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Fantasy Football Tips and Strategies
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Fantasy Football Tips and StrategiesPosted:
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Joined: Dec 31, 200914Year Member
Posts: 2,987
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Status: Offline
Joined: Dec 31, 200914Year Member
Posts: 2,987
Reputation Power: 180
Decided to make one of these for you guys since the season is inching closer. If you have any extra tips you want to throw in do so. Your usually not playing against people on here, so share some things you know with other people. Below is some things I found to put together in a organized post.
Lets first look at a basic strategy position by position:
Quarterbacks:
Running Backs:
Wide Receivers:
Tight Ends:
Defenses and Kickers:
If we put all that together, in the first 11 rounds of a 12-team league, you should have: 2 QBs, 4 RBs, 4 WRs and 1 TE. This is a basic rule that applies to pretty much all 12-team leagues and all scoring systems unless strange things happen during your draft. The breakdown is pretty simple:
Rounds 1-6: 3 RBs and either 3 WRs or 2 WRs and 1 TE.
Rounds 7-9: 1 QB, 1 WR and 1 RB or TE (depending on rounds 1-6).
Rounds 10-11: 1 QB and 1 RB or WR.
These are obviously flexible by one round or so because a lot of things change during a draft but they are excellent guidelines to follow and that will give any team an edge over their opponents in terms of strategy.
These guidelines don’t change much even in non-PPR leagues that give 6 pts per TD pass. The only change we would make is that we would probably favor RBs over WRs in the first few rounds but that always depends on who’s available. The QB tandem strategy is still the right one, good RBs are always rare, the TE position is always flexible and you still need one of the top 12 TEs no matter the scoring system. The only thing that really changes in a non-PPR league is that WRs lose a little value compared to RBs.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Before anything else, preparation is the key to success" – Alexander Graham Bell
Finally, draft night!
Everyone arrives with a stack full of resources, a case of cold friends and a head crammed with countless, sometimes unpronounceable player names.
You take a seat beside your buddy and talk about your mundane 9-to-5, that time you lost 500 large on Scooby scuffles one Saturday night at the former Michael Vick compound and whether or not Todd, the morbidly obese member of your league who has aspirations of being a world-renown professional eater, could beat out a My Little Pony in a 10-yard footrace.
Then it begins.
Your heart rate spikes. You nervously begin to bounce your leg up and down. And you pray to the pigskin gods that Laurence Maroney falls to you at pick twelve.
Pause.
Did you prepare?
Every fantasy football expert will tell you that building a championship team begins on draft day. Widely accepted as the most popular of fantasy sports, fantasy football can be the easiest to dominate by following simple draft guidelines and strategies. Below is a comprehensive list of ten drafting tips in order for you to tower over your feeble-minded opponents en route to capturing the gridiron gold.
Tip 1 – Running Back Wild
Tip 2 – Quarterback Restraint
Tip 3 – Overpaying for Wideouts Equals Fantasy Fallout
Tip 4 – If His Name Ain't Gates, Wait
Tip 5 – Always Carry Handcuffs
Tip 6 – Rookie QBs and WRs are a Brain Tease
Tip 7 – Defense and Kickers Should Wade in the Stream
Tip 8 – Don't Sing the Bye Week Blues
Tip 9 – Understand Coaching Philosophies
Tip 10 – Plan Ahead
Whether you step into a draft room physically or virtually, always remember that draft night should be fun, exciting, and entertaining. If you plan on talking smack, back it up with a simple draft plan. By following the tips described above, you are one giant step ahead of the competition!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fantasy Draft Tips
The draft is the foundation of your season. If you have a bad draft, you’re almost certain to have a bad season. While other aspects of the game are important, the fantasy draft is the most important.
In the following fantasy draft preparation tips, you can read general tips, draft tips and auction strategies.
