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10-Team Half-PPR Draft Strategy

How to Win Your Draft

What’s the best strategy for a 10-team, half-PPR draft? Let’s break that down …

Drafting in a 10-team league vs. 12 means more value in securing a top player at a certain spot. 

You gain more advantage from locking up the No. 1 QB or TE, for example, when there are fewer teams than you do when the league is larger.

There’s not quite as much emphasis here on those one-starter positions, though, as you’ll find in an eight-team setup.

Playing half-PPR decreases the impact of receiving volume vs. full-PPR formats. 

You’ll still tend to favor higher-volume pass-catchers, because more opportunities generally means more production. But the format plays friendlier to efficient producers, guys who do a better job of turning targets into yards and TDs. It’s less kind to the WRs who load up on short-range receptions.

But it also lessens the heavy TD reliance that you find in non-PPR setups.

Your specific draft strategy will depend on the specifics of your draft.

That’s why we start this process with the industry’s best fantasy draft cheat sheet: the Draft War Room.

It syncs directly with your redraft league to import your scoring and lineup settings. Then it tracks the action – in real time – throughout your draft, constantly recalculating player values as you go to deliver updated pick recommendations at every turn.

For this article, I manually set up a Draft War Room for 10 teams, half-PPR scoring and these lineup settings:

• 1 QB
• 2 RBs
• 2 WRs
• 1 TE
• 1 Flex (RB/WR/TE)
• 1 K
• 1 DST
• 7 bench spots

Then I ran through a 16-round draft from each pick zone to lay out the best strategy from any position.

To find the fantasy football help appropriate to your draft position, see below …

10-Team Half-PPR Draft Strategy: Pick 1, 2, or 3

Round 1

Top Target: Christian McCaffrey

Lamb and McCaffrey sit basically tied for the top spot in this format, with a bigger step down to No. 3 Hill in 3D Value. All three are obviously coming off tremendous seasons.

Next Best: CeeDee Lamb

Taking Lamb over McCaffrey at the top spot would be just fine. The best way to determine your favorite option would be to run multiple mock drafts starting with each guy, to see how you like the roster builds that follow.

Of course, we’ll be running through the rest of a draft from up top right here to show you how it can go.

Other options

Tyreek Hill

Rounds 2 & 3

Top Targets: Travis Etienne, De'Von Achane

Whether you start with Lamb or McCaffrey, Etienne likely leads the recommendations at this turn.

Etienne’s efficiency dipped in 2023, but he saw workhorse usage. Etienne ranked seventh among RBs in opportunity share and half-PPR points per game. And the Jaguars have finished among the top 13 in yards and points for two straight years.

If you started your draft with Lamb, you could come away from this turn with Etienne and Achane – or Isiah Pacheco – as your top two RBs, which would be solid. Or you could go McCaffrey and follow with two of these WRs. Either should give you an upside base.

Next Best: Joe Mixon, Josh Jacobs, Drake London

It's OK to start Lamb-Etienne and then take a WR in Round 3. And London would be a good option for doing so. Don't be surprised if these RBs appear ahead of him, though.

ADP for this format might keep Samuel from popping to the top of your recommendations, depending on when you’re drafting. But he sits 10th behind Drake London in our half-PPR WR rankings. Don’t trust that he’ll stick around for your next turn if he’s the guy you want.

Samuel ranked ninth among WRs in half-PPR points per game last year.

Other Options

Nico Collins, Mike Evans, Jaylen Waddle, Deebo Samuel

Rounds 4 & 5

Top Targets: Deebo Samuel, Kenneth Walker III

If Samuel does reach this turn, then should be an easy choice -- whether you have one WR or two.

Walker beats the next crop of RBs in:

• Baseline projection
• Floor projection
• Ceiling projection
• Consensus projection

And Walker could benefit if the Seattle offense gains explosiveness with the switch to an OC who helped the Washington Huskies rack up yardage and points over the past two years.

Next Best: Cooper Kupp, Josh Jacobs

Kupp carries enticing bounce-back potential as long as he stays healthy. Puka Nacua's knee injury, though, threatens to push Kupp further up the draft board than this.

Jacobs should be a solid bet for work if he lasts this long, though he does carry some risk factors.

