One of the more interesting discussion points every time a new fantasy football season rolls around is in regards to the draft slots. While it is possible with wise decisions, bold moves and fearless picks to win a league no matter where you draft from, it is obvious to veteran fantasy owners that there is some advantage to drafting in certain positions as opposed to others. Every draft slot will have positives, negatives and its own unique draft strategy and it is imperative that fantasy owners take the time to really breakdown the advantages and disadvantages to their draft position. That is where I and this long-running Footballguys exclusive come in.

This series of articles will take an in-depth look at multiple types of leagues such as 10-team, 12-team and 14-team leagues as well as unique starting lineup and scoring rules. We will run a mock draft for every new scenario and breakdown the positives and negatives of each draft position.

This study is performed using the mock draft function within our own Draft Dominator software. The program gives you the ability to draft for one team and have the other teams taken over by computer control using different ADP lists. For the purpose of this study, I will use David Dodds' projections found within the Dominator. The mock draft ability of the Dominator is a nice way to prepare for your fantasy draft. Running the same draft several times will help you to anticipate all possible scenarios when your own draft arrives. Check it out today.

We will begin this season with one of the more common fantasy leagues today.

Starting Lineup Requirements (18 total players on roster)

1 QB

2 RBs

3 WRs

1 TE

1 PK

1 defense/special teams unit

No flex

League Scoring Rules (standard performance based scoring)

Passing: 1 point every 20 passing yards / 4 points per touchdown pass / -1 point per interception

Rushing: 1 point every 10 rushing yards / 6 points per touchdown

Receiving: 1 point every 10 receiving yards / 6 points per touchdown / 1 point per reception

Kicking: 3 points per field goal / 1 point per extra point

Defense: 5 points for shutout / 3 points for allowing < 7 points / 1 point for allowing less than 11 points / 2 points for interceptions / fumble recoveries and safeties / 1 point per sack

If you would like to see a particular study this season, please send me an e-mail at smith@footballguys.com, and I will do my best to cover your scoring rules, starting lineup requirements, etc. before the end of training camp.

Onto the article.

Drafting 4th overall (12-team re-draft)

The first three draft picks are somewhat interchangeable this season with Arian Foster, Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy being similar talents. So we will move on to the 4th pick in the draft, a draft slot in which an owner without question has a choice between four different positions.

The conventional draft strategy here is to take a running back and not look back. In this situation that would be a player such as Ryan Matthews of the San Diego Chargers. He has all the tools and abilities to become an elite fantasy running back this season and would not be a terrible pick here. However going running back here will leave you chasing the three owners that took the higher rated running backs ahead of you. Of course there are no guarantees those three running backs finish better than Matthews or even that one of them doesn't drop to this pick. However the owner drafting 4th overall also can choose to take the best quarterback available, the top receiver or even throw a real curve ball by taking an elite tight end. All can be interesting options here depending on your league mates and their tendencies.

I think the best option here is to pick up the stud quarterback (Aaron Rodgers) or the stud receiver (Calvin Johnson). Either player sets this owner up significantly ahead of curve at one of these positions and sets this roster up as one to chase instead of chasing the three owners at the top of the draft board.

Two example strategies to incorporate into your draft

1. League that goes RB heavy in first two rounds

Many leagues out there still feature running backs flying off the board in the first two rounds...

Possible squad through five rounds

QB Aaron Rodgers 1.04

WR Greg Jennings 2.09

WR Roddy White 3.04

RB Michael Turner 4.09

RB Reggie Bush 5.04

Starting a draft quarterback / receiver / receiver is very difficult to do. If owners around your pick keep taking questionable talent at running back, do not insist on being a follower. Instead take the best available talent in the first few rounds and build. Having a trio such as Rodgers, Jennings and White to begin a draft is a foundation that can lead to glory. You will be able to find capable running backs that fall through the cracks.

2. League that has more flexibility in first two rounds

If your league has more flexibility in the top include the best quarterbacks and receivers off the board, then a more conventional approach is in order...

Possible squad through five rounds

RB LeSean McCoy 1.04

RB Jamaal Charles 2.09

WR Roddy White 3.04

WR Vincent Jackson 4.09

WR Brandon Marshall 5.04

In a draft in which receivers and quarterbacks are coveted within the first two rounds in addition to the top two tight ends, this is an exceptional strategy to follow. Two very strong running backs are available here and is a great cornerstone to any fantasy team. Add to that three nice receiving options in rounds three through five and this team is without question starting the right way towards a possible fantasy title.