Draft Preparation Tips
1. Learn the Players
2. Know Your System
3. Make a List
4. Chart Injuries
5. Look Inside the Numbers
6. Watch preseason, But Not Too Closely
Fantasy Draft Day Advice
7. Get a Running Game
8. Be Flexible
9. Watch Bye Weeks
10. Chart League Rosters
11. Consult Your Draft Board
12. Consult a Doctor
13. Don’t Drink and Draft
14. Don’t Get Mad
15. Own the Late Rounds
16. Stay Away From Gimmicks
17. Wait on Kickers
18. Keep Your Secrets
Auction Draft Strategies
19. Play the Market
20. Set a Spending Cap
21. Don’t Tip Your Hand
22. Tempt Your Opponents
23. Spend When Appropriate
24. Set Player Tiers
25. Be Opportunistic
26. Corner the Market
Regular Season Tips for Starting Line-Ups
27. Start Your Best Line-Up
28. Know the Injury Report
29. Beware the Broncos and Patriots
30. Visit a Forum
31. Know the Weather
32. Look at the Match-Ups
33. Study the Injuries of Your Opponents
Fantasy Football Free Agency
34. Be Aggressive Early in the Season
35. Target Receivers in Free Agency
36. Beware of One-Week Wonders
37. Grab Handcuffs
38. Fresh Legs Beat Tired Legs
39. Keep an Eye on Rookies
40. Know Who to Cut
41. Stockpile Talent
Fantasy Trades
42. Pull the Trigger
43. Target Your Needs
44. Sell High, Buy Low
45. Look at Bye Weeks
46. Make Trade Proposals
47. Put Yourself in Their Shoes
48. Mind Your Manners
49. Don’t Help a Friend
50. Enjoy the Game
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Top 15 For Each Position
QB
1. Aaron Rodgers Green Bay
2. Drew Brees New Orleans
3. Peyton Manning Indianapolis
4. Tom Brady New England
5. Tony Romo Dallas
6. Matt Schaub Houston
7. Philip Rivers San Diego
8. Brett Favre* Minnesota
9. Jay Cutler Chicago
10. Kevin Kolb Philadelphia
11. Eli Manning N.Y. Giants
12. Donovan McNabb Washington
13. Matt Ryan Atlanta
14. Joe Flacco Baltimore
15. Carson Palmer Cincinnati
RB
WR
TE
Kickers
DEF.
All credit goes to Google and It's searching abilities (:
Lets first look at a basic strategy position by position:
Quarterbacks:
As discussed in the other article, the two groups with the most value are either the top 4 quarterbacks or the 11 to 18 group. There are two reasons why we recommend staying away from the middle group (5 to 10). First, they are usually quarterbacks who many believe have the potential to be top five but have a couple of question marks. However, because of their potential, there’s a couple of owners who will draft them earlier than they should, which makes their average draft position better than their real value. Second, this middle group usually gets drafted between the third and sixth round which is usually when you can have the best value at RB and WR. At RB, there’s usually a drop around the end of the fourth round and there’s one at WR at the end of the sixth round so in those rounds, you’ll have much better value at RB and WR.
Drafting two QBs in the 11 to 18 group is usually our favorite strategy. In our article Top QB or QB Tandem, we showed that drafting two quarterbacks in that range is almost as good as drafting a top quarterback and a below average backup. However, in doing so, you are getting much more value out of your draft picks, even in a non-PPR league with 6 points per TD pass. The top four QBs are worth some consideration if they fall quite a bit below their average draft position and if there are no RBs or WRs that you like when it’s your turn to pick. This is however quite rare and it is not a strategy that we recommend but sometimes you don’t have a choice.
Recommended strategy:
-Draft two QBs in the 11 to 18 range which is the equivalent of round 8 through 11 in a 12-team league.
Drafting two QBs in the 11 to 18 group is usually our favorite strategy. In our article Top QB or QB Tandem, we showed that drafting two quarterbacks in that range is almost as good as drafting a top quarterback and a below average backup. However, in doing so, you are getting much more value out of your draft picks, even in a non-PPR league with 6 points per TD pass. The top four QBs are worth some consideration if they fall quite a bit below their average draft position and if there are no RBs or WRs that you like when it’s your turn to pick. This is however quite rare and it is not a strategy that we recommend but sometimes you don’t have a choice.
Recommended strategy:
-Draft two QBs in the 11 to 18 range which is the equivalent of round 8 through 11 in a 12-team league.
Running Backs:
Based on our analysis, there is a pretty significant drop after the top 29 which generally comes at the end of the sixth round. This year, there are only 25 RBs getting drafted in the first six rounds and we don’t really like the next few guys until their situations clear up. Those players include C.J. Spiller, Marion Barber and Justin Forsett. We are strong believers that depth at RB is very important so you really need to draft three of those 25 RBs but that list will get bigger by the end of August depending on what happens in different training camps.
The other drop at RB comes after the top 42 or so which means that you will want at least four running backs by the end of the tenth round. There really isn’t much point to drafting RBs after this point (other than possibly handcuffing your starters) so if your starters are risky and you want more depth, get them before the end of the 10th round.
