The final round of fantasy football drafts usually gets ignored by most managers. In my long-standing league of record, someone typically grabs a kicker or defense just to round out the roster, usually without much thought. By that point, the beer and fatigue have set in, and most owners lose interest in a pick that often ends up on the waiver wire before the season even starts.
I have a running joke where I shout “steal of the draft” with my last pick. I like to keep that final slot flexible so I can stash a position player as a potential lottery ticket. It worked once with Amon-Ra St. Brown, though that’s more the exception than the rule.
Still, here are a few strategies you can use with your final pick. Maybe your late-round flier turns into a sleeper stud that helps carry you to a title.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Late-Round Draft Pick Strategies
Veteran QB to Pair With Upside QB
Managers who rostered Anthony Richardson last year know the value of having a reliable veteran quarterback. If you draft Drake Maye, Caleb Williams or J.J. McCarthy for their rushing upside, consider using your final roster spot on someone like Matthew Stafford (injury status permitting) or Geno Smith (not a sexy pick, but could be a top-15 quarterback). Only use this strategy in leagues with deep benches. Otherwise, you can likely find a backup quarterback on the waiver wire.
Rookie Breakout Stash
Rookie wide receivers without camp buzz often fall into the late rounds of redraft leagues. That makes them great stash candidates. Jaylin Noel and Pat Bryant both fit this mold and currently rank outside the top 200 in FantasyPros’ expert consensus rankings (ECR). Just keep in mind that rookies can take time to find their groove. Just ask the Odell Beckham Jr. drafters who didn’t wait for his post-injury breakout. This strategy requires patience.
Veteran Backup RB
Instead of drafting a top-tier handcuff, you can look for backup running backs who may quietly offer upside in the event of an injury. Managers high on Ashton Jeanty probably aren’t lining up to draft Raheem Mostert, but if Jeanty goes down, Mostert could hold value. Kareem Hunt is currently RB60 with an ECR of 189 overall. Samaje Perine is available for free in nearly every league. These picks are all about beating the waiver wire in the event of an injury.
Second D/ST to Stream in Week 1
This one may cause some negative feedback, but hear me out. This applies only to leagues with deeper benches and fantasy managers looking to avoid playing a highly ranked defense on the season, like Buffalo and Baltimore, who have terrible matchups in Week 1. Most fantasy managers would just roll with the Ravens or Bills, but I would rather draft them and go with the Cardinals against the Saints as an option to play in Week 1 and then drop them.
Forget the Kicker; Draft a Home Run Player
In leagues where you are not required to leave with a full roster, some fantasy managers will punt the kicker position during the draft to add a player who may have a value spike in the preseason. If that player does not have the injury boost to their value, the manager simply drops them and picks a streaming kicker for Week 1. If this is your go-to strategy, be sure to follow my kicker column each week, where I provide streaming options and kicker advice.
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