1.04 Draft Strategy: How to Draft from Pick 4 in 2024 Fantasy Football - Roto Street Journal (2024)

When drafting from the Pick 4 in 2024 fantasy football drafts, there are a lot of tough decisions to be made. With a pick toward the top-middle range of the draft, it’s very easy to fall into ADP traps and positional reaches. Instead, let’s get ourselves a good plan.

PRE-DRAFT PLAN: DID YOU HAVE A DRAFT STRATEGY FOR PICK 4?

With how the draft plays out from this spot, the WR position looks great at the start. This sets up well for some sort of Zero-RB strategy, whether you go a little conservative with that strategy like I did in my draft or go all-in and really wait on that position. I highly recommend starting with multiple WRs at the minimum.

Keep in mind, though, best player available is really the strategy everybody should always use. As I always say, Zig when they Zag. If great RBs fall to you early (and I’ll outline which ones those are as we go), it’s important to stop and think. If you commit too hard to one team layout, you miss out on the sliding players your league mates give you.

Without further ado, here’s how I tackled the Roto Street Journal 12-team draft. The format is half-PPR (1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, FLEX, K, DEF, 5 bench, IR).

READ MORE: “How to draft” from the…1|2|3| 4 |5|6|7|8| 9 |10|11|12pick

2024 RSJ Fantasy Football Draft Results

HOW TO DRAFT FROM PICK 4 IN 2024 FANTASY FOOTBALL

1.04: WR1, Justin Jefferson

Recommended Strategy: Star WR1

Other Great Picks: Tyreek Hill, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Ceedee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown

Thumbs Down Picks: Garret Wilson, Breece Hall

With Christian McCaffery going No. 1 overall, as he has been going in almost every league, the best RB is already off the board with a big drop-off until the next (Bijan Robinson or Breece Hall). In this range, there are 5 WRs that I see finishing all in the same range – Tyreek Hill, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Ceedee Lamb, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

As you can see from our best options, this sets us up well to go heavy on the WRs early. You’ll see that as the strategy plays out, but with how players are landing, it gives us a great opportunity to load up our WR room and grab RBs a little bit later.

Any one of these guys would be great for your team. At the No. 4 slot, two of them are going to be gone, likely Tyreek and Ceedee, according to the current ADP. You could argue that any of the other three wide receivers should be drafted here, but I went with Justin Jefferson.

This guy won Offensive Player of the Year two seasons ago and put up 1,000 yards despite only playing ten games last season. All of the talk about his quarterback situation… He plays in an offense where QB play doesn’t necessarily affect him as much as other guys. Kevin O’Connell will get him the ball, whether it’sSam Darnold,J.J. McCarthy, orPatrick Starthrowing it. Hell, he had a career game with Nick Mullens at QB. I’m going in on Jetts.

2.09: WR2, Brandon Aiyuk

Recommended Strategy: WR2 with heavy WR1 upside

Other Great Picks: Marvin Harrison Jr., Drake London, De’Von Achane, Chris Olave, Josh Allen

Thumbs Down Picks: Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Davante Adams

After taking a WR in the first round, it can be tempting to even it out with aN RB next. In this round, I really advise against that. The RBs that may be available, in my opinion, are… interesting. And not in a good way.

The RBs available in my draft with the highest ADP were Josh Jacobs, Isiah Pacheco, and Rachaad White. First of all, do not take Josh Jacobs. It’s a weird backfield, bad efficiency last season, and joining a backfield with a coach that is likely going to split the carries. This is too early for him.

The other two RBs are fine, but the WR options are just so much better. Even if some other guys slide to you, like Derrick Henry, Travis Etienne, or Saquon Barkley, I see a lot of downside with these guys. The only RB I would recommend taking is De’Von Achane if he falls. He drips in value in an elite offense with an aging Raheem Mostert.

I ended up taking Brandon Aiyuk. He continues to break out in a high-power offense that may have a lot of mouths to feed but also does a lot of feeding. Aiyuk has improved each year since he was drafted in 2020 in basically every statistical category, this year finishing with 1,342 yards and 7 touchdowns.There is a lot of rumors of him being traded, which could be a huge boost or a bad beat. The presence of so many other playmakers in the offense does draw attention away from him, but it definitely caps his production. If he goes to a team with a good QB, he could truly become a No.1 option on his next team.

