How to Win Your Fantasy Football League

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Last Updated: January 2, 2023

Fantasy football isn't all luck. Sure, winning at Fantasy Football is probably 75 percent chance. But the other 25 percent? That's skill, preparation and moxie. And that's something that can be learned. Once you know the ins and outs of the way the game is played, you'll be winning again and again.

Steps

1
Think about which players you want before drafting players. Concentrate on players who have great stats, as well as your favorites.^{[1]
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- Don't waste a penny on newsstand rankings. These are published in May and by the time your draft rolls around, they're as good as obsolete. Instead, peruse local newspaper sports sections during training camp: you'll find more injury updates than you know what to do with, and you'll find super-sleepers. For instance, for news on the Vikings, do a Google search for "Minneapolis" and "newspaper". You'll find the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, both of which could be invaluable. For example, this method was used for drafting Nate Burleson, a truly worthy 4th WR find.
- Watch the runs. A run means, everyone starts drafting from the same position. For example, say you plan on taking your starting quarterback in round 4, and in round 3 there becomes a run on quarterbacks, alter your draft strategy and grab him then.
- Don't ever draft a defense or a kicker before you've filled most of your skill positions. Defense is basically luck of the draw and week to week match-ups. Consider drafting 16 defenses, that is, draft a moderate team, and then wait a week. Find out who is playing a team with a green quarterback or weak offense and then pick them up. You can find a ripe match-up every week.^{[2]
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- As for kickers, just grab a dome booter and you'll be fine.
- Find the contract kids. Every year players playing out the last year of their contract perform at much higher levels than their counterparts who've signed fat salary sheets.
- Read How to draft your fantasy football team.
Even if you're playing in a league with friends only, the money aspect makes it much more fun and exciting. It doesn't need to be a lot, just a few dollars.
3
Trade down. If you have picked 3-5, trade down. You'll feel much better about taking two players back to back than you will seeing your favorites fly off the board every other pick.
- Wait a few weeks before dropping or trading away players you picked within the first 10 rounds of the draft and be patient with wide receivers who tend to post inconsistent numbers from week to week. Players suffering from an entire season's injury are an exception.^{[3]
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Take your league scoring system, grab a calculator and a paper box score section. Find out if your league is skewed to quarterbacks or running backs. Chances are it's biased, even if the creator doesn't know it. If it creates parity under center, then hold off on your signal caller and go to the ground or vice versa. This is an unbelievably important task. There are even services online that will take your league scoring system and analyze it for you.
Don't let one weird game or one week take out four or five players. If you load up with Bengals and Ravens, and they play a game that goes low because of snow, you are dead. Essentially, keep your eggs in many different baskets.
6
Pick up free agents. Free agents are players who don't belong to any of your league's teams. Free agents become available on a Tuesday, on a first come, first served basis. Use your football news knowledge to claim good free agents. You'll need to drop a player or two to make room for them on your roster but it's worth it if you spot a good player.
- Trade with other teams to obtain key players to fill gaps in your roster. Be aware that trades need to be submitted to the commissioner before a set deadline, and they can be rejected sometimes.
7
Don't rest. The clincher is complacency. If you've got it, you're in trouble. Recognize when your draft is a bit of a crap shoot – the key is recognizing mistakes and acting on them, as well as being ahead of your opponents by knowing the players and game schedule well. If someone goes down early, log on and grab his back-up first. If someone busts out a big game or two, sign him up! Don't pass on the next Kurt Warner, Stephen Davis or even, Billy Volek.^{[4]
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- Follow the football news regularly. Take note of injuries and players who perform above or below expectations. Keep a constant eye on weekly match-ups.
- Sign up for an update service that keeps you on top of developments during the season. While these services vary greatly in quality, keep looking for a good one and use it; they're essential if you want to reach the playoffs.
- Grab running backs whose stats are on the upswing. Keep them on your roster as bargaining chips for trades: running backs are always in demand. A key to drafting running backs is making sure their offensive line is good. A great example is the Dallas Cowboy's O-line.
Every Sunday and Monday, be sure to watch the games for enjoyment and to glean more valuable information.
Fantasy football is a blast, if you remember to talk good-natured trash to your victims. It'll spur rivalries, keep things competitive and ensure feelings of victory when you take the cake. Make sure you draft a kicker in the first and second round.^{[5]
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Is it important to win the championship trophy?

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Just like in the NFL, it means everything to win your league for bragging rights and to earn some respect in the fantasy football world.

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Should I drop players when I reach the playoffs and the players that are not going?

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The Fantasy leagues play their playoffs before the actual playoffs begin, therefore all NFL teams will still be in regular season games when your playoffs is going on.

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Can paying to play increase the value of the points your players make over not paying to play?

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No. Paying usually occurs when the league decides on an equal entry fee for every participant in the league. For example, a 10 team league with a $50 buy-in would have a pot of $500. You can then make the winning payout whatever you want, for example 1st place $400, 2nd place $100.

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Tips

Know your league rules! There is almost nothing that is really standardized in fantasy football, so it's hard to trust website or magazine rankings that were computed with different scoring systems in mind. Does your league give points for receptions? Then draft possession receivers and running backs who can catch earlier than you would in a league that rewards only yards and touchdowns. There are dozens of rules variations, so know how your league differs from the norm and you'll have a big advantage right from the start.

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Even in a league that gives you points for returning yards, don't go off signing inconsistent or obscure players. If they have a bad day returning, at least a no.2 receiver or top running back can make up for it by taking catches and run for touchdowns.

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In a default scoring league, always try to get your starting running backs in the first 3 rounds. Build your team off your running backs. Though nowadays, with the rise of the wide receivers, this could be something to watch as the trend is starting to shift. Points-per-catch leagues may allow owners to stock up on receivers instead. However, some owners on smaller leagues will still try to find success in stocking up on running backs.

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Warnings

Don't let anyone sign up for more than one team in a single league. Review all trades for signs of collusion between teams that are out of the hunt and teams that are still competitive.

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