As you may know, there are many strategies when it comes to drafting a fantasy team, from the very basic and easy to learn, to the complex tactics that take years to develop. How much time and effort you put in doing pre-draft research and preparation will determine how in-depth your strategy can be.
When it comes to employing the “Tiers” strategy, the basic idea is that you make lists of players for each position in the order of whom you would like to draft onto your roster and then splitting that list up into tiers. This is where the research and due diligence comes in.
Determining the value of players consists of your own philosophies and experiences in conjunction with your league’s scoring rules. For example, Points Per Reception (PPR) leagues put more value on running backs, receivers and tight ends who average more receptions per game, while Standard leagues put more emphasis on scoring touchdowns. Meanwhile, Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues value defensive players, while Dynasty league drafts are primarily focused on rookies, second year players, and “sleepers”.
Once you have studied players with your league’s scoring rules in mind, the next step is to list out each position with the players who you feel will be able to help your team the most. I’ll be using Standard scoring rules for my example.
Let’s start with the running backs. The importance of the running back position in standard leagues is heightened because they do everything but throw touchdowns. Running backs are also treasured due to the injury frequency involved with the position. Because of this, the NFL has mostly gone away from using only one back to carry the load throughout a full season. Thus, it is extremely vital to get a running back that is not only good, but durable. Being their team’s primary rusher is also a valuable trait. With these principles in mind, you can now make the list of backs you will be considering come draft day.
Once you have listed out the players, it’s now time to assign tiers. Assigning tiers puts value on a group of players as opposed to individuals. This makes it easier to keep track of drafted players as well as the guys you are targeting. The goal of drafting using the tiers method is to obtain the most players in the highest tiers.
RUNNING BACKS
TIER 1 1. Adrian Peterson Vikings
- Le’Veon Bell Steelers
- Devonta Freeman Falcons
- Doug Martin Buccaneers
- LaMar Miller Texans
- Todd Gurley Rams
- David Johnson Cardinals
TIER 2 8. Ezekiel Elliott Cowboys
- Jamaal Charles Chiefs
- Matt Forte Jets
- Latavius Murray Raiders
- Mark Ingram Saints
- Thomas Rawls Seahawks
- DeMarco Murray Titans
- LeSean McCoy Bills
TIER 3 16. Chris Ivory Jaguars
- C.J. Anderson Broncos
- Jeremy Hill Bengals
- Carlos Hyde 49’ers
- Eddie Lacy Packers
- Jay Ajayi Dolphins
- Jeremy Langford Bears
- Matt Jones Redskins
- Jonathan Stewart Panthers
TIER 4 25. Ryan Mathews Eagles
- Melvin Gordon Chargers
- Giovani Bernard Bengals
- Frank Gore Colts
- Alfred Morris Cowboys
- T.J. Yeldon Jaguars
No matter which position, the first tier should contain “can’t miss” players. These players are who you believe will be near the top of fantasy scoring each week. Obviously, you want to get as many of these guys on your roster as possible.
Tier two contains the players who have the potential to be in the top tier but have one or two question marks heading into the season. If you can’t get a player from tier one for a certain position, it is imperative to land players from the second tier.
The third tier is made up of players who have performed in the past and/or have other factors working against them once the season kicks off. These players need help, such as injuries to players ranked above them, to become weekly starters.
The fourth tier should be players who are long shots, or “sleepers” that under the right circumstances could produce for you when their matchups are favorable. Filling out your roster with the right “tier four” players requires a lot of luck, but researching these players fully will give you an edge in the later rounds of your draft.
The tier draft strategy pertains to each position you are drafting. It is definitely more work, but hopefully you will be going into your draft with more information and more confidence than your fellow owners. “Keep On Scramblin’” and hit me up on Twitter @MaahsScrambler.
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