If we backtrack a little, we mentioned that you needed to draft three of the top 25 RBs. Like every other expert, we’ll tell you that you need to draft one of the top four RBs this year, if you have one of those picks, but we also recommend drafting Frank Gore and Steven Jackson before any WR. After those six, we see a huge drop and this has also been the trend in the past five years. In the past five years, the 13 to 20 group has been almost as good as the 5 to 12 group and coincidentally, our favorite RBs this year fall in that 13 to 20 group: Ryan Grant, Knowshon Moreno, LeSean McCoy, Pierre Thomas, Matt Forte and Joseph Addai who is 21st. The others which fall in that group but that we don’t like as much are Chris Wells, Cedric Benson and Jonathan Stewart but they can still be good picks.. That group is really where the best value is at RB and they are usually drafted between the beginning of the third and the beginning of the fifth round. Ronnie Brown and Reggie Bush (in PPR) are part of the next group which you can draft in the fifth or sixth round but there are very few guys in this group for now so you need to be careful not to get caught off guard by a run on RBs.
Recommended strategy:
-Draft three of the top 25 RBs which is the equivalent of the first 6 rounds in a 12-team league.
-Draft four of the top 42 RBs which is the equivalent of the first 10 rounds in a 12-team league.
-Favor the top 6 RBs (early 1st round) and the 13 to 20 group (early 3rd to early 5th round).
The other drop at RB comes after the top 42 or so which means that you will want at least four running backs by the end of the tenth round. There really isn’t much point to drafting RBs after this point (other than possibly handcuffing your starters) so if your starters are risky and you want more depth, get them before the end of the 10th round.
If we backtrack a little, we mentioned that you needed to draft three of the top 25 RBs. Like every other expert, we’ll tell you that you need to draft one of the top four RBs this year, if you have one of those picks, but we also recommend drafting Frank Gore and Steven Jackson before any WR. After those six, we see a huge drop and this has also been the trend in the past five years. In the past five years, the 13 to 20 group has been almost as good as the 5 to 12 group and coincidentally, our favorite RBs this year fall in that 13 to 20 group: Ryan Grant, Knowshon Moreno, LeSean McCoy, Pierre Thomas, Matt Forte and Joseph Addai who is 21st. The others which fall in that group but that we don’t like as much are Chris Wells, Cedric Benson and Jonathan Stewart but they can still be good picks.. That group is really where the best value is at RB and they are usually drafted between the beginning of the third and the beginning of the fifth round. Ronnie Brown and Reggie Bush (in PPR) are part of the next group which you can draft in the fifth or sixth round but there are very few guys in this group for now so you need to be careful not to get caught off guard by a run on RBs.
Recommended strategy:
-Draft three of the top 25 RBs which is the equivalent of the first 6 rounds in a 12-team league.
-Draft four of the top 42 RBs which is the equivalent of the first 10 rounds in a 12-team league.
-Favor the top 6 RBs (early 1st round) and the 13 to 20 group (early 3rd to early 5th round).
Wide Receivers:
The strategy to use for wide receivers is pretty similar to the one for running backs. The top 7 are usually dominant, there is little value in the next group (8 to 16), the 17 to 25 group has very good value and there is a big drop after the top 43 or so. The good news however is that even though the groups are pretty similar, WRs are generally drafted later than RBs so the two add up pretty well.
Of the top seven WRs this year, our favorite ones are Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne and Roddy White but Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Miles Austin all have good value as well. These seven players are usually drafted between the middle of the first and the end of the second round. The 17 to 25 group averages only 14 points less than the 8 to 16 group despite being drafted two rounds later on average so it’s worth waiting on your receivers. In this group, we like Wes Welker, Chad Ochocinco, Percy Harvin (if Favre comes back), Dwayne Bowe, Hines Ward and Jeremy Maclin. This group usually gets drafted in the fifth and sixth rounds and you’ll want at least two and probably three of these top 25.
If you can only get two of the top 25, you can still be in good shape but you’ll need to draft two players instead of one in the rest of the top 43, usually by the end of the 11th round. Players like Mike Wallace, Santana Moss, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Malcom Floyd and others all have potential to be top 20 WRs but have more question marks.
Recommended strategy:
-Draft two or three of the top 25 WRs which is the equivalent of the first 6 rounds in a 12-team league.
-Draft four of the top 43 WRs which is the equivalent of the first 11 rounds in a 12-team league.
-Favor the top 7 WRs (first 2 rounds) and the 17 to 25 group (rounds 5 and 6).
Of the top seven WRs this year, our favorite ones are Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne and Roddy White but Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson and Miles Austin all have good value as well. These seven players are usually drafted between the middle of the first and the end of the second round. The 17 to 25 group averages only 14 points less than the 8 to 16 group despite being drafted two rounds later on average so it’s worth waiting on your receivers. In this group, we like Wes Welker, Chad Ochocinco, Percy Harvin (if Favre comes back), Dwayne Bowe, Hines Ward and Jeremy Maclin. This group usually gets drafted in the fifth and sixth rounds and you’ll want at least two and probably three of these top 25.