Likely selections in first seven rounds

Round 1: RB/QB (Aaron Rodgers is a distinct possibility here)

Round 2: RB/WR

Round 3: RB/WR unless exceptional value at QB (Brady, Brees, Newton)

Round 4: RB/WR unless exceptional value at QB

Round 5: RB/WR unless great value at QB

Round 6: RB/WR/QB

Round 7: RB/WR/TE/QB

In my opinion the foundation of a fantasy team is the seven potential weekly starters. By the end of round seven my goal is usually to secure the starter at quarterback, running back, receiver and tight end. Both quarterback and tight end however I will sometimes wait on if I see lots of talent on the board or I am fairly confident a player I like will drop. It all depends on who is available each round.

Positives of the draft slot

Always top-end talent on the board with the 4th overall pick

Get the jump on the three owners ahead of you in round one with the earlier 2nd round pick

Can dictate the direction of the draft with shrewd selections

Negatives of the draft slot

Likely to miss out on the big trio at running back

Long time between odd and even round picks can result in a position drying up

Projecting which positional runs will occur inaccurately can hurt your roster

Final Draft Table

Breaking down the mock draft from the 4th draft position

Round 1: QB Aaron Rodgers
With the top three running backs selected ahead of my pick here, I have multiple paths I can head down. I can take a chance on Ryan Matthews, hoping he can make the jump to elite running back and certainly he is not a bad pick here. In fact I may go this route often drafting from this position. If you are only comfortable with a running back 4th overall, simply re-read my 1st article in this series, drafting from the 1st overall draft position as the strategy laid out is similar enough to what this pick would be. However let us switch up this draft and pick up the fantasy juggernaut Aaron Rodgers with the 4th overall pick. He is a fantasy machine over the past few seasons and is as sure of a bet as you can find in the first round. You pick him up, sit back and watch him rack up 25+ fantasy points in most games. There is nothing wrong with a consistent cornerstone like him to begin your team, even if conventional wisdom tells you to wait on the position.

Round 2: WR Andre Johnson
This is where my draft is getting interesting. Normally after taking a non-running back to begin a draft it is a wise move to targets running backs in the next couple of rounds. However this is a year in which I see tons of running back depth but not many exciting players in rounds two and three. Sure I can take a Marshawn Lynch kind of back here but I want players that will have an opportunity to be fantasy stars this season and really, it is a no-brainer to scoop up Texans receiver Andre Johnson with this pick. I am actually surprised he is still on the board here and I don't think twice about beginning a draft with a quarterback and a receiver when those two names are Rodgers and Johnson.

Round 3: WR Hakeem Nicks
I am planning on taking DeMarco Murray with my third round pick but he is scooped up one spot before mine. I really like rookie running back Doug Martin and do consider him here but again, looking ahead to the next several rounds I believe there will be running backs worth targeting later on. I decide to really get a jump on my league mates at both quarterback and receiver by adding the explosive Hakeem Nicks here with my third pick. He is exactly the type of third round pick that can lead a team to victory as he has elite player written all over him.

Round 4: RB Adrian Peterson
Heading into rounds four and five, now I know that I must secure two running backs with these picks. The first one I am very happy to add the former fantasy superstar Adrian Peterson to my lineup. He is coming off of knee surgery and may not be 100% to begin the season. In fact Toby Gerhart may get the majority of touches for the first few weeks. However the fantasy season is a long one and I am confident that Peterson will be leading the team in rushing each week no later than October 1st. I may have to tread water for the first few weeks at running back but my first three selections of Rodgers, Johnson and Nicks are capable of stealing me a win on their own while I wait on Peterson to solidify my starting lineup.

Round 5: RB Frank Gore
Gore is getting older and has had injury woes in the past but landing him in the fifth round makes me very happy I waited on the receiver position to begin the draft. I quickly pick him up with little thought here.

Round 6: RB C.J. Spiller
Having ignored the running back position for the first three rounds, my thought processes for rounds four through six are simple, take a running back unless exceptional receiver or tight end talent is available to be selected. I am very pleased to add Spiller here as I believe he has a chance to become the top fantasy producer in the Bills backfield this season after he began to showcase his explosiveness in 2011.

Round 7: WR Antonio Brown
I am looking at Torrey Smith as my WR3 here but he is scooped up one spot before my pick. Antonio Brown is a capable WR3 in his own right and I am happy to add him to my squad. I also consider Jermichael Finley here but I like four different tight ends and one is likely to drop to my next selection.

Round 8: TE Fred Davis
As mentioned in round seven, I saw tight ends I liked that were likely to drop. Davis was one of those tight ends and I am pleased to add him as my starting tight end here.

