Fantasy Football Draft Strategies

Tatertot13 · 07-12-2006, 07:52 AM

Just curious to find out what fantasy football draft strategies people here use. Do you go with stacking up the running backs the first few rounds, best player available, etc.? I was one of the suckers who took Peyton Manning with the first overall pick last year. Thinking about trying to get two stud backs in the first two rounds this year.

ct · 07-12-2006, 08:00 AM

BPA, with only 1 exception. Make sure you get 2 solid RBs in the 1st 4 rounds, the 1st of which should be your 1st round pick, or you will suck!

Just thought of 1 caveat, if your scoring system is wacky in favor of QBs, which I have seen some like that, you should go QB round 1, maybe 2 if you're at the end of round 1 (snake draft). However, if you went Peyton 1st last year, and call yourself a sucker, obvously you are NOT in one of these wacky scoring systems.

**DaKCMan AP** · 07-12-2006, 08:00 AM

I usually carry 3-4 solid RBs on my teams. WRs are generally the weakest position on my team and I am often scouring the waiver wire for new ones.

CanadianChief · 07-12-2006, 08:12 AM

I generally go with the best player available. Our league is a 14 team redraft and we only start 1 RB (too many pansies complaining about lack of RB depth). Last year I went RB, WR, TE, WR, QB (LT, T.O, Gonzo, Driver, Plummer). I ended up 11-2 but lost in the first round of the playoffs because of LT putting up shitty stats the last couple games and the T.O saga.

**DaKCMan AP** · 07-12-2006, 08:14 AM

My favorite strategy is to get someone dumb to take Mike Vick in the 1st round. Happens every year.

Tatertot13 · 07-12-2006, 08:18 AM

[QUOTE=DaKCMan AP]My favorite strategy is to get someone dumb to take Mike Vick in the 1st round. Happens every year.[/QUOTE

Unfortunately, no one in my league is that dumb. I wanna say the last couple of years, he's gone in the 5th or 6th.

58-4ever · 07-12-2006, 08:21 AM

I generally take the best player available with my first pick. Since I play in a keeper league, my 1st running back is usually already on my roster. And one of the top 3 WRs will always score more touchdowns than the 20th best running back.

CanadianChief · 07-12-2006, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

My favorite strategy is to get someone dumb to take Mike Vick in the 1st round. Happens every year.

We've got a few dumbasses in our league. Last year there were 6 QB's takin' in the first round. Manning, McNabb, Culpepper, Bulger, Collins, and Hasselbeck. Our league gives all TD's 6 points but I think that's a little nuts. The only QB's I could see going in the first round this year would be Manning and Brady.

**DaKCMan AP** · 07-12-2006, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianChief

We've got a few dumbasses in our league. Last year there were 6 QB's takin' in the first round. Manning, McNabb, Culpepper, Bulger, Collins, and Hasselbeck. Our league gives all TD's 6 points but I think that's a little nuts. The only QB's I could see going in the first round this year would be Manning and Brady.

You would take Tom Brady in the 1st round?

DJay23 · 07-12-2006, 08:28 AM

I won my league last year (highly competitive league with a group of friends, so it was not easy). I make the contention that the main reason for my win was my draft.

I generally look to go RB, RB/QB, WR, QB, WR, TE, and so on. A lot of it depends on how others are drafting. Is everyone else going for RB's in the first 2 rounds? Better get in on the action before the good ones are gone. Are you salivating over taking that guy as your backup QB? Has everyone else taken their QB's already? Might as well wait.

There are never guarantees. It's far more important to get quality in the middle rounds. Guys that could end up being studs, that no one notices. Do your homework. Read everything you can, look at every mock draft, study offensive systems, and really study POTENTIAL. If you have a good eye for it, you'll do ok. For example, here was my draft last year:
1- E. James
2 - T. Green
3 - A. Johnson (WR)
4 - T. Barber
5 - M. Clayton
6 - T. Heap
7 - D. Foster
8 - T. Houshmandzadeh
9 - B. Griese
10 - S. Moss
11 - S. Graham
12 - Chicago D
13 - R. McMichael
14 - S. Parker
15 - Detroit D
16 - P. Dawson
17 - D. Rhodes

Notice where I got Santana Moss at?

