12-Team Half PPR Draft Strategy

 

What's Your 12-Team Half PPR Draft Strategy?

Fantasy drafts are tough. Every pick comes with tons of variables whispering for your attention:

• Scoring rules
• Positional value
• Team needs
• ADP
• Upside
• Injury risk

It’s easy to be overwhelmed and make costly draft mistakes.

And let’s be honest: There’s nothing more painful than watching your early-round guys flop while your buddy coasts to the playoffs behind a couple of late-round steals.

The solution: A round-by-round draft strategy guide to maximize value with every pick.

This guide is your fix, a pick-by-pick roadmap built specifically for 12-team half PPR drafts. It’s designed to help you stay a step ahead, round after round.

We’re using our 3D Values and current ADP to pinpoint the smartest targets and fallback options.

Consider this your game plan heading into your draft.

Is this plan bulletproof? Of course not. Fantasy drafts zig when you expect them to zag.

But that’s why you pair this strategy guide with the Draft War Room, a customized, real-time fantasy football cheat sheet that recalibrates every time you're on the clock, factoring in 17 key value indicators to uncover the best pick.

Combine the Draft War Room with this round-by-round game plan, and you’ll be armed with the ultimate Half PPR fantasy football draft guide.

Note: This strategy guide assumes a 16-round draft and starting lineup of 1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 TE, 1 Flex, 1 K and 1 DST. The Draft War Room will help you adjust your strategy if your league settings are different.

    

Half PPR Draft Strategy for Pick 1, 2, or 3

Round 1

Top Targets: Ja’Marr Chase

Although he loses a bit of value in half-PPR vs. full, Chase remains our No. 1 overall player in this format.

He scored 74.4 more half-PPR points than any other WR last season and also out-scored every RB.

Chase returns to the same pass-heavy Bengals offense alongside QB Joe Burrow in 2025.

Next Best: Bijan Robinson

Robinson and RB Saquon Barkley sit near-even in our half-PPR rankings. 

They sport nearly identical baseline projections. Barkley holds a slight edge in ceiling, while Robinson wins on floor thanks to his more voluminous pass-catching role.

That pushes me to Robinson at the 1.02, but you can’t go wrong with either guy.

Other Options

• Saquon Barkley

Rounds 2 & 3

Top Targets: Drake London & Kyren Williams

London is coming off a WR5 finish in total half-PPR points and could be even better in 2025. He’s still on the ascent at 24, and QB Michael Penix Jr. might prove to be a significant upgrade over last year’s version of Kirk Cousins.

The Rams drafted another RB (Jarquez Hunter) and have talked about deploying more of a committee backfield this season.

But Williams could lose some work and still be a nice value here. He ranked fourth among RBs in expected half-PPR points per game last year, fueled by strong usage near the goal line. Williams led all RBs with 70 red-zone carries and ranked third with 20 carries inside the 5-yard line.

Next Best: Breece Hall & Tee Higgins

Hall disappointed last season in what turned out to be an underwhelming Aaron Rodgers-led Jets offense.

New York’s swap from Rodgers to Justin Fields this offseason should mean a massive boost in run rate. Yes, Fields will siphon some of those additional carries. But expect Hall to gain more focus this year.

The 24-year-old is just a season removed from a RB3 finish in half-PPR and is a strong bounce-back bet in 2025.

Higgins’ new four-year deal keeps him tied to one of the game’s best QBs and one of its pass-heaviest offenses.

That environment helped Higgins rank fourth among WRs in half-PPR points per game last year. It was his third top-12 finish among the last four seasons.

Yeah, the injuries can be annoying. But Higgins is a good bet for WR1-level production again in 2025. That’s nice to land in the second or third round.

Other Options

• Joe Mixon
• Bucky Irving

Rounds 4 & 5

Top Targets: Chuba Hubbard & Mike Evans

Hubbard finished 12th among RBs in half-PPR points per game last year. He was excellent as a runner, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and ranking top-9 in rush yards over expected per attempt, yards after contact per attempt, and Pro Football Focus rush grade.

He was not nearly as good as a receiver and could lose some of that work to Rico Dowdle and/or Trevor Etienne this season. But Hubbard’s rushing projection alone makes him a strong value here.

The 32-year-old Evans has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, he averaged a career-best 2.41 yards per route on his way to a WR9 finish in half-PPR points per game last season.

Evans has now finished as a top-15 WR in that category for seven straight seasons.

Next Best: James Conner & D.J. Moore

Conner is undervalued. Again.

He has turned in back-to-back top-15 finishes in half-PPR points per game but is once again being drafted outside the top 20 at his position.

He’s a strong value here and should be your top priority, especially if you’re still looking for your RB2.

Moore finished 16th among WRs in half-PPR points last year, despite QB Caleb Williams working through rookie-year struggles. Moore's yards per target sunk to a career-low 9.6, but he set career highs with 98 catches and 140 targets on a strong 24.7% target share.

That target share could dip a bit in 2025 with tougher competition, but expect better efficiency from Moore with an improved Williams and much better play calling from new HC Ben Johnson.

Other Options

• D.K. Metcalf
• Garrett Wilson
• Marvin Harrison Jr.

