flacco taking over for an ill Jalen Hurts. More importantly, Smith was getting off the line well and creating separation with outstanding route running. He passed the test of looking like he belongs on an NFL field, even as a rookie.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| QB1 | Dak Prescott | 5th |
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| RB2 | Chase Edmonds | 6th |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
| WR3 | Robert Woods | 4th |
| FLEX | Devonta Smith | 7th |
Others to consider: Robby Anderson, Trey Sermon, Antonio Brown
Round 8Picks: 8.01-8.04
As we discussed in the latest episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, the eighth round can sometimes be a bit thin in terms of exciting options.
Hopefully one of our targets from the previous round drops to us here, but if not, we can hedge our bets and secure the other half of the Cardinals' backfield. This way, we aren't dependent on Edmonds having that breakout season and we're protected against injuries.
For all of Conner's durabilities woes, he's just two seasons removed from turning 286 touches into 1,470 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns as the lead back for the Steelers. If he proves worthy, it's possible he steps into the vacated Kenyan Drake role in this offense.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| QB1 | Dak Prescott | 5th |
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| RB2 | Chase Edmonds | 6th |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
| WR3 | Robert Woods | 4th |
| FLEX | Devonta Smith | 7th |
| Bench | James Conner | 8th |
Others to consider: A.J. Dillon, Noah Fant, Logan Thomas
Round 9Picks: 9.09-9.12
Since we refrained from investing two early picks on running backs, we need to continue filling out our bench with plenty of backups who could emerge as spot starters for us throughout the season.
Jamaal Williams has long been a thorn in the side of fantasy managers as he siphoned touches away from Aaron Jones in Green Bay. But Williams is also a veteran back capable of handling valuable work in the passing game and near the goal line.
Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn has heaped praise on Williams during the offseason, referring to him as a "classic A back" and suggesting they'll ride the hot hand in the backfield. Though he's not a real threat to D'Andre Swift's workload - the sophomore recently dealt with a groin issue - it's a reminder that Williams is one injury away from starter's snaps.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| QB1 | Dak Prescott | 5th |
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| RB2 | Chase Edmonds | 6th |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
| WR3 | Robert Woods | 4th |
| FLEX | Devonta Smith | 7th |
| Bench | James Conner | 8th |
| Bench | Jamaal Williams | 9th |
Others to consider: Corey Davis, Michael Gallup, Jaylen Waddle
Round 10Picks: 10.01-10.04
When you don't come away with an elite tight end and you miss out on the second-tier guys like Kyle Pitts or T.J. Hockenson, you might just want to wait until this range of the draft to pick from the deeper breakout options.
Irv Smith Jr. tops that list for us now that Kyle Rudolph is out of the picture in Minnesota. Head coach Mike Zimmer's comments that Tyler Conklin would actually see the bigger increase in playing time doesn't impact Smith's outlook at all.
Late last season with Rudolph out of the lineup, Smith averaged the eighth-most fantasy points among tight ends down the stretch - while playing alongside Conklin. Unfortunately, there's no scenario where Smith sees the kind of targets that would put him into the top-three at the position, but his touchdown potential alone could push him into the top seven or eight.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| QB1 | Dak Prescott | 5th |
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| RB2 | Chase Edmonds | 6th |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
| WR3 | Robert Woods | 4th |
| TE1 | Irv Smith Jr. | 10th |
| FLEX | Devonta Smith | 7th |
| Bench | James Conner | 8th |
| Bench | Jamaal Williams | 9th |
Others to consider: Alexander Mattison, Latavius Murray, Darnell Mooney
Later roundsWith the entire starting lineup filled out, we can keep our attention directed toward high upside backups at running back and receiver.
Marvin Jones is showing a strong connection with Trevor Lawrence in practice and the preseason. It's possible he starts the year as the most valuable fantasy wideout in the Jaguars' offense, which could earn him our flex spot over Smith.
Darrynton Evans is dealing with a knee injury suffered in the first preseason game, but prior to leaving he flashed his skills as the clear No. 2 back behind Derrick Henry. Monitor the injury closely because Evans might be one of the most valuable backup RBs out there this season.
| Roster | Player | Round |
|---|---|---|
| QB1 | Dak Prescott | 5th |
| RB1 | Antonio Gibson | 2nd |
| RB2 | Chase Edmonds | 6th |
| WR1 | Tyreek Hill | 1st |
| WR2 | CeeDee Lamb | 3rd |
| WR3 | Robert Woods | 4th |
| TE1 | Irv Smith Jr. | 10th |
| FLEX | Devonta Smith | 7th |
| Bench | James Conner | 8th |
| Bench | Jamaal Williams | 9th |
| Bench | Marvin Jones | 11th |
| Bench | Darrynton Evans | 12th |
- Top of the round
- Middle of the round
- End of the round
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