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:

1. Picking late in Round 1 can still be advantageous, with the opportunity to secure two top-16 players and avoid long waits between picks.
2. Consider a WR-WR approach if top-tier RBs are not available, as elite wide receivers can provide significant value in PPR formats.
3. Running backs like Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Derrick Henry, and Nick Chubb are viable options in Round 2 for Round 1 WR drafters.
4. In Superflex leagues, prioritize Tier 1 quarterbacks early on as they are unlikely to be available later in Round 2.

Rounds 3-4

If you went WR-WR to start, it’s important to recognize the RB1 you’ll be selecting in Rounds 3 & 4. It’s most likely some combination of Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne Jr., Jahmyr Gibbs and Najee Harris. If you’re not okay with any of those guys as your RB1, then don’t start your draft at WR. Or just continue to punt the position in a more full-on “zero-RB” approach.

If already have your RB1, I’d go right back to double-tapping WR in some combination of Amari Cooper, DK Metcalf, Calvin Ridley or Christian Watson.

I also love the value of tight end Mark Andrews as an option in the 33-40 pick range.

Overall, if you focus on drafting the three best overall players inside the top-36 (which will be WRs more often than not), you are setting a strong foundation for your team.

Round 3 is where we have typically seen the elite quarterbacks come off the board. But this year, we have already seen them rise into Round 2 based on the edge elite fantasy quarterbacks presented to drafters last season. However, as I laid out in my QB Best Ball Primer – as did Tom Strachan in his early approach to best-ball drafts last season – being the first to draft a quarterback doesn’t always grant you the best advance rate.

Tom said it best by defining the elite QBs’ win rate as “disappointing, to say the least,” entering 2022.

And he would be proven right. Only two of the QBs drafted inside the top-4 rounds finished with top-4 advance rates. Essentially a coinflip.

Meanwhile, Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts were being drafted outside the first 5 rounds. And the other five quarterbacks with the highest advance rates from Round 1 were drafted outside the top 100 overall picks.

Value is still the name of QB, which is why I stress a pseudo-late-round “elite” quarterback strategy. Essentially getting the last or second-to-last quarterback with top-tier upside to capitalize on value. This will change based on where QBs fall in ADP, but I’d say Rounds 4-6 is the more appropriate range.

Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Justin Fields and Justin Herbert tend to still be on the board in Round 4. I’d select whichever falls the furthest with Jackson as my favorite. Whether that be in Round 4 or at the beginning of the middle rounds (5-9).

Rounds 3-4 Takeaways:

1. If you started with WR-WR, carefully assess the RB1 options available in Rounds 3 and 4 (Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne Jr., Jahmyr Gibbs, Najee Harris) to ensure you’re comfortable with them.
2. Prioritize drafting the best overall players within the top-36, often wide receivers, to establish a strong foundation.
3. Elite quarterbacks tend to come off the board in Round 3 but consider a pseudo-late-round “elite” quarterback strategy in Rounds 4-6 for better value.
4. Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Justin Fields, and Justin Herbert are favorable quarterback targets in Round 4.

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