Rounds 6 & 7

Top Targets: Jaylen Waddle & Isiah Pacheco

Here are a couple of strong bounce-back bets.

Waddle's volume and efficiency tanked in what was a weird Miami passing season. But that looks like an outlier when you compare it to the rest of Waddle's career:

• Sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft
• Caught 104 balls as a rookie
• Finished WR13 in year 2
• Finished WR22 in year 3

Pacheco's 2024 got derailed by a September broken leg. He was operating as a workhorse before that injury, though, and the Chiefs did not make any significant additions to the backfield this offseason.

A healthy Pacheco remains a good bet to lead his backfield. Remember that he finished 15th among RBs in half-PPR points per game in 2023.

Next Best: Tetairoa McMillan & Jameson Williams

McMillan boasts a strong prospect profile and has a good chance to immediately emerge as Carolina’s top target. If QB Bryce Young keeps playing like he did over the second half of last season, McMillan will be a good bet for WR2-level production.

Williams is coming off a breakout 2024 and was particularly good over the second half, averaging 73.4 yards and 0.5 TDs over his final eight games. He ranked 18th among WRs in half-PPR points per game during that stretch.

Other Options

• Aaron Jones
• George Pickens
• Mark Andrews

Rounds 8 & 9

Top Targets: Kyler Murray & Chris Godwin

This looks like a good spot to target a QB. Murray has finished as a top-12 QB in fantasy points per game in all six of his NFL seasons, including top-5 finishes in 2020 and 2021.

Godwin comes with some risk as he works back from last October's dislocated ankle. But that’s more than baked into this price tag. Godwin was sitting fifth among WRs in half-PPR points per game when he went down last year.

Next Best: Justin Fields & Brian Robinson Jr.

If you miss out on Murray, pivot to Fields. It's not always pretty, but Fields has consistently produced as a QB1 with upside thanks to his high-end rushing production.

His 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons, behind only Lamar Jackson.

Robinson is not an exciting pick, but he should return to a similar role that helped him to a RB27 finish in half-PPR points per game last year. He controlled goal-line work in Washington, ranking 12th among RBs in expected rushing TDs per game.

Other Options

• Jaylen Warren
• Travis Etienne
• Deebo Samuel
• Jauan Jennings
• Jakobi Meyers

Rounds 10 & 11

Top Targets: David Njoku & Tank Bigsby

If you’re still looking for your TE1 here, pounce on Njoku. He averaged 9.9 targets and scored as the TE6 across nine healthy games last season. That followed TE8 and TE7 finishes in half-PPR points per game the previous two years.

Bigsby finds himself in a crowded Jaguars backfield but could emerge as the lead ball carrier. He’s coming off a promising 2024, ranking top-9 among 47 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per carry, and rush yards over expected per attempt.

Next Best: Rashid Shaheed & Josh Downs

Two of our favorite sleeper WRs.

Shaheed drew a 23.3% target share and averaged 2.04 yards per route before a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 last year. Those were both top-30 marks among WRs.

He's back to 100% now and remains locked in as New Orleans’ No. 2 WR. The Saints have a big QB question but project for a significant spike in play volume under new HC Kellen Moore.

Downs proved awesome in per-route metrics last season but QB Anthony Richardson held him back. In games with QB Joe Flacco, Downs delivered top-24 scoring.

Downs should get better QB play this season, whether it's from an improved Richardson or Daniel Jones.

Other Options

• Justin Herbert
• Dak Prescott
• Tyjae Spears
• Michael Pittman
• Dalton Kincaid
• Tucker Kraft
• Tyler Warren

Rounds 12 & 13

Top Target: Ray Davis & Tyler Allgeier

Assuming you have at least 1 QB, 1 TE, and 5 WRs by this point, focus on upside RB stashes. Davis and Allgeier are two of our favorites.

Davis could carve out some standalone value behind the undersized James Cook. At minimum, he’s a strong handcuff. Davis ripped off 152 total yards on 23 touches when Cook missed Week 6 last year.

Allgeier has less of a chance at standalone value than Davis, but he’s a fantasy starter if Bijan Robinson misses time. Allgeier was super efficient last year, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and ranking fourth among 47 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt (3.61). 

Next Best: Trevor Lawrence & Dallas Goedert

If you’re still looking for a starter at QB or TE, these guys are strong values.

Lawrence finds himself in the best situation of his career, with a big HC upgrade in Liam Coen and a dynamic WR duo in Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. We highlighted Lawrence in 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers.

Goedert struggled with injuries last year but drew a 20.2% target share in his eight full games and ranked third among 43 qualifying TEs in ESPN receiver score. He’s still a good bet for top-12 production on a per-game basis, especially if the Eagles throw a bit more this season.

Other Options

• Jaydon Blue
• Isaac Guerendo
• Marquise Brown
• Jake Ferguson

Rounds 14, 15 & 16

Target a player with big upside in Round 14. You can sort by projected ceiling in your Draft War Room to find players with difference-making upside.

Some names to consider:

• Anthony Richardson
• Roschon Johnson
• Jaylen Wright
• MarShawn Lloyd
• Diontae Johnson
• Cedric Tillman
• Xavier Legette
• Pat Bryant
• Jalen Coker
• Jalen McMillan

Use your final two picks on a kicker and DST. Target a kicker on a strong offense. We recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at DST throughout the season.