August injuries to MarShawn Lloyd and AJ Dillon (done for season) can only help boost his early-season workload.

Other Options

D.J. Moore, Brandon Aiyuk, DeVonta Smith, Malik Nabers

Rounds 6 & 7

Top Targets: Tee Higgins & Dak Prescott

Combining Cincinnati’s QB and No. 2 WR at this turn would be fun.

Sure, Higgins carries injury risk. But he also finished WR14 in half-PPR points per game in each of Burrow’s past two healthy seasons (2021 and 2022). And he's reportedly enjoying a strong camp.

Of course, Ja'Marr Chase's contract holdout might help push Higgins earlier in drafts as we get closer to the season.

His QB previously appeared at this turn as well, but ADP now has Burrow leaving the board earlier. There's nothing wrong, though, with starting Prescott. He finished third among fantasy QBs last season.

Next Best: Tank Dell & James Conner

Just don’t want Tee Higgins? That’s OK. But there’s a tier break between him and the next set of WRs likely to be available here.

Conner would make for a nice RB3, especially at cost. He has finished three straight seasons among the top 11 RBs in half-PPR points per game.

Dell faces a crowded WR situation but delivered impressive production as a rookie. There's a chance he ranks second -- or even first -- among Houston WRs in fantasy points by the end of the year.

Other Options

David Montgomery, Kyle Pitts, D’Andre Swift

Rounds 8 & 9

Top Targets: Jayden Daniels & Jake Ferguson

If you pass on QB until this turn, then Daniels likely leads your pick recommendations.

ADP says you don’t need to take him yet, but the rookie makes for a strong play here. Upside Mode kicks in at this stage of your draft and plays a big role in pushing Daniels to the top.

His rushing ability gives him top-6 upside at the position – and you a potential advantage at QB, especially if Daniels hits from this late in your draft.

Ferguson pretty easily beats the next TEs on floor (over Brock Bowers) and ceiling (over Dallas Goedert)

Next Best: Najee Harris & Diontae Johnson

Harris isn't exciting but should get plenty of work in what's sure to be a RB-driven offense.

New OC Arthur Smith ran things that way in Tennessee and Atlanta, and he's got even less WR talent in Pittsburgh than he had at either of those two stops.

Johnson pops earlier on your board if you're playing full-PPR. But his No. 1 WR role in Carolina will play fine-to-well across fantasy formats -- especially when you can draft him as a late WR3 or WR4.

Rashee Rice previously appeared here, but his ADP has climbed dramatically with no suspension handed down.

Other Options

Tony Pollard, Brock Bowers, Jayden Reed, Jonathon Brooks

Rounds 10 & 11

Top Targets: Xavier Worthy & Chase Brown

If you get to this point without a QB or TE, then go ahead and fill those gaps. If you’ve already drafted starters at every position, though, you should be focused on upside plays.

That’s what you’ll find in this first-round WR set to work with Patrick Mahomes and second-year RB who will split with Zack Moss in Cincinnati.

If Brown's gone and Zack Moss remains, he's a solid-to-good option here as well.

Brown's ADP might signal that you can wait until Round 12 for him, but don't bet on that if you want him.

Next Best: Jaxon Smith-Njigba & Devin Singletary

JSN features similar upside at WR. He still must contend with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. But Lockett heads into his age-32 season. Our aging-curve research shows that age historically brings potential for a WR to reach a production cliff.

Lockett’s mortality aside, Smith-Njigba has already indicated that the new offense of OC Ryan Grubb will prove more favorable to the young WR than last year’s version.

Singletary presents a different kind of upside. He’s a limited player, but the Giants paid him like they expect him to clearly lead the backfield. Singletary could deliver regular starter production on the strength of his workload – even if his offense and O-line remain weak.

Other Options

Brock Bowers, Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze

Rounds 12 & 13

Top Targets: Caleb Williams & Mike Williams

You don’t need to draft a second QB in your 10-team league. You’re more likely to get a second one recommended if you take Jayden Daniels as your starter. That’s because we’ve given him a low Trust Factor rating.

Daniels presents exciting upside. But he’s also a rookie whose passing stats exploded in his final (fifth) college season. And he steps into a Washington offense that doesn’t surround him with exciting talent.