This is important to note: Marvin Harrison Jr. went early in my draft, at the turn of the first and second round. He’s often going around 2.07 in other leagues. If you take a single thing away from this – if Marvin Harrison Jr. is available at your 2.09 pick… take him. While I didn’t have a real shot at him in our draft, he is the best college prospect I’ve ever seen. I believe he will have, at worst, an amazing rookie year.

3.04: WR3/FLEX, Jaylen Waddle

Recommended Strategy: WR2 with big upside; Star TE or QB

Other Great Picks: Nico Collins, Deebo Samuel, Sam LaPorta, Josh Allen

Thumbs Down Picks: Any RB, Travis Kelce

For our league format, we have three WRs in the starting lineup, and a FLX. Whether or not your league has two or three WRs, I still recommend taking another WR here. The third round is a bit dry for RBs – only one was drafted in all twelve picks of the third round here at RSJ.

So far in this draft, I’ve taken all the guys who play in high-powered offenses. I expect the Vikings, 49ers, and Dolphins will all be in the top half of the league in scoring, which is important to me for fantasy. I want guys with the most opportunity to put up points—it doesn’t matter how good you are as a player—if your team gets shut out, you likely can’t score very much in fantasy.

Across from Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle has a great opportunity to create for himself. Tyreek has a great gravity to him that allows Waddle open space to make plays. If Waddle is unavailable or not your cup of tea, other WRs in this ADP I generally like include Nico Collins and Deebo Samuel. I don’t love Malik Nabers purely because of Daniel Jones, but if you have confidence in him to conquer that, go right ahead. He is very talented. Mike Evans, AKA Mr. Consistent, is also a great pick here. While I don’t think he’ll explode to win you the league, he can easily finish above his ADP.

As I said, I wouldn’t pick an RB, but you don’t have to pick a WR. I’m all for Sam LaPorta here at TE, although I’m not quite as excited about an aging Travis Kelce. I believe LaPorta could give you an edge over other TEs, but I can’t say the same about Kelce over later-round options. If Josh Allen is still available, he is a great pick, as well as Jalen Hurts or possibly Lamar Jackson.

4.09: RB1, Alvin Kamara

Recommended Strategy: High Volume-Based RB

Other Great Picks: Joe Mixon, Malik Nabers, DeVonta Smith, DJ Moore, Zay Flowers, Tank Dell, Trey McBride

Thumbs Down Picks: Kenneth Walker, Mark Andrews

In the 4th round, I thought it was a good time to take my first RB. Despite the struggles of the Saints’ offense and a strange situation at QB, I don’t believe this changes anything for Alvin Kamara. He finished as RB5 in FPPG last season. If he can manage that again, and stay healthy for the games he missed, you could end up with a concrete RB1 option in the 4th round. He has a rare combination for an RB in this round, with a high floor with the volume he gets and a high ceiling with his historical success and big play opportunity.

If Kamara isn’t available or he isn’t what you like, Joe Mixon is another option that has similar potential. He should see great opportunity and production in his new, stacked offense. The Texans could really make some noise on that side of the ball, which will play to his benefit.

Kenneth Walker may also be available, but I’m not sold. While Walker may have gotten the majority of the rushes,Zach Charbonnetplayed a similar snap count, and I predict he’ll take some more rushes than he did last year. Even if he doesn’t cut into Walker’s carries, Charbonnet takes the majority of the snaps on pass plays — meaning there is little receiving upside for Walker. That’s reflected in his measly 29 catches on the year, with more than a third of those catches coming from two games he had less than 10 points. He’ll have to get almost all of his points on the ground.

If you’re playing in a more classic format with only two WRs starting and an FLX spot, your WRs are set for a while with three already in starting spots. But, if you have availability for another in your format like I do, DeVonta Smith, DJ Moore, or Zay Flowers are good picks in this range. Malik Nabers went a whole round earlier in our draft, but in a league more tight to ADP, he could very well be available and be a spectacular pick here instead.

