Once again, it is the most glorious time of year! Are you ready for your fantasy football draft?  We are grinding tape, building projections, and getting ready to take home some hardware. As analysts, we get bombarded with questions from June until September, but the single most common question we are asked is: "Who do I take with the fourth pick?"

Look, picking in the top three feels like a luxury cruise, but that four-spot puts you right on the edge of a tier break. That is exactly why this article series, in conjunction with the Fantasy Alarm Ultimate Cheat Sheet and our brand-new Mock Draft Simulator, will not only help answer that question but also help guide you with your subsequent picks.

Now, let's establish a ground rule: technically, the perfect draft doesn't exist. Injuries happen, depth charts shift, and human chaotic energy ruins drafts every single weekend. But if you follow the draft grid in the cheat sheet and select the proper players at your necessary positions, while keeping value at the forefront of your mind, you can build a team that will take you straight to the championship. Of course, you can deviate from the cheat sheet blueprint if you really want to; I’m not a dictator. But be incredibly careful that you don't overlook strong value, especially at positions you may feel like you already have covered.

Furthermore, if there is a player available from an earlier round and they happen to play either the running back or wide receiver position, consider that player first, regardless of what position you think you need. You can balance out your roster further in the draft! If your league is going to hand you a player who has clear second-round value in the fourth round of your draft, you should take it 99 times out of 100. We all know the draft is just the first step in a long season, and your waiver wire work and lineup choices need to be on-point, but if you start with this fundamentally sound approach, failure is no longer an option.

Let's dive into the ultimate fantasy football pick 4 draft strategy and look at how navigating the board from the four-spot can build an absolute juggernaut.

Round 1, Pick 4: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: This is probably going to line up very similarly to the No. 3 Pick Perfect Draft. As I said there, should either Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs fall to you here, you take him and look to build in a similar fashion to the Perfect Drafts from the No. 1 or No. 2 spots. But if your board goes Robinson and Gibbs first, then you take the wide receiver value you are being presented. Since we took Chase in the No. 3 pick article, we'll assume he's off the board here as well. Utilizing this fantasy football pick 4 draft strategy pivot allows you to naturally adapt to the board without panic.

Top Target: Puka Nacua, WR Los Angeles Rams

Validating his status as an elite asset, Nacua put together a truly legendary 2025 campaign by pacing the entire NFL with 129 receptions while racking up a career-high 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 160 targets. He was the metric darling of advanced analytics, securing the No. 1 overall offensive grade (96.3) and No. 1 receiving grade (96.2) among all qualified NFL wide receivers according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Despite sharing the field with other high-profile offensive stars, Nacua dominated with an elite 30% team target share and managed a lethal 129.6 passer rating when targeted by Matthew Stafford, proving he is a true alpha capable of breaking any defensive coverage. Passing up on unpredictable backfield tiers at pick four to anchor your roster with a hyper-efficient volume hog who totaled 375 PPR points last season creates an unmatched foundational advantage for a championship run.

Other Targets: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Ja'Marr Chase

 

 

 

Round 2, Pick 21: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: According to our Mock Draft Simulator, there is still some high-end wide receiver on the board that could/should prove to be more valuable than trying to force your RB1. This could be the start of a Zero-RB strategy, but we'll have to see what the RB situation looks like on the way back in Round 3. In the meantime, grab that elite-level talent. This double-tap at pass-catcher forms the spine of a lethal fantasy football PPR strategy.

Top Target: A.J. Brown, WR New England Patriots

Despite battling a stagnant Philadelphia offense in 2025, Brown still produced his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, securing 78 receptions on 121 targets for 1,003 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns across 15 games. Advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (PFF) highlight that his underlying talent remains elite, as he posted an 85.9 receiving grade (11th among qualified wideouts) while logging a healthy 11.9-yard average depth of target. Now traded to New England, Brown takes over as the unquestioned true No. 1 target for Drake Maye, who finished second in NFL MVP voting last season. Moving into an offensive system that relies heavily on play-action and vertical, in-breaking routes perfectly optimizes Brown’s bruising ability to create yards after the catch. Securing an elite alpha receiver who is tied to a top-tier young passer—all at a slight post-trade discount in the second round—provides a massive positional advantage for your roster build.