Here are three DSTs with favorable early schedules:

• Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
• Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
• 49ers (at SEA, at NO)

   

 

Half PPR Draft Strategy for Pick 4, 5, or 6

Round 1

Top Target: CeeDee Lamb

Assuming Ja’Marr Chase, Saquon Barkley, and Bijan Robinson are off the board, you’ll likely find Lamb topping your Draft War Room. He checks in just ahead of Justin Jefferson in the half-PPR WR rankings.

Jefferson wins on talent, but the edges in QB stability and target volume go to Lamb. He averaged 10.5 targets across Dak Prescott’s eight games last year after averaging 10.6 targets per game in 2023.

Next Best: Christian McCaffrey

We won’t fault you for preferring a safer option in Round 1. But McCaffrey certainly has the upside to pay off the pick here. 

It was just two years ago when he scored 2.5 more half-PPR points per game than any other RB. He’s had a healthy 2025 and will continue to be the 49ers’ workhorse for as long as his body holds up.

Other Option

• Justin Jefferson

Round 2

Top Target: Jonathan Taylor

Taylor missed three games last season but averaged 21.6 carries and 102 rushing yards across the other 14. Those marks ranked first and third league-wide.

Indianapolis’ QB situation adds some risk to Taylor’s 2025 outlook. He’ll be a better bet for fantasy points with Daniel Jones than Anthony Richardson.

But his second-round price tag factors that in. Taylor looks like a rock-solid top-10 fantasy RB with upside into the top 5.

Next Best: A.J. Brown

Brown is coming off a WR12 finish in half-PPR points per game, despite the Eagles attempting 29 fewer passes than any other team. He drew a massive 31.4% target share in his 13 games, while setting career highs in yards per route and PFF receiving grade.

The Eagles will likely throw at least a little more -- and maybe a lot more -- in 2025. That could vault Brown back into the top 8.

Other Options

• Drake London
• Josh Jacobs

Round 3

Top Target: Kyren Williams

The Rams drafted another RB (Jarquez Hunter) and have talked about deploying more of a committee backfield this season.

But Williams could lose some work and still be a nice value here. He ranked fourth among RBs in expected half-PPR points per game last year, fueled by strong usage near the goal line. Williams led all RBs with 70 red-zone carries and ranked third with 20 carries inside the 5-yard line.

Next Best: Tee Higgins

Higgins’ new four-year deal keeps him tied to one of the game’s best QBs and one of its pass-heaviest offenses.

That environment helped Higgins rank fourth among WRs in half-PPR points per game last year. It was his third top-12 finish among the last four seasons.

Yeah, the injuries can be annoying. But Higgins is a good bet for WR1-level production again in 2025. That’s a nice get in Round 3.

Other Options

• Breece Hall
• Chase Brown
• Tyreek Hill
• Rashee Rice

Round 4

Top Target: Mike Evans

This 32-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, Evans averaged a career-best 2.41 yards per route on his way to a WR9 finish in half-PPR points per game last season.

Evans has now finished top-15 in that category in seven straight seasons.

Next Best: Chuba Hubbard

Hubbard finished 12th among RBs in half-PPR points per game last year. He was excellent as a runner, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and ranking top-9 in rush yards over expected per attempt, yards after contact per attempt, and PFF rush grade.

He was not nearly as good as a receiver and could lose some of that work to Rico Dowdle and/or Trevor Etienne this season. But Hubbard’s rushing projection alone makes him a strong value here.

Other Options

• Omarion Hampton
• Garrett Wilson
• Marvin Harrison Jr.

Round 5

Top Target: James Conner

Conner is undervalued. Again.

He has turned in back-to-back top-15 finishes in half-PPR points per game but is once again being drafted outside the top 20 at his position.

He’s a strong value here and should be your top priority, especially if you’re still looking for your RB2.

Next Best: D.J. Moore

Moore finished 16th among WRs in half-PPR points last year, despite QB Caleb Williams working through rookie-year struggles. His yards per target sunk to a career-low 9.6, but he set career highs with 98 catches and 140 targets on a strong 24.7% target share.

That target share could dip a bit in 2025 with tougher competition, but expect better efficiency from Moore with an improved Williams and much better play calling from new HC Ben Johnson.

Other Options

• David Montgomery
• D.K. Metcalf
• Xavier Worthy

Round 6

Top Target: Jaylen Waddle

Waddle's volume and efficiency tanked in what was a weird Miami passing season. But that looks like an outlier when you compare it to the rest of Waddle's career:

• Sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft
• Caught 104 balls as a rookie
• Finished WR13 in year 2
• Finished WR22 in year 3

Waddle is a strong bounce-back bet in 2025, especially at this price.

Next Best: Jameson Williams

Williams broke out in 2024 and was particularly good over the second half, averaging 73.4 yards and 0.5 TDs over his final eight games. He ranked 18th among WRs in half-PPR points per game during that stretch.

