Fantasy football isn't all luck. Sure, it's
probably 75 percent chance. But the other 25
percent? That's skill, preparation and moxie. And
that's something that can be learned: here's how.
!! Steps !!
Think about which players you want before drafting players.
Concentrate on players who have great stats, as well as a favorites.
* Don't waste a penny on newsstand rankings. These are published in
May and by the time your draft rolls around, they're as good as
obsolete. Instead, peruse local newspaper sports sections during
training camp: you'll find more injury updates than you know what
to do with, and you'll find super-sleepers. For instance, for news
on the Vikings, do a Google search for "Minneapolis" and
"newspaper". You'll find the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, both
of which could be invaluable. For example, this method was used
for drafting Nate Burleson, a truly worthy 4th WR find.
* Watch the runs. A run means, everyone starts drafting from the
same position. For example, say you plan on taking your starting
quarterback in round 4, and in round 3 there becomes a run on
quarterbacks, alter your draft strategy and grab him then.
* Don't ever draft a defense or a kicker before you've filled most
of your skill positions. Defense is basically luck of the draw and
week to week match-ups. Consider drafting 16 defenses, that is,
draft a moderate team, and then wait a week. Find out who is
playing a team with a green quarterback or weak offense and then
pick them up. You can find a ripe match-up every week.
* As for kickers, just grab a dome booter and you'll be fine.
* Find the contract kids. Every year players playing out the last
year of their contract perform at much higher levels than their
counterparts who've signed fat salary sheets.
* Read How to draft your fantasy football team.
* Play for money. Even if you're playing in a league with friends
only, the money aspect makes it much more fun and exciting. It
doesn't need to be a lot, just a few dollars.
Trade down. If you have picked 3-5, trade down. You'll feel much
better about taking two players back to back than you will seeing
your favorites fly off the board every other pick.
* Wait a few weeks before dropping or trading away players you
picked within the first 10 rounds of the draft and be patient with
wide receivers who tend to post inconsistent numbers from week to
week. Players suffering from an entire season's injury are an
exception.
* Do the math. Take your league scoring system, grab a calculator
and a paper box score section. Find out if your league is skewed
to quarterbacks or running backs. Chances are it's biased, even if
the creator doesn't know it. If it creates parity under center,
then hold off on your signal caller and go to the ground or vice
versa. This is an unbelievably important task. There are even
services online that will take your league scoring system and
analyze it for you.
* Keep off the same team, same division, or even player having same
rest weeks. Don't let one weird game or one week take out four or
five players. If you load up with Bengals and Ravens, and they
play a game that goes low because of snow, you are dead.
Essentially, keep your eggs in many different baskets.
Pick up free agents. Free agents are players who don't belong to any
of your league's teams. Free agents become available on a Tuesday,
on a first come, first served basis. Use your football news
knowledge to claim good free agents. You'll need to drop a player or
two to make room for them on your roster but it's worth it if you
spot a good player.
* Trade with other teams to obtain key players to fill gaps in your
roster. Be aware that trades need to be submitted to the
commissioner before a set deadline, and they can be rejected
sometimes.
Don't rest. The clincher is complacency. If you've got it, you're in
trouble. Recognize when your draft is a bit of a crap shoot – the
key is recognizing mistakes and acting on them, as well as being
ahead of your opponents by knowing the players and game schedule
well. If someone goes down early, log on and grab his back-up first.
If someone busts out a big game or two, sign him up! Don't pass on
the next Kurt Warner, Stephen Davis or even, Billy Volek.
* Follow the football news regularly. Take note of injuries and
players who perform above or below expectations. Keep a constant
eye on weekly match-ups.
* Sign up for an update service that keeps you on top of
developments during the season. While these services vary greatly
in quality, keep looking for a good one and use it; they're
essential if you want to reach the play-offs.
* Grab running backs whose stats are on the upswing. Keep them on
your roster as bargaining chips for trades: running backs are
always in demand.
* Watch the games regularly. Every Sunday and Monday, be sure to
watch the games for enjoyment and to glean more valuable
information.
* Have fun. Fantasy football is a blast, if you remember to talk
good-natured trash to your victims. It'll spur rivalries, keep
things competitive and ensure feelings of victory when you take
the cake. But if you lose then you're not allowed to have fun!
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Know your league rules! There is almost nothing that is really
standardized in fantasy football, so it's hard to trust website or
magazine rankings that were computed with different scoring
systems in mind. Does your league give points for receptions? Then
draft possession receivers and running backs who can catch earlier
than you would in a league that rewards only yards and touchdowns.
There are dozens of rules variations, so know how your league
differs from the norm and you'll have a big advantage right from
the start.
* A number 2 or number 3 receiver on a great team is better than a
number 1 on a bad one.
* In a default scoring league, always try and get your starting
running backs in the first 3 rounds. Build your team off your
running backs. Though nowadays, with the rise of the wide
receivers, this could be a very vital clue as the trend shifts.
!! Warnings !!
* Don't let anyone sign up for more than one team in a single
league. Review all trades for signs of collusion between teams
that are out of the hunt and teams that are still competitive.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* Internet access
* Football news (newspapers, update service, etc.)
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Draft Your Fantasy Football Team
* How to Play the Football Simulation Game Amfa Manager
* How to Fake That You Know About Football
* How to Quarterback for a Football Team
* How to Be Friends with Someone if All They Do Is Play Football
* How to Appreciate College Football
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
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