The single most common question we as fantasy analysts get asked every summer is, without fail, "Who do I take with the fifth pick?" If you are holding the No. 5 slot in a 12-team draft, you are sitting in a highly strategic pivot position. 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 burning question but also serve to guide you step-by-step through all of your subsequent selections.

Let's establish one rule right away: technically, the perfect draft doesn't exist. Drafts are unpredictable, living environments. However, if you diligently follow the draft grid in our cheat sheet, select the proper players at your necessary positions, and keep value at the forefront of your mind, you can build a juggernaut that will take you straight to a championship. You can certainly deviate from the cheat sheet blueprint if you really want to, but be careful that you don’t overlook immense value, especially at positions you feel like you already have covered. If there is a player available from an earlier round who falls to you at running back or wide receiver, consider that player first, regardless of what you currently need. You can balance out your roster requirements further down the line. If your league hands you a player with second-round value in the fourth round, you should take him 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 weekly lineup choices must be on point. But if you initiate your draft board with this fundamentally sound fantasy football pick 5 draft strategy, failure is no longer an option. Let's dominate from the middle of the first round.

Round 1, Pick 5: Draft a Running Back

Why: This is an interesting spot for your draft, and I am not against reaching for a player you want. Most will look at receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Amon-Ra St. Brown or even stalwarts at the running back position like Christian McCaffrey or Jonathan Taylor, and I wouldn't begrudge a move on any of those players at this spot. But since you're reading this article series, it sounds like you're looking for some good old-fashioned Bender advice, and for me, I'm taking a player who I covet because I think he's primed for a monster season, and I don't want to be without him. It's about drafting based on what you EXPECT a player to do, not what he's done in the past.

Top Target: Ashton Jeanty, RB Las Vegas Raiders

Selected 6th overall in 2025, Jeanty paced all NFL rookies with a 1,321 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns, logging 266 carries for 975 yards alongside 55 receptions for 346 yards in 17 games. While an unstable blocking scheme forced him to gain an astonishing 815 of his 975 rushing yards after first contact, Jeanty proved his elite individual talent by forcing 61 missed tackles (5th in the NFL) and monopolizing 90% of the Raiders' total red-zone backfield touches. The entire paradigm shifts in 2026 thanks to a monumental regime change; new head coach Klint Kubiak and legendary offensive line coach Rick Dennison are installing a wide-zone blocking scheme designed to heavily filter targets and interior volume directly through a primary anchor. Supported by a rapidly maturing, stable offensive line anchored by franchise blockers Kolton Miller and DJ Glaze, Jeanty is completely insulated from the heavy defensive pressure that capped his rookie efficiency. Drafted at the five-spot, you are bypassing volatile perimeter targets to lock down a 320-touch, hyper-athletic true bell cow set to explode under an elite coaching upgrade

Other Targets: Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Jaxon Smith-Njigba

 

 

 

Round 2, Pick 20: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: If any of the running backs from 1B or 2A in the Cheat Sheet are available, that's who I'm taking, and I'm thinking a Robust-RB strategy is potentially on the table. But they aren't, according to our Mock Draft Simulator, so I view things very similarly to the second round of the No. 4 pick article. A high-end wide receiver to serve as a positional anchor is more important to me than pushing up the ADP of the remaining running backs. We'll push off our RB2 for now.

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

Despite battling severe offensive inconsistencies in Philadelphia during the 2025 campaign, Brown proved his high-end skill set remains completely intact by logging 78 receptions on 121 targets for 1,003 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns across 15 games. Advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (PFF) highlight his unmatched downfield efficiency, as he secured an 85.9 receiving grade (11th among qualified NFL wideouts) while registering a commanding 11.9-yard average depth of target. Now playing under a revitalized New England offense following a blockbuster offseason trade, Brown steps in as the undisputed primary target for reigning MVP runner-up Drake Maye. Moving into a highly aggressive passing scheme that heavily prioritizes play-action and vertical, in-breaking routes perfectly optimizes Brown's bruising ability to create yards after the catch. Securing a locked-in, elite perimeter weapon who has posted four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in the second round lets you anchor your roster with an undisputed alpha without paying a premium first-round price tag.

Other Targets: Nico Collins, Chris Olave, DeVonta Smith

Round 3, Pick 29: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: Our Mock Draft Simulator is showing us an RB-heavy approach by other teams -- something that could very much happen in your home drafts -- so we are going to look at the value being presented to us. We'll look for running backs down the line, but for now, let's grab a potential PPR monster of a receiver who has both a high floor and a high ceiling.

