NOTE: I wrote this for a class last year and wound up winning my fantasy football league. Hopefully this will be of use to you.
Some call it a game of luck. Others believe it is a game of skill. Truthfully, it is somewhere in between. It requires two parts history scholar, two parts statistician, and one part Nostradamus. This game refers to fantasy football. While it is a fact that no fantasy football manager can control how well his players perform, there are some easy steps that anyone can take to improve their chances of success.
Before diving headfirst into fantasy football, it is important to know some things about it, primarily what it is and why it is so popular. Fantasy football is an online game in which players build a roster of current players from the National Football League. Since the players’ primary role is managing the roster, they are often referred to as “managers”. In fantasy football, the terms are one in the same. Points are awarded based on the weekly statistics of the players. To put it simply, the better statistical game a player has, the more points he gains for his manager. On a larger scale, though all teams have an equal chance of winning each week (as the score starts 0-0), the team with the best players stands the greatest chance of winning. Rules differ from league to league, but one commonality across every fantasy football league is the team that has the most points at the end of the week (or year) is declared the winner. The prize for league champion also differs among leagues. In some leagues the champion wins money. In other leagues, a trophy is awarded. Some leagues play simply for bragging rights. No matter the end of season reward, fantasy football managers in general share two characteristics: a love for football and an enjoyment of competition.
Now that we have the basics out of the way, here are some valuable strategies for success in fantasy football. First, a manager must be familiar with the rules of the league. The two most popular types of leagues are the Points League and Head-to-Head League formats. In a Points League, teams are ranked by cumulative scoring. The team with the most points by the end of the season (either after Week 16 or 17) is crowned champion of the league. In a Head-to-Head League, teams are pitted in one-on-one matchups. Victory is determined like most sporting events: by outscoring one’s opponent. In a Head-to-Head League, the most important statistic is the amount of wins compared to the number of losses. The total number of points scored is only used as a tiebreaker for teams with identical records. The difference in strategies between the two formats is minimal at best, but it is important to be familiar with the types of league in terms of personal preference.
Once a manager has joined a league, he or she must get acquainted with the rules within the league. Each league has a commissioner who is in charge of creating the league as well as adjusting the league’s scoring settings. The value of specific players varies based on the scoring settings the commissioner places for the league. For instance, a league that places emphasis on rushing yards and touchdowns over passing yards and touchdowns inflates the value of a mobile quarterback such as Donovan McNabb while somewhat diminishing the value of a traditional pocket passer like Tom Brady. A league that rewards receivers for each reception increases the value of possession receivers like T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and leagues that award bonuses to receivers for certain yardage plateaus are suited for deep threats such as Randy Moss. There are differences among leagues in the number of starting roles allotted to each position, so bench spots should be accounted for based on the settings of the league. Some leagues even set a salary cap and assign value points to players. Familiarity with the rules should directly impact the roster decisions of a good manager.
Once a manager knows the rules, he or she must know the players. In the past, it would have been a nearly cataclysmic error to have selected Steve Smith of the New York Giants by accident over Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers. That sort of error aside, it is at this point that a manager must take the role of history scholar. He or she must study the players as if they were a midterm examination. Each player has a history. Some have been riddled with injuries. He must also take on the role of statistician and evaluate trends. Some have had great success at points and have failed to meet expectations at other times. A player’s recent statistics (as well as his age) must be examined for signs of rise or decline as well as compared with average statistics for players of his age and position. There are very few “can’t miss” talents. Once the positives and negatives have been weighed against one another, a manager must determine whether reward outweighs risk and select his players based on what he has learned about them.
Now that the team has been selected, it is time to examine the in-season nuances of being a fantasy football manager. The most important responsibility of a fantasy football manager is setting his lineup on a weekly basis. Many things must be taken into account. Most importantly, the manager must make sure that he is fielding a full team. There is always power in numbers. Fielding a depleted roster significantly decreases a team’s chances for victory. The most common cause of a depleted roster is injuries. A simple browse through the football section of Yahoo! Sports or ESPN.com will tell a manager all he needs to know about the injury status of his players. He can then insert a player from his bench to fill the role until the starter is nursed to health.
Another roster-depleting component of fantasy football is the bye week. Each NFL team has one week during the regular season in which they do not play a game. While this should be taken into account during the draft (selection of players), it is often overlooked. To avoid depletion, it is imperative that the starters and reserves are on different bye weeks. This way points can still be earned for the team. Though there is usually a drop-off of some degree from the starter to the reserve, some points are better than nothing.
There will be weeks that managers will have the full roster at their disposal. At this point the manager is faced with the decision of determining his starting lineup. In all honesty, it comes down to prognostication, but there are some statistics to take into account. It is usually unwise to start a running back the week he plays a storied defense like the Baltimore Ravens. Conversely, it would be wise in theory to start an offensive player the week he faces an injury-depleted defense like the 2008 Seattle Seahawks. Playing the matchups is generally a better decision than following one’s hunches.
Unfortunately, injuries and inept play are inevitable components of a fantasy football team. The good news is that reinforcements are on the way—if the manager knows where to find them. There is usually an available player who is better than your worst player. These upgrades can be found on the Waiver Wire. Staying active on the Waiver Wire not only can improve a team but can also be used as a defense mechanism to thwart other teams in their attempts to strengthen themselves.
Reinforcements can be obtained through trades as well. Unfortunately, a manager must be willing to part with some of his own talent in order to trade. The best trade partner is another manager who has what you need and needs what you have. Bench depth should be sacrificed for starting talent. Points cannot be gained while players wallow on the bench, so it is important to upgrade when the opportunity presents itself. It is best to trade a player when his value is the highest (after he has an uncharacteristically good week) and to not get too attached to players. It is better to admit a mistake in drafting and recoup losses than to be stubborn and damage the team.
All it takes is internet access to be a fantasy football manager, but it takes a significant amount of involvement to be a good fantasy football manager. It requires knowledge, attentiveness, a proactive approach, and a bit of luck. These tips that have been given should help to improve your performance as a fantasy football manager. Remember, it is a game, but games were made to have winners. Why shouldn’t it be you?
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