Fantasy Football Redraft: Late Pick Draft Strategy

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The NFL season is nearly here, which means fantasy football redraft season is in full force. Some leagues draft early, but many like to wait until the end of August for any last-minute signings or injuries that could kill your team before the season even starts. There are many different strategies when it comes to drafting your team in a redraft league, but it mostly depends on where you are picking in your league. While some think having a late draft pick is a death wish, I am here to show you that you can still draft a great team from that spot. Let’s take a look at this draft strategy and who could be available if you draft from the 9-12 spot.

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

I will preface this article by saying that most of the time, I have been a Zero RB guy. Part of that is I just love wide receivers more than running backs – and there are more of them on the field at one time.

However, with all the uncertainty around disgruntled running backs and more split backfields, I am prioritizing running back in the first couple of rounds this season. I would also like to mention that while many fantasy managers would prefer top three pick, you are getting the 1st and 24th best player on the board. But by drafting 12th, you are getting the 12th and 13th best player available. The disparity in the first pick can be made up by getting two players that could have higher production.

When going over each round, I will be using Fantasy Pros 1 QB PPR ADP and talking about players that would be available in the last four spots of each round for a redraft league.

Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Round 1

Candidates: Bijan Robinson, Nick Chubb, Ceedee Lamb, Stefon Diggs

I do love CeeDee Lamb and Stefon Diggs here. However, as I mentioned earlier, I am going running back early with this fantasy football draft strategy. The receiver position is very deep this year, and you can get similar production from guys with later ADP.

Bijan Robinson has a higher ceiling with his receiving ability, but he is a rookie and the Falcons’ offense is an unknown going into the season.

Give me Nick Chubb here. It looks as if he will have a bigger workload with Kareem Hunt gone and the offense looks to be very explosive.

Round 2

Candidates: A.J. Brown, Patrick Mahomes, Tony Pollard, Derrick Henry

I have the same sentiment with A.J. Brown as I did with the receivers in the first round – I am willing to wait. Patrick Mahomes is great, and it would be advantageous to have the best quarterback but this is a 1QB league. Drafting a QB at this point in the draft is too high.

In redraft, I want the top running backs this year, especially with a later pick. So I will double-dip and pick Derrick Henry. He looks to be the focal point of the Titans offense yet again this season. Though Tony Pollard is more valuable in PPR, I am a little worried about his usage for a full season.

Round 3

Candidates: Joe Mixon, Jahmyr Gibbs, Lamar Jackson, Calvin Ridley

I do love Jahmyr Gibbs, but you never know with rookie running backs and we have our two starters at that position already. I think Calvin Ridley will be great this year for the Jaguars but I am taking Lamar Jackson here. This is blasphemy for me not picking a receiver in the first three rounds, but I think Jackson has too much upside. He has the rushing ability and with the glowing reports of Zay Flowers, this offense should be explosive. Jackson should be a top-five fantasy quarterback.

Round 4

Candidates: Deebo Samuel, Aaron Jones, Breece Hall, Amari Cooper

If Breece Hall was healthy I may be tempted to select him here, but I am passing on him in redraft leagues. So which receiver do I go with here?

I love both Deebo Samuel and Amari Cooper, but do worry about the QB position with the 49ers. I also think Brandon Aiyuk is going to be heavily involved. Amari Cooper is not the sexy pick but he gets the job done. Cooper finished 10th in overall fantasy points among receivers last year. This is impressive since most of the year was with Jacoby Brissett and Deshaun Watson was not himself up until the last couple of games.

Round 5

Candidates: Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert, Alvin Kamara, Mike Williams

I would most likely want to go receiver here but I am not overly excited for Mike Williams with the Chargers drafting Quentin Johnston. A big advantage is getting a tight end here.

I think Kyle Pitts will have a bounce-back year. However, I just do not believe in Desmond Ridder‘s accuracy for Pitts to reach his potential.

Instead, give me Dallas Goedert in that Eagles offense. He finished fifth in points per game amongst tight ends with only three touchdowns. I see that number going up this year, especially if he can play more than the 12 games he played last year.

Round 6

Candidates: JK Dobbins, Chris Godwin, Brandon Aiyuk, Tyler Lockett

The next couple of rounds need to be receiver-focused, as we only have one on the team so far. I do not want any part of the Buccaneers’ offense this year in redraft if I can help it. Also, Tyler Lockett is in a similar boat as Mike Williams – the receiver room is just too crowded for my liking. I mentioned Brandon Aiyuk earlier; I think he could outproduce Samuel this year and you are getting him two rounds later.

Round 7

Candidates: George Pickens, David Montgomery, Marquise Brown, Jahan Dotson

A third running back is needed, but I am not big on David Montgomery this year. He will take on the Jamaal Williams role but he would need to duplicate all those touchdowns; I just do not see that happening.

I like George Pickens, but Diontae Johnson is still WR1 for the Steelers. As for Marquise Brown, I am just unsure of the QB play this year for the Cardinals. That leaves me with one of the players I loved coming out of the draft last year, Jahan Dotson. He has come into this year continuing where he left off in his rookie year. Sam Howell looks very impressive so far in preseason and I think both Dotson and Terry McLaurin are ready for breakout seasons.

Round 8

Candidates: Khalil Herbert, Jordan Addison, Michael Thomas, Brandin Cooks

This round is a little more difficult for me. I think Jordan Addison is going to have a great year, but I want to get my RB3 before my WR4. Many are in on Roschon Johnson, but to me, Khalil Herbert is the main guy in that backfield.

In preseason, we have seen his explosiveness, taking a screen for a long touchdown. Last year Herbert missed some time, but when he played he averaged 5.7 yards per carry. He also had 11 rushes over 20 yards which was top 20 amongst running backs.

The Rest of The Draft – Redraft League

Late in the draft, ADP will not usually hold up, but here are some players that could be available that you should look at in your draft.

Antonio Gibson: I spoke about the Commanders earlier, but with a new offense, I see Gibson playing more in slot and in space giving him good flex appeal

Sam LaPorta: He comes from the TE factory at Iowa and he very well could be the best rookie TE this year. He is stepping into a starting role and could be a top-12 TE this year.

Nico Collins: We have all been waiting for the Nico coming out party and it could finally happen. This will be his best QB in the NFL and preseason shows they want to get him the ball and let him make plays.

Brandon grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and works as a health insurance data analyst. He has no children, but two fur babies - Squirt and Brownie. He and his wife, Katie, spend their time playing poker and enjoying time with their pups. Brandon is a huge Michigan Wolverine and Jacksonville Jaguars fan. He at one time was in 77 fantasy leagues and loves the game of football. Brandon started writing for The Leauge Winners in 2021.

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