| The following are 10 rules you must master if you | | | | quarterback projections are generally more reliable |
| expect to be competitive in fantasy football. I | | | | than WR/TE projections. When deciding who to |
| can't emphasize just how important the draft is | | | | draft between players who play different |
| and how hard it is to recover and have a decent | | | | positions you must take into account the standard |
| season if you screw this up. More than any other | | | | deviation of the ranking associated with WR/TE. |
| fantasy sport, football is the most based on luck. | | | | 6. Position Scarcity |
| Injuries are a huge part of the game and you | | | | Always be aware of who your opponents have |
| must plan accordingly for them before the season | | | | drafted. It seems like common sense, if everyone |
| begins. The name of the game is "minimize risk". | | | | has a TE except for you, you can probably wait |
| Following the these Fantasy Football Draft Rules | | | | a few more rounds to select one. Also, it goes |
| will help you to minimize your risk exposure and | | | | without saying that the running back position is |
| give you a small advantage which can be the | | | | scarce. However, now that there are two back |
| difference between winning and losing on any | | | | running back systems on almost every team the |
| given Sunday. | | | | position is more scarce than ever. |
| 1. Know your league rules | | | | 7. Year End (came on strong vs. faded late) |
| A few years back I got killed for not knowing my | | | | It is best not to take rankings at face value. If |
| league rules. This really can have a big impact on | | | | two players are ranked right next to one another, |
| player ranking. For example, in a PPR league | | | | think of what is going into the ranking. Did one |
| running backs that catch balls will be ranked | | | | player come on strong at the end of the season? |
| highest followed by wide receivers. Another | | | | Is one of the players injury prone? Who is playing |
| example is leagues where quarterbacks get 6 | | | | on a better team? Does one of the players play |
| points for a passing touchdown. In this case, QBs | | | | alongside an injury prone player? Answering these |
| will have tremendous value and for the most part | | | | questions will help who to decide on - surprisingly it |
| be the highest ranked players. In short, be aware | | | | often is not who is ranked higher. |
| of your scoring system as it can have an impact | | | | 8. Monitor the Bye Week |
| on the ranking system you are using. | | | | Make sure you monitor when your players bye |
| 2. Forget your loyalties | | | | week is. You can really set yourself up for failure |
| This really should be obvious, but many do not | | | | if everyone has a bye on the same week. A |
| follow this key rule. If you are playing in a | | | | typical problem occurs after not paying attention |
| competitive fantasy football league its business | | | | to this, many of your players will have a bye on |
| not personal. Drafting with your heart rather than | | | | an early week and you will be forced to drop a |
| following the rules will cost you the season. | | | | talented player. Don't let this happen to you! |
| 3. Beware of Injury | | | | Likewise, once the bye weeks roll around look out |
| Fantasy Football is a game decided by injuries. | | | | for your opponents who were forced to drop |
| Going into the draft you need to know who is | | | | good players due to this situation. |
| hurt or coming off injury. Most rankings are | | | | 9. Kickers & D wait until the end |
| assembled weeks before the fantasy draft | | | | Don't get caught up in the Defense run. Let |
| season. Not knowing who is hurt can cost you the | | | | someone else take Baltimore's D in round 6. This |
| season. | | | | is a golden draft rule. Take a kicker in the last |
| 4. Playing for a contender/bad team=less | | | | round and defense in the second to last round. |
| opportunity | | | | These positions can be changed every week and |
| This is an interesting rule, but it should play a role | | | | are tough to predict before the season begins. I |
| in your draft strategy. When deciding between | | | | promise you that there will be a top ranked |
| two players it is best to take the one who plays | | | | defense on waivers after week 1. |
| for a winning team. Running backs who play for | | | | 10. Don't overrate sleepers and rookies |
| bad team teams tend to have the box stacked | | | | Rookies typically play like rookies. Don't get caught |
| against them. Furthermore, their teams are | | | | up in the hype. The only rookie position we would |
| constantly playing from behind limiting their running | | | | recommend taking could be a running back. With a |
| opportunities. QBs on bad teams will suffer from | | | | plethora of fantasy information there are not |
| an increased pass rush and swarming defenses. In | | | | many true sleepers these days. Another |
| short, good teams create good situations where | | | | interesting recommendation I came across on the |
| players are more likely to post points. | | | | web is after you identify the sleeper you want, |
| 5. Player Projections | | | | hold off a round. If the player is still there he is a |
| I came across an interesting statistic while putting | | | | legit sleeper. |
| this piece together that stated running back and | | | | |