That means a wide range of potential outcomes, including a lower floor than plenty of other QBs. Trust Factor deals with that by increasing the value of backup-QB options in your draft. And Williams would certainly fit well in that role.

All that said, you should also be able to find insurance QBs on the waiver wire of a 10-team league throughout the season.

Next Best: Brian Thomas Jr. & Jerry Jeudy

Beyond considering backups at QB and/or TE, you should be focused on upside bench options at WR and RB. Feel free to favor whichever position your team needs more – or to lean toward favorite players at either spot.

The most important tip: Don’t stay married to any guys you draft in this range. Your league will have value plays emerge from early-season waivers. Be willing to dump some of your late picks to grab them.

Other Options

Gabe Davis, Curtis Samuel, Rashid Shaheed

Rounds 14-16

Top Targets: Upside + K + DST

Time to secure your season-opening kicker and team defense. Your DWR rankings will obviously still help with both.

Our Trust Factor ratings add a layer at DST by favoring positive early-season matchups – and devaluing defenses with bad initial matchups. That’s how you should play the position all season rather than trying to find one every-week starter (in most formats).

10-Team Half-PPR Draft Strategy: Pick 4, 5, or 6

Round 1

Top Target: Breece Hall

Hall holds a narrow edge over Robinson and the WRs in this range. And the half-PPR scoring favors him across projections. That said, it's close enough to lean WR if you prefer how your team starts with a Round 1 wideout instead of an RB.

Next Best: Bijan Robinson

If Hall's gone, then Robinson likely leads the WRs here in our base projection, consensus projection, and ceiling projection. And there's a drop-off between him and the RBs you'll be looking at in Round 2 -- especially if Jahmyr Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, and Saquon Barkley are all gone by your next turn.

Other Options

Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown

Round 2

Top Target: Derrick Henry

Age 29 isn’t supposed to be good for RBs. But Henry spent that year leading the league in carries for the fourth time in five seasons. And his efficiency metrics stayed good vs. his career numbers.

Now he goes from a Titans offense that finished last year 25th in overall DVOA to a Ravens group that ranked fourth – despite a shaky RB corps.

Henry could decline some physically this year and still help your fantasy team by virtue of his situation upgrade. And his salary ($9 million per year) clearly shows Baltimore doesn’t expect decline.

Next Best: Travis Etienne, Isiah Pacheco

If Henry’s gone, these backfield leaders – in what should be good offenses – look good from either a floor or ceiling perspective.

Even if you started with Robinson, the Draft War Room probably favors a second RB pretty easily here.

Why? Because there's not much difference between the WRs you'd consider here and those available over the next 2-3 rounds.

Other Options

De’Von Achane, Marvin Harrison Jr., Joe Mixon, Chris Olave, Drake London

Round 3

Top Target: Drake London

Current ADP says London will reach you here, but don’t count on it. He climbed quickly and dramatically through best ball season and is likely to go early across formats this summer if positive reports persist from Falcons training camp.

Don’t let London out of Round 2 unless you’re prepared to not get him.

Next Best: Nico Collins

Collins faces a new challenge with Stefon Diggs in town. And his price tag means he needs to deliver big time. But his breakthrough season gave reason to believe.

That said, it's really just ADP that separates him from Deebo Samuel. That could change if Samuel's ADP climbs. And it's OK to distrust the ADP and take Samuel here.

Other Options

Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel

Round 4

Top Target: Cooper Kupp

Kupp’s 11 healthy outings last year produced a WR20-level scoring average. His target share checked in near Puka Nacua’s when they played together. And we’ve obviously seen the ultimate Kupp ceiling.

He’s a solid-to-strong bet in this range of your draft, whether as a WR2 or WR3.

Next Best: Jaylen Waddle, Deebo Samuel

The particular names available at this level will vary by draft. I’ll be surprised if Samuel’s ADP resides in Round 4 of 10-team drafts come August.

If you do see him here, snap him up. Samuel finished ninth among WRs in half-PPR points per game last year.

Other Options

Josh Jacobs, D.J. Moore, Kenneth Walker III

Round 5

Top Target: Kenneth Walker III

Walker’s a little tricky this year.