The most important thing to remember if you use any kind of strategy is not to abandon it on draft day. If you want to wait till the 6th round to take a TE, don't jump the gun and take one in the 3rd just because someone took Gates there.

I'm extremely pumped for this years draft. Here is my current draft strategy as of this moment:
RB, RB, QB/WR, QB/WR, WR, TE, RB, WR, QB/WR, QB/WR, RB, WR, D, K, D, K

Another thing I find helpful is to make your own projections, biases, and gut feelings on players. Rank the players in each draftable position from 1 to the highest number that can be taken. Once you've done that arrange them in tiers. For example, there is a huge 2nd tier for QBs. If you miss out on the 2 or 3 elites because you were busy taking a stud RB, you can afford to wait a few rounds before getting a QB at the bottom of the 2nd tier who is comparable to one at the top. Carson Palmer didn't go till the 6th round in my league last year.

DJay23 · 07-12-2006, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianChief

We've got a few dumbasses in our league. Last year there were 6 QB's takin' in the first round. Manning, McNabb, Culpepper, Bulger, Collins, and Hasselbeck. Our league gives all TD's 6 points but I think that's a little nuts. The only QB's I could see going in the first round this year would be Manning and Brady.

Manning is the only QB I'd take in the first, and it would have to be near the end of the first in a serpentine draft.

CanadianChief · 07-12-2006, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

You would take Tom Brady in the 1st round?

I wouldn't take any QB in the first four rounds but I know that at least those two will go in the first round of our draft this year. I also know that one of the guys is a real Eagles homer so that means McNabb will be gone in the first round too. I figure their mistakes are only helping me out.

I've got the #3 spot in my draft this year so I'm assuming I'll get the leftovers of the top three (LJ, SA, LT). I'm hoping for LJ first but I'm pretty sure he'll go #1. I would prefer LT over SA because I'm worried about the Madden curse and also the fact that he's already gotten his huge payday.

ZootedGranny · 07-12-2006, 08:32 AM

I use a tiered BPA system.

I rank every position by how I think they'll perform, and then I split those rankings up into tiers. Then when the draft comes, I start marking off players that have been taken, and start gauging which player will be the best value at my pick.

DJay23 · 07-12-2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZootedGranny

I use a tiered BPA system.

I rank every position by how I think they'll perform, and then I split those rankings up into tiers. Then when the draft comes, I start marking off players that have been taken, and start gauging which player will be the best value at my pick.

solid

ct · 07-12-2006, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJay23

I won my league last year (highly competitive league with a group of friends, so it was not easy). I make the contention that the main reason for my win was my draft.

I generally look to go RB, RB/QB, WR, QB, WR, TE, and so on. A lot of it depends on how others are drafting. Is everyone else going for RB's in the first 2 rounds? Better get in on the action before the good ones are gone. Are you salivating over taking that guy as your backup QB? Has everyone else taken their QB's already? Might as well wait.

There are never guarantees. It's far more important to get quality in the middle rounds. Guys that could end up being studs, that no one notices. Do your homework. Read everything you can, look at every mock draft, study offensive systems, and really study POTENTIAL. If you have a good eye for it, you'll do ok. For example, here was my draft last year:
1- E. James
2 - T. Green
3 - A. Johnson (WR)
4 - T. Barber
5 - M. Clayton
6 - T. Heap
7 - D. Foster
8 - T. Houshmandzadeh
9 - B. Griese
10 - S. Moss
11 - S. Graham
12 - Chicago D
13 - R. McMichael
14 - S. Parker
15 - Detroit D
16 - P. Dawson
17 - D. Rhodes

Notice where I got Santana Moss at?