If you can only get two of the top 25, you can still be in good shape but you’ll need to draft two players instead of one in the rest of the top 43, usually by the end of the 11th round. Players like Mike Wallace, Santana Moss, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Malcom Floyd and others all have potential to be top 20 WRs but have more question marks.
Recommended strategy:
-Draft two or three of the top 25 WRs which is the equivalent of the first 6 rounds in a 12-team league.
-Draft four of the top 43 WRs which is the equivalent of the first 11 rounds in a 12-team league.
-Favor the top 7 WRs (first 2 rounds) and the 17 to 25 group (rounds 5 and 6).
Tight Ends:
The tight end position is the position with the simplest strategy. As we discovered in our analysis, there is a pretty consistent drop amongst the top 12 TEs which means that you should draft one whenever you feel you’d be reaching for an RB or WR. The top 12 are getting drafted between the fourth and tenth round this year but be very careful if you wait that long because you could be in trouble; we’d recommend getting one before the end of the ninth round. Our favorite ones this year are Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow, Zach Miller and Heath Miller but as we said, anyone in the top 12 should be pretty good; the only one we don’t really like is Chris Cooley.
Recommended strategy:
-Draft any of the top 12 TEs which is the equivalent of the first 9 rounds in a 12-team league; we call this a flex pick which means that you draft your TE whenever you don’t have value at the other positions.
Recommended strategy:
-Draft any of the top 12 TEs which is the equivalent of the first 9 rounds in a 12-team league; we call this a flex pick which means that you draft your TE whenever you don’t have value at the other positions.
Defenses and Kickers:
There’s pretty much no difference amongst the top 16 at both of these positions so we strongly recommend waiting as long as possible. Just make sure you draft one of the top 16 kickers and probably two of the top 16 defenses.
Recommended strategy:
-Wait as long as you can but draft one of the top 16 kickers.
-Wait as long as you can but draft two of the top 16 defenses.
Recommended strategy:
-Wait as long as you can but draft one of the top 16 kickers.
-Wait as long as you can but draft two of the top 16 defenses.
If we put all that together, in the first 11 rounds of a 12-team league, you should have: 2 QBs, 4 RBs, 4 WRs and 1 TE. This is a basic rule that applies to pretty much all 12-team leagues and all scoring systems unless strange things happen during your draft. The breakdown is pretty simple:
Rounds 1-6: 3 RBs and either 3 WRs or 2 WRs and 1 TE.
Rounds 7-9: 1 QB, 1 WR and 1 RB or TE (depending on rounds 1-6).
Rounds 10-11: 1 QB and 1 RB or WR.
These are obviously flexible by one round or so because a lot of things change during a draft but they are excellent guidelines to follow and that will give any team an edge over their opponents in terms of strategy.
These guidelines don’t change much even in non-PPR leagues that give 6 pts per TD pass. The only change we would make is that we would probably favor RBs over WRs in the first few rounds but that always depends on who’s available. The QB tandem strategy is still the right one, good RBs are always rare, the TE position is always flexible and you still need one of the top 12 TEs no matter the scoring system. The only thing that really changes in a non-PPR league is that WRs lose a little value compared to RBs.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Before anything else, preparation is the key to success" – Alexander Graham Bell
Finally, draft night!
Everyone arrives with a stack full of resources, a case of cold friends and a head crammed with countless, sometimes unpronounceable player names.
You take a seat beside your buddy and talk about your mundane 9-to-5, that time you lost 500 large on Scooby scuffles one Saturday night at the former Michael Vick compound and whether or not Todd, the morbidly obese member of your league who has aspirations of being a world-renown professional eater, could beat out a My Little Pony in a 10-yard footrace.
Then it begins.
Your heart rate spikes. You nervously begin to bounce your leg up and down. And you pray to the pigskin gods that Laurence Maroney falls to you at pick twelve.
Pause.
Did you prepare?
Every fantasy football expert will tell you that building a championship team begins on draft day. Widely accepted as the most popular of fantasy sports, fantasy football can be the easiest to dominate by following simple draft guidelines and strategies. Below is a comprehensive list of ten drafting tips in order for you to tower over your feeble-minded opponents en route to capturing the gridiron gold.
