Fantasy Football Drafting: Basic Rules to Follow

Every year I play fantasy football, it never seizes to amaze me how so many owners will ignore the basic rules of how to draft. Sometimes they get lucky and it works out for them but far more often it comes back to bite them. Yet they will ignore the same rules the next season. The fact is, along with knowing what you are doing, you need some good luck as well to win your league. Nobody is good enough to guarantee a victory. But the smart owners will set themselves up for the best odds of winning. I will help you do just that...

1) Kickers - Do NOT waste a pick on your kicker until your last pick of the draft!

In the last four years of Fantasy Football, there have been a total of 27 different kickers who have ended the season in the top 10 for kickers. Only one kicker has made it in the top 10 three of those four seasons. Jason Elam ranked 6th, 10th and 9th. Only 8 times in the 81 chances during those four seasons has a kicker made the top 10 in two consecutive seasons. In the last four years, only once has a kicker ranked in the top 5 in two consecutive seasons. Simply put, picking a kicker is no better than a crap shoot. You are best off to wait until the last round then take your kicker. Once the season gets going, you can dump him and take a kicker who is doing well. Likely, if you draft a kicker early, you will still end up doing this anyway.

2) Save the defense until at least the double digit rounds.

My brother Jason believes to save the defense until the last 2 or 3 rounds and I shouldn't argue with him, he has won more championships than anyone I know, but if you at least wait until the 11th round I would not chastise you. The fact is, there are too many factors that fall into play on a defense doing well. The best defense in the NFL might not look good if the offense is horrible and keeps that defense on the field too much. A good defense depends on all eleven players playing well. If one has a bad season, the whole defense can suffer. Also there are often good defenses that come out of the woodwork that will be picked up in free agency.

3) Draft according to numbers and logic. Leave your heart at home.

Too often Fantasy Football team owners will draft players from their favorite teams. Though this may make your viewing your favorite team on TV more enjoyable, it is usually not a good choice for your fantasy team. Drafting Matthew Stafford in the early rounds just because you are a Lions fan would be foolish (unless you are in a keeper league). Draft the best players who put up the best numbers, whether they are on your favorite team or your most hated team.

4) Show up at your draft prepared.

I know that many of you football gurus think you know it all in your head. Trust me, there is one of you in every league. You also become the most hated fantasy team owner during every draft. Not because others are jealous of your football knowledge, but because you end up holding up the draft... every time! However much you think you know, you wont remember the names to 40 running backs, 20 quarterbacks, 60 wide receivers, 20 tight ends and 10 to 20 kickers. You definitely will not be able to remember off the top of your head which players were taken and which ones are still available as you get into the mid to later rounds. Nobody wants to have to let you look at their lists or see their magazines just to get your pick over with. Make one simple list. Print one off the Internet if that's all you do. Just show up somewhat prepared.

5) Keep track of the injury lists.

There is very little worse than drafting a player who you find out afterwards is injured. The day of your draft, go on-line and print off or make notes of injured players you even might draft.

6) Pay attention to bye-weeks.

Believe it or not, this is one of the most common mistakes made by even the most veteran of fantasy football owners. As much as I hate to admit it, I have made the same mistake in recent years. It really lets the wind out of your sails when you get done drafting and suddenly realize that three of your four running backs have the same bye week. Or that both your quarterbacks have the same week off. Then you are forced to look for a trade by that week just so you can fill a complete starting roster. Usually other owners recognize this and take advantage of the situation. It is worse when you cant make a trade and are forced to leave an empty spot or drop the player for a free agent who is not as good.

7) Wait until after the last preseason game is over before you draft.

I understand that this is a hard rule to follow. Sometimes if you are in a league with friends you cant all get together unless you draft earlier. Just keep this in mind. I remember one year we were drafting while we were watching the last week of preseason football. One gentleman was all excited that he got lucky and drew the first pick of the draft. Right away he shouted out, Michael Vick! I have never seen anyone so happy to get the player they wanted as he was getting Vick that day. Half way through the draft, we saw Vick go down with an injury and was out for the season. Imagine how he felt, finishing the draft knowing he was already in a huge hole with his best player down.

8) Have fun!

Remember, when all is said and done, this is just a game. If you make one of these mistakes and it bites you, don't worry. You would be surprised what you can do in trading and waivers. It is Fantasy Football and it is meant to be fun. Keep it that way.