Hopefully, you've received your league invite, or if you're a commissioner, you've sent out your league invites. If you haven't, now is the time to get going. Set those draft dates and sign up for a league.
There are lots of places online to play fantasy football, whether you want to play for free or for cash prizes. Assuming you're good to go and know when your draft is, here are 10 things to remember as you plan for your big draft day.
10 Fantasy Draft Tips
1. Magazines
Really, in an on-line article I'm going to promote print media? Isn't that a conflict of interest?
Maybe, but there’s still something to be said for reading a fantasy mag before draft day.
It's not so much the content of the magazine, but the fact that you can take it anywhere and read it on the go. Not everyone has an e-book or kindle and having fantasy knowledge anywhere as you prepare to draft never hurts.
2. Mock it up
Reading a magazine is a good start, but drafting is an art/science.
Like anything, it takes practice. The more you do it, the better you’ll get.
You’ll learn where players are traditionally getting drafted so you’ll be less surprised on draft day. If you think a player should be going in round two, but in your mocks he's lasting until round four, you're obviously overvaluing him.
The key to a good draft is finding good value. Nothing helps you find that like mocks do. They're free on lots of websites. Do several before your real draft.
3. History
If you’re in a league with the same guys from last year and your website keeps track of previous drafts (or you have access to last year's draft board) look at it.
Study the tendencies of your league mates. Is there an owner that always takes a quarterback early? Is there an owner who always waits until round nine to take his?
The more you know about your league mates' tendencies, the better of you are.
4. Keep track of picks
Sounds obvious, but I don't mean writing down who everyone else has taken. But, rather, keep track of who has taken what position. The player doesn't matter, the position does.
For example, if the person drafting after you has already taken a quarterback, but is thin at wide receiver, there's no need for you take a quarterback in that round. Take the receiver instead.
Countless times I've seen fantasy owners draft a player when that player easily would have been available in the next round.
The lazy owner didn't realize the guy drafting after him already had that position solidified. Don’t be the lazy owner.
5. Don’t be a follower
It's easy to feel like you need to join in on the tight end or defensive runs.
Don't feel pressured. If you really want Antonio Gates or Vernon Davis, go ahead and take them, but don't just take them because Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski were picked before it was your turn.
Never be the owner to end the position run. If you’re in a 10-team league and eight other owners already took a tight end, you can wait a few more rounds. This goes back to rule no. 4, see?
6. Strategy
I don't mean take a quarterback early, or wait on running backs because so many teams are running back by committee now. You can figure out for yourself which players you'll pick when, but be comfortable with your strategy going in.
If your league starts two running backs, do you want to take a third one before taking a quarterback?
First, it's depth, and second, you can always trade right?
Here's the part to think about. Remember the tendencies of others in your league. If trades are very rare, don't draft thinking a guy will make good trade bait. If you can't trade him, he's just racking up bench points each week.
7. Preseason games
These are very important regardless of when your draft is.
If you draft early, you'll be on pins and needles hoping your studs don't get hurt. If you draft after the preseason, you'll have a much better gauge on depth charts.
Knowing the most current depth charts of all NFL teams on draft day gives you a huge leg up on your competition. Even Jacksonville has a No. 1 wide receiver. It's your job to know him.
8. Daily maintenance
Check the internet every day for training camp news and injury updates.
I still remember the awkward silence of a draft years ago that was held on a Sunday. A guy in my league spent his third-round pick on a running back who had suffered a serious injury the night before in a preseason game. The next pick was made quickly and everyone laughed.
Needless to say, that injured back landed on the waiver wire later that night.
9. Don’t favor your favorite
You probably have a favorite team, and while it might seem fun to draft five or six guys from your favorite NFL team, resist the urge for two reasons.
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One, you'll have bye week issues if half of your roster has the same bye week.
Two, if your favorite NFL team struggles, look what that does to your fantasy season.
Sure, it's great if your NFL team has a big week, or even several, but odds are that won't hold long enough. Think of it as diversifying your portfolio.
Play conservative and try to cap the number of fantasy players from your favorite NFL team to three – including a kicker and defense.
10. Bye weeks
Bye weeks should not be a big factor in your drafting. I only use them as tie-breakers if I’m debating between two players.
Yes, one reason I gave to not load up on a bunch of guys from your favorite NFL team was for fear of bye week issues, and while it's a valid reason for some, it might not be a valid reason for all.
There is something to be said for taking the best player available, and if you end up drafting six guys that all have the same bye week – who cares?
Two reasons:
One, by the time bye weeks start you might not even have some of those guys.
Two, if those guys are all worth keeping, that means you drafted a good team and can probably concede one week when you have the bye week disaster.
Lose one week, but you still have a legit shot at the title.
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Article source: e-sports.com