Trey McBridecould be a nice TE to pick up, too, with his huge volume toward the end of the year. On the other side of TEs, Mark Andrews doesn’t stand out to me. With inconsistency in the last three yeas, its really starting to seem like his 2021 season was a fluke.

Although I didn’t take him with my strategy, Tank Dell could be a league-winner type. It’s risky drafting into an offense with Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins, but the upside is huge. If he can garner the 10+ targets per game he was before going down with injury, Tank Dell this late could be a gamechanger.

5.04: QB1, Patrick Mahomes

Recommended Strategy: Elite QB

Other Great Picks: CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson, George Pickens, Christian Kirk, Dalton Kincaid

Thumbs Down Picks: Keenan Allen, Aaron Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson

Although he may not finish as QB1, it’s always a great bet to think he will. He has the best odds in Vegas to lead the league in passing yards and touchdowns and to win MVP. He may have the single-highest floor of any player in the NFL, and with the addition of Xavier Worthy, he seems to be trying to bring back the explosive element that last year’s offense lacked.

I really considered going C.J. Stroud here as well. Patrick Mahomes is the safer pick, but something about Stroud and that stacked offense makes me want in on the huge potential. If you have already selected Tank Dell, Nico Collins, or Stefon Diggs, this would be a great time to create a stack.

If you’re feeling risky, Anthony Richardson could also be in play here. He possesses a rushing upside similar to Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts that Mahomes and Stroud simply do not. Richardson could be a league-winning type of QB from this spot, but you won’t go wrong with the other two either.

If you instead want to wait on the QB position, there are plenty of guys available. George Pickens has the potential to really shine this year. Christian Kirk is a solid option as well (although I prefer Pickens), or Dalton Kincaid if you want a TE now.

Around this ADP is Keenan Allen, which I do not like here. This Bears offense has a lot of mouths to feed and has yet to show any evidence they’re going to be that good. I don’t know who Bears fans are paying to receive the hype they do each year – two years ago was supposed to be the breakout, then last year… Surprise, surprise, now this year is the year they break out. Even if their offense were to be successful, I see that coming more on the back of Romeo Odunze and D.J. Moore.

6.09: TE1, Evan Engram

Recommended Strategy: High-Volume TE; Sneaky WR2/RB1

Other Great Picks: Chris Godwin, Zamir White, Diontae Johnson

Thumbs Down Picks: Jordan Addison, Rashee Rice, Calvin Ridley, Najee Harris, Aaron Jones

I finally get my TE, and I’m very happy with it. This is a guy who could genuinely compete on a week-to-week basis with the big dogs, especially in a year where the TE position has less of a deficit from the top to the middle as it has in the recent past. He finished as TE2 last year and TE6 the year prior, making for steady production and trustworthiness. Engram only scored four touchdowns last year and still managed to perform. That’s because he had at least eight receptions in 10 of 17 games. The volume is top of the line, and with that many catches, more touchdowns are bound to come.

My three WR slots are looking great, but if you wavered from that strategy, Chris Godwin is spectacular here. He will likely make his return to mainly a slot role in a big way this year and I think he is going to perform far above this draft position. I really like Zamir White here as well, who has reportedly earned the starting role for the Raiders by a big margin.

I would not want to get myself involved with Rashee Rice or Jordan Addison. Personally, I don’t think its worth the risk with the off-the-field issues. Even if I’m wrong and they get through the season just fine, I still prefer the latter two players over them. Calvin Ridley has an ADP near here as well, and I’d avoid him and the WR-cemetary he plays for too.

You may see Najee Harris around this area as well, which I prefer to avoid. His inefficiency compared to Jaylen Warren is concerning. James Conner is not too bad but I would pick Zamir White before I went with him, just because of his often-case of touchdown dependency.

7.04: RB2, Jonathan Brooks

Recommended Strategy: High Potential RB2

Other Great Picks: Trey Benson, Tony Pollard, Raheem Mostert, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown

Thumbs Down Picks: DeAndre Hopkins

Jonathan Brooks enters into an offense that was abysmal last season. Although he’s coming off an injury, this Panthers team will definitely give him his fair shake to take the majority of the carries. After all, he was the first RB selected in the NFL draft, and the Panthers wouldn’t use that kind of draft capital on a player they don’t want to use. He has major value in the receiving game, even if Chuba Hubbard manages to keep many carries. With how this team is built, they will need a pure playmaker like him to make a difference.

