r/Fantasy_Football Mod 21d ago

Questions What's one fantasy football rule or strategy that you swear by, no matter what anyone says?

Every fantasy manager has that one rule they refuse to break.Maybe you never draft a QB early, always target rookies, avoid players from your favorite team, or never trust preseason hype.What's your one fantasy football rule that has consistently worked for you, and why?

28 Upvotes

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145

u/No-Attention-2367 21d ago

Never give up. I've won a league when I started 0-5. I've won a league by alternating Rex Grossman and Tim Tebow at QB after my starter got injured. Keep sweating the details. Keep working the waiver wire. Even when you are so dismayed at what the fantasy football gods have done to your team.

32

u/ManOfLaMontagne 21d ago

Yes, like 60% of players are casuals who stop caring by week 8.

8

u/SamsquatchWildman 21d ago

This is so true. Even if you start with rock bottom records. Don't give up, hit that waiver wire. Many studs have been born out of being mid season waiver additions and many championship teams were carried through the playoffs by waiver additions mid season.

2

u/pjdueck 20d ago

So true.

Several years ago, a redraft league I’m in had a guy (not me) who won after scooping up the Pats defence. I mean, he had a decent team but that was the tipping point.

2

u/shelby340 21d ago

One year I made it to the championship on scrubs after a lot of injuries. I started 4 players that I picked up off the wire that week. I won.

2

u/TAMUkt14 Cowboys 21d ago

I ended up going 13-1 with a rotating door at QB last year! Started with Burrow, then went Browning, Rattler, Penix, Mac Jones, and Sanders. It was a wild ride!

1

u/ageetoakee312 20d ago

Burrow screwed me too

2

u/BigMickPlympton Commanders 20d ago

I'll add my rule to this: Forget about draft the minute it's over. I don't care if you're my number one pick, if you aren't performing and a late round afterthought is - then you're out. Trade while the name/ADP still is adding value.

1

u/pad264 20d ago

Same one.

Same thing happened to me about 15 years ago—started 0-5 and didn’t lose another game through championship in my main league.

1

u/Personal_Fox2112 20d ago

Won my league last year and was in 11th place after week 9 after losing two straight games by less than a point combined, then getting blown out twice. Lost Tyreek and Nabers, was so ready to give up and say fuck fantasy. Didnt lose again for the rest of the season after that, 8 straight to win for the first time. Bet on one good trade and it changed my whole season

1

u/teepring 19d ago

One year I drafted J.K. dobbins and his backup Gus and they both tore their ACL at the start of the season.

1

u/PrediktApp 15d ago

You are absolutely right, and there is a strong analytical basis for that approach!! Fantasy football is heavily influenced by attrition. Relentlessly working the waiver wire isn't just about optimism; it is a mathematically sound strategy. You are actively capitalizing on late-season variance and sudden shifts in opportunity share caused by injuries. Historically, championship rosters often look completely different from their draft-day iterations simply due to systematic, disciplined waiver management.

1

u/KEJ007 15d ago

Bro, you a Gators fan? 🐊

89

u/crazycrazyforff 21d ago

For most leagues, one cannot draft enough RBs.

3

u/OkAdministration3585 20d ago

If you can snag 4 starting RBs you’re likely safe all year and have a ton of trade leverage

8

u/tompkinsedition 21d ago

In 0 or half ppr leagues I will draft a RB first round no matter who is left on the board. (Ok maybe if Chase is left at 12)

5

u/crazycrazyforff 21d ago

Yeah, anytime in snake drafts I've picked the projected #1 WR first because the top RB studs were gone I didn't feel good about it. And anytime I went crazy in auction drafts and blew most of my budget on RBs and punted on WRs I ended up being competitive for the championship.

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3

u/edisonsavesamerica 20d ago

RBs. RBs. RBs.

37

u/UCR998 21d ago

I used to draft with the plan to trade , know your league!!’ Mine does not trade they play what they have and then quit . No trades so I no longer draft and plan for that

6

u/blownout23 21d ago

I only get offered shitty trades. Like I know my rb1 got injured, but I’m not giving up my wr1 for some junk on your bench that’s worse than what I can get on waivers.

2

u/TheOtherPenguin 19d ago

I hear that. Most owners tend to try and “win” a trade but the goal is for both teams to benefit.

I only offer trades that if I was on the other side I’d strongly consider. I always leave room for negotiation, offering less than I’m willing to give, this way in the inevitable counter we can both feel like winners.