His baseline looks good, because we expect a talented offense to improve on last year’s production. If Walker maintains the clear backfield lead, he could deliver big value from this range of your draft.

If, on the other hand, new OC Ryan Grubb favors getting Zach Charbonnet more involved, then Walker could prove frustrating.

He’s easier to like as a RB3 than RB2 – though the latter could also work with a solid insurance pick behind him (see later rounds).

Next Best: D.J. Moore

Moore managed a WR12 finish in half-PPR points per game last season, despite catching passes from Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent. Adding Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze might lower that ceiling, but it also lowered his best ball ADP (WR21 on Underdog Fantasy, which uses half-PPR scoring).

Other Options

Malik Nabers, DeVonta Smith

Round 6

Top Target: Tee Higgins

Higgins stands a better chance than Moore of making it to this round. He sits 27th among WRs in the aforementioned ADP.

Higgins’ injury history might make you groan. But it’s easy to forget that he finished WR14 in half-PPR points per game in each of Joe Burrow’s past two healthy seasons (2021 and 2022).

Next Best: Joe Burrow, Dak Prescott

If you’ve already collected five players between RB and WR and don’t find the crop at either position exciting in this round, then you can opt for a QB.

Prescott finished third among fantasy QBs last year. Burrow checked in fourth when last we got a healthy year from him (2022).

Other Options

James Conner, David Njoku, Jake Ferguson, Najee Harris, Amari Cooper

Round 7

Top Target: Dak Prescott

If you didn't go QB before now, then Prescott's an easy fit here. He finished third among fantasy QBs last season.

Next Best: James Conner

Don’t like Conner? Then you’re a monster. But you can also find younger options at the same position here.

Other Options

David Njoku, Najee Harris, Jake Ferguson

Round 8

Top Target: Jake Ferguson

If you already selected a QB but not a TE, then Ferguson makes plenty of sense. He popped for a TE8 half-PPR finish in his first year as a starter – and then delivered his best game of the season (10-93-3 for 32.3 half-PPR points) in the playoff loss.

Next Best: David Njoku

Njoku and Ferguson sit basically tied at this point. It's fine to favor the Brown over he Cowboy if you'd like.

Other Options

Najee Harris, Raheem Mostert, Jayden Daniels, Kyler Murray

If you didn't take your QB yet, then Daniels and Murray make for good options here.

Round 9

Top Target: Raheem Mostert

Upside RB looks like the target at this turn, and there are multiple options.

Next Best: Javonte Williams

Williams hasn’t had a chance to show us his ceiling yet. He did operate as the clear backfield leader last year despite coming off a serious knee injury.

If he keeps that role in 2024 and plays more explosively, Williams could prove to be a steal in this range.

Other Options

Tony Pollard, Jayden Reed, Diontae Johnson, Christian Watson

Round 10

Top Target: Christian Watson

Watson’s hamstrings have been a recurring issue for him and fantasy managers. He says he figured out the issue through testing this offseason, though, and has worked on it.

Fixed? We’ll see. But there’s a lot more upside than risk from a Round 10 draft position.

Next Best: Xavier Worthy, Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Similarly, these young guys present much more upside than risk at this stage of your draft. No matter which option you favor, this looks like a good turn for an upside wideout.

Other Options

Rome Odunze, Keon Coleman

Round 11

Top Target: Chase Brown

Brown has moved ahead of Zack Moss in some ADP lists -- as well as our RB rankings. Either makes plenty of sense at this stage of your draft.

Bengals RBs collectively ranked 10th and 12th in half-PPR points the two seasons in which we've gotten a healthy Joe Burrow.

Next Best: Devin Singletary

Some of those young WRs mentioned above might remain available in this round. Feel free to add them to your consideration.

At RB, you could favor the higher floor of Singletary over the uncertainty of Miller.

The new Giant won’t wow anyone, but his three-year free-agent contract guarantees a solid-to-strong workload.

Other Options

Caleb Williams, Ty Chandler, Ezekiel Elliott

Backup QB? Upside RB stash? Floor play for insurance? Choose your fighter.

Round 12

Top Target: Caleb Williams

It’s OK to leave your 10-team draft with just one QB. If you do select a backup, that’s a nice spot to have Williams.

