Scott Engel's Fantasy Football Draft Guide - First Round Picks From The King

The biggest national obsession right now just might be asking oneself “Who do I take with my first round pick in fantasy football?” It’s the big question that interrupts workflow, sleep, and meaningful conversations with your significant other.

I supply the ultimate directory on what players to target and consider at every draft slot in the first round. These pick-by-pick recommendations are based on my current fantasy football rankings in the RotoBaller Premium Pass. Enter KING at checkout for an additional discount when you subscribe.

My favored targets at every pick may not jibe with consensus rankings and draft flow in your own league at times. So I present a blend of who I would take at each slot with thoughts on who might be logical or expected picks. Analysis leans to PPR formats in a 12-team league.

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Pick 1 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

Many drafters were still taking CeeDee Lamb in the top 3 overall before he was rewarded with a four-year contract extension. Now that his deal is done, the No. 1 pick will come down to a choice between Lamb and Christian McCaffrey in many leagues.

The Cowboys standout was the highest-scoring wide receiver in fantasy football last season. “CMC” is in a tier of his own at running back, although I have seen some drafters pivot to Bijan Robinson because of his perceived No. 1 overall RB upside.

My decision between Lamb and McCaffrey is confirmed when I consider that a top WR is a safer pick than an elite RB. The Niners’ superstar does have a past history of concerning injuries and already dealt with a calf problem in the preseason. Lamb has missed one game in four seasons.

I am certainly not against taking CMC first overall, because a prime RB who dominates the workload is a rarity. But it’s hard to pass on Lamb because the Dallas passing game will look much the same, which means another terrific season seems highly likely. I do feel a lot safer about player health when opting for the top-shelf WR over the RB.

My Pick: CeeDee Lamb
Top Alternative: Christian McCaffrey

Pick 2 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

McCaffrey likely will not slip past the second pick in most drafts. I do have Tyreek Hill ranked one spot higher overall, though, because I see him and Lamb as essentially tied for the No. 1 WR ranking slot. Miami’s highly explosive premier WR has finished as a top 2 scorer at his position in three of the past four seasons.

This will be another case where I personally prefer the elite WR over the elite RB in a tight call. Hill has played less than 15 games one time in eight seasons. If you play in a league with me and I pick second, CMC will have a shot at falling to third overall.

In my most recent draft, though, three RBs were taken in the first four picks and I landed Hill at fifth. So there is a good chance of getting my No. 2 overall player from the third through fifth slots.

Likely Pick: Christian McCaffrey
Top Alternative/My Pick: Tyreek Hill

Pick 3 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

The tight calls between WRs and RBs may continue at this spot. Many fantasy leaguers are envisioning Robinson soaring to the No. 1 spot at RB this season. But I actually have Breece Hall ahead of him, as you will see in the analysis later in the first round.

To me, Hill is the unquestioned pick here. I have a great shot at getting a proven top 2 player at his position, while the decision between Robinson and Hall is close. I will still opt for the WR over the RB at this very early point of the draft. Anyone who takes Hill after this slot will walk away very happy.

Ideal Pick: Tyreek Hill
Top Alternatives: Ja’Marr Chase, Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson

Pick 4 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

AUGUST 28 UPDATE: Chase has decided to not practice again, and for now, I would move him to the end of the first round line at the 12th pick and push everyone up one slot. I will continue to update this article as the situation requires. 

Before Chase returned to practices this past weekend, he was falling as far as the ninth spot in the first round. Many drafters are still going to take Robinson or Hall over him. By this point of the article, though, you know I lean towards the top-shelf WR.

Ja’Marr Chase just got to practice 13 minutes after it started in street clothes. It appears he isn’t practicing today a day after Zac Taylor said he was going to continue to practice pic.twitter.com/FrVSBL4Wwv

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) August 28, 2024

After Robinson and Hall are off the board, though, there is a perceived falloff at the RB position. CMC is in his own tier, and the next two share the second tier. I won’t argue vehemently with anyone who takes the No. 2 and 3 overall RBs over Chase. But I want the guy who has averaged nearly 10 catches per season in three years, and we may have not seen his best season yet.

Keep in mind that the Bengals WR is still playing for a new contract, and that is an extra motivator for a WR who already has huge upside.

My Pick: Ja'Marr Chase
Top Alternatives: Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, Amon-Ra St. Brown

Pick 5 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

By this point, you are already growing weary of reading that I am a WR-first drafter, and many will not follow suit. I simply cannot ignore the high floor of St. Brown here, though.

Most fantasy drafters won’t be able to resist taking Robinson or Hall if they are still available at the fifth spot. Realistically, you may be deciding between Hall or the top WR available here. My own created draft flow continues to be WR-focused.

