One of the saddest sights to see is being in a fantasy draft and watching your boy go down in flames because he was picking off of a whim, or off emotion, or just plain hate. Ken, I'm sorry buddy, but I'm talking to you. LOL.
Seriously, ever since college I've always had folks asking me how I was successful in fantasy football, how to play, and what not. First off, I'm not the greatest fantasy sports player (Yes, I said sports. I'll play fantasy football, basketball, baseball, hockey, college pick'em, hell...I've played in a golf league before. Ok I'm embarrassing myself.) in the world. However, I know how to be successful, and at the end of the day you don't want to be that dude in last place and everyone says, "WTF are they thinking?" (looking at you Ken)
Here are some tips for you to be successful, take it with a grain of salt.
#1. COME PROPERLY EQUIPPED TO THE DRAFT - There's a reason why in July and August you see the magazine racks fill up with fantasy football guides with up-to-date rankings, profiles, and depth charts. They will help you. Trust me, just because you know sports and you love football does not make you a dunce by any means, however it makes you prepared. Too many times I've done drafts with people and they just show up. No paperwork, no guide, nothing. Also, if you're doing a live draft, don't eat until AFTER the draft. Drinks are fine (in moderation, don't be slid and be the one try and draft Mike Vick in round 3) but no food. If you have the Internet, go to a sports site where you can quickly access depth charts, knowing that the Saints #2 WR is still on the board (Lance Moore) in the 9th round would be a great add to your team.
#2. THE BEST STRATEGY FOR THE FANTASY DRAFT IS THE SAME AS A REAL DRAFT - As in, take the best player available on the board, at least for the first 4-5 picks. For as long as I can remember, the best way to win your league was to draft RB-RB in the first two rounds. They got the ball the most, and were the biggest points producers. NOT SO FAST My Friend! (Lee Corso what up) In recent years, passing plays has increased, time-share backfields have increased, and have you seen defensive backs try to cover anyone anymore, its impossible. So, if you have a chance to get an elite WR in round 1, go for it. If you just look at running backs and wide receivers, only 10 of the top 30 scorers last year were wideouts. (source ESPN) If you have a chance early, there's about 10 guys I would target at WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings, Steve Smith (CAR), Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Anquan Boldin, and Terrell Owens. That's it, everyone else is similar after those 10. Do the math, there will be RBs still available later in the draft. Regardless, your first 5 picks need to be nothing but RBs, WRs, and a QB. That's it. #3. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER - This may be the biggest thing that can help you, but for the love of God, learn the rules of your league! How many positions are allowed? Is there a flex position? Find out if the league is a Points-Per-Reception (PPR) league, if so, there's a premium on RBs who catch the ball a ton (see Stephen Jackson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Brian Westbrook, Matt Forte, and Reggie Bush). Also, don't watch SportsCenter to get an idea of how good players are, actually watch some games. Did Beanie Wells break a long run or did he methodically get his 100 yards?
#4. NEVER SHOW WEAKNESS AT YOUR DRAFT - I don't know how many times I've been a draft and someone will be waiting on their pick, they've got a player in mind, and they're hoping the person in front of them doesn't pick their guy. Then that person doesn't pick 'em and they go, "WHHHHHHHHHEW" or "Praise God!" or some craziness like that. Be confident and be prepared, yes if you have the #4 pick and you really want Matt Forte and he gets picked at #3, just know that you've got Maurice Jones-Drew or Clinton Portis ready to go as an alternative pick.
Also, if you are at the back-end of the draft and you don't think you'll be able to get great positional choices at RB for example, don't be afraid to load up at QB or WR. Trust, if you have the 12th pick in Rd. 1 and the 13th pick in Rd. 2 (back-to-back) in the draft and all the RBs are gone, don't be afraid to say, "I'll take Drew Brees and Tom Brady" because someone will be willing to pay for an elite QB.
Oh yeah, for you beginners, go do a Mock Draft. Trust me, this all sounds good until your under the gun and got 90 seconds to make a pick. Go practice. #5. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, PICK A KICKER OR A DEFENSE UNTIL THE LAST TWO ROUNDS - Seriously, there will be some idiot that will pick a kicker in the 8th round, don't be this person. You will be either laughed at to no end mercilessly AND be talked about behind your back repeatedly. If you picked the #1 kicker last year (Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots) then he scored you 155 points. The #10 kicker last year (Matt Bryant, Bucs) scores 130 points. Over the course of a 16 game fantasy season, that's a 1.5 points/game difference. That's if you could predict the future! The same rule applies for defense. I don't care if you are a Ravens fan (looking at NFL Chick) do not take the Ravens defense in the 7th round. I will ridicule you to no end.
At the end of the day, fantasy football is just what it implies, its a chance to be a fantasy general manager of your own team. So have fun with it, talk sh*t, ridicule other owners, and generally try to make every inconceivable trade you can. Trust this, watching a game of football will never be the same.
ANY QUESTIONS? LET ME KNOW!
-Ed.
www.edthesportsfan.com
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Comments
13 Responses to "How To Dominate Your Draft & Win Your Fantasy Football League"LOL did you have to call me out like that! And I wasn't even gonna pick a D until the end of my draft, just so you know smarty!
Good tips though. Thanks
I was thinking about starting a league. No one around here wants to go in on a league with me. I don't think finding one online with a bunch of folks I don't know is a good idea. So it looks like the fantasy will have to wait until next year. I will start recruiting folks to play now though- or at least find someone with a league...
