How early do you start prepping for your draft? (1 Viewer)

[J-Rock]

I'm the kind of guy who is evaluating players, crunching numbers, forecasting, etc. all off season. This helps me to get an early ranking of players, who I like who I want to avoid etc.

Once I find out about any rule or scoring system differences and know what spot I'm drafting from I'll usually get pretty intense about formulating a draft strategy and spend about 2-3 days looking at mocks, adp, etc. to try to see who I'll have a shot at and put together an overall approach. If my draft is still a few weeks away I tend to step away from it for a while.

I think about 1 week before the draft is probably a good time to revisit and get something on paper as far as a draft plan is concerned. I'll start with a "plan A" - if everything goes as I expect I'll do this... I'll probably put together 2-3 back up plans so I'm prepared for everything. The night before the draft I do nothing draft related. I'll check the news to be sure last seasons rushing leader hasn't retired (ala Rickey Williams) but otherwise I leave it alone. I don't want to start second guessing my self the night before the draft. If I don't have a solid draft plan by then it's too late anyway.

I'm curious to hear how the rest of you get prepared for your draft.

 

[MLBrandow]

Post NFL Draft I start really taking hard looks at every team and their situations.

To me, fantasy drafts are a test of knowledge, not how well one can read a few charts and lists.

 

[J-Rock]

Post NFL Draft I start really taking hard looks at every team and their situations.

To me, fantasy drafts are a test of knowledge, not how well one can read a few charts and lists.

I agree but I like to organize my knowledge into a series of charts and lists based on probabilities and forecasts. I combine knowledge of NFL teams with knowledge Fantasy draft probabilities.

 

[UFO]

Right after the trophy presentation at the Super Bowl

 

[culdeus]

I just wait for LhUCKS to tell me what to do.

 

[MLBrandow]

Post NFL Draft I start really taking hard looks at every team and their situations.

To me, fantasy drafts are a test of knowledge, not how well one can read a few charts and lists.

I agree but I like to organize my knowledge into a series of charts and lists based on probabilities and forecasts. I combine knowledge of NFL teams with knowledge Fantasy draft probabilities.

Well yeah. If you play in a league with the same guys every year, try to guess other guys' ADP values, who is overvalued/undervalued.Comprise your own tier rankings as soon as you see situations clearing up and just plan to draft on maximum value.

 

[noneother]

I am only in 2 keeper / auction / salary cap / contract leagues, I prep all year long taking notes on players, and notes on the behaviors, trade and auction tendencies of each team in the league. I look forward at the end of each players contract to see if I think at the time they go back into the pool, they'll have value, and compare to when they are available to trade or sign off waiver... I would like to have a scouting staff assigned to teams to trend personnel and salary constraints, as well as track picks... sad part, its true, I keep a notebook all year, from Superbowl to Superbowl

 

[Nemesis]

During the NFL offseason, just casual reading.

But, in July I start gearing up my prep. (actually started on it yesterday)

I have an Excel spreadsheet for every league and each file has about 5 worksheet tabs. (for the record, I use VBD spreadsheets for a live draft....& not the DD)

1-The very FIRST thing I do is update my personal depth chart tab in Excel. Every team is listed in Col A........in the rest of the columns going across: QB, RB1, RB2, WR1, WR2, TE, K. I then go to FBG depth chart and even though I could just print theirs out, I like to fill in my own excel spreadsheet............I know it's a little redundant, but I don't need to see the IDPs or the 6th string FB and it also helps me learn who is on what team now and how entrenched a team's starters are vs a committee approach or camp battles to pay attention to. I might list a WR3 if it's relevant. Basically, I only list players that I think might be draftable (or borderline draftable) in my league and will update this again close to my draft to re-learn anything.

2-One of the other tabs has my VBD settings I used for that particular league from last year..........speeds things up when a new VBD version comes out and I don't have to think about the settings......just "copy - paste values" into the new version and hit the Update button to get a new cheatsheet.

3-One of the remaining tabs is already set up to handle a VBD spreadsheet. After updating the settings and getting the new cheatsheet, I "copy - paste values" from this new cheatsheet into file with all my league tabs. This boilerplate is already formatted to print on legal paper, conditional formatting to show different colors for different positions,......I even conditional format to show league keepers as shaded gray so I can see where they are ranked and just focus on the available "draftable" players left. I know it sounds complicated, but it beats having to re-format the entire spreadsheet every time a new VBD version comes out.......big time saver.

4-Another tab on the spreadsheet is my draft tracker grid and roster tracker grid. I'll predict the first round or two based on what a team's keepers are & who's available. It also helps indentify a possible trade partner if you or that other team doesn't have a balanced spread of keepers (too many WRs keepers...not enough RBs). Putting this on the same spreadsheet makes it MUCH easier to see things than juggling diff printouts during the draft.