My Pick: Amon-Ra St. Brown
Top Alternatives: Bijan Robinson or Breece Hall if still available, Justin Jefferson, Garrett Wilson, A.J. Brown

Pick 6 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

It’s not impossible for Robinson to slip to the sixth or seventh slot. Every draft is different, and you can never fully predict the draft order of the whole round. I slightly prefer Hall. He is more likely to be an unrivaled No. 1 RB for his team, as Tyler Allgeier will cut into Robinson’s workload enough to make the difference between the two RBs.

In many cases at this slot, you will have to opt for the best WR available or consider Jonathan Taylor as the fourth RB to go off the board. I would easily move on St. Brown if he is still available at the sixth spot.

My Pick: Breece Hall
Top Alternatives: Bijan Robinson if still available, Amon-Ra St, Brown if he is the top WR available, Justin Jefferson, Garrett Wilson, A.J. Brown

Pick 7 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

If Robinson or Hall are still available here, I won’t take a WR over either one of them, moving off my hard WR stance. Don’t fully rule out either RB still being on the board by this point of the first round. The more likely scenario is that you will be faced with trying to decide between Jefferson or Wilson, and some will opt for Brown. Taylor and Saquon Barkley now become top RB pivots.

My Pick Based On Rankings: Bijan Robinson
Realistic Options: Justin Jefferson, Garrett Wilson, A.J. Brown
Top Alternatives: Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley

Pick 8 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

By this point of the first round, several of the ideal WR1 types are off the board, but you also have a chance to take a top 5 RB. Well, you know by now I am leaning to the WRs in many close calls, so it becomes a question of whether to go with Jefferson or Wilson, with an eye on Brown, too. Minnesota’s headline player does get a QB downgrade, yet that change just bumps him down from the first half of the first round to the second half.

It’s actually insane how good Justin Jefferson is at football pic.twitter.com/s501VzgRZX

— Football Analysis (@FBallAnalysisYT) August 24, 2024

Even mediocre QBs can regularly feed top WRs, and Jefferson performed well at the end of last season with true backup passers.

Ideal Pick: Justin Jefferson
Top Alternatives: Garrett Wilson, A.J. Brown, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley

Pick 9 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

You will see Brown taken anywhere from sixth to 10^th in many drafts, and he is a solid pick from every slot in that range.  However, I prefer Wilson over Brown, because the Jets' rising star has less competition for catches and may deliver an authentic breakout season working with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. I have also seen Wilson picked as early as sixth overall.

Ideal Pick: Garrett Wilson
Top Alternatives: A.J. Brown, Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley

Pick 10 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

Brown represents the final preferred comfortable No. 1 fantasy WR target here.  Marvin Harrison Jr. may enter that range as a rookie, though. When drafting late in the first round, you may be able to pull off a nice double WR start to the draft. Those who begin the roster construction with a Brown/Harrison or Brown/Puka Nacua type of build can consider going with a Zero RB approach.

My Pick: A.J. Brown
Top Alternatives: Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley

Pick 11 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

If Taylor and Barkley are still available at the end of the first round, I won’t let a top 5 RB get past my spot when the top 8 WRs are off the board. The opportunity to grab Harrison in the second round may be there, and a Taylor or Barkley start combined with Harrison will be an optimum two-round opening to the draft from this slot.

Watching Anthony Richardson's pre-season footage - he was not opposed to dumping the ball off to his RB. Monster season incoming for Jonathan Taylor

— Kevin Alan (The Geek) (@ffootballgeek) August 25, 2024

You may also consider going with two RBs to start out if a Taylor or Barkley/Jahymr Gibbs opportunity presents itself. I would grab one of the two top RBs left and then take the best available player at WR or RB overall in the second round.

When deciding between Taylor and Barkley, I give the slight edge to the Colts RB, because Barkley will have to compete with the likes of Brown and DeVonta Smith for some offensive touches. Taylor is a bit more of a true centerpiece of his team’s offense.

Ideal Pick: Jonathan Taylor
Top Alternatives: Saquon Barkley, Marvin Harrison Jr.

Pick 12 - Fantasy Football Draft Guide

The beauty of drafting from the last spot in the first round is that you will be the first person to take a second player. Everyone else wait while you fire off two enviable draft shots back-to-back. Simply aim for the top two overall players remaining and then build the rest of your starting lineup around the first two picks from there.

If anyone wants to take Barkley over Taylor, I am not overly against doing so. The worst-case scenario at this slot might be to take a top 5 RB and then double up to open the second round by picking Harrison or the next best available RB. The Cardinals rookie is a special higher-echelon talent who can make a significant fantasy impact right away.

My Pick: Saquon Barkley
Top Alternatives: Marvin Harrison Jr., Jahmyr Gibbs

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