We back? Damn right we’re back.

If you followed my original 12-team blueprint over a month ago, toss it out. The draft landscape moves at lightspeed, player pools shift, and ADPs fluctuate daily. What worked four weeks ago will get you crushed today. Just look at 49ers wide receiver D'Zhaun Stribling over the past three weeks; he’s rocketed from a late-round flier to a legitimate mid-round selection in drafts across the board.

That is precisely why we run mock drafts, and why the Fantasy Alarm Mock Draft Simulator is your single best tool to stress-test your draft board. When you’re staring down the fantasy football pick 5 draft strategy, you need an updated game plan. While a flawless draft might not exist in the real world, it absolutely exists in mine. Armed with the Fantasy Alarm Ultimate Cheat Sheet and our simulator, you’ll execute the ideal fantasy football draft position strategy.

A quick golden rule before we dive in: If a player drops to you from an earlier round and they play either running back or wide receiver, consider them first regardless of your positional build. Balance out your roster later. If your league hands you a third-round asset in the sixth round, snatch that value and don't look back. Execute this blueprint, dial in your fantasy football PPR strategy, and failure is off the table.

Round 1, Pick 5: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: A fair number of top-tier running backs are sliding into the middle of the second round in recent drafts. Grabbing an absolute elite receiver at Pick 5 gives you a high-floor, high-ceiling foundation to build around.

Top Target: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Seattle Seahawks

JSN is an ideal anchor at the top of your draft coming off a monster 2025 campaign where he commanded 162 targets, hauling in 119 receptions for 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Operating as the focal point of the Seahawks' passing attack, his massive volume and elite efficiency grant him a rock-solid target floor alongside week-winning PPR upside. Securing a true WR1 at pick six gives your roster a premium, reliable foundation before pivoting to running backs in the secondary rounds. 

 

 

 

Round 2, Pick 20: Draft a Running Back

Why: Call it preseason injury paranoia or draft-day panicking, but fantasy managers are letting true RB1 archetypes fall into the middle of Round 2. Snag a true bell-cow here to secure a deadly 1-2 punch out of the gate.

Top Target: Saquon Barkley, RB Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley can be the quintessential second-round anchor after proving he remains a true bell-cow back during the 2025 season. Handling another heavy workload of 280 carries, he racked up 1,140 rushing yards and seven touchdowns while adding 37 receptions for 273 yards out of the backfield. His guaranteed touch volume, accumulating over 1,400 total yards from scrimmage, provides an elite weekly floor that fewer and fewer backfields can offer. Selecting him in Round 2 locks in a high-ceiling RB1 to pair with your first-round wide receiver, establishing a dominant structural foundation for your roster. 

Round 3, Pick 29: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: With the true bell-cow backs wiped off the board, do not force an awkward RB reach. Pivot back to the remaining high-end WR1s to lock down a dominant receiving tandem for your starting lineup every single week.

Top Target: George Pickens, WR Dallas Cowboys

Pickens proved he belongs in the elite WR tier after putting up a massive 2025 campaign with 93 receptions for 1,429 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Functioning as a high-volume focal point in the Dallas Cowboys' passing attack, his elite 15.4 yards-per-reception efficiency and big-play consistency give him a massive weekly floor and WR1 upside 

Round 4, Pick 44: Draft a Running Back

Why: It’s time to secure a set-it-and-forget-it RB2. Target an explosive playmaker who commands the lion's share of touch distribution in their backfield and offers legitimate top-tier upside.

Top Target: Cam Skattebo, RB New York Giants

Skattebo is the ideal fourth-round selection thanks to the elite dual-threat efficiency he put on display during his 2025 rookie campaign. In just eight games, Skattebo racked up 410 rushing yards, 207 receiving yards on 24 catches, and 7 total touchdowns, proving he can deliver both a high-volume floor and week-winning ceiling. Is there risk with him? Of course. But that’s why you add depth later in your draft. 

 

 

 

Round 5, Pick 53: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: In leagues requiring three receivers or multiple flex spots, Round 5 offers a sweet spot of WR2/WR3 options who command serious target shares. You might even land a diamond-in-the-rough wideout who produces like a WR1 as your third receiver.

Top Target: Luther Burden, WR Chicago Bears

Despite a lingering preseason groin injury, Luther Burden is a discount WR3 target in Round 5 due to the elite per-touch efficiency and explosive ceiling he displayed during his 2025 rookie campaign. Burden hauled in 47 receptions for 652 yards while averaging an impressive 13.9 yards per catch and posting two 100-yard games, including an eight-catch, 138-yard explosion in Week 17. His ability to turn high-percentage looks into massive gains gives him immediate WR2 upside in the Bears' pass-heavy offense once fully healthy, making the minor injury discount an absolute steal.

Round 6, Pick 68: Draft a Running Back

Why: Depth wins titles, and your RB3 will often serve as your primary weekly flex play. This tier features backfield options with substantial carry upside who can plug directly into your starting lineup without missing a beat.