Other Targets: Nico Collins, Chris Olave, DeVonta Smith

Round 3, Pick 28: Draft a Running Back

Why: While there are some strong wide receivers on the board, I don't really recommend a Zero-RB strategy. I get that some people like it, and Andrew Cooper insists I do one for myself one of these days, but I'm also a "do as I say" and not a "do as I do" guy sometimes. Last year in the FSGA draft, I started with Malik Nabers and Brock Bowers on the wheel, and there were no decent RBs left by the time it got to my Round 3 pick. It's a tough position to play from behind in, so let's at least anchor our RB position here. Adjusting your fantasy football draft position strategy right here stops a positional bleeding out before the middle rounds.

Top Target: Javonte Williams, RB Dallas Cowboys

Playing on a one-year deal in 2025, Williams completely took over the Dallas backfield, silencing any lingering post-injury concerns by racking up a career-high 1,201 rushing yards (9th in the NFL) and 11 touchdowns on 252 carries across 16 regular-season games. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), his punishing running style earned an 81.7 PFF rushing grade (15th among qualified backs), backed by an elite 3.6 yards after contact per attempt and 54 forced missed tackles. He was an absolute engine of consistency, logging a sturdy 4.8 yards per carry and contributing 35 receptions for 137 receiving yards and two touchdowns to maintain an excellent PPR floor. Rewarded with a lucrative three-year, $24 million contract extension this offseason, Williams enters the 2026 season as Brian Schottenheimer's undisputed No. 1 workhorse. Selecting a locked-in, high-efficiency bell cow on a team that finished seventh in points scored provides a supreme structural draft discount in Round 3.

Other Targets: Kyren Williams, Josh Jacobs

Round 4, Pick 47: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: Similar to what we were looking at in the previous picks' drafts, you could go TE here if, and only if, Colston Loveland is available, but we like going back to the receiver position because of how many tasty options are sitting in front of us. With Nacua and Collins, we can afford to take some risks here if we want to shoot for a high-ceiling player, or we can go the safer route and just lock down our WR3. Jaylen Waddle and Terry McLaurin both work here, but we'll lean toward Waddle based on my player rankings and the expectation that he sees the higher target share on his team should the Commanders sign Stefon Diggs (rumored).

Top Target: Jaylen Waddle, WR Denver Broncos

Despite navigating severe quarterback upheaval and a run-heavy approach in Miami last season, Waddle still flashed elite efficiency by catching 64 passes on 100 targets for 910 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns across 16 games. His underlying metrics remained phenomenal as he ranked 12th in targets per route run and 12th in yards per route run out of 109 qualifying wide receivers. Now, the Super Bowl-contending Broncos have pushed their chips to the center of the table, trading a haul of draft capital—including a 2026 first-round pick—to install Waddle as the undisputed, explosive alpha vertical weapon for dynamic young quarterback Bo Nix. Leaving a Dolphins offense that ranked 29th in neutral passing rate to join a Sean Payton and Davis Webb aerial attack that finished fourth in the NFL in passing attempts guarantees Waddle a massive uptick in weekly opportunities. Drafted in the fourth round as an upside WR2, Waddle provides an elite talent floor that is locked and loaded to easily eclipse 1,000 yards in a high-volume offensive system.

Other Targets: Terry McLaurin, Luther Burden, Christian Watson

 

 

 

Round 5, Pick 52: Draft a Running Back

Why: This is where you make your next move at the running back position and secure yourself a solid RB2. This round offers strong candidates, each with their own skill set and potential. If you want high upside in a full-point PPR format, you can grab TreVeyon Henderson. If you want safety and security, then go with David Montgomery. If you want something in between, then either Cam Skattebo or Quinshon Judkins will suffice.

Top Target: David Montgomery, RB Houston Texans

Even while playing a heavily localized, complementary role behind Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit last season, Montgomery remained remarkably efficient by turning 158 carries into 716 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns, averaging a highly robust 4.5 yards per carry. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), his bruising play style was backed by a 75.3 overall offensive grade and an elite 3.2 yards after contact per attempt, proving he can consistently manufacture chunks of yardage on his own. Recognizing his untapped three-down utility, the Texans signed Montgomery to a two-year, $16.5 million contract with $10 million guaranteed to fully spearhead their re-tooled backfield. Stepping into a highly aggressive Houston offense as the undisputed primary early-down thumper alongside rookie Woody Marks, Montgomery is primed to command massive red-zone volume for an ascending unit. Securing a highly durable, 230-pound power back with bankable double-digit touchdown equity all the way in the fifth round delivers an immense positional advantage to anchor your roster structure.

