Fantasy Football: How to Draft From the 6th Spot

Oh, the 6th overall pick.

In fantasy football, an optimistic drafter would say that the 6th spot is the perfect manifestation of the Goldilocks principle.

Who needs the pressure that comes with a top pick -- that's far too hot.

At the same time, a late first-round pick means you'll miss out on some of the most elite talent in the league -- that's too cold.

But the 6th spot -- smack dab in the middle of the first -- is just right.

You won't get to double up at either of the turns, but you also won't have to wait a millennium in between your picks. If you do your homework and due diligence, the 6th pick can be the most consistent draft position in fantasy.

Be sure to check out our staff mock draft to see what Tom Vecchio did with the 6th pick, but for a more in-depth explanation -- here's what your first six rounds should look like from the No. 6 spot along with some general takeaways from the draft position.

Note: ADP data from FantasyPros for half-PPR scoring.

Fantasy Football 6th Pick Strategy

Round 1 and Round 2

For me, there's a pretty clear top eight in fantasy this year -- meaning you should have at least three high-quality options to choose from.

There's essentially no chance that Justin Jefferson (ADP 1.0), Christian McCaffrey (2.0), Ja'Marr Chase (3.0), or Austin Ekeler (4.0) falls to you at No. 6. Those seem to be the consensus top four.

However, you're almost guaranteed to have a choice between at least two of Travis Kelce (6.0), Cooper Kupp (6.3), and Tyreek Hill (6.7). This year more than any other seems to revolve around the dominant pass catchers, and these three make up the last of Tier 1.

Personally, I think the 1.06 is the perfect place to swing for Kelce and immediately gain a positional advantage over the rest of your league. However, both Kupp and Hill have the potential to finish as the WR1 overall, so you can't go wrong.

Based on ADP information, there should be a quality running back available for you in the second round, but if you're the type of person who can't fathom leaving Round 1 without a star back, I don't think Saquon Barkley (8.0), Bijan Robinson (8.3), or Nick Chubb (10.3) are a crazy reach here. But check out your host platform's rankings because Chubb could still be there for you in the second depending on which site your league plays on.

Assuming you went with either Kelce, Kupp, or Hill in the first, your Round 2 pick can go one of two ways.

Firstly, you can double up on pass catchers. If you grabbed Kelce (or reached for a running back) in the first, I think you almost have to go with a receiver in the second. You can get away with not drafting a running back early, but not rostering a top receiver is much more difficult to overcome.

Five names should be on your radar here: CeeDee Lamb (13.0), A.J. Brown (13.7), Davante Adams (17.7), Amon-Ra St. Brown (18.7), and Garrett Wilson (19.0). There's a strong chance you'll have your pick of at least the last three, and they represent the last of the sure-fire WR1s.

Looking at the running backs here, Derrick Henry (17.3) would be hard to pass on if he's still there, but Jonathan Taylor (16.3) and Tony Pollard (17.7) are fine options, as well.

There is no shortage of elite options in the first two rounds. You can't really go wrong with these two picks, but I feel much more comfortable leaving Round 2 without a running back compared to moving on without a wide receiver.

Mock Draft Picks: Travis Kelce (1.06) & Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.07)

Round 3 and Round 4

We're still looking for value first and foremost in the third and fourth rounds -- especially if you snagged Kelce at the 1.06.

Doing so means you still need to fill out multiple running back and wide receiver positions. That can be a blessing and a curse because you're able to freely take the best player available without worrying about roster construction.

I am a huge advocate of loading up on pass catchers in the early rounds, even if I don't have a running back yet.

You'll be hard-pressed to see Jaylen Waddle (23.7) here, but DeVonta Smith (28.0), Chris Olave (28.3), and Tee Higgins (31.7) would all be solid picks in Round 3.

If, and only if, you didn't go Kelce in Round 1, you have the option of shoring up your tight end slot here with Mark Andrews (28.3).

You probably don't want to invest early draft capital in both a tight end and a quarterback, but any of the "Big Three" that is Patrick Mahomes (14.7), Josh Allen (20.0), and Jalen Hurts (22.0) would make sense in the third if they fall.

Once again, though, you're losing a lot of value at running back and wide receiver if you go for a premium quarterback and tight end.

Round 3 is a great spot to grab your first running back.

For backs, I'm first looking to see if Josh Jacobs (22.0) or Rhamondre Stevenson (24.3) fell for whatever reason. If neither of them is available, Najee Harris (27.0), Travis Etienne (29.0), and Jahmyr Gibbs (35.3) are fine. You can look Breece Hall's (33.7) direction, as well, but he's hard to trust as your RB1 given his injury and the presence of Dalvin Cook.

