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.

This particular series is based on...

14 teams

18 rounds

There are a few interesting twists in this study

Flex player added

6 points per passing touchdown

1 point per reception for running backs / receivers but 1.5 points per reception for tight ends

Starting Lineup Requirements(18 total players on roster)

1 Quarterback

2 Running Backs

3 Wide Receivers

1 Tight End

1 Place Kicker

1 Team Defense

1 Flex Player (RB, WR, TE)

League Scoring Rules

Passing: 1 point every 20 passing yards / 6 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 (RBs and WRs) / 1.5 points per reception (TEs)

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 1st overall (14-team re-draft)

In any type of fantasy football league, drafting 1st overall is a wonderful place to begin. You get the top player on your draft board, whoever that is and also get back to back picks at the end of the 2nd and start of the 3rd round which will always be three strong building blocks. . You have the ability to direct the overall direction of the draft with the back to back picks and with patience targeting the best players each round regardless of position, will put together a dominant squad. The one caveat here is to take a little time and make a determination if a position is likely to dry up while you wait on 28 long picks. If you feel a positional run is eminent, you may want to be at the top and not bottom of said run. VALUE, VALUE, VALUE is the name of the game here. If the best players dictate you begin the draft, RB, WR, QB, WR in your first four picks, go with it and don't look back.

Possible strategies to incorporate into your draft

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. This is not as common as it once was but leagues are still out there in which owners will begin a draft RB/RB and even RB/RB/RB no matter what. If you are in a league such as this, value is going to tumble down to your 2nd and 3rd round picks. It isn't easy to not follow the herd here but if you do, by the end of round five, you will have a powerhouse squad ready to take on the world.

Possible squad through five rounds

RB Arian Foster

WR Julio Jones

WR Greg Jennings

WR Miles Austin

QB Tony Romo

Having only one running back through the first five rounds in a fourteen-team league is a scary proposition. It really is. However if running backs are leaping off the board early and often and value exists at receiver, quarterback or even tight end, you have to target the value and hope to find diamonds in the rough at running back. When my next pick comes up at the end of the 6th round, there will be running backs with upside available such as Mark Ingram, Peyton Hillis, Ryan Williams, Stevan Ridley, Ronnie Hillman, Ben Tate and more. If I did start a draft like this, I would be looking to go RB/RB at the 6th / 7th round turn unless truly exceptional value is present.

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 Arian Foster

RB DeMarco Murray

WR Julio Jones

WR Jeremy Maclin

WR Eric Decker

This scenario ends up being a lot more conventional than the other example. Many of the better receivers and quarterbacks leapt off the board in the 2nd round, and DeMarco Murray fell to my 2nd round pick as a result. He and Foster give me a strong starting duo in my backfield. Rounds three through five, saw plenty of receiver talent available and my starting unit of Julio Jones, Jeremy Maclin and Eric Decker could be exceptional this season. Again as in the first example, the key to this draft spot it to target talent (value) and not positions.

Likely selections in first seven rounds

Round 1: RB

Round 2-3: RB/WR/QB (if Rodgers, Brady, Brees is available) /TE (only if Graham or Gronkowski is available)

Round 4-5: RB/WR unless exceptional value at QB / TE (and no QB / TE on roster)

Round 6-7: QB/TE/RB/WR/ quarterback/tight end combo could definitely be the play here if none currently on the roster

Positives of the draft slot

Secure the top player on your draft board.

Land three of the top twenty-nine players on your draft board.

Target value instead of positional needs in rounds two, three and four.

Negatives of the draft slot

Long wait between picks can see positions dry up. Projecting future picks incorrectly can be disastrous to this squad.

Not much to choose from between top few running backs means the selections after the 1st overall pick get a similar player and the early pick coming back in round two.

Final Draft Table

Breaking down the mock draft from the 1st draft position

Round 1: RB Arian Foster

This pick is a no brainer. Unless the scoring rules strongly favor the quarterback or receiver position, simply take your top running back on the board. In this example, that player is Arian Foster.

Rounds 2-3 turn: WR Julio Jones / WR A.J. Green

Running backs have been very popular in this draft thanks to the 14-teams as well as a flex position. This is not abnormal in this scenario as owners are always worried about the running back position drying up and especially so in a 14-team league in which you can start three running backs. While they scramble to fill their rosters with running backs, don't panic, don't follow and simply take the best two players on your draft board. You can make a case here for quarterback with both Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford still on the board but there are quarterbacks I like I should be able to target later such as Peyton Manning, Eli Manning or Matt Ryan so I wait on the position and instead take two young, gifted possible top-five fantasy receivers. Both players are explosive and could dominate if they improve over their rookie seasons last year. Their upside makes these two picks strong and their baseline is quite high in any case. It isn't like the players are a risk and both could elevate to top-tier fantasy producers.

Round 4-5 turn: RB Adrian Peterson / WR Jordy Nelson

I am totally shocked that these two names are available in this position but just like in most leagues, talent does fall as long as you are not fixated on certain players or positions. It may not be Adrian Peterson / Jordy Nelson available here but somebody high on your boards will be available and simply take those two guys. With Adrian Peterson's recovery from injury, it is indeed possible he falls to this position. Jordy Nelson I believe will be gone in most leagues but there will be a receiver worth selecting in his place. This is the era of wonderful receivers in the NFL and after five rounds my starting trio of Jones, Green and Nelson is unbelievable. I did not consider anybody else here as those two players were no brainers to scoop up.

