Joe T
Footballguy
If you are serious about being a better drafter, I'm going to give you five easy steps to getting there.
1. You Have To Be Flexible
If you are at all like I used to be, you think draft planning is the most crucial element to drafting. Well, it's not. And you certainly do not want a plan that paints you into a corner in the middle or late rounds which is where most drafts are won and lost.
DO NOT go in with a plan anything like these: "I must have two running backs in the first two rounds" or "I must have a wide receiver in the first three rounds" or "In round four, I'm grabbing Gates because I like those little lightning bolts on the Chargers helmets." Any must do plan is setting you up for the opposite of flexibility.
The reason being flexible is so key is that in any round you can take any position. When value falls to you at wide receiver, you are there to scoop it up. If it is a running back that falls, hey you can grab him just as easily. Quarterback? Take him! You are flexible!
I've found that covering several positions in the first four to five rounds will lead to unlimited options in the later rounds.
So let’s do two quick draft samples each giving you positions taken in the first four rounds:
Draft 1: You make picks of running back, running back, quarterback, running back in the first four rounds. What do you need in the fifth round? The answer is you probably have to take a wide receiver regardless of what players are of value at that point.
Draft 2: If your first four rounds go running back, wide receiver, quarterback, tight end. What do you need in the 5th round? The answer is the best available player. Then what do I need in the sixth round? Again, the best available player.
I'm not advocating taking four different positions in the first four rounds although doing so gives you lots of options in later rounds, I'm advocating being flexible. The more you mix up your positions in the early rounds the more flexibility you have in the late rounds to grab the guys that will inevitably fall to you.
2. You Must Identify Several Players Of Value To Target During The Draft
This is not easy (and let me be the first to recognize that drafting is not a science), but you have to identify a few players before the draft that you are targeting. These are the players that have an average draft position below what you think their actual value may be.
These types of players are the difference in competing for a playoff spot and competing for a championship. I'd recommend trying to narrow the list to 3-5 must have players. You may not get them all, but have the list there with an idea on where you must take them.
3. Tier Players Within Positional Rankings
Tiering is a way to group players that are similar in value. This is a very good way to identify value. I will give you a draft example where tiering is important.
Let's say you are at the end of round four and all of the running backs and receivers in your top tiers are gone, but there are still two quarterbacks in your top tier and one tight end in your top tier. This helps you narrow your decision down to grabbing a player in one of these two positions.
In this case, you could take either a quarterback or a tight end. You might lean towards the tight end since he is the last one in the top tier and possibly (hopefully) one of the remaining top tier quarterbacks make it back to you in the next round.
4. Be Wary Of Bye Weeks, But Not too Wary.
You need to have a cheat sheet or rankings list that has the players bye week next to his name. This can help you if you can not decide between two players of like value. Then just take a look at the bye week and decide which one is more optimal for your team.
I do not advocate avoiding a player if one of your other main players has the same bye week. Always draft the best player available if it is clear in your mind that this is the best player. You are not setting out to win every week by lining up your bye weeks perfectly, but to win the championship by having the best team.
There are no bye weeks in the playoffs so drafting the best player available is always most important. If you do have the option of two players who will perform very close to the other, then feel free to use the bye week as a deciding factor.
5. Do Not Use an "Average Draft Ranking" (compilation list) to Draft From
Tons of fantasy sites use player ranking compilations from various sources or staff members as a way to have an unbiased draft list. This is a terrible idea. Using an "average ranking" to draft from will only result in having an average draft.
Some staff members are better than others. Some site's ranking are better than others. If you want to win, find the best source, not the "average" source. I'm not here to tell you who is best, but there are places out there that will do that for you. Use those places to your advantage.
Quite simply, do not use "average rankings" to draft from.
Okay, those are your five keys to being a better drafter this year.
One last tip -
Relax and Enjoy Your Draft
Fantasy football is about having fun. Draft day is like your 2nd Christmas.
1. You Have To Be Flexible
If you are at all like I used to be, you think draft planning is the most crucial element to drafting. Well, it's not. And you certainly do not want a plan that paints you into a corner in the middle or late rounds which is where most drafts are won and lost.
DO NOT go in with a plan anything like these: "I must have two running backs in the first two rounds" or "I must have a wide receiver in the first three rounds" or "In round four, I'm grabbing Gates because I like those little lightning bolts on the Chargers helmets." Any must do plan is setting you up for the opposite of flexibility.
The reason being flexible is so key is that in any round you can take any position. When value falls to you at wide receiver, you are there to scoop it up. If it is a running back that falls, hey you can grab him just as easily. Quarterback? Take him! You are flexible!
I've found that covering several positions in the first four to five rounds will lead to unlimited options in the later rounds.
So let’s do two quick draft samples each giving you positions taken in the first four rounds:
Draft 1: You make picks of running back, running back, quarterback, running back in the first four rounds. What do you need in the fifth round? The answer is you probably have to take a wide receiver regardless of what players are of value at that point.
Draft 2: If your first four rounds go running back, wide receiver, quarterback, tight end. What do you need in the 5th round? The answer is the best available player. Then what do I need in the sixth round? Again, the best available player.
I'm not advocating taking four different positions in the first four rounds although doing so gives you lots of options in later rounds, I'm advocating being flexible. The more you mix up your positions in the early rounds the more flexibility you have in the late rounds to grab the guys that will inevitably fall to you.
2. You Must Identify Several Players Of Value To Target During The Draft
This is not easy (and let me be the first to recognize that drafting is not a science), but you have to identify a few players before the draft that you are targeting. These are the players that have an average draft position below what you think their actual value may be.
These types of players are the difference in competing for a playoff spot and competing for a championship. I'd recommend trying to narrow the list to 3-5 must have players. You may not get them all, but have the list there with an idea on where you must take them.
3. Tier Players Within Positional Rankings
Tiering is a way to group players that are similar in value. This is a very good way to identify value. I will give you a draft example where tiering is important.
Let's say you are at the end of round four and all of the running backs and receivers in your top tiers are gone, but there are still two quarterbacks in your top tier and one tight end in your top tier. This helps you narrow your decision down to grabbing a player in one of these two positions.
In this case, you could take either a quarterback or a tight end. You might lean towards the tight end since he is the last one in the top tier and possibly (hopefully) one of the remaining top tier quarterbacks make it back to you in the next round.
4. Be Wary Of Bye Weeks, But Not too Wary.
You need to have a cheat sheet or rankings list that has the players bye week next to his name. This can help you if you can not decide between two players of like value. Then just take a look at the bye week and decide which one is more optimal for your team.
I do not advocate avoiding a player if one of your other main players has the same bye week. Always draft the best player available if it is clear in your mind that this is the best player. You are not setting out to win every week by lining up your bye weeks perfectly, but to win the championship by having the best team.
There are no bye weeks in the playoffs so drafting the best player available is always most important. If you do have the option of two players who will perform very close to the other, then feel free to use the bye week as a deciding factor.
5. Do Not Use an "Average Draft Ranking" (compilation list) to Draft From
Tons of fantasy sites use player ranking compilations from various sources or staff members as a way to have an unbiased draft list. This is a terrible idea. Using an "average ranking" to draft from will only result in having an average draft.
Some staff members are better than others. Some site's ranking are better than others. If you want to win, find the best source, not the "average" source. I'm not here to tell you who is best, but there are places out there that will do that for you. Use those places to your advantage.
Quite simply, do not use "average rankings" to draft from.
Okay, those are your five keys to being a better drafter this year.
One last tip -
Relax and Enjoy Your Draft
Fantasy football is about having fun. Draft day is like your 2nd Christmas.
