How to Draft From the 1.02 Pick (2022 Fantasy Football)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this draft spot?

The advantage of drafting second overall is you get to select one of the two best available players. Unlike with the first overall pick, your pick will likely depend on which player is selected before you. In this sense, you’re at a disadvantage only to the manager with the first pick. However, this can also work in your favor.

If you are having trouble deciding who to pick, having one more player off the board makes your choice that much easier.

A disadvantage of having the second pick is your next pick won’t come until the end of the second round. This way, your previous disadvantage to the first overall pick is reversed in the second round, as you will get a second player before they do.

• How to Draft From the 1.01 Pick

Do you have a certain strategy when picking at 1.02 in 2022?

As mentioned in the 1.01 spot, the recommended strategy is to draft the best available player (relative to team needs, as we discussed). Once again, it is suggested to draft a high-end RB1 (or QB in Superflex).

Ideally, your selection will include an RB who is likely to receive ample weekly volume and is involved as a receiver.

The strategy doesn’t differ drastically from the 1.01 pick until the next round.

Who are the first-round targets in this spot, and what’s the order of preference?

Going second overall could be viewed as a blessing in disguise. Jonathan Taylor seems to be the consensus first overall pick. However, Christian McCaffery (career AVG of six receptions per game, 23.2 PPG) may prove to be the best choice here.

Taylor finished as RB1 last season averaging 20.8 PPG. CMC has fought injuries in each of the last two seasons but has averaged 23.1 PPG over his last 26 games. The last time he played a full season (2019) he finished with the most fantasy points by any player in history. He racked up 116 catches, 2,300+ total yards (1,005 receiving) and 19 TDs while averaging an insane 25.8 PPG.

Since we’re assuming JT goes first, McCaffery is likely to fall right into your hands. However, many are worried about his durability.

Another acceptable pick would be Austin Ekeler. Ekeler is one of the league’s best dual-threat RBs. He finished with 20+ PPR points in nine of 17 games in 2021 and scored no less than 9.5 in any game. He racked up 1,500+ total yards and 20 total TDs with nearly 40% of his production coming from his receiving work. He is a fine pick at 1.02.

As always, it comes down to who you feel most comfortable with.

Another suggestion is Derrick Henry. Unlike most RBs in this range, Henry is not usually as involved as a receiver. But what he lacks as a receiver he makes up for with massive rushing volume and productivity (in his last 39 games, he has rushed for 43 TDs and averages 115.5 rush YPG).

If you wanted to avoid injury risk and take your chances on an RB later (a more risky strategy), WR Cooper Kupp (21.5 PPG in 2021) would be an acceptable pick.

Is there anyone you’re avoiding who might be available to you in the first round?

Dalvin Cook (RB5) is the only player that doesn’t feel safe in round one. There are injury concerns and then there’s Cook, who is basically a walking injury concern. He has missed 25 of 81 possible games (30%) in his NFL career. In fantasy football, the best quality is availability.

Cook missed three of his first six games in 2021. Not exactly an ideal start for your RB1. If you’re hanging your hat on a player in the first round, you’re going to want to be able to use them. Of course, he is widely considered worth the risk because of his on-field production (averaged 131.6 total yards and 19.8 PPG in the games he managed to play during the aforementioned stretch).

It is hard to advise against drafting a player as talented as Cook, but if you do, handcuffing him with Alexander Mattison is essential. Targeting the backup of your RB1 is referred to as handcuffing. This allows you to have an insurance policy in the event your RB1 suffers an injury that sidelines them for multiple weeks.

Most handcuffs can be secured with your closing picks. However, some backups are hotter commodities than others. In the last six games Cook has missed with injury, Mattison averages 20.1 PPG. He is someone who possesses more stand-alone value than your average handcuff, therefore may need to be drafted earlier.

What is the plan of attack for Rounds 2-3 based on the possible first-round scenarios?

The strategy differs slightly from the 1.01 strategy, mostly due to the Round 2-3 turn. You will have to wait two picks before you select your third player, so when selecting your second player, it is a good idea to analyze the team needs of the person who drafted 1.01.