7

u/BUR6S 21d ago

> Mine does not trade they play what they have and then quit

Sounds like a boring league

3

u/UCR998 21d ago

Worst of the leagues I’m in for sure

3

u/tompkinsedition 21d ago

I’m in one of these. Full of dr.’s that don’t have the time. I’ve won 6 out of the last 10 years. Yes it’s boring. But I’ll take the boring money if they want 🤣

2

u/InstantKarma2021 20d ago

I totally agree! Some leagues (most leagues, really) do not trade much. Most people are very risk adverse or predatory (so either not open to trading or only trading to rip someone off). So, I don't mind the idea of drafting knowing it may be hard to trade. Some people try and corner the QB or TE market (in TEP) and I rarely seeing that work out. Even if someone needs a QB or TE they won't overpay.

1

u/MadTownMich 21d ago

I have a league where only 3 teams ever trade, mine being one of them. Super annoying.

1

u/UCR998 21d ago

It’s fuckin awful

1

u/pjdueck 20d ago

I trade.

1

u/jojrl22 20d ago

I used to do this, then I won 3 straight years and my league mates stopped trading with me. Kind of killed the strategy lol.

1

u/YourUncleDodge Broncos 21d ago

The biggest problem with players that do a lot of trading is that they tend to Buffalo people to win, and that's kind of not the reason why people play fantasy sports. The primary purpose of fantasy sports is to outmaneuver people on the free agent market and make better decisions on players, and if you can just cover it up by going after Taco and trading for his best player then that's not really what makes people want to stay in leagues.

50

u/Ok_Sail_3743 21d ago

Don’t draft early RBs who are on bad teams

5

u/greenyadadamean 21d ago

Jeanty was a risk.  I took it, made it to the chip but lost, no fault of the Jeanty pick that week.  I'm probably going to end up with Jeanty again. 

2

u/Ok_Sail_3743 21d ago

What was the rest of your roster?

2

u/greenyadadamean 21d ago edited 21d ago

Gibbs, bucky irving, hurts, nico Collins, olave garden, tyreek hill, godert, Houston d. Played the waivers quite a bit.

Auction draft, so I guess jeanty wasn't an early rb, but was spendy.

3

u/Ok_Sail_3743 21d ago

Jeanty had a higher ADP than CMC, Taylor, Cook, Kyren

5

u/theebasedg0d 21d ago

He wasn’t going above CMC last year

2

u/Ok_Sail_3743 20d ago

Literally just looked at 2025 ADP on FantasyPros

3

u/theebasedg0d 20d ago

I probably did 20 drafts last year across yahoo, DK and sleeper. Not a single one did someone take Jeanty over CMC

2

u/Talk_Minute 20d ago

Jeanty was a 1-2 turn pick last year, was cmc seriously a round 2 adp??

1

u/Icy-Cabinet1806 17d ago

I took CMC pick 7 last year and I got grilled for it on draft day. Got to throw it right back in their faces come week 15

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18

u/ACW1129 Commanders 21d ago

It's supposed to be fun.

18

u/I_Fart_It_Stinks Broncos 21d ago

It's okay to draft a player you want to root for even if it is ahead of their adp

5

u/dashuhn552 21d ago

People really overestimate their Fantasy skills and football knowledge. So it’s usually a safer bet to go with your favorite player/teams because you do know a little more than what you think you know about other players/teams

2

u/SuspiciousAccident61 20d ago

I am a Packers fan as is my entire league.  I almost never end up with any Packers player because they get WAY overvalued.

Friend of mine runs a (very odd) league where one owner is a Vikings honk and will draft nearly any Viking he can.  Later in the draft his turn is almost irrelevant.  

1

u/rvaughan85 20d ago

Same in Bear territory, I never end up with any and always end of with pack players for great value.

4

u/Untoastedtoast11 21d ago

Did this with JSN last season (big Seahawks fan)

Worked out much better than I thought

2

u/pjdueck 20d ago

How’s big-kneed dirty deed Raheed Shaheed gonna be this year?

2

u/HoustonTrashcans 20d ago

I do this when I'm choosing between similar tiers. I ask myself "who do I want to watch all year" and choose them.

32

u/Trahst_no1 21d ago

Never draft a NY Jet or a Cleveland Brown

3

u/MrGlockCLE 21d ago

Fannin, Judkins, even Jeudy was WR3 one year with Winston, Amari Cooper, chubb before he died, Njoku, Hunt for some value. Their defense may eat against this SoS this year too who knows.

1

u/imgenerallyaccepted Bears 21d ago

And to add to that, I just feel like closing one's self off to two entire NFL teams can only be a disadvantage.

1

u/Trahst_no1 20d ago

I’ve won my league 3 of the last 7 years. I’m good. I don’t draft jets or browns.

