Having a middle pick in any redraft league is almost better than drafting in the first three picks these days. You have a strong plethora of league winners you can get on your team, and then you’ll pick again before the teams with the top overall picks do.
Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill make the most sense to go 1-2-3 in redraft, regardless of format. From there, questions on taking top backs and receivers weigh heavily. I have relied on FantasyPros’ player-by-player and position-by-position breakdown to help lead to my fantasy success over the last decade. Maximizing points at positions – while also taking into the importance of depth at running back and wide receiver – should be your only goal in building a roster.
Let’s examine how my roster turned out while reviewing the draft strategy and thought process behind each pick when drafting from pick 5.
PRE-DRAFT PLAN: DID YOU HAVE A DRAFT STRATEGY FOR PICK 5?
In early rounds, my goal was to grab multiple wide receivers, at least one non-committee running back – and a new strategy for me this year – a top-two tight end. Multiple receivers stem from the fact that I may start four on a weekly basis. The tight end adjustment is because of the significant drop-off in fantasy points after the first couple of players. If you lack wide receiver depth in formats like this – and depth in general – you’ll spend a lot of the time on the waiver wire.
Then, in the middle rounds, I want to find any logical pairings, such as a quarterback and wide receiver. I also started to consider upside and floor but really focused on resourceful and smart depth.
Late rounds are where high-ceiling picks come in. I also look for a run on kickers to ensure that I do not need to stream them week to week.
For more Round-by-Round strategy, be sure to check out The Wolf’s 2024 Fantasy Guide! For just $10, you can support a small fantasy brand while getting the guide that pushes you over the edge!
The Roto Street Journal staff league has the following format: Half-PPR scoring (Start 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex, 1 K, 1 DEF; 6 Bench Slots; 1 IR slot)
READ MORE: “How to draft” from the… 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 pick
Check out our full 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Breakdown!
2024 RSJ Fantasy Football Draft Results
HOW TO DRAFT FROM PICK 5 IN 2024 FANTASY FOOTBALL
Early Round Draft Strategy for Pick 5
This draft began with CeeDee Lamb as my WR1 at 1.05. Out of the mixing bowl of players, I figured I’d have to choose from, and I didn’t expect one of them to be Lamb. I think maybe my coworkers forgot we’re also playing for money???
I won’t fault Christian McCaffrey and Tyreek Hill for coming off the board before Lamb, but I will with Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. I don’t care if Jefferson is a generational talent—Sam Darnold and the Vikings’ run game are not.
I fully expect Lamb to have a contract as the season begins – Dallas won’t let its offense play without him. Depending on format, Lamb and Hill finished WR1 and WR2 interchangeably. Getting Lamb at No. 5? Smash.
As for picks 2-4, my goal was to either go for bell-cow running backs and a top tight end or throw in a top receiver should there not be solo backs available.
Thankfully, I was able to get two workhorse backs in Derrick Henry (2.8) and Kenneth Walker (4.8).
I was again confident this year that the wide receiver pool was vast and didn’t need to spend many early rounds on wideouts. Feeling safe in both the running back and tight end category is important to building a strong team.
Henry’s new team in Baltimore is tailored to his run-game success. He has a better offensive line and should get a lot of field and red zone work. Once Keaton Mitchell comes off the PUP, those numbers may decline, but Henry should still be one of the best red zone players this season. This is aided by both Gus Edwards’ and J.K. Dobbins’ departure.
Additionally, Walker had no competition enter Seattle via the draft and backup Zach Charbonnet has been one of the most overhyped players that most have said will take a timeshare into the team with Walker. That has not happened, and Walker has shown no need for it to come this season. All three receivers return to Seattle to help Geno Smith, making the run game a balanced asset again in 2024-25. Getting Walker late in round four is a steal.
You can’t argue Travis Kelce’s value unless he’s injured. There is a large dropoff between tight ends after approximately the top three. I wanted Sam LaPorta, the rooking phenom from last season, but with Kelce still available in the middle of the round three turn, I ,in theory, upgraded.
Mid-Round Draft Strategy for Pick 2
I had the second-best mid-round (6, 7, 8) of anyone in the league if I do say so myself.
I went with Arizona’s James Conner, Kansas City’s Xavier Worthy, and Dallas’ Dak Prescott, respectively.
