In the competitive world of NFL fantasy drafting, mastering Underdog Best Ball draft strategy and effective stacking is essential for success in 2024. This guide provides you with expert insights and strategies to build a winning team. Let’s dive into the tactics that can help you dominate your league!
Strategy #1: Avoid Early Quarterbacks
Trend: This year, there is outstanding value at the quarterback position with Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow sliding down 2-3 rounds each. Only Josh Allen and MVP Lamar Jackson have improved their fantasy ADP from last season.
Strategy: Avoid taking quarterbacks in the first eight rounds entirely. It is more valuable to target a late QB1 like Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa or even Matt Stafford and use the first half of the draft to gain an advantage at RB or WR. Building on a late QB1, we can add Derek Carr, Will Levis or Bryce Young; quarterbacks we know will start and finish the year on their current teams. With the final quarterback selection, go back-to-back with the previous guys or add on Russell Wilson or even Kenny Pickett (who has been announced as the first option next year). This allows you pick up late value on quarterbacks that have been skipped over and to take advantage of a cheap 3-QB build that will be good enough to compete at the position. Wasting early picks on quarterbacks is risky, and the extra 10 points you might get every other week from Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts running in a touchdown or two isn’t going to make up for losing out on a top-15 WR or top-10 RB.
Targets: Joe Burrow (72.0), Trevor Lawrence (110.7), Matt Stafford (129.7), Kirk Cousins (135.3), Drake Maye (145.1), Derek Carr (182.6), Will Levis (186.5), Russell Wilson (203.2).
Strategy #2: Stack WR Duos
Trend: This year, there is a plethora of solid veteran value picks available. Early value options include Cooper Kupp (41.0), Keenan Allen (36.9), Amari Cooper (46.2) and Diontae Johnson (103.2). Avoid the current trend: trying to find consistency through efficient offenses, such as Rashee Rice/Mahomes, Deebo Samuel/Aiyuk/Purdy or Reed/Watson/Love. The popularity of these stacks frees up the board and allows you to avoid spending draft capital on players with too much fantasy competition.
Strategy: Our top underdog best ball draft strategy is taking Amon-Ra St. Brown (6.9) Sam LaPorta (27.0) whenever available. Otherwise, look to pair Courtland Sutton (100.0) and Jerry Jeudy (128.4) or Diontae Johnson (103.2) and George Pickens (63.0). These pairs should produce streaky but effective results, with one or the other having a solid performance every week. Another option is to pair Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Justin Herbert considering their record-low fantasy value. Also, avoid the Nico Collins/Tank Dell stack; it forces you to put all of your eggs in one basket and take CJ Stroud too high.
Targets: Pair late WR1s and WR2s with a second-half quarterback. Another easy late-round target stack could be Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Derek Carr and AT Perry.
Strategy #3: Target Mid Range Running Backs
Trend: Drafting running backs early almost NEVER works in fantasy football. It is easy to see the volatility of the position when you consider that Devon Achane is this years RB7 with an ADP of 17.2. Drafters who took Rhamondre Stevenson, Josh Jacobs, Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers, Dameon Pierce and especially Austin Ekeler got very little value in return for their investment. Even Breece Hall at RB2 at 6.0 feels like a risk. However, Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry or Aaron Jones at pick 60 and later seems like solid value, and you can even take a cheap risk on Austin Ekeler or Tony Pollard rebounding at pick 75 if you want to.
Strategy: I will still take McCaffrey at 1.1 every time, and you should too. He fights through injury and puts up excellent production every year so there is no reason to risk it. However, I would be very careful about drafting a running back earlier than 50; I see no reason to invest heavily in Gibbs with the competition of David Montgomery, who was excellent last year. Bijan Robinson and Breece Hall are projected to do well, but consider the overall effectiveness of their offenses before using your first-round selection on a running back. I like Kyren Williams and Jonathan Taylor this year, but be wearing of taking both back-to-back and missing out on a WR1.
Our underdog best ball draft strategy is choosing between two solid receivers and a LaPorta/Kelce/McBride early, then go back-to-back-to-back on running backs in rounds 5-7, scooping up consistent starters. Avoid Nick Chubb (outstanding player, but you will get half a year of production at most due to his injury). I also suggest adding a James Conner, Najee Harris or Raheem Mostert as your RB3. Fill out the running back position with a D’Andre Swift, Chuba Hubbard or Jaylen Warren. After picking up three top-25 backs you can slow down until the back quarter of the draft. To cap off the position, considering adding a couple rookies or Gus Edwards/Tyler Allgeier/Rico Dowdle (guys that could step up into a starting role due to injury).
Targets: Christian McCaffrey, Kyren Williams, Kenneth Walker III, Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Tyjae Spears, David Montgomery, Austin Ekeler, James Conner, Najee Harris, Raheem Mostert. A few of them will flunk out in 2024, but the implied value of these players in rounds 5-7 is better than taking similar talents in rounds 3-4.
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