The most important thing to remember if you use any kind of strategy is not to abandon it on draft day. If you want to wait till the 6th round to take a TE, don't jump the gun and take one in the 3rd just because someone took Gates there.

I'm extremely pumped for this years draft. Here is my current draft strategy as of this moment:
RB, RB, QB/WR, QB/WR, WR, TE, RB, WR, QB/WR, QB/WR, RB, WR, D, K, D, K

Another thing I find helpful is to make your own projections, biases, and gut feelings on players. Rank the players in each draftable position from 1 to the highest number that can be taken. Once you've done that arrange them in tiers. For example, there is a huge 2nd tier for QBs. If you miss out on the 2 or 3 elites because you were busy taking a stud RB, you can afford to wait a few rounds before getting a QB at the bottom of the 2nd tier who is comparable to one at the top. Carson Palmer didn't go till the 6th round in my league last year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZootedGranny

I use a tiered BPA system.

I rank every position by how I think they'll perform, and then I split those rankings up into tiers. Then when the draft comes, I start marking off players that have been taken, and start gauging which player will be the best value at my pick.

My own tiered rankings is my strategy as well. I don't lock into certain positions in certain rounds, with the one exception I noted earlier. I do tend to wait on QBs, Def, and Kickers, and wait for good value picks.

My league is a 1 player keeper, so that basically is my 1st round pick(1st round is the franchise players), and will ALWAYS be my stud RB. I agree with DJay, I won last year because of the draft. My draft last year, picking last in a 10 team, snake draft league:

Round.Pick# Position Player
---
1.xx RB LaDainian Tomlinson (my franchise player 4 years running, but not anymore. see round 6)
2.10 RB Lamont Jordan
3.01 RB Steven Jackson
4.10 WR Darrell Jackson
5.01 WR Anquan Boldin
6.10 RB Larry Johnson (oh yeah baby!)
7.01 WR Donald Driver
8.10 QB Jake Delhomme
9.01 DF Philadelphia Eagles
10.10 QB Carson Palmer
11.01 WR Eddie Kennison
12.10 PK Jason Hanson
13.01 DF New York Jets (oops)
14.10 RB Michael Turner
15.01 PK Josh Brown

By position:

QB Carson Palmer, Jake Delhomme
RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Lamont Jordan, Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson, Michael Turner (HOLY CRAP!!)
WR Darrell Jackson, Anquan Bolden, Donald Driver, Eddie Kennison
PK Jason Hanson, Josh Brown
DF Philadelphia, NY Jets

Ended up making several FA moves on Def and Kickers, didn't choose well there. Picking up Neil Rackers in week 4 was HUGE!

07-12-2006, 07:52 AM
Tatertot13 Sweetchuck Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: VA Casino cash: $10004935	Fantasy Football Draft Strategies Just curious to find out what fantasy football draft strategies people here use. Do you go with stacking up the running backs the first few rounds, best player available, etc.? I was one of the suckers who took Peyton Manning with the first overall pick last year. Thinking about trying to get two stud backs in the first two rounds this year.
Posts: 188

07-12-2006, 08:00 AM	#2
ct u b illian Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: DooDah Casino cash: $10009436	BPA, with only 1 exception. Make sure you get 2 solid RBs in the 1st 4 rounds, the 1st of which should be your 1st round pick, or you will suck! Just thought of 1 caveat, if your scoring system is wacky in favor of QBs, which I have seen some like that, you should go QB round 1, maybe 2 if you're at the end of round 1 (snake draft). However, if you went Peyton 1st last year, and call yourself a sucker, obvously you are NOT in one of these wacky scoring systems.
Posts: 7,287

07-12-2006, 08:00 AM	#3
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6714952	I usually carry 3-4 solid RBs on my teams. WRs are generally the weakest position on my team and I am often scouring the waiver wire for new ones. __________________
Posts: 35,696

