• A top-five wide receiver is guaranteed: The top six picks in most drafts should consist of: Christian McCaffrey and the five best wide receivers. Ja’Marr Chase is the ideal option for the fourth choice.

• Add a tight end early: The fourth pick is a tough time to find value at tight end, so picking Sam LaPorta in the third round means you don’t have to worry about the position.

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Estimated reading time: 17 minutes

The Perfect Draft series integrates current ADPs from both expert and casual drafts to identify the best available picks at each selection. This draft strategy is tailored for 10-team PPR leagues, specifically those who pick fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh.

Last updated: 07:15 am Sunday 1 September

Round 1, Picks 4-7: Draft a wide receiver

The strategy in this choice is simply to pick the best wide receiver.

Starring back Christian McCaffrey is probably off the board, and it’s still a bit too early to select Bijan Robinson or Breece HallWith multiple top-tier wide receivers available, you can confidently select one and insert him into your starting lineup. And ideally, you won’t have to worry about that position again for the rest of the season.

Main objective: Ja’Marr Chase (Player Profile)

Chase was WR5 as a rookie but has fallen just outside the top 10 the past two seasons after missing time in 2022 due to injury, while Joe Burrow missed time in 2023. He ranks in the top six in fantasy points per game per season, if you only count games in which Burrow is healthy. Chase should benefit this season from Tyler Boyd left the team, allowing Chase to play in the slot more often. Every other wide receiver with a top-five ADP has played in the slot significantly more than Chase over the past three seasons, and it’s time for Chase to catch up.

Possible goals: Amon-Ra Saint Brown, Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown, Puka Nacua, Garrett Wilson

Round 2, Picks 14-17: Draft a running back or wide receiver

The only viable options here are running back and wide receiver, as the top quarterbacks and tight ends are usually not selected until the late second or early third rounds. I’m leaning toward running back at this spot due to the difficulty of finding value at the position in the next few rounds.

Main objective: Jahmyr Gibbs (Player Profile)

Gibbs has consistently excelled in ideal situations. On perfectly blocked plays, when he can follow his intended point of attack and against seven or fewer men in the box, he ranks between the 95th and 99th percentile in PFF rushing grade. He finished eighth in PPR points last season. It’s tough for him to beat the Christian McCaffrey level without more rushing attempts per game, but there’s reason to believe his fantasy points could improve with more touches, better production on the receiving end and/or the offensive line helping him even more than before.

Possible goals: Davante Adams, Derrick Henry, Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Drake London

Round 3, picks 24-27: Draft a quarterback or tight end

This pick range is especially tricky when it comes to selecting a tight end. The fourth round is a bit early for second-tier tight ends, and the fifth round is a bit early for third-tier tight ends. As such, I tend to lean toward drafting a tight end here, although it’s perfectly fine to draft a quarterback and wait a bit longer for a tight end.

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