Draft slot strategy: No. 1 pick | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Ranks: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K | Top 200 | Mock draft
Well, it’s almost here. The moment you’ve been waiting all spring and summer for … fantasy football draft day has arrived, and you have the No. 10 overall pick. While you might not get a top-five player on my top 200 players list in the first round, you’re still getting a cornerstone piece for your roster.
On the flip side, you’ll have a bit of a wait between your second and third picks, your fourth and fifth picks and so on. As a result, it’s imperative to have a good strategy in mind.
To help you draft the best possible fantasy football squad from the 10th pick, here’s a look into my head (scary, I know) and the decisions I would make in a 15-round draft. Also, I’ll give you some of the players I’d target in a best-case scenario based on FootballGuys' average draft position data, which uses cumulative ADP info from several fantasy platforms.
For this exercise, I'm allowing myself only a five-spot differential from the actual pick number. So, for the No. 15 overall pick, I can't draft anyone lower than No. 10 based on ADP. Any players above that are fair game. This is a good way to keep the results and my picks realistic.
Since all drafts are different, be sure to use my positional tiers to help make round-by-round decisions. That way, even if you don’t get a specific player I’ve listed below, you’ll know the alternate options who are close in value you can turn to instead.
Note: The first pick in each round is based on my top 200.
Rounds 1 and 2
When you get beyond the top eight overall picks, there are a handful of similarly valued players to be had in the remainder of the first round, including James Cook, De’Von Achane, CeeDee Lamb, and Justin Jefferson. But because featured backs are so hard to come by and I think Cook will be gone, I’m going with Achane as the No. 10 pick.
Fabs’ ideal Round 1 pick (No. 10): De’Von Achane
In Round 2, I’m taking the best running back or wide receiver on my board. Based on current ADP data, I’ll have my choice of running backs Chase Brown and Omarion Hampton or wideouts Drake London and Nico Collins. You could also consider Trey McBride or Brock Bowers if you want a top-two tight end, but I prefer to wait a few rounds before filling that position. In the end, I’ll take London to serve as this team’s No. 1 wideout.
Fabs’ ideal Round 2 pick (No. 15): Drake London
Rounds 3 and 4
With a running back and a wide receiver on the roster, I’ll be taking the best available player at each position over the next few rounds. Based on ADP data, the best options here are RB Kyren Williams and receivers Chris Olave, and Rashee Rice. This is a personal-preference pick, but since I have a short turnaround in this round and the next, I’m going with Williams. He’s been one of the most productive, yet somewhat underrated running backs over the past two seasons.
Fabs’ ideal Round 3 pick (No. 34): Kyren Williams
I’m going with my No. 2 wide receiver here and will select Tetairoa McMillan. He’s coming off a solid rookie season and should take his next step to fantasy stardom in Year 2. Look for the Panthers' alpha wideout to push into the top 15 in PPR points at the position in 2026.
Fabs’ ideal Round 4 pick (No. 39): Tetairoa McMillan
Rounds 5 and 6
With two running backs and two wideouts on the roster, I’m next going with the best player available. I might also look at Colts tight end Tyler Warren depending on what’s left among runners. Ultimately, I need to fill that third wide receiver spot and will wait on a tight end. Carnell Tate, the new top option in the Titans’ passing game, is the best available option based on ADP and my rankings.
Fabs’ ideal Round 5 pick (No. 58): Carnell Tate
Looking at ADP data, I think I’ll be fine waiting on the tight end position (assuming I didn’t take Warren). Instead, I’ll take a running back in this spot. ADP data suggests the best available options will be Jadarian Price, Bhayshul Tuten or Chuba Hubbard. I’ll go with Price, who should be a weekly flex starter in Seattle (despite reports of a committee).
Fabs’ ideal Round 6 pick (No. 63): Jadarian Price
Rounds 7 and 8
I currently have three running backs and three wideouts, so here I'm taking the best available player at either of those positions or tight end. Being a sucker for a good sleeper, I will grab Parker Washington as my No. 4 receiver. A league-winner at the end of last season, the versatile Washington could be the Jaguars’ top fantasy wide receiver in 2026.
Fabs’ ideal Round 7 pick (No. 82): Parker Washington
I’m back with pick No. 87, and I’m looking at tight ends. ADP info suggests I’ll have my choice of Kyle Pitts Sr. or Sam LaPorta, and I’ll go with the former. It’s a pretty close call, though.
Fabs’ ideal Round 8 pick (No. 87): Kyle Pitts Sr.
Rounds 9 and 10
I’ve waited on quarterback to this point, so now is the time to jump on the position. Believe it or not, Patrick Mahomes is still on the board based on ADP (he’s the QB14 with an ADP of 101) at FootballGuys. I know he’s no longer elite, but Mahomes should still be a top-12 fantasy option.
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