Back by popular demand (and by popular demand I mean one guy asking about it on Twitter), it’s the snake draft flow chart! It’s a little late this year because I’ve been more interested in NHL DFS lately, but there’s a short NHL slate not worth playing today, so I whipped up a flow chart for you to use in your snake drafts this weekend.

This chart is geared toward 12-team snake drafts for standard 5×5 mixed leagues. I’m assuming the following roster construction: C 1B 2B 3B SS CI MI OF OF OF OF OF UTIL SP SP SP SP SP SP RP RP RP BN BN BN. It’ll probably get the job done for 10- or 14-team leagues as well. But if you’re playing in an AL- or NL-only league, a league with non-standard categories, or some sort of keeper league, I’d recommend you find another draft tool.

Use the chart above with the round-by-round lists below to guide you through your draft. Just don’t forget that if players listed in earlier rounds are still available in later rounds, take them over guys listed in the round you’re currently drafting. In other words, if I list a guy as someone you can take in the fifth round and he’s still there in the sixth, take him over a different guy at his position listed in round six.

The chart is influenced by my own personal preference to wait on pitching, both starters and relievers, but I’ve tried not to go whole hog with that strategy so that you have some flexibility to follow your own preferences. I have, however, generally stuck to my strategy of punting shortstop and catcher. You should only select one player from those positions, and you should only take one third baseman. Your corner infield spot should be filled by a first baseman, your middle infield spot should be filled by a second baseman, and your utility spot should be filled by an outfielder.

Feel free to ask questions or post your post-draft roster in the comments for analysis. And you can always feel free to hit me up on Twitter @TheRealTAL.

Round 1

After completing the chart, I realized that going first base or outfield is really the biggest decision of the draft. And to some degree it’s not a decision you’ll have to make; your draft position will largely make the decision for you. If you’re picking in the back half of the first round, the odds are good that the three outfielders I like in the first round, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and Giancarlo Stanton, will already be gone. So you should be left with first base options like Anthony Rizzo or Miguel Cabrera. If you’re picking in the top half of the round, you may have the choice between one of those outfielders or Paul Goldschmidt. I’d prefer an outfielder.

Round 2

1B: Chris Davis, Jose Abreu

OF: Mookie Betts, A.J. Pollock

Round 3

1B: Joey Votto

OF: Starling Marte, Justin Upton

SP: Corey Kluber, Jose Fernandez

Round 4

OF: J.D. Martinez, Yoenis Cespedes

SP: Stephen Strasburg, Carlos Carrasco, Noah Syndergaard, Chris Archer

Round 5

OF: Ryan Braun, Adam Jones

Round 6

OF: Jason Heyward, Carlos Gonzalez

Round 7-8

2B: Rougned Odor, Ian Kinsler, Jason Kipnis

3B: Adrian Beltre, Kyle Seager, Maikel Franco

Round 9

SP: Francisco Liriano, Masahiro Tanaka, Justin Verlander

Round 10

OF: David Peralta, Christian Yelich, Hanley Ramirez

Round 11

RP: Jonathan Papelbon, Huston Street, Francisco Rodriguez

Round 12

2B: Daniel Murphy, Ben Zobrist, Dustin Pedroia

SP: Michael Pineda, James Shields, Hisashi Iwakuma

Round 13

1B: Lucas Duda, Carlos Santana

OF: Jay Bruce, Kevin Pillar, Mark Trumbo

Round 14

SP: Taijuan Walker, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly

RP: Glen Perkins, Brad Ziegler, Andrew Miller

Round 15

RP: same as Round 14

OF: Gerardo Parra, Josh Reddick, Delino Deshields

Round 16

2B: Josh Harrison, Neil Walker, Brett Lawrie

OF: Khris Davis, Alex Gordon, Michael Conforto

Round 17

SP: Wei-Yen Chen, Mike Fiers, Kyle Hendricks, Jason Hammel

Round 18

SP: Clay Buchholz, Ian Kennedy, Anibal Sanchez

Round 19

SS: Alcides Escobar, Marcus Semien, Ketel Marte

Round 20

C: J.T. Realmuto, Francisco Cervelli, Nick Hundley, Wilson Ramos

Round 21

SP: Kevin Gausman, Aaron Nola, Jimmy Nelson

Round 22

RP: Will Smith, Jason Grilli

Rounds 23-25

Feel free to complete your roster however you’d prefer. I’d recommend you add another starter, but outside of that it’s up to you. If you feel like you’re weak at a position, feel free to take a backup. If you’ll have DL spots available to you, feel free to stash and injured guy. And if you’d like to stash a prospect that may not be in the minors too long, go right ahead.