Photo: gpointstudio / iStock / Getty Images
Over the next two weeks, millions of fantasy football leagues will be holding their drafts. Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy pro or a newbie in over your head, there are a few basic do’s and do n’ts that’ll help you to have the strongest and smartest draft possible.
DO
- It sounds obvious, but “having a plan” is mandatory. Know the rankings, “positional scarcity,” a blueprint for potential chaos, average draft positions, and any other relevant information to help you make the best decisions when your pick comes around
- Know the landscape of the league…get familiar with the offseason moves and injuries so you’re not drafting J. McCarthy because you think he’s going to be the quarterback savior of the Vikings…but you don’t know he’s out for the year
- Pay attention to touches and volume. Last season, “six of the top eight running backs in total fantasy points were also top eight in touches.” It’s also worth noting that the “Bills and Chargers each watched more than 250 targets depart this offseason”
- Look for offenses on the rise and those that have a solid track record of putting up points and stats
- Some positions will only have one starter each week. Clearly, quarterbacks and tight ends are more important than kickers and defenses. Make sure you’re dedicating a couple of your early picks to getting a solid primary position player in those spots
- Prime your bench with upside potential in preparation for bye weeks, injuries, or trade-bait
- Handcuff other managers by filling your bench with backups to their stud running backs
- Don’t be afraid to target rookies
- If you like a player, don’t fear drafting them…even if they might not be the sexiest pick at the time
DON’T
- Planning is good…overplanning is bad. Plans could go out the window depending on how the other managers draft. Don’t be so locked into your plan that you can’t adapt and adjust
- Just because a player had a bad year last year doesn’t mean they’ll suck again this year…lose the “recency bias”
- Get sucked into the “injury-prone” bias. Make sure you get a viable backup in case of an injury, but you shouldn’t get scared off just because of past injuries
- Trends don’t have to apply to your draft…trust your gut if you’re feeling something other than the “consensus” pick everyone’s expecting
- Bad offenses are bad for a reason, but there can still be points on these teams. Remember to pay attention to the player, and don’t hold their team against them
- Running-back-by-committee situations can still put up points…but try to focus on the part of the tandem that tends to get the goal line carries
- Some people get scared off by “difficulty of schedule”…great players still put up points, regardless of the opponent
- Don’t run from risk…embrace it. It could be that “sleeper” or “high-upside” player ends up being the one that takes you to glory
Source: NFL.com