A couple of times during the month of August, I'll compile and study some ADP info and bring it to the draft but, I'll admit, I don't really look at it too much during the actual draft since I've already studied it and it may or may not translate to my league settings. Another thing that I bring to the draft is the NFL Schedule Grid (to see late season schedule for kickers and fantasy playoff schedules) and some different color hi-liters and pens..........tough to see when you use a black pen & scatch thru a players name that has been called.

 

[Ray Pollett]

I start by printing out and going over the "Top Performers/players stats" from the season that just ended for each league. This is my first ranking for the next year. As teams make their moves durring the off season I adjust the list; based on: FA pickups and loses; O-line info; rookie draft picks ( have to know team reason for pick ); Read everything I can on everyone. Always updateing and moving players on the list till draft is over. I always have a list of Sleepers I think I can pick up after round 10-12.

 

[Marc Levin]

I most definitely stop thinking about FF from the Super Bowl though March Madness, but should I bother answering?

 

[There it is]

I'm the kind of guy who is evaluating players, crunching numbers, forecasting, etc. all off season. This helps me to get an early ranking of players, who I like who I want to avoid etc.

Once I find out about any rule or scoring system differences and know what spot I'm drafting from I'll usually get pretty intense about formulating a draft strategy and spend about 2-3 days looking at mocks, adp, etc. to try to see who I'll have a shot at and put together an overall approach. If my draft is still a few weeks away I tend to step away from it for a while.

I think about 1 week before the draft is probably a good time to revisit and get something on paper as far as a draft plan is concerned. I'll start with a "plan A" - if everything goes as I expect I'll do this... I'll probably put together 2-3 back up plans so I'm prepared for everything. The night before the draft I do nothing draft related. I'll check the news to be sure last seasons rushing leader hasn't retired (ala Rickey Williams) but otherwise I leave it alone. I don't want to start second guessing my self the night before the draft. If I don't have a solid draft plan by then it's too late anyway.

I'm curious to hear how the rest of you get prepared for your draft.

Sounds about right. Esp when you learn your draft position.

 

[There it is]

I start by printing out and going over the "Top Performers/players stats" from the season that just ended for each league. This is my first ranking for the next year. As teams make their moves durring the off season I adjust the list; based on: FA pickups and loses; O-line info; rookie draft picks ( have to know team reason for pick ); Read everything I can on everyone. Always updateing and moving players on the list till draft is over. I always have a list of Sleepers I think I can pick up after round 10-12.

What leagues? OMEGA?

 

[The Jerk]

I most definitely stop thinking about FF from the Super Bowl though March Madness, but should I bother answering?

Or as Judge Smails might say: "Don't you people have homes?" ^2

 

[David Yudkin]

After Week 12 of the current season. Nothing too elaborate, but I do start thinking about where guys will go draft wise and I do start mapping out a Top 100 or so players and what rounds they might go in. Obviously it's a best guess, as some players will switch teams and there's no rookies included, but it does already set the stage for who might be a value and who might not. Bascially, it's a rough outline to set some seeds as the year ends and the preseason begins.

 

[The Jerk]

After Week 12 of the current season. Nothing too elaborate, but I do start thinking about where guys will go draft wise and I do start mapping out a Top 100 or so players and what rounds they might go in. Obviously it's a best guess, as some players will switch teams and there's no rookies included, but it does already set the stage for who might be a value and who might not. Bascially, it's a rough outline to set some seeds as the year ends and the preseason begins.

Jokes aside, I also do a simple listing of top players projected for the next season during the current season fantasy playoffs. I list probably only 50 players or so, and it's in tiers and by position (spreadsheet more than a list, but no numbers). I just want to remember who is emerging and who is carrying the load during fantasy crunch time. I want as many of those players on my team next season, barring offseason change.I don't do much more than keep up on information and sharpen my strategies (here mostly) until July 4th or so. For me, if I get too detailed too soon, I lose interest. Drafts are like a college final exam to me. I want to peak at the right time!

 

[David Yudkin]

After Week 12 of the current season.  Nothing too elaborate, but I do start thinking about where guys will go draft wise and I do start mapping out a Top 100 or so players and what rounds they might go in.  Obviously it's a best guess, as some players will switch teams and there's no rookies included, but it does already set the stage for who might be a value and who might not.  Bascially, it's a rough outline to set some seeds as the year ends and the preseason begins.

Jokes aside, I also do a simple listing of top players projected for the next season during the current season fantasy playoffs. I list probably only 50 players or so, and it's in tiers and by position (spreadsheet more than a list, but no numbers). I just want to remember who is emerging and who is carrying the load during fantasy crunch time. I want as many of those players on my team next season, barring offseason change.I don't do much more than keep up on information and sharpen my strategies (here mostly) until July 4th or so. For me, if I get too detailed too soon, I lose interest. Drafts are like a college final exam to me. I want to peak at the right time!

