Sometime ago, the Docs were approached by a journalist asking the
question, “If you could only give five short tips for playing fantasy football,
what would they be?” For those new to fantasy football, this article
is for you. For those savy veterans out there, the Docs may appear
to be Jedi masters of the obvious; however, among the gory details of more
advanced fantasy football tactics, it is always a good idea to review the
basics to keep the prime directives of fantasy football priority one.
1) Draft running backs early and often. They are the
most valuable position relative to the quality and demand of most fantasy
leagues. With only 32 NFL teams and typically two running backs required
for the start in most fantasy leagues, they’re hot commodities on draft day.
2) Start your studs. Your top players should always
be in your lineup. Starting a lesser player over a stud due to a more
“favorable” matchup can cost you a lot of points and grief.
3) Use the waiver wire. Free agents will help you fill
the holes in your team all year. Every year there are always undrafted
fantasy players that unexpectedly emerge during the course of the season.
These free-agent acquisitions can make the difference between winning and
losing.
4) Don’t waste picks on kickers, second tier defenses, or second tier
tight ends – in that order. These three positions can be filled
very late in your draft or from the waiver wire with competitive results.
Burning an early pick in these areas could cost your team a great QB, RB,
or WR.
5) Propose trades. You never know when a little chum in the
water might land you a big fish. If your team is weak in a particular
area, identify several teams in your league that have players that could
fit your need. To increase your chances of making a successful trade,
hone in on teams that have complementary needs such that the trade is mutually
beneficial for both parties.
If you are interested in reading and/or applying any of these tips, be sure
to check out the following items available on FootballDocs Fantasy Football:
1) Our Player Rankings and
Draft Advisor will help select the best available
running backs on draft day to help with tip #1.
2) During the regular season, tip #2 is complemented by our weekly Bench / Start.
After starting your studs, the Docs will help fill in the rest of your roster
as we recommend players that are not clear fantasy football studs and can
step in with a big game for your team that week.
3) After the weekend battles have been fought, be sure to check out FootballDocs’
Pick Up / Drop to replenish and reload your roster with some new blood for tip
#3.
4) The Player Rankings should help you find those top tier defenses and tight
ends, while this “oldie but goodie” article can reiterate the reasons why
tip #4 is important regarding wasting picks on Fantasy Kickers.
5) Once the regular season gets into full swing, you can always see if you
can get your trade questions for tip #5 answered in Ask the Docs.
