You're sitting there. The clock is ticking. You’ve got the 4th overall pick and suddenly every "expert" ranking you read this morning feels like total garbage. Your heart says take the flashy wide receiver who just signed a massive contract extension, but your brain is screaming about that workhorse running back who gets 20 touches a game. Honestly, the question of what positions should you draft first in fantasy football isn't about following a static list of names. It’s about understanding the "VBD"—Value Based Drafting—and realizing that if you mess up the first three rounds, you’re basically playing catch-up until December.
Drafting is survival.
In the old days, you just took three running backs and went to get a beer. Now? The league has changed. Teams throw the ball more than ever, and the "bell-cow" back is a dying breed. If you don't adapt your early-round strategy to the specific scoring format of your league—whether it’s Standard, Half-PPR, or Full PPR—you’re essentially donating your buy-in fee to your buddies. We need to talk about why the "Zero RB" or "Hero RB" strategies aren't just buzzwords, but actual lifelines when the draft board starts looking ugly.
Why Wide Receivers Are Winning the First Round
If you look at the ADPs (Average Draft Position) from the last few seasons, you’ll notice a massive shift. The top of the board is littered with guys like Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyreek Hill. Why? Because the floor for elite wide receivers is incredibly high. In a Full PPR league, a receiver catching 10 passes for 100 yards is a 20-point day without even sniffing the end zone.
Running backs are fragile. That's just the reality. According to data from sites like FantasyPros and NumberFire, wide receivers in the top two rounds tend to hit their projected value more consistently than RBs, who face a much higher injury risk due to the sheer physicality of the position. When you're asking what positions should you draft first in fantasy football, the answer for many is now "the guy who gets 150 targets a year."
But don't get it twisted. You can't just ignore the backfield. If you go WR-WR-WR to start your draft, you might end up starting a guy who splits carries in a three-way committee as your RB1. That is a terrifying place to be. You're basically praying for a touchdown every single week just to stay competitive.
The Case for the "Hero RB" Approach
This is my personal favorite way to build a roster. You grab one elite, undeniable, three-down running back in the first or second round. Think Christian McCaffrey or Bijan Robinson—guys who don't leave the field. Once you have that anchor, you pivot hard to receivers.
Why does this work?
✨ Don't miss: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
It gives you a weekly advantage at the most scarce position while allowing you to capitalize on the depth of the wide receiver class in the middle rounds. You aren't chasing "handcuffs" or scouring the waiver wire for a replacement starter in Week 3 because your RB1 stayed healthy.
The Tight End Trap: To Reach or Not to Reach?
Let's talk about the Travis Kelce effect. For years, Kelce was a literal cheat code. Taking him in the first round wasn't a reach; it was a strategic masterstroke because the gap between him and the TE12 was wider than the Grand Canyon. But the landscape is shifting. With young stars like Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, and Dalton Kincaid emerging, the "Elite TE" tier is getting crowded.
When you're debating what positions should you draft first in fantasy football, taking a tight end in the first two rounds is a massive gamble. You are passing on an elite WR1 or a workhorse RB. If that tight end finishes as the TE5 instead of the TE1, you’ve basically tanked your team’s ceiling.
I usually tell people to wait. Unless you are getting a Tier 1 guy at a significant discount, the value in rounds 5-7 for guys who can give you 80% of the elite production is usually too good to pass up.
Quarterbacks: The Late-Round Revolution is Over
There was a time when the "Late Round QB" strategy was gospel. You’d wait until round 10, grab a veteran like Kirk Cousins, and call it a day. Those days are gone. The rise of the "Konami Code" quarterback—guys who run for 600+ yards and 8 touchdowns—has changed everything.
- Josh Allen
- Jalen Hurts
- Lamar Jackson
These guys aren't just quarterbacks; they are high-end RB2s who also throw for 4,000 yards. If you can get one of these dual-threat monsters in the 3rd or 4th round, it’s often worth the price. The "Vorp" (Value Over Replacement Player) for an elite rushing QB is massive compared to the guys sitting on the waiver wire.
Scoring Settings Change Everything
You absolutely have to check your league settings before you even think about your first pick. I've seen people draft like they're in a PPR league when they're actually in a Standard "non-PPR" format. That is a recipe for disaster.
