My article Planning Your First Two Draft Picks is always popular and it is so detailed that it cannot be kept current with every change and it deals with just the most common league size for the first two picks. But I get so many requests to do different sized leagues and another round deeper that I wanted to help in some way. This is a listing using the current Huddle rankings and what we suggest at each pick. A few players will still move around like Arian Foster who has been all over the first and second round so far. The names are less important than the positions because each draft slot will have its own unique situation. Certainly your league won’t pick all the players in my order anyway. I offer this late hour response to you, my esteemed and treasured Huddler.
If you think this is helpful and would like to see it again next year, drop me a tweet at @DMDorey.
Performance League – 1/10 rush and receive yards, 1/20 pass yards, TD = 6 except pass = 4
Reception Point League – Same as Performance but with one point per reception
QB Heavy League – Assumes QBs are significantly more valuable than other positions and/or you can start two of them.
A league of 10 mean more good players than a 12 team – figure the first 60 players yield five per team in a 12 team league but six for a 10 team league. So there are better players and position depth lasts at least slightly longer. You still want a balanced team but everyone should have a decent team. So you need elite play makers to win more games here than in a 12 team league. A little less worry about getting good starters in every position – that should happen anyway.
10 Team Performance League
Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | What’s Next? | |
1 | RB Peterson | QB Manning | WR Thomas | Great start but no need to get cute. That 4/5 wrap around has to be RB and best available whatever. |
2 | RB Martin | WR Jones | RB Jackson | Solid enough start. By the time it gets back to you, pretty much have to take best available guys. |
3 | RB Charles | TE Graham | RB Jones-Drew | By the time it gets back to here, WR-WR is almost mandatory. No reception point means you won’t get killed without a WR before the 5th round but you will have a weakness. Graham sort of counts as a receiver though more a WR2 in this scoring. |
4 | RB Richardson | WR Bryant | RB Ridley | Still a long time to wait for a wrap. But solid start gives you freedom to cherry pick best available. |
5 | RB Lynch | RB Johnson | WR Fitzgerald | Middle pick is another solid start – just look for players who fall. |
6 | RB Rice | WR Marshall | WR Green | Plus side – you do not have to worry about WR for next three or more rounds. But you have to go after upside RB and maybe the next two picks. Nice strength in an position that most have inconsistent players. |
7 | RB Spiller | QB Rodgers | RB Bush | WR-WR unless you want to squeeze in a TE or if a RB falls to you. |
8 | RB Foster | RB Morris | WR Johnson | RB’s left are risky, but really solid WR are still there. Could even think about Cam Newton here. |
9 | WR Johnson | RB McCoy | RB Gore | Best bet is go for starters. Either QB or WR here and then wait a long time. Too early for a TE here at #4. |
10 | RB Forte | QB Brees | RB Murray | Murray as RB2 can mean you just start swinging for fences anyway and go QB or WR here. Murray has no clear backup and you won’t go again for 18 picks. WR is pretty prudent but you could grab Gronk and accept you are going to soar or crash. |
10 Team Performance plus Reception Point
Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | What’s Next? | |
1 | RB Peterson | QB Rodgers | WR Thomas | Peterson gives you some latitude here. By the time it gets back up here, you could take a top TE and a QB. If you do not get a RB on your swing, your RB2 is going to be either an upside rookie back or a risky one like David Wilson or Chris Ivory. |
2 | RB Martin | WR Green | RB Jackson | This is a safe team at the worst. Next picks should consider WR and then even a QB. |
3 | RB Charles | QB Brees | RB Bush | Reception points make going WR-WR here make a lot of sense. |
4 | WR Johnson | RB Johnson | QB Manning | Good start means RB for sure next and maybe even both #4 and #5 just to make sure to have a RB2 at all times. Really nice start though. |
5 | RB Richardson | WR Fitzgerald | RB Morris | Standard middle picks gives freedom to cherry pick. Probably WR next but can be TE or even QB. |
6 | RB Rice | WR Jones | RB Sproles | Standard middle pick again – best available next two picks. |
7 | RB Spiller | RB McCoy | WR Johnson | Should have decent WR next with previous three teams already owning a WR1. Long wait to #5 means just wait and see what is there. |
8 | RB Forte | RB Lynch | WR Cobb | Long wait for #5 means just take your WR and see what happens. |
9 | WR Marshall | WR Bryant | RB Jones-Drew | Have to go RB. Just have to do it. Nice start even if a little risky. |
10 | TE Graham | RB Foster | WR White | This team would be fun. Throw caution to the wind and grab a QB here. Long wait for the 5/6 swing means you have no control. RB is prudent maybe, but what the heck. Back end means swing for the fence. |
10 Team QB Heavy League
Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | What’s Next? | |
1 | RB Peterson | WR Jones | QB Brady | Nice opening in this format. Probably RB-WR next. |
2 | RB Martin | QB Newton | WR Fitzgerald | Same as team #1, need to go RB for one of those next two picks. |
3 | RB Charles | RB McCoy | WR Green | No need to go QB until #5 since those two above teams already have theirs. So probably WR-QB next and maybe even TE-QB |
4 | QB Brees | RB Foster | WR Thomas | Free to go anywhere next, probably RB just in case Foster is a problem. Think about Tate around the 7th round or 8th round. |
5 | RB Richardson | WR Bryant | RB Johnson | Could go QB but like team #3, get one in round #5 since four above teams already own three QBs. Pick #4 WR most likely. |
6 | QB Rodgers | RB Lynch | RB Jackson | Solid and safe opening. Next two picks probably receivers or a RB that fell too far. |
7 | RB Rice | QB Ryan | WR Johnson | 12 picks until the #5 so just grab a RB here. |
8 | RB Spiller | WR Marshall | RB Bush | Really think hard about QB here if you have any preference at all. 14 more picks and you may be final team without a QB. Not good to be the worst team at the most important position. |
9 | QB Manning | TE Graham | RB Morris | This is a great start. Take your RB and wait on WR until #5 or even #6. |
10 | WR Johnson | RB Forte | RB Sproles | Red Rover, Red Rover, let any QB come over. Don’t wait for 18 more picks to get one. |