It happens every single year. The second our draft slots are announced, my inbox, Twitter feed, and DMs explode with the exact same question: "Howard, who do I take with the 10th pick?" It is, without a doubt, the single most common question we as analysts are asked during draft season. Everyone panics when they get stuck at the tail-end of the first round. But fear not, Nation. This article series, in conjunction with Fantasy Alarm's Ultimate Cheat Sheet and our groundbreaking Mock Draft Simulator, will not only help answer that burning question but also help guide you with your subsequent picks.

Let's get one thing straight out of the gate: technically, the perfect draft doesn't exist. Left-turn injuries, surprise depth chart shifts, and that one guy in your league who drinks too much coffee and drafts a kicker in the sixth round will always throw a wrench in things. 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 to the championship.

Of course, you can deviate from the cheat sheet blueprint if you really want to, but be careful that you don't overlook strong value, especially at positions you may feel like you already have covered. If there is a player available from an earlier round and it is from either the running back or wide receiver position, consider that player first, regardless of what position they play. You can balance out your roster further in the draft. If your league is going to hand you a player who has second-round value in the fourth round of your draft, you should take it 99 times out of 100!

We 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 sound fantasy football draft position strategy, failure is no longer an option. Let’s break down exactly how to dominate from the 10-spot using a robust fantasy football PPR strategy.

Round 1, Pick 10: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: The 10th overall pick works in a very similar fashion to the ninth overall. Sure, you could reach for a running back here if you like, but we prefer to grab one of the final elite-level wide receivers since we don't have much further to go in the draft to make our second pick. You could make an argument that there are some second-round receivers who could reach that elite-level status -- we're all looking at A.J. Brown in that fashion -- but it should make you feel more comfortable to lock down the top receiver available to you and then figure out your RB strategy.

Top Target: CeeDee Lamb, WR Dallas Cowboys

Securing CeeDee Lamb at the back end of the first round is an absolute gift for your fantasy football pick 10 draft strategy. Even in a 2025 campaign where he battled minor health hiccups, Lamb proved why he remains one of the premier alpha receivers in the NFL. He racked up 75 receptions for 1,077 receiving yards across 14 games, posting his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season. More importantly, when filtering out two injury-shortened contests, Lamb commanded a heavy 24.8% target share, racked up 89.4 receiving yards per game, and ranked inside the top ten in yards per route run (2.51). In any standard or premium fantasy football PPR strategy, that elite target volume and game-breaking efficiency provide an unshakeable floor and a week-winning ceiling that anchors your championship roster.

Other Targets: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Justin Jefferson

 

 

 

Round 2, Pick 15: Draft a Running Back

Why: With an elite-level wide receiver tucked away on the roster, you want to grab a running back here. Sure, you could go with another high-end wideout like A.J. Brown or Drake London and possibly try a Zero-RB strategy, but with so many picks coming off the board between your second and third selections and so many people grabbing the bell-cow RBs early, you really want to give yourself a strong RB option and open up the possibility of going with either Hero/Anchor-RB or even a Robust/Bully-RB strategy instead. There's great depth at the receiver position, and your selection of Lamb gives you a huge opportunity to explore the other positions early.

Top Target: Omarion Hampton, RB Los Angeles Chargers

Snagging Omarion Hampton at Pick 15 in the second round is a masterclass in fantasy football draft position strategy, especially under Mike McDaniel’s dynamic offensive scheme. Even while dealing with an ankle fracture that limited his rookie season to nine games in 2025, Hampton proved his high-end efficiency by rushing for 545 yards (4.4 YPC) and scoring five rushing touchdowns. More impressively for a fantasy football PPR strategy, he hauled in 32 of 35 targets (a 91.4% catch rate) while averaging 7.7 yards after the catch per reception. In McDaniel’s scheme, which heavily prioritizes speed, outside-zone running, and high-volume RB targets in space, Hampton possesses three-down workhorse utility and top-five upside, making him the absolute perfect centerpiece for your fantasy football pick 10 draft strategy.

