Picks nine through 12 in a standard 12-team fantasy football format may be considered the best place to draft this season.
The top is loaded with wide receiver talent, but running backs can produce value with the later picks. Getting those picks later in the first and early in the second round appear to be better bets than having to wait for the end of the second round for the second selection.
I’ve already completed draft strategies for picks one through eight and beyond. If you draw picks nine through 12, here’s what my strategy is heading into the draft.
First Round
I’m all over Lamar Miller in this position…if he’s there. I have him ranked as my second running back overall and he currently sits at No. 12 overall for average draft position. But let’s say someone reads this blog and picks him in those first eight picks. That leaves me with a bit of a decision. I could snatch up Dez Bryant in his position, as he owns the No. 11 ADP. That leaves me with a problem with running backs, but I do get a wide receiver who I value near those top-three positions. I also have Le’Veon Bell staring at me in the face with an ADP of 13. I’m going to buck my trend a bit and go with the best value for this pick — Bryant. He will gobble up plenty of points, but it does mean I will have to get crafty with my running backs later in the draft.
Second Round
For picks 13 through 17, I must focus on a running back. I’m skipping Bell for another running back who has some difficulties staying on the field. Jamaal Charles is the focal point of Kansas City’s offense, and even the backups were fantasy studs last season when he went down. Charles is a potential No. 1 running back based on targets and work load. The biggest issue is durability. If he can stay on the field, this pick could pay big dividends. It’s a risk to have him as an RB1, but I’ll take it with this slot.
Third Round
Now we’re down to picks 33 through 36 and I’m focusing once again on a running back. It’s a little scarce at this moment and I need a player who will be out on the field, just in case Charles is injured. In that case, I’m backing Latavius Murray. It’s a reach as he’s listed 39th in ADP and 50th in other fantasy platforms. But I get a player on a rising offense who will see the field on almost every down. This creates a shaky situation with running backs, but I do have competent starters, who should be able to turn in solid weekly performances.
Fourth Round
My next picks are right around the corner at 37 through 40, so I must make a decision on either a standout tight end, a second wide receiver or my Flex running back. People are low on Carlos Hyde as a running back. That’s likely because in a Chip Kelly offense, he could turn out like LeSean McCoy or DeMarco Murray. I’m going with closer to McCoy. Hyde will see plenty of carries in Kelly’s offense and if he’s available at this point, I can use him as a solid Flex. And if he turns out to become the player many expected last season, then he would be a steal of epic proportions at this point.
Fifth Round
With three running backs and one wide receiver, I better start focusing on another wide receiver or tight end for my roster. For picks 57 through 60, that dwindles my options, but I have a few players who I still like. If I want a tight end, I can go with Travis Kelce, who offers me a top-tier tight end. Or I can settle with a dropping Golden Tate (if he’s there with an ADP of 54) or reach a little for Donte Moncrief. Since I’ve picked all of those players in previous drafts, I’ll give another wide receiver who could be a solid option. Jordan Matthews is being undervalued based on injuries and a questionable offense. He’s in his third year, owns an ADP of 68, and will be the No. 1 option on that offense. I have to reach, but he’s worth it, especially since I have a draft pick right after this one.
Sixth Round
With picks 61 through 64, I can either finish off my wide receivers, grab a tight end or finally end my quarterback wait. Once again, Moncrief would be solid here, along with Delanie Walker if he falls into this spot. Instead, though, I’ll go a bit off the beaten path since I don’t necessarily like some other options, and I’ll focus on Tom Brady. He missed the first four games, but he still offers me potential to be a top-five quarterback. I already have three running backs and two wide receivers, and since I don’t like the options at this point in the draft, I can grab a quarterback a little earlier than expected.
Seventh Round
At this juncture, I should focus on a tight end or wide receiver, just to finish off those positions. With picks 81 through 84, it leaves me with one of my favorite wide receiver steals in Tyler Lockett at 81 or I could grab Devante Parker, another emerging wide receiver. I rate Lockett higher than Parker, but I wouldn’t be too upset if Parker fell in my lap. Jarvis Landry is the No. 1 in Miami, but Parker should emerge as a strong No. 2 in a pass-happy offense.
Eighth Round
With picks 85 through 88, I’m looking for depth. Michael Crabtree is there, but Ameer Abdullah offers me intrigue. Abdullah had an up and down first year, but the Lions will likely utilize the second-year pro more than they did in the first year. They need him to become a running and catching option, which he can become. If he’s on my bench, he provides me solid versatility at the running back position, which scares me a bit with Charles as injury-prone. Abdullah is the No. 1 option and should only get better from his first season.
Ninth Round
I’m in the waiting game for my tight end, so it’s about time to grab him. At this point, I’m drafting picks 105 through 108, leaving me with few options. I can either hope Jimmy Graham returns to form, or I can wait. If Zach Ertz is available, I’m banking on him. He’s listed with an ADP of 102. If Josh Gordon is available at the wide receiver position (ADP of 101), I’m picking him up as a possible boom or bust candidate. But he’s coming off my bench, so his suspension wouldn’t hurt. However, in the position I’m in, I would look at a backup quarterback in Tony Romo, with the thought that I can continue to wait on a sleeper tight end. Romo gets me through the first four games, and could be top-level trade bait later in the season.
10th Round
My final pick of this exercise has me at picks 109 through 112. I would likely create more depth at wide receiver with Stefon Diggs with an ADP of 110 or grab Steven Hauschka as my kicker, with an ADP of 117. Another player who I like in this position is Markus Wheaton, who is the No. 2 option in Pittsburgh and could have a major upside season. The reason for all of this depth with no tight end is that I expect a solid sleeper season from either Austin Seferian-Jenkins, or I could grab Ladarius Green, who is rumored to have headache problems, but he’s dismissed those allegations. I get tremendous value with him with an ADP of 126.
