Who Should I Draft With the 10th Pick in Fantasy Football?

Picking towards the end of the first round in a 12-team league means fantasy managers likely won’t have a shot at drafting the top three running backs or the top three or four wide receivers. However, the quick turnaround in snake drafts can enable them to start their draft on a high note. Let’s examine the 10th pick in the draft and highlight which players to target based on league format. We’ll also highlight some late-round targets to consider.

Our Perfect Draft series covers multiple draft spots in various scoring formats and league sizes using Draft Hero software. Find your perfect draft today!

Here are the current Perfect Drafts from the 10th spot:

• Perfect Draft: 10th in a 10-Team ESPN PPR League

Standard League: Jonathan Taylor, RB (IND)

Our Multi-Site ADP tool has Taylor being selected with the 10th pick on average. It’s not that long ago that Taylor was vying for the top overall selection in fantasy. He had an excellent rookie campaign, rushing for 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, his true breakout came in the following season when he ran for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also made his presence felt in the passing game, totaling 76 receptions for 659 yards and three touchdowns over his first two seasons.

Injuries and contract disputes have derailed Taylor, who has played a combined 21 games in the last two seasons. Still, he rushed for 741 yards and seven touchdowns despite appearing in just 10 games last season. He closed out the season on a high note, torching the Texans for 188 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries in Week 18.

That type of heavy workload is what you love about Taylor for fantasy. He had six games last year in which he received at least 18 carries. The running back options behind him on the Colts’ depth chart this season are not good. Trey Sermon is in line to be Taylor’s top backup, while Tyler Goodson is also in the fold. Really, the main competition for rushing attempts for Taylor will be his quarterback, Anthony Richardson.

In standard scoring leagues, I prefer to attack running back early, which is why I like Taylor here. I don’t mind taking Taylor with the 10th pick and then pairing him with another running back like Kyren Williams (ADP 16), Derrick Henry (ADP 17), or Isiah Pacheco (ADP 20). There are still some good wide receiver options available in the third round, such as Jaylen Waddle (ADP 34) and DK Metcalf (ADP 38).

Best Alternative Pick: Saquon Barkley, RB (PHI)

PPR Scoring: Garrett Wilson, WR (NYJ)

Taylor is still a good option in PPR formats because he can catch passes out of the backfield. However, with the heavy focus on the run game that is expected from the Colts with Richardson at quarterback, he’s not my preferred option with the 10th pick in PPR formats. Instead, let’s turn to Wilson, who has the potential to be one of the best wide receivers in the league.

The Jets have been a mess at quarterback during Wilson’s first two seasons in the league. Still, he finished with at least 83 receptions and 1,042 receiving yards in both campaigns. Last year, he was targeted 168 times over 17 games. Don’t read too much into his 11.0 yards per reception average. He didn’t have a viable quarterback who could get him the ball down the field.

The Jets figure to be much better at quarterback this year if Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy. Look what he did for Davante Adams, who had three seasons with the Packers in which he finished with at least 111 receptions, 1,374 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Opposing defenses won’t be able to focus on solely shutting down the passing game, either, with Breece Hall in the backfield. Take Wilson here and then worry about running backs in the second or third round. Even in the fourth round, James Cook (ADP 39) and Rachaad White (ADP 40) could be available.

Best Alternative Pick: Jonathan Taylor, RB (IND)

Half-PPR Scoring: Jonathan Taylor, RB (IND)

Let’s go back to Taylor in this scoring format. I do feel better about Wilson with Tyrod Taylor now backing up the 40-year-old Rodgers. However, he doesn’t have the touchdown upside that Taylor does. Taylor had 34 rushing attempts inside the red zone last season despite missing so much time. Richardson should also see carries when the Colts get in close, but the duo figures to be a nightmare for opposing defenses.

It's not a bad idea to take another running back in the second round to pair with Taylor in this format, but more of an argument can be made for selecting a wide receiver after Taylor. Marvin Harrison Jr. (ADP 15) could still be on the board, as well as Davante Adams (ADP 18). Now that a reliable veteran in Gardner Minshew has been named the Raiders’ starting quarterback, Adams should continue to have an extremely high floor.

Best Alternative Pick: Saquon Barkley, RB (PHI)

Superflex: Anthony Richardson, QB (IND)

In my Who Should I Draft With the 8th Pick in Fantasy Football article, I advocated for taking Richardson in the first round of these quarterback-dependent superflex leagues. He could fall to 10th based on his ADP, so target him if he does drop that far. Even in his injury-shortened rookie season, Richardson had four rushing touchdowns across four games. While his passing yardage totals weren’t great, he did also chip in three passing touchdowns. Now that he is healthy again, his rushing upside gives him the potential to develop into a top-tier quarterback.

If Richardson is already off the board, Stroud is another viable option for this pick. He had an excellent rookie campaign, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. While racking up rushing yards isn’t his forte, he did accumulate three rushing touchdowns. In his second season in the league, he could challenge for 30 touchdown passes with his stellar wide receiver trio of Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell.

Best Alternative Pick: C.J. Stroud, QB (HOU)

Top Late-Round Targets

I like the depth better at wide receiver than running back, so I’m usually targeting wide receivers in the late rounds. In my Fantasy Football Sleepers to Target After Pick 150 article, four of my five targets were wide receivers. For those who are looking for a running back late, Tyjae Spears (ADP 97) and Devin Singletary (ADP 100) should be considered.

Spears is battling with Tony Pollard for carries on the Titans with Henry now a member of the Ravens. Spears can be explosive, including in the passing game. He averaged 7.4 yards per reception and had four receptions of at least 20 yards last year. Singletary will take over for Barkley as the top running back for the Giants. While he’s not a flashy name, he does have three straight seasons with at least 819 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Giants have improved their offensive line and finally have some weapons at wide receiver, which means that opposing defenses won’t have all of their eyes locked in on the backfield. It would not be a surprise if Singletary had the first 1,000-yard rushing campaign of his career.

In terms of overall strategy in a 12-team league, take your defense/special teams and kicker in the last two rounds. Don’t draft a backup at either position. I also usually tend to draft just one tight end. The preference is to take just one quarterback, especially if you select one of the options in the first couple of tiers at the position. However, if you decide to wait until outside of the top 100 to select a quarterback, it’s ok to take two of them and stream them based on who has the best matchup each week.

Here is a realistic 16-round draft with the 10th overall pick in a 12-team half-PPR league. Each player is listed with the corresponding round that they would be selected in.