by Fantasy football is a simple game that requires you to pick players from the NFL and then watch them play. You score points each week based on their fantasy performance.
Whether you are a veteran or just starting out in fantasy football, there are a few things that you should know before you draft your team. Using these tips can help you have the best fantasy season possible!
Know Your League
One of the best things about fantasy football is that it’s a game where the winning strategy isn’t always the most obvious one. That means that if you want to win a championship, you need to know your league and your players inside and out.
Getting to know your league involves knowing how it’s run, how many teams there are and what the rules are. This is important because it will help you make smart decisions when drafting your team.
You also need to understand your league’s scoring rules, roster size and league platform. These things are vital to ensuring that your draft is fair and fun.
A lot of rookie managers make the mistake of ignoring these things. This is especially true if they are playing against other novices in their league.
To avoid this, you should read as much as you can about the league before deciding how to draft. This will help you get the most out of your roster and ensure that you don’t make any mistakes when it comes time to select your starters.
Know Your Players
Taking the time to know your players is an important aspect of success as a fantasy football owner. This can help you select the right studs and avoid duds and flops in future drafts.
One of the best ways to do this is by keeping up with the latest news from your favorite teams and league providers. This includes a player’s injury status, when they’ll be active for the first time and when they may be looking at a bench stint.
This will not only make your life easier, but it’ll also improve the odds of winning your league. Moreover, you’ll be able to take note of any players that may make for good trade partners or snagged for cheap.
A quick search of the internet will likely yield results for any number of free online tools that can help you gauge the value and potential of a certain player. For example, the NFL’s official player tracking website can provide a comprehensive list of stats about every NFL team.
Likewise, there’s a ton of data to be had from ESPN’s fantasy sports ranking system and the team’s proprietary drafting algorithm. This is where you’ll find the top performers and their averages for a particular position. The site also has a great collection of articles to help you get the most out of your roster and keep up with the competition. The company even hosts the occasional live online draft. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned pro, there’s always something to learn about your team and the game of football.
Know Your Byes
Bye weeks can be a curse or a blessing for your fantasy team, depending on how you approach them. Here are some strategies to help you navigate them this year in your 2021 drafts.
The first strategy is to ignore bye weeks completely, selecting players with no regard to their bye week. This strategy is particularly useful if you have a lot of teams that are on bye or if you play in a league where bench size matters.
Another strategy is to try to spread out your byes throughout the season. This can be a good option for redraft formats, but it isn’t the best choice for Best Ball or dynasty leagues.
You can also prepare for byes in your drafts by analyzing players with byes and comparing them to their Expert Consensus Ranking (ECR) to see how they stack up. This can help you make smarter selections during your drafts, but you’ll need to spend some time managing your roster during the season as byes come and go.
Finally, consider a bye week cheat sheet to help you identify players with byes this year. These cheat sheets group players based on their 2022 bye weeks and can be useful in evaluating player value as byes approach.
This is an important strategy to consider in your 2021 drafts, especially if you have multiple teams on bye this season. You don’t want to miss out on any potential starting players due to byes, and it can be a valuable resource to have as you prepare for your drafts.
Know Your Draft Order
Choosing your draft order is one of the most important decisions you can make as a fantasy football owner. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned vet, knowing your draft order will ensure that you’re drafting the right players to help you build the best team possible.
Ideally, you want a balanced mix of proven players with upside and rookies in your draft. This balance will allow your team to have a high ceiling and have more than enough volume to win you games.
In the first 1-4 rounds, you want to focus on proven names. This can mean selecting players with a lot of experience and high ceilings like quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers.
However, in the later rounds, it’s important to take some risks and gamble on a few rookies. These picks can make a huge difference on your fantasy football team, especially when it comes to defense and kickers.
There are several ways to determine your draft order, including a lottery-style system. In this method, each league member fills out a bracket and the winner gets to pick their draft spot first.
Know Your Strategy
There’s no denying fantasy football is a game of strategy. Millions of people play the game every year, and they need a solid blueprint for success. Whether you’re entering your first draft in 2021 or you want to improve your fantasy team, our detailed guide will give you the tools to succeed.
Your strategy will depend on many factors, including your league, the players you draft and your goals for the season. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut, but with a little practice, you can learn to adapt your draft plan and stay on track.
The first step in knowing your strategy is identifying the players you need to have on your roster. This includes core-four picks like running back, wide receiver and quarterback. It’s also important to know the best options at each position.
Another key part of your strategy is balancing proven talent with up-and-comers and rookies. In the early rounds, you want to aim for the safer, more proven names. During the middle and late rounds, you can take some chances on the upside.
This isn’t a rule that should be imposed, but it’s an important concept to keep in mind. It’s always better to go for a player with upside, but it’s also important to consider the risk factor.