Other Options

• Aaron Jones
• Tony Pollard
• Calvin Ridley
• Mark Andrews

Round 7

Top Target: Isiah Pacheco

Pacheco's 2024 season got derailed by a September broken leg. He operated as a workhorse before that injury, though, and the Chiefs added only complementary pieces to the backfield this offseason.

A healthy Pacheco remains a good bet to lead his backfield. Remember that he finished 15th among RBs in half-PPR points per game in 2023.

Next Best: Tetairoa McMillan

McMillan boasts a strong prospect profile and has a good chance to immediately emerge as Carolina’s top target. If QB Bryce Young continues to play like he did over the second half of last season, McMillan will be a good bet for WR2-level production.

Other Options

• TreVeyon Henderson
• Chris Olave

Round 8

Top Target: Kyler Murray

This looks like a good spot to target a QB. Murray has finished top-12 fantasy points per game in all six of his NFL seasons, including top-5 finishes in 2020 and 2021.

Both Murray and the coaching staff have suggested that he’ll run more this season than he has recently, which would give him a shot to vault back into the top 5.

Next Best: Chris Godwin

Godwin comes with some risk as he works back from last October's dislocated ankle. But that’s more than baked into this price tag.

Godwin was sitting fifth among WRs in half-PPR points per game when he went down last year.

Other Options

• Brian Robinson Jr.
• Jaylen Warren
• Cam Skattebo
• Deebo Samuel
• Jauan Jennings

Round 9

Top Target: Justin Fields

If you miss out on Murray, pivot to Fields. 

It's not always pretty, but Fields has consistently produced as a QB1 with upside thanks to his high-end rushing production. His 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons, behind only Lamar Jackson.

Next Best: Travis Etienne

Jacksonville’s backfield is tough to parse at this point. But Etienne remains in the mix to lead in carries and is a good bet to retain primary pass-catching duties.

That makes this former first-round pick -- who’s still only 26 -- worth a shot at this point.

Other Options

• Tyrone Tracy
• Najee Harris
• Jakobi Meyers
• Khalil Shakir
• Stefon Diggs

Round 10

Top Target: David Njoku

If you’re still looking for your TE1 here, pounce on Njoku. 

He averaged 9.9 targets and scored as the TE6 across nine healthy games last season. That followed TE8 and TE7 finishes in half-PPR points per game the previous two years.

Cleveland’s QB situation is worrisome, but volume should carry Njoku to another top-12 finish in 2025.

Next Best: Josh Downs

Downs proved awesome in per-route metrics last season but QB Anthony Richardson held him back. In games with QB Joe Flacco, Downs delivered top-24 scoring.

Downs should get better QB play this season, whether it's from an improved Richardson or Daniel Jones.

Other Options

• Justin Herbert
• Michael Pittman
• Tyler Warren

Round 11

Top Target: Rashid Shaheed

Shaheed drew a 23.3% target share and averaged 2.04 yards per route before a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 last year. Those were both top-30 marks among WRs.

He's back to 100% now and remains locked in as New Orleans’ No. 2 WR. The Saints have a big QB question but project for a significant spike in play volume under new HC Kellen Moore.

Next Best: Tank Bigsby

Bigsby finds himself in a crowded Jaguars backfield but could emerge as the lead ball carrier. He’s coming off a promising 2024 campaign, ranking top-9 among 47 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per carry, and rush yards over expected per attempt.

Drafting both Bigsby and teammate Travis Etienne isn’t a bad idea. New HC Liam Coen’s running game was awesome in Tampa Bay last year.

Other Options

• Dak Prescott
• Tyjae Spears
• Dalton Kincaid
• Tucker Kraft

Round 12

Top Target: Ray Davis

Davis is the kind of upside RB stash you should be targeting at this point of your draft.

He could carve out some standalone value behind the undersized James Cook. But, at minimum, Davis is a strong handcuff. He ripped off 152 total yards on 23 touches when Cook missed Week 6 last year.

Next Best: Marquise Brown

A shoulder injury cost Brown the first 14 games of last season. But he made an immediate impact upon return, totaling nine catches on 15 targets across weeks 16 and 17.

Brown caught just five of 13 targets across three playoff games but ran a route on 70+% of pass plays in all three.

He re-upped with the Chiefs on a one-year deal before free agency even opened, which suggests both he and the team have a clear idea of his 2025 role.

He's a cheap way to buy into a high-powered passing game.

Other Options

• Trevor Lawrence
• Jaydon Blue
• Isaac Guerendo
• Jake Ferguson

Round 13

Top Target: Tyler Allgeier

Here’s another strong RB stash.

Allgeier probably won’t have standalone fantasy value, but he’s a starter if Bijan Robinson misses time.

Allgeier ran super efficiently last year, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and ranking fourth among 47 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt (3.61). 

Next Best: Dallas Goedert

You can wait until Round 13 and still land a quality TE in Goedert.

He struggled with injuries last year but drew a 20.2% target share in his eight full games and ranked third among 43 qualifying TEs in ESPN receiver score. Goedert is still a good bet for top-12 production on a per-game basis, especially if the Eagles throw a bit more this season.

Other Options

• Jaylen Wright
• Cedric Tillman
• Xavier Legette

Round 14, 15 & 16

Target a player with big upside in Round 14. You can sort by projected ceiling in your Draft War Room to find players with difference-making upside.

