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 12th overall (12-team re-draft)

This is the final part of the opening series. I am looking for spots in the first round in which significant decisions need to be made if the draft unfolds as expected. This article will take a look at the final draft slot. It is always interesting to have back to back picks at the end of the round because of the ability to dictate the direction of the draft. It is also difficult because of the sometimes agonizingly long breaks between picks. It is very important to try to project the direction of the next 24 picks because if you decide wrong, you may be scrambling by the time the next pick arrives. It is fine to try to dictate the direction of the draft, but do not do it at the expense of your roster. If there is a chance a position runs empty prior to your next picks in the draft, make the smart decision and grab at least one player at that position. Guessing wrong here can truly be disastrous, but with smart, well thought out draft decisions, this team can be very powerful with the back to back picks.

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 Drew Brees

WR Larry Fitzgerald

RB Reggie Bush

WR Dez Bryant

RB Shonn Greene

The first two picks are simple when it comes to the final draft slot in a league. Take the best two players available without worrying about position. The key to closing the gap on all the owners drafting ahead of you in round one is to load up with two of the top thirteen players and you can only do that if you target talent and not positions. Of course it is scary to ignore the running back position until at least pick 36 but landing a pair of stud receivers or a great quarterback and receiver will help get a jump on your league.

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 Chris Johnson

QB Drew Brees

WR Dez Bryant

WR Wes Welker

RB Frank Gore

In the above example, it is very easy to begin the draft with Chris Johnson and Drew Brees, both of whom are elite fantasy weapons when at the top of their game. Once again, if you go quarterback early, ignore the position until much later on. When the three-four turn comes around, Dez Bryant and Wes Welker are a great receiver pair to add to the squad and are both capable WR1 for a fantasy team. In a points per reception league, Welker should already be off the board while Dez Bryant is finally in the shape needed to be an elite NFL receiver along with improved focus and determination Finally in round five, there is a proven running back on the board and Gore is a no brainer to add as a RB2 this late into the draft. Flexible drafting here is the key to success so if that means going WR/WR in a three/four turn or QB/RB in one/two turn, do not be afraid to pull the trigger.

Likely selections in first seven rounds

Round 1: RB / WR / QB Rodgers, possible tight end but believe round two much better spot

Round 2: RB/WR unless Brees, Brady or TEs Jimmy Graham or Gronkowski available

Round 3: RB/WR unless you need quarterback and Brees And Brady are available

Round 4: RB/WR unless exceptional value at QB

Round 5: RB/WR unless great value at QB or TEs Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, or Jason Witten are available

Round 6: RB/WR/QB

Round 7: RB/WR/TE/QB

Positives of the draft slot

Back to back picks is terrific to dictate the direction of a fantasy draft

Two of the top thirteen picks on this draft board is a nice way to start the draft and the first pick in round two will give a leg up on all the owners who got to pick ahead of this owner in round one

Talent will always fall to these picks if this owner does not fall in love with a position or player

Negatives of the draft slot

Eleven other owners got a player they coveted more than the player this owner will get here in round one

Twenty-two picks is a long time between selections. Guessing wrong could wipe out a position on this owner

Final Draft Table

Breaking down the mock draft from the 12th draft position

Rounds 1 and 2: RB Chris Johnson and QB Drew Brees
With these two picks, it is unnecessary to project ahead. Simply take the best two players on your board as neither will be available 24 picks from this spot. Chris Johnson has top-three fantasy potential at running back and has vowed to be better in 2012. Drew Brees has been remarkably consistent and he is the type of player you can lock in and forget about the position. He allows this squad to forget about the quarterback position until at least round 10.

Rounds 3 and 4: WR Dez Bryant and WR Wes Welker
It is tempting to pick up Reggie Bush here and he would be solid in a PPR-league. However the best two players available are Wes Welker and Dez Bryant and needing starting receivers, it is a very easy decision to go WR/WR here. There are tons of serviceable running backs out there after the fourth round and some players will fall to my next pick.

Rounds 5 and 6: RB Frank Gore and RB Adrian Peterson
It is difficult to fathom both Gore and Peterson being available with the 60th and 61st pick of the draft but both players have their current issues and players do fall down the draft board. It makes a ton of sense in this scenario to go RB/RB, especially with two excellent receivers already on board. Gore, Peterson, and Johnson will be a great, veteran backfield for a fantasy team. Peterson has his health issues, but he is a warrior and if his knee is even decent, he'll play. I thought about going tight end here after picking Welker in round four but just cannot leave those two running backs on the board.

Rounds 7 and 8: RB Chris Wells and WR Brandon Lloyd
I expect to go WR/WR here or WR/TE but having a talented running back like Chris Wells available here is something I could not ignore and I scoop him up for value. That is why it is important to not fall in love with a position or player. Take talent when possible over positional needs until you can no longer ignore a hole on your fantasy team. I still see many tight ends and receivers I would not mind having on this squad. It is very seldom I will pick two receivers from the same team but having Lloyd and Welker on the field at one time is a great luxury for Tom Brady and the passing game.

