Drafting to Win

Do you buy jeans that are two sizes too big or wear shirts that are so tight that it looks like you are trying to squeeze into your fifth grade little league jersey?  Of course not! You always want to buy the clothes that fit.  Similarly, you must know what league to choose that best fits the goals you have for your team.  So, before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to win in fantasy football let’s cover the variety of fantasy football leagues that you can choose from. There are so many options involved in choosing a league, and each variation entails a unique strategy. Some cater to the skilled manager, others favor the lucky, and some favor those who have a lot of time on their hands, etc. Bottom line, it makes no sense to join a league if it doesn’t fit your mold, especially if your fantasy football knowledge and strategies cannot be applied to their full extent.

This brings us to the first step in strategizing to win and that is: selecting the right league. The following material describes the various options that are made available when choosing or creating fantasy football leagues. I recommend reading this chapter twice – once now and once after you’ve learned all the strategic concepts in this book – for then you can better grasp which leagues are right for you based on your likes, dislikes, expertise, and knowledge.

Play vs. Money

Do you play poker for match sticks? I didn’t think so. Then, considering you purchased this book I can only guess you are serious about playing fantasy football for money. You’re not alone. While bragging rights are extremely important, most fantasy footballers compete to ultimately win money. The entry fees for money leagues can vary significantly. Some cost a few bucks, others – like the WCOFF experts league – can run as high as $5,000. According to a 2003 Bob Harris Interactive Poll, the average money spent in fantasy football is $110 per team per year. That’s a lot of money to be flying around. Since someone has to catch it might as well be you!

If you are new to fantasy football I recommend getting your feet wet in a free or low-stakes league first unless you have a very experienced and qualified co-manager to show you the ropes (and share the costs) in a high-stakes contest.

For those of you who aren’t interested in the money as much as playing for fun, your best bet is to search for a free online league at sites such as Yahoo.com or, better yet, start a league with friends and family. Again, most fantasy footballers play for money so it’ll be tough to find an already existing league that doesn’t have an entry fee. You might even want to take a small collection from everyone in order to buy and reward the winner a league championship trophy. This makes it that much more exciting to compete for the title!

Re-draft vs. Keeper/Dynasty

Most fantasy leagues are re-draft leagues. These are one-year leagues that terminate at the end of the season. In other words, managers draft an entirely new team each year, hence the term “re-draft.”  Sorry, no New England Patriots type of dynasties exists in this league. If you enjoy participating in drafts, as I do, then re-draft leagues are just for you Another cool thing about re-draft leagues is that you can wipe the slate clean each year. So if your team was horrible one year, then you can leave it all behind and start over the next season.

Keeper and dynasty leagues are types of continuous leagues that play for many years. In these leagues managers get to keep players on their roster from year to year. Keeper leagues allow a limited number of players to be carried over by managers, usually two to four players per manager. Dynasty leagues allow most or all players to be carried over. The term “dynasty league” comes from the idea that a manager can build a dynasty team, comprised of the same stud players, that dominates the league for consecutive years.

I recommend that only hardcore fantasy footballers enter continuous leagues because they demand a lot of time, concentration, and good judgment. Preparing for draft day is crucial because the players you take may be stuck on your team for years to come if they are plagued by injuries or bad performances.  Imagine drafting Fred Taylor his rookie season only to be constantly disappointed by his “annual” injuries. Furthermore, understanding how to make trades is a key part in building a strong fantasy team, and keep in mind trades can occur all year long even after the football season is over. Imagine being fed up with Taylor’s injuries, trading him away, and watching him turn into a stud for the next three to five years only to benefit your opponent’s squad. Mistakes like these could prevent you from winning a fantasy championship not only for one season but many.