I'm a rookie

[AFskinsfan]

So I thought I would post this question here since I have always gotten such great feedback from ES members. I did a search and couldn't find anything current and relevent to my question.

This is my first year doing FF. The league I am in is full of trash talkers. I can hold my own when it comes to the trash, I think being a DC native helps, but I really don't have a good grasp on the strategy of FF. What is the best way to draft, as far as players go? Do I just go for the top player on the board at that time or do I stick to a predetermined plan handed down by the skins Gods? If so what would be the best order? Also Is there any good resources I can research that you would recommend?

[jrockster21]

Personally, I find that consistently its running backs that give you the most points. Consequently, I draft an RB in the 1st and 2nd rounds.

Basically, in rounds 1-5, you should be able to pick up some fantasy studs. The really good teams are able to pick up 5.

Here are some tips:
1) Don't pick a defense or a kicker too early. YOu can switch those up from week to week based on matchups and be fine.
2) Apart from Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer (last year), most QBs are pretty similar in fantasy points. Thus I don't suggest going for a fantasy QB until the earliest, round 5. But that's just me.
3) Rounds 5-10 are where you make your team...this is where you nab sleepers, and guys you expect to explode. Don't be afraid to reach on a guy, especially if your gut tells you he's going to blow up. I remember two years ago, I reached in the 5th round on an unknown TE named Gates....and that paid off big time. :)


Anyway, good luck! If you're anything like me, you'll be addicted to fantasy football in no time. :laugh: I know I am!! :D

[skinfan2k]

basically go with best player apporach regardless of depth i believe.. i love to accumlate depth... if suppose u already have gates and tony g is still available and better than other choices, take him and use him later to trade for someoen eles who needs a TE.. also find a veteran who has a big name but defintely declining because of age, u can get more than u expect in a trade

[CTaylor42]

I agree with JRockster. You need to take a RB in the first two rounds. I usually take a receiver in the third and QB in the fourth, and TE in the fifth. I usually take D/ST in the 10th or after. I thought that, that was a little late, but I learned from the veterens on this board that it was ok to wait late to draft a D.

I got addicted to FF about four years ago, and now I don't know what football season would be without it.

[SkinsNut73]

Like most others said, RB is THE position you want to go after first. This will be my 15th year in fantasy football. I have experimented with every possible combination of drafting strategies. I've taken QB's and WR's with the first pick in years past...gone for the best player available approach...I've tried it all. The strategy that I finally settled on is at least 2 RB's to start off with. Quite simply, I make the playoffs every time I take 2 RB's off the top (in a 14 team league).

Last year, I took 3 RB's in the first 3 rounds. Took Portis in round one, Tiki Barber in round 2...and Warrick Dunn was still there when round 3 rolled around. I could have gone to WR and started filling that need...but all the good WR's were long gone by then. Later in the year, Dunn and another scrub were sent in a trade for Marvin Harrison.

JRock has a good point....the middle rounds is where you will win your league. Don't waste your study time trying to figure out if you are going to draft Marvin Harrison or Chad Johnson. Figure you will come away with a "stud" in the first 3 rounds regardless...start working on those sleeper picks now.




There are several fantasy sites out there...4for4.com, KFFL, Fantasy Insights, Pro Football Weekly, Football Guys...the one bit of advice I will give you that I have not seen posted yet...

Get yourself an updated depth chart list AND an updated fantasy cheat sheet (top 50 or 100 players at each position). Print them out a night or two before your draft...no earlier. You DO NOT want to be the guy who shows up on draft day with a magazine you purchased in June...and when your pick rolls around you select someone who tore an ACL in preseason, or some QB who was demoted to 3rd string, or someone who retired during training camp....I've seen ALL of these scenarios take place over the years. I love it as an opposing owner...but you don't want to be that guy.

[OVCChairman]

1. RB's ANCHOR your team...forget the big name QB's, you get 2 good RB's and a Decent QB, you will do fine.

2. WR's are all talk, no walk when it comes to fantasy points. You need the Consistant ones. Just because a guy doesnt have a touchdown, some routinely put up over 100 yards and that is HUGE.

3. TE's are your sleepers....there are only 5 or 6 TE's in the league that put up consistant numbers....so choose wisely because a TE can completely change the course of the fantasy week.

4. Defenses are the opposite of thier rankings....you dont want a dominant defense because they tend to play primarily for the win. you need the defense that is flashy, showboats and catches TD's....

[Mr. S]

my first year doing fantasy I ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the 3 leagues I did. Each league had at least 10 players or more, and this was two years ago that I first did it. Basically, no matter who you draft, chances are some of them will be let go. Fantasy is also won after week 1 and 2 adjustments. 2 years ago, I picked up little-known Antonio Gates due to his monstrous week one stats, damn was that awesome. Last year, Kevin Curtis did some great things for me. Also, do not draft a QB in the first round, not even Peyton Manning, as then you just miss out on a good RB. Almost all QB's can throw 4td's a game in ideal situations, like Manning can do regularly. I know people who just use a revolving QB door as well as for defenses.

One of our four playoff contenders in one league last year barely had anyone he drafted left. Picked up guys like Eli Manning, Earnest Wilford, who did admirably when he overhauled his team. He had at least 10 wins in a 14 game season. Also, be weary of bye weeks, they can potentially destroy you if you have too many studs go out.

[mojobo]

A few things i keep in the back of my mind when drafting is how many good players (players that are 99% likely to be great and that have no questions concerning their play) at each position are there. For me, I'd say there are 4 RBs (LJ, Alexander, Portis, Tomlinson) who fit this, 2 WR (Chad Johnson, Steve Smith), 2 TE (Gates, Gonzalez), 1 QB (Peyton Manning). Make sure one or more of these players are on your team. Then look for players with upside that might be overlooked. Teams with good head and offensive coaches usually make players better than they are. My sleeper team to get players off of is the Lions because of Martz who makes almost every QB/ RB on his team great. I've heard many people talk about how good Denver will be for RBs. Expect most of the Redskins to have better numbers as well because of Saunders. Then watch out for players who are getting older. For RBs this is usually players in their late 20s/ 30s or earlier if they are power RBs or ones who take a lot of hits who have taken the load for a couple of seasons. For WRs these are players in their 30s. When looking at trades try to find out what other players favorite teams are as they will give more for thier favorite player (ex i would give a lot for portis/ moss). When in the season look for players who are doing good and pick up players right when you see them have a good game or even half. He will either be good for a while or can be used as trade bait if you think its only a one time thing.

[dbarton3]

I agree with the rest- solid RB's first and a top WR in the third. After Manning and Palmer the rest of the QB's don't have a large difference in their fantasy production. The TE you select can make the difference for you wk to wk. I usually wait till the last rounds to take my kickers and DE's. It's funny to watch guys going on a run of selecting kickers in the middle rounds!