Optimal Position Allocation for Drafters Best Ball

In best ball, simply picking the right players is not a realistic strategy. We also need to consider the implications of the no-transaction format.

A big part of that is roster construction. In other words, how many players at each position should we draft? It’s a simple question with a complicated answer for a couple of reasons.

First, our decisions should be dynamic to our positional strength — a function of how we use our early draft capital. If our QB1 is Jalen Hurts, he’s very likely to be the quarterback who counts in our lineup an overwhelming majority of weeks. In that scenario, selecting just two QBs (with different bye weeks, of course) is correct. But if the first QB we draft is in the Tua Tagovailoa/Jared Goff range — players with no rushing juice who are being treated as fringe top-12 options — then taking three makes sense.

Second, we need to account for positional volatility. The weekly range of outcomes at wide receiver is wider (no pun intended) than at running back, tight end, and quarterback. And much like DraftKings, Drafters requires us to start three receivers with an option for a fourth via FLEX. Thus wide receivers will be our most-rostered position given their demand and Drafters’ full-PPR structure (more on that below).

Finally, we need to consider payout implications. Drafters is unique relative to any other site in that there are no best ball playoffs — whichever team scores the most cumulative points through Week 17 wins the grand prize. This structure changes our approach in a variety of ways compared to other sites:

• Correlation is arguably most important in this type of format to capitalize on an entire offense’s success throughout the regular season.
• Overlapping bye weeks is extremely detrimental at the onesie spots (QB, TE) since accumulating every point throughout the year is far more important than uniqueness.
• We have downgraded a handful of rookies and injured players in our rankings and tiers because, again, every point counts. Late-season surges — typically seen from rookie wideouts and running backs — are still very valuable to lift your roster whenever it’s inevitably hit with the wear and tear of the NFL season. But finding deep sleepers who will provide multiple weeks of usability is significantly better than a one-off targeted for their Week 16 or 17 matchup.
• Upside should be weighed above all else.

Our full Drafters rankings and tiers specific to the format can be found here.

DRAFTERS FORMAT

* 12-team drafts, 20-player rosters
* Full-PPR, No D/ST or K
* Cumulative scoring through Week 17 with no playoffs
* Starting lineup: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX

QUARTERBACKS

Recommendation: Take two if selecting an elite option inside the first five rounds OR three if waiting.

Analysis: As the quarterback position evolves with more true dual-threats, we are seeing higher-ceiling players with rushing floors distance from their peers. That elite quarterback strategy backfired last year as the top of the hierarchy failed to separate at historically high third-/fourth-round ADPs (more on that here), but taking an upside option with early draft capital (and finishing with only two total QBs) is advised. It’s even viable to bully the room and have our QB position wrapped up with two players by the end of Round 9. If we wait longer than that, however, and/or don’t think our first QB has the upside to compete as a weekly top-five option, then we can take three total players. Taking four QBs remains detrimental and subtracts from the rest of our roster.