Some names to consider:

• Anthony Richardson
• Roschon Johnson
• MarShawn Lloyd
• Diontae Johnson
• Pat Bryant
• Jalen Coker
• Jalen McMillan

Use your final two picks on a kicker and DST. Target a kicker on a strong offense. We recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at DST throughout the season.

Here are three DSTs with favorable early-season schedules:

• Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
• Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
• 49ers (at SEA, at NO)

 

 

Half PPR Draft Strategy for Pick 7, 8, or 9

Round 1

Top Target: Christian McCaffrey

There’s a good chance you’ll find McCaffrey topping the rankings in your Draft War Room here.

We won’t fault you for preferring a safer option in Round 1. But McCaffrey certainly has the upside to pay off here. 

It was just two years ago when he scored 2.5 more half-PPR points per game than any other RB. He’s had a healthy 2025 and will continue to be the 49ers’ workhorse for as long as his body holds up.

Next Best: Puka Nacua

Swapping Cooper Kupp for Davante Adams toughens Nacua’s target competition a bit. But he has room to lose some share after averaging 10.9 targets on a massive 35.6% share in nine full games last year. Nacua ranked fourth among WRs in half-PPR points per game over that stretch.

Other Options

• Derrick Henry
• Ashton Jeanty
• Nico Collins
• Malik Nabers

Round 2

Top Target: Jonathan Taylor

Taylor missed three games last season but averaged 21.6 carries and 102 rushing yards across the other 14. Those marks ranked first and third league-wide.

Indianapolis’ QB situation adds some risk to Taylor’s 2025 outlook. He’ll be a better bet for fantasy points with Daniel Jones than Anthony Richardson.

But his second-round price tag factors in that uncertainty. Taylor looks like a rock-solid top-10 fantasy RB with upside into the top 5.

Next Best: A.J. Brown

Brown is coming off a WR12 finish in half-PPR points per game, despite the Eagles attempting 29 fewer passes than any other team. He drew a massive 31.4% target share in his 13 games, while setting career highs in yards per route and Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

The Eagles will likely throw at least a little more -- and maybe a lot more -- in 2025. That could vault Brown back into the top 8.

Other Options

• Drake London
• Josh Jacobs

Round 3

Top Target: Kyren Williams

The Rams drafted another RB (Jarquez Hunter) and have talked about deploying more of a committee backfield this season.

But Williams could lose some work and still be a nice value here. He ranked fourth among RBs in expected half-PPR points per game last year, fueled by strong usage near the goal line. Williams led all RBs with 70 red-zone carries and ranked third with 20 carries inside the 5-yard line.

Next Best: Rashee Rice

Rice looks much less risky now than he did a few months ago. He was a full participant in OTAs, so last year’s season-ending knee injury doesn’t seem like a concern. And Rice seems likely to dodge a suspension this year for his street-racing crash.

When he’s on the field, Rice boasts top-10 fantasy upside. Over his last 13 healthy games, dating back to mid-2023, he has averaged:

• 9.1 targets
• 7.2 catches
• 82.2 yards
• 0.46 TDs

Push Rice ahead of Williams if you opened your draft with two RBs.

Other Options

• Breece Hall
• Chase Brown
• Davante Adams

Round 4

Top Target: Mike Evans

This 32-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, Evans averaged a career-best 2.41 yards per route on his way to a WR9 finish in half-PPR points per game last season.

Evans has now finished as a top-15 WR in half-PPR points per game in seven straight seasons.

Next Best: Ken Walker

Injuries continued to be a problem last year. But Walker finished 14th among RBs in half-PPR points per game.

New OC Klint Kubiak is expected to deploy a run-leaning offense, with Walker as a focal point.

Other Options

• Jalen Hurts
• Chuba Hubbard
• D.J. Moore
• D.K. Metcalf
• Garrett Wilson

Round 5

Top Target: James Conner

Conner is undervalued. Again.

He has turned in back-to-back top-15 finishes in half-PPR points per game but is once again being drafted outside the top 20 at his position.

He’s a strong value here and should be your top priority, especially if you’re still looking for your RB2.

Next Best: Xavier Worthy

Worthy’s rookie season started slowly. But he got rolling over the second half, averaging 5.8 catches, 67.9 yards, and 0.6 TDs over his final 10 games (including playoffs).

We’ll see how he fits in alongside Rashee Rice. But this 22-year-old former first-round pick is worth betting on in Round 5.

Other Options

• David Montgomery
• Courtland Sutton
• Zay Flowers

Round 6

Top Target: Jaylen Waddle

Waddle's volume and efficiency tanked in what was a weird Miami passing season. But that looks like an outlier when you compare it to the rest of Waddle's career:

• Sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft
• Caught 104 balls as a rookie
• Finished WR13 in year 2
• Finished WR22 in year 3

Waddle is a strong bounce-back bet in 2025, especially at this price.

Next Best: Jameson Williams

Williams broke out in 2024 and was particularly good over the second half, averaging 73.4 yards and 0.5 TDs over his final eight games. He ranked 18th among WRs in half-PPR points per game during that stretch.