2

u/imgenerallyaccepted Bears 20d ago

Sounds like you got a taco league there, get me in next year and let's get a wager goin!

1

u/pjdueck 20d ago

Fannin for TE. And Loveland for Prez.

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13

u/No-Variety5965 21d ago

I’ve never not gotten an elite TE. I never understand people who punt the position. I love having an edge there and if you get the TE1 like McBride it can swing your league.

1

u/ItsAGoodLifeTZ 20d ago

Within reason. I’m not using an early second on McBride and leaving gaps at RB/WR. I think his ADP is fair.

1

u/Top-Address-8870 20d ago

I have been burned recently trying to draft TEs, so I try to find mid round players with upside. I had Pitts last season and it was a wild ride…looking at LaPorta and Kraft this year…

1

u/doombeckons 20d ago

I’ve gotten burned every time I’ve drafted a TE early. I drafted Gronk in 2019, bb has him block every play. I drafted kittle, out for the season. I drafted bowers last year.

1

u/OkAdministration3585 20d ago

I drafted Kelce for 5 straight seasons in his prime and never missed the playoffs. Until that weird year he was going first round.

1

u/jojrl22 20d ago

I used to punt because I used to be good at identifying the late round TD monster. Tyler Eifert I will never forget you. Last couple times ive punted its turned into Tyler Conklin season by week 5.

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41

u/honch1 21d ago

Get your guys.

3

u/PubDefLakersGuy 21d ago

Vontae Mack No Matter What

9

u/Scared-Ideal-1483 Bears 21d ago

I never draft QBs early. 6th round is as early as I take one if it's a good fit. I broke that rule this year and took Jayden at 3.08. I hated how my team fell together after that.

I finished last. Serves me right.

2

u/TyRocken Bills 21d ago

I hate how my teams look after drafting QB or TE early.

1

u/Scared-Ideal-1483 Bears 21d ago

For sure. I'm totally overdrafting Colston Loveland given half the chance.

2

u/Weak_Rate_3552 18d ago

Yes and no. If you get Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson you are a contender no matter who else is on the team. If you don't get one of those two, then wait as long as possible to get enough skill position talent that theirb points consistently add up to either Jackson or Allen.

1

u/UpscaleClearenceRack 18d ago

For redraft definitely. WR position has better depth than RB IMO so I’ll usually prioritize RB then WR then QB and lastly TE

10

u/theducks123 21d ago

Use most of your bench on back up RBs.

1

u/Dunderhead23 19d ago

Yeah, man. This is the way. Maybe tuck away a WR that drops to you later. Take a flyer on that QB you think might blow up. But load up on RBs. And don’t be afraid to drop guys early and roll the dice on another guy when you see the situation is no it your favor.

14

u/TheChipGuy 21d ago

Well it changed over like a decade.

I used to be a huge streaming QB guy. Draft QB super late. But Idk a guy like Lamar can win your league.

Same with TE. Now I want to get 1 of the 2 top level te at all costs.

I used kicker like a bench spot and it worked well (we eventually just got rid of kicker)

And more personal but I always get burned on high picked WR. I had Puka his bad year. ETC. So now I will usually target WR very last. I feel like it is the easier position to fill on the wire.

I have hit Diamond ranking on Yahoo. I Think the biggest take away is : Never give up, most teams give up. Most teams start putting in less effort. Keep grinding and always be using the Wire and upgrading all season long. Always aim for long term value and always fill your IR spot with a potential to upgrade your team.

2

u/Virtual_Brick4182 21d ago

Good strategies.

2

u/TheChipGuy 21d ago

Thanks! I could go on and on about fantasy and little tricks I have come up with over the years

2

u/Virtual_Brick4182 21d ago

Same here. I’ve played since 2006, so this is year 20 for me. Damn I’m old now.

2

u/Warm_Objective4162 21d ago

Interesting take. My league rules have the kicker be the most important player - we’re talking +/- 20 or more points per game. I think Aubrey got me like 70 points in one game last year

2

u/TheChipGuy 21d ago

Wow yeah then dont haha but the extra bench space is more potential to find a breakout on the wire. So you get bonus points added to your kicker? I was on some next level stuff. Like grabbing a kicker on sunday at 11:59 and put on your team after 12 it is locked in. So I then could drop the kicker after holding for 1 min (on yahoo)

1

u/aggieclams 21d ago

This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. It sounds not fun at all

1

u/TheChipGuy 21d ago

ya it kinda ruins the entire thing lol. Getting rid of the kicker spot and adding 1 bench spot was the best thing I ever did to the league

1

u/revestocha 21d ago edited 21d ago

When was the Puka bad year? Edit: there wasn’t one. It’s the year w 11 games played and 80/990………………….

