Winning isn’t everything, but when it comes to ESPN fantasy football, well, sometimes it is. The only person who remembers second place is the one who got second place.
First place gets the bragging rights, the big payday, the recognition, and all the fantasy football accolades – and maybe even their name on the trophy, depending on how serious your league is. Yeah, it’s a pretty sweet spot to be in, one that few people know.
The more familiar position is: “I was so close.” “I shouldn’t have benched that one running back.” Or: “If only I started, the guy just knew was going to have a big game.” If the other team’s wide receiver didn’t catch that one deep ball… that one bad call could have been the difference-maker… etc., etc. Everyone knows the “so close guy,” but nobody likes that guy. And the best way to avoid being that person is to win it all.
So pull up a chair and take a seat at the champion’s table. We’ll explain our ESPN Fantasy Football strategies and provide lots of drafting tips.
Fantasy Football Draft Night Preparation
Becoming the champ starts the same way it does for all champions in every walk of life: with a bit of preparation and dedication.
You can’t win the league on draft night, but a poor draft can certainly take you out of contention. The draft is the most crucial event in fantasy, so it’s no coincidence that drafting well is essential for a successful season. Here’s your path to success:
Read League Rules – ESPN Fantasy Football Strategies
First, read the rules of your league. Read everything to know exactly how the scoring works, what day of the week waivers will be processed, when the trade deadline is, and even the subtle things like tie-breaking procedure and if your bench allows for an IR (injured reserve) spot. The best approach to drafting your fantasy team will depend on your league rules. All of this helps define the players you will want to target.
Examine Player Reports
Next, look at the player reports of some of the guys you think you might be interested in selecting during the draft. ESPN does an excellent job of updating player news, training camp, and preseason statuses for most players.
Your fantasy focus needs to be unwavering in the two weeks before draft day. Keep an eye out for any negative and positive news that might impact a player’s draft position or projected production for your fantasy team.
Check out my player rankings by division. Here’s the NFC East’s breakdown.
Don’t Overweigh Pre-Season Stats – ESPN Fantasy Football Strategies
Take preseason reports with a grain of salt. The preseason is an excellent window into the potential of rookies and new players, but it is, after all, the preseason. Use preseason results to help you make tough decisions between players you want in the draft, but never use them as sole justification to reach on a guy.
Consider Teammates of Potential Draft Picks
Keep an eye on key teammates of the players you’re looking at drafting. Sometimes, a status change with a vital teammate can have significant implications for other players. For example, if Aaron Rodgers gets suspended, Davante Adams is no longer worthy of a first-round selection.
Practice with an ESPN Fantasy Football Mock Draft
When you have a little free time, launch a fantasy mock draft. Different fantasy platforms will have different player rankings in their drafts, so make sure to familiarize yourself with your platform’s list. ESPN offers a grand mock drafting lobby that allows you to participate in a live mock draft tailored to your own league type.
Download the ESPN Fantasy Football App
Download the ESPN Fantasy app if you want to give yourself the best chance at success this season. The ESPN app allows you to fully manage your team from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet. You can do your research, mark players you’re interested in, and even launch the live draft application from the app.
Use the App Alert
Set the ESPN app to alert you automatically when there’s a status change with any player on your team. With NFL games taking place on Thursday, Sunday, Monday, and sometimes Saturday (or even in Europe at the early hours of the morning), you won’t always have easy access to check and update your line-up if last-minute player statuses change.
The ESPN app alerts you to any updates you may not have heard about, so you can game plan accordingly from just about anywhere, anytime.
Prepare a Cheat Sheet
Make a cheat sheet before the draft. Put down on paper–or a list in your phone, whatever it takes — all the names of players your thinking of selecting for your team before the draft begins. Look to experts like ESPN’s own Matthew Berry, the fantasy analyst.
The draft is fast-paced, high-stakes, and a lot of fun. It’s easy to find yourself drawing blanks when the player you wanted gets swiped up right before your turn. Or scrambling to find some of the deep-dive guys. The clock is ticking: a player rankings projections list to glance at can go a long way at the moment.
Loose Lips Sink Ships: Protest Your Knowledge
Keep your ideas to yourself. This may be a no-brainer, but when your friends and coworkers are in your league, it is easy to let a few “hot takes” slip out about some players that have caught your eye.
And, if you think an acquaintance of yours is primed for adopting some of your strategies as their own, don’t be afraid to implement a little smoke-and-mirrors. A little trickery is all part of the fun. And this is the year you’re in it to win it, by any means necessary!
Develop a Draft Strategy – ESPN Fantasy Football Strategies
Have a draft strategy before you go into the draft. Most leagues won’t reveal the drafting position of each team until hours before the draft takes place. The difference between having the first pick or the last pick significantly alters the players’ landscape, so it’s essential to have a flexible strategy.
Draft Strategies: Early Rounds
Here are some drafting strategies that will give you a head start early in the draft.