Other Options

• Aaron Jones
• Tony Pollard
• Calvin Ridley
• Mark Andrews

Round 7

Top Target: Isiah Pacheco

Pacheco's 2024 season got derailed by a September broken leg. He operated as a workhorse before that injury, though, and the Chiefs added only complementary pieces to the backfield this offseason.

A healthy Pacheco remains a good bet to lead his backfield. Remember that he finished 15th among RBs in half-PPR points per game in 2023.

Next Best: Tetairoa McMillan

McMillan boasts a strong prospect profile and has a good chance to immediately emerge as Carolina’s top target. If QB Bryce Young continues to play like he did over the second half of last season, McMillan will be a good bet for WR2-level production.

Other Options

• TreVeyon Henderson
• Chris Olave

Round 8

Top Target: Kyler Murray

This looks like a good spot to target a QB. Murray has finished top-12 in fantasy points per game in all six of his NFL seasons, including top-5 finishes in 2020 and 2021.

Both Murray and the coaching staff have suggested that he’ll run more this season than he has recently, which would give him a shot to vault back into the top 5.

Next Best: Chris Godwin

Godwin comes with some risk as he works back from last October's dislocated ankle. But that’s more than baked into this price tag. Godwin was sitting fifth among WRs in half-PPR points per game when he went down last year.

Other Options

• Brian Robinson
• Jaylen Warren
• Cam Skattebo
• Deebo Samuel
• Jauan Jennings

Round 9

Top Target: Justin Fields

It's not always pretty, but Fields has consistently produced as a QB1 with upside thanks to his high-end rushing production. His 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons – behind only Lamar Jackson.

Next Best: Travis Etienne

Jacksonville’s backfield is tough to parse. But Etienne remains in the mix to lead in carries and is a good bet to retain primary pass-catching duties.

That makes this former first-round pick -- who’s still only 26 -- worth a shot at this point.

Other Options

• Tyrone Tracy
• Najee Harris
• Jakobi Meyers
• Khalil Shakir
• Stefon Diggs

Round 10

Top Target: David Njoku

If you’re still looking for your TE1 here, pounce on Njoku. 

He averaged 9.9 targets and scored as the TE6 across nine healthy games last season. That followed TE8 and TE7 finishes in half-PPR points per game the previous two years.

Cleveland’s QB situation is worrisome, but volume should carry Njoku to another top-12 finish in 2025.

Next Best: Josh Downs

Downs proved awesome in per-route metrics last season but QB Anthony Richardson held him back. In games with QB Joe Flacco, Downs delivered top-24 scoring.

Downs should get better QB play this season, whether it's from an improved Richardson or Daniel Jones.

Other Options

• Justin Herbert
• Michael Pittman
• Tyler Warren

Round 11

Top Target: Rashid Shaheed

Shaheed drew a 23.3% target share and averaged 2.04 yards per route before a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 last year. Those were both top-30 marks among WRs.

He's back to 100% now and remains locked in as New Orleans’ No. 2 WR. The Saints have a big QB question but project for a significant spike in play volume under new HC Kellen Moore.

Next Best: Tank Bigsby

Bigsby finds himself in a crowded Jaguars backfield but could emerge as the lead ball carrier. He’s coming off a promising 2024, ranking top-9 among 47 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per carry, and rush yards over expected per attempt.

Drafting both Bigsby and temmate Travis Etienne isn’t a bad idea. New HC Liam Coen’s running game was awesome in Tampa Bay last year.

Other Options

• Dak Prescott
• Tyjae Spears
• Dalton Kincaid
• Tucker Kraft

Round 12

Top Target: Ray Davis

Davis is the kind of upside RB stash you should be targeting at this point of your draft.

He could carve out some standalone value behind the undersized James Cook. At minimum, Davis is a strong handcuff. He ripped off 152 total yards on 23 touches when Cook missed Week 6 last year.

Next Best: Marquise Brown

A shoulder injury cost Brown the first 14 games of last season. But he made an immediate impact upon return, totaling nine catches on 15 targets across weeks 16 and 17.

Brown caught just five of 13 targets across three playoff games but ran a route on 70+% of pass plays in all three.

He re-upped with the Chiefs on a one-year deal before free agency even opened, which suggests both he and the team have a clear idea of his 2025 role.

He's a cheap way to buy into a high-powered passing game.

Other Options

• Trevor Lawrence
• Jaydon Blue
• Isaac Guerendo
• Jake Ferguson

Round 13

Top Target: Tyler Allgeier

Here’s another strong RB stash.

Allgeier probably won’t have standalone fantasy value, but he’s a starter if Bijan Robinson misses time. Allgeier ran super efficiently last year, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and ranking fourth among 47 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt (3.61). 

Next Best: Dallas Goedert

You can wait until Round 13 and still land a quality TE in Goedert.

He struggled with injuries last year but drew a 20.2% target share in his eight full games and ranked third among 43 qualifying TEs in ESPN receiver score. Goedert is still a good bet for top-12 production on a per-game basis, especially if the Eagles throw a bit more this season.

Other Options

• Jaylen Wright
• Cedric Tillman
• Xavier Legette

Round 14, 15 & 16

Target a player with big upside in Round 14. You can sort by projected ceiling in your Draft War Room to find players with difference-making upside.

