Free Fantasy
Football Tips
1. The only way to win at Fantasy Football
is to PAY ATTENTION.
Most champions check their teams and NFL news every few days
with rare exception. Five minutes a day will keep the last
place far away. This is the only way to keep up to date on
Fantasy Football injuries, trades and other team moves.
2. Going hand in hand with paying attention to your Fantasy
Football team is Maximizing
Your Starts. Make sure you know when your
starters bye weeks are coming. You may have to cut a so-so
back up to pick up a kicker when he is on a bye. Obviously,
you don't cut a good player, it would be better to take the
points hit in that case, just be aware of the bye and make
the best decision. If you haven’t you, have left points
on the table. This could hurt playoff seatings or cost you
a points title.
3. The Fantasy Football Draft.
Most players base their entire season on the Fantasy Football
Draft. Your team does not live and die with the draft, but
of course it is very important, especially in football. When
conducting your Fantasy Football Draft the best advice is
to play it safe. Don’t try to out smart yourself, draft
a balance of running and passing.
Check your Leagues Point System
before the draft and occasionally during the season. Obvious,
but often ignored. Notice during the season which categories
seem to be manufacturing a lot of points. If you see a point
strength in the some category make moves for players who excel
at that category. You will be surprised how you can stop a
weakness on your team and turn it into a strength in the league.
Some leagues, like Yahoo Fantasy Football, have a STANDINGS
scoring summary. Use this to analyze strengths and weakness
of categories during the season.
Running Backs:
Draft a “sure thing” veteran running back. You
need to know that every week you will get consistent, top-scoring
from one your running backs. Make sure you look at the running
backs ability to score in the red zone and his ability to
catch the ball. Those two factors are what separate to good
fantasy backs from the average backs. Make sure to grab some
extra running backs in the late rounds. Extra running backs
are more important than any other position because of the
lack of change that happens at the position. Take a gamble
on a running back. A rookie or a back up of a top running
team is a good gamble.
Quarterback: They
will generally score the most points in Fantasy Leagues. The problem
is there are only a couple First allow us to introduce the 4 types
of Fantasy QB's: 1) The Franchise QB. This is the Peyton Manning
or Duante Culpepper of the 2005 Fantasy Football Draft. 2) Fantasy
Stud. These are sure things and have potential to be a Franchise
QB. This would be someone like Donavan Mc Nabb. 3) The third and
most common QB is the Fantasy Starter. This is your Marc Bulgers,
Aaron Brooks, Jake Plummers and others. Finally, there is the
Fantasy Hopefuls. These are either inconsistent veterans or young
QB's. Brian Griese and Eli Manning fit these bills. You should
put all QB's into these categories to help your draft. "Franchise
QB's" are few and far between in any given year. It is probably
worthwhile to take one of these ahead of the best running backs.
"Fantasy Studs", which there are few of as well shouldn't
be taken ahead of your #1 running back, unless the flow of the
draft dictates this. "Starting Fantasy QB's" are the
most common QB's. There is a thing line between Studs, Starters
and the "Hopefuls". A Fantasy Owner is better on drafting
a top wide receiver than a "Fantasy Starter" and at
least equal to drafting a "Stud". The point here is
if you don't draft a "Franchise QB" you are better to
wait unit the mid-rounds to get a "Starter" quality
QB. Either start the run on this type of QB's if the time is right
or grab yours during the run.
Wide Receivers:
The first bit of advice on WR's is to go back to the general draft
advice, know your point system. Some leagues give points for receptions.
If your league does, this gives possession type receivers more
value. It changes everything. After that is established, just
like at running backs, you need to get at least one sure-thing
WR. He needs to get the consistent 6-7 catches, 100 yards and
a TD. Don't under-estimate the value WR's, but don't over-estimate
them either. There are around 60 wide receivers to choose from,
RB, TE and QB have half of that. After you have a stud, it is
almost as likely to find a second or a third in free agency during
the season as it is to find one in the draft. This is not to say
don't draft more than one, it is to say be aware of it.
Save gambles for middle and late rounds. Plenty of places
for gambles, just not too early.
Go into the draft with a small draft plan and some sleepers.
Then throw away your plan. The most important thing during
the draft is to ADAPT! Notice what positions are and are not
being drafted. Can you hold off on drafting your Quarterback
because everyone has already drafted one? Was there a run
on tight ends? You better get one, even if it is a slightly
over-priced player. Go with the flow of the draft and you
will do better than sticking to a plan. If you are new to
drafting and your league offers an auto-draft option, use
it. This will give you a safely drafted team.
4. After the draft is the Free
Agent Frenzy that occurs
during the football season. Even though
the number of star fantasy players that
come out of free agency are lower than in
Fantasy Baseball, this does mean it is not
as important, in fact, because of the low
numbers, it can be as important. Every year
major undrafted stars arise. Rookies and
veterans such as: Kerry Collins, Brian Griese,
Domanick Davis, Michael Clayton & Julius
Jones, just to name a few, have been generally
undrafted free agents in Fantasy Football.
This goes right with rule one, pay attention.
Using a scouting service is a great way
to help in this important area of Fantasy
Football.
5. Trading in Fantasy Football.
Not a must to win, but if you are a successful free agent
scout, you need to try to trade. You will be able to replace
many drafted starters with free agents. The old 2 very good
players for one great player is the best way to improve your
team. You improve a position and open a roster spot for another
free agent acquisition. Opening roster spots is one of the
most important things you can do to help your Fantasy Football
scouting. Do your best not to trade any of your "Studs".
Trade early when nobody really objects to trades.
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