Dimers earns a commission when you sign up with sportsbooks through our links, helping us deliver expert analysis and tools as part of our service.
Read How We Make Money
What is a snake draft in fantasy football?
Our guide to the serpentine drafting process
Many fantasy football enthusiasts often wonder what a Snake Draft is in fantasy football. This might be the strategy to take your fantasy football team to glory. It’s a standard draft format in fantasy football where the draft order is reversed. Why?
You have a shot at building a unique and competitive team that'll outscore your peers. Plus, you won't panic if someone scoops your top player before you do. So, what are the Snake draft rules, the right strategies, and the preparation you need to do beforehand? All the answers and more are in this customized snake draft guide.
What is a Snake Draft in Fantasy Football?
When playing fantasy football, you must know the type of draft you want to participate in. After all, it affects your draft strategy. The Snake Draft is one of the popular formats, where each fantasy team owner makes a pick, and the draft order is reversed in the following round. Check out our DraftKings review to learn further.
So, if you were the first to pick in the first round, you’re the last to pick in the next round, and so forth. The cycle continues until the drafting process is completed. As you understand what’s a Snake Draft in fantasy football, you’ll realize it’s possible to pick two players consecutively if you have the first and last draft positions.
Snake Draft versus Auction Draft
You can't ask what a Snake Draft is in fantasy football and not discuss Auction Drafts. Instead of waiting your turn to pick a player, you receive a budget to bid on the players you want. A player is nominated, fantasy owners start the bidding, you can check this out in our what is IR in fantasy football guide, and the highest bidder lands the player. Here’s a quick table summarizing the differences between a Snake Draft and an Auction Draft.
| Snake Draft | Auction Draft |
|---|---|
| Reverses draft order | Budget to bid on players |
| Each fantasy team owner has an equal chance to pick a player | The fantasy team owner with the highest bid gets the player |
| Popular draft format | Adds an extra level of excitement and strategy |
Snake Draft strategies
When unpacking what a Snake Draft is in NFL fantasy football, like we also stated in our FanDuel Fantasy review, the concept sounds simple enough to execute. It is, but you still require a methodical approach to make the best picks. Here are a few valuable pointers:
Snake Draft pros and cons
As you understand what the Snake Draft type is in fantasy football, you’ll notice there are always advantages and disadvantages tied to the format:
A fair shot at drafting a strong lineup
A Snake Draft is a fantasy football format that gives everyone a fair shot at picking high-value players. Yes, there's a chance you might miss out on high-value players if they are scooped up before it's your turn.
But with the format, you always have a chance to bounce back at a later stage when it’s your turn. Consider other factors like player injuries highlighted in our what is IR in fantasy football guide when making your picks. If used with the correct strategy, you can construct a strong team that tops the league.
Our highly esteemed bookies
2.
18+, Other T&Cs Apply
3.
18+, Other T&Cs Apply
4.
New Customers Play Free for Your Share of Millions in Prizes with First Deposit
USA Welcome
What is a Snake Draft in fantasy football FAQ
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Damien Souness as part of our fact-checking process.
More Articles
Underdog
Underdog Review
ParlayPlay
ParlayPlay Review
OwnersBox
OwnersBox Review
DraftKings Fantasy
DraftKings Fantasy Review
Sleeper
Sleeper Review
Underdog Promo
T&Cs apply
Must be 18+ (19+ in AL, NE; 19+ in CO for some games; 21+ in AZ, MA, and VA) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. Offer not valid in MD, MI,NY, OH, and PA. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; NY: Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369)
ParlayPlay Promo
T&Cs apply
OwnersBox Promo
T&Cs apply
DraftKings Fantasy Promo
18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Help is available for problem gambling. Call (888) 789-7777 or visit ccpg.org (CT). 18+ in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit req. 1 single-use $3 ticket rewarded. Ticket rewards are site credits valid for use on eligible DraftKings contests. Ticket rewards expire 14 days (336 hours) after being issued. Terms: www.draftkings.com/promotions. Ends 12/31/2025 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK.
Sleeper Promo
T&Cs apply
