Even if you are new to the game of Fantasy Football you probably have become somewhat accustomed to cheat sheets. Within these sheets auction values are shown for various players. However, what you might not be aware of is that many cheat sheets found on-line and within Fantasy Football periodicals are based on each league member beginning with one-hundred dollars. There are other cheat sheets that base values wherein each person in the league starts out with two-hundred dollars or what can be termed as a two-hundred dollar setup.
Some of the cheat sheets do not make it clear which system the lists are based. Just keep it in mind because some people will start spending basing their bids on a one-hundred dollar auction when in reality they are looking at a two-hundred dollar listing. You don’t want to do this because you’ll spend your money more quickly and overpay on the player if successfully win the bid.
Again, many of the sites do not make it clear what the starting amounts happen to be for the auctions. Also many of the site content writers will simply not make it clear what size of league they’re referring with respect to the numbers provided. For example, if the league is over ten teams, the associative values should differ considerably. It has been said even the Fantasy Football player who wins quite often does not consider this aspect.
The information as to value is significant because in order for everything to be fair the players who perform the best should go for larger dollar amounts within the bigger leagues. For example, let’s assume your league is comprised of ten teams. Each team has a beginning amount of one-hundred dollars. This means your league has a total dollar amount of one-thousand dollars. The equation is ten teams multiplied by one-hundred dollars for each team. The best fifty players represent approximately three-quarters of the league’s total money available for the auction. If your league spends more than this amount there must be justification or reasonable value down the road. If three-quarters of the total money is not spent for top players there is too much capital still in use for less-substantial athletes.
Also keep in mind the above scenario is for a ten person team. You’ll need to make adjustments percentage wise as far as bidding on top-ranked players accordant with number of teams within your league. For example, the same starting dollar amount with two more teams is going to amount to a greater total pool. This is pertinent from the standpoint you have more money pooled to apply toward the more substantial players.
If you spend approximately seventy-five to eighty percent on the best fifty football players at auction, the amount spent out of one-thousand two-hundred dollars will fall right under the thousand dollar mark. You never want to overspend on a player. Lastly, stay apprised of the starting amount or you will probably forfeit your opportunity to acquire one more star player.
Conclusively, determining what size of league the cheat sheet is based upon will be helpful with respect to how you fare at your Fantasy Football Auction.
#12. How to Approach Auctions
Many people new to Fantasy Football would be well-advised to approach auctions with a strategic course of action. Think things through before you start bidding and do not allow yourself to be tempted to steer off course. Once you have mapped out what players you like stay with your original intent. You can make modifications where essential; however, do not make impulsive bids based on nothing more than sheer enthusiasm.
Take into account how the auction tends to be emerging. Are the bidders going with gusto or are they behaving in a more subdued manner? It is important you gain a sense of how the auction is trending from the very beginning in order to strategize effectively. Although, you don’t want to react too strongly; you don’t want to let go of good opportunities others are missing.
Let’s first presume most bidders are really enthusiastic and are spending their cash on the top-rated players: then it makes sense for you to take a totally different approach. This infers there are bargains for you further down the road. Football players outside of the top-tier class may possibly be acquired for a conservative outlay of cash.
The opposite side of the coin is when everyone is holding on their purse strings a bit too tightly especially when it comes to the top-ranked players. If this is the case, you need to go ahead and spend your money on the top rated athletes. The reason being, these persons who tend to be holding out are probably going to get into full-scale bidding competitions with others over third ranked players; they have the capital to affect this. Again, take the sensible course and invest your money in the players you prefer within the top tier.
Lastly, it may be wise to leave some positions open for players you aren’t personally fond of. In this way if you need to cut a player, you won’t be too disappointed you did not pay a great deal for him. Also understand your league’s rules with respect to trades and free agents. In so doing, you’ll be able to strategize better as far as your overall roster. Lastly, keep your eyes and ears open at all times as far as current players’ stats.
#13. How to Attain Successful Draft Day Results
The quarterback within the NFL is without question the leader when looking outside the realm of Fantasy Football, but is this true within the fantasy sport? Reality check: In Fantasy land the quarterback's importance is determined by the scoring system of the Fantasy Football league. The rankings with respect to the quarterback may be decidedly the most significant variable with regard to Fantasy Football team success. As an example, it would be difficult to imagine Drew Brees still available, and the fantasy manager going ahead and drafting a top-tier wide receiver or running back. The quarterbacks that fall behind the top of the line producers will still average a respectable twenty four touchdowns on average, meaning differences in touchdowns are not all that substantial between top-tier players and the quarterbacks next in line.