For example, imagine Davante Adams falls to you in the second round. He is most likely the best WR remaining. Since the 1.01 manager selected Jonathan Taylor, it’s reasonable to assume they are looking for a WR1. Therefore, you can infer if you don’t take Adams now, you won’t be able to get him in the third.

You may have your eyes on an RB2, but you’re much more likely to secure the RB2 in question (with your third pick) than you would Adams.

Vice versa, if the 1.01 manager took Cooper Kupp, it’s fair to assume he’s going to be targeting an RB1, and passing on another WR. In which case, you go for your RB2 now and try to land Adams in the third.

The same logic could be applied to TEs. Say you really want Travis Kelce or Mark Andrews. If they are both available in the second round, you can defer. It’s highly unlikely the manager picking after you will draft two TEs, so you know you’ll get at least one of them in the third round.

The main difference in strategy when drafting from the 1.02 is to focus on drafting around the 1.01. Keep their team needs in mind and try to use that to your advantage when choosing who to pass on and who to take before they do.

Suggestions for RBs that should be available in the late-second/early-third round include Javonte Williams (ADP: RB13, 1,200+ total yards and seven TDs in 2021 while splitting the backfield with Melvin Gordon, displayed elite tackle-breaking ability as a rookie), David Montgomery (ECR: RB16, 15+ touches in 13 of 14 games in 2021, 20+ in eight of 14) and Ezekiel Elliot (ADP: RB18, RB6 in 2021, average finish since 2015 is RB6).

Suggestions for WRs that should be available in the late-second/early-third round include Tyreek Hill (ADP: WR8, 20+ PPR points in seven of 17 games in 2021, finished no less than WR6 in each of his last three full seasons), CeeDee Lamb (ADP: WR6, double-digit PPR points in 10 of 16 games in 2021, expected to be the primary beneficiary of 164 vacated targets) and Mike Evans (ADP: WR9, WR9 in 2021, 27 TDs in 32 regular-season games with Tom Brady).

Who are some targets in Rounds 4-7?

As for RBs, the first name that comes to mind is Ezekiel Elliot. Zeke has been seen slipping to the fourth round in many situations. As mentioned above, his average fantasy finish is RB6. He was RB6 last year and he played with a partially torn PCL since week four. Yet, he is currently ranked as RB18. If he is available in the fourth round, consider yourself lucky.

Elijah Mitchell (ADP: RB23, 12.9+ PPR points in seven of 11 games, averaged 87.5 rush YPG in 2021) and Travis Etienne (ADP: RB24, prolific receiving back in college, projected to be heavily involved in 2022) are also worth mentioning.

As for WRs, Tee Higgins (ADP WR13, led Bengals in targets, double-digit PPR points in 10 of 14 games in 2021) or Michael Pittman (ADP WR14, double-digit PPR points in 12 of 17 games in 2021, upgrades from Carson Wentz to Matt Ryan) are names to consider.

You don’t need to draft a QB before Round 7, but if you want a rockstar dual-threat like Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray or Jalen Hurts, oftentimes you’re going to need to strike earlier.

If you are comfortable with your starters or have decent depth when it comes time to decide, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to secure a guaranteed 20+ points per week. However, players like Dak Prescott (QB9) and Justin Fields (QB18) could offer the same benefits and are being drafted significantly later.

After seven rounds, which positions do you expect to be areas of strength for you, and which positions will you still need to address?

By now, if you’ve been following the strategy you should have balanced depth. If you were able to resist drafting a QB, you will (ideally) have three RBs, three WRs and a TE1. Or four RBs/three WRs/vice versa. Now (Round 8) is a great time to look at your QB/TE options.

If you play with D/STs or Kickers, you should not worry about these positions until the very end of the draft. Often times they are highly volatile and depend on circumstances outside their control such as matchups, SOS (strength of schedule) or in a kickers case, the offense they’re attached to’s ability to move the ball/score.

Focus on building your depth by Round 10 with as many potential flex options as you can. Not every player is created equally in the sense that some are significantly more likely to be in a position to score consistent weekly points than others.

After Round 10, you’re drafting players who may not last three weeks on your roster. Before then, you should stack your team with as many usable flex options as you can, and worry about positions like QB, D/ST and kicker later on.

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