Other Targets: TreVeyon Henderson, Cam Skattebo, Quinshon Judkins

Round 6, Pick 69: Draft a Running Back

Why: Your top QBs are off the board, and you're not enamored with the remaining tight ends at this point. Running backs remain at a premium, and if there's a chance of landing someone who is at least bell-cowish, I think you make that move, even if you are reaching into the next round of the Cheat Sheet. Flex flexibility is king when executing a robust fantasy football PPR strategy.

Top Target: Chuba Hubbard, RB Carolina Panthers

While a calf injury in Week 4 temporarily hindered his momentum and forced him to share the 2025 workload with Rico Dowdle, Hubbard still fought through the nagging ailment to log 134 carries for 511 rushing yards and a touchdown, while showcasing his dual-threat capability by securing 30 receptions on 36 targets. With Dowdle signing a free-agent contract with the Steelers this offseason, the path to a high-volume redemption arc is completely cleared for Hubbard. Furthermore, backup Jonathon Brooks has faced massive developmental hurdles, gaining a grand total of 22 rushing yards at the NFL level across his first two seasons. Head coach Dave Canales operates a run-heavy system that leans heavily on a singular early-down hammer, meaning a fully healthy Hubbard is primed to spearhead the backfield and outpace his modest sixth-round draft cost.

Other Targets: Tony Pollard, Jadarian Price

Round 7, Pick 74: Draft a Tight End

Why: Our Mock Draft Simulator showed us a TE-run here, so with one real legitimate option for a heavy target share on the board, we're going to grab our TE and push quarterback to the next round or two. There is a steeper talent drop-off at the tight end position in this range than there is at the quarterback spot, so let's grab our guy and then not worry about depth until the later rounds.

Top Target: Kyle Pitts, TE Atlanta Falcons

Proving his elite, fully healthy dynamic profile during the 2025 campaign, Pitts commanded a heavy workflow by hauling in 88 receptions on 114 targets for 928 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns—ranking second among all NFL tight ends in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), his mismatch capability translated into an elite 82.0 receiving grade (6th at the position) and a robust 400 yards after the catch. Now, Pitts steps into an absolute dream scenario under Kevin Stefanski, a play-caller historically renowned for engineering elite, tight end-centric passing game concepts that lean heavily on multiple-TE sets and heavy play-action concepts. Fresh off signing a historic three-year, $54 million contract extension that cements him as the cornerstone of the franchise, Pitts will serve as the premier vertical seam filter for new quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Securing an athletic anomaly who already boasts a top-10 overall NFL reception baseline all the way in Round 7 hands you an astronomical structural advantage.

Other Targets: Tucker Kraft, Sam LaPorta, Harold Fannin

 

 

 

Round 8, Pick 95: Draft a Quarterback

Why: At this point, most of the top quarterbacks are gone, and you have the option of one of the last remaining rushing QBs or the second/third tier of the pocket passers. If we have an opportunity to grab a rushing QB, that is definitely something to consider. You may see other QBs ranked similarly, and you can certainly utilize them if you have someone to pair them up with on your roster. It is all about finalizing a strong fantasy football draft position strategy.

Top Target: Trevor Lawrence, QB Jacksonville Jaguars

Fully unlocking his elite potential during his first year under offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Lawrence spearheaded a resurgent 13-4 Jaguars squad by completing 60.9% of his passes for 4,007 yards and a career-high 29 passing touchdowns. Advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (PFF) highlight his immense growth, as he secured an 84.7 overall offensive grade (8th among NFL QBs) and finished the final 10 weeks of the regular season as the absolute overall fantasy QB1. Crucially for fantasy managers, Lawrence supplemented his arm with highly lethal mobility, chipping in 359 rushing yards and a whopping 9 rushing touchdowns to solidify an incredibly high weekly scoring baseline. Entering his second year in Coen's highly modern, pass-heavy system with a fully healthy and deep receiving corps, securing a proven top-five fantasy finisher in the eighth round is a complete league-winning exploit.

Other Targets: Jaxson Dart, Dak Prescott

Round 9, Pick 100: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: We're now rounding out our depth and just hammering the best player at the RB or WR positions. You also need to figure out if you want high-floor or high-ceiling. You have to decide if you are swinging for the fences or if you want a solid high-floor option. It all depends on how you've built your team. For this draft, I'm thinking floor.

