Fantasy Draft Day...Are You Ready?
The most important day of your 2009 fantasy football season. The decisions made on draft day are crucial to your fantasy success and winning the league championship.
Do you have a draft strategy?
This guide offers a quick overview of basic fantasy football draft strategy and tips for a great draft.
Do you have a draft strategy?
This guide offers a quick overview of basic fantasy football draft strategy and tips for a great draft.
Rank or Position Based Ranking
A rank based strategy ranks each player against every other player based on total projected fantasy points scored regardless of position. This is the most common player ranking system.
Value Based Ranking
With a value based system, you first project each player's total fantasy points. Then you rank each player based on how much he outscores other players at the same position.
Basic Strategies
Below are a few basic strategies to get you started. Choose one before you draft and think about what players you want to target. The flow of the draft can change suddenly so be prepared to change strategy if needed.
Remember to consider your draft position when choosing your strategy. If you have the 12th pick in a 14 team league, consider drafting a top WR or QB before picking a RB.
Remember to consider your draft position when choosing your strategy. If you have the 12th pick in a 14 team league, consider drafting a top WR or QB before picking a RB.
Draft Two Running Backs First
Pros - You secure 2 top RBs with a time proven strategy.
Cons - You might get better value at another position (miss out on a superior WR or QB). It's the same strategy most of your league will be using.
Take The Best Available Player First
Figure out who the best available value is across the board and pick that player.
Pros - Instead of stacking up one position, you could have higher quality starters at each position.
Cons - You're living on the edge a little and could end up having to work trade deals before the season starts.
Pros - Instead of stacking up one position, you could have higher quality starters at each position.
Cons - You're living on the edge a little and could end up having to work trade deals before the season starts.
Draft 2 RBs In First 3 or 4 Rounds
A variation of the 2 RBs first strategy. Here your goal is to secure a top tier RB, an almost top tier RB and a top WR or QB.
Pros - You secure a top RB and a top WR or QB to lead your offense.
Cons - Your #2 RB won't be as good.
Pros - You secure a top RB and a top WR or QB to lead your offense.
Cons - Your #2 RB won't be as good.
Fantasy Football Guide Books
Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win Through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/18/2009) 
Fantasy Football For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))
Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/18/2009)
Your Official Guide on How to Dominate Fantasy Football
Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 12/18/2009)
Draft Tips
Build a Cheat Sheet - A good cheat sheet is a must and you'll depend on it heavily to guide you through each round. It should include your player rankings with their position, bye week, projected points, etc. The projected point totals should be calculated using your league's scoring rules.
Prepare Early - Start ranking players and building your cheat sheet as soon as possible. Once you get it set up you can make adjustments as needed due to injuries, player moves, etc right up to the draft.
Pay Attention - Keep track of what players have been picked and by who. Take it easy on the alcohol...you'll need a clear head.
Prepare Early - Start ranking players and building your cheat sheet as soon as possible. Once you get it set up you can make adjustments as needed due to injuries, player moves, etc right up to the draft.
Pay Attention - Keep track of what players have been picked and by who. Take it easy on the alcohol...you'll need a clear head.
Is This Your First Draft?
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Have you tried value based drafting?
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Alternative Draft Strategies
Here are some other strategies you might want to consider:
Don't Draft A Kicker - Use your kicker's roster spot to pick up an extra sleeper, backup or other player you're watching during pre-season. You can drop your least valuable player and add a free agent kicker any time before the season starts. This works best if your draft is more than a week before the first game. Some leagues require that you fill all starting roster spots in the draft so quietly check your league's rules to make sure it's allowed.
Draft From A Powerhouse Team - It's risky but you might want to draft several players from a high scoring NFL team (ie: Patriots or Colts). Make sure you have a plan to cover that team's bye week.
Don't Draft A Kicker - Use your kicker's roster spot to pick up an extra sleeper, backup or other player you're watching during pre-season. You can drop your least valuable player and add a free agent kicker any time before the season starts. This works best if your draft is more than a week before the first game. Some leagues require that you fill all starting roster spots in the draft so quietly check your league's rules to make sure it's allowed.
Draft From A Powerhouse Team - It's risky but you might want to draft several players from a high scoring NFL team (ie: Patriots or Colts). Make sure you have a plan to cover that team's bye week.
Special Tips For An Online Draft
Test Your Connection - Your online draft site should have a way to test your connection and download any required applets or plug-ins in advance. Do this well before the draft to make sure that you can connect through your firewall, spyware blockers, etc. with enough time to adjust any settings if needed.
Pre-rank Your Picks - If you can't attend or lose your internet connection, the computer will pick for you using the site's rankings. You can enter in your own rankings for the computer to use instead.
Pre-rank Your Picks - If you can't attend or lose your internet connection, the computer will pick for you using the site's rankings. You can enter in your own rankings for the computer to use instead.
Recent Blog Posts With Draft Tips
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- Fantasy Focus: Week 15 Fantasy Football Preview & Rankings : Lucky ...
- Week 15 fantasy football preview in Lucky Lester's Fantasy Focus. This article previews some of the NFL top players and suggests week 15 2009 rankings. ... This week I have some solid sleepers ready to wake up and give you a playoff win if you need some help, as I've placed an extra five guys in my ?super sleeper? realm ? guys that are waiver wire fodder right now, ready to spring into starter action for draft pick duds. It's playoffs, nobody's feelings will be hurt, ...
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Comments
Was this draft info helpful? What draft strategies work best for you?
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- Artemus-Gordon Artemus-Gordon Aug 27, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
- It seems every year my draft strategy is out the door by the second round. Of course two years ago I won league but then last I barely made the playoffs and lost in the first round. So I am not sure if I am doing things right or wrong, but it is still fun.
by Mac33
2009 will be my 7th year playing fantasy football. I've played in leagues with both online and in-person drafts. Most of my teams were in very compet... (more)
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