Fantasy: Strategy for drafting in the middle of each round

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

Draft Position

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

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

Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.

Round 1

Picks: 1.05-1.08

Some fantasy managers might be surprised to see Davante Adams as the top-ranked wideout on my board, but that's exactly where he belongs.

Though he finished as the second-best fantasy receiver in 2018, Adams averaged the most fantasy points per game (22). It was due in large part to his consistency, as he posted 81 yards and/or a touchdown in all 15 he played. Aaron Rodgers has also expressed a desired to get the ball to Adams even more - if that's possible.

DeAndre Hopkins is a worthy selection in this range, as is Ezekiel Elliott if you're willing to take on the risk associated with his holdout.

Others to consider: DeAndre Hopkins, Ezekiel Elliott, Nick Chubb

Round 2

Picks: 2.05-2.08

We discussed Dalvin Cook in-depth as one of the seven players who will lead you to a fantasy title in 2019. Once he was back in the lineup for good last year, Cook was a top-10 fantasy back from Week 9 on as the Vikings shifted to a run-heavy approach.

And based on the additions they've made on the offensive line combined with the hiring of offensive advisor Gary Kubiak, all signs point to that run-first philosophy continuing this season.

Durability is still a question mark given that Cook's only appeared in 15 of a possible 32 games in his career, so we'll be looking for a potential handcuff in the later rounds.

Others to consider: Travis Kelce, Joe Mixon, Mike Evans

Round 3

Picks: 3.05-3.08

If Aaron Jones, Kerryon Johnson, or Marlon Mack fall to this range I wouldn't think twice about picking them here.

Devonta Freeman comes with some red flags because he's ended each of the last two seasons on injured reserve, leaving many to question whether he's breaking down. But by all accounts, the 27-year-old is completely recovered from his ailments. And, to look at it another way, Freeman has suited up for 14 games or more in four of his five NFL campaigns.

The front office's effort to bolster the offensive line along with the severe lack of competition in the Falcons' backfield gives Freeman RB1 upside in the third round.

Others to consider: Aaron Jones, T.Y. Hilton, Melvin Gordon

Round 4

Picks: 4.05-4.08

Mark Ingram has received far too little hype from the fantasy community, though perhaps that will change after his preseason debut with the Ravens this week.

Ingram is the best back Baltimore's had in a while, and with the volume he'll see in this run-first, run-second, run-third attack, we can project a big year for the former Saint.

Scooping up Ingram or Chris Carson in the fourth round, especially to serve as our flex, is a league-winning move.

Others to consider: Chris Carson, Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks

Round 5

Picks: 5.05-5.08

In the first article of this series, we chose Curtis Samuel in the eighth round and he remains the better value pick between the Panthers' two breakout receivers. On the other hand, D.J. Moore is likelier to deliver a top-24 season.

When his playing time increased down the stretch, Moore was the WR23 in PPR leagues over the final seven weeks of his rookie campaign, and that was with Cam Newton dealing with a shoulder issue and eventually missing a couple of games. A healthy Newton will unlock Moore's upside and make him one of the newest fantasy stars in 2019.

Others to consider: Tyler Boyd, Tevin Coleman, O.J. Howard

Round 6

Picks: 6.05-6.08

It was a tough decision to pass on Howard, who's one of my favorite tight end targets, but knowing that I could get one of Evan Engram, Hunter Henry, or Jared Cook a round later led me to select Moore.

There are a ton of quality options available at this stage of the sixth round, but Cook is the last tight on my board who I feel confident in as a weekly difference-maker. In a Saints offense that lacks a reliable No. 2 receiver, Cook will essentially play that role - similar to how Eric Ebron stepped up in the Colts' pass-catching corps last season. The result could be a similarly impressive double-digit touchdown season.

Others to consider: Robby Anderson, Miles Sanders, Alshon Jeffery

Round 7

Picks: 7.05-7.08

Everyone is jumping off the Dante Pettis bandwagon, causing his ADP to dip a round or so. Take advantage.

Kyle Shanahan's recent tough-love approach with Pettis has been an attempt to motivate the talented young wideout. It's possible Pettis doesn't respond to the tactic and never reaches his ceiling as a pro, but at worst he'll be a big-play threat in a productive offense. In the seventh, we can roll the dice on Pettis' upside while assuming very little risk.

Others to consider: Will Fuller, Rashaad Penny, Latavius Murray

Round 8

Picks: 8.05-8.08

Waiting on a quarterback is the way to go unless you see a value opportunity pop up when you're on the clock. Carson Wentz's ADP has begun to rise, but Cam Newton can still be selected in the eighth and sometimes even the early ninth round.

Last year, Newton really took to Norv Turner's offense and was the QB3 in fantasy before a shoulder issue derailed him in Week 14. With an outstanding young supporting cast, Newton is primed for another strong season. We also get to stack him and Moore in our starting lineup.

Others to consider: Sammy Watkins, Curtis Samuel, Dede Westbrook,

Round 9

Picks: 9.05-9.08

With quarterback and tight end secured, we can zero in on high-upside running backs and receivers. It's tempting to go receiver here, but the position is very deep, which should allow us to address it in the next few rounds. Instead, we'll grab James Conner's immediate backup, Jaylen Samuels, who may actually carve out a regular role as a pass-catcher in the Steelers' backfield.

Samuels showed last year that he's capable of producing RB1 numbers when given starter's snaps, so we'll place him on our bench as a potential league-winning lottery ticket in the event Conner is sidelined again.

Others to consider: Corey Davis, Emmanuel Sanders, Duke Johnson

Round 10

Picks: 10.05-10.08

Given the concerns around Pettis' practice performances, we need to find a couple bench receivers who could slide in as fantasy starters if need be.

We'll take our second straight Steeler - this time it's Donte Moncrief, who's made his way onto many of my rosters as the new No. 2 receiver in Pittsburgh. With JuJu Smith-Schuster transitioning to the top option, Moncrief has the inside track to start alongside him and help replace some of the 168 targets left behind by Antonio Brown.

Others to consider: DeSean Jackson, Damien Harris, Devin Singletary

Round 11

Picks: 11.05-11.08

Anthony Miller has been forgotten or discarded by many in the fantasy community in favor of more overt breakout candidates, even though he's coming off a rookie season where he scored seven touchdowns while playing through a shoulder injury suffered in Week 3.

An ankle sprain has sidelined him for the preseason, which will keep his ADP in check until he reminds everyone what he's capable of when the real games begin in September. Miller's a WR3/flex going off the board as the WR52.

Others to consider: Matt Breida, Lamar Jackson, John Brown

Round 12

Picks: 12.05-12.08

Alexander Mattison won't make it to the 12th round in many drafts, but his ADP places him right in that range.

Mike Boone has flashed game-breaking skills in each of the last two preseasons, but if the Vikings believed in him as the backup, they wouldn't have invested a third-round pick in Mattison during April's draft.

As we mentioned when we drafted Cook in the second round, Minnesota has built their new approach around the run game, and if Cook misses time for the third straight year, Mattison will vault into the weekly RB2 conversation.

Others to consider: Justice Hill, Michael Gallup, Justin Jackson

Later rounds

The truth is, after the 10th round or so, 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, with your sights set on running backs and receivers. Quarterbacks or tight ends can always be streamed or acquired by trading a bench player. Save your final two picks for a defense and a kicker.

Players to consider: Darwin Thompson, Tony Pollard, Giovani Bernard, Chase Edmonds, Malcolm Brown, Kenny Stills, Tre'Quan Smith, Parris Campbell

Draft Position

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