Exactly How To Draft From A Middle Slot

Amon-Ra St. Brown is selected as the starting wide receiver in an alternative draft strategy.

Amon-Ra St. Brown is definitely starting in week one for this middle-slot draft strategy.

Selected as the first wide receiver in an alternative draft strategy from the middle slot, anchoring a heavy wide receiver start; definitely starting in week one as part of the wide receiver core in this draft strategy.

Antonio Gibson is mentioned as a potential alternative running back option available in middle-slot drafts instead of Derrick Henry.

Bijan Robinson is kept for breakout potential despite potentially not starting week one, indicating confidence in his upside.

Breece Hall does not have the same ceiling as Derrick Henry in the mid-second round.

Brevin Jordan was selected as a round five running back dart in a previous draft strategy.

Brock Bowers is selected as a tight end option with potential to be a top 35 pass catcher.

Brock Bowers is described as super important for fantasy, but the analyst notes that avoiding a second or third-round tight end pick improves overall starting lineup strength.

Second-round tight end selection identified as one of the key fantasy football stories of the season. Mattek loves Bowers and considers him super important for fantasy, but intentionally avoided him in an alternative draft strategy because spending a second or third round pick on a tight end weakens the overall starting lineup; skipping premium tight ends allows for stronger wide receiver and running back depth.

Author believes Brock Bowers will be 'one of the stories of the fantasy football season,' indicating strong breakout potential and upside.

Brock Purdy is selected as the starting quarterback in the week one lineup.

Quarterback selection chosen for stacking purposes with 49ers receivers; selected after George Kittle was unavailable in draft.

Selected as the quarterback in the draft, with author noting he likes stacking with Ricky Pearsall or George Kittle.

Calvin Ridley is selected as a safer wide receiver option in the middle-round draft strategy, providing stability compared to multiple rookie receivers.

Selected as a safer wide receiver option in the draft to balance two rookie wide receiver picks already made; chosen over Jerry Jeudy to avoid stacking two Browns wide receivers on the same fantasy team, indicating a portfolio-management concern rather than a standalone positive evaluation.

Cam Akers is mentioned as a potential alternative running back option available in middle-slot drafts instead of Derrick Henry.

Chase Edmonds is mentioned as a potential alternative running back option available in middle-slot drafts instead of Derrick Henry.

Christian McCaffrey is selected as the starting running back in the week one lineup.

Averaged 8.16 fantasy points per game in games he did not leave injured last year, which would have ranked number two in fantasy football behind only Josh Allen. Selected as a first-round pick from the middle slot (picks 5-8) to ensure access to preferred wide receivers in rounds 2-3 and maintain flexibility in later rounds.

Selected as the anchor pick from a middle draft slot (5-8), indicating strong confidence in his value and production at that position.

Deebo Samuel is expected to sign with the Raiders and has many opportunities to impact fantasy football this year.

Wide receiver dart pick projected to sign with the Raiders; carries many opportunities to impact fantasy football this year; repeated selection target across drafts per Mattek Fantasy Football.

Author believes Deebo Samuel will likely sign with the Raiders and has many opportunities to impact fantasy football this year.

The Cleveland Browns are very pleased with Denzel Boston and reportedly would have considered taking him in the first round if necessary, indicating strong organizational confidence.

Rookie wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns selected as a draft target in middle-slot strategy. The Athletic reported that the Browns have been pleased with Boston, with the team indicating they may have even taken him in the first round if absolutely necessary, signaling strong internal evaluation and breakout potential.

Derrick Henry can pretty easily be a 15-16 fantasy points per game guy and has the same ceiling as other mid-second round running backs.

Derrick Henry is the lead running back in the week one starting lineup for this middle-slot draft strategy.

Can pretty easily be a 15–16 fantasy points per game guy; preferred over mid-second round alternatives like Breece Hall, Kyren Williams, and Javonte Williams due to higher ceiling; selected as the primary running back starter for week one in this draft strategy.

Garrett Wilson is selected in the fourth round as part of a heavy wide receiver start strategy.

Garrett Wilson is a flex option whose week one start will depend on matchups and rankings relative to other receivers.

Selected as part of a heavy wide receiver start strategy from the middle slot; part of a top-five that includes St. Brown, Derrick Henry, Tee Higgins, and Quintez Cephus. Mattek uses him as a flex option for week one, with the final decision between him and Mecole Hardman to be made based on matchups and rankings.

Considered as a stacking option with Brock Purdy before being selected by another team, indicating strong value.

Jahmyr Gibbs (Judkins) is part of the week one starting lineup in the middle-slot draft strategy.

Javonte Williams does not have the same ceiling as Derrick Henry in the mid-second round.

Running back dart pick selected in the draft; chosen as an alternative to Demond Clayborn who was selected in a previous draft iteration, representing a late-round speculative running back addition.

Jaylen Warren has both a quite safe floor and the potential to score 13-14 fantasy points per game.

Jaylen Warren is likely to be used in the flex position for week one in this middle-slot draft strategy.

Has both a quite safe floor and the possibility to score 13–14 fantasy points per game; preferred over Khalil Lemon in Mattek's draft strategy. Selected as the probable flex position starter for week one, providing depth at running back.