You stand to benefit if he delivers on his promising talent and friendly situation. And you’re not hurt if he endures a bumpy debut season.

If you select an iffier starter such as Jayden Daniels, adding a backup will make more sense than if you opened with a proven QB commodity.

Next Best: Tyler Lockett, Jameson Williams

Feel like betting on Lockett remaining Lockett? Prefer to bet on Williams breaking out in his third season?

Other Options

Mike Williams, Brian Thomas Jr., Jerry Jeudy

Round 13

Top Target: Jameson Williams

Williams obviously gets more attractive the later you can draft him. If the training-camp reports on him stay as positive as the spring buzz, though, you’ll likely have to chase him much earlier than this. 

Be careful not to chase the hype too far up the board. The earlier he goes, the riskier he becomes.

Next Best: Mike Williams

Williams is a different risk-reward play. He has already proved he can produce. But he’s coming off an ACL tear and working with a new QB who’s coming off an Achilles’ tear.

As I said with other players, though, the upside outweighs the risk at this stage of your draft. That’s why your Draft War Room flips on Upside Mode instead of Reality Mode through the second half of your draft.

Other Options

Brian Thomas Jr., Jerry Jeudy

Rounds 14-16

Top Targets: Upside + K + DST

Close out your draft with an upside stash, a kicker, and a defense – in whichever order makes sense.

Our Trust Factor works differently with defenses than other positions, adding value to those with positive opening matchups while downgrading those with tough initial opponents.

You should plan to target matchups more than one season-long option at DST.

10-Team Half-PPR Draft Strategy: Pick 7 or 8

Round 1

Top Target: Justin Jefferson

Current ADP says Jefferson is commonly getting to the eighth spot in these drafts. We’ll see if that’s the case come August, and you obviously can’t count on it happening in any individual draft. But he should be a pretty easy pick if/when he does.

Next Best: Amon-Ra St. Brown

St. Brown currently sits one spot ahead of Jefferson by ADP for this format. You’ll likely be in good shape with either as your top WR.

Other Options

Jonathan Taylor

Round 2

Top Target: Jahmyr Gibbs

Gibbs scored as a top-7 RB across formats from Week 10 on last season. That was with David Montgomery healthy and also producing top-13 numbers.

Gibbs should avoid his early-season touch deficiencies in Year 2, with a chance he gains more beyond his late-season load.

Even if he doesn’t, the second-year runner has showed he can score as an RB1.

Next Best: Kyren Williams

Williams has a chance to remain in the mix for your Round 3 pick. The Rams’ Round 3 selection of RB Blake Corum plus Williams’ spring foot trouble has pushed his best ball ADP later.

Williams delivered the second-most points per game at the position last year, though. And we’re betting he’ll remain the clear lead back in a good offense – perhaps still close to a workhorse.

Williams led the league in opportunity share last season, drawing 23% of Rams’ carries plus targets over his 12 games. (Christian McCaffrey got 22.2% among 49ers.)

Other options

Garrett Wilson, Derrick Henry

If you’re pumped for a Wilson breakout season, then feel free to push him ahead of the RBs here and leave that position for the next couple of rounds.

Round 3

Top Target: De’Von Achane

Achane looks like Jahmyr Gibbs but with a smaller workload.

We’re betting he’ll grow beyond last year’s 10.3 touches per game. But Achane might not reach the 15.6 that Gibbs averaged.

Still, the Dolphin has already showed that his weekly spikes go as high as any RB’s. If you’re willing to plan around his likely volatility, then he’s an enticing Round 3 pick.

Next Best: Jalen Hurts, Joe Mixon

You might think that you should wait until late for your QB because there will be plenty to feed your whole 10-team league.

The second half of that is true. But you don’t necessarily need to adhere to the first part.

The smaller league also allows you to gain more of an advantage by grabbing a top-shelf producer at a one-starter position.

Hurts leads our QB rankings this year and carries plenty of value at this point in your draft.

Other Options

Drake London, Josh Jacobs, Nico Collins, Mike Evans

Round 4

Top Target: Deebo Samuel

If Samuel actually gets to Round 4, then he should be a pretty easy selection. He finished ninth among WRs in half-PPR points per game last year.

