Fantasy Football Pick 8 Strategy: How to Draft From the 8th Spot

Fantasy Football 8th Pick in 12-Team Leagues

The eighth pick in 2022 fantasy football drafts is a great spot to be in this year. The potential for an especially strong start makes this position even more appealing than usual, setting managers up for a great season.

Fantasy Football Pick 8 Strategy

So how can fantasy football drafters best take advantage of drawing the No. 8 pick in 2022? Here's a guide to the best draft strategy at 8.

Round 1/Round 2

Drafting in the back half of round 1 means the premium tier of running backs will likely be off of the board. That doesn't rule out grabbing a top player at the position, though, as Dalvin Cook's average draft position (ADP) makes him an ideal target at No. 8. Injuries played a big part in the Minnesota Vikings star finishing as the RB16 in PPR scoring. However, his 15.9 fantasy points per game was No. 11 at his position. That mark also jumped up to 19.1 PPG across the seven outings he played more than 55% of his team's snaps, which would've ranked No. 4 among RBs.

It's clear as day: Cook is an elite running back when healthy. He was PPR's RB2 in 2020 and RB6 in 2019, so he has that top-end potential. Few at his position see the pure volume he's gotten over the last three seasons with an average of 270.3 attempts per year. The addition of 55.3 targets and 43.7 receptions per season, too, adds to his fantasy upside. Though missed time is certainly a possibility, he's a no-doubt RB1 in your lineup when he's active.

A huge benefit of selecting No. 8 is you're then up again at No. 17, giving you two cracks at top-20 talent base your roster around. Drafting this soon means higher-quality RB options like Alvin Kamara (ADP 18) and Aaron Jones (ADP 19) are still likely in play, giving managers the option to form one of the best running back duos in their league with Cook already in tow. Otherwise, you can nab a top receiver like CeeDee Lamb (ADP 17) to lead your pass-catching corps.

Round 3/Round 4

Your next choice at No. 32 presents a few options. Patrick Mahomes (ADP 32) would fill the hole at quarterback in a big way, while Kyle Pitts (ADP 34) would do the same at tight end. Having a top-three TE is a big weekly advantage and with Pitts primed to be the No. 1 option for Atlanta this year, he's capable of leading your pass-catching group.

Managers can wait on QB/TE until later rounds, though, so it may be best to triple-dip on running backs. An RB-RB-RB start sets your backfield up to succeed all year with the third rusher in your FLEX spot and giving you a stud option to replace your RB1/2 when they're out due to byes (or injuries). Taking this route, David Motgomery (ADP 33) and Cam Akers (ADP 35) stand out as ideal picks to add to your RB stable.

The three-RB attack makes even more sense given the wide receivers available when you're up again at No. 41. Terry McLaurin (ADP 41), Diontae Johnson (ADP 42) and DJ Moore (ADP 43) are all wideouts capable of big numbers. Johnson was WR8 in PPR scoring last year, while Moore clocked in at WR18 and McLaurin was WR25. The latter two dealt with major QB issues in 2021, though, so with new arrivals they should be even better this season.

Round 5/Round 6

The No. 56 spot is a great place to address QB or TE if you haven't already. Joe Burrow (ADP 56) and Dalton Schultz (ADP 57) are two of the top options at their positions, fitting into the mold of set-it-and-forget-it starters throughout the entire year. Targeting another wide receiver wouldn't be a bad choice either considering how the quality starts to decline from here. Amari Cooper (ADP 58) will be the clear top pass-catching option for Cleveland in 2022, presenting a major value this low in the draft if his numbers pick up.

Then managers are back on the clock at 65 overall with several routes to potentially follow. TJ Hockenson (ADP 65) would fill your starting tight end spot beautifully if that hole hasn't been filled yet. Damien Harris (ADP 66) could add to your all-important running back depth after finishing as an impressive RB14 in PPR scoring last year.

Otherwise, WR is a smart choice here if you're already RB-heavy. The trio of Amon-Ra St. Brown (ADP 67), Allen Robinson (ADP 68) and Adam Thielen (ADP 69) should all be available in this spot. St. Brown presents a breakout option, Robinson is a bounce-back candidate in a passing-loving offense, and Thielen continues to be a touchdown-scoring machine even as he gets older.

Later Rounds

Since fantasy football drafts are living organisms that evolve in real time, it's hard to pin down a specific strategy for later rounds. Managers will just have to let the picks play out, but there's some fantasy draft advice you should keep in mind. 

Prepare a list of sleepers you're high on for later rounds. Nabbing the right handcuff or low-profile guy that turns into a weekly starter off of your bench is a massive advantage that'll give you a leg up on your leaguemates. 

Don't be afraid to take risks when appropriate as well. The downtime between picks when you draw the No. 8 spot means you'll see plenty of players, sometimes even ones you really want, fly off of the board before your next turn. As long as you have a solid start (like the roster above), you can afford to reach if there's someone you believe in.

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Isaiah De Los Santos is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Isaiah De Los Santos also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username zayyy05328. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.