1.) Draft for value – take the best player available is always a good choice.
2.) If you are in a Standard league, running backs will be the backbone of a successful team.
3.) In Standard leagues, the running back who gets the goal-line carries is the back for you.
4.) If you are in a PPR league, a top dog wide receiver will be the lynchpin of a successful team.
5.) In PPR leagues, a running back who gets lots of catches is superior to a back who cannot/ does not catch the ball.
6.) The first 4-5 rounds of the draft focus heavily on drafting the best wide receivers and running backs available for each pick.
7.) Stay away from quarterbacks and tight ends early in the draft. Tight ends are volatile; quarterbacks hold their value through the middle of the draft.
Middle of the Draft Tips
The middle of the draft is where research and preparation pay off.
8.) If a good quarterback is sliding here, he’s probably an excellent pickup.
9.) Think back to last season – guys that finished strong, came into their own, or started to define their role at the end of the year will either be rated too high or not high enough in this part of the draft. Select accordingly.
10.) Do Not Reach! The middle of the draft will have quality players sliding. These are the guys to target (the 5th-rounder available in the 7th round is better than reaching the 7th-rounder in the 5th round).
11.) There are always a few guys that will go in the mid-rounds this year that will be in the first two rounds next year, so who are the guys that are going to leap this year?
12.) If that top-5 tight end is available here, take him.
13.) Stay away from kickers and defenses in the middle of the draft.
End of the Draft Strategies
The end of the draft is where the best return on investment is.
14.) Is there a player that you can’t believe/ understand why he hasn’t been picked up yet? Grab him.
15.) Now is the time to get your defense and kicker. Just remember, there isn’t much pressure on these positions because it’s relatively painless to switch one kicker for another in the middle of the season. And changing defenses based on their matchup is an excellent maneuver.
16.) A backup or tandem running back that also catches passes can be a great pickup here to play in a pinch later in the season in PPR leagues.
17.) Handcuff your top running back. Get the backup for your most costly RB and stash him on the bench as an insurance policy.
18.) What offenses will thrive this year? When the tide goes up, everyone’s boat rises; the WR3 or the unsuspecting tight end on a great offense might have some real fantasy value this season.
19.) Use your intuition. Do you have a feeling about that guy? Pick him up and see what happens.
Making Tough Draft Decisions – ESPN Fantasy Football Strategies
And it’s always good to have a few tips on making the tough decision between this player and that player as the clock ticks down.
The Rest of the Team
Consider the rest of the team. A good quarterback with a good offense and a bad defense will probably be in more situations where he must score more points than a good quarterback with a good offense and a good defense. This may be the most critical Fantasy Football strategy that many players overlook.
Strength of Schedule
Consider the strength of schedule, especially during the games slotted during the fantasy playoffs. If one player has a favorable schedule and a tough schedule, take a more favorable outlook.
Bye Week
When is the bye week? For example, if you already have several players with a Week 8 bye, and the choice is between another Week 8 bye and a Week 11 bye, opt for the player with the Week 11 bye. This helps spread the burden throughout the season, as having too many players with the same bye week will almost surely result in a loss that week.
Draft with the Heart
Which teams and players do you like more? As much as this article has been about drafting to win fantasy football, let’s not forget that having fun is the real reason we play fantasy.
Winning makes it more fun. So, when it comes to deciding between evenly matched players, take the player you’re going to have the most fun rooting for. It’ll make the decision easy, and you’ll wind up liking your team even more.
Breakout Players
It seems each year. A few breakout players can turn the tide for the team owner who drafted them. Last year, fantasy owners of Patrick Mahomes found themselves riding the juggernaut of the NFL MVP. Identify a handful of players whom you covet. Don’t be afraid to reach a bit beyond what the experts say if you genuinely think that the player has a chance to be special.
Draft with Confidence
Look, no one knows what’s going to happen by the season’s end. You have as good a chance at winning your league as anyone else who prepares. So, let your confidence shine through. Don’t be afraid to show a little swagger. Place your draft picks with confidence. Don’t add an imaginary question mark to a player’s name when you announce it to fellow owners. In other words, fake it until you make it.
Putting it All Together
Some college students consider a subject throughout the entire course of the class, starting from the first day. They complete their homework assignments every night and be ready for any test with a little upfront warning. Other students like to cram the night before. Either approach can be successful.
With all the other responsibilities in day-to-day life, I sense that most players are rushing to prepare for the fantasy draft. That’s ok. You can still easily win your league. Just use the strategies above and come as ready as you can. Making adjustments as the draft evolves can make a big difference. Bring your “A” game and be alert for opportunities.
By Mike O’Halloran
Founder and Editor, Sports Feel Good Stories
Extra Points
You’re on the ESPN Fantasy Football Strategies page.
You might like:
2022 Best Fantasy Football Team Names
