Fantasy Football Draft Strategy – Pick 7
Fantasy managers picking seventh have a lot of choices. They could try to land a rushing quarterback like Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts and load up on elite pass catchers.
Or they could take a FLEX back like Miles Sanders or Kenneth Walker III and hope that Cooper Kupp has another big year.
Running Back
The running back position can get tricky in pick 7. It depends on scoring format, with standard leagues having fewer options than PPR. Taking one here isn’t a bad idea, but you may have to wait until the later rounds.
A lot of the top options here are taken, so the best bet is to take a second-tier option who can be a solid FLEX. Look for names like second-year workhorse Najee Harris or Dalvin Cook, who could have RB3 upside with 249 rushing attempts last year in his first season as Minnesota’s lead back.
Another option is Chicago Bears rookie Roschon Johnson. He was impressive in his rookie campaign, with strong receiving numbers and a clear role in the passing game. He also boasts a high college grade for pass protection, which can be a huge asset in the modern game. A healthy Johnson can be a strong RB2. He’ll likely fall into the end of round 7 or beyond, so it’s a good time to take him.
Wide Receiver
While there’s a steep dropoff at quarterback, running back and tight end, the wide receiver position remains relatively deep. That’s an advantage if you pick here, especially in leagues that require three starting WR positions.
Ideally, one of Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler or Travis Kelce is left on the board. If they’re all gone, you could opt for a second-tier running back like Saquon Barkley, Bijan Robinson or Derrick Henry and keep your eye on a top-tier wide receiver such as Tyreek Hill, Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs or Davante Adams, along with possibly CeeDee Lamb or A.J. Brown.
Otherwise, you can simply continue to hammer WR and build a team that will overwhelm opponents on a weekly basis at the position. This will likely require fading some talent at the other positions, though, especially in a league that requires you to start two RBs and four WRs. That may leave you a little short on depth in the FLEX spot.
Quarterback
As scoring settings shift further away from full PPR, quarterbacks will continue to dominate the position’s fantasy points. This is why grabbing one early in Rounds 4-5 is a good idea.
If you land this spot, targeting a player like Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow or Jalen Hurts might be in order. They’re not likely to fall much further than this, so you should be able to build a strong roster around them.
However, if Austin Ekeler falls here (ADP 19), it’d be wise to consider snagging him for your team. He’s a solid starter who can get you a boatload of touchdowns and has a good floor. He’ll give your roster a lot of balance and you can use the rest of your draft to target other skill-position players. This will allow you to exploit possible opportunities, such as stacking teammates, if they arise throughout the season. As always, you shouldn’t be afraid to stray from your plan, but it should be based on value. That’s why using the Draft War Room to instantly analyze 17 value indicators is a smart move.
Tight End
The seventh pick is a tricky one because the top-tier running backs and wide receivers are probably gone. That could force you to go running back-heavy if a player like Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, or CeeDee Lamb is available, but the best option here is to limit risk and give yourself one of the better 1-2 punches in the league with Cooper Kupp or Tyreek Hill.
It’s also important to remember that while drafting two TE’s early isn’t the worst thing, it does lower your team’s playoff rate significantly. The best approach here is to draft one TE in rounds 1-4 (along with a mid-round quarterback), and then take a second TE in rounds 11-15.
That means targeting players like Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, and George Kittle who provide top-five value for their draft position. You can always reach for a player like Evan Engram or David Njoku later to add to your strength at the position.