Drafting Advice

jonmchugh · Sep 4, 2009

Hello. I have another fantasy draft tonight at midnight. Now when you guys draft, do you guys always draft the best available player or do you draft by need? Also like what order do you take players or is it all a matter of who is on the board. In my last draft my top 3 picks were DeAngelo Williams, Tom Brady and Brandon Jacobs. What is a good round to take defense in. I think I took defense too early by taking Pittsburgh in the 8th or 9th round. I have only done 2 drafts and kind of want to get some advice before going in. I'm in a 10 team league this time so it will be a little bit harder than my 8 team draft i was in last weekend.

Thanks for the advice, Jon

jlj3184 · Sep 4, 2009

Re: Draftig Advice

I advise you to stop creating threads. 16 new threads in 3 months is a little much. That is all.

ChicagoCavFan · Sep 4, 2009

Is it really worth it to have a fantasy draft on a Friday night at midnight?

If it is an online draft, just look at the rankings, etc. A good rule to follow is to get 2 RBs, a QB and a WR in the first 4 rounds. If there is a WR/RB flex position, I would take another RB. Solid WR's can be had deep in the draft. Quality RBs are usually gone by the 8th round or so. My last 2 picks in a draft recently were defense (got San Diego in the 15th round) and a kicker (got the guy in Atlanta - forget his name). Solid additions for marginal points in most leagues.

Maximus · Sep 9, 2009

Never done fantasy football before. Anyone have the latest fantasy draft list/rankings for dummies? Or a strategy guide of some sort? It's at someone's house so I wont have my computer. Haven't put in any effort and I'm out of time...any help would be greatly appreciated. Who wants some old school Maximus rep?

Anyone want to go and do the draft for me?

cescott · Sep 9, 2009

Max,

Most fantasy sites (Yahoo, ESPN, etc) have a top 150 or 200 players for a normally scoring league. I'd post links, but I can't get to those sites while at work. One site I like to use is fftoolbox. You can create a free account which lets you setup scoring rules to match the league you're playing in. The site will then rank all the players based on that scoring system.

I typically just print out a couple of the rankings and mark names off as the draft progresses.

As CCF said, typically a couple RBs, a QB and a WR are a good first 4 picks. TE can wait until late unless you're getting a top notch one (Gonzalez or Gates maybe). Def and K can wait until really late usually.

Good luck!

Maximus · Sep 9, 2009

Great stuff, thanks!

Mr. Glass · Sep 9, 2009

By the end of your first three picks, you better have at least one running back and one receiver. That could mean coming away with a QB, RB, and WR. It could mean two RB and one WR, or one RB, two WR. Just make sure you don't end up picking your first receiver in the fourth round.

How many players? Is it standard scoring?

Maximus · Sep 9, 2009

Mr. Glass said:
By the end of your first three picks, you better have at least one running back and one receiver. That could mean coming away with a QB, RB, and WR. It could mean two RB and one WR, or one RB, two WR. Just make sure you don't end up picking your first receiver in the fourth round.

How many players? Is it standard scoring?

Standard scoring.
Roster Positions: QB, WR, WR, RB, RB, TE, W/R, K, DEF, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN

Thanks!

ChicagoCavFan · Sep 9, 2009

I don't agree with that plan Mr. Glass. Looking at the positions in the league, I would stock at least 3 RBs in the first four rounds, followed up with a QB. You can get some quality WRs in the 5th round and on - #1 options on teams will be available out here. In a league like this, I would also make sure you have at least 2 more RBs on your bench - I would draft a total of 6 actually. Injuries and Byes all screw with who you can play, and with a league this deep the pickings in free agency for RBs will be VERY slim. You'll be able to find a solid option at WR as a free agent if need be.

I would also wait until late in the draft to pick a K and Defense. Draft a backup RB, QB and WR before even selecting your first K or Defense. In the end, you aren't going to differentiate your team with these positions - it will be the quality of your QB and RBs that set you apart.

cescott · Sep 9, 2009

Fully agreed CCF. In all the leagues I've played in, it's the owners that have a "stable" of running backs that end up on top.

Mr. Glass · Sep 9, 2009

I think there's a falloff after round three with regards to wide receivers. According to ESPN live draft rankings, the elite receivers are picked in this order:

First round: Larry Fitzgerald (9.2)
Second round: Andre Johnson (13.4), Randy Moss (15.2), Calvin Johnson (17.2)
Third round: Steve Smith (22.4), Reggie Wayne (24.0), Greg Jennings (24.8), Roddy White (28.1), Anquan Boldin (29.6)

I think all of those guys are legitimate number one receivers, possibly excluding Smith. I really don't like Steve Smith, but odds are either you do or one of your leaguemates will.

After that, you enter the fourth round. And you have no receivers yet? The next receivers are Terrell Owens, then Marques Colston, then Dwayne Bowe. I think that's a relatively decent dropoff, and you missed out on a chance to grab a good #1 receiver on for who in the third round? 3.7 ypc Marion Barber? Ronnie Brown, who in nine out of sixteen games put up 6 points or less?

Bottom line is, in the first round, everybody's got a different opinion. If you pick late in the first round, there's a solid chance you get the running back of your liking and then on the turnaround get to pick a top three receiver. If you're lucky, maybe Brees or Brady will be an option there as well.

BTW, I totally agree with CCF about the defense and kickers. Your kicker should probably be your last pick. Your first bench players should also take priority over your defense, unless you go defense early with an elite D like the Steelers.

jlj3184 · Sep 9, 2009

Max - This is my draft from last night. Normally I'm in the camp with those who say draft RB early and often, but this year, you need to go after one or two of the top ten receivers (agree w/Mr. Glass). There are so many teams that are splitting carries that it's entirely possible to find a back in round seven or eight who will give you almost equal value to one in round four. I drafted seventh (picks are bolded) and you can see my approach. Similarly, I wouldn't recommend "wasting" an early pick this year on one of the elite QBs...there are too many serviceable guys out there in the later rounds. There was a huge run on QBs in the third round of my draft, so I got a steal in Steve Slaton at pick #27. My exception to this rule is when you can pair an elite receiver with an elite QB (Brady/Moss, Manning/Wayne, Rodgers/Jennings, Warner/Fitzgerald this year) Much like real drafts, don't get caught up in the runs on certain positions and draft for value. I got a QB in Matt Schaub who has the potential to put up top 5 or 6 numbers this season five rounds later than when the run on QBs took place. In the meantime, I was able to cement myself three full-time backs, another with huge potential, a top four receiver and two more from that second/third tier. I'm no fantasy expert, but I'm usually competitive barring serious injury.

Edit: I went back and italicized STARTING RBs that went in Rd 7 or later - there's talent out there if you wait.

Drafting Advice

jonmchugh

In the Rotation

jlj3184

Gold Star Member

ChicagoCavFan

Your job is to Attack

Maximus

BANNED

cescott

Die-hard CAVS Fan!

Maximus

BANNED

Mr. Glass

NBA Starter

Maximus

BANNED

ChicagoCavFan

Your job is to Attack

cescott

Die-hard CAVS Fan!

Mr. Glass

NBA Starter

jlj3184

Gold Star Member

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify