Fantasy Football draft prep 2021: Drafting my best team from No. 4 overall in a PPR league

Now that Jameis Winston has been named the starter in New Orleans, the fourth pick may just be the most difficult in a full PPR league. In a vast majority of leagues, you should expect Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, and Alvin Kamara to now be the top three picks. And the manager with pick No. 4 has a tough decision to make. 

At running back, you’re essentially choosing between Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott probably has more PPR upside, but it’s hard to pick against what Henry has been the past two years. I wouldn’t blame someone for punting that choice and taking Davante Adams or even Travis Kelce, but I think that’s an uphill battle unless you plan on building a Chiefs or Packers stack and going Zero-RB. 

Me? I’m choosing Henry. But the decisions don’t get any easier after that.

Here’s my team from No. 4 overall

1.4 Derrick Henry, RB, TEN

2.9 David Montgomery, RB, CHI

3.4 Terry McLaurin, WR, WAS

4.9 Myles Gaskin, RB, MIA

5.4 Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL

6.9 Robby Anderson, WR, CAR

7.4 Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA

8.9 Marvin Jones, WR, DET

9.4 Michael Pittman, WR, IND

10.9 Sterling Shepard, WR, NYG

11.4 Tyler Higbee, TE, LAR

12.9 David Johnson, RB, HOU

13.4 Anthony Firkser, TE, TEN

14.9 T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND

15.4 Carlos Hyde, RB, JAC

It’s a rare PPR draft when I have just one wide receiver after my first five picks. But landing three of my top-18 running backs and my No. 2 quarterback makes me feel a little bit better about that. Both the Montgomery pick and the Gaskin pick came on the heels of a sniping from Jamey Eisenberg. He took Calvin Ridley right in front of me in Round 2 and Mark Andrews in Round 4.

I do like Terry McLaurin as a No.1 receiver, and as long as you have someone you feel comfortable with as a top-12 option it’s not that hard to find No. 2 and No. 3 receivers late in the draft. I’d suggest a good mix of floor receivers (Robby Anderson and Sterling Shepard) along with upside picks (Jaylen Waddle and Marvin Jones) if you go with this approach. 

The Robust-RB start with an early quarterback did mean I was stuck with the late tight end approach, which I don’t love. But Tyler Higbee and Anthony Firkser should both have an increased role with Gerald Everett and Jonnu Smith gone. Just make sure you wait until after Round 10 if you miss the top eight tight ends.