Tip 1 – Running Back Wild
Running backs are the quintessential cornerstone for winning any fantasy championship. Some publications and websites will tell you time and time again to take the best player on the board, but if it's not a running back in the early rounds, don't buy it. In order to win in standard leagues, you must draft two solid backs in the first two rounds, period. If you find yourself in a drafting conundrum and have to decide between Torry Holt and Maurice Jones-Drew, go with the Oompah Loompah. If you find yourself in a bind in the middle rounds, pondering whether you should take juggernaut Jerious Norwood or a mediocre second receiver (Braylon Edwards, for instance), go tackle the 'Wood. If you're drafting in the late rounds and you think you need a backup quarterback, take a fifth running back instead. Running Backs get the touches – typically 150 per year or more than wide receivers – gain the yards, and score touchdowns more often than any other fantasy football position. Their trade value is worth their weight in gold and with injuries happening to major players every season, stockpiling them in August will fill your inbox with trade offers come November.
Tip 2 – Quarterback Restraint
Every year someone in your draft room gets overly excited for the services of the fragile and erratic Michael Vick. And almost every year – with last season the exception – they get burned. Fantasy championships can be won with a mediocre second or third-tier quarterback. Believe me. Last year, I won the 14-team Evans Y! Sports Blog league championship with Matt Leinart, who completed more passes to opposing safeties (12) rather than receivers (11) on the year, in my starting lineup. Using my draft strategy won't net you the perceived top tier, but after Round 7, several high upside players like Jon Kitna, Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger will probably be available and are perfect complements to any strong running back tandem. Last season, the top three gunslingers, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Vick, averaged 19.4, 16.3, and 16.3 points per week respectively. Meanwhile, later draft day selections, Kitna, Vince Young and Philip Rivers notched totals around 13-to-14 points per week. Not that big of a difference. Concentrate on selecting solid running backs and wide receivers instead with your first four picks and pounce on quarterback values later in your draft.
Tip 3 – Overpaying for Wideouts Equals Fantasy Fallout
Other than leagues that score points per reception, the earliest a wide receiver should be selected is with your Round 3 pick. Several of your opponents will think that landing Steve Smith, Chad Johnson, or Torry Holt is the ultimate coup early in the draft. Don't be that guy. Wide receivers, unlike running backs, are consistently inconsistent – again, unless you're in a PPR league. They are a rollercoaster ride of boom and bust that can only be trusted for weekly maximum performance against weak secondaries, or in prolific passing offenses. Case in point, the top five receivers of 2006 – Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, Reggie Wayne, Donald Driver, and Torry Holt – averaged 6.8 games of 75 yards or less. Outside of Frank Gore, Joseph Addai and Jamal Lewis, no other top-15 running back totaled more than four remedial efforts in games started. Remember, a good WR will average seven-plus targets per game, compared to a versatile back that accumulates 25-35 touches each Sunday. Focus on receivers who yield a high YAC (Yards After Catch), get a large number of looks and are involved in pass-happy offensive philosophies. Donald Driver (43.3 Y! ADP), Reggie Brown (57.9) and D.J. Hackett (118.5) all fit this definition and are superior values from late in Round 4 on.
Tip 4 – If His Name Ain't Gates, Wait
Two years ago, one of the owners in my local 12-team league drafted Tony Gonzalez with his Round 3 pick. Just to refresh everyone's fogged memories Gonzo managed to stay healthy, but finished seventh among tight ends and 166th overall, averaging a disappointing 5.9 points per week. Last season, only Antonio Gates topped 120 total fantasy points scored, finishing 37th overall. Other than the magnificent Gates, tight ends are the most overrated position in fantasy football. Instead of jumping the gun early, hold off and select a Kellen Winslow (65.9 Y! ADP), Vernon Davis (68.8) or L.J. Smith (89.9) in Round 7 or later. Remember where Winslow was drafted last season (115.3 ADP in '06)? Where did he finish? That's right, sixth at his position. Like closers in baseball, they can wait.
Tip 5 – Always Carry Handcuffs
If you are a savvy veteran of fantasy football you know that when a starting RB is injured everyone combs the waiver wire for the successor like a Cincinnati Bengal in search of a criminal lawyer. Avoid the pain and suffering of a possible devastating injury to your team and draft their backups in the mid-to-late rounds. San Diego's Michael Turner, Washington's Ladell Betts and Chicago's Adrian Peterson should be hogtied, super-glued, welded, to LaDanian Tomlinson, Clinton Portis and Cedric Benson. Acquiring brittle backs and not handcuffing their backups is going to battle without a sword. Just ask every Priest Holmes owner from 2005. Play it smart and pick up the second in command.
