So, you’ve been tasked with drafting your fantasy football team. But how do you choose the players who will make the biggest impact? There are four basic categories you should consider: Running backs, wide receivers, QBs, and linebackers. The more information you have about those positions, the easier it will be to make a good draft.
Running backs
Running backs are one of the most valuable positional assets for fantasy football teams, and there are several things to consider when drafting one. One thing to remember is that running backs are prone to injuries and volatility, so positional depth is imperative. Ideally, you’ll draft a mix of studs and sleepers, as well as rookies and breakout candidates. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most important aspects to consider when drafting your RBs.
One of the best ways to draft running backs is with value picks. Running backs aren’t always available at the end of the draft, so getting a value pick in the early rounds is a great way to maximize your value. However, it’s crucial to realize that running backs are thin after the first two rounds.
Despite this, running backs don’t receive nearly as many touches as some may think. A two-yard gain is considered a failed run, and a failed short-yardage conversion is worth nothing unless it occurs near the goal line.
Wide receivers
If you’re considering drafting a wide receiver in your fantasy football league, there are a number of factors to consider before selecting a wideout. First of all, you have to understand that the NFL is a passing league, so the wideout position is an important one. But choosing the right wideout is not an easy task. Many factors come into play, such as quarterback play, offensive fit, injury history, schedule, and more.
The first three rounds are typically the best times to draft wide receivers. The reason for that is that wideouts in this draft class typically had a breakout season in college. In fact, 41 of 59 wideouts selected in this draft class had a breakout season before they turned 21 years old. In fact, 15 of them had WR3-plus seasons, while nine others were WR2-caliber.
The second half of the draft is where you can find a solid wideout with potential. If you’re drafting in PPR formats, look for players with red zone potential and a red-zone threat. This way, a third-round wideout with upside can be the difference between a championship season and a mediocre season.
QBs
In a fantasy football draft, it’s crucial to avoid the mistake of overdrafting the quarterback position in the first round. Most rookies do this, and it is often a mistake. However, there are ways to draft QBs that can help your team be competitive, even if their salaries aren’t high.
Among the top scorers in the 2018 fantasy football season, eight of them were quarterbacks. Many of them also had deep playoff runs, and that likely helped their scoring totals. Choosing a quality quarterback is not easy, but you need to be patient. Once you find a starting QB, you can look for QB2 and QB1 options on waiver wires.
A quarterback’s value depends on the scoring system used in your league. For example, in a two-quarterback league, quarterbacks may be worth four or six points per passing touchdown. In this scenario, quarterbacks with high passing completion percentages may be worth more than a quarterback with lower passing efficiency.
If you’re looking for a safe bet for fantasy quarterback production, Kirk Cousins may be the right pick for you. He has the potential to post 4,000-plus yard and 30+ fantasy passing touchdowns. Despite being an unknown in the 2018 fantasy football draft, Cousins is a solid late-round pick that can put up fringe QB1 numbers.
Linebackers
Linebackers are cornerstones in IDP leagues and provide tackles, interceptions, fumble returns, and passes-defended points. They are also valuable in non-IDP leagues. As such, you should aim to draft a stud linebacker as your first pick in IDP drafts. Otherwise, you can opt for a middle-round ILB if you are able to afford it.
The first step in picking an IDP LB is to analyze the team’s defensive scheme. Usually, you’ll want a team that runs a 4-3 scheme because they’ll produce more points than a 3-4 team will. Moreover, a 4-3 team will also produce more tackles and sacks than a 3-4 team. You can check the depth chart of your team to determine whether they play in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.
Another important step is to understand your team’s starting defensive backs. If your team starts four defensive backs, you’ll have plenty of choices. Then, you can prioritize linebackers, safety, defensive ends, and running backs. If you’re a redraft owner, you can consider cancelling these players and focusing on a different position.
Safetyties
Safetyties are a solid option for fantasy owners, especially in IDP leagues. Their tackles are the most valuable part of their game, and they often earn a high number of points. In addition to tackles, strong safeties can also earn points through sacks and interceptions.
Safetyties are a solid choice for fantasy owners at any point in the draft. It isn’t necessary to draft a star or an average SS in the first round, but instead focus on finding a steady SS. The drop-off from stars and average safeties isn’t that steep.
Players to queue up before the first pick
When drafting fantasy football, it’s important to decide on players who can make a big impact right away. There are two ways to do this. One is to queue up a group of players before the first pick. This will give you a better idea of who will be the most valuable player at the time. For example, if your team has the first pick, you should queue up the top six players, followed by the next best player available.
Another way to decide on players is to use a watchlist. This allows you to track players you may not own. You can use a watchlist to keep track of players you’d like to trade for in the future. In addition to this, you can also add players to your queue.
To queue up players before the first pick, go to the Player Summary page and click the arrow next to their name. Next, click the Draft Player button to finalize the pick. You can also see your entire draft by clicking the Draft Summary.
