The easiest way to learn any subject is to experience it firsthand. No quantity of cheatsheets, checklists, buddy advice, or new ideas can replace the wisdom that comes with years of experience.
The good news is that it is possible to glean some knowledge from those which were there before. Our science is created by standing on the shoulders of giants, and our games are exactly the same way.
These are tips every fantasy football pro learns through their experience.
1. Understand what sort of league you’re in.
The sort of league is just a aspect in the worthiness of a player. Brandin Cooks is an excellent example; Cooks was a good pickup in dynasty leagues a year ago บอลสเต็ป 3, but wasn’t greater than a sleeper option in redraft leagues until this year. After gaining some experience, he’s projected as a possible stud.
2. Know your league’s roster rules.
Sure, it could have been great to possess Marshawn Lynch, DeMarco Murray, and LeSean McCoy as your first three picks, if the starting lineup can only just include two running backs, plenty of points will go to waste while another position suffers. A master always includes a full roster plan in mind.
3. Vary picks centered on scoring system.
Having a good quarterback is nice, but most leagues nerf their scoring capability by reducing how many points earned from passing stats. Aaron Rodgers is worth a top draft pick at six points per TD and one point per 20 passing yards. Four per TD and one point per 30? Not much.
The most typical example is PPR (points per reception). Wide receivers gain value, and the running back rankings get shuffled. Matt Forte is a mid to low end RB1 in traditional scoring, in a league that uses PPR, he’s a stud. One point per reception adds 100 points to his total in 2014 alone.
4. Draft safer picks early.
Don’t assume all “safe” player gets to play the summer season, but it’s possible to lessen the risk. Every player available early is a good player. Regardless of a year ago, picking Adrian Peterson over Darren “Glass Man” McFadden was a smart choice to any pro. Early picks are the cornerstones of a team, and picking an accident or legal risk in the initial round is unnecessary.
5. Draft for upside after starters and subs are set.
Grabbing a halfway decent starter as an additional or third backup wide receiver may sound great, but it’s a terrible idea. Players can and will go down during the season. Most importantly, players can and will play confirmed year. Arian Foster the year he broke out, Kelvin Benjamin a year ago, and Alfred Blue and Davante Adams this year are great examples of “sleepers”- players that surprised most owners and put up top end fantasy scores. The league champion will likely have 1 or 2 starters that no one expected, and unless a league uses 20 man rosters replacement level players to cover bye weeks and injuries will soon be readily available.
6. Never draft a kicker or defense early.
Every rule has exceptions, but think about the previous tip. Acquiring a top end kicker or defense takes a pick somewhere in the eight to tenth rounds, a good range to choose top end sleepers. Kickers vary wildly from year to year, and many pro fantasy players make use of a different defense each week to chase easy matchups. A “streaming defense” can outperform even top end defenses. That doesn’t mean drafting the Seahawks isn’t worth the pick, there’s just more value in waiting on a top defense.
They’re just the beginning. It’s possible to write entire novels on fantasy football, and each and every rule can occasionally be broken. The key is to consider this 1 word: value. The very best fantasy football owners find methods to generate extra value and acquire better players for less cost.