The top-tier guys or quarterbacks can average thirty touchdowns which is exceptional. The point here is that levels of production in respect to the quarterback position are not all that great between the prime producers and the quarterbacks sitting at the next plateau. This is not the case with the running back and wide receiver positions. You are going to find a great deal more difference in their skill levels when you step down a level.
If you are fortunate enough in pulling a top-tier running back within the first round of your fantasy draft, then go ahead and select someone like Drew Brees as your second choice. Be aware also where you are at within the Draft. If you are participating in a serpentine draft within a league of twelve and you choose a quarterback first within the second round (meaning thirteenth), it will be at (picks) thirty-six; and, thirty-seven before you can choose once more. The main wide receiver and running back talent will be taken by that point: In other words, if you take a quarterback at second, you'll not be able to attain a viable wide receiver or running back.
It is advisable then to say “pass on the quarterback” until later rounds of your Fantasy draft if you will not be able to come up with a top-tier candidate in the interim. A smart Fantasy manager will recognize that if he or she is not able to attain at least two of the top producing quarterbacks, it is wiser to attain a top-tier wide receiver or running back during the early part of the draft and pick up the quarterback later.
It is further important to take a look at the National Football League's schedule for the current football season. Check and see which quarterbacks have the most favorable schedules for the season. Certain positions will have extremely difficult schedules while other players who don't need easier schedules will have schedules that are very favorable. Very strong producers may have tougher schedules at certain critical times of the year such as the fourteenth week, so you may wish to think about that when it comes time to draft.
Since we are talking about quarterback draft strategy, advisably do not become upset when you realize after round five all the quarterbacks you consider ideal picks are taken. First do some math: If your league is comprised of twelve individuals, reasonably you are vying for over thirty-two positions with respect to quarterback. There are other guys out there in the quarterback position besides an athlete like Brees.
The important thing is not allow yourself to be lured into hype or emotion with regard to your picks. Just stay with your original plan as much as possible.
Additionally, sources you may refer to with respect to your decision-making include: the NFL official website as well as Fantasy Football guides found at retailers and popular newsstands. Relying on the two latter resources as far as stats are enough to make good sound decisions as far as draft choices within your league.
#14. How to Create your Own Ranking Sheets
Many Fantasy Football players will wish to put together their own player ranking sheets. Compiling player ranking sheets can be quite an accomplishment. Here is how to put together your own Fantasy Football projections.
When putting together projections it is wise to keep in mind that most individuals make the error of assuming that the same players that performed well the year before will make it into the top ten during the current season. This is simply not true. In fact, if you were to review the rankings sheets put together by Fantasy Football managers you'd find many of the sheets closely resemble the player rankings for the prior year. Generally, about thirty percent of players who placed within the top ten the season before will make it to the top ten the next year. As a rule of thumb the premium players do not repeat past performances.
Before you totally throw away the prior season’s stats slow down a minute. You will still require a starting point in order to make future projections. In other words, you don't want nearly identical stats employing the thinking: “Well, if these guys did well the year before they'll do well again.” No. Then you are missing the whole point of putting together your own stats. However, neither do you want to dump the prior season’s ratings in the garbage. Just hold onto them for the time being and use them as a starting point and a base in order that you may put together your own player rating sheets.
First off, when thinking about projections, you need to think a bit like a stock analyst. Many times changes within the team will have an effect as to how your Fantasy player performs. What types of changes? As an example is there a change within the coaching staff? Changes with respect to offensive coordinator will make a difference. Will the new staff coaching the team expect more runs or passes? Did any of the teams within the NFL make drastic improvements with regard to their offense? Also during the year many players gained experience.
On the other side of the coin other players received additional pounding from a physical standpoint. Certain teams watched valuable players leave and other teams acquired the players who departed. Also how will new players or rookies affect a certain team? The idea here is in order to properly predict what is to come during the next season you will need to think about all of these various scenarios with respect to how it affects your player's level of performance.