Top Target: Jonathan Brooks, RB Carolina Panthers

Even with a potential early-season workload split alongside Chuba Hubbard, Brooks is a high-upside sixth-round target due to the raw efficiency and lead-back talent that made him a premier second-round NFL draft pick. As he fully works his way back into form, his explosive home-run ability and intermediate pass-catching skills give him a clear path to dominating touches down the stretch. Securing a back in Round 6 who possesses legitimate RB1 ceiling for the fantasy stretch run is the exact high-upside investment that wins championships.

Round 7, Pick 77: Draft a Quarterback

Why: Sitting on three starting-caliber running backs and three wide receivers means your primary skill positions are fully locked down. This is the optimal window to strike on your signal-caller for your fantasy football pick 5 draft strategy.

Top Target: Justin Herbert, QB Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert is a fantastic seventh-round quarterback target after delivering a highly efficient 2025 campaign where he compiled 3,727 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. His reliable floor is further bolstered by his rushing output, adding nearly 500 rushing yards on the ground to provide consistent week-to-week production. Having already built a rock-solid core of three running backs and three wide receivers through the first six rounds, waiting until Round 7 to lock in an elite pocket-passer with dual-threat upside lets you maximize roster value without sacrificing early-round capital.

 

 

 

Round 8, Pick 92: Draft a Tight End

Why: If you pass on the top tier of tight ends, you are essentially punting the position. Round 8 represents the last tier of tight ends who operate as top-three passing targets on their respective squads.

Top Target: Tucker Kraft, TE Green Bay Packers

We love Kraft as an eighth-round tight end target after he established himself as one of the most dynamic playmakers at the position in 2025. Before an injury cut his campaign to eight games, Kraft hauled in 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns, operating as a primary red-zone threat for the Packers while averaging an elite 15.3 yards per reception and 8.8 yards after the catch. Grabbing a tight end in Round 8 who commands high-value targets and offers TE1 ceiling gives you a major positional advantage without forcing you to spend early-round capital.

Round 9, Pick 101: Draft a Running Back

Why: Bench depth at running back is non-negotiable. Stockpile your roster with players who project for guaranteed touches or carry lead-back upside should injuries strike the main starter.

Top Target: J.K. Dobbins, RB Denver Broncos

Dobbins is an outstanding Round 9 target because he offers legitimate lead-back touch volume at a deep discount. Over just 10 games with the Denver Broncos in 2025, Dobbins compiled 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns while maintaining an elite 5.0 yards-per-carry average on 153 attempts. His robust 15.3 carries per game proved he can comfortably command a backfield, giving your bench a high-efficiency RB3/RB4 who delivers immediate standalone value and massive week-to-week upside.

Round 10, Pick 116: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: With a reliable core of receivers already rostered, take a high-ceiling flier in Round 10. Balancing high-floor depth with explosive upside ensures your roster can pivot based on weekly matchups.

Top Target: Matthew Golden, WR Green Bay Packers

Golden is a perfect late-round target in Round 10 because he brings elite, explosive upside to your bench depth. Selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the dynamic rookie flashed big-play ability by hauling in 29 receptions for 361 yards while averaging a strong 12.4 yards per catch in just 14 regular-season games. He further demonstrated his game-breaking ceiling in the postseason, exploding for four catches, 84 receiving yards, and a touchdown. Taking a flyer on a former first-round target entering his second year in a potent passing offense gives your roster huge week-to-week ceiling potential at a bargain price.

 

 

 

Round 11, Pick 125: Draft a Wide Receiver

Why: Keep bolstering your receiver depth, particularly if your league rules require three starting WRs. Target a high-floor candidate here to complement the upside fliers you've accumulated.

Top Target: Jalen Nailor, WR Las Vegas Raiders

Nailor is an exceptional 11th-round target thanks to the built-in chemistry he shares with Kirk Cousins and the elevated production floor he brings to your bench. Coming off a 2025 season where he posted career highs with 29 receptions for 444 receiving yards and four touchdowns, Nailor proved he can deliver explosive, efficient depth whenever his number is called. With Cousins now under center to provide accurate target distribution to a receiver he trusts, Nailor steps into a reliable role with a steady weekly target floor. Securing that baseline in Round 11 gives your WR room valuable high-floor coverage for bye weeks and sudden injuries without costing you upside.

Round 12, Pick 140: Draft a Running Back

Why: You can never hoard enough running back depth. Use your final late-round pick on a player with a clear path to touches to guard against mid-season attrition.

Top Target: Chris Rodriguez, RB Jacksonville Jaguars

A tremendous 12th-round investment, Rodriguez provides dependable, physical touch volume to close out your draft. In 2025, Rodriguez posted career highs across the board with 112 carries for 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns while maintaining a solid 4.5 yards per attempt. As you continue to stockpile running back depth late, securing a back who has proven he can produce with 10-plus carries a game gives your bench a reliable floor for bye weeks and sudden injuries without burning earlier draft capital.

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.