Every year, there are certain truths in fantasy football you just don’t mess with, principles that stand the test of time and give you the best shot at winning your league. Some of these tips are specific to this season, but most are year-in, year-out constants.
To succeed, you can’t let emotion get in the way. You have to be pragmatic. Smart. Prepared. Guided by logic and reason. But just as important, you need to make sure you’re getting the main thing fantasy football should give you: enjoyment.
What follows are the pillars I lean on heading into every draft, the points of focus that will keep you confident when the clock is ticking. These aren’t suggestions. These are pro pointers. These are rules to follow.
I. Thou Shalt Know Thy League Rules
Winners know the rules, and they know those rules cold. Hit that little settings icon on your league homepage and actually read through everything. Are you in a full point or half point per reception league? Did your commissioner sneak in a “small” scoring tweak without telling anyone?
Even more important than scoring are starting lineup formats. Supply and demand change everything. In an 8- or 10-team league, getting an elite QB and TE matters more; separating yourself in those spots is a bigger edge. In a 12-team league with extra WR and flex spots, you must understand exactly how deep you’ll have to dig for receivers.
Check for how many IR slots you have, can you take more risks on guys who are injured in camp. Check if there’s a suspended list spot to can stash guys like Rashee Rice on. See if your league uses FAAB instead of waivers. Every rule is a potential edge if you know it and others don’t.
II. Thou Shalt Master Thy Drafting Platform
I cannot stress this point enough. The default rankings in your draft room are a psychological trap. Staring at that list will influence you even if you swear you won’t follow them. Solution: Have your own rankings, right next to your draft. Build them yourself or pull them from a source other than your league’s host site. Even better, identify where your platform’s rankings differ from consensus. If your site is lower on a player you like, you can confidently wait and still grab them at a discount. This is how you get value where your league-mates can’t see it.
III. Thou Shalt Swing for the Fences Late
Early rounds? Play it safe. Special cases aside, you can lose your league in Round 1 but can’t win it. Late rounds? All upside, all the time. Give me the player who might be useless but could be a league-winner over the “safe” guy who’ll be your WR5 all season. Rookie and second-year players often live here, and every year, a few smash their ADP to bits. Brock Bowers. Justin Jefferson. Kenneth Walker. Jaylen Waddle. All were mid-to-late picks once. You want to be holding that lottery ticket before it hits.
IV. Thou Shalt Covet the Rushing Quarterback
As long as rushing yards are worth 2.5x passing yards, and rushing TDs are worth 2 more points than passing TDs, mobile QBs will be fantasy gold. Pocket passers can be great in real life, but they’re game-script dependent in fantasy. A rushing quarterback gives you a weekly floor and the potential to break the position if passing numbers pop, too. This is why I’m aggressively targeting one of the top four QBs this year. After that? I don’t force it.
V. Thou Shalt See the Team Breakouts Coming
Every year, two or three offenses jump a tier, from mediocre to dangerous. Last year, nobody saw Washington’s offense exploding. The year before? Houston. Look for signs: a new head coach or OC, key injuries healing, an easy opening schedule. Identify the leap candidates and plant some flags. The payoff can be massive.
VI. Thou Shalt Be Fluid On Draft Day
Locking yourself into “RB in Round 2, WR in Round 3” is how you pass on value. Your tier rankings should be your GPS. If you’re up and there are six WRs you like in the same tier, but only one RB left in that tier? Take the RB. Odds are that at least one of those WRs will be there on the way back.
VII. Thou Shalt Ignore Preseason Hype (and Panic)
Every August, preseason noise sways drafts, and almost always leads people astray. Ja’Marr Chase’s preseason “drop problem” comes to mind. Caleb Williams' hype last year is another. Preseason is vanilla. Coaches hide real schemes. The only preseason news you should care about? Injuries. Everything else is noise. If the preseason drops a player’s ADP you like, pounce.
VIII. Thou Shalt Not Chase Opportunity Alone
Talent > situation, period. Drafting a RB “just because he’s the starter” is how you end up with Zamir White last year. If the starter struggles, teams will give someone else a shot, especially in messy backfields like Cleveland or Dallas this year. Don’t draft a job title. Draft the ability to keep the job.
IX. Thou Shalt Be Flexible at Tight End
TE is thin. The elite guys are worth it, but only if they fit your build. Overpaying for a mid-tier TE is a trap; most won’t be much better than late-round options. You can stream TE more effectively than any other position. After a few weeks, it’s clear which defenses bleed points to the position. Don’t be afraid to take a late shot, and cut bait quickly if it doesn’t work.
X. Thou Shalt Have Fun and Forget the Past
New year, new slate. Let go of last year’s grudges and man-crushes. Draft with a clear head. And remember, fantasy football is supposed to be fun. Draft players you like watching. Talk trash. Enjoy the fact that this silly little game keeps your friends connected. Only one person gets to bring up last season: the champ.
