Here is your Top 10 tips for next year’s Fantasy Football draft: These tips are learned from many years of playing the Fantasy Football game and if followed will win you your league!
- 1. Don’t follow last year points, unless their names are Rodgers, Brees or Brady just going on how many points a player scored this year will get you into trouble. Think 2010 examples; C. Johnson, Vick, McFadden, Hillis. Vick was a one year wonder and propelled him into a first round choice, many a veteran fantasy owner would have reviewed his portfolio and saw he was injury prone and only had one “unreal” year. Unless there is a three year track record, don’t simply take last year’s top point getter.
- 2. Next Year take a Running Back in the first round! Either way, the pool of Running Backs next year will be thin and you better choose one in the first round or you are going to end up with a back-up as your only choice.
- 3. “Next Year the crop of WR will be real deep”. There are the well-known names at wide receiver that everyone will want to draft in the early rounds. While they are doing so, get your running back and stud quarterback. Knowing that the next generation of stud WR’s will be there for you to scoop up and surprise everyone when you win consistently. Don’t worry if you miss out on Roddy White, Miles Austin, Calvin Johnson and the like. The pool is deep next year and Laurent Robinson, Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Torrey Smith, AJ Green, Vincent Brown, and Heyward-Bey are going to get you some pretty big weeks.
- 4. You better be prepared to play the “wire”. If you have played Fantasy Football for a while, you already know that the team you draft will look nothing like the team you end with. Injuries, unexpected new stars, suspensions, will all take their toll on your team. Keeping abreast of who is available on free agency is a must! You cannot win without exercising the add/drop button throughout the year.
- 5. It’s a long season! Don’t pull the trigger to sit that number one wide receiver, running back or tight end too soon. You have to let the season play out for you. In 2011, Roddy White was off to a slow start and many owners sat him or traded him. He came into a very strong second half of the season and won those who had faith championships. Be patient with your studs.
- 6. Have a backup plan at draft time. After you have drafted your starting running backs, look to draft their backups. Owners in 2011 who drafted Arian Foster were smart to draft Ben Tate. They were paid off very nicely; while Foster nursed his hamstring Tate had impressive stats. The same goes for McFadden and Bush, Peterson and Gerhart, Bradshaw and Jacobs, I think you get the point. This will reduce the number of waiver wire moves you will have to make. It’s just like purchasing insurance.
- 7. Take some Risk for Reward. Start your studs, but always take a chance with those players who have big play ability but may not always be consistent. For example; Roddy White is a must start and is Mr. Consistent. If you had Torrey Smith, Antonio Brown or Julio Jones on your roster, you may want to put one of them in for the hope of one of their huge weeks.
- 8. Beware of the Expert Advice. Wait a minute isn’t this article “expert advice”? Well, sort of but not the kind I am writing about. Each week in the national media you will hear the so called “experts” say you have to sit so and so because they have a tough match up. There are too many examples for me to list where they were all out wrong! They are right, maybe 50% of the time. Really, that means that whatever they say they have a 50/50 chance of being right. Never, ever listen to them if they say; “sit Lesean McCoy this week, he has a tough match-up”. You play your studs, bottom line (unless injured, of course).
- 9. Save your kicker for the last pick. Ok, veterans of fantasy and even relatively new players know this, but I am not going to assume that everyone has thought of this. Find offenses that are high scoring and choose kickers of those teams.
- 10. Pick kickers who play 50% of their games in domes. A nice strategy that has worked very well. Removing the elements from a kicker’s game is a huge benefit, especially in the winter months. If all the kickers who play in domes are gone by the time you pick, stay away from the Northeastern teams (think; Buffalo). Wind, sleet, snow, heavy rain all play havoc in the kicking game.
About the Author: John Lewandowski, owner of Johnny Lew’s Sports and an avid Fantasy Football player for over 5 years! He was and lost championships, but most of all has had a blast along the way. Hope you share the same passion. Write with any questions or advise to: [email protected]
