Fantasy football is one of the most popular hobbies for sports fans around the world. It’s a game where you can create your team of real-life NFL players and compete against other fantasy teams. But before you start playing fantasy football, you need to understand the basics of a fantasy football draft. We’ll identify what a fantasy football draft is, the different types of drafts, strategies to complete a successful fantasy draft, and common beginner mistakes to avoid.
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What is a Fantasy Football Draft?
A fantasy football draft is an event where participants select NFL players to form their fantasy football team. The draft can be held online or in person, and the order of player selection is determined randomly. Each participant gets a chance to select a player in a predetermined order until each team has a full roster of players.
Types of Fantasy Football Drafts
There are several types of fantasy football drafts, including:
Standard Snake Draft
In a standard snake draft, each participant selects one player per round until the roster is complete. “Snake” refers to the pick order in such drafts, with the order reversing in each round.
Salary Cap Draft
In a salary cap draft, each participant is given a budget to draft players. Players are nominated, and participants use their budget on players until each team has a full roster. These are also sometimes referred to as auctions.
Dynasty Draft
In a dynasty draft, participants select players for a long-term team. While there are usually rookie drafts each year to allow managers to add incoming rookies to the league, there are no new drafts (or startup drafts) in subsequent years, and the teams carry over from year to year.
Fantasy Football Draft Strategies
To win at fantasy football, you need a good draft plan. Here are some strategies to keep in mind:
- Research player rankings and projections before the draft.
- Draft a balanced team with a mix of high-scoring players in different positions.
- Be aware of bye weeks when drafting players.
- Look for value picks in later rounds.
Fantasy Football Draft Mistakes to Avoid
Ignoring Position Scarcity
One of the most common mistakes beginners make is ignoring position scarcity. Certain positions, such as running back and tight end, have a more limited supply of highly productive players than other positions. Make sure to draft these positions early to avoid being left with weaker options later in the draft.
Overvaluing Players from Your Favorite Team
While it’s tempting to draft players from your favorite NFL team, it’s not always the best strategy. You should focus on drafting players who have a high probability of scoring a lot of points and helping your fantasy team, regardless of their real-life team affiliation.
Failing to Adjust Your Draft Strategy
Each fantasy draft is different, and you should adjust your strategy based on the draft’s format and the other participants’ picks. Be flexible and willing to adjust your strategy based on how the draft is unfolding.
Taking Defenses and Kickers Too Early
Defenses and kickers typically score fewer points and are far less predictable than other positions and should not be a priority early in the draft. Wait until later rounds to draft these positions and focus on high-scoring players early in the draft.
Fantasy football drafts can seem overwhelming for beginners, but they are an essential part of playing the game. By understanding the basics of a fantasy football draft and using effective draft strategies, you can create a winning team and have fun playing the game.
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AI was used as a resource for this piece.