Some names to consider:

• Anthony Richardson
• Roschon Johnson
• MarShawn Lloyd
• Diontae Johnson
• Pat Bryant
• Jalen Coker
• Jalen McMillan

Use your final two picks on a kicker and DST. Target a kicker on a strong offense. We recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at DST throughout the season.

Here are three DSTs with favorable early-season schedules:

• Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
• Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
• 49ers (at SEA, at NO)

  

 

Half PPR Draft Strategy for Pick 10, 11, or 12

Rounds 1 & 2

Top Targets: Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor

You’ll likely be taking at least one RB -- and maybe two -- at this turn.

Henry averaged 19.3 half-PPR points per game last year. It was his biggest tally since 2021 and ranked third among all RBs. Henry led all 47 qualifying RBs in rush yards over expected per attempt and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Taylor missed three games last season but averaged 21.6 carries and 102 rushing yards across the other 14. Those marks ranked first and third league-wide.

Indianapolis’ QB situation adds some risk to Taylor’s 2025 outlook. But talent plus volume make him a strong pick here.

Next Best: Ashton Jeanty & Nico Collins

Draft capital makes Jeanty a strong bet for big volume this season. Four of the last six RBs to go top-10 in the NFL Draft averaged 19+ touches per game as rookies.

OC Chip Kelly's historically fast-paced and run-leaning attack will also help Jeanty

Collins finished eighth among WRs in half-PPR points per game last year, despite a mid-season hamstring injury and a disappointing season from Houston’s offense.

He ranked second in PFF receiving grade and third in yards per route among 84 qualifying WRs. This is a bonafide star well worth a pick at the 1-2 turn.

Other Options

• Malik Nabers
• Brian Thomas Jr.

Rounds 3 & 4

Top Targets: Breece Hall & Rashee Rice

Hall disappointed last season in what turned out to be an underwhelming Aaron Rodgers-led Jets offense.

New York’s swap from Rodgers to Justin Fields this offseason should mean a massive boost in run rate. Yes, Fields will siphon some of those additional carries. But expect Hall to gain focus this year.

The 24-year-old is just a season removed from a RB3 finish in half-PPR points and is a strong bounce-back bet for 2025.

Rice looks much less risky now than he did a few months ago. He was a full participant in OTAs, so last year’s season-ending knee injury doesn’t seem like a concern. And Rice seems likely to dodge a suspension this year for his street-racing crash.

When he’s on the field, Rice boasts top-10 fantasy upside. Over his last 13 healthy games, dating back to midway through 2023, he’s averaged:

• 9.1 targets
• 7.2 catches
• 82.2 yards
• 0.46 TDs

Next Best: Jalen Hurts & Mike Evans

Hurts is on sale coming off a 2024 that was only relatively disappointing. He still finished fifth among QBs in fantasy points per game after back-to-back QB2 finishes.

Hurts set career highs in multiple passing metrics last year, despite WR A.J. Brown, WR DeVonta Smith, and TE Dallas Goedert all missing multiple games. And he remains easily the best bet for rushing TDs at the position.

The 32-year-old Evans is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, he averaged a career-best 2.41 yards per route on his way to a WR9 finish in half-PPR points per game last season.

Evans has now finished as a top-15 WR in half-PPR points per game in seven straight seasons.

Other Options

• Alvin Kamara
• Ken Walker
• Davante Adams
• D.J. Moore

Rounds 5 & 6

Top Targets: James Conner & Jaylen Waddle

Conner is undervalued. Again.

He’s turned in back-to-back top-15 finishes in half-PPR points per game but is once again being drafted outside the top 20 at his position.

Waddle's volume and efficiency tanked in what was a weird Miami passing season. But that looks like an outlier when you compare it to the rest of Waddle's career:

• Sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft
• Caught 104 balls as a rookie
• Finished WR13 in year 2
• Finished WR22 in year 3

Waddle is a strong bounce-back bet in 2025, especially at this price.

Next Best: Xavier Worthy & Jameson Williams

Worthy’s rookie season started slowly. But he got rolling over the second half, averaging 5.8 catches, 67.9 yards, and 0.6 TDs over his final 10 games (including playoffs).

We’ll see how he fits in alongside Rashee Rice. But this 22-year-old former first-round pick is worth betting on in Round 5 or 6.

Williams broke out in 2024 and was particularly good over the second half, averaging 73.4 yards and 0.5 TDs over his final eight games. He ranked 18th among WRs in half-PPR points per game during that stretch.

Other Options

• David Montgomery
• DeVonta Smith
• Courtland Sutton
• George Pickens
• Mark Andrews

Rounds 7 & 8

Top Targets: Isiah Pacheco & Tetairoa McMillan

Pacheco's 2024 season got derailed by a September broken leg. He operated as a workhorse before that injury, though, and the Chiefs added only complementary pieces to the backfield this offseason.

A healthy Pacheco remains a good bet to lead his backfield. Remember that he finished 15th among RBs in half-PPR points per game in 2023.

McMillan boasts a strong prospect profile and has a good chance to immediately emerge as Carolina’s top target. If QB Bryce Young continues to play like he did over the second half of last season, McMillan will be a good bet for WR2-level production.

