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

A few players are dropping further than anticipated in the Draft Dominator likely due to a number of factors. I have tweaked those players' projections higher in order to have them drafted where they should be in the draft. I am always striving to make this series better so if you have any feedback or questions, let me know. 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 14th overall (14-team re-draft)

In some ways, it is a lot of fun to draft last in a fourteen-team league. The back-to-back picks every two rounds give the ability to impact the flow and direction of a fantasy draft. However it is a horrible long wait between picks, there must be no favorite players to target as they will often be gone before your pick arrives and guessing wrong about which players will drop to your slot could be disastrous. It is critical here to simply take the best two available players to begin the draft. There is no other way to do this as you must secure the best possible talent you can.

Possible strategies to incorporate into your draft

League that goes RB heavy in first two rounds

Possible squad through six rounds

QB Drew Brees

TE Rob Gronkowski

WR Wes Welker

WR Miles Austin

RB Steven Ridley

WR Jeremy Maclin

Obviously the roster is outstanding at quarterback and tight end with top-tier players on board. The receiving trio is also very talented with excellent upside. The obvious weakness (and it is a huge one) is at running back. The next two picks would see me land two running backs like Mikel Leshoure, Daniel Thomas and Jacquizz Rodgers and that would be the theme during the rest of the draft (targeting young backs with upside). If diamonds in the rough are discovered at running back, this team would be powerful and a favorite to win it all but could also have a massive hole at running back if it falls apart.

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 six rounds

RB Maurice Jones-Drew

RB DeMarco Murray

WR Wes Welker

WR Hakeem Nicks

QB Tony Romo

WR Eric Decker

In this example, the top three quarterbacks and top two tight ends all leapt off the board in round one as well as Calvin Johnson. This resulted in running back talent dropping to my two picks and having a Jones-Drew / Murray combination to begin the draft works out well. The foundation is certainly in place here as I have a good starting quarterback, a good starting backfield and my starting receiving core in place. I would need a starting tight end and a decent flex option to make this a successful first half of the draft but the crucial pieces are already in place for a successful season.

Likely selections in first eight rounds

Round 1-2: QB (if big three available), TE (if big two available), WR Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald or RB

Round 3-4: TE Antonio Gates or Aaron Hernandez, QB Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford, RB, WR

Round 5-6: RB/WR unless great value at QB or Jason Witten / Vernon Davis at TE

Round 7-8: QB if needed/ TE if needed) / RB / WR

Positives of the draft slot

Back-to-back picks can dictate direction of the draft

Talent should fall to each set up picks as long as you draft for talent and not position

First pick in round two helps to even out the playing field

Negatives of the draft slot

Every owner in round one ahead of this pick lands the player they want most putting this owner behind the eight ball

Long wait between picks makes it tough to project what will happen and projecting poorly can be crippling

The owners at top of draft have a definite advantage over owners at bottom of draft

Final Draft Table

Breaking down the mock draft from the 14th draft position

Round 1-2 turn: RB Maurice Jones-Drew / RB DeMarco Murray

All you can do here is wait for your turn and see which two players fall to you. If one of the big three quarterbacks or big two tight ends tumble this far they would be an excellent pickup. However all are off the board when my two picks arrive which means running back talent fell to this spot. I am very happy to begin a draft RB/RB when value is there so I gladly scoop up Jones-Drew and Murray, both of whom are capable of top-five seasons and sit back to wait for my next two picks.

Rounds 3-4: WR Wes Welker / WR Hakeem Nicks

In a FLEX style fantasy league, often running backs will be scooped up pretty early, allowing receiving talent to drop. Owners will always see the attraction of a RB/RB/RB beginning to a draft when you can start three running backs. However as I will often state in these studies, worry about getting the best available talent in the first four rounds and build a strong foundation to the squad. In this case, sure I can add a James Starks kind of running back but the value picks here are at receiver. I gladly add both Welker and Nicks who have top-ten potential and move on.

Rounds 5-6: WR Eric Decker / QB Matt Ryan

My first thought here is to add a third running back but nobody leaps out to me as a value pick here so I forget about it. I consider a tight end but see several tight ends available and one should drop to my next pick. If not I have a couple of sleeper tight ends I like. I consider waiting on quarterback as well but there are three I love here and I doubt any of the three will make it back to my next pair of picks. I take the quarterback I like best here and lock in my starter whom I believe is capable of a top-four season with the skilled position weapons he has around him. Eric Decker is an easy decision to lock in my starting receivers. Welker, Nicks and Decker are a formidable trio.

Round 7-8: TE Jermaine Gresham / WR Pierre Garcon

I expect to add a running back but once again, nobody is leaping off the page at me. I continue to target strictly value instead of position and grab my starting tight end and my fourth receiver in Pierre Garcon who appears to have great chemistry with rookie Robert Griffin III. Garcon will be my FLEX option in many weeks.

