Utilizing the Draft Planner: Drafting from the #7-#9 Spots

Aug 18, 2013

Welcome to the fourth (and final!) installment of the ADP Draft Planner Series. This article will focus on the #7-#9 spots in a 12-team draft. Drafting from a different spot? Check out the #1-#3, #4-#6 and #10-#12 articles instead.

Using the ADP Draft Planner, I'll go round-by-round (through the 8th round) and mention a few players at each pick that fantasy owners should be targeting.

Keep in mind that these picks are for PPR scoring formats (with 4 pt per pass TD), but I will outline a standard scoring strategy as well. For PPR, I'm going to assume a starting lineup of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR and 1 TE. If your league allows you to start three RBs, you'll probably want to draft a minimum of three RBs in the first five rounds. Conversely, if your league only requires one starting RB, you can focus more on the other positions.

If you want to take a look at the Full Impact Value Based Rankings as we go along, choose PPR - 4pt PaTD and enter 1-2-3-1 as the roster requirements. For the standard strategy, I'll use ESPN's standard roster requirements, which include 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE and a flex, so enter 1-2.5-2.5-1 in Full Impact. (CBS and Yahoo standard leagues both use 1-2-3-1 with no flex, so a similar strategy can be used with a bit more emphasis on receiver.) Rankings will change over time as we gain more information, but this is how I'd attack the draft at this point in training camp.

Note: Since there is far more draft data for PPR in the Draft Planner, I'm going to use it for both formats. ADP doesn't change all that much between formats, unless you're talking about players like Wes Welker or Darren Sproles. All percentages are for the last week of data as of time of publishing. The ADP Draft Planner is constantly being updated as real drafts continue to roll in on myfantasyleague.com.

Let's do this...

1.07-1.09

Most teams drafting in this range will be getting a good RB here. If you want to draft Calvin Johnson, see "Team Calvin" in the #4-#6 article as your options will be pretty similar. The same goes for Jimmy Graham ("Team Jimmy") in the #10-#12 piece.

We're assuming we get the best available RB here. I'm continually updating our rankings, but Ray Rice or LeSean McCoy are available at 1.08 95% of the time. We'll assume we get McCoy.

Standard Scoring: In standard formats, players who don't catch a lot of passes (like Marshawn Lynch, Alfred Morris and Stevan Ridley) get a boost. We'll take Alfred here. (Side note: How is Morris's nickname not "The Butler"?)

2.04-2.06

Big surprise here, I'm going to recommend Darren Sproles in PPR formats. Jimmy Graham is coming in slightly ahead in our Value Based Rankings, so if you go TE-early, check out the "Team Jimmy" strategy here.

I do prefer Matt Forte (35%) to Sproles, so if he slips, jump on him. If a RB/WR start is your thing, this is a good place to grab A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Brandon Marshall or Julio Jones (80%). Starting RB/WR does allow for flexibility to jump on value later, especially if there is a 3rd/4th round RB that you like (i.e. Lamar Miller, David Wilson, Le'Veon Bell).

Standard Scoring: RBs get a boost in this format, especially due to our ability to start three, so take the best available one here. Stevan Ridley is usually around. Don't worry too much about Shane Vereen's emergence in New England; Ridley is still going to run the ball…a lot.