If you are wondering where to get the information to reasonably address all of the questions in your mind, the best suggestion is to attain all kinds of news and information on Fantasy Football. You will find there is no short supply of Fantasy Football news online. In fact, NFL news is something many individuals read each and every day so it is generally available everywhere. You aren't going to find it difficult to locate the news; however, how are you going to read through the information and assess it properly with respect to the players? This is part of the challenge and enjoyment of putting together projections for Fantasy Football.
Most people who make a living out of selling rankings will instruct you if you want to do an adequate job in putting together your own projection sheets you must absorb information until your brain hurts. Also you'll notice the more you read, the greater your need to express your opinion with respect to the various NFL players. You will start possessing an opinion as to how one player prevails over another and so on and so forth. Look at all kinds of opinions before you place any significance on the opinion you've formulated with regard to certain players.
Once you have poured over opinions it is time to put your thoughts in writing. Perform projections for each NFL player you believe is someone who should be part of the Draft. The number of players that are inclusive as far as draft consideration should be right around the two hundred mark. This is based on a league with twelve teams. (This does not pertain to IDPs). Incorporating a scoring system with regard to the players' projections will provide you with player rankings for each of the NFL positions. If some projections look a little off-the-wall, then you've done your job. It is important you think for yourself when projecting a player's level of performance for the upcoming season.
#15. How to Draft a Defense
Most veterans of Fantasy Football, if they were to serve as your mentor or coach, may offer you one effective piece of valuable advice and that is: When it comes to your defense, don't draft early. However, you may inquire: If an NFL team is known for its superlative defense is drafting early such a bad thing? No matter which way you slice it, it isn't good.
Even if your favorite NFL team of all time has a fantastic defense: This is fantasy land and you don't want to draft early. There are a number of reasons for it so here are some tips to put matters in perspective.
One NFL fan describes a situation where he was so enamored with his favorite NFL team's defense he decided during one reality game he'd make it a point to place the defense on his Fantasy Football team the next season: And so he did and early on during the draft. What happened isn't surprising to many Fantasy Football veterans or individuals who generally follow NFL stats. The team that rode out of the prior season in a “blaze of glory” was adequate, but not the impressive force it had been during the prior season. Needless to say, this individual did not do so well with the strategy. It was clear the fan's favorite NFL team was unable to maintain their edge two years running.
The above-scenario is another reason following NFL stats is doubly-important in order to win Fantasy Football championships. You'll frequently find there are teams that cannot remain consistent from one season to the next. Why is this? There can be a number of reasons for a team's deterioration in performance.
One reason for inconsistency is that the defense of the previous season may have lost a couple of its shining stars. There also may be athletes on the injury list and this will hamper the defense's level of play. Or it can be that some players have become lax after a stressful season and eat and drink too much.
Regardless, of reason for declination of levels of performance a wise recommendation is to never draft early for defense, especially based on the team's prior year's record.
#16. How to Draft a Kicker
When you become part of a Fantasy Football draft you will find there is a great deal of importance placed on position. The position that proves the least meritorious is the position of kicker. Although we don't devalue the person who lends his contribution in this area, as far as your Fantasy team goes this is not the position that is going to win you league championship. There are some people when participating in their first Fantasy draft who draft early on for the defense and kicker. It isn't exactly terrible to have done this; however, other team managers may be thinking “how clueless” and subsequently make mental notes to approach such unsuspecting individuals with insubstantial trades further on down the road. This is why it is important you understand how to effectively participate in your Fantasy trade - because you aren't playing the game in order that another team can take advantage.
Kickers may seem to be an easy afterthought in which to draft; however this position can present some real problems. It may be said that kickers can pull off some fairly good weeks; however, they then may fizzle out and go back to standard. Many managers consider the kicker the lower position within the Fantasy Football chain and this thinking is generally correct. If you do draft a kicker early, look at the offensive line of that person's team. If the offensive line isn't premier then forget drafting the kicker early. Also, a player can get on a game streak where he is scoring points like crazy however, when reviewing prior seasons his points earned can look downright pathetic. In fact, low points can get an athlete booted to Fantasy Football's wire “faster than a speeding bullet.”
The moral here is even if a kicker is having an outstanding year, he should be the least of your considerations as far as positions go when reviewing either the waiver wire or looking at him with respect to the draft. It always helps to draft a player who is a good kicker and has a history of scoring a good number of field goal