I know I would've made half of these mistakes so Thanks for the tips!
These are very good pointers. The only thing I might add is to check the free agent pool every Monday and Tuesday for new studs you might want to add. Those who picked up Pierre Thomas and Eddie Royal last year were sitting pretty.
The draft is not the end. It's the beginning.
JAG
ETSF Fantasy Football
2nd Place - 2008
Ed.... How do I say this in the nicest way possible... umm... You stink. Last year, I murdered YOU AND KENNY in Fantasy football. AFter the draft, you bragged about how nice your squad was and got destroyed. Kenny bragged of how Carson Palmer was going to be a BEAST and ended up putting him on the bench half way through the season. HA!
All of your other info was useful though. Everything about the RB's and WR's were golden. Anyways, I just had to stop by and say waddup. Shouts out to that boy JAG for doing quite well last year. This year is MY year... CHEA!!!
Let's get something straight, Mr. Concepts. I ain't no boy. I'm old enough to be your Daddy. In fact, I would have been your daddy if yo mama had change for a dollar.
;-)
Just a little preseason smack talk. Let's get it on!!
JAG
Jag - That is actually MY DAUGHTER that you are holding in your profile pic. It is actually trickin' if you got it so be sure to give her back to her mother so we can enjoy some family time R. Kelly.
Since I was winner of the ETSF Fantasy Football league last year (and since Ed is not allowing me to defend my title), I'm gonna let you know how I won last year.
The draft is important but only for your starters really. I think I cut almost everyone of my bench players within the first couple weeks and picked up Steve Slaton, Chris Johnson, Eddie Royal, etc off waivers. So I agree with Jag to check out the waiver wire. Hell I used to claim players during the game when I saw them doing well. Chances are most people aren't going to put a claim in until the next day when they see who did well and who didnt. timing is everything with waiver wire pickups.
I would definitely stay away from injury prone players in the first couple rounds. Football is a tough sport and you can never predict injuries, but you have a better chance to keep a healthy team if you don't draft injury prone players. You just reduce the risk basically.
I know everyone says draft a RB early on, but I think it's important to have a Top QB also. I would definitely spend a 2nd round pick on Brees or Brady and I also would make sure I have a solid backup. Someone like Matt Ryan this year could be a great backup. You want a consistent QB, someone who's going to give you numbers every week regardless of the opponent. I would even go after Brady or Brees in the first round depending on the scoring system if i wasnt comfortable drafting any of the RBs left.
I honestly think you can get away with waiting til the middle rounds to draft WR's. I would make sure I get a good RB (or two) and QB before I look at WR. You can find 3 generic WR's who can get you 1,000 yards and 6-8 TDs and that will be good enough to win. Plus, there's always WR on the waiver wire. Last year I think I had Santana Moss, Chris Chambers, Donnie Avery, Davone Bess, Donald Driver, etc. at WR. Nothing special but they gave me consistent points. If it isn't Randy Moss, Fitzgerald, or Andre/Calvin Johnson I would probably wait on WR until the 4th round.
On defense, I would definitely look at the schedule. I keyed in on Tennessee's defense last year because they had an easy schedule. I drafted them in all 3 of my leagues and I won 2 of them. (would have won the third but i started rivers of cassel in the semifinals) You could probably look at a defensive minded last place team from last year because they will play all the last place teams in that league plus their division and will probably be left over at the end of the draft. I was the last team to pick a defense in all my leagues and still got Tenn.
The key is consistency though. You really don't want anyone on your team that rushes for 200 yards one week then for 50 yards the next two weeks. Overall, your team will do good, but you could get screwed in the playoffs. I'd rather have a RB who rushes for 80-100 yards consistenly every week then one who has a monster game every once in a while. They might end up with the same amount of yards rushing but you'll end up with less wins. My main goal is to have guys at every position that will give me consistent points every week.
Of course if everyone in your league has the same strategy it makes things tougher but chances are they are stubborn and will stick to their own plan or value certain players differently
Damn Ed, why you hating on Antone. Let him start the dynasty
Mr. Concepts - I commend you for looking for your daughter via profile pics. However, let me save you some time and advise you to go back to the LaBrea Tar Pits and find that Megalon Chidae Ground Sloth that you hooked up with. Tell her you're sorry about running off in the morning and that you want to be an involved Dad. I'm sure all will be forgiven.
Good luck,
JAG
Antone should definitely be allowed back in. Nothing would be sweeter than avenging my ETSF Bowl defeat by winning a rematch!
JAG
I'm a big believer of drafting sleepers, or rookies who may have big potential. Waiver wire as previously mentioned is big too, you could find one or two players that can put you over the top.
Last year, i drafted both DeSean Jackson & Steve Slaton and was very pleased with their production!
Sometimes you have to roll the dice, like i did last weekend in my ESPN.com league draft when i nabbed Brady in the 2nd round.
Of course, i am banking on him to bounce back & have an injury-free season..otherwise i'll look like a complete idiot.
Antone has good advice. Valuable WR's can be obtained in later rounds. It's a numbers game. Most teams have one fantasy worthy RB but two WR's.
Like he said, the waiver wire is crucial. Even if you're doing well. In one league, I was coasting with an 8-0 record and figured, "why mess with a great team"? Then Romo and Gore got injured and my lack of depth was exposed.
Gotta keep hunting for those diamonds in the rough.
JAG
oh this is a very informative
post! i actually enjoyed reading
this - very well explained too. thanks, this is very useful!
Great information..
Samantha
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