Actually, I don't have a lot of FBG stuff to do in the regular season, so for me it gives me something to do to keep busy. I know that sounds weird, but that's how it goes most years . . .

 

[Marc Levin]

I most definitely stop thinking about FF from the Super Bowl though March Madness, but should I bother answering?

Or as Judge Smails might say: "Don't you people have homes?" ^2

yes - we just don't have beds.

 

[Borat]

I start maybe one week before my draft. And I've never finished lower than 2nd in any league I've entered.

Honestly, I think a lot of you guys over-analyze things and waste an awful lot of time trying to figure out things that will sort themselves out within a reasonable amount of time before your drafts.

 

[videoguy505]

I keep up a little in the early offseason, my league allows free agent pickups between the end of the Fantasy season and the NFL draft (picked up Ron Dayne this year as soon as it was announced he would contend for the starting role), and I'm always keeping tabs on possible keepers. After the NFL draft I start prepping a bit more, just because I have the football jones and I miss it so.

Met up with one of the other owners in my league last night, talking about the upcoming draft, he said, "Yeah, I really got to get out and buy a magazine." Couldn't help but chuckle when he let that gem out of his mouth.

 

[scottiev]

During the offseason, I just usually read around..articles on who moved where..on who to avoid etc..etc...

As far as getting ready for the draft, about 1 week in advance focusing on who I'ld like to take with my first pick and some sort of backup plan

 

[fightingillini]

It's a good question.

I play with basically the same guys year in and year out, which makes draft prepping a little easier.

1) I start by reviewing last season's draft. Where did players get drafted? Where do the rookies get drafted? What round did all owners have 2 RBs? 2 WRs? Their starting QB? Who was undervalued? Overvalued? What was everyone's strategy?

2) Then I review last year's final stats. Which players had career years, which ones were disappointing, and why? Generally, players that had career years the previous year are overvalued the next year......and vice versa for disappointing players.

3) Then I go back a couple of years, to see if there is some clear drafting patterns that my fellow leaguemates have. Here is where I know the guys that take 3 RBs in the first 3 rounds, or guys that draft the starting lineup first before taking backups, and so on. Knowing how guys draft is crucial for developing the optimal team.

4) Then I start applying what I know in steps 1-3 to this season. What's different this year vs last year? Two years ago? If many situations are different (which there are ), will my leaguemates reconsider their draft strategies?

5) Then I start projecting players and bucket them into tiers, and have an estimated short list of guys that, on average, will be available in each round for the first 7-8 rounds. (After Round 8, its too much of a crapshoot......just have to follow the flow).

6) Then I mock my league's draft a few times and come up with an optimal "initial" draft strategy.

7) Watch a lot of preseason games, so I can keep tweaking my strategy and be on the lookout for sleeper candidates.

Step 5 takes the most time.......all other steps don't take much time at all.

 

[posty]

A day or two before the draft...

 

[Ray Pollett]

I start by printing out and going over the "Top Performers/players stats" from the season that just ended for each league. This is my first ranking for the next year. As teams make their moves durring the off season I adjust the list; based on: FA pickups and loses; O-line info; rookie draft picks ( have to know team reason for pick ); Read everything I can on everyone. Always updateing and moving players on the list till draft is over. I always have a list of Sleepers I think I can pick up after round 10-12.

What leagues? OMEGA?

Any leagues on MFL. Example http://football27.myfantasyleague.com/2006/home/46453A $250.00 - 16 team dynasty league. It gives me the total points scored for the season for each player and a breakdown of their points for each of the 17 weeks. This is my starting point since it is for that leagues scoring system.

 

[coolnerd]

As someone who plays both dynasty and re-drafts, I would argue that I am always making mental notes concerning how a player is being used, college players etc which end influencing my redraft is some sort of way. Intense and speciifc redraft stuff does not happen until a couple days before the my various drafts, but more general stuff never really ends.

 

[There it is]

I start by printing out and going over the "Top Performers/players stats" from the season that just ended for each league. This is my first ranking for the next year. As teams make their moves durring the off season I adjust the list; based on: FA pickups and loses; O-line info; rookie draft picks ( have to know team reason for pick ); Read everything I can on everyone. Always updateing and moving players on the list till draft is over. I always have a list of Sleepers I think I can pick up after round 10-12.

What leagues? OMEGA?

Any leagues on MFL. Example http://football27.myfantasyleague.com/2006/home/46453A $250.00 - 16 team dynasty league. It gives me the total points scored for the season for each player and a breakdown of their points for each of the 17 weeks. This is my starting point since it is for that leagues scoring system.

