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Fantasy football is a great way to make football more interesting while connecting with friends. Win or lose, you’re sure to have a good time next year. However, it never hurts to have a grasp of the rules and best strategies, so let’s talk fantasy football!
As you probably already know, fantasy football involves fictional teams comprised of real players. Your team’s scores each week reflects the performance of the real players you picked. For instance, a running touchdown earns points for that running backs fantasy team, while a throwing touchdown earns points for the teams that own the quarterback and the receiver.
That means that can be different from on-field value. You won’t be drafting any offensive linemen, for instance. Receivers with great quarterbacks throwing to them, and/or play for coaches who like to call passing plays are more valuable. We only care about points scored and yards gained, not underlying talent. You may choose to put a less talented player in your starting lineup on a particular week, simply because he’s going to play against a terrible defense, and is expected to score more.
Still, your familiarity with football will help as you join this league. You can supplement that basic knowledge by reading up on fantasy football news and blogs, listening to fantasy football podcasts, and simply tracking the activity in your own league. You’ll quickly get the hang of which players are disproportionately valuable in the fantasy world, and which real-world stars don’t see their talents translate to the fantasy realm.
Your best bet for a solid first season is to draft well. Choose the best available players early. Fantasy football player rankings will help you there. If you draft in an app, the information will be right there for you to see. Fill out the required positions, and only reach for “sleeper” picks late in the draft.
Make sure you remember to set your lineup each week. Forgetting to do so is an easy way for beginners’ teams to take beatdowns in fantasy football. Plus, it will annoy your friends. Watch for injuries and keep hurt stars in your DL slot, if your league has one. Don’t be afraid to shuffle out underperforming players, and add free agents to boost your team. However, make sure that your superstars stay on your roster.
With a bit of research, a basic draft strategy, and a commitment to update your lineup each week, you should have no problem hanging in with your more experienced fantasy peers. Good luck!
“Fantasy football is not only a good thing but a great thing.” – Jay Mohr
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