In the fourth, you'll start to notice a serious drop off at a number of positions.

If you haven't grabbed a running back yet, I'd do so now. There's an outside chance that Gibbs is still available, but you're more likely to see Joe Mixon (36.3), Kenneth Walker III (38.7), Aaron Jones (39.7), Dameon Pierce (43.7), or Miles Sanders (48.7). You can probably pass on the position if all of those guys are gone, but not having at least one running back after the first four rounds is dangerous.

If you already have a running back, keep firing up those receivers.

I'd be thrilled if D.K. Metcalf (36.0) fell to me here, but in all likelihood, you'll have to settle for someone like Deebo Samuel (39.7), Calvin Ridley (41.0), Amari Cooper (42.3), or Keenan Allen (44.7). I wouldn't feel great about any of these guys as your WR1, but that's why we hammered receiver earlier in the draft. Any of these five would be a quality second receiver in your lineup.

You can peak at quarterback or tight end here if you haven't addressed either position yet. I would feel okay taking one of Lamar Jackson (34.0), Joe Burrow (35.0), Justin Herbert (45.3), or Justin Fields (45.7) in Round 4 provided you didn't take a tight end.

The same goes for T.J. Hockenson (43.3) if you didn't take a quarterback previously.

Like I said before, it's O.K. to take one quarterback or tight end in the first four rounds. Any more than that will be seriously handicapping your running back and wide receiver depth.

Mock Draft Picks: Najee Harris (3.06) & Amari Cooper (4.07)

Round 5 and Round 6

If you're entering Round 5 with an optimal 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 QB/TE arrangement, the fifth and sixth rounds should be where you grab one more running back and one more receiver.

From the mocks I've done, these middle rounds are RB2 gold mines.

In the fifth, I love Sanders (48.7) if he falls, but J.K. Dobbins (53.3), Cam Akers (56.7), Alexander Mattison (57.3), and James Conner (60.3) all make sense here.

The biggest determining factor in whether you go running back in the fifth or sixth round is what the wide receiver market looks like.

You're spamming "draft" if one of the names suggested for Round 4 is still on the board, but I'm comfortable snagging any of Terry McLaurin (50.7), DeAndre Hopkins (50.7), D.J. Moore (55.0), or Jerry Jeudy (57.3) to slot in as my WR3 or FLEX.

Again, if you haven't got a quarterback or tight end yet, you can keep your eyes open here, as well.

If any of the names listed for Rounds 3 and 4 fall, you're getting great value. Otherwise, the only other quarterback I'd throw in this range is Trevor Lawrence (55.3), but for tight end, you can look at George Kittle (49.3), Dallas Goedert (63.7), Kyle Pitts (63.7), or Darren Waller (63.7).

Most of those tight ends will be there in Round 6, as well, but if you miss on Lawrence, you're better off just waiting and grabbing a high-upside quarterback later on.

For sixth-round running backs, there's a pretty sizable group of options for you. I'd steer clear of D'Andre Swift (66.0) this early, but Alvin Kamara (67.3), Javonte Williams (67.7), Dalvin Cook (68.7), Rachaad White (70.0), and James Cook (79.0) are all high-upside RB2s worth taking a swing on. My personal favorite of this bunch is James Cook, though he's been flying up draft boards of late.

Looking at wide receiver, there's a chance that either Drake London (62.0) or Christian Watson (63.3) fall to you, and if one of them does, jump all over them.

If they don't, you shouldn't be afraid to take a swing on Tyler Lockett (67.3), Mike Williams (68.3), or Brandon Aiyuk (68.7).

Mock Draft picks: DJ Moore (5.06) & James Cook (6.07)

Takeaways

You're guaranteed an elite pass-catcher with your first pick, but the rest of the draft is way less predetermined.

The best advice I can give you is to draft value and just take the best player available early on, but here are some other things to keep in mind:

• You cannot go wrong with Kelce, Kupp, or Hill with your Round 1 pick. In Round 2, it's more than fine to take another receiver -- though there could certainly be some great value at running back.
• It's probably not worth it to take an early quarterback if you go with Kelce at the 1.06. There are plenty of quarterback sleepers available later on, but the wide receiver and running back markets dry up fast after the first six rounds.
• Regardless of draft position, play to win. The saying "if you ain't first, you're last" really manifests itself in fantasy football. Swing for upside and, when in doubt, take the best player available. Don't worry about building the perfect roster right off the bat. Draft talent and worry about fit later.

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

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.