Top Target: Jayden Reed, WR Green Bay Packers

Though a frustrating, injury-plagued 2025 campaign marred by a Jones foot fracture and a broken clavicle limited Reed to just seven contests, he still flashed immense efficiency by catching 19 passes on 22 targets for 207 yards and a touchdown. When he actually saw the field for a stable workload (at least 38% of snaps), his high-floor playmaking generated a reliable 8.8 PPR points per game while posting a stellar 121.0 passer rating when targeted. Recognizing his alpha trait upside, the Packers locked him down with a three-year, $50.25 million contract extension this offseason and simultaneously cleared out his target competition by moving on from Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks—vacating a massive 131 targets from last year's offense. Stepping back into Jordan Love's primary vertical slot role fully healthy, capturing a dynamic receiver with proven top-30 positional upside all the way in the ninth round gives your roster an incredible structural edge.

Other Targets: Xavier Worthy, Jordan Addison

Round 10, Pick 119: Draft a Running Back

Why: At this point, you have three solid running backs, four solid wide receivers, your quarterback, and your tight end. You could go with another tight end here if you don't have enough confidence in Kyle Pitts, but we do, and we're seeing some incredible value still on the board. In fact, you have running backs who have enough upside to take over the job in full, so if we can solidify the position with some good depth, you make the move.

Top Target: Jordan Mason, RB Minnesota Vikings

Upon first glance, Jordan Mason's first season with the Minnesota Vikings may have seemed slightly disappointing, but Mason was able to overcome inconsistent quarterback play, offensive line injuries, and plenty more dysfunction around him to produce at 4.8 yards per carry. This season, Mason returns to a highly favorable, zone-blocking scheme alongside Aaron Jones. Mason is fully projected to handle the critical early-down hammer role, as the Vikings have made minimal changes to their running back room, and he will resume the bulk of the goal-line work that helped him finish with six rushing touchdowns last season. Securing a hyper-efficient, 223-pound power back tied to an up-and-coming offense this late in your draft hands your roster an immense structural advantage.

Other Targets: Rachaad White, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Tyrone Tracy

 

 

 

Round 11, Pick 124: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: You have four strong options at running back now, and the positional depth is thinning out like my hairline. The receiver group looks good right now, and with the four on your roster, you can really swing for the fences with this pick, if you want. Nothing wrong with floor, but upside could be more valuable in the long run when mastering a deep fantasy football PPR strategy.

Top Target: Stefon Diggs, WR Free Agent

Even coming off a significant injury, joining a new offense with a new head coach at the age of 32, Stefon Diggs proved he can still produce. In his single season with the New England Patriots, Diggs was able to crack 1,000 yards and lead the Patriots in every significant receiving stat. Though he currently remains unsigned as training camps approach, his veteran pedigree ensures that wherever he eventually lands, he will instantly command a heavily localized target filter and operate as a high-floor safety valve with significant weekly touchdown upside. Spending a late, double-digit round pick on a hyper-talented wideout who averaged 12.7 PPR points per game last season is the ultimate low-risk gamble that provides immense structural flexibility to your bench.

Other Targets: Jalen Coker, Jalen Nailor

Round 12, Pick 132: Draft a Tight End

Why: While you can continue to add depth to the RB and WR positions, this might be a nice opportunity to get your backup tight end. You have some stability with Kyle Pitts, so maybe shooting for some upside is the way to go if using the Yin-Yang draft strategy. Refining this late-round fantasy football draft position strategy keeps you ahead of your league's waiver wire.

Top Target: Chig Okonkwo, TE Washington Commanders

Even while navigating severe coaching turmoil and a sluggish passing environment during his final season with the Titans in 2025, Okonkwo maintained high-floor consistency by securing 56 receptions on 76 targets for 560 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. Advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (PFF) demonstrate his elite playmaking skills, as he ranked fourth among all NFL tight ends with 13 missed tackles forced and tied for ninth with 6.2 yards after the catch per reception. Recognizing his explosive potential in space, the Commanders signed him to a lucrative three-year, $27 million contract to fully replace veteran Zach Ertz as the team's primary pass-catching tight end. Stepping into a Washington offense lacking proven target earners behind Terry McLaurin, Okonkwo has already built rapid chemistry with dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels during offseason workouts. Securing a dynamic, athletic mismatch who is one of just six tight ends to hit 50+ receptions in each of the past three seasons, all the way in the twelfth round, gives your roster an incredible late-round positional advantage.

Other Targets: Kenyon Sadiq, Oronde Gadsden

Round 13–18: Fill Depth

Use any additional picks to draft a kicker and team defense if required; otherwise, stock up on running backs and wide receivers unless you waited on tight end. If you did, then a second TE never hurts. It's all about the Yin-Yang draft philosophy and our Dynamic Tiers.