Rounds 9-10: RB Jacquizz Rodgers / RB Daniel Thomas

Here is the reason I waited on the running back position. There are young, talented running backs that I like in the mid-rounds of fantasy leagues this year with big upsides. If you look at Rodgers size, you wouldn't think possible fantasy weapon but he reminds me in stature of Barry Sanders. Rodgers has thick legs and a powerful build and if Michael Turner ages suddenly or has injury woes, Rodgers will surprise. If not, Rodgers will still have plenty of work catching passes and is still a decent backup for my squad. Daniel Thomas may be a boom or bust draft pick for me here. He has potential to carry the load on offense, allowing Reggie Bush to be the fantastic pass-catching back he is best at but Thomas has a lot to prove this year and must hold off rookie Lamar Miller who has a chip on his shoulder after falling in the draft. I will attempt to add Miller later on if possible.

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

Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan

Running Backs

Maurice Jones-Drew

DeMarco Murray

Jacquizz Rodgers

Daniel Thomas

Wide Receivers

Wes Welker

Hakeem Nicks

Eric Decker

Pierre Garcon

Tight Ends

Jermaine Gresham

Place Kickers

none

Defenses

none

It is very difficult drafting from the final slot in a fourteen-team league every fantasy season although that doesn't mean you cannot build a strong squad. The most challenging aspect is projecting 28 picks out for positional needs as well as seeing players you love fall off the draft board. Do not fall in love with particular players in this slot as it will likely become a frustrating draft. Simply stay calm and look for value each time. I have a good pair of starting running backs, two young running backs with upside, a great fantasy option at quarterback, a very good tight end and four good receivers. In other words, I am looking very good through ten picks.

Rounds 11-14: RB David Wilson / WR Justin Blackmon / WR Kendall Wright / QB Mark Sanchez

I am looking for upside here and it came in the form of a trio of rookie players with big upside. I have my core in place and can take some chances in these rounds, trying to hit it big and close the gap on the owners who were at the top of the draft board. David Wilson is an explosive, quick running back that likely has more talent than the incumbent Ahmad Bradshaw. He is not going to take over for him or anything this year unless injury hits but Wilson will get a decent work load and if he is exceptional, he will earn more touches as the year wears on. Bradshaw has been a RBBC player since entering the league. Next I scoop up a pair of rookie receivers that could sizzle or fizzle but without question are worth a shot. Blackmon has the ability to step in as the best receiver in Jacksonville while Kendall Wright has the speed to really stretch a defense and could get several long touchdowns. Both could be interesting bye week options. Finally I add a backup quarterback but only plan on using him in a bye week situation as long as Ryan is healthy.

Rounds 15-18: TE Marcedes Lewis / DEF Broncos / RB Lamar Miller / PK Robbie Gould

I add a capable backup tight end here, my starting defense and kicker and did manage to grab Lamar Miller late in the draft in case Daniel Thomas struggles.

Final Roster (Draft Slot #14)

Quarterbacks

Matt Ryan

Mark Sanchez

Running Backs

Maurice Jones-Drew

DeMarco Murray

Jacquizz Rodgers

Daniel Thomas

David Wilson

Lamar Miller

Wide Receivers

Wes Welker

Hakeem Nicks

Eric Decker

Pierre Garcon

Justin Blackmon

Kendall Wright

Tight Ends

Jermaine Gresham

Marcedes Lewis

Place Kickers

Robbie Gould

Defenses

Denver Broncos

Final thoughts on this roster

I took some chances in the middle rounds trying to find some potential diamonds and if some of those picks pay off, I love the look of this team. My starting lineup of Matt Ryan, Maurice Jones Drew, DeMarco Murray, Wes Welker, Hakeem Nicks, Eric Decker, Pierre Garcon and Jermaine Gresham is very strong as it is and this team will have a real chance to win a title if they stay healthy or the young players exceed expectations for this year.

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

As mentioned early, drafting last in a 14-team league is not an easy challenge. It is tough to get the final pick in round one as each of the thirteen owners will get their top player on the draft board. The first pick in round two does make up for this somewhat but with only three picks in the top forty-two players, it really can be a challenge to put together a good team. As always, draft for value and not positional needs in the first several rounds and build up a strong, talented foundation. After that, look for players with significant upside and hope to hit a homerun with a couple of them. Once your starting unit is established, go for players with upside to greatly exceed their draft positions (like players I selected), not vanilla players who can put up pedestrian stats but no upside (players like Kevin Walter, Laurent Robinson, Ronnie Brown, etc.). Do that and you will be on your way to league success and that championship money.

Good luck and happy drafting. Thanks for reading.