Other Targets: Chase Brown, Drake London, A.J. Brown

Round 3, Pick 34: Draft a Running Back

Why: When you look at the board and your copy of the Ultimate Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet, what's more abundant right now here at the tail-end of the third round? With just four picks between this and your next pick, you can take a strong running back option and still land yourself a fantastic WR2. If you don't see/like any of the backs available, then you can consider another WR here. If you do, keep a watchful eye on running backs in maybe the fifth round. Hero/Anchor-RB strategy still intact if you go that route.

Top Target: Kyren Williams, RB Los Angeles Rams

There was definitely a thought about taking Javonte Williams here, but with Lamb already on the roster, we didn’t want to stack Cowboys and went with the Rams running back. Despite narrative concerns about backfield sharing, Williams has proven to be one of the most bankable workhorses in the league. In 2025, he turned 259 carries into 1,252 rushing yards (4.83 YPC) and 10 touchdowns, while setting career highs in the passing game with 36 receptions for 281 yards and three more scores across 17 games. That marks three consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 rushing yards and double-digit touchdowns for the Rams' star. In any fantasy football PPR strategy, getting a lead back who averages over 17 touches per game and guarantees double-digit touchdown equity in Round 3 gives your roster elite, championship-caliber depth.

Other Targets: Javonte Williams, Tetairoa McMillan, Garrett Wilson

Round 4, Pick 39: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: Now that you've locked down your top two running backs, the board is telling you to hit the wide receivers. There are still some decent running backs left, but the wideouts present more value, and with so many people going RB-heavy, you stand a much greater chance of some slipping through the cracks, as we sometimes see on our Mock Draft Simulator. Every draft is different, but for the sake of the article, we'll grab a wideout from the 4A section, but be on the lookout for guys to slip through.

Top Target: Jaylen Waddle, WR Denver Broncos

Grabbing Jaylen Waddle at Pick 39 in the fourth round is an absolute home-run value for your fantasy football pick 10 draft strategy. Despite transitioning to Sean Payton's Denver Broncos via trade, Waddle proved his elite efficiency in 2025 by hauling in 64 of 100 targets for 910 yards (14.2 yards per reception) and six touchdowns. Even more impressive, he earned an 84.0 PFF receiving grade (12th among all qualified wide receivers) and ranked 13th in yards per route run (2.32). Moving into a Denver offense that ranked among the top five in neutral passing attempts, Waddle steps in as the unquestioned top explosive weapon for Bo Nix. In any fantasy football PPR strategy, getting a proven separator with a 25.4% target rate on routes run as your WR2 in Round 4 gives your team league-winning upside.

Other Targets: Tee Higgins, Terry McLaurin, Luther Burden

 

 

 

Round 5, Pick 58: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: We're locked in with two backs and two receivers. Chances are, your draft room has been going RB-heavy for the most part, so while you're still going to want to explore the running back position here or the next round or two, this presents a strong opportunity to take a chance on a high-upside receiver for your WR3. Your choices of Lamb and Waddle earlier, coupled with some potential high-floor targets further down the road, afford you this luxury.

Top Target: Brian Thomas, WR Jacksonville Jaguars

While his raw 2025 totals (48 catches for 707 receiving yards and 3 total touchdowns across 14 games) reflected Jacksonville's offensive growing pains, the underlying efficiency metrics tell a very different story. Thomas remained an elite vertical separator, maintaining a 14.7 yards per reception average with a demanding 14.8-yard average depth of target (aDOT). Furthermore, he earned 91 targets—a healthy 21.2% target share when active—and continued to demonstrate dynamic playmaking ability with a 14.7 career yards-per-catch mark. As a WR3 in a fantasy football PPR strategy, securing a big-bodied primary target tied to Trevor Lawrence at a fifth-round discount is a textbook way to capture league-winning upside.

