1. “Protection from who? Zee Germans?”
Handcuffing your star players is considered a necessity by most guys. It’s an insurance policy that for most can come at a high price. Guys drafting someone with an injury history like Maurice ‘The Hyphen’ Jones-Drew should probably go ahead and snatch Rashard Jennings so they’re prepared when disaster strikes. But the guy who spends a pick on Adrian ‘All-Day’ Peterson’s backup, Toby Gerhart, would probably have found it just as useful to forfeit his pick for priority on waivers in week 3. Everyone becomes a victim to the game and by week 3 all those back-up RBs have been dumped for slot receivers or an additional Tight End. So when it comes to picking a handcuff, take a pass this time. In the end, handcuffs seem to do just what their name entails when it comes to team impact.
2. “Mamma always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
It is nearly impossible to predict how your board is going to play out. The key to winning your draft is to be prepared for however it is going to fall. Everyone has favorites and as I will explain later why I don’t believe in ‘reaching’ but knowing how the draft is going to play out can give you a great idea as to where certain guys are going in drafts so you know when to pounce. Knowing you can wait an extra round or two on a guy you’re in love with can help you pick up extra value. Same thing goes when a guy you have marked up is typically going earlier than expected. Then you’ll know to pull the trigger a little faster and have your team grow the way you wanted.
3. “Don’t knock masturbation. It’s sex with someone I love.”
Like I mentioned before, I don’t believe in reaching for players. If you think a guy like Ray Rice is going to out-perform Adrian Peterson or Larry Fitz is going to make more big plays than Megatron, then there is no shame in plucking them off of the board first. I’m not saying to go grab the Lion’s defense in the 3rd round because you’re a die-hard Detroit fan (which someone did in one of my leagues today). Just feel comfortable in taking a player you are confident in and leave the doubters scratching their heads come playoff time.
4. “Those who are tardy do not get a fruit cup.”
In every draft during the middle few rounds there will be a few runs at certain positions. Guys will periodically be picking running backs and receivers throughout the draft but the other positions will get their share of positions runs. The key to these runs is to make sure you’re at the start of it. When somebody takes Antonio Gates you can expect a run on Tight Ends for the next few picks. Then, following the Steelers, the next few guys are going to grab defenses in a panic. Unless you start the run (or are the 2nd/3rd guy in the run) LEAVE IT ALONE. Fantasy football works on a tier system. Guys like Gates, Clark, Witten, and Finley are the top tier of TEs so if you don’t get on the them then there is no reason to snatch up a middle guy when you can find value at other positions. So let the other guys burn themselves with wasted picks they could match rounds later simply because a few guys decided to jump at one position.
5. “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.”
Some people will pass on a stud running back or star receiver simply because they have the position filled. In your fantasy football drafts you can make a killing drafting that guy instead of passing him over for someone just to fill