Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

Here is my Fantasy Football draft strategy.  It is broken down by position.  I'm sure that there will be disagreements; however, this strategy has worked well for me.

QB:

Last year, the top six leading scorers in both ESPN.com and NFL.com leagues were quarterbacks.  Therefore, I suggest picking a quarterback in the 1^st round.  However, you don’t want your starting quarterback to be on a running team.  Also, make sure you pick up a solid back-up quarterback with a different bye week than your starter.  Needless to say, don’t draft a guy that can’t hit the broadside of a barn. 

Also, don’t draft quarterbacks that haven’t been named the starter yet (ex: Geno Smith).  You don’t want to be stuck with a player that is a back-up.  This goes for any position.  You can always pick them up in free agency later, once they’ve been named the starter.  

RB:

Pick running backs from teams that consistently run the football.  You don’t want a running back on a team that always passes (ex: Saints).  Also, pick running backs from good teams.  You don’t want a running back from a team that is always playing from behind and has to pass the ball. 

Furthermore, stay away from platoons in which the running backs split carries (ex: Panthers).  They do not work well for Fantasy Football.  Additionally, make sure your running backs are the starters on their actual teams, because back-up running backs in the NFL don’t produce consistent fantasy points. 

           

Take chances on sleepers.  Look for guys that are physical specimens (fast and big).  Also, look for good receiving backs, because they can rack up some nice points.

WR:

You want a wide receiver from a team with a good quarterback, otherwise they won’t get the ball (ex: Larry Fitzgerald in 2012).  They don’t necessarily have to be on a good team, they just need a respectable quarterback. 

The trend in the NFL is tall, strong, and fast wide receivers (ex: Calvin Johnson & Julio Jones).  This is because small cornerbacks can’t cover them.  During the draft, look for these types of receivers.  Of course, it’s also a good idea to draft wide receivers on passing teams.  

TE:

Draft a tight end that is big and fast, because they are too fast for linebackers and too big for defensive backs.  They create match-up problems.  A good tight end can be a huge asset to your team.

Kicker:

Pick a kicker from a team with a halfway decent offense, so they have the opportunity to kick field goals.  A kicker can be a good source of points.  However, if your kicker loses his confidence, get rid of him. 

Furthermore, don’t waste a roster spot by drafting a back-up kicker.  When your kicker has his bye-week, pick up a back-up just for that week.  Then drop him at the end of the week. 

D/ST:

Defenses are unpredictable at the beginning of the year.  Also, injuries happen throughout the course of a season, which affects the defenses.  It’s always a safe bet to go with traditionally good defenses.  I try to pick a defense with a good pass rush, because that will create turnovers, which means more points for me.

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Pick solid players that can fill in during bye-weeks.  Your bench should consist of a back-up quarterback, a second defense, role players to fill positions, and sleepers.  You want to have a good bench, so that you have depth in case of injuries.  Also, the tiebreaker in match-ups is normally your bench points, so that is another incentive of having a good bench.

Check out Fantasy Football Draft Guide for more tips.