Each year we have the same conversation at GCF. Draft season comes up and we get new followers and old asking us how to nail their draft day. The short answer is, listen to us! The long answer is, it is complicated. You have to really do your research and make sure you capitalize on other peoples mistakes. Lets get to the broad strokes on how to win your Fantasy League.
1. Research, Research, Research!
Each year we get several questions from new Fantasy Football players about how they should prepare for the draft. Bottom line is: you need to study! Just like when you were in school. If you want a great result on the test, you’re going to have to prepare and study! You can get all the information you need from our website and our podcast, but beyond our site FantasyPros is a great resource to check out players ADP positions as well as up to date injury news. You can not go in cold on draft day, trust me.
2. Draft Running Backs Early and Often!
This is a controversial topic, but here at GCF we fall on the side of Team RB’s. We love our RB’s here and we feel like they are Gold while the other skill positions are Silver. Both are valuable, but there is only one Gold. When it comes to depth Wide Receiver is incredibly strong. There are guys I would feel comfortable drafting as my WR1 in the 4th and 5th rounds. Running Backs? Not so much. There is a sharp decline in quality running backs after the second round. That is just a fact. Nobody is wishing they took more wide receivers during the draft come playoff time. It is all about Running backs boys!
3. Don’t Over Think it. Go With Your Gut!
Lets face it, draft day is stressful. There’s a lot of pressure to not fuck up. your buddies are all around hoping you fuck up. There’s alcohol flowing. Or your at home dealing with the trappings of online drafting instruments. The important thing to do here is RELAX. This is supposed to be fun and you should treat it that way! At the end of the day we are all making educated guesses. There are really no “experts”. So remember that and trust your gut. Don’t pick a player you don’t believe in just because your buddy was hyping him up the night before. Do your own thing!
4. Don’t reach for a QB too early, but please don’t wait too long!
This is one of the most important points I can make here. The quarterback you choose can ultimately make or break your fantasy season. One of the most disrespected positions in Fantasy Football is the Quarterback spot. Seriously. “Experts” from all over are more than ready to tell you to wait until round 10 and beyond to draft yourself a QB when in reality, the sweet spot really is around the 5th-7th rounds. Guys like Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, and Dak Prescott who all have ADP’s around the middle rounds are steals! Landing a guy like them and coupling them with the stud running backs you drafted early can make you a lock for the Fantasy Football championship. Now if you get a little too frisky early on and reach for the elite guys like Mahomes or Allen, you a really putting yourself behind the 8 ball. By drafting a stud QB early you limit your RB and WR depth which could be a killer! Go with the mdidle ground and pick a guy that is cheap, but not too cheap!
5. It is all about depth!
Having depth at the skill positions is essential when it comes to winning your Fantasy Football title. For starters, injuries are unavoidable. There is no such thing as a guy who is safe from injury these days. Christian Mccaffrey and Nick Chubb were considered the healthiest options going into the 2020 season and they both missed significant time. That’s why when it comes to Wide Receiver and Running Back, there is no such thing as too much! Draft both as much as possible and do not be afraid to make trades to acquire more pieces to insure your depth. Because in the playoffs when one of the main guys on your team goes down, there is nothing more reassuring than knowing you have some insurance for yourself!
6. Late round picks should not be wasted. Make the most of them!
I can not tell you how many times I have been at drafts and once someone has filled their starters up and drafted some back up pieces they just totally throw in the towel and start drafting random kickers, defenses, and other players they have no information on. Make sure you research your deep sleepers and make every single one of these picks count! Rob Gronkowsi, Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, and Derrick Henry. Those are just a handful of guys I drafted after the 10th round before their breakout season! Imagine drafting a kicker when you could of had prime Michael Thomas? Remember the old adage: waste not, want not!
7. Finally, Do Not Believe The Hype!
Every single year the elite “experts” identify a player that is essentially can’t miss. Last year was Kenyan Drake. The year before that it was Joe Mixon. These guys both had subpar seasons and therefore did not live up to the high price tags fantasy owners paid for them. The point is, formulate your own opinion. If something feels off with a guy, do not draft him! The reality is nobody knows what these guys are going to do. These are all educated guesses and you can make these guesses as well! The Fantasy Football community is quick to pick a darling that everyone loves and then by Week 7 when that said darling sucks, they all ignore the fact that they promoted this guy. Do not fall for it!
Thanks for stopping by!
Remember, don’t forget to have fun! Talk shit with your buddies, and have a good time!