Scott Engel has been the official fantasy football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com for 13 years. He is a founding member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and 13-time nominee. For more of his fantasy football analysis and rankings, visit RotoBaller.com.
Seahawks Insiders Podcast: Fantasy Football Primer for 2024 – John Boyle and Scott Engel deliver a fast-paced preview of the fantasy football season. Listen now before you select a player!
Some fantasy football players prepare for their drafts obsessively, approaching the pre-draft process as if they were a fantasy version of John Schneider and Mike Macdonald in one role. Draft prep for the intense fantasy league player is intense and includes the required extensive research and practice in the form of mock drafts.
Not everyone who plays fantasy football has the time to spend heavily on pre-draft planning. At this point in the preseason, it is the crucial period for many fantasy players who will be drafting in the final days before the first NFL game of 2024. With the season quickly approaching, fantasy analysts like myself often hear from people looking for a quick list of players to target just before their draft.
For those who need a quick guide to implementing a solid plan when there isn’t much time left before the draft, we’ve provided a success map here. I highlight my favorite picks in each round based on average draft position reports in FantasyPros.com’s Point Per Reception (PPR) format. Experienced players can also use the list of favorite picks to make difficult decisions as the draft progresses.
Our 2024 Fantasy Football Sleepers roundup is another important feature that fantasy players often look for as time runs out before the draft begins.
PRO TIPS: Well-prepared drafters don’t strictly adhere to the practice of targeting specific positions in a set order, but if you don’t have much time to prepare for a draft or are entering a league for the first time, follow this loosely recommended approach.
Select a running back and a wide receiver in the first two rounds, then repeat the pattern in the third and fourth rounds. You should emerge from the first two rounds with two RBs and two WRs, then take a third WR in the fifth round when three starters are needed.
Don’t wait until after the sixth round to draft a starting TE, as that position is thinner than any other. If a flexible player is needed, target the best WR or RB in the seventh round. Good starting QBs are still available in the eighth round. I’ve planned 16 rounds of picks here, and at this league size, you should pick up the best reserve RBs and WRs in rounds nine through twelve, then take a backup QB and TE. Defenses and kickers should definitely be reserved for the last two picks.
