Perfect Fantasy Football Draft: 7th in a 12-Team ESPN PPR League

Aug 25, 2023

Perfect Draft: 7th in a 12-Team ESPN PPR League

Kirthmon F. Dozier - USA Today Sports

The perfect size for a league is 12 teams. I enjoy drafting from the middle of a league like this. Picking seventh, there are no long waits between picks like there is drafting from either end. Naturally, the top few players will be unavailable in the first round, but building a team from this spot is more than manageable.

ESPN default scoring is full-PPR and in such a league, I want to get my hands on the best possible wide receiver in the first round and build my team from there.

For this article, I will give you my draft strategy and take you through my mock draft to discuss my favorite players that should be available based on ESPN ADP.

More Perfect Drafts

ESPN 12-Team PPR: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |12
ESPN 10-Team PPR: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Yahoo 12-Team Half-PPR: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |12
Yahoo 10-Team Half-PPR: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

The 4for4 staff uses the Draft Hero software for all of our leagues. Draft Hero syncs directly to your league and optimizes each pick using projections and value-based rankings from 4for4. Draft Hero lets you customize your draft experience with settings on which rounds you want to draft a position, how many players you want at each position, and players to target or avoid.

For those new to Draft Hero, be sure to explore this walkthrough of the app.

My Plan of Attack When Drafting Seventh

Roster Settings: 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 Flex (WR/RB/TE), 1 Kicker, 1 DEF, seven bench spots

Every fantasy draft is different and being able to adjust when things do not go as you anticipate will always be crucial. However, assuming things fall according to ADP, my plan of attack is as follows:

Take the top available wide receiver: In Round 1, Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase will likely not be available. Still, you can get your hands on the third or fourth-ranked receiver. An elite receiver is key in full-PPR scoring.
Focus on pass-catching running backs: Points for receptions favor the backs who are active in the receiving game. Pure runners will be worth slightly less in this format.
Early or late on quarterback and tight end: I tend to wait on these positions while loading up on wide receivers and running backs. If I am going to go early on either position, it will only be for the top of the top.
Take kicker and defense last: This is generally always my plan. I let other teams take kickers and defense before I do, as I typically stream these positions. Finding a defense with a favorable schedule in the first two or three weeks is my favorite move.
Focus on wide receiver depth: In PPR scoring, it is advantageous to use wide receivers in your flex spot. So, having a number of them to rotate in and out, particularly when bye weeks begin, will strengthen your overall lineup.

Continue reading for a breakdown of my favorite picks through Round 10 and a list of the best late-round targets at each position.