Next Best: Chris Godwin & Kyler Murray

Godwin carries some risk as he works back from October's dislocated ankle. But that’s more than baked into this price tag. Godwin sat fifth among WRs in half-PPR points per game when he went down last year.

Murray has finished as a top-12 QB in fantasy points per game in all six of his NFL seasons, including top-5 finishes in 2020 and 2021.

Both Murray and the coaching staff have suggested that he’ll run more this season than he has recently, which would give him a shot to vault back into the top 5.

He’s a solid value here, although you can certainly wait until the next turn for your QB1.

Other Options

• TreVeyon Henderson
• Brian Robinson
• Jaylen Warren
• Chris Olave
• Deebo Samuel
• Jauan Jennings

Rounds 9 & 10

Top Targets: Justin Fields & David Njoku

It's not always pretty, but Fields has consistently produced as a QB1 with upside thanks to his high-end rushing production. His 50.2 rushing yards per game rank second among QBs over the last four seasons, behind only Lamar Jackson.

This is a good spot to target your QB1 and TE1. Fields and Njoku are a couple of the best values at their respective positions.

Njoku averaged 9.9 targets and scored as the TE6 across nine healthy games last season. That followed TE8 and TE7 finishes in half-PPR points per game the previous two years.

Cleveland’s QB situation is worrisome, but volume should carry Njoku to another top-12 finish in 2025.

Next Best: Josh Downs & Travis Etienne

Downs proved awesome in per-route metrics last season but QB Anthony Richardson held him back. In games with QB Joe Flacco, Downs delivered top-24 scoring.

Downs should get better QB play this season, whether it's from an improved Richardson or Daniel Jones.

Jacksonville’s backfield is tough to parse at this point. But Etienne remains in the mix to lead in carries and is a good bet to retain primary pass-catching duties.

That makes this former first-round pick -- who’s still only 26 -- worth a shot at this point.

Other Options

• Tyrone Tracy
• Najee Harris
• Jakobi Meyers
• Khalil Shakir
• Stefon Diggs
• Michael Pittman

Rounds 11 & 12

Top Targets: Tank Bigsby & Ray Davis

Prioritize high-upside RB stashes at this point of your draft. Bigsby and Davis are two of our favorites.

Bigsby finds himself in a crowded Jaguars backfield but could emerge as the lead ball carrier. He’s coming off a promising 2024, ranking top-9 among 47 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt, missed tackles forced per carry, and rush yards over expected per attempt.

Davis could carve out some standalone value behind the undersized James Cook. And he’s definitely an exciting handcuff. Davis ripped off 152 total yards on 23 touches when Cook missed Week 6 last year.

Next Best: Rashid Shaheed & Marquise Brown

Other Options

• Dak Prescott
• Trevor Lawrence
• Tyjae Spears
• Dalton Kincaid
• Tucker Kraft
• Jake Ferguson

Rounds 13 & 14

Top Targets: Tyler Allgeier & Jaylen Wright

Two more high-upside RB stashes.

Allgeier probably won’t have standalone fantasy value, but he’s a starter if Bijan Robinson misses time. Allgeier ran super efficiently last year, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and ranking fourth among 47 qualifying RBs in yards after contact per attempt (3.61). 

Wright is the favorite for No. 2 duties in Miami. That could mean enough work behind the undersized De’Von Achane for some half-PPR flex appeal. An Achane injury would turn Wright into an exciting fantasy starter.

Next Best: Cedric Tillman & Dallas Goedert

Tillman proved highly productive over four games as a full-timer last year, averaging:

• 10.0 targets
• 6.0 catches
• 75.5 yards
• 0.8 TDs

He's in line for a full-time role in 2025, making him one of the best deep sleepers at WR.

You can wait until Round 13 and still land a quality TE in Goedert.

He struggled with injuries last year but drew a 20.2% target share in his eight full games and ranked third among 43 qualifying TEs in ESPN receiver score. Goedert is still a good bet for top-12 production on a per-game basis, especially if the Eagles throw a bit more this season.

Other Options

• Roschon Johnson
• MarShawn Lloyd
• Diontae Johnson
• Xavier Legette
• Pat Bryant
• Jalen Coker

Rounds 15 & 16

Use your final two picks on a kicker and DST. Target a kicker on a strong offense. We recommend working the waiver wire and playing matchups at DST throughout the season.

Here are three DSTs with favorable early-season schedules:

• Broncos (vs. TEN, at IND)
• Steelers (at NYJ, vs. SEA, at NE)
• 49ers (at SEA, at NO)

 

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The Ultimate Half PPR Draft Strategy Guide Deserves a Smarter Cheat Sheet

Round-by-round strategy is a strong start.

But fantasy drafts never go according to plan. One snipe, one run, one panic pick and suddenly you're scrambling.

That's why you need a cheat sheet that adapts as you draft.

The Draft War Room takes our award-winning player projections and applies them to your league’s exact rules to give you a precise set of rankings.

Then it updates in real time as your draft unfolds, using 17 value indicators to make sure you’re making the absolute best pick each time you’re on the clock.

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