Next Best: Jaylen Waddle, Cooper Kupp

If Samuel doesn’t this long and either of these options does, then either Waddle or Kupp would also make plenty of sense – especially if you’ve gotten here without a WR.

Other Options

Josh Jacobs, Kenneth Walker, Nico Collins, D.J. Moore

Round 5

Top Target: Cooper Kupp

Current ADP for the format says Kupp can be a Round 5 option. Don’t count on him lasting that long. But target him if he does.

How many other Round 5 picks have a No. 1 overall season at the position in their background?

Next Best: Kenneth Walker III

Walker could be headed for a three-down role. That would make him a terrific RB3 -- and maybe a strong RB2.

Other Options

Malik Nabers, Aaron Jones, Anthony Richardson, Tee Higgins

The argument for Richardson in this round is the same as the Hurts argument two rounds earlier. The Colts QB just has yet to show us that his rushing pushes his fantasy ceiling as high as that of Hurts or Josh Allen.

But it might.

Round 6

Top Target: Joe Burrow

If you get here without a QB, then Burrow makes plenty of sense.

His last two healthy seasons found him seventh (2021) and fourth (2022) among QB scorers.

Next Best: Malik Nabers, Tee Higgins

Already have a QB or don’t want one yet? WR looks good at this turn, no matter how many you already have.

Other Options

David Montgomery, Jonathan Brooks, James Conner, D’Andre Swift, Dak Prescott

Round 7

Top Target: James Conner

Conner looks most likely among the RBs listed above to bet to this round.

He has finished three straight seasons among the top 11 RBs in half-PPR points per game. Yet his injury history keeps him perennially underrated.

Next Best: Najee Harris

It's tough to get excited about Harris after he has ceded work to Jaylen Warren and watched his teammate operate more efficiently.

But new OC Arthur Smith figures to continue operating one of the league's most run-heavy offenses. That can only be good for Harris.

And Warren's hamstring injury in the second preseason game doesn't hurt ...

Other Options

David Njoku, Raheem Mostert, Tony Pollard, Javonte Williams

Round 8

Top Target: Jake Ferguson

Ferguson delivered top-10 fantasy numbers in his first starting turn. He’s a nice pick if you waited on TE to this point.

Next Best: Raheem Mostert, Javonte Williams

ADP says you might still be able to draft either of these guys next round – and perhaps even Round 10 for Williams. Just don’t count on that if you covet either player.

Each resides in an upside spot. Mostert gets downgraded by drafters for his age and crowded backfield, but he finished second among all RBs in fantasy points last year.

Other Options

Tony Pollard, Najee Harris, Zamir White, Jaylen Warren, DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk

Round 9

Top Target: Raheem Mostert

Upside Mode kicks on for this turn. That’s a clear mark in Mostert’s favor. He might have the widest range of possible outcomes for any RB in this area code.

Next Best: Javonte Williams

More on Williams in the next section … 

Other options: 

Tony Pollard, Jayden Reed, Zack Moss, Marquise Brown

Round 10

Top Target: Jonathon Brooks

I’ve gotten here with:

• one QB
• one TE
• four RBs
• and three WRs

You could lean WR over RB here, but the RB options are strong. Even Williams might still be sitting on the board, but I left him out at this turn to address others after he appeared in each of the previous two rounds.

Brooks figures to slide further in drafts after HC Dave Canales indicated we might not get much from the rookie over the first two weeks.

The upside on the rookie is tremendous, though.

Next Best: Tony Pollard

Pollard must contend with Tyjae Spears, but the veteran got $8 million a year on a three-year contract in free agency. So Tennessee clearly plans to use him plenty.

Getting just about any team's top RB this late in your draft presents nice value.

Other Options

Marquise Brown, Christian Watson, Xavier Worthy, Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Not feeling RB at this turn? Or maybe just don’t need one? 

There are likely plenty of young, upside WRs available too.

Round 11

Top Target: Xavier Worthy

If you favor one of the other WRs listed, that’s fine. But it’s tough to argue against a first-round wideout working with Patrick Mahomes at this stage in any draft.

