UPDATED 8/18: The most common question fantasy football analysts face every single summer is simple: "Who do I take with the second overall pick?" Earlier in the Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide, we mapped out a strategy for this slot. However, with training camp injuries piling up and Average Draft Position (ADP) fluctuating daily, the perfect draft is time-specific. Executing a winning fantasy football pick 2 draft strategy requires dynamic adaptation based on current market value.

Using Fantasy Alarm's Ultimate Cheat Sheet and new Mock Draft Simulator, this guide will walk you through round-by-round picks to dominate a 12-team draft. While a flawless draft doesn't exist, sticking to our draft grid, taking optimal positional value, and staying flexible will set up a championship-caliber team.

Keep one crucial rule in mind: if an elite running back or wide receiver falls from an earlier round, draft that player first regardless of roster balance. If your league hands you second-round value in the fourth round, take it 99 times out of 100. The draft is only the first step before waiver wire execution begins, but executing this strategy ensures failure is off the table.

Round 1, Pick 2: Draft a Running Back

Your chances of acquiring a true bell-cow back with the level of talent found in Jahmyr Gibbs after 22 picks go by are next to nothing. Take the best player at one of the most important positions on the board. Should Gibbs be gone, Bijan Robinson works just as well. Maybe even a little better!

Why Gibbs is the Pick: Gibbs proved his elite standing during the 2025 season, racking up 1,223 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 243 carries, alongside 56 receptions for another 410 yards. Finishing as a top-five fantasy running back in overall efficiency, his dual-threat explosive upside makes him a foundational cornerstone for any high-volume updated fantasy football PPR strategy. 

 

 

 

Round 2, Pick 23: Draft a Wide Receiver

There are still a few elite wideouts available at the Round 2/3 turn, and they carry significantly higher projection floors than the next tier of running backs. You’ve already anchored your roster with a generational talent at RB1; now it’s time to pair him with an elite-level receiving talent.

Why Collins is the Pick: Collins delivered alpha-receiver output in 2025, capturing 71 receptions on 117 targets for 1,117 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. Averaging 15.7 yards per reception with an elite 87.4 overall grade, he offers a wide receiver ceiling that anchors your passing game effortlessly. 

Round 3, Pick 26: Draft a Quarterback

You have a premier running back in fantasy football and an elite top-10 wide receiver. Why not secure the undisputed best signal-caller in the game by locking in Josh Allen while he’s sitting right there? His historical dual-threat production is unmatched, and there’s zero reason to doubt he finishes as the overall QB1 again. Mentally commit to punting the tight end position for now and focus heavily on RB and WR over the next few rounds. (Note: If Allen is snagged before your pick, pivot to the best available wide receiver).

Why Allen is the Pick: Allen posted another monstrous dual-threat season in 2025, completing 69.3% of his passes for 3,668 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Generating 39 total touchdowns single-handedly guarantees unmatched positional dominance at the quarterback position. 

Round 4, Pick 47: Draft a Wide Receiver

You draft him for the same reasons we told you in the Pick 1 article. But this is more like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, because if Allen is gone, then you should pivot to wide receiver and then think about Lamar Jackson at the 4/5 turn. Both strategies will work, and you'll have a fantastic base to your roster.

Why Watson is the Pick: When healthy in 2025, Watson showcased elite game-breaking efficiency, averaging over 15 yards per reception with a red-zone target rate near 20%. Securing a true vertical threat with touchdown variance in his favor at Pick 47 fits seamlessly into a flexible updated fantasy football draft position strategy.

 

 

 

Round 5, Pick 50: Draft a Running Back

Grabbing your RB2 here is essential if you used your third-round pick on Josh Allen. If you took a receiver, then you're taking Lamar Jackson here and looking for your QB next round.

Why Montgomery is the Pick: Montgomery remained a high-leverage goal-line powerhouse in 2025, tallying 716 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Providing high-floor touchdown reliability, he serves as an ideal RB2 anchor to lock down your backfield. 

Round 6, Pick 71: Draft a Running Back

You've built a stellar 1-2 punch with Robinson and Montgomery, but securing a strong RB3 option is vital for long-term roster health. This tier features backfield assets playing in run-first offensive schemes. Securing your third back here makes pivoting back to receivers and tight ends seamless.