Thats what I thought.I do the same for the OMEGA league..

http://football20.myfantasyleague.com/2005...ns?L=76555&O=08

 

[Power Monster]

Start after the April draft just taking in players and coaches that have moved to different teams. I usually start slow but by the time we get to the middle of July I hit it hard in anticipation of the camps opening. I keep looking at teams- following daily reports until the pre-season games begin.

At that point- I go into the ADPs for redrafts, injuries in camps and pre-season games and players that are starting to look to take over starting roles.

I tend to ignore slow starts from vets and pay attention to the number one defensive units when they get to play.

I keep up this pace aggressively until I get close to draft time and then I start to make notes on the cheat-sheets I have.

Also- because I track past drafting habits of other teams in my league I study this and then go in and put it together- Hopefully!

 

[smetankafanclub]

I'm the kind of guy who is evaluating players, crunching numbers, forecasting, etc. all off season. This helps me to get an early ranking of players, who I like who I want to avoid etc.

Once I find out about any rule or scoring system differences and know what spot I'm drafting from I'll usually get pretty intense about formulating a draft strategy and spend about 2-3 days looking at mocks, adp, etc. to try to see who I'll have a shot at and put together an overall approach. If my draft is still a few weeks away I tend to step away from it for a while.

I think about 1 week before the draft is probably a good time to revisit and get something on paper as far as a draft plan is concerned. I'll start with a "plan A" - if everything goes as I expect I'll do this... I'll probably put together 2-3 back up plans so I'm prepared for everything. The night before the draft I do nothing draft related. I'll check the news to be sure last seasons rushing leader hasn't retired (ala Rickey Williams) but otherwise I leave it alone. I don't want to start second guessing my self the night before the draft. If I don't have a solid draft plan by then it's too late anyway.

I'm curious to hear how the rest of you get prepared for your draft.

I used to spend more time prepping for the draft, like starting in May, but anymore the prep seems like it occurs but is informal. I feel like I do nothing until around now, but I try to start looking, formulating some thoughts, and I guess reading what everyone else is saying, not to follow but to have a pretty fair idea of what "conventional wisdom" thinks.I have tried, and used quite successfully, doing a mock draft with 1-2 other guys in the league I am in. In benefits both owners, and we make the stipulation that I cannot make selections for my team and visa versa. As a result, you don't really have to show any of your thoughts regarding your team , and you get some perspective on what someone else would do in your shoes. You also get the benefit of trying to think of what the other owners in your league may do, and talking it out with someone that has a vested interest in understanding the same thing. Generally, we go about 3 rounds. On top of that fooling with the draft dominator in mock drafts help.

Once I get an idea of those type of things I have a few plans, try to understand what risk I may be taking on, and what risk I can take on later.

For me its alot of thoughts and scribbles, and I will admit my second draft is much better than my first one in any given year, so I try to get into a free league in the middle of August, and at least go through the process online.

As far as actual player research, I start with SOS, checking the news, NFL channel, think about coaching moves, and fit those pieces in kinda quick throughout training camp. But not nearly as structured as I used to be.

...Maybe I should fix that

 

[Sea Bass]

Moreso than mock drafts, I keep a draft history (by position / round) of each league member as well as a league history of how many people per position / per round was selected. Using the tiers that I create I am able to have a better idea as to when quality can be picked for each position. Knowing the tendencies of league members is more valuable than tracking mock drafts of people that you will never compete with.

 

[Varmint]

Well...if the league is a DRAFT format...I simply pick up a fantasy football magazine on the way to the draft....

That's about all it takes...

 

[Sea Bass]

Well...if the league is a DRAFT format...I simply pick up a fantasy football magazine on the way to the draft....

That's about all it takes...

Would you like to join our league?

 

[coolnerd]

Well...if the league is a DRAFT format...I simply pick up a fantasy football magazine on the way to the draft....

That's about all it takes...

Would you like to join our league?

He is making a sideswipe @ "regular" drafts that some auction guys think is neccessary.

 

[gocats]

I just wait for LhUCKS to tell me what to do.

 

[The Jerk]

Moreso than mock drafts, I keep a draft history (by position / round) of each league member as well as a league history of how many people per position / per round was selected. Using the tiers that I create I am able to have a better idea as to when quality can be picked for each position. Knowing the tendencies of league members is more valuable than tracking mock drafts of people that you will never compete with.

Hey Sea Bass,I've done both of the things you mention, as well. However, I've noticed that this hurts me almost as much as it helps me unless the owners are extremely consistent (and therefore predictable). I doubt they're intentionally going against their tendencies. More likely, each year presents a new landscape that results in variations to the actual draft picks.

That all said, it is a good preparation tool to compare who you expect to have a chance at drafting each round. It's just not entirely reliable.