🔗 Read more: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
In Standard leagues, touchdowns are king. Big, bruising running backs like Derrick Henry or Nick Chubb gain massive value because their lack of catches doesn't hurt them as much. In these formats, you should almost always be looking at what positions should you draft first in fantasy football through the lens of rushing volume. You want the guys who get the goal-line carries.
Conversely, in 2-QB or "Superflex" leagues, everything I just said about waiting on quarterbacks goes out the window. In a Superflex, quarterbacks are the most valuable assets on the board. Period. If you don't take a QB in the first round of a Superflex draft, you're likely going to be starting someone like a bridge veteran while your opponents are putting up 30 points a week from their QB2 spot.
Strategy Breakdown: Round by Round Logic
Let's look at how a typical "balanced" draft might play out if you’re picking from the middle of the pack.
Round 1: You're looking for the best player available (BPA). Usually, this is an elite WR or a top-tier RB. Don't overthink it. If a top-3 RB falls to you at pick 6, take him.
Round 2: This is where you respond to the room. Did everyone just go on a "run" of wide receivers? If so, the value might be at RB. If the board is balanced, look for the highest ceiling. This is often the "sweet spot" for those high-end WR2s who have WR1 overall potential.
Round 3: This is the pivot point. Do you grab an elite QB? Do you take the last of the "reliable" RBs? Honestly, this is where most drafts are won or lost. Avoid the "dead zone" running backs—guys who are older, on bad offenses, or in murky committees. If you aren't sure, take the best receiver on the board.
Round 4: By now, you should have your core. If you don't have at least one RB and one WR, you're starting to get "fragile." This is a great spot for a high-end Tight End if they've slid down the rankings.
💡 You might also like: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
Common Mistakes to Avoid Early
One of the biggest blunders is drafting for "need" instead of "value" in the first four rounds. You might feel like you need a second running back, but if the best RB available is a 30-year-old veteran and there’s a breakout 2nd-year wide receiver sitting there, take the receiver. You can trade for a running back later. You can't trade for a lost opportunity.
Another huge mistake? Drafting a Defense or Kicker before the last two rounds. I don't care if the 1985 Bears are available; do not draft a defense in the 8th round. Those picks should be used on "lottery tickets"—backup running backs who are one injury away from being superstars or rookie receivers with massive upside.
The Psychology of the Draft
Don't be the person who follows a "cheat sheet" blindly. If you see a run on a certain position, sometimes it’s better to lean into the scarcity, and sometimes it’s better to zig while everyone else zags. If 8 quarterbacks go in the first three rounds, don't panic and reach for the QB9. Enjoy the fact that elite talent at other positions is falling into your lap.
Drafting is about flexibility.
Real-World Examples of Positional Value
Look at the 2023 season. Kyren Williams was a league-winner. Where was he drafted? Mostly not at all, or in the very last rounds. Puka Nacua? Same thing. This tells us that while the early rounds are about securing a high floor, the middle and late rounds are where you find the "league winners."
When deciding what positions should you draft first in fantasy football, remember that you are buying "certainty" in the early rounds. You want players with a guaranteed role and a history of production. Save the "I have a feeling about this guy" picks for round 9 and beyond.
- Check your roster requirements. Does your league have three WR spots or a Flex? If you have to start three receivers every week, their value skyrockets.
- Tier your players. Don't just list them 1 through 100. Group them. If there's a huge drop-off after the top 4 quarterbacks, and you're at pick 3.02 with one of them left, that’s your move.
- Know the handcuffs. If you draft a high-injury-risk RB in the first round, make a mental note to grab his backup later.
- Ignore the "Auto-draft" rankings. Most platforms have terrible default rankings. Do your own homework.
Actionable Next Steps
To actually win your league, stop looking at "Who should I draft?" and start looking at "How do I build a team that can survive an injury?"
Start by mock drafting on different platforms. See what happens when you go RB-heavy vs. WR-heavy. You'll quickly realize that the "Hero RB" builds usually feel the most balanced. Your next move should be to identify the "cliffs" in this year's rankings—the points where a position goes from "reliable starter" to "complete question mark." Once you know where those cliffs are, you'll know exactly when to pull the trigger on each position.
Get your tiers ready. Pay attention to offensive line rankings (which people always forget). And for heaven's sake, don't draft a kicker until the very last round. That's the first step to a championship.