Trey Benson, Tony Pollard, and Raheem Mostert all have their own unique upside, but go this late because of some limitations. Trey Benson has an extensive injury history and will start behind James Conner, but his explosiveness could make for huge potential. We have seen what Tony Pollard could be two years ago in a great way… then we saw what he could be like in a bad way. He is given a fresh start, though, and it’s fair game to predict he could return to that as a very talented player. Raheem Mostert led the league in touchdowns just last season and will retain a role in a massively explosive offense.

Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown both drip with that Tyreek Hill-type upside with Patrick Mahomes. Of course, neither of them is Tyreek Hill, but when you see a speedy player combined with a QB of that prowess, it’s hard to resist. These guys could really explode.

There’s a lot you could do here, but do not take Zack Moss. I would heavily advise against that, given the battle that is taking place between him and Chase Brown. Avoiding that situation altogether is a smart choice unless you can get one of them far below their ADP.

Late-Round Draft Strategy for Pick 4

At this point in the draft, it’s very important to start focusing more on the best player available rather than filling certain positions. You have your starting lineup set at the positions that matter (more on that later), so it’s time to stab at guys that could possibly make a huge difference on your team. Remember, you are not drafting to not lose the league, you are drafting to win the league! No need to be safe here–get that potential!

8.09: WR4. Keon Colemanis a rookie who could play a huge role in this Bills offense. Without Stefon Diggs, this team really lacks the guy at WR, and that could be Keon Coleman. He has an alpha-WR build, with an impressive 6-foot, 3-inch frame at 213 lbs. He has a great personality and he’s an entertainer to fans and his team alike. Although anecdotal, guys like that seem to succeed.Other players I like here include Jaylen Warren, Rome Odunze, and Jayden Daniels.

9.04: RB3, Devin Singletarymight not have a history of being a fantastic fantasy RB; he finally plays on a teamthat seems to have no alternatives. The Giants really have nobody they have spent any draft capital, time, or money on apart from signing Devin Singletary. With the departure of Saquon Barkley (247 carries and 60 targets in 14 games last season), there is a big hole to be filled. I also love Javonte Williams here who could be a gamechanger from this draft spot. I give consideration to Jameson Williams in carving out a role as well.

10.09: TE2, T.J. Hockenson was a strategic pick. I get it, on the surface, picking a TE when I already have a great one, when T.J. won’t even be back until midseason, seems foolish. But there are three reasons behind this: First, he could be a great push to the playoffs at the end of the season. Second, TJ (or Evan Engram, depending on his performance) could actually be solid trade bait near the deadline for somebody struggling at that spot. Third, PUP strategies – I can move him right to the IR slot our league uses and pick up somebody at the end of the draft. Spoiler alert: I picked up A.J. Dillon at the end of the draft without having to drop anybody, so this pick is essentially a 2-in-1. Curtis Samuel would also be a great option here, as he chases a big role on a Bills team without many playmakers for Josh Allen. Dontayvion Wicks could also take a big step in a Green Bay offense with no real hierarchy set at the WR position.

11.04: RB4, Austin Ekeler may be past his prime, but that doesn’t mean he has nothing left. I’d usually argue with an old player like him, but even a guy like Adrian Peterson got it done in Washington far after his prime was over. I think he’ll be utilized a lot in the passing game while some of the rushing workload is taken off byBrian Robinson Jr., who considered his health last year and could be very beneficial to him getting back a step in the receiving game this year.

12.09: WR5, Adam Thielen is just like Ekeler–past his prime, for sure. But he was a safe option for Bryce Young last year, and I’m hoping he retains some of that this season. He reportedly will remain the Panthers slot WR this year, and with improvements in QB play, he could still be a viable option. I don’t mind Ja’Lynn Polk here either to come out of a weak WR room.

