With just a week remaining before the start of the 2023 NFL season, Fantasy Football draft season is in peak form.
Whether you're studying up on the latest numberFire projections, sifting through FanDuel Research's Mock Draft, or keying in on the top sleepers, there's a ton to prepare for ahead of your draft.
Regardless of how much research you do, your draft position largely determines who you'll be targetting, and when. While knowing the best early-round strategy for each draft spot is important, so is knowing which pick is best.
Below are rankings for each draft position in a 12-team, half-PPR, snake draft from worst to best based on current average draft position (ADP) data from FantasyPros.
Best and Worst Draft Position for Fantasy Football
12. 4th Overall
No one is going to complain about locking in Austin Ekeler as their RB1, but this is all about opportunity cost.
Sure, drafting from the 1.04 will net you one of the two top running backs in fantasy, but there are plenty of other backs with just as much upside as Ekeler available in the early and middle second round. There seems to be a consensus top three but after that, a larger tier of players opens up. If you're looking for the best value you want to be drafting at the end of tiers, not at the beginning. Getting Ekeler is great, but you won't get the same caliber of players with your second pick compared to some of the later spots.
If you do get stuck with the 4th overall pick, don't sweat; we have you covered with a guide on how to draft from the 4th spot.
11. 8th Overall
Similar to the 4th pick, the No. 8 slot suffers from being at the end of a tier.
At eight, you're unlikely to get either of the top two running backs, top four receivers, or Travis Kelce. That leaves you in a position where you are taking a first-round running back like Saquon Barkley, Bijan Robinson, and Nick Chubb or reaching into the second tier of receivers -- a majority of which will be there at the beginning of the second round.
Still, drafting from the No. 8 spot has some advantages, which can be found in our piece on how to draft from the 8th spot.
10. 9th Overall
The 9th pick is marginally better than the 8th pick but still suffers from the same issues as its predecessor.
The value simply isn't there in the first round.
It's a little better than the 8th pick because you're Round 2 selection comes around one pick earlier, but you are still going to have to reach for either a running back or receiver. Then, a whole six picks separate your first two selections and you won't know which of the two positions will be more heavily addressed. You'll be at the mercy of your league mates without having a clear-cut advantage from your first-round selection.
That said, all isn't lost if you do fall to the 9th spot... provided you know how to draft from the 9th spot.
9. 5th Overall
The 5th pick may not be as advantageous from a value standpoint compared to some of the other selections, but it at least benefits from ensuring an elite player. Typically, you'll have your choice at No. 5 between Kelce, Cooper Kupp, or Tyreek Hill -- all of whom are more than capable building blocks for your fantasy season.
The issue with the 5th pick is there isn't much separating those three, meaning you'll have your choice between them but won't get to draft as early as those picks after you who still got one of the last three Tier 1 pass catchers.
You'll have some options in the second round and perhaps you'll luck into a sliding Josh Jacobs, but the uncertainty is what holds the 5th spot back.
However, as long as you know how to draft from the 5th spot, you can really set yourself up for the rest of the season.
8. 7th Overall
The 7th pick suffers from the same issues that the 5th pick does, but it at least will give you a bit more value than the 5th.
You'll have to wait a good while before your Round 2 selectio -- but not as long as the 5th or 6th pick. You have the added benefit of retaining one of the seven-best players while getting a crack at a second selection before those other two opponents.
Assuming you take one of the last few elite pass catchers in Round 1, Round 2 is chock-full of quality running backs, but you may end up just doubling down on receiver depending on how the rest of the board shakes out.
For a full guide on the 7th pick, check out our piece on how to draft from the 7th spot.
7. 6th Overall
What makes the 6th pick marginally better than the 5th and 7th picks is that when you're at No. 6, you have both the choice between the last of the Tier 1 players but also some flexibility on who you want to choose.
With the 5th pick you're stuck choosing between three elite pass catchers but then have to wait longer to get your second pick.
At No. 7, you don't even get a choice -- though, you do come around a little earlier in Round 2.
The 6th spot is the perfect happy medium. You still get to choose between one of the last truly elite receivers (including Kelce), but then you also get to swing back around relatively early in the second round.
While the 1.06 is my personal favorite of the mid-round selections, your personal success will come down to whether or not you know how to draft from the 6th spot.