Top Target: Ladd McConkey, WR Los Angeles Chargers

Despite dealing with severe offensive line attrition that forced the team into a late-season run-heavy shell, McConkey's underlying usage remained highly reliable in 2025 as he secured 66 receptions on 106 targets for 789 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns across 16 games. Advanced volume metrics from the first 10 games of the season highlight his elite floor, where he averaged a sturdy 13.9 PPR points and 8.0 targets per game before front-line injuries torpedoed the unit. The entire paradigm shifts for his third season with veteran Keenan Allen ceding his role and former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel stepping in as the Chargers' new offensive coordinator. McDaniel's high-speed, YAC-heavy system is tailor-made to exploit McConkey’s route-running efficiency, moving him back to the high-volume slot position where he previously logged an historic rookie mark of 2.60 yards per route run. Grabbing a highly dynamic, technical target monster tied straight to a healthy Justin Herbert in the third round lets you secure an elite PPR safety valve without paying premium early-round draft capital.

Other Targets: Emeka Egbuka, Zay Flowers

Round 4, Pick 46: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: Here's another situation where 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 other options are sitting in front of us, at least according to our Mock Draft Simulator. With Brown and McConkey, 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 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. According to advanced metrics, his underlying talent 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 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, Davante Adams

 

 

 

Round 5, Pick 53: Draft a Quarterback

Why: Now this is actually a very interesting spot for the No. 5 Pick. Normally, I'd be grabbing running backs and wide receivers, but with Drake Maye on the board, having A.J. Brown on the roster, and with the majority of people drafting behind us needing a QB, I would make the move here and pair up my QB with my top WR. If Maye isn't on the board in your specific draft, pivot to the running backs and wide receivers, OR you could even grab TE Tyler Warren, and we continue this vaunted Hero/Anchor-RB draft strategy.

Top Target: Drake Maye, QB New England Patriots

Orchestrating a dynamic, highly aggressive offensive turnaround in 2025, Maye finished second in NFL MVP voting by completing 64.8% of his passes for 4,394 passing yards and 31 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions. Crucially for fantasy managers, Maye weaponized his elite athletic traits to supplement his passing volume, slicing through defenses on the ground to rack up 450 rushing yards and an additional 4 rushing touchdowns—solidifying an incredibly secure weekly scoring baseline. Securing Maye in the fifth round offers a massive structural advantage, but the ultimate prize is the built-in stacking bonus with elite wideout A.J. Brown, whom you secured in the second round. Pairing a mobile, top-tier quarterback with his newly acquired, premier vertical alpha target allows you to capture maximum point multiplier correlation on every explosive, play-action touchdown chunk play New England produces this season.

Other Targets: Cam Skattebo, DJ Moore, Tyler Warren

Round 6, Pick 68: Draft a Running Back

Why: We need to go back to the running back position and land our RB2. I don't feel comfortable waiting any longer, especially when you're near the middle of your draft and you could miss a positional run. We don't want to lose a bunch of value, but with only one RB in our stable, reaching into the seventh round of the Cheat Sheet won't present any problems for us.

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, with only nine carries 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 easily outpace his modest sixth-round draft cost.

Other Targets: Tony Pollard, Jadarian Price

Round 7, Pick 75: Draft a Tight End

Why: We're going to continue handling this just as we did with the No. 4 overall pick. Here in the seventh round, we've got strong TE value on the board, and none of the running backs or wide receivers are tickling our fancy. Not that they're terrible, but I would much prefer a strong, pass-catching tight end to help round out our roster.

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 94: Draft a Running Back

Why: While I don't like taking a handcuff this early, I view the Carolina Panthers backfield as a situation that could be eerily similar to what we saw last season in Seattle with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Panthers head coach Dave Canales typically likes one back, despite what we saw with Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle last year, but Jonathan Brooks is a bit of a wild card here, having been drafted in the second round in 2024 by the Canales group. We just don't know because we haven't seen him. This is a move you do simply to protect yourself. Not ideal taking him this high, but based off ADP and what Big Fantasy is doing pushing him as a potential lead back, we're going to have to play it somewhat safe.

Top Target: Jonathan Brooks, RB Carolina Panthers

While Chuba Hubbard navigates a volatile career trajectory, the Panthers' vacated touches create a massive opportunity for Brooks to assume a heavy portion of the 275 touches left behind by the departed Rico Dowdle. That is, of course, if head coach Dave Canales doesn’t go back to using Hubbard as his lead back again. If he does, then Brooks is an expensive, albeit necessary, handcuff. If not, then Brooks has a chance to compete for touches. He enters the 2026 campaign fully healthy and slotted directly behind Hubbard in a run-heavy system engineered by Canales—a scheme specifically designed to support Bryce Young's growth by churning out high backfield volume. Even if Hubbard holds the initial lead-back duties, Brooks could be projected for a significant 1A/1B platoon share that locks in at least 200 high-value touches and passing-game targets. Securing a dynamic talent with a clear path to a bell-cow workload in the eighth round provides elite insurance for your roster and an immediate remedy for running back scarcity.