I nearly drafted Worthy (my team’s WR3) over Conner, but I still cannot stress the importance of gaining bell cow backs in an era when the running back position is turning into committee approaches for NFL teams despite not being in fantasy formats.
Conner finished at the NFL’s No. 18 back in Half-PPR formats last season. However, had he stayed healthy, he would’ve finished No. 5 with his average weekly production rounded to 15 points per game.
Worthy was a steal in my opinion. He went after Jordan Addison, Rashee Rice, Chris Godwin, and Diontae Johnson – all of whom I believe he will have more fantasy value than this season. The fastest receiver ever at the combine in a Patrick Mahomes-led offense that will force teams to choose between guarding Kelce or deploying the outside of Worthy/Hollywood Brown? Easy choice in my eyes.
Prescott is also a no-brainer. Making a list of players on contract years is important because they’re either playing for a new deal or playing for a new team. It doesn’t matter if you think Prescott will be back with the Cowboys next season, because he needs to maximize his value regardless. He was the 10th quarterback off the board and I get to stack him with Lamb. Good night.
Late-Round Draft Strategy for Pick 5
My motto for the late rounds is usually YEET. These are the players that you’ve kind of heard about or think will take a step in the offense that most aren’t expecting. My research at RSJ actually sold me on drafting Sam LaPorta last season in the final round. I don’t think I need to remind anyone how that turned out.
In round 13 it was I who started the kicker drafting. I’ve seen people draft Justin Tucker as high as round 8 in the same format, so optimizing points at the position is the name of the game, right? He’s the most accurate kicker in football, and he will lead my team to the promised land.
Round 14 may have been where I allowed my own personal beliefs to sway a pick. Not only am I a Mike Evans truther, but I’m a Chris Godwin hater. Godwin has never been worth the draft price for me – and quite frankly – I place him on my “will get injured each season” list. I took rookie Jalen McMillan as my fifth wideout. The 200-pound receiver out of Washington should take over the No. 3 slot and will succeed in the slot. When Godwin has some sort of injury and/or when Evans loses another hamstring, McMillan waits in the wings.
In years past, I always waited until the last two rounds to pick up a kicker and defense. But by the middle of the 15th round, the Ravens’ DST remained available, with most teams still needing to take a unit. Baltimore’s defense has allowed the fewest points per game (approximately 16) since John Harbaugh became head coach in 2008.
Finally, in round 16, I decided to go wide receiver heavy instead of evening up my number of wideouts and backs.
I took Pittsburgh receiver Roman Wilson. I think tight end Pat Freiermuth has the best chance to succeed in this Arthur Smith-run offense. I’m not sold on George Pickens. Pickens, to me, screams boom-or-bust big-play guy, even with his 1,100+ yards a season ago. He only caught 20 more passes than he dropped and averaged 18 yards per catch. Whether Wilson plays in the slot or outside, the presence of both Freiermuth and Pickens only opens up Wilson.
MY TEAM FROM PICK 5 IN 2024 FANTASY FOOTBALL:
1.05: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
2.8: Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
3.5: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
4.8: Kenneth Walker, RB, Seattle Seahawks
5.5: Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
6.8: James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
7.5: Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
8.8: Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
9.5: Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
10.8: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
11.5: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
12.8: Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
13.5: Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens
14.8: Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15.5: Baltimore Ravens, D/ST
16.8: Roman Wilson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
IF I COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE ONE THING:
To be completely honest, I would not have made any significant changes to how I drafted my team. I think the plan I executed worked with how I wanted to build points and depth.
The only pick that doesn’t fit my overall strategy and philosophy was both Dak Prescott and Tua Tagovailoa by Round 10. However, I found it odd how it seemed many of my coworkers were taking players further down on the depth chart early. For a redraft league, I think some pulled the trigger too early. Neither Prescott or Tagovailoa are a pushover in fantasy points, but I think I went high-end quarterback simply because my league allowed me when they shouldn’t have.
FINAL TEAM THOUGHTS
I’m really excited to see my new strategy play out. I don’t feel like I took too many risks, but didn’t sacrifice player value either. I feel my earlier picks in kickers and defenses – especially when some people didn’t even draft one of those positions – could win me closer games that I may need down the stretch.
I also like how my team features multiple pieces on multiple successful offenses. If one doesn’t score, they aren’t my only chance. These aren’t considered stacks in fantasy football, but it’s a philosophy I have found works more times than not.
