“Fantasy Football: 11 Winning Tips to Shock your League” will get you in the mood for fantasy football season to begin again.
Winning at fantasy football isn’t just about finishing first in your league and winning the Super Bowl. Sure, that’s a big deal, and we’ll provide some important advice on accomplishing that.
But winning with style points also requires the right approach. We’ll cover that in these 11 Winning Tips to Shock Your League.
Shock your Fantasy Football League with these tips
Sharpen your pencil and take notes.
It’s all about Branding
1. Fully develop your fantasy football brand. It starts with having a great fantasy football team name. Check out the Hall of Fame fantasy football team name list if your team name isn’t funny and the best it can be. While you’re at it, suggest the Commissioner of your league to develop a strong fantasy football league name.
Develop a logo for your team. Use the logo in your email signature whenever communicating with the league or the Commissioner. Put the logo and words like “Classified” on your draft day notebook.
Branding isn’t just about the team name, logo, and printed pieces. Do you, as a league owner, look the part? Develop your signature look with the right accessories. Wearing sunglasses indoors isn’t just for Texas Hold’em players. Oh, wait a minute, maybe it is. Parks and Recreation’s character, Tom Haverford, should be your style guide. Watch the show and pick up some pointers.
Smack talk with the best of them
2. Come ready for Draft Night. The won/loss record is only half the battle. The real war takes place, dishing out the smack talk. Here’s a couple of suggestions for you to help build your trash-talk swagger:
“I didn’t come here to trade hee-haws with a bunch of Jack #$#$.” This is a great opening statement to set the tone. After belting this out to everyone, casually take a swig.
“Your objective of assembling a group of scrubs better suited for the waiver wire than any self-respecting fantasy football roster probably doesn’t help you much come game time. But good luck with that strategy.” Then, walk away with a disgusted look on your face.
“Bro, have you ever read the sports page? Have you ever been in front of the TV when ESPN is on? What were you thinking with that pick?” Said with an incredulous look on their face.
I have to do what?
3. Add some fun to your league with prizes for the winners and losers. Cash is always a great prize for the winner, but consider awards for the team with the worst record.
Some fantasy football leagues have been known to require the loser to get a tattoo of the other owners’ choosing. Another league required the loser to retake the ACT. Yes, the thirty-something ended up taking the test with mostly 17-year-olds. Embarrassing. What creative idea can you think of for your league?
Draft strategies that work
4. Your top three picks should be either two running backs and a wide receiver or two wide receivers and one running back.
5. Pick only one kicker and wait till the last round to do it.
6. Pick your defense in the last four rounds. Select only one defense.
7. Learn the value of streaming. “Streaming” refers to selecting starters for positions like kicker, defense, and others from the waiver wire based on favorable team match-ups. Some teams might start a different defense weekly for seven weeks or more based on favorable team match-ups.
8. After eight rounds of drafting, you should have at least four running backs. They score a lot. They get hurt a lot.
9. The earliest you should pick a QB is the 3rd round, and then be very selective.
Keep the fun going
10. Talk some smack after draft night. Certificate awards that can be posted on Facebook sent as an attachment or delivered in person work well. These Cranky Commissioner Fantasy Football Certificates work well.
There are 35 certificate options to help you keep the smack-talking and jabs from draft night alive. This year, you can get the certificate collection for your entire league, the multi-user pack for up to 12 teams, for just $29.99.
Most Valuable Tip
11. Watch The Wire. By all means, watch the wonderful HBO show “The Wire.” It is the best TV show of all time, but also watch the waiver wire for your league. Free-agent pick-ups win leagues. Let me say it again, “Free agent pick-ups win leagues.” Many high-ceiling, talented fantasy players emerge in the season’s first few weeks. Be opportunistic. The league is frequently won or lost from Game 1 through Game 5 based on the quality of players that teams pick up.
Have a great season.
By Mike O’Halloran
Founder and Editor, Sports Feel Good Stories
Extra Points
You’re on the Fantasy Football: 11 Winning Tips To Shock Your League page. This article was originally published in August 2016.
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