Next Best: Courtland Sutton

Sutton looks like he should easily remain the top wideout in Denver.

We'll see about the QB play. But landing a team target leader this late in your draft means upside. And that's what we're chasing.

Other Options

Jayden Daniels, Keon Coleman, Tyler Lockett, Jameson Williams

If you didn’t draft a QB earlier, then Daniels has likely popped to the top of your board by now – perhaps as early as Round 8. He’s a high-upside play for 2024.

Round 12

Top Target: Dallas Goedert

For this exercise, I drafted Jake Ferguson back when he sat tops among the recommendations. You don’t need to draft a second TE at all in your 10-team league. 

But it’s also fine to do so and then roll with whichever guy starts delivering or platoon the two.

Next Best: Tyler Lockett, Jameson Williams

The reason you don’t need to secure that second TE is because more will always be available on – and/or emerge from – waivers. But that’ll also be true at WR.

Some wideouts will stand out much more than others from this range. We use Upside Mode to help highlight the best bets. We won’t nail them all, though.

Don’t be afraid to collect as many as you can reasonably fit to maximize your chances of hitting that guy.

Other Options

Mike Williams, Brian Thomas Jr., Jerry Jeudy, Curtis Samuel, Gabe Davis

Round 13

Top Target: Ty Chandler

The specific name matters less than the player type here. We're looking upside RB.

Chandler presents a nice case: 

• He flashed late last season.
• New backfield mate Aaron Jones has always shared work.
• Jones is verging on 30 (Dec. 2) and an injury risk.

Next Best: Jared Goff

Justin Herbert's foot injury has knocked him behind Goff in these draft rankings -- and certainly made Goff a comfier backup QB.

Like with Chandler, though, the player type matters more than the specific name here.

It's a good time for a backup QB -- though you certainly don't need one in a 10-team league.

Other Options

Dalton Schultz, Pat Freiermuth

Rounds 14-16

Top Targets: Upside + K + DST

Close out your draft with an upside stash, a kicker, and a defense – in whichever order makes sense.

Our Trust Factor works differently with defenses than other positions, adding value to those with positive opening matchups while downgrading those with tough initial opponents.

You should plan to target matchups more than one season-long option at DST.

10-Team Half-PPR Draft Strategy: Pick 9 or 10

Rounds 1 & 2

Top Target: Jonathan Taylor & Garrett Wilson

Given the options in this range, your best bet looks like leaving Round 2 with a RB and a WR.

Next Best: Saquon Barkley & Puka Nacua

Feel free to mix and match your favorites among these players.

I’d also recommend playing with the Mock Draft Trainer to see how starting with two WRs or two RBs works out for you. Better to get that experience before you’re on the clock and deciding between specific names.

Other options: 

Jahmyr Gibbs, A.J. Brown

Rounds 3 & 4

Top Targets: De’Von Achane & Drake London

You’re in great shape if you find this pair at the 3-4 turn and leave Round 4 with a pair of upside players at both RB and WR.

In the current market, Achane has a better chance of staying on the board. I’ll be shocked if London gets to this range. His buzz skyrocketed as soon as Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins.

Next Best: James Cook, Josh Jacobs, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel

Even if London’s gone, though, there’s plenty of upside in Samuel – who sits one spot behind London in our half-PPR WR rankings – Evans and the three WRs listed below.

Other Options

Nico Collins, Cooper Kupp, Jaylen Waddle

Rounds 5 & 6

Top Targets: James Conner & Malik Nabers

I’ve gotten here with two RBs and two WRs rostered. If you started with one RB and three WRs, then you’re probably getting different rankings at this turn.

Next Best: David Montgomery & DeVonta Smith

Similarly attractive duo. Montgomery will share work with Jahmyr Gibbs, but he'll do so in a backfield that scored the third-most and most half-PPR points the past two seasons.

Smith gets a new OC in Kellen Moore, who should be good for the Eagles’ passing efficiency.

Other Options

Joe Burrow, Rhamondre Stevenson, Tank Dell

Rounds 7 & 8

Top Targets: James Conner & Jake Ferguson

If you passed on Conner last round and get another shot at him here, you’re drafting well.