07-12-2006, 08:12 AM	#4
CanadianChief Liquor and Whores Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A Trailer Park Near You! Casino cash: $2223495	I generally go with the best player available. Our league is a 14 team redraft and we only start 1 RB (too many pansies complaining about lack of RB depth). Last year I went RB, WR, TE, WR, QB (LT, T.O, Gonzo, Driver, Plummer). I ended up 11-2 but lost in the first round of the playoffs because of LT putting up shitty stats the last couple games and the T.O saga.
Posts: 1,294

07-12-2006, 08:14 AM	#5
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6714952	My favorite strategy is to get someone dumb to take Mike Vick in the 1st round. Happens every year. __________________
Posts: 35,696

07-12-2006, 08:18 AM	#6
Tatertot13 Sweetchuck Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: VA Casino cash: $10004935	[QUOTE=DaKCMan AP]My favorite strategy is to get someone dumb to take Mike Vick in the 1st round. Happens every year.[/QUOTE Unfortunately, no one in my league is that dumb. I wanna say the last couple of years, he's gone in the 5th or 6th.
Posts: 188

07-12-2006, 08:21 AM	#7
58-4ever The Collective Unconscious Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The OP Casino cash: $9520422	I generally take the best player available with my first pick. Since I play in a keeper league, my 1st running back is usually already on my roster. And one of the top 3 WRs will always score more touchdowns than the 20th best running back.
Posts: 10,425

07-12-2006, 08:28 AM	#10
DJay23 Rock Chalk Jayhawk Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: PA Casino cash: $2613317	I won my league last year (highly competitive league with a group of friends, so it was not easy). I make the contention that the main reason for my win was my draft. I generally look to go RB, RB/QB, WR, QB, WR, TE, and so on. A lot of it depends on how others are drafting. Is everyone else going for RB's in the first 2 rounds? Better get in on the action before the good ones are gone. Are you salivating over taking that guy as your backup QB? Has everyone else taken their QB's already? Might as well wait. There are never guarantees. It's far more important to get quality in the middle rounds. Guys that could end up being studs, that no one notices. Do your homework. Read everything you can, look at every mock draft, study offensive systems, and really study POTENTIAL. If you have a good eye for it, you'll do ok. For example, here was my draft last year: 1- E. James 2 - T. Green 3 - A. Johnson (WR) 4 - T. Barber 5 - M. Clayton 6 - T. Heap 7 - D. Foster 8 - T. Houshmandzadeh 9 - B. Griese 10 - S. Moss 11 - S. Graham 12 - Chicago D 13 - R. McMichael 14 - S. Parker 15 - Detroit D 16 - P. Dawson 17 - D. Rhodes Notice where I got Santana Moss at? The most important thing to remember if you use any kind of strategy is not to abandon it on draft day. If you want to wait till the 6th round to take a TE, don't jump the gun and take one in the 3rd just because someone took Gates there. I'm extremely pumped for this years draft. Here is my current draft strategy as of this moment: RB, RB, QB/WR, QB/WR, WR, TE, RB, WR, QB/WR, QB/WR, RB, WR, D, K, D, K Another thing I find helpful is to make your own projections, biases, and gut feelings on players. Rank the players in each draftable position from 1 to the highest number that can be taken. Once you've done that arrange them in tiers. For example, there is a huge 2nd tier for QBs. If you miss out on the 2 or 3 elites because you were busy taking a stud RB, you can afford to wait a few rounds before getting a QB at the bottom of the 2nd tier who is comparable to one at the top. Carson Palmer didn't go till the 6th round in my league last year. __________________ "True bliss is not something you search for, true bliss is already living inside us all, and sometimes it takes a roomfull of others to lead us to the mirror of your soul." - CosmicPal (10-3-03)
Posts: 8,784

07-12-2006, 08:32 AM	#13
ZootedGranny Chump Steamroller Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: . Casino cash: $10015042	I use a tiered BPA system. I rank every position by how I think they'll perform, and then I split those rankings up into tiers. Then when the draft comes, I start marking off players that have been taken, and start gauging which player will be the best value at my pick.
Posts: 3,974