Fantasy: Strategy for drafting in the middle of the round

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2017 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the round.

Draft Position

• Top of the round
• Middle of the round
• End of the round

Here's a look at how you can attack your draft if you've been assigned one of the middle picks in a 12-team standard scoring league.

Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.

Round 1

Picks: 1.03-1.10

With David Johnson and Le'Veon Bell standing alone as the first two picks in a almost any format, we decided to expand our view of the "middle" of the round, since the approach for anyone selecting from the third to the 10th spots will be similar. If you're closer to the top, you'll end up with Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, or Odell Beckham Jr., while anyone picking sixth to 10th overall will be targeting A.J. Green, Mike Evans, or one of the second-tier running backs.

Securing a rock-solid first-rounder is extremely important, so you want to limit the amount of risk you're taking with this pick, and all the running backs available in this range come with at least some questions about their value heading into 2017. Gordon is the safest running back on the board, but considering the increased injury risk associated with rushers, we're going to build our team around one of the game's best wideouts.

Others to consider: Odell Beckham Jr., Melvin Gordon, A.J. Green

Round 2

Picks: 2.03-2.10

The second round can be surprisingly challenging this year, unless you get lucky and a player falls in your lap. Michael Thomas, Jay Ajayi, and DeMarco Murray are all excellent options if they make it back to you, but if you're left empty-handed, there's a tight end in New England waiting to hear his name called.

While choosing a tight end this early can be tough on the construction of your roster, few players have the monster touchdown upside Rob Gronkowski can deliver if he stays healthy. Receiver and quarterback are extremely deep this year and startable running backs will pop up on the waiver wire throughout the season, so spending on a star tight end is a good way to gain a weekly edge on your opponents.

Others to consider: Michael Thomas, Jay Ajayi, Dez Bryant

Round 3

Picks: 3.03-3.10

The temptation to grab a running back here will be strong, especially if rookie Dalvin Cook keeps impressing in the preseason. If that's the direction you want to go, you'll be able to find serviceable receivers as the draft progresses, so no objections here.

However, Demaryius Thomas is one of the more intriguing third-round values on my board. The 29-year-old is coming off a down year where he played through a hip injury that sapped some of his effectiveness. Now healthy, there's no reason to think Thomas won't get back to the 1,300-yard mark that he eclipsed the previous four seasons, especially with the return of former offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

Others to consider: Brandin Cooks, DeAndre Hopkins, Dalvin Cook

Round 4

Picks: 4.03-4.10

Now that we've built a reliable core of three players, we can take some chances on players with upside.

When you think about your fantasy RB1, Kareem Hunt isn't a name that comes to mind immediately since he just inherited the job after Spencer Ware went down with a season-ending injury.

Hunt has all the skills to be a star in Kansas City, and with Ware sidelined, the rookie will have a chance to establish himself as the Chiefs starter for years to come.

Others to consider: Keenan Allen, Davante Adams, C.J. Anderson

Round 5

Picks: 5.03-5.10

Choosing to pass on running back in the first few rounds means sifting through the middle rounds hoping to find a piece of gold.

Mark Ingram's role has been put in doubt due to the arrival of new backs in New Orleans. However, at 32 years old, the sun might be setting on Adrian Peterson's outstanding career, while rookie Alvin Kamara is more the back of the future.

Ingram is no stranger to sharing touches; he split work with Tim Hightower for most of last season, and still finished as the RB10 in fantasy on just 205 carries. Ingram remains the best all-round back on the Saints' roster heading into 2017, and he's undervalued thanks to the new members of his backfield.

Others to consider: Tyreek Hill, Kelvin Benjamin, Larry Fitzgerald

Round 6

Picks: 6.03-6.10

Let's add to our depth at running back with a player who has more upside than many rushers that go off the board before him - Doug Martin.

The Buccaneers back has taken a bizarre career trajectory, posting two 1,400-yard campaigns but failing to top 500 yards in his other three NFL seasons. After going through rehab, he returned to the team energized and has regained the confidence of his coaches in the offseason. Martin carried that over to the preseason, where he's dominated while playing with the first-team offense. With our starting backs in place, we can take a chance on Martin, who could be an RB1 from Week 4 on.

Others to consider: Stefon Diggs, Tevin Coleman, Derrick Henry

Round 7

Picks: 7.03-7.10

As mentioned earlier, receiver is deep this year, and there are plenty of great pass-catchers to target in the seventh round. If Stefon Diggs were to fall this far, he would be my pick. He's on the verge of a breakout season and is an ideal WR3 for fantasy teams.

Since Diggs doesn't always make it this far in drafts, let's scoop up Jamison Crowder. Terrelle Pryor and Josh Doctson give the Redskins big-play ability on the outside, but Crowder has established chemistry with Kirk Cousins and will be a safety valve for his quarterback. Jordan Reed is almost guaranteed to miss time at some point in the season and Crowder has a 100-catch ceiling if everything falls his way.

Others to consider: Danny Woodhead, Willie Snead, Kyle Rudolph

Round 8

Picks: 8.03-8.10

Adding to your depth at running back is always a smart move

Rob Kelley is the current starter for the Redskins and vastly outproduced his competition in the preseason. Rookie Samaje Perine may eventually threaten Kelley's status atop the depth chart, but that won't happen early in the season. Kelley will never land above an RB2 in fantasy, but he's a solid value in the eighth round.

Others to consider: DeSean Jackson, Rob Kelley, Jeremy Maclin

Round 9

Picks: 9.03-9.10

Waiting on quarterback continues to be an easy source of value. Ben Roethlisberger always seems to miss a handful of games due to injury and his home-road splits are often disturbing, but the return of Martavis Bryant kicks this offseason back into high gear.

Few quarterbacks have the weapons Big Ben gets to throw to every Sunday, and with Bryant back, defensive coordinators will have nightmares about how to slow down the Steelers' offense. At worst, Roethlisberger should start the season hot, with matchups against the Browns and Bears in two of his first three games.

Others to consider: Darren McFadden, Jacquizz Rodgers, Zach Ertz

Round 10

Picks: 10.03-10.10

A preseason hamstring injury kept Corey Davis sidelined for most of August and prevented his fantasy stock from rising. Make sure you take advantage.

The fifth overall pick in April's draft will eventually emerge as the Titans' No. 1 receiver - it's just a matter of how long it takes for that to happen. Davis will likely start the year slowly as he catches up from the time missed due to injury, but there's major breakout potential here in the second half of the season.

Others to consider: Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers

Later rounds

After the 10th round, you no longer need to pay close attention to ADPs. You should be focused on filling out your bench with as many high-upside players as possible, focusing on running backs and receivers. Quarterbacks or tight ends can always be streamed or, at worst, acquired by trading a bench player.

Players to consider: Tyler Lockett, Ted Ginn Jr., Josh Doctson, Robby Anderson, DeAndre Washington, Rex Burkhead, Jonathan Williams