He has ranked among the top 11 RBs in half-PPR points per game each of the past three seasons. You can find insurance to fill the weeks he misses with the next injury.

Ferguson looks like a high-floor TE option. He ranked second among Cowboys in his first full season as starter. And Dallas ranked eighth in pass attempts and first in scoring.

Next Best: David Njoku, Jordan Love, Jayden Daniels

If you’re in good shape at RB at WR through six rounds, then consider addressing both QB and TE at this turn.

Love dominated over the second half of last season. Daniels carries top-6 upside right away thanks to his rushing ability.

And even if either falters in 2024, you’ll be able to find a replacement in your 10-team league.

Other Options

Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Chris Godwin

Rounds 9 & 10

Top Targets: Jayden Daniels & Raheem Mostert

Daniels pops as the strong top recommendation here, despite an ADP that says he might even come back at your next turn.

That’s because Upside Mode has turned on, factoring ceiling projections and breakout likelihood more heavily to help you target those potential difference makers in the later rounds.

Mostert also stands out for upside after finishing second among RBs in fantasy points in 2023.

Next Best: Javonte Williams & Jayden Reed

There’s plenty of upside to this duo as well.

Williams should be more efficient with another offseason of separation from his 2022 knee injury. We’ll watch to see if he retains the clear lead in the Denver backfield.

Reed led Green Bay in targets per game, claimed a significant rushing role, and racked up 10 total TDs as a second-round rookie.

If you can get him around the 9-10 turn, that mitigates the downside risk of his playing time staying inconsistent.

Other Options

Tony Pollard, Marquise Brown, Christian Watson

Rounds 11 & 12

Top Targets: Xavier Worthy & Brock Bowers

The spotlight’s on young upside here. We’ve historically seen rookie WRs deliver value later in the regular season, and Worthy joins a team that got just that from Rashee Rice a year ago.

Of course, if he doesn’t find room to make a similar impact in 2024, then you can dump this Round 11 selection for help from the waiver wire.

Bowers could have landed in a better spot, but his talent’s worth betting on late in your draft – even if you already have a TE.

Next Best: Keon Coleman & Devin Singletary

Coleman got drafted a little later than Worthy but faces a less-crowded path to worthwhile target shares.

Singletary should be an easy pick if he stays on the board this late. He’s clearly set up to lead the Giants in touches this season. And you don’t have to be “good” to offer some value if you’re getting the ball enough.

Other Options

Courtland Sutton, Tyler Lockett, Dallas Goedert, Jameson Williams, Caleb Williams, Mike Williams, anyone else named Williams (no, not really)

Rounds 13 & 14

Top Targets: Jared Goff & Brian Thomas Jr.

Goff’s offense has ranked among the top 5 in scoring and yards each of the past two years.

He has famously become a startable fantasy asset in home games. This year finds six of eight road games taking place in domes or warm-weather cities. That should help.

Thomas might spend his rookie season drawing inconsistent target shares. But there’s also room for him to climb a just-OK WR depth chart that shed Calvin Ridley.

Next Best: Trevor Lawrence & Gabe Davis

Davis and Thomas figure to duke it out for top fantasy billing this season. At this stage of your draft, either makes sense -- and getting some shares of both seems like a good idea if you're drafting multiple teams.

Other Options

Jerry Jeudy, Curtis Samuel, Rashid Shaheed, Jakobi Meyers

Rounds 15 & 16

Top Targets: K + DST

We still do full-season projections for these positions, but that’s not how you should draft them.

In most formats, you’ll want to cycle through defenses and kickers during the season to take advantage of good matchups and avoid bad ones. Very few options at either position score consistently.

We’ve found a way to weight your draft rankings to favor those defenses with better early matchups. So you can trust that we’re factoring that into your draft rankings.

Kicker is a little different in that you can do well by riding a kicker in a top offense. But that’s also a position not enough fantasy players look to stream. Just don’t go too hard after any kicker, and use our weekly kicker rankings in season to help guide your lineup setting.

The Ultimate Strategy for Your Draft

No article can perfectly match your draft.

You'll see surprise picks. You'll find falling value. You'll face tough decisions.

But you can make all of that easier to navigate by setting up your Draft War Room ahead of time.

Learn all about it in this video ...

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.