Other Targets: Rome Odunze, Carnell Tate

Round 6, Pick 63: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: If you've read the entire series, then this pick is no different from the sixth-rounder from the Pick 9 strategy. This is a crossroads pick -- you can either grab another receiver and have a stockpile, or you can reach by a round and dip into the RB pool. Maybe even the TE pool if you feel it's necessary. With the plan I've laid out in this article, we don't need to reach. We have two strong RBs, and we should stay with the "best player available" philosophy. We'll round out the roster further in the draft.

Top Target: DK Metcalf, WR Pittsburgh Steelers

In his 2025 debut season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Metcalf hauled in 59 passes on 99 targets for 850 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns across 15 games. The underlying metrics highlight his explosive, game-breaking talent: he averaged a powerful 14.4 yards per reception and ranked 4th among all qualified NFL wide receivers with 7.1 yards after the catch per reception. Furthermore, he generated an 11.3-yard average depth of target and flashed slate-breaking upside with performances like his 148-yard outing against Baltimore. In any fantasy football PPR strategy, securing a primary downfield threat who guarantees heavy red-zone usage as late as Round 6 gives your roster championship-level depth.

Other Targets: Alec Pierce, Quentin Johnston, Jordyn Tyson

Round 7, Pick 82: Draft a Quarterback

Why: At this point, you should be rubbing your hands together like some evil genius. Pairing up your QB with a top receiving target is not a necessity by any means, but let's face it -- you all love to do it. It stems from a stacking strategy commonly used in best ball, but it has spilled over into the redraft leagues, and everyone loves to get their "double points," even though it rarely works out as such a difference-maker. But we like the QB options in this range, and we have multiple receivers who can be paired up here.

Top Target: Trevor Lawrence, QB Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence enjoyed a colossal breakout in 2025 under offensive coordinator Liam Coen, finishing as the overall QB4 in fantasy football. He racked up 4,007 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns through the air while adding 359 rushing yards and a whopping 9 rushing touchdowns on the ground—giving him 38 total scores on the year. His dominance exploded down the stretch, where he was the single highest-scoring quarterback in fantasy over his final 10 games. In any standard format or fantasy football PPR strategy, getting a dual-threat QB with top-five ceiling potential in Round 7 allows you to hoard high-end skill position talent early without sacrificing elite production under center.

Other Targets: Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert

 

 

 

Round 8, Pick 87: Draft a Running Back

Why: We're not enamored with the TE selections at this point and have our eye on a few who could fall. But we need to start building out our RB depth so we're not caught without legitimate options, whether it's for a flex play or a bye-week fill-in. The good news is that we have some nice options for here and the subsequent rounds.

Top Target: Kenneth Gainwell, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Grabbing Kenneth Gainwell at Pick 87 in the eighth round is how you quietly secure league-winning RB depth in your fantasy football pick 10 draft strategy. Operating in a dynamic role during his 2025 campaign, Gainwell posted a career year across 17 games, accumulating 1,023 yards from scrimmage. He proved to be one of the most efficient pass-catching backs in football, hauling in 73 of his 85 targets (an elite 85.9% catch rate) for 486 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while adding 537 rushing yards (4.7 YPC) and five scores on the ground. Now entering a Tampa Bay backfield alongside Bucky Irving, Gainwell’s top-five target share (16.3%) among running backs guarantees a razor-sharp PPR floor. In any fantasy football PPR strategy, grabbing a proven third-down maestro with double-digit touch potential this late is a complete home run.

Other Targets: Rhamondre Stevenson, RJ Harvey

Round 9, Pick 106: Draft a Tight End

Why: You never know who slips through the cracks, and at this point in your draft, there are probably a few names that have. Unless there's a prevalent injury issue, you should probably take the value. For the sake of our blueprint within the Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet, we're going to assume everyone earlier is gone, and we have to look at what's in front of us. This section here screams, "reach for a tight end." Get a guy who will see decent targets, and if we see some options later in the draft, like a Greg Dulcich who is a super late-round target, then maybe we grab another, but make your pick, even if it's a slight reach, as if this will be your only guy to start the season.