Tip 6 – Rookie QBs and WRs are a Brain Tease
Just because the JaMarcus Russells of the world go high in the NFL draft doesn't mean they are draftable. The quarterback position has an incredible development curve that forces inexperienced players to adjust to a new level. When Peyton Manning was thrown into the NFL fire as a rookie in 1998 he averaged a sensational 233.7 YPG and 1.53 passing TDs per game, but his 28 interceptions were brutal. Arguably the best rookie campaign by an NFL quarterback was in 1983 by "Mr. Isotoner" Dan Marino. That season Marino played eleven games – he started nine – and averaged 200.9 YPG, while totaling 20 TD passes with 6 INTs. Marino, Peyton and Vince Young were very rare commodities when they transitioned from the college to the pro game. Likewise for receivers, only Anquan Boldin, Michael Clayton and the once-TE-eligible Marques Colston have eclipsed the 1,000-mark in their initial campaigns over the past six years. In general, most rookie quarterbacks and receivers take roughly two-to-three years to adjust to the fast-paced NFL style. Using this mode of thinking makes drafting an experienced Isaac Bruce (115.5 Y! ADP) over Ted Ginn Jr. (118.3) sensible – unless that guy happens to be Calvin Johnson (56.8). Equipped with incredible natural skills and in a pass-first Mike Martz system, he's the exception to the (avoid rookie WRs) rule.
Tip 7 – Defense and Kickers Should Wade in the Stream
Three years ago in my 14-team league, a close friend of mine – impaired by obvious mental deficiencies and a bottle of Crown Royal – selected the Tennessee Titans defense in Round 3. Unless you want to be viewed by your league-mates as an individual of questionable intellect, never, ever, select a defense or kicker until at least Round 10. Sure, a kicker of Adam Vinatieri proportions, or a tenacious defense like the Chicago Bears can sometimes make all of the difference in any given week. However, in most leagues, a predominant number of defenses, and especially kickers, score marginal points on a weekly basis. Employing a streaming tactic for defenses can be very beneficial. This entails picking up a defense with a favorable matchup off waivers and plugging them into your lineup. Last season, two of the worst fantasy defenses, the New York Jets and New York Giants, each compiled killer outputs in Week 3 and 7 respectively. If you do your homework weekly, you can reap major benefits without having to waste an early pick. When everyone's reaching for the Seattle Seahawks defense in Round 10, you can concentrate on adding depth to your primary positions.
Tip 8 – Don't Sing the Bye Week Blues
How many times have you sat in a draft and realized midway through that both of your starting running backs and your quarterback have the same bye week? Usually, excessive amounts of explicit remarks ensue, followed by nausea and an uncontrollable urge to vomit. How do you solve this? Always take the best player on the board in any situation, but if you can, try to avoid selecting too many players with the same bye week. In many instances, when owners suffer from the bye week blues they simply mail-in a loss, or desperately scour a bare waiver wire in search of a suspect replacement. Draft day is the time to address bye week conundrums. All it takes is one game to squash your hopes of a championship run. Be prepared, have a list of each NFL team's bye weeks next to you on draft day.
Tip 9 – Understand Coaching Philosophies
Scott Linehan loves to pass, Herm Edwards loves to run and Brian Billick depends on a hard-nosed defense. Clearly, understanding the basic offensive schemes a team implements can correlate into fantasy success. For example, new Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt has ambitions of replicating the bruising, ground attack he once coordinated in Pittsburgh. What does this mean? Edgerrin James (48.3 Y! ADP) could excel in a system designed to emphasize his strengths. With the addition of rookie ORT Levi Brown and free-agent acquisition OLT Mike Gandy to resuscitate an offensive line in cardiac arrest a year ago and given the Cards' ability to stretch defenses at will with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, James could be in store for a resurgent season based on the peripherals. Should you depend on him as your RB1 despite the numerous goose-eggs from a year ago? Absolutely. The system improvements could vault Edge back into the 1,600 total yard, 10-12 TD upper class once again. It's these types of surprises that makes owners chumps or champs. Reading up on each team's offensive philosophies will give you an edge on draft day by letting you know who will put up the points and who won't.
