The NFL preseason wrapping up means one thing—it’s about to get serious. As much as we want to fast forward to the Week 1 opener between the Eagles and Cowboys, we still have some of our most important fantasy drafts in front of us. We have seen the players, updated our rankings, and synced our leagues into Draft Champion with our FantasyLife+ subscription. 

Now, it’s time to execute. Let’s get strategic. 

Three of our sharpest analysts (Geoff Ulrich, Gene Clemons, and Sam Wallace) are joining me in this week’s roundtable to discuss our favorite draft positions. We don’t always get to choose where we are slotted, but the strategy behind attacking the board from different angles will make for a fun discussion. I will get the ball rolling first…

What is the most advantageous draft position in 12-team redraft leagues? 

Mark: 1.01

I want the very first pick in the draft. Not to save the poor soul circulating TikTok for drafting B. Robinson Jr. first overall. Simply because it guarantees me Ja’Marr Chase. 

Let’s be honest. It’s quite possible the man who blessed the cover of this year’s Fantasy Life magazine is in a tier of his own. 

Using the Fantasy Life projection model, we can see that Chase is the only WR forecasted for 10+ TDs. He is projected to hit paydirt almost three more times (11.8-8.9) than the second-highest WR (CeeDee Lamb). 

Chase’s 1,708-yard, 17-TD season may seem impossible to replicate, but let’s not pretend the Bengals will be any better on defense without Trey Hendrickson.

Cincinnati will need to get the ball in Chase’s hands as much, if not more, in 2025. 

Once I secure the most productive player in the NFL, my focus shifts to the turn in Rounds 2-3. At 24-25 overall, I have a few options: 

I can grab an RB with an elite QB or elite TE.  

• Jayden Daniels/Kyren Williams/Ja’Marr Chase
• Ja’Marr Chase/Ladd McConkey/Trey McBride

I can engineer a diabolical BENGALS STACK by snatching up Chase Brown and Tee Higgins.

• Chase Brown/Ja’Marr Chase/Tee Higgins

I can traditionally fill out my roster with an RB/WR.

• Kyren Williams/Ja’Marr Chase/Ladd McConkey

Considering this year’s field, I prefer to pounce on an elite QB early (especially if Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen is available). However, Jayden Daniels will do just fine. Now, if you're feeling your stripes, I can’t stop you from loading up on Cincinnati because I love a good stack. 

Locking up an elite QB early allows me to come back in Rounds 4-5 and snatch up players like TreVeyon Henderson, DK Metcalf, or Xavier Worthy. Five picks in, and I have strategically crafted a strong foundation to build off in the later rounds. 

QB: Jayden Daniels

RB: Kyren Williams, TreVeyon Henderson

WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Xavier Worthy 

And for the Cincinnati stackers, the FantasyLife+ ADP tool shows you can get Evan McPherson as low as 167 in ESPN leagues! 

Sam: 1.03

Assuming a full-PPR scoring format, I'm finding it hard to find a better draft slot than the 1.03. I'm guaranteed to land one of Ja'Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, or Bijan Robinson. Our own Player Projections have both Chase and Lamb solidly clearing 300 fantasy points as both will be locked-in No. 1 options for their respective offenses.

Chase and Lamb (and Puka Nacua) are the only wideouts projected to crest the following thresholds this season:

• 150+ targets
• 105+ receptions
• 1,300+ receiving yards

Even if I have to "settle" for Robinson, I'm locking in a three-down workhorse who we project to finish:

• 3rd in rushing attempts
• 3rd in rushing yards
• 4th in targets
• 4th in receptions

 If Justin Jefferson wasn't dealing with both a new QB in J.J. McCarthy and a lingering hamstring issue, I would likely be targeting him here or with the 1.04. However, for now, this feels like an elite tier that's three-deep, which allows me to be that much closer to my second-round pick.

You can't win the draft with your first-round pick, but you can lay a strong foundation with a pick that is all but guaranteed to generate a ton of opportunity and fantasy points this season.

Gene: 1.04

For me, the format does not matter—I’m far more concerned with where and how I can draft based on my position. The first three rounds are critical for a fantasy manager to build a successful foundation for their roster. These are the players that should keep you afloat when those mid-round reaches are not panning out. They also become valuable trade assets when you need to revamp your roster. Yes, having one of the top three picks would be great, but the fourth pick means you get to your second-round selection sooner, then you spin the block quickly for your third-round pick. That is the fourth, 21st, and 28th picks. Adding three top 30 guys and five in the first 52 picks will definitely jumpstart your roster. 

I have always been a fan of selections that are closer together because I like to stack picks together. Although I must wait for the second to third round turn to take advantage of it, if one of my elite quarterbacks makes it to that 21st pick, I can comfortably take them and hit another good receiver in the third round. From there, every time I select, I am not only thinking about the current selection but also the section six picks away in the next round. The stack on the turn is also why I champion 1.09; it guarantees you two top 15 picks, but the difference is in the top tier selection you can take if you are at 1.04. 

Geoff: 1.12

Most advantageous may be a little debatable but, as of writing, picking at 1.12 might be my favorite spot right now.

Outside of Chase being the most dominant WR in football, parity at the main skill positions of RB and WR is very real. Bijon Robinson is our projected top RB in fantasy scoring this season, but the eight RBs ranked behind him are projected to be within 40 points of Robinson in 0.5 PPR scoring. Four RBs are also projected to catch more passes than he is. 

At WR, Chase is projected to score 2.1 TDs more than anyone else at his position this season, but the next nine players are projected to be within 1.7 TDs of each other. 

That’s exceedingly tight and showcases both how many elite WRs there are in this second-tier group, and how likely it is that any one of them could surprise and challenge for top WR. 

Pick 12 not only allows you to double dip from this elite group of 15-20 players after Chase, but also, since you’re at the turn, you’re going to have the ability to decide your draft strategy and which players you want to build around—a big advantage for a prepared drafter. 

Here’s a breakdown of how I see picking from 12 (and why it’s pretty appealing). 

1. You can set the tone in Rounds 1 and 2. This to me is the biggest benefit of picking late. If we want to load up on WRs early, Malik Nabers and Puka Nacua are both on sale and often available at the turn. Sad that you missed out on those explosive RBs like Gibbs and Bijan? Chase Brown and Bucky Irving are very similar players and have as good a shot at ending up a top 3 RB this season as anyone going outside the top 6. Stretching for them may look strange, but by taking them both off the board a little early, you could cause a run on RBs that may make it painful for those drafting after you.
2. Elite QBs and TEs are likely available in Rounds 3 and 4. Depending on your strategy from earlier, you have almost no limitations on what you can do in Rounds 3 and 4. That’s because one or both of Jayden Daniels and George Kittle are likely still available, two players with the ability to finish as the top player at their position this season. But you’d rather keep running up WRs? There are a ton of WRs like Xavier Worthy and Tetairoa McMillan coming down the pipe with great upside. Need an RB or just want the best value available? Guys like Kyren Williams (who we have projected for 1.6 more rushing TDs than Bijan, btw) can still drop to you in this spot.
3. Depth of WR helps later. If you went Daniels or Kittle, or went Double Hero RB to start, no need to fret. The Law Firm of Golden, Ebugka, and Pearsall is here to help. I’d add in Chris Olave, but I don't want to double dip from the Saints this year, and am more prone to waiting on teammate Rashid Shaheed in the later rounds.

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