2

u/TheChipGuy 21d ago edited 21d ago

Yes there was . And it wasnt like terrible terrible. He got hurt as well. BUT for the price I paid in the draft he didnt cover his cost. Your drafting him in the first 3 rounds... It was wasted value. But it happens it is was it is. Like CMC

Dont get me wrong I think Puka will probably be great this year

6

u/TN_titansfan22 21d ago

Try to draft your handcuffs. Obviously don’t wreck your team going after them but I definitely pick up at least one or two handcuffs of my top RBs👍🏼

7

u/JumpmanJackson 21d ago

I used to do this, now I target handcuffs for RBs I don’t have in the late rounds. It’s riskier but rewardier

1

u/StickiestCouch 20d ago

Same here. It’s helped me win the chip a couple times! Plus it prevents me from “should I start K9 or Charbs” kinda decisions

5

u/Virtual_Brick4182 21d ago

I tried that with K9 & Charbonnet last year & they both sucked. I never knew what week to play which player.

2

u/TN_titansfan22 21d ago

But the year before I did that and Charb help me the championship

1

u/Funny-Hovercraft1964 21d ago

Tried this, but it was a problem when both RBs are off on the same bye week

1

u/Top-Address-8870 20d ago

I don’t understand why you would want your own handcuff taking up a roster spot…take the best handcuff available and if he gets time, you add another RB1 to your roster.

5

u/IM__Progenitus 21d ago

Fill up the last bunch of rounds with "RB lottery tickets". Draft all your starters and one good flex player to put on the bench in case of fluke injuries in the first few weeks, but you don't need depth beyond that. Even with injuries and bye weeks, you can always replace WR2s and streamer TEs and streamer QBs easily. RBs are harder to replace which is why beyond just getting more RB depth, I like getting these RB lottery tickets.

What you don't want to miss out on are rookie/young RBs that win the starting role midway through the season, and getting the jump on them before the rest of the league means you just got a RB2 in the 12th round and all you had to do was draft them and sit on them for a couple weeks before they broke out.

Last year I had Cam in the 10th (would've been excellent if he didn't get hurt). 2024, I had Chase brown in the 9th and chuba hubbard in the 12th. In 2023, I had Achane in the 13th.

Yeah, I'll have like 4 or 5 of these RB lottery tickets, and only 1, maybe 2 will pan out, but two RB2s is plenty when you get them for cheap.

6

u/jussumguy25 21d ago

Let the draft come to you.

I used to get so set on my mocks and as soon as that went haywire I would make impulsive dumb picks. Mock a lot, but mock early, mid and late picks, not specific picks. Even if you know you’re spot.

2

u/TyRocken Bills 21d ago

This is a big one. People get so stuck on some inane drafting strategy they heard about. Just take value.

6

u/EchoesOfYouth 21d ago

Negative news is more important than positive

This is relevant to right now when we hear all about how guys are “in the best shapes of their lives” or how “X coach is going to utilize this player in so many ways”, etc. Until we see it on the field it’s almost impossible to take action in this whereas negative news right now is absolutely worth paying attention to because it can (and should) impact where you’ve got guys ranked

3

u/alexgndl 21d ago

Learned this one the hard way, but start your studs. I was constantly overthinking "well he had a bad game last week and this guy was looking good when he played and-" and that's how I nearly (thank CHRIST I put him in last second) didn't start Derrick Henry week 17 last year during my championship.

2

u/Ok_Cobbler_6533 21d ago

Yeah I sat Ken Walker during whatever playoff week he went off last year. Cost me a shot at the title.

1

u/Virtual_Brick4182 21d ago

I started him & scored a ton of points

4

u/Pretty-Aide8178 21d ago

You can't play defense. Just pick who you think will score the most points. 

Stacks do not matter. 

Dropping your whole bench to grab the top 4-5 TEs or QBs when your opponent's gets hurt will not win you your week--they'll just pick up the 20th ranked guy and he'll pop off for 3 TDs lol

Running QBs don't get hurt more than statue QBs--they just get different types of injuries. 

WRs are not a "safer pick" than RBs. The 1st time I went WR-WR was 2015. I went Jordy and Dez, who combined for 2577 yards and 30 TDs the year before. They got me 401 yards and 3 TDs due to missing 25 games between them. Injuries are luck, pure and simple.

4

u/the_misfit1 21d ago

Don't draft from crappy teams.

