Fantasy football has become a monster in it’s own, and has completely changed how many fans even watch football. Fans are less carrying about the standings and over-enthused with the stat sheet. When playing fantasy football, the end result isn’t crucial, but the performance of each offensive player can have huge ramifications.
Whether you’re new to fantasy football or a season vet, it’s important to follow some of these golden rules that could make the difference between another disapointing season and becoming a powerhouse in your respective league.
1. Get a Good Quarterback
In fantasy, taking running backs early and often is crucial, as good running backs get 100+ yards a game and 8+ touchdowns a season, and that consistency is key. However, what people overlook is finding an equally consistent quarterback.
Every year there are about 4-5 elite running backs that get you into the 1,600 yard and 12 touchdown seasons, and 15-20 solid backs that are starting material and are consisent. However, when it comes to quarterbacks, there are rarely 8-10 guys that give you a great season and help your team each week. While a quarterback isn’t worth the Top 5, being the first guy in your league to take a quarterback and getting solid backs later in the draft is the safer bet, especially if you have a few backs who may surprise.
2. Beware of Bye-Weeks
Especially for new fantasy goers, take note of every player’s bye week. Granted it’s only one week, but this could drastically change your team and season just because you weren’t aware. For example, I’ve seen in the past where a team owner had one running back, three receivers, and his defense all have a bye week on the same day. He had to cut a back-up running back to get himself a receiver, lost that week, and lost Steve Slaton early into his fantastic rookie season.
Don’t worry about it throughly, but be sure that you find a quarterback to replace your starter on his by week, you have 2-3 receivers and 1-2 running backs good each week, and a few guys in the waiver wire you can pick up.
3. Avoid Receivers With Poor Quarterbacks
Sometime the most talented receivers don’t get a chance to showcase their skills because of their quarterback, but fantasy is no time to feel for them. For example, Lee Evans and Steve Smith are Top 20 receivers in the NFL based on talent, but when it comes to their quarterback situation, I wouldn’t take them in the Top 20 when it comes to receivers.
This is especially important when looking at non-number one receivers, as a weak quarterback will find a way to get his top guy his touches, but those number two and slot receivers really struggle.
4. If Possible, Try for Quarterback-Reciever Combo
I’ve seen many fantasy games and leagues one because of the Brady-Moss combo, Manning-Wayne combo, and Brees-Colston combo. It’s not useful for each quarterback-number one receiver connection, as some offenses will go dormant for a game and you’ll struggle with both players.
However, if you can find a connection with a great quarterback, it means double points when your teammates score, so your fortunes can change in one throw from quarterback to receiver. This year, watch for Schaub-Andre Johnson and Henne-Marshall to really explode.
5. No Need for a Backup Tight End or Kicker
Another mistake some new fantasy owners do, there is no need to back-up the two most unimportant positions on your roster. When your starters have a bye-week, just cut your 6th receiver or 4th running back or 2nd quarterback for a week and start a free agent guy. It’s not worth wasting a roster spot on a guy who will play maybe two weeks, most likely one.
6. Go Defense After You Have Starting QB, RBs, WRs, and Backup at Running Back and Receiver
I’ve heard fantasy “experts” claim that you need to pick defense late because it’s “not worth” the high pick. Well, I disagree.
Defense should be treated in fantasy like a regular position, and in my opinion higher than tight end and especially kicker. Defense can get you loads of points, especially if you have one of the top tier ones that cause turnovers like the Jets, Ravens, and Cowboys. A top tight end might take priority, but after you have your starters a few key back-ups, snatch up a top notch defense.
7. No Question, Pick a Kicker in Final Two Rounds
I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but it’s something that deffinitly holds true. First off, kickers usually aren’t huge point gainers, so there is no use in wasting them. Second, most fans and teams don’t know how kickers will perform on a year to year basis, and one year’s top guy, such as Nick Folk of the Cowboys, may lose his job in a year or two. Still, if you have a sleeper that no one else will take, save him for the final round and snatch up a top notch kicker if you have that luxury.
8. Know Who Your Starters Should Be
This may sound confusing, but this is the basis for why you’ll be kicking yourself before AND after you set your lineups. During and after your draft, start to decide who your starters are going to be for the season. Going by a week-by-week basis for most positions will make you do way to much research each week, and still the guy you benched might have 150 yards rushing.
The best stratagy, in my opinion, is to make sure you get guys that you think will have consistent seasons all year, take one backup at running back and receiver that you feel could explode but you aren’t sure, and the rest sleepers who could surprise. For example, getting Sidney Rice, Wes Welker, and Anquan Boldin as your starters because they should have 1,000+ yard seasons, Eddie Royal as the guy that could explode, and Malcolm Kelly and Brandon LaFell as your sleepers.
9. After You’re Set on Starters a Few Good Backups, Search for Sleepers
Tagging along with the past point, after you have your starters and a few solid backups across the board, take some sleepers. Odds are, you’re going to switch up your roster courtesy of the waiver wire throughout the season, so these 4th running backs and 6th receivers have slim odds on staying with your team all year.
So take some guys who could explode, but if they don’t, you won’t feel too bad. For example, look at a guy like Ben Tate in Houston who could start by Week 2-3 in a great running system or rookie receivers like Brandon LaFell or Mike Williams who could start.
10. Pick at Least One Player from your Favorite Team
This isn’t really a fantasy strategy, but something I like to do and something that will keep fantasy a little “real” for you. For diehard football fans with a favorite team, it’s sometimes hard to wish that Tom Brady has a 400 yard touchdown game on Monday Night football in Week 14 when he’s playing your playoff hopeful Miami Dolphins.
While you can’t stop it altogether, drafting at least one player from you favorite team will give you someone extra to root for when your team is playing.
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