Wright is part of a critical group of fifth-round running backs (Judkins, Price, To'oto'o) where whoever breaks out will be important to winning fantasy football this year.

Jeremiah Love is mentioned as an alternative to Derrick Henry in the mid-second round.

Joe Burrow would have been happily taken if he made it to the pick, but he did not.

Selected as part of a highly variant wide receiver room (Nabers, Burden, Addison) that could produce three top 10-15 receivers or underperformers.

Jordan Mason is a real target in redraft leagues due to his safety profile, though the analyst prefers other options in Best Ball formats.

Ranked as running back four in Mattek's middle-slot draft strategy; positioned as a real target in redraft leagues due to safety and predictability of start/sit decisions. Less favored in Best Ball formats where the ability to know when to start him is less valuable.

Josh Allen led all fantasy football players with the highest fantasy points per game last year, setting the benchmark for quarterback production.

Josh Allen was number one in fantasy football last year with more fantasy points than Jackson Dart's 21.05 per game.

Wide receiver selection preferred over Jordan Addison in full PPR scoring format. Part of WR room construction strategy.

In full PPR scoring, author prefers Josh Downs to Jordan Addison, indicating strong value at the wide receiver position.

11th-round running back selection described as the perfect round 11 target; cuttable if needed but carries potential RB19 upside; late-round dart with breakout potential.

Keaton Mitchell is described as the perfect round 11 running back with potential to be running back 19 in fantasy football, offering upside with minimal downside.

Kenneth Walker is mentioned as a potential alternative running back option available in middle-slot drafts instead of Derrick Henry.

Kyle Pitts is selected as a tight end option, though he is not a huge redraft target and is considered fine.

Not a huge redraft target for Mattek; selected only when available wide receivers were not doing much of anything. Considered fine as a tight end option but not a priority.

Kyren Williams does not have the same ceiling as Derrick Henry in the mid-second round.

Fourth-round wide receiver selection projected to lead the Chicago Bears in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Selected to secure WR depth and enable fifth-round running back selection flexibility.

Luther Burden has the ability to lead the Chicago Bears in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, indicating a significant offensive role.

Malik Nabers' draft status depends on whether he starts on the physically unable to perform list, which will be clarified closer to draft day.

Third-round wide receiver pick embracing variance strategy; minimal perceived difference between round 2 and round 3 WR tiers; PUP list status to be confirmed closer to draft date per Mattek.

Mecole Hardman is a flex option whose week one start will depend on matchups and rankings relative to other receivers.

One of two wide receiver options for the flex position in week one, with the final decision between him and Garrett Wilson to be made based on matchups, rankings, and other contextual factors.

Quintez Cephus is selected as a round five running back dart in the heavy wide receiver start strategy.

Selected as part of a top-five wide receiver core in a heavy receiver draft strategy from the middle slot, alongside St. Brown, Derrick Henry, Tee Higgins, and Garrett Wilson. Mattek emphasizes the importance of round five running back selections in this approach.

Ramondre Stevenson is likely to start in week one, though Joshua Downs is also an option. He scored 12.7 fantasy points per game last year.

Ranked ahead of Tony Pollard on Mattek's flockfantasy.com rankings. Positioned as a potential week 1 starter over Bijan Robinson. Averaged 12.7 fantasy points per game last year, demonstrating solid flex value.

Author ranks Ramondre Stevenson ahead of Tony Pollard in his personal rankings on flockfantasy.com, and notes he could start over Bijan Robinson in week one.

Considered as a stacking option with Brock Purdy, indicating value and upside potential.

Tank Bigsby is the analyst's favorite running back in the NFL right now, positioned as an ideal handcuff with significant upside if Barkley misses time.

Handcuff running back selected as a dart pick in middle-slot draft strategy. Described as probably the speaker's favorite running back in the NFL right now due to being in a perfect situation if Saquon Barkley misses any time, offering strong upside at a late-round cost.

Tee Higgins is selected in the third round as part of a heavy wide receiver start strategy.

Tee Higgins is definitely starting in week one for this middle-slot draft strategy.

Selected in round three as part of a heavy wide receiver draft strategy from the middle slot; part of a top-five anchored by St. Brown, Derrick Henry, Garrett Wilson, and Quintez Cephus. Mattek indicates this approach prioritizes round five running back darts. Definitely starting in week one, signaling confidence in his matchup and role.

Travis Kelce scored 11.3 fantasy points per game last season and has a non-zero chance of being a top 35 pass catcher this year, especially when used in flex.

Characterized as a safe 9.5–10 fantasy points per game option. Formerly a first-round fantasy asset but now a reliable mid-tier tight end producer. Averaged 11.3 fantasy points per game last season, demonstrating flex value potential when used outside the tight end slot.

Travis Kelce is described as a very safe 9.5-10 fantasy points per game option, providing reliable production despite no longer being a first-round pick.

Benson is part of a critical group of fifth-round running backs (Judkins, Price, To'oto'o) where whoever breaks out will be important to winning fantasy football this year.

Tucker Kraft is not preferred over Khalil Lemon in the draft strategy.