Round 9: WR Michael Crabtree
Crabtree is a young receiver with considerable upside in an up and coming offensive attack. As my WR4, I do not need to count on him for consistent weekly output but he certainly has the tools to become the WR3 on my roster.

At the halfway point of the draft, our team looks like this...

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers 1.04

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson 4.09

Frank Gore 5.04

C.J. Spiller 6.09

Wide Receivers

Andre Johnson 2.09

Hakeem Nicks 3.04

Antonio Brown 7.04

Michael Crabtree 9.04

Tight Ends

Fred Davis 8.09

Place Kickers

none

Defenses

none

Despite an unconventional beginning to the fantasy draft, after nine picks my roster spots are right where they should be. After nine picks, I am always looking to secure my fantasy starters in place and I have my quarterback, starting running backs, receivers and tight end in place. I just added them to the roster in an unusual order. Obviously I am very strong at quarterback and receiver through the nine rounds and I am happy with my starting tight end. I need to add some running backs with upside in the next nine rounds to make sure I have solid starting options each week if Adrian Peterson struggles to get healthy and C.J. Spiller struggles to elevate his play and touches from last season.

Rounds 10-13: RB David Wilson / RB Mikel Leshoure / WR Michael Floyd / Steelers Defense
I see two running backs I really like with my first two picks of the second half of the draft. I believe David Wilson may take over the starting running back position in New York this year as he is an explosive, talented young player. Mikel Leshoure is another young player with huge upside and has the talent to become a fantasy star depending on how the season plays out. Both add a great mix of youth and upside to my weakest position through the first half of the draft. Floyd is a rookie receiver in a great situation to put up at least 800 yards and 5 touchdowns with upside and is an easy selection here. I always find myself targeting my defense somewhere around the thirteenth round of a draft and the Steelers defense is a good starting option.

Rounds 14-18: QB Sam Bradford / RB LeGarrette Blount / K Randy Bullock / TE Kellen Winslow / WR Chad Johnson
If you do find yourself taking a quarterback in the first two rounds of a draft, the key is to wait on adding a backup on the latter part of your draft. Sam Bradford is the starter in St. Louis and if all goes well, I only want to use him during the Packers bye week. Most people expect Blount's touches and production to go down with the addition of talented rookie Doug Martin. I myself am in that camp as I love what Martin brings to the table and see a young Curtis Martin when I watch him run. However Blount still has talent and may add fantasy value just with touchdowns as he will likely get the nod in goal line formations. He is a wonderful addition in the 15th round and if Martin does struggle, Blount is a huge steal in this spot. I add my kicker in round sixteen and will rarely target one earlier than that. Finally with my final two picks I like to take some risk on players with upside and both Kellen Winslow and Chad Johnson fall into this category.

Final Roster (Draft Slot #4)

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers 1.04

Sam Bradford 14.09

Running Backs

Adrian Peterson 4.09

Frank Gore 5.04

C.J. Spiller 6.09

David Wilson 10.09

Mikel Leshoure 11.04

LeGarrette Blount 15.04

Wide Receivers

Andre Johnson 2.09

Hakeem Nicks 3.04

Antonio Brown 7.04

Michael Crabtree 9.04

Michael Floyd 12.09

Chad Johnson 18.09

Tight Ends

Fred Davis 8.09

Kellen Winslow 17.04

Place Kickers

Randy Bullock 16.09

Defenses

Pittsburgh Steelers 13.04

Final thoughts on this roster

Taking the best available player in the early rounds and then adapting your strategy going forwards is a wonderful way to build a strong fantasy squad. Starting a draft QB / WR / WR takes courage without question but when you are drafting behind the owners landing the big three at running back heading into the season, high risk can pay off. My foundation of Aaron Rodgers, Andre Johnson and Hakeem Nicks is strong and if Adrian Peterson returns well from injury this team is looking very strong. I have six running backs capable of elevating past their draft position and my receiving roster has two great starters and four players with the upside to put up good WR2 numbers. The rest of the squad is solid and this team is a championship caliber team.

Last thoughts on the 4th draft slot in a 12-team league

In a nutshell, do not be scared to buck the trend and forged your own path here. If you do not believe a player such as Ryan Matthews is capable of putting up elite fantasy numbers, select Aaron Rodgers and then you will have the best player in a position and it is easier to build a strong team around an elite player. Stay cool, adapt your draft strategy heading into the draft, and look to add the best available player in the first three rounds. Do this and you will have a strong team heading into the season.