6. 10th Overall
Knowing how to draft from the 10th spot is critical to getting the most out of the draft position, but if you go in with a plan the 10th overall pick can be incredibly useful. This is where the draft positions start getting mighty difficult to rank.
The biggest advantage the 10th spot has is the versatility. With just four picks separating your first and second-round selections, you can base your picks on the draft board at large.
Only two running backs you like left at No. 10? That's fine, take one of them and there will be plenty of quality wide receivers for you in the second round.
Don't like any of the backs at 10? Go for a receiver and maybe even double up in Round 2.
There are a lot of options available for you at the 10th pick, and it lends itself to a wide range of options given the quick turnaround at your selections throughout the draft.
5. 2nd Overall
The 2nd pick, despite how long you'll have to wait for your Round 2 selection, remains one of the very best draft positions you can get.
That mostly has to do with how the draft board shakes out.
After a consensus 1.01, you'll have your pick between Christian McCaffrey or Ja'Marr Chase. Those two represent the last of a pretty clear-cut top three overall players, so getting your hands on one of them gives you a sizable advantage right off the bat.
The only downside with the 2nd pick is how long you'll have to wait around for your second selection. However, that is slightly mitigated by being able to take two players almost back to back in Rounds 2 and 3.
Still, you have to make sure you know how to draft from the 2nd spot if you do luck into it.
4. 3rd Overall
The 3rd overall pick shares the same advantages as the 2nd overall pick. You're going to end up with either CMC or Chase -- two absolute top-tier options to build your team around.
While your league mates will decide which of those two you'll actually roster, you have a top three player, and that's good enough to make this one of the best draft positions in 2023.
I prefer the 3rd pick to the 2nd pick just ever so slightly because of Round 2. I don't see much of a difference between CMC and Chase and would gladly take either. However, there can be a huge difference between the 2.10 and 2.11, giving a slight edge to the 3rd overall pick.
For a more in-depth look at pick No. 3, check out our how to draft from the the 3rd spot piece.
3. 11th Overall
This year more than any other, drafting at or near "the turn" is incredibly advantageous.
That's part of what makes the 11th overall pick the third-best selection in standard, 12 team drafts.
At No. 11, you'll have the choice of either taking the best available talent (my personal recommendation) or keying in on a specific position -- either running back or wide receiver. The 11th pick is one of the few where you can go in with a definitive plan and stick to it, at least for your first two selections. There are enough quality backs and receivers in this range that regardless of how the rest of the draft falls, you'll be able to take whichever you desire.
That being said, if you don't know how to draft from the 11th spot, then you lose any advantage I think you'd have compared to some of the other, less-optimal slots.
2. 12th Overall
If you ain't first, you're last.
That's as true at Talladega as it is in fantasy football drafts this season.
If I can't get the first pick (more on that below), I want the last pick.
You have to know how to draft from the 12th spot, but once you do it can set you up for some incredible fantasy rosters.
That's mostly due to how drafts are shaking out in 2023. Being able to grab two of the top talents in the game back-to-back can provide a sound backbone to your fantasy rosters. If you're in a PPR league, starting with two elite wide receivers can almost lock you into the playoffs from draft day.
If you want to grab a high-upside running back like Tony Pollard or Chubb to pair with one of those elite receivers, all power to you.
It depends on your league settings, but in most leagues, the 12th spot has the greatest amount of versatility and is easily the second-best draft position in 2023.
1. 1st Overall
Without further ado, the best draft position in 2023 is the 1st overall pick.
Real creative, I know.
But listen, we're in the business of drafting the best team possible regardless of how unoriginal that team looks.
Consequently, you want the best player in fantasy football, and that, without a doubt, is Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is the consensus 1.01 -- for good reason. He's young, consistent, and durable. The 24-year-old is looking to become the first wide receiver in NFL history to eclipse 1,600 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons, and nothing about his profile suggests he won't accomplish that feat. He hasn't missed a game in his three-year career yet and has finished as the WR6, WR4, and WR1 in fantasy.
Building your team around Jefferson just makes life so easy, and it doesn't hurt that you get to take two players in a row for the remainder of the draft.
If you're lucky enough to secure the top spot, kudos. Just make sure you know how to draft from the 1st spot beyond Jettas.
While you wait for Week 1's daily fantasy football slates to lock, you can get in on some best-ball fantasy football drafts on FanDuel. Just draft your team and watch the points pile up throughout the season.
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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.