Top Target: Dalton Kincaid, TE Buffalo Bills

While lingering knee issues limited his raw playing time in 2025, Kincaid’s efficiency metrics when on the field were nothing short of elite. Across 12 games, he caught 39 of 49 targets for 571 yards and 5 touchdowns, leading all qualified tight ends with a blistering 14.6 yards per reception and a 149.2 passer rating when targeted. Furthermore, his 2.79 yards per route run ranked #1 among all TEs with at least 40 targets. In any fantasy football PPR strategy, getting Josh Allen's most efficient seam-threat this late gives you a starting tight end with top-five upside at a steep draft discount.

Other Targets: Isaiah Likely, Travis Kelce, Jake Ferguson

Round 10, Pick 111: Draft a Running Back

Why: The team is rounding into form right now, and we can focus on some of our depth. With still plenty of intriguing wideouts on the board, we can focus on some RB depth, which is always needed. Doesn't matter if we have Kenneth Gainwell on the bench or serving as a flex; if you have a chance to find a running back who is expected to see a strong share of the workload and is maybe one injury away from a full-time job, then you have to take it.

Top Target: Jordan Mason, RB Minnesota Vikings

In his 2025 debut season with the Minnesota Vikings, Mason proved his worth by rushing for 758 yards (4.8 YPC) and 6 touchdowns on 159 carries across 16 games. The advanced metrics prove his elite rushing skill set: Mason earned an outstanding 83.8 PFF rushing grade (10th among qualified NFL backs), averaged 3.41 yards after contact per carry (10th), and broke 31 tackles. More importantly, during a four-game starting stretch filling in for Aaron Jones, Mason averaged 14.5 PPR points per game and scored four touchdowns. In any fantasy football PPR strategy, drafting a runner with proven standalone flex value and top-15 upside should the starter miss time is an absolute steal in double-digit rounds in your draft.

Other Targets: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Tyrone Tracy

 

 

 

Round 11, Pick 130: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: Build that depth, but do it in a way that makes sense for your team. At Fantasy Alarm, we utilize a Yin-Yang draft strategy, so take stock in your team right now -- how many high-floor wideouts do you have versus how many high-upside, take-a-chance guys do we have? For this build, I would say that if you wanted to take a chance on some upside, now is a perfect time to do so.

Top Target: Stefon Diggs, WR Free Agent

While his free-agent status has dropped his price tag, his 2025 production proves he still plays at an elite level. In his lone season with New England, Diggs caught 85 of 102 targets (a stellar 83.3% catch rate) for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games, earning an outstanding 87.5 PFF grade, 6th among all qualified NFL wide receivers. That marked the seventh time in the last eight seasons that Diggs crossed the 1,000-yard mark. In any fantasy football PPR strategy, getting a proven separator who ranked among the top receivers in yards per route run (2.44) as late as the 11th round gives your bench league-winning flexibility once he lands with his next team.

Other Targets: Khalil Shakir, Jalen Coker, Jalen Nailor

Round 12, Pick 135: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: We want to continue adding to our receiver room, especially with taking a shot that Diggs signs somewhere and starts seeing targets fairly quickly. On the chance that it takes a little longer to complete than expected, perhaps a receiver with a solid floor is our answer.

Top Target: Malik Washington, WR Miami Dolphins

Closing out your main starting depth with Malik Washington at Pick 135 in the 12th round is a sharp move to finalize your fantasy football pick 10 draft strategy, especially with Bobby Slowik stepping up to take over the Dolphins' offense. Slowik comes directly from the same Shanahan/McDaniel tree, running a West Coast scheme designed to get quick-crease playmakers open in space. In 2025, Washington proved to be lethal with the ball in his hands, catching 46 of 62 targets for 317 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns while adding 110 yards and a score on 17 carries. He ranked 10th among all qualified NFL wide receivers with 5.7 yards after the catch per reception and forced 6 missed tackles as a runner. In any fantasy football PPR strategy, securing a high-efficiency slot weapon who excels in short-area separation and YAC within Slowik's friendly system gives your bench an immediate high-floor safety net.

Other Targets: Rashid Shaheed, Jauan Jennings, Denzel Boston

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.