- Add three running backs early: It generally makes sense to draft two running backs early, but 10-team leagues make it easier to add a third without sacrificing balance at the other positions.
- Practice with PFF's Mock Draft Simulator: Run your own reps with your exact league settings, then put this round-by-round plan into action before draft day.
This perfect draft strategy for 10-team, single-quarterback, redraft PPR fantasy football leagues is built on a consensus of current average draft positions (ADPs) from ESPN, Sleeper and Yahoo. It's your round-by-round guide to building a winning roster.
Last updated: Wednesday, Aug. 26
Round 1, Pick 6: Draft a wide receiver
There is a clear top tier of five players worth targeting in fantasy drafts this season, which makes the sixth pick a difficult spot. That group consists of Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Puka Nacua, Ja'Marr Chase and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Luckily, Christian McCaffrey has a top-five consensus ADP, which often allows Smith-Njigba to fall to sixth overall. If that happens, take him.
If Smith-Njigba is gone, I would pivot to Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is a slight reach relative to his ADP, but he won’t make it back to you in the second round, and he is the highest-ranked player remaining on our board.
Top Target: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba was incredibly consistent in 2025, finishing with at least 90 receiving yards in all but two games. He’s also the youngest of the early first-round wide receiver options, making further improvement more likely than with the others. The reason Smith-Njigba ranks a little lower in redraft is that the Seahawks underwent more significant changes this offseason, most notably losing offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coaching job and replacing him with former 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year should have consistency at quarterback with Sam Darnold, who ranks among the top-10 quarterbacks in PFF grade over the last two seasons, though Darnold hasn't been as good as Burrow or Stafford. No one is going to come close to taking Smith-Njigba's spot as the top receiving weapon in the offense, but he remains on top in dynasty rankings thanks to his age, and the situation for each wide receiver is temporary.
Possible Targets: Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, Drake London, A.J. Brown
Round 2, Pick 15: Draft a running back
A running back is the right call in most second-round situations, regardless of who you took in the first round. A few teams have shown a firm commitment to a single running back in a strong offense, leading to significant consistency among the top running backs over the past two seasons.
In addition, some teams have recently made major investments in a running back, either a first-round pick or a highly paid free agent. This creates a notable tier gap between the top 15 running backs and everyone else, and most of them will come off the board within the first two rounds or the early third round. That means roughly 12 or 13 of the first 22 or so picks will be running backs.
Ideally, you'll be one of the teams with two of these backs on your roster, or even three if you're comfortable relying on several mid-round wide receivers.