Why Brooks is the Pick: Returning to full strength late in his rookie campaign, Brooks logged multiple 80+ scrimmage yard performances with an eye-popping 4.8 yards per touch down the stretch. Of course, that was almost two years ago, but sometimes you gotta risk it for the biscuit. His expanding workload in the wake of Chuba Hubbard’s injury sets him up as an elite RB3 value in this round.

Round 7, Pick 74: Draft a Wide Receiver

Most leagues have us starting three receivers, so grabbing your WR3 from this tier is going to give you a strong trio of starters, especially if you took Josh Allen instead of waiting until Lamar Jackson. If you did wait for Jackson, then it would be wise to double-tap the RB position and then move forward with our set plan below.

Why Godwin is the Pick: Operating as Tampa Bay's primary slot target and top veteran receiver, Godwin offers dependable weekly target volume with low draft capital investment. His floor in PPR formats complements an early-round draft strategy heavily weighted toward running backs and elite quarterback production. Despite being limited to 33 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns across nine games during an injury-riddled 2025 campaign, he closed the season back at full health and averaged 14.6 PPR points over his final stretch.

 

 

 

Round 8, Pick 95: Draft a Wide Receiver

While you could put your third running back in your Flex spot, opening up options within your receiving corps gives you far more lineup flexibility. Since you went safe and dependable in Round 7, shoot for explosive upside here. Look for high target potential paired with a game-breaking ceiling.

Why Diggs is the Pick: Diggs maintained key rotational target share in 2025, hauling in 85 passes for 1,103 yards and four scores. Getting a proven veteran with line-of-sight to 100+ targets in Round 8 represents huge value for our updated fantasy football pick 2 draft strategy.

Round 9, Pick 98: Draft a Tight End

This round represents the cutoff for tight ends capable of every-week fantasy starter production. You want a pass-catcher who projects as the primary or secondary read for his quarterback. While hitting on an elite TE1 early is great, this tier provides reliable production without the heavy draft capital investment.

Why LaPorta is the Pick: Injuries derailed LaPorta’s season last year, but his back surgery was a success, and he was given full clearance well ahead of training camp opening. We know that new OC Drew Petzing likes to rely on his TE to help move the chains and dominate inside the end zone, as evidenced by Trey McBride’s workload. He should do the same for LaPorta this season.

Round 10, Pick 119: Draft a Running Back

At this stage, you are building insurance depth, and the most critical position to hoard is running back. You will take plenty of late-round swings on wide receivers, but if you can grab an RB with a clear path to touches, pull the trigger every time.

Why Croskey-Merritt is the Pick: JCM offers immediate, proven rushing efficiency at a bargain price tag. During his 2025 campaign with the Washington Commanders, he proved to be a rare bright spot by turning 175 carries into 805 rushing yards (4.6 yards per attempt) and eight touchdowns. With an impressive 3.5 yards after contact per attempt and a knack for finding the end zone, he holds a direct path to high-value goal-line touches and massive upside should injuries shake up the backfield.

 

 

 

Round 11, Pick 122: Draft a Wide Receiver

Targeting depth is simple here; you just need to decide between safe floor or maximum ceiling. With plenty of late-round flyers remaining on the board, grabbing a heavily targeted pass-catcher who is currently undervalued by the consensus is the sharp play.

Why Concepcion is the Pick: Entering the NFL as an explosive slot weapon, Concepcion boasts an exceptional college production profile with over 1,000 total yards and 10 TDs in his final collegiate season. His quick-game path to immediate targets makes him a sharp late-round flyer.

Round 12, Pick 143: Draft a Running Back

This does two things - first, it's adding to your RB depth. Second, it's taking the opportunity to handcuff one of your top backs. With Montgomery on the roster, Marks makes an excellent pick, and maybe in the next round you can find Isiah Pacheco.

Why Marks is the Pick: Marks excelled as a pass-catching back in college, catching 45+ passes in consecutive seasons while averaging 5.2 yards per rush. Taking him late secures key backfield insurance while maximizing your overall fantasy football draft position strategy heading into the final rounds.

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.