• A top-five wide receiver is guaranteed: The first six picks in most drafts should include Christian McCaffrey and the five best wide receivers. Ja’Marr Chase is the ideal option for the fourth choice.

• Add a tight end early: The fourth pick is a bad time to find a tight end, so you should Sam LaPorta in the third round means you don’t have to worry about position.

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Estimated reading time: 17 minutes

The Perfect Draft series integrates current ADPs from expert and casual drafts to determine the best available picks for each selection. This draft strategy is tailored to 10-team PPR leagues, especially for those selecting fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh.

Last updated: 7:15 am Sunday, September 1

Round 1, Picks 4-7: Draft a wide receiver

The strategy in this selection is simply to take the best wide receiver.

Star running back Christian McCaffrey is probably off the board, and it’s a little too early to pick Bijan Robinson or Breece HallWith several top-notch wide receivers available, you can confidently select one and put him in your starting lineup. And ideally, you won’t have to worry about that position for the rest of the season.

Primary goal: Ja’Marr Chase (Player profile)

Chase was WR5 as a rookie, but has fallen just outside the top 10 in the last two seasons because he missed time in 2022 due to injury, while Joe Burrow missed time in 2023. He is in the top six in fantasy points per game every season when only considering games in which Burrow is healthy. Chase should benefit this season Tyler Boyd leave the team, allowing Chase to play in the slot more often. Every other wide receiver with a top-5 ADP has played in the slot significantly more often than Chase over the past three seasons, and it’s time for Chase to catch up.

Possible goals: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown, Puka Nacua, Garret Wilson

Round 2, Picks 14-17: Draft a running back or wide receiver

The only viable options here are running back and wide receiver, as the best quarterbacks and tight ends are usually not selected until the end of the second or beginning of the third round. I’m leaning toward a running back at this spot, as it’s difficult to find a valuable player at this position in the next few rounds.

Primary goal: Jahmyr Gibbs (Player profile)

Gibbs has always excelled in ideal situations. On perfectly blocked plays, when he could follow his intended point of attack and against seven or fewer men in the box, he ranked between the 95th and 99th percentile in PFF rushing grade. Last season, he ranked eighth in PPR points. It is hard for him to Christian McCaffrey level without more rushing attempts per game, but there is reason to believe his fantasy points can improve either through more touches, improved production in the receiving game, and/or even stronger support from the offensive line than before.

Possible goals: Davante Adams, Derrick Henry, Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Drake London

Round 3, Picks 24-27: Draft a quarterback or tight end

This draft area is especially difficult when it comes to selecting a tight end. The fourth round is a little early for the second line of tight ends and the fifth round is a little early for the third line of tight ends. For that reason, I tend to draft a tight end here, although it’s also fine to take a quarterback and wait a little longer for a tight end.

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