13.04: WR6, Darnell Mooney finally gets a real QB in Kirk Cousins. His deep threat ability, next to the skill of Drake London, should prove very beneficial for his game. I believe Kirk Cousins will run a very solid passing offense here in Atlanta, so grabbing a likely WR2 on that team could end up being a great selection. Ty Chandleralso has great potential, especially behind an agingAaron Jones,and could see time as a handcuff or just splitting carries. Jaleel McLaughlin is a solid pick as well, although I believe he will be more concretely in the handcuff realm.

14.09: TE3/QB2, Taysom Hill is another strategic pick. In our league on Sleeper, he functions as both a TE and a QB. How neat! This could come in handy if Taysom plays QB at any time; otherwise, he may not be too useful. However, the value he has playing the quarterback position in the real NFL game, as well as playing TE for me, would be a huge advantage. Isaac Guerendo is also a great pick here as a handcuff instead, as he may claim the 49ers backup role all to himself.

15.04: QB2, Kirk Cousins shocks me that he went this late. He has been a top-half-of-the-league QB every season he’s played as a starter, including last year, where he was on pace for 5,000 passing yards. I would trust him to step in on Mahomes bye week or if Mahomes misses time with injury. For more information on why I did not take a Kicker or a Defense here or the next pick, that will be in my post draft notes.

16.09: WR7, Zay Jones is an enticing asset. He is available this late, yet is battling for the WR2 spot on a team with a really solid QB in Kyler Murray. He could end up a good piece to have at the FLX spot or in case of injury.

POST-DRAFT NOTES

You’re going to notice I did not take a Kicker or a Defense at the end of my draft. This was intentional – when you draft early enough, you don’t know how injuries of your skill players will play out, or starters, or any other news.

It’s important for me to load up on the most talent I can to counteract these changes before they occur. Besides, Kicker and Defense are a position I’m going to stream based on matchup throughout the season anyway. I am more concerned about losing a player to injury without a great backup than I am getting one of these rather unnecessary and oftentimes luck-based positions.

IF I COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE ONE THING

I liked my strategy and game plan throughout the draft. I’m playing with a lot of knowledgeable fantasy footballers, so I needed to be risky in order to have a run at the championship. I have mixed feelings about a lot of my picks, but I can always chalk it up to risk-taking and feel better about it.

That said, T.J. Hockenson could have been replaced with a better option. I did not have full faith in Evan Engram until after the draft; I don’t think he needs a high-level backup. If he returns before the playoffs and is the player we knew last season, this could be a great pick, but I ultimately missed out on Curtis Samuel, Jaylen Wright, and Dontayvion Wicks, all of which I liked.

There have been some reports of Justin Jefferson being pretty worried about his calf injury. He has been playing it very safe this offseason, which is good, but I am concerned about any mental block regarding that. I could have taken CeeDee Lamb, but had a feeling about Jefferson instead. They should finish similarly anyway, but including QB play, Ceedee might have been the safer pick.

WATCH LIST:

My biggest watch for my roster will be the timetable to return for T.J. Hockenson and Jonathan Brooks. I’ll be watching their backups closely to see how they perform and decide whether it’s going to be predictive of my players performance, or if it means less playing time due to the success of their backup.

Here are players to keep an eye on to pick up before or during the season:

RB:

• Elijah Mitchell and Isaac Guerendo: Can either lock down the backup position to Christian McCaffery and be a valuable handcuff?
• Justice Hill: How much of Derrick Henry’s carries will he take, and how is his competition Keaton Mitchell’s recovery going?
• Deuce Vaughn: Is he really going to play some slot receiver?

WR:

• Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch: Will either end up being a more valuable option in the Cardinals’ offense than my prediction, Zay Jones?
• Andrei Iosivas: Is he really making a move for the WR3 position in Cincinnati?
• Javon Baker: How does he look among a crowded, extremely mid-level WR room?

FINAL TEAM THOUGHTS

There are infinite ways to go about your fantasy football draft. Going from the No. 4 spot sets up very well for WRs early, RBs a little later, and the best player available in the middle to late rounds. I’ve listed a lot of players around each pick, as well as who I selected – some may be available, some may not. Either way, there is an option for everybody’s taste.

Remember, the best way to be is different. You don’t take the highway when you see traffic jams! The same thing applies to fantasy football drafts. The path of the best available players will be where fewer teams are focused. Study up, and good luck! Happy drafting!