Fantasy Football Pick 6 Strategy: How to Draft From the 6th Spot

Fantasy Football 6th Pick in 12-Team Leagues

The sixth pick in 2022 fantasy football drafts is a fine, but unspectacular position to be in. Picking after the top-tier players are already gones makes this spot less appealing, unless you come in with a solid draft strategy.

Fantasy Football Pick 6 Strategy

So how can fantasy football drafters best take advantage of drawing the No. 6 pick in 2022? Here's a guide to the best draft strategy at 6.

Round 1/Round 2

It's very possible at least four running backs are gone by the time you're up at No. 6. The best wideout, Cooper Kupp, also is projected to be off of the board by then. Managers shouldn't be discouraged, though, as that means they get to select stud wideout Justin Jefferson. He exploded in his second season, finishing as WR4 in PPR scoring last year.

Jefferson's ability to not only rack up big plays, but also haul in touchdowns, has made him a straight-up fantasy star over his first two seasons. He also finished as WR6 in 2020 as a rookie, showcasing his potential to grow into the best WR in the league one day. That moment could already be upon us with a passing-friendly new head coach and no major competition for targets given an aging Adam Thielen is this team's second wide receiver on the depth chart.

There's a chance Jefferson rivals Kupp this season, so getting him at a slight discount is a great start. Then drafters face some downtime before they're up at again at pick 19. After likely missing out on a running back with your first pick, it's crucial to lock up your starting RB1 before the talent pool drops off. Aaron Jones (average draft position 19 overall) has already proven he can fill that role after finishing as a top-11 fantasy scorer among running backs in each of the last three years, including an RB2 finish in 2019. Javonte Williams (ADP 21), meanwhile, could take off as Denver's lead back after a promising rookie year.

Round 3/Round 4

Next up at No. 30, there's a few paths to take, assuming you went the WR-RB route. James Conner (ADP 30) and David Montgomery (ADP 33) are great running backs to fill your second starting RB slot as they handle the volume of their team's work. Drafting Tee Higgins (ADP 31) would also give you a duo of star WRs to lean on every week.

You could also address quarterback with Patrick Mahomes (ADP 32) or tight end with Kyle Pitts (ADP 34), but loading up on top RB/WR talent is the preferred strategy since QB/TE can be addressed later.

Pick 43 hosts plenty of solid choices as well. If you went with Conner or Montgomery with your prior selection, then you could turn your focus on nabbing a second WR. There's two intriguing options here in DJ Moore (ADP 43) and DK Metcalf (ADP 45), both of whom finished as top-18 scorers at their position in 2022.

Managers could also dip back into the running back pool for a WR-RB-RB-RB start. Josh Jacobs (ADP 44) and Travis Etienne Jr. (ADP 47) are projected to be on the board here. Both have question marks, with the former in a potential committee and the latter coming off of a major injury, but they could be home-run FLEX plays if they clear those hurdles.

Round 5/Round 6

Then up at No. 54, you could round out your wide receiver depth with either Chris Godwin (ADP 54) or Amari Cooper (ADP 58). Godwin finished as WR15 in PPR scoring last season, but his recovery from a torn ACL is a major factor in the way of him repeating that performance. Cooper, meanwhile, finished as WR27, but his numbers could rebound in a big way as Cleveland's clear No. 1 pass-catcher.

This is also a prime spot to address quarterback, given how the draft board shakes out. Kyler Murray (ADP 55) and Joe Burrow (ADP 56) would give managers a set-it-and-forget-it starter throughout the entire season, which is a major advantage over those who opt to stream on a weekly basis.

Following a gap, you're back on the clock at 67. Wide receiver is an obvious choice here, with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Allen Robinson and Adam Thielen all owning ADPs between 67-69. Taking Thielen could be a smart choice to have total command of Minnesota's target share with Jefferson also on board. St. Brown, meanwhile, could break out after a WR21 finish as a rookie in 2021. Robinson is coming off of a putrid WR81 finish last season, but that was an outlier for the perennial 1,000-yard contender, and he may flourish now on the Rams' pass-heavy offense.

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. 6 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.