Tip 10 – Plan Ahead
In 2006, Steven Jackson, Frank Gore and Ron Dayne were difference makers during fantasy championship clashes in Week 16. Did you have them? Outside of the largely undrafted Dayne, who emerged as waiver wire gold, Jackson, a mid-first rounder, and Gore, a champion third rounder, led many owners to prominence. Why did they outperform top names like LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson and Brian Westbrook when it counted the most? Simply put: matchups. In the salary cap age of the NFL it takes at least a couple of seasons for team defenses to rebuild. This means that teams that are typically bad against the run last season will sing the same woeful tune this year. Since the Green Bay Packers play Oakland (10th most points allowed to RBs in '06) and at St. Louis (2nd most) in Weeks 14 and 15, former Cornhusker Brandon Jackson (122.1 Y! ADP) – an ideal fit for the Packers zone-blocking scheme and my pick to eventually steal the bulk of the carries – and Vernand Morency (124.3) should be upgraded on draft day cheat sheets due to their favorable fantasy playoff slate. Prior to draft day, grab a schedule and peruse the most important weeks of the fantasy season. Planning ahead and exploiting matchups may be all the difference you need when it counts the most.
Whether you step into a draft room physically or virtually, always remember that draft night should be fun, exciting, and entertaining. If you plan on talking smack, back it up with a simple draft plan. By following the tips described above, you are one giant step ahead of the competition!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fantasy Draft Tips
The draft is the foundation of your season. If you have a bad draft, you’re almost certain to have a bad season. While other aspects of the game are important, the fantasy draft is the most important.
In the following fantasy draft preparation tips, you can read general tips, draft tips and auction strategies.
Draft Preparation Tips
1. Learn the Players
2. Know Your System
3. Make a List
4. Chart Injuries
5. Look Inside the Numbers
6. Watch preseason, But Not Too Closely
Fantasy Draft Day Advice
7. Get a Running Game
8. Be Flexible
9. Watch Bye Weeks
10. Chart League Rosters
11. Consult Your Draft Board
12. Consult a Doctor
13. Don’t Drink and Draft
14. Don’t Get Mad
15. Own the Late Rounds
16. Stay Away From Gimmicks
17. Wait on Kickers
18. Keep Your Secrets
Auction Draft Strategies
19. Play the Market
20. Set a Spending Cap
21. Don’t Tip Your Hand
22. Tempt Your Opponents
23. Spend When Appropriate
24. Set Player Tiers
25. Be Opportunistic
26. Corner the Market
Regular Season Tips for Starting Line-Ups
27. Start Your Best Line-Up
28. Know the Injury Report
29. Beware the Broncos and Patriots
30. Visit a Forum
31. Know the Weather
32. Look at the Match-Ups
33. Study the Injuries of Your Opponents
Fantasy Football Free Agency
34. Be Aggressive Early in the Season
35. Target Receivers in Free Agency
36. Beware of One-Week Wonders
37. Grab Handcuffs
38. Fresh Legs Beat Tired Legs
39. Keep an Eye on Rookies
40. Know Who to Cut
41. Stockpile Talent
Fantasy Trades
42. Pull the Trigger
43. Target Your Needs
44. Sell High, Buy Low
45. Look at Bye Weeks
46. Make Trade Proposals
47. Put Yourself in Their Shoes
48. Mind Your Manners
49. Don’t Help a Friend
50. Enjoy the Game
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Top 15 For Each Position
QB
1. Aaron Rodgers Green Bay
2. Drew Brees New Orleans
3. Peyton Manning Indianapolis
4. Tom Brady New England
5. Tony Romo Dallas
6. Matt Schaub Houston
7. Philip Rivers San Diego
8. Brett Favre* Minnesota
9. Jay Cutler Chicago
10. Kevin Kolb Philadelphia
11. Eli Manning N.Y. Giants
12. Donovan McNabb Washington
13. Matt Ryan Atlanta
14. Joe Flacco Baltimore
15. Carson Palmer Cincinnati
RB
1. Chris Johnson Tennessee
2. Adrian Peterson Minnesota
3. Maurice Jones-Drew Jacksonville
4. Ray Rice Baltimore
5. Frank Gore San Francisco
6. Michael Turner Atlanta
7. Rashard Mendenhall Pittsburgh
8. Ryan Mathews San Diego
9. Steven Jackson St. Louis
10. Shonn Greene N.Y. Jets
11. Cedric Benson Cincinnati
12. Jamaal Charles Kansas City
13. DeAngelo Williams Carolina
14. Ryan Grant Green Bay
15. Knowshon Moreno Denver
