When it comes to the late set of fantasy football snake draft picks, a well-prepared and adaptable strategy is essential. It’s no longer about determining which players are good or bad since they are being drafted in Round 1 for a reason. Instead, the focus shifts towards establishing a solid foundation that sets the standard for your roster throughout the draft. Even before making your selection towards the back end of Round 1, it’s crucial to consider your player targets for the crucial Round 2 follow-up. In order to achieve success in this exercise, the importance of preparing tier lists or utilizing FantasyPros’ built-in tiers and rankings cannot be overstated. However, the task becomes more challenging without a top-8 pick, as will be the case in this scenario.
- Early Snake Draft Picks Strategy & Advice | Middle Pick| Late Pick
- Best Ball Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
- Dynasty Trade Value Chart
- Dynasty Rookie Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
As we approach the end of Round 1 in the 2023 fantasy football drafts, one question looms large: the debate between selecting RB, WR, or possibly even QB, and how that decision will impact subsequent rounds. Draft slots in the 1.09-1.12 range, where there tends to be more variability compared to earlier in Round 1, are set to offer an exciting experience. In this article, we will consider these selections as “late snake draft picks,” with the early snake picks ranging from 1.01 to 1.04 and the middle snake picks falling between 1.05 and 1.08 in traditional 12-team fantasy football leagues. The ADP source for this discussion will be Underdog and FFPC Best Ball, with the latter serving as the host for the 2023 FantasyPros Championship.
Fantasy Football Snake Draft Strategy for Late Picks
Let the Draft Begin.
Rounds 1-2
Picking in the late part of Round 1 tends to be easier than the middle. Although you miss out on the top overall players, having two picks inside the top-16 overall players has its advantages. As is the little wait in between picks, especially if you pick at 1.11 or 1.12.
I’ve praised the “hero-RB approach” with early and mid-snake draft picks, and that strategy still works even with a late pick in Round 1. Hence, why my approach going into any snake draft is that I want one running back in the first two rounds.
However, when it comes to picking later on in Round 1, this is the range I’d be much more likely to pivot to a WR-WR approach. Because it’s entirely possible that Austin Ekeler, Saquon Barkley or Jonathan Taylor won’t be there for you in Round 1 or waiting for you in Round 2 if you opt for a WR first. In thirsty RB drafts, it can be hard to pass on two falling top-tier studs at WR, especially in PPR formats.
Running backs like Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb should be available for WR drafters in Round 2, but some may view this as a tier break at the position. I personally feel very comfortable with Chubb as my hero RB, so I don’t mind taking him a few spots ahead of ADP at the start of Round 2.
I just want to stress that you should mostly avoid “reaching” on a running back (especially one based solely on a volume projection) versus a top-end wide receiver that may fall into the back of Round 1.
In Superflex, I am still most likely selecting my highest remaining Tier 1 fantasy quarterbacks. They won’t be available later in Round 2.
You can view my Tier 1 quarterbacks in my QB Best Ball Primer. However, because there are only seven of them, don’t reach Tier 2 QB in Round 1. Just take the best non-QB available. But in the rare instance that you can snag two Tier 1 QBs, you SMASH the draft button.
Round 1-2 Takeaways:
- Picking late in Round 1 can still be advantageous, with the opportunity to secure two top-16 players and avoid long waits between picks.
- Consider a WR-WR approach if top-tier RBs are not available, as elite wide receivers can provide significant value in PPR formats.
- Running backs like Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Derrick Henry, and Nick Chubb are viable options in Round 2 for Round 1 WR drafters.
- In Superflex leagues, prioritize Tier 1 quarterbacks early on as they are unlikely to be available later in Round 2.
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