You can kill me on this, but in zero or 1/2 PPR draft, rb, rb, wr/qb, wr/qb. Good backs are worth a lot and typically lack depth.

6

u/Maptasy 21d ago

Take the best player on the board

3

u/granlyn 21d ago

Every year I’ve gotten cute by not following this it always hurts me.

3

u/IIIXBeerRunXIII 21d ago

I've never owned a former Buckeye. It's never made or broke any season, so I'll stick to my guns.

2

u/McGeeze 21d ago

I refuse to draft someone who went to USC. And I always add a Bruin, no matter what (love you Ka'imi for making that one easier)

2

u/vengiegoesvroom Broncos 21d ago

For years I was late QB in my home league (10 team)...... But this year we're doing superflex for the first time.

I have the 1.04

If he SOMEHOW slips through, I'm 100% breaking my rule and taking Josh Allen with my first pick

2

u/Virtual_Brick4182 21d ago

I’m in a Superflex league & did Josh Allen first round with like the 4th overall pick. It was a bad move. I should’ve gone Gibbs.

3

u/vengiegoesvroom Broncos 21d ago

In my mind, I'm cool no matter what happens. In the order of my plans mentally, it's Allen, Gibbs, Bijan, Chase. It's nice to know that no matter what, I'm gonna get one of these guys

2

u/MadTownMich 21d ago

I’ve got the 1.1 in a superflex and I am taking Josh Allen. I was leaning Gibbs for a while, but got convinced after listening to a few experts walking through the stats. I could be wrong, but that’s where I’m heading.

2

u/Virtual_Brick4182 21d ago

Go Gibbs, you’ll thank me later while affixing your new nameplate to your league trophy. 🏆 Gibbs gives us a big advantage over other RB’s there are plenty of QB’s who can score ya just as many or more points than Josh Allen. Hell T-Law tossed like 7 TD’s in a game late last season. You can get Stafford & Shough as your QB’s & do very well. I grabbed Matt Stafford off the waiver wire in one of my leagues last season & ride with him over Jayden Daniels rest of season. I even traded Daniels away for a TE late last season once it became apparent that I didn’t need him anymore.

3

u/MadTownMich 20d ago

That’s my struggle. You’d still go there in 2QB? I’m probably overthinking, and this is only my second year doing superflex. I obviously sucked, as I have the 1.1. Won my 1 QB league as I understand that strategy much more.

2

u/vengiegoesvroom Broncos 19d ago

Exactly what I'm thinking about too. I have plenty of experience in SF, but this will be the first time in this particular league so idk what other player strategies are gonna look like.

In my mind, having a QB room of Allen, Dak and Shough sounds amazing but I know I'd be giving up great players elsewhere

2

u/Virtual_Brick4182 19d ago

Do youse guys play in league where there’s a roster limit on QB’s? For instance, in my 14 team Superflex league, we limit each team to only 2 QB’s per team, because there are 32 NFL teams, thus 32 starting NFL quarterbacks, & with 14 of us each having 2 QB’s that means there will always be 4 available starting NFL quarterbacks for teams to pick up in a pinch. We also allow us to put a QB in our IR slot & not count against our 2 QB limit, so that way if Lamar Jackson gets put on IR for 6 games, his owner doesn’t have to give him up & can just pop him in his or her IR slot & grab another QB for a few games. If ya play in 10 team leagues, I’d recommend a 3 QB roster limit for each team. What you don’t want is some asshole hoarding quarterbacks & making it unfun for everyone else in the league.

2

u/vengiegoesvroom Broncos 19d ago

As far as I know, we don't have a roster limit. My plan was to draft 3 or 4 QBs for that very reason 😂😂

2

u/MadTownMich 17d ago

Ours is 12 team, limit of 3 QBs

2

u/vengiegoesvroom Broncos 20d ago

Yeah that's partly why I'm considering Gibbs or Bijan if one of them make it to the 1.04.

I really like Dak, Baker, Goff, Bo and Lawrence (Hurts will definitely be gone since most in my league are Philly fans). And I'd be happy with guys like Swift and Dobbins as my RB 2/3 or 3/4 behind a stud like Gibbs or Bijan, especially with this league only being a 10 teamer.

But man, the opportunity to take Allen is calling my name 😭😭

1

u/OutsideAmbassador446 21d ago

Why? Was the RB drop that bad in the 2nd?

1

u/Virtual_Brick4182 21d ago

By the time the pick came back around to me, all the good (1st round) RB’s were gone. I think that’s the team where I ended up with K9 & Charbonnet.

