Depending on whatever (hopefully: wildly creative, outlandish, and raucous) method by which you determine your league’s snake draft order this year, you might find yourself stuck with the final pick.
And, for a second there, you might be feeling pretty sandbagged. After all, most of the league’s brightest and headline-grabbing skill-players (picture here the way the camera lights reflect off Justin Jefferson’s grill) are likely getting swept off the board before the ticker gets to you.
You might wonder to yourself: is there even a sure thing, here, at the turn?
I’m here to tell you that, this year, the turn is as desirable as ever. Let the jeers of your league-mates flow over you like so much water on rock. Cast your anxieties aside.
There are, indeed, championships to be had from this draft slot.
First, Let’s Operationally Define “The Turn”
With regards to Fantasy drafts, the turn simply refers to the final spot in the draft order for standard snake drafts. For example: if you’re in a 12-team league, and you’re picking 1.12, you will also be picking 2.01, as snake drafts reverse their order entirely in alternate rounds. Same goes for a 10-team league—if you’re picking from the 1.10 slot, you’ll also be picking at the 2.01.
No matter what size the league, the “turn” refers to the consecutive picks you’ll be making each time you’re up to draft: the end of the current round, and the beginning of the next.
2024 Strategy for The Turn
This year, for my hometown legacy league (s/o to The League of Ordinary Dirtbags), which is 12-team PPR, standard roster construction, I chose the turn. I elected to take the 12th slot over slots like the second, fourth, fifth, eighth, etc. I think it’s potentially the best position in this year’s draft.
Here’s how the earlier rounds of my draft shook out. I’ll subsequently explain my strategy in both positional and player-specific terms:
- 1.12 – Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
- 2.01 – Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
- 3.12 – Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (?)
- 4.01 – Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
- 5.12 – Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
- 6.01 – James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Let’s pause. Six rounds in, and I’m thrilled with my skill positions. Look at this! A hangar and a stable! This is what I’d recommend you do, as well: use your first turn on pass-catching RBs like Gibbs and Williams, who will still be on the board. As of this writing, Gibbs’s hamstring injury seems to be a non-issue re. his regular season playing time, so he’s still a fine choice, here.
Then, use your third and fourth picks on receivers on whom you’re high at this value. There should be a veritable treasure trove of them from which to choose. I went Aiyuk and Kupp, but you should also see guys like DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Deebo Samuel, and Malik Nabers on the board. All of whom I like (in that order).
Quick aside: Don’t be afraid of the Rams early, guys! I know folks are a bit nervous about Kyren Williams, but we’re going to see a better Rams offense this year, now that the team knows it can be competitive and has a healthy Matthew Stafford. It’s why I think (an also healthy!) Cooper Kupp falling to the fourth round is almost criminal. I am a little bit nervous about taking Puka at his current ADP, so best to target Williams.
The Crucial Turn
The 5.12 and 6.01 turn is where I really want to direct your attention. I had gone into this draft committed, like many of you might be, to holding out until later rounds for my quarterback and tight end. But there is some really great value at that position at this turn. You’ll find guys like Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, George Kittle, Evan Engram, Jake Ferguson, and Jordan Love still hanging around. You might get lucky and see C.J. Stroud drop to you.
If you want to pivot mid-draft and round out your starters, this round five/round six turn is when I’d urge you to make the decision and pull the trigger. I’d target Murray and Engram, personally, as I think both are in positions to have excellent seasons.
Kyler Murray, for the record, is at +5000 odds currently to win League MVP on DraftKings Sportsbook. I sure think that’s worth a look.
Late-Round QBs and TEs at the Turn
Should you decide to stay the course and wait for your quarterback and tight end, I applaud your discipline. You can get Trevor Lawrence in the 12th/13th round, where his current ADP falls. Jayden Daniels was once a candidate for a late-round quarterback value, but his preseason performance has all but bludgeoned that into a thing of the past.
And, if you’re a real risk-taker, you could wait and take guys who are going undrafted but have undeniable potential value: Tua Tagovalioa, Jared Goff, and Matthew Stafford.
As for tight ends, it’s a goldmine in the late rounds. You can get Njoku in the 10th right now, which isn’t so bad. Even better? Waiting for guys like Pat Freiermuth and Cole Kmet in the 13th and 14th rounds.
Both guys have track records of being great possession receivers when utilized, and both have upgraded quarterback situations in 2024. They both might fall further down the pecking order with regards to targets than we’d prefer, but the ceiling is undeniable.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is thegreatdansby9) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
