Everyone that partakes in fantasy football typically has a preference when it comes to where they are drafting from. Some people prefer the No. 1 or No. 2 selections while others lean toward having a later pick.
On the other hand, having one of the middle picks can be seen as advantageous to those who don't want to have a massive gap between each of their selections. Drafting out of the five spot is all about seeing how the beginning of the draft shakes out.
League and scoring settings can be factors to consider before making a selection at any pick. Under the assumption that you are playing in a 12-person league, here is how you should handle the first six rounds with the fifth-overall pick.
Fantasy Football 5th Pick Strategy
Round 1 and Round 2
Assuming that Christian McCaffrey, CeeDee Lamb, and Tyreek Hill aren't available when you're on the clock at five, there are a variety of paths to take. If you prefer to attack the running back position early, Bijan Robinson and Breece Hall both have a chance at a RB1 finish in 2024.
According to FantasyPros' consensus average draft position (ADP), Robinson has an overall ADP of 5.3 while Hall is narrowly behind with an ADP of 5.7. Both Robinson and Hall are in offenses that are expected to score more this season, so it's all about preference if both are available.
Whether you're in a half-PPR or full-PPR league, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Ja'Marr Chase are worth considering at pick No. 5. Even though Kirk Cousins is no longer a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Jefferson proved he is capable of producing at an elite level sans Cousins in 2023.
Chase gets a healthy Joe Burrow in 2024 after finishing as the WR13 in fantasy points per game in 2023. Meanwhile, St. Brown has tallied 106-plus receptions, 1,100-plus receiving yards, and 6-plus receiving touchdowns in back-to-back years for the Detroit Lions.
Doubling up at running back is plausible when you arrive at 2.08, with the hopes that either Travis Etienne or Derrick Henry are available in the latter part of the second round. De'Von Achane and Isiah Pacheco are the other backs to consider if neither Etienne nor Henry are still on the board.
Depending on how your leaguemates have drafted early, Josh Allen and Drake London are other players to consider with your second round pick. Stacking Allen with his pass-catchers is relatively easy as all of his pass-catchers have an ADP of 51.7 or later while London figures to be the go-to target in a Cousins-led aerial attack in Atlanta.
Round 3 and Round 4
If you're someone who tends to address the tight end position early, the hope is that either Sam LaPorta or Travis Kelce is still available at 3.05. Having a consistent difference-maker at tight end can be massive at a position that is tough to predict on a weekly basis.
There are a handful of wideouts to consider in the third round as you could make cases for any of Deebo Samuel, Nico Collins, Mike Evans, Brandon Aiyuk, or Jaylen Waddle. Just note that some of our writers believe Evans and Collins are potential busts at their current ADP.
It could be tough to land a viable running back in the third round unless Josh Jacobs falls or if you want to take Rachaad White. Provided that information, it may be best to take running backs early and find value at other positions in the third round when drafting fifth overall.
As for the fourth round, there are a handful of avenues to take. Having interest in taking a receiver makes D.J. Moore, D.K. Metcalf, and DeVonta Smith enticing options at 4.08 as they are all on teams with new offensive coordinators.
Joe Mixon could be an ideal target in the fourth round as he becomes the featured back for the Houston Texans. Mixon hasn't finished any worse than RB12 in fantasy points per game since 2020, and our Austin Swaim believes Mixon is the player to target from Houston's dynamic offense.
For those who want a quarterback and missed out on Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud could be worth a look in the fourth round. Stroud has a trio of receivers that now features Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell while Mixon is a capable receiver out of the backfield.
Round 5 and Round 6
An ideal scenario in the fifth round would be to have Anthony Richardson fall in your lap at 5.05 -- assuming you haven't selected a quarterback yet. Outside of Richardson, the fifth round appears to be a great chance to bolster your running back and wide receiver positions.
At running back, Aaron Jones, James Conner, or Rhamondre Stevenson all have cases to be in your queue for the fifth round. None of them are guaranteed to garner a workhorse role for the entirety of the 2024 campaign, but there are reasons to like all three of them at their current ADPs.
On the other hand, the wide receivers that interest me the most around the 5.05 range are Malik Nabers, Amari Cooper, Tee Higgins, and George Pickens. If you took Chase with the fifth-overall pick, then I wouldn't rule out the idea of fading Higgins in the fifth round and making a slight reach to stack Chase with Burrow.
There's also a chance Burrow is still available at 6.08 if your leaguemates aren't prioritizing the quarterback position early. In addition to Burrow, Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, and Jordan Love are other fantastic options to be your first quarterback selected.
The running back options in the sixth round aren't ideal, but Najee Harris is a name that stands out. Although Harris isn't the most explosive runner, he has 1,000-plus rushing yards and 7-plus rushing touchdowns in each of his first three seasons, and he'll be the primary back in an Arthur Smith running game.
If neither George Kittle nor Kyle Pitts make it to 6.08, then Evan Engram and Christian Kirk are the other options I like near the end of the sixth round. Pitts may possess the highest ceiling of the bunch while Engram/Kirk should have consistent roles for the Jacksonville Jaguars with Calvin Ridley departing in free agency.
Takeaways
Getting the fifth-overall pick means that you'll have to constantly determine your selection on how your leaguemates are drafting around you. With that in mind, here are a few takeaways to consider.
- In half-PPR leagues, Robinson or Hall may be the better options at 1.05 while Jefferson, Chase, and St. Brown may have the edge in full-PPR formats. It's all about whether you prefer having a chance to roster the potential RB1 or WR1.
- Attacking running back and wide receiver early could be crucial in this spot -- especially with the running back position thinning out quickly in the fifth and sixth rounds. There are enough viable signal-callers with upside to wait for one in single-quarterback leagues.
- There could be plenty of value to be had throughout the draft at pick No. 5 as the people with later picks could reach for players due to having a wide gap between selections. Let the picks before and after you dictate how you scoop up value at premier positions.
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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.