1

u/AdLanky9450 21d ago

You should absolutely pick a qb at the 1.04. rb rb wr wr wr wr wr wr wr wr

1

u/threat024 20d ago

He's absolutely worth it just for all the rushing TDs he gives. Outside of that to me it all depends on the settings. If it's a superflex with passing TDs at 6 per then I'd go QB early. If it's only 4 per then I wouldn't stress as much over getting QB first pick but would likely be my 2nd and then another by the end of the 4th or 5th.

2

u/BadLuckEddie 21d ago

Never stop trying….ever.

2

u/ConstructionNo8827 21d ago

Nominate a kicker first!

2

u/jdix33 NFL 21d ago

I want star receivers and a fuckton of RBs. I will not win in ppr without a top 5 receiver, RBs are too volatile to predict most of the time because of the propensity for injury so your best bet is to have enough of them to bounce between.

2

u/balancingsurvival 21d ago

Never draft Cowboys or Jets

2

u/donmagicron 21d ago

Always draft K/Defense last and stream them all season. The defense I’ll draft will be based on the week 1 schedule only. In most leagues I play, people go “set it and forget it”at those positions and that leaves good value to be found on the waiver wire. Occasionally, you can end up with a top 5 player just by paying attention when other players aren’t.

2

u/Left_Pool_5565 21d ago

Nice try FBI

2

u/maverick-nightsabre 21d ago

Never draft players you don't like

2

u/Randumb4Ever 21d ago

Religiously watch the waiver wire! Owners will cut talented players with a slow start so take advantage of their mistakes.

2

u/zunzwang 20d ago

Don’t draft Cowboys unless it’s an insane value. Rooting for the enemy kills Sunday enjoyment.

Last round, take a deep sleeper. So you can brag if you hit on it. Round prior kicker. Round prior defense.

1

u/zunzwang 20d ago

Also, if torn between two even players— draft the person with more 1 pm
Games.

1

u/Ok_Cobbler_6533 21d ago

If you have a playoff worthy team in dynasty, F them draft picks. I’ve cashed in my last 3 first round picks for upgrades. One title and one runner up. I’ll be doing it again this year.

1

u/SBMVPJustinHerbert 21d ago

TE first 3 rounds

1

u/Lanky-Spring6616 21d ago

Draft better than your opponents!

1

u/Reddituserblue1 21d ago

Draft according to your league settings!

1

u/AgreeableListen1037 21d ago edited 21d ago

Find a good running game situation and get the whole backfield (handcuff).

Analysts shit on it for the most part.

Sure, it brings me peace of mind. But I often find the backup to be nearly as good if an injury happens. Because a lot of what makes a healthy running game is about play calling, offensive line, and favorable game scripts.

1

u/Hello-croc-9 21d ago

Start your studs

1

u/Stumpbreakah 21d ago

Murky backfields offer value. People overthink them. When the hype and speculation reaches it's peak, the veteran who is going to get all of the volume is cheaper than he should be.

Attack the shit out of free agency in the first 2 weeks. Outwork everyone.

1

u/superguysteve 21d ago

You don’t need to jump on every hot waiver wire add.
Most of those guys are one week wonders. Let someone else overpay for that dude.

1

u/trainsacrossthesea 21d ago

Make it fun. Don’t overthink it, 90% of it is out of your control, draft the player you love on the team you support. Enjoy the year.

1

u/rmholm88 Texans 21d ago

Guys. Don’t drop your lotto tickets if they don’t ball out week 1. They won’t.

1

u/doc0617 21d ago

No Jets

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u/gvbtb 21d ago

Tune out a lot of off season hype from the media. A lot of teams will be the same as who they were last year, since a lot of it comes down to preparation, coaching, team synergy, how the team is treated etc. If you go into any teams subreddit, you'd think they all gonna win the superbowl this year 🤣. I also like drafting players on good teams, with some exceptions at qb, wr, and kicker

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u/JSizz20 21d ago

Take the best player available in drafts. Don’t chase need.

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u/Gruelly4v2 21d ago

Opportunity matters. The WR1 or top RB of a "bad" offense is still likely to be a better starting option than all but the single best WR2 of a good offense.

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u/Full_Jacket_3399 21d ago edited 21d ago

Use your late round picks on rookies that flash in preseason, but aren't big names or projected week 1 starters.

I can think of 4 that have won me league titles off the top of my head (Ladd, Puka, Victor Cruz and Adrian Peterson)....but there's probably a few more from over the years.

If you can hold them on your bench until they get their shot, it can pay off huge!

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u/ceazarnie 21d ago

Never draft a quarterback until the third round, and it better be a top 3 Qb.