Round 9: RB Toby Gerhart
I am very pleased to add the backup for Adrian Peterson here and he makes my running back stable very strong through 9 picks. I never expected to have 5 running backs through the first nine picks but running back depth is always a nice luxury to have. Now if Peterson struggles out of the gate, I will still have a good running back option in Toby Gerhart

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

Quarterbacks

Drew Brees

Running Backs

Chris Johnson

Frank Gore

Adrian Peterson

Chris Wells

Toby Gerhart

Wide Receivers

Wes Welker

Dez Bryant

Brandon Lloyd

Tight Ends

none

Place Kickers

none

Defenses

none

I usually will try to have my starting group of quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and tight ends on the board through nine picks. However running back value was too strong and I can add a tight end a like later on. Obviously the strength of this team is at quarterback and Drew Brees as he is a fantasy juggernaut and will be a great cornerstone of the team. The running back depth is also very good and could be awesome if Peterson has returned from injury. The starting trio at receiver is very good but there is no back up depth there and that will have to be addressed in the rounds ahead. Receiver depth and a starting tight end is definitely what are needed in the next few rounds.

Rounds 10-13: WR Doug Baldwin / TE Jacob Tamme / QB Matt Schaub / DEF Chicago Bears
I expect to go tight end with the tenth round pick but I see several tight ends I like here and a few should drop to my next pick so I do not select one. Instead I add a receiver I love in PPR leagues this season and Baldwin will be a good plug-and-play footballer for my squad. Finally in round eleven I add a starting tight end and Jacob Tamme could be poised for some big fantasy numbers in Denver. I decide to add a backup quarterback here as I like Schaub against the Packers that week in what should be a barnburner and also add the Bears in round thirteen. It is alright to wait on both the backup quarterback and the starting defense if worthwhile players are on the board here.

Rounds 14-18: WR Santana Moss / WR Mohamed Sanu / TE Heath Miller / RB Javon Ringer / K Nate Kaeding
I add a pair of receivers here that should help with the depth of my squad. Santana Moss is particular is being undervalued in mock drafts this season as his veteran presence will be helpful to the rookie quarterback in Washington. He is still young enough to have a good fantasy season in 2012. Mohamed Sanu is a young talent with upside and worth the risk here. If he struggles out of the gate he will be a good player to drop to add player in free agency. Having waited so long on the tight end position, I decide it is a good idea to add a second one to the roster. In many leagues, if I take a tight end I am confident in I will not waste a roster spot on a backup but Tamme is not a guarantee and Miller will be a good plan B. Ringer is added to the team to backup up my first pick in the draft Chris Johnson and now I have the backfield for both the Titans and the Vikings on my squad. Finally I add a decent kicker and my team is good to go.

Final Roster (Draft Slot #12)

Quarterbacks

Drew Brees

Matt Schaub

Running Backs

Chris Johnson

Frank Gore

Adrian Peterson

Chris Wells

Toby Gerhart

Javon Ringer

Wide Receivers

Wes Welker

Dez Bryant

Brandon Lloyd

Doug Baldwin

Santana Moss

Mohamed Sanu

Tight Ends

Jacob Tamme

Heath Miller

Place Kickers

Nate Kaeding

Defenses

Chicago Bears

Final thoughts on this roster

This is a solid no-frills fantasy team with no holes. The depth is good at the four major positions and the starting unit of Drew Brees, Chris Johnson, Frank Gore (or Adrian Peterson), Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Dez Bryant and Jacob Tamme, along with Nate Kaeding and the great Bears defense should help to rack up many wins in the regular season. It is a nice luxury to have the backup running backs to both Peterson and Johnson on the squad and I didn't have to overpay for either of them. That is a major victory for this team.

Last thoughts on the 7th draft slot in a 12-team league

Drafting from the 12th position is not going to be easy. It is always one of the more challenging spots to draft from due to the long wait between picks and the worst first round draft choice. However as always patience, flexibility and foresight will help this owner put together a strong team. The key to a successful draft here is to take the top two players on your draft board, regardless of position. This squad will need studs, regardless of positions to keep up with the teams ahead of them so if that means starting a draft QB/WR, do not be afraid to do so. When the two picks arrive, take a minute to study the draft board, process possibilities through the next 24 picks and make smart moves. If you do that, you'll have the makings of a championship team. If you do take a quarterback early, ignore position to round ten at the earliest and if you take a tight end early, don't bother taking a backup tight end unless that backup is somebody like Antonio Gates and he falls into your lap later than he should. Good luck and happy drafting.