Scott Engel is in his 13th year as Seahawks.com's official fantasy football writer and analyst. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis and fantasy football rankings at RotoBaller.com.
Seahawks Insiders Podcast: 2024 Fantasy Football Primer – John Boyle and Scott Engel bring you a quick preview of the fantasy football season. Listen now before the draft.
Some fantasy football players prepare relentlessly for the draft. They approach the pre-draft process as if they were one in the fantasy version of John Schneider and Mike McDonald. The draft preparation of avid fantasy league players is thorough, involving extensive research and practice in the form of mock drafts.
Not everyone who plays fantasy football has the time to dedicate to meticulous pre-draft planning, and this point in the preseason marks the moment of truth for many fantasy players as they draft in the final days leading up to the first NFL game of 2024. With the season rapidly approaching, fantasy analysts like myself are often contacted by people looking for a quick list of players to target right before the draft.
For those who need a quick guide to execute a solid plan with not much time left until the draft, here is a victory map. I will highlight my favorite picks for each round based on FantasyPros.com's average draft position report in Points Per Reception (PPR) format. Experienced players can also use my list of recommended picks to help make tough decisions as the draft progresses.
The 2024 fantasy football sleeper overview is another key feature fantasy players often look for as the time before the draft looms.
Pro Tip: Well-prepared drafters won't strictly follow the convention of targeting specific positions in a set order, but if you don't have much time to prepare for the draft or are new to the league, follow this loosely recommended approach.
In the first two rounds, draft one starting running back and one wide receiver, then repeat the same pattern in rounds 3 and 4. If you get two RBs and two WRs in the first two rounds and want three starters, then get a third WR in the fifth round.
Don't wait until the 6th round to draft your starting TE, as the depth is thinner at this position than at other positions. If you need one flex player, go for your best WR or RB in the 7th round. There are still good starting QBs by the 8th round. I've projected 16 round picks here, but in leagues this size, you should get a ton of your best backup RBs and WRs in rounds 9-12, then your backup QB and TE. Save your defenseman and kicker for the last two picks.