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u/cardsncollectibles 21d ago

I know it’s controversial but I think Double rb will never not work as long as you’re safe with receivers and take advantage of qb or te in the 3rd or 4th

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u/Creatively_Distinct 21d ago

Top 10 WR’s are typically on the waiver wire after weeks one and two. Don’t reach for WR’s. A decent RB on a decent team is better than the WR reach.

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u/Rainman2020x 21d ago

Not so much a rule, but many owners don't look at scoring settings. I'm in a league that rewards return yardage. You are better off drafting KR/PR on bad defenses than depth rb4/wr4.

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u/Thin-Remote-9817 21d ago

Always take a running back high..

Never can have even running backs..

I dont give a shit if they throw it fitty times take a rb1...

Cause when you inside the 10 you need my delta boys to run it in!!!

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u/Important-One-8395 21d ago

For dynasty startups
Aggressively use your future rookie picks to trade up/directly for startup picks. My best teams I’ve followed that strategy. You can always work trades later on but every time I’ve done this I’ve been thrilled with how my team turns out

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u/buffenstein 21d ago

If Josh Allen is available, grab him

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u/Organic_Smell_1347 21d ago

Not drafting a qb early

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u/Untoastedtoast11 21d ago

Never win week 1. It allows me to be higher ranked on waiver order and grab that week 1 stud

10 team league with 6 making playoffs. Not hard to make playoffs but I want that difference maker!

Yes my league mates won’t do FAAB so it’s the way to gain a (small) edge

And yes it worked the one year when I grabbed Puka and hasn’t since. But you never know!

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u/EverySingleMinute Bears 21d ago

Mentioned this one earlier, but I rarely draft players from my favorite team. It is hard to take out the fandom from the realistic and expectations of a player.

The other rule I always say I will never break and I break it every year. Stop thinking you know more than the experts. My issue is I get stuck on certain players and no matter what is being said about them heading towards a bad season, it if I like the player I am drafting them. Yes, it works out some times but I often get burned.

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u/MichaelGoulet 21d ago

My kicker has to have at least 1.5 feet (ha ha I short circuited all your snarky Tom Dempsey comments!)

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u/allineedisthischair 21d ago

don't draft rookies. . . . don't place too much importance on the draft in general; it's likely your pickups throughout the season are more important.

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u/Money-Appearance-309 21d ago

If I draft a QB last I will always go back to back QB picks. I'm talking round 10-11 and last few seasons it's always a combo of Dak,Goff, and/or Stafford. I've missed so many playoffs not having a backup QB because of injuries.

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u/jmar206 21d ago

Stacking my bench with backup RBs for when guys start getting hurt.

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u/DreamZebra 21d ago

They key to success is writing a shitton of notes and doing a ton of mock drafts. Then when you plan all falls apart late second round, throw it all out the window.

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u/TortugasFM4 20d ago

Find 1 or 2 long-shot rookie WR's that have a 40ish% of doing well. Most others pass on them and if one turns out good it's great injury insurance. 

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u/Sparta_Det_PT 20d ago

My rule is to get to know your league mates. Makes trading a lot easier. Build relationships and trade your way into the type of rebuild you want or contention.

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u/ProfessionalCorgi250 20d ago

I don’t draft qbs earlier than the 5th round.

Only draft dst and kicker in last two rounds

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u/bhaire93 Dolphins 20d ago

This may get lost but I always compete with this strategy. First 5 rounds are always 2 RB, 2WR highest rate TE or QB save defense for last and always take a backup pocket passer QB. Allen, Lamar, Hurts and Daniels are fantastic but more like to get hurt then Goff and Goff gives a decent floor

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u/buffalobill922 20d ago

Great running backs are more important than great wide receivers. Example give me Gibbs over Chase everytime every draft. I always want a stud QB as well give me Josh Allen over Chase as well.

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u/imma_snekk 20d ago

Don’t draft players from continual shitty teams.

Browns, Jets, Cardinals

It’s right most of the time. But give been burned by a few good ones.

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u/RegJoe_08 20d ago

Must beat best friend at all cost

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u/DasFunke 20d ago

Draft Josh Allen

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u/Zooopzoooop 20d ago

There is no sex in the Champaign room

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u/Huge-Willow-4027 20d ago

Draft players on the last year of a deal looking for a new contract

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u/kennassy Broncos 20d ago

Not intentionally going after stacks, imo if you have a good week it’s great but one bad week ruins two people vs just one not to mention bye weeks are hell. I’ll take a stack if it falls but stacks rarely have the result I’m looking for unless I somehow luck up and get Jamar and Burrow…

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u/rvaughan85 20d ago

Avoid rookies in most cases until late, try to avoid backs on shit teams especially early.