Other Targets: Rhamondre Stevenson, Rico Dowdle

Round 9, Pick 101: 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, especially with what our Mock Draft Simulator is telling me is still available.

Top Target: Josh Downs, WR Indianapolis Colts

Despite navigating heavy offensive volume shifts and playing alongside a breakout rookie tight end in Tyler Warren last season, Downs still showcased incredibly elite efficiency metrics by hauling in 58 receptions on 88 targets for 566 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. Advanced data from Pro Football Focus (PFF) heavily validates his high-end talent, grading him as the NFL's 25th-best qualified wide receiver (77.1 overall grade) while ranking 20th in average separation score. Head coach Shane Steichen explicitly weaponized Downs as the team's most reliable emergency safety valve; he was hyper-targeted at a 24% clip when active and registered a spectacular career-high 69% efficiency rate, where 40 of his 58 catches resulted directly in a first down or a touchdown. Now that Pittman’s 111 vacated targets have been cleared out via a trade to the Steelers, the Colts are actively shifting the quick-twitched, hyper-athletic wideout to line up on the outside and all over the formation rather than sticking strictly in the slot. Capitalizing on a highly advanced, route-running technician entering a contract year with guaranteed triple-digit target upside inside the single-digit rounds represents an immense structural bargain.

Other Targets: Jayden Reed, Jordan Addison

Round 10, Pick 118: Draft a Running Back

Why: At this point, you have just two solid running backs, a handcuff, four solid wide receivers, your quarterback, and your tight end. You need to beef up that running back depth. That means we're looking for someone who has the potential to take the lion's share of the work. If you find anyone who meets that criteria still available from earlier rounds, then great, but if not, there are still some solid RB options.

Top Target: Jordan Mason, RB San Francisco 49ers

Mason is priced as a backup despite out-producing teammate Aaron Jones across the board last season. Across 16 contests, Mason led Minnesota with 159 carries for 758 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, registering a stellar 4.8 yards per carry compared to Jones’ 4.2 average. Advanced metrics highlight his physical rushing style, as Mason generated a powerful +1.02 Rush Yards Over Expected (RYOE) per attempt and an explosive 56.0% rushing success rate, which easily bested Jones' 49.2% rate. Additionally, Mason ranked third among qualified league ballcarriers in explosive run percentage after Week 10. With Kevin O'Connell trusting him near the goal line and a declining 31-year-old counterpart ahead of him, drafting Mason in the 10th round secures a starting-caliber early-down hammer with a top-24 fantasy floor inside Kyler Murray's newly led offense.

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

 

 

 

Round 11, Pick 125: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: As you're building up your depth, you probably find yourself deciding between beefing up your RB corps with Zach Charbonnet or grabbing one of these wide receivers who could be their respective team's WR1 even though we don't love their offense. I think you should typically be thinking ceiling over floor with these late picks, especially when you have a strong base.

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 131: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: I don't particularly care for any of the RBs left sitting on the board, so I will focus on a WR with potential to be the top target on his team or the high-upside tight end. Following the targets might be your best course of action, which would lead me to the wide receiver.

Top Target: Malik Washington, WR Miami Dolphins

Following a highly productive 2025 campaign, Washington proved he could masterfully navigate underneath coverage by hauling in 46 receptions on 62 targets for 317 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns, alongside adding 110 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (PFF) explicitly highlight his lethal traits with the ball in his hands; he recorded a low 5.4-yard average depth of target but generated an impressive 262 yards after the catch, ranking 10th in the NFL with a robust 5.7 yards after catch per reception baseline. The entire outlook for his 2026 campaign completely explodes because the Dolphins’ offseason departure of both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle leaves a colossal vacancy of 1,175 yards behind them. As the only returning starting veteran pass-catcher in a reconstructed wide receiver room, Washington is locked into a heavy slot role tailored to offer new starting quarterback Malik Willis a highly reliable safety valve across the middle of the field. Securing an efficient, twitchy playmaker who already possesses a high-floor reception baseline this deep in the double-digit rounds gives your bench unmatched positional leverage.

Other Targets: Chig Okonkwo, 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.