Rounds 6-7 turn: QB Peyton Manning / TE Jermichael Finley

I am hopeful to add Toby Gerhart, Ben Tate or even Mark Ingram here and all three are available. I would love to draft the back up for Adrian Peterson and/or the player with good upside in Mark Ingram. However quarterbacks have gone off the board quickly with 6 points per touchdown and the tight end position has begun to dry up and a legitimate starting fantasy tight end may not get back to my next pick. I regretfully leave Gerhart and Tate behind, knowing they likely will be gone next pick and pick up the last quarterback I see with top-six potential in Peyton Manning as well as a tight end I feel can climb inside the top-five in Jermichael Finley. Have two strong starters here outweighs the advantage of handcuffing Peterson.

Rounds 8-9 turn: RB Ben Tate / RB Ronnie Hillman

While I was correct about Gerhart I am thrilled that Tate stayed available and I quickly scoop him up, near guaranteeing points from my RB1 position. Tate is a capable top-ten producer if he is called upon due to injury and I am blessed to get him in the 8th round. I love the upside of Ronnie Hillman and I am pleased to bring him in as my RB4. The only other player I consider here is Mikel Leshoure as his upside is equal to Hillman. The only difference is the injury concerns of Leshoure and that is real enough to warrant Hillman over him.

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

Quarterbacks

Peyton Manning

Running Backs

Arian Foster

Adrian Peterson

Ben Tate

Ronnie Hillman

Wide Receivers

Julio Jones

A.J. Green

Jordy Nelson

Tight Ends

Jermichael Finley

Place Kickers

none

Defenses

none

I am very pleased with the makeup of this team through nine picks. This roster feels like a 12-team league instead of a 14-team league which means the draft went exceptionally well. I have pretty good depth at running back but obviously need to add a 2nd quarterback and tight end as well as some receiver depth in the rounds ahead. My starting lineup looks very strong and if Manning can find his old form and Adrian Peterson gets healthy, this team is fantastic. As of right now, my FLEX starter is either Ben Tate or Ronnie Hillman and that may need addressing if both do not get a lot of work to begin the season.

Rounds 10-13: WR Randy Moss / QB Jake Locker / RB Jahvid Best / WR Santana Moss

When my next two picks come around, I quickly scoop up Randy Moss here as he is a no brainer simply for the upside he possesses if he brings work ethic with his talent and ability. He is an older player now but not so old that he cannot catch lightning in a bottle like Jerry Rice did with the Raiders at the end of his career. I had been hopeful to wait on my backup quarterback one more cycle but the position is drying up and there is only one more player I really like here so I take Locker one round earlier than I would have liked. I like this kid and his ability to run and make plays happen downfield. I am thrilled to add a Jahvid Best in the 12th round. Sure he is having concussion problems and sure he is a risk.

Rounds 14-18: RB Bernard Pierce / WR Roberto Wallace / DEF Broncos / TE Dallas Clark / PK Robbie Gould

This is where you take upside players and I find one in Bernard Pierce. He can greatly exceed his draft positions and are worth a shot here. Pierce may even have some value as a goal line option for the Ravens and if Ray Rice loses time to injury, Pierce may be a surprisingly good fill in option. I add another receiver I believe has tremendous upside in Roberto Wallace.  With Chad Johnson getting his walking papers, there is a chance for Wallace to surprise. Finally I find a decent starting defense and kicker and a dependable backup tight end.

Final Roster (Draft Slot #1)

Quarterbacks

Peyton Manning

Jake Locker

Running Backs

Arian Foster

Adrian Peterson

Ben Tate

Ronnie Hillman

Jahvid Best

Bernard Pierce

Wide Receivers

Julio Jones

A.J. Green

Jordy Nelson

Randy Moss

Santana Moss

Roberto Wallace

Tight Ends

Jermichael Finley

Dallas Clark

Place Kickers

Robbie Gould

Defenses

Denver Broncos

Final thoughts on this roster

This is a very strong roster in a fourteen team league. The receiving core is great and may be exceptional if the three veterans taken late pan out. There may be some serious trade bait amongst this group if all six play up to their potential. The running back position has plenty of upside as well but also some possibility of disappointments. Jahvid Best in particular is a boom or bust player. He could emerge as a starting running back for my team or completely fall from grace and get released. It all depends on his concussion issues. It is wonderful to have Ben Tate handcuffed to my top running back Arian Foster. That will help me breathe easier this season. It appears right now that my FLEX player may come from the receiver spot to start the season with the trio of veterans on board. It will come down to Randy Moss, Santana Moss, Roberto Wallace or possibly a running back if one emerges. I like my quarterback situation as I believe Peyton Manning has something to prove in 2012. If he falters or struggles with injury however, Jake Locker is far from a sure thing and I would have to address that via a trade or free agency. All in all though, this squad is a powerhouse for a 14-team league.

Last thoughts on the 1st draft slot in a 14-team league

As always, drafting from the first position is a fun drafting experience. You get the top player on your draft board as well as three of the top twenty-nine players in the draft. You have a strong influence on the draft with the back to back picks and with patience and smart drafting; this roster will be in great shape to contend for the title. As stated above, the only concern is the long time between picks. There were a couple of times I was tempted to wait on a position (Peyton Manning, Jake Locker, and Jermichael Finley) but if it appears that the talent will be drafted before your next picks, take the player in question. It really is about looking ahead and determine which players or positions are likely to drop. Do that successfully and your squad will be a frontrunner for the league championship.

Good luck and happy drafting. Thanks for reading.