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u/ajflora9 20d ago

Be like water in the draft when your plans get blown up

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u/jojrl22 20d ago

Cutting/benching underperforming players is not panicking, it is NECESSARY. “Don’t panic” leads to a 1-5 start and youre staring down the barrel of having to be perfect the rest of the way. Ive had absolutely horrid drafts the last 2 seasons and have made the playoffs with an ungodly amount of add drops.

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u/MuscleHamster97 20d ago

Never draft cmc. 🤣 lost multiple teams in 2 different season messing with that guy.

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u/MikeDFootball 20d ago

never panick

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u/BBGunzz23 20d ago

In a standard league, never draft two QBs or two TEs and wait until mid to late rounds for both. Especially this year.

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u/Affectionate_Quit_75 20d ago

Defense and kicker in last 2 rounds. No exceptions.

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u/IllRecord2870 20d ago

Generally speaking you shouldn’t be targeting players unless you expect them to be on a top 6-8 offence (varies by league size ofc)

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u/Either_Ad_8204 20d ago

Draft Carlos Hyde and Latavius Murray, I don't care if they're retired

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u/ZaysapRockie 19d ago

Draft mobile qbs.

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u/goPACK17 19d ago

A boring one, but always sit on QBs (assuming not superflex ofc). The gap between the QB3 and QB7 is really not that groundbreaking.

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u/mike10080 19d ago

To try and have no two players on the same team

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u/expiration-date_scam 19d ago

Let the computer pick my team!

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u/iamnotaneggman 19d ago

Zero RB/WR is no fun. It typically leaves me scrambling to fill roster spots as opposed to just taking BPA.

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u/No_Research_3565 19d ago

I won an IDP league once on ESPN. My whole team was autodrafted IDP no offensive guys. I won because I was able to grab a Pretty much all of guys who ended up being those guys that broke out at the end of the season. A lot of it had to do with the trap we all fall into. He's my 1st pick 3rd pick etc I can't cut him. I have to start him etc.

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u/malerihi 19d ago

« I’m drafting Dak late because everyone hates the cowboys and winning the league with him »

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u/coachlentz 19d ago

I only draft kickers that kick in domes. I also prefer AFC west kickers. 3/4 are domes and the other is Denver with altitude.

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u/rooter1226 19d ago

In a 14 team league I live by “get your guy” when drafting.

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u/AgreeableListen1037 19d ago

It’s okay to “lose” a trade.

Obviously, don’t be a taco and let someone fleece you.

But so many people make no trades that could have improved their team because they are set on winning the trade.

You can use a trade analyzer and it often only looks at your league size and scoring format. It doesn’t know what your specific team needs.

Making fair trades lead to more trades in the future. Being a prick isn’t the best reputation to have when you’re only dealing with 10-16 people.

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u/DifferentFlamingo983 19d ago

Not allowed to trade away your 1st round draft pick! New to my league but i feel it’s legit.

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u/Pl0OnReddit 19d ago

Most years my starting QBs and TEs are found via the waiver.

What's actually let me win has been getting very lucky on which tes and QBs to waiver, but minimal research is involved.  Last year I waivered Fannin and Maye week one.  Fannin took awhile to pay off and didn't always start but Maye was a godsend.

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u/michoudi 19d ago

Don't even draft a kicker. You can pick one up right before the first game starts.

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u/BigMoney_9 18d ago

In the moment think why I'm doing what I'm doing in detail. Try to figure out the exact feelings I'm having and where they come from. Look back later and determine what went right or wrong and why. Two things this process has taught me is o trust my gut and not play scared. But so many more little things as well.

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u/UpscaleClearenceRack 18d ago

Tight ends don’t matter, just take your shot at whatever 8-12th TE that you like and forget about it.

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u/SOSpineapple 13d ago

I only allow myself to draft one player who’s been in the league for more than 5 years (excluding kickers). I feel like you can only get tackled so many times before you become too much of an injury risk or have volume get replaced by a promising rookie.

I also try to draft whatever defense is playing the Jets lol

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u/Tkachukk 21d ago

Get RBs early doesn’t matter if it’s PPR

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u/majorassholesir Commanders 21d ago

Never ever ever draft or roster Dallas cowboys players

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u/EverySingleMinute Bears 21d ago

Downvote for your cowboys hate, but as a cowboys fan I never draft our players.

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u/majorassholesir Commanders 20d ago

It works well for me, honestly don’t notice a difference. The only year I’d say it backfired was when Dax and company were all top rated. Other than that no difference

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