2. Adrian Peterson Minnesota
3. Maurice Jones-Drew Jacksonville
4. Ray Rice Baltimore
5. Frank Gore San Francisco
6. Michael Turner Atlanta
7. Rashard Mendenhall Pittsburgh
8. Ryan Mathews San Diego
9. Steven Jackson St. Louis
10. Shonn Greene N.Y. Jets
11. Cedric Benson Cincinnati
12. Jamaal Charles Kansas City
13. DeAngelo Williams Carolina
14. Ryan Grant Green Bay
15. Knowshon Moreno Denver
WR
1. Andre Johnson Houston
2. Larry Fitzgerald Arizona
3. Randy Moss New England
4. Reggie Wayne Indianapolis
5. Calvin Johnson Detroit
6. Miles Austin Dallas
7. Roddy White Atlanta
8. DeSean Jackson Philadelphia
9. Brandon Marshall Miami
10. Marques Colston New Orleans
11. Greg Jennings Green Bay
12. Anquan Boldin Baltimore
13. Sidney Rice Minnesota
14. Steve Smith Carolina
15. Steve Smith N.Y. Giants
2. Larry Fitzgerald Arizona
3. Randy Moss New England
4. Reggie Wayne Indianapolis
5. Calvin Johnson Detroit
6. Miles Austin Dallas
7. Roddy White Atlanta
8. DeSean Jackson Philadelphia
9. Brandon Marshall Miami
10. Marques Colston New Orleans
11. Greg Jennings Green Bay
12. Anquan Boldin Baltimore
13. Sidney Rice Minnesota
14. Steve Smith Carolina
15. Steve Smith N.Y. Giants
TE
1. Dallas Clark Indianapolis
2. Antonio Gates San Diego
3. Vernon Davis San Francisco
4. Brent Celek Philadelphia
5. Jason Witten Dallas
6. Jermichael Finley Green Bay
7. Tony Gonzalez Atlanta
8. Owen Daniels Houston
9. Kellen Winslow Tampa Bay
10. Visanthe Shiancoe Minnesota
11. Chris Cooley Washington
12. Zach Miller Oakland
13. Heath Miller Pittsburgh
14. John Carlson Seattle
15. Greg Olsen Chicago
2. Antonio Gates San Diego
3. Vernon Davis San Francisco
4. Brent Celek Philadelphia
5. Jason Witten Dallas
6. Jermichael Finley Green Bay
7. Tony Gonzalez Atlanta
8. Owen Daniels Houston
9. Kellen Winslow Tampa Bay
10. Visanthe Shiancoe Minnesota
11. Chris Cooley Washington
12. Zach Miller Oakland
13. Heath Miller Pittsburgh
14. John Carlson Seattle
15. Greg Olsen Chicago
Kickers
1. Stephen Gostkowski New England
2. Garrett Hartley New Orleans
3. Nate Kaeding San Diego
4. David Akers Philadelphia
5. Mason Crosby Green Bay
6. Ryan Longwell Minnesota
7. Rob Bironas Tennessee
8. Matt Prater Denver
9. Lawrence Tynes N.Y. Giants
10. Robbie Gould Chicago
11. Jay Feely Arizona
12. Shayne Graham Baltimore
13. Ryan Succop Kansas City
14. Dan Carpenter Miami
15. Sebastian Janikowski Oakland
2. Garrett Hartley New Orleans
3. Nate Kaeding San Diego
4. David Akers Philadelphia
5. Mason Crosby Green Bay
6. Ryan Longwell Minnesota
7. Rob Bironas Tennessee
8. Matt Prater Denver
9. Lawrence Tynes N.Y. Giants
10. Robbie Gould Chicago
11. Jay Feely Arizona
12. Shayne Graham Baltimore
13. Ryan Succop Kansas City
14. Dan Carpenter Miami
15. Sebastian Janikowski Oakland
DEF.
1. New York Jets
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Green Bay Packers
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
7. New Orleans Saints
8. San Francisco 49ers
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Chicago Bears
11. San Diego Chargers
12. New York Giants
13. Miami Dolphins
14. New England Patriots
15. Cincinnati Bengals
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Green Bay Packers
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
7. New Orleans Saints
8. San Francisco 49ers
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Chicago Bears
11. San Diego Chargers
12. New York Giants
13. Miami Dolphins
14. New England Patriots
15. Cincinnati Bengals
All credit goes to Google and It's searching abilities (:
#2. Posted:
Status: Offline
Joined: Dec 31, 200914Year Member
Posts: 2,987
Reputation Power: 180
Status: Offline
Joined: Dec 31, 200914Year Member
Posts: 2,987
Reputation Power: 180
Updated with top 15 for each position..
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#3. Posted:
Status: Offline
Joined: Dec 11, 200914Year Member
Posts: 741
Reputation Power: 196
Status: Offline
Joined: Dec 11, 200914Year Member
Posts: 741
Reputation Power: 196
pretty good post i play in mostly ppr leagues and leagues that give points for every 5 completions for qbs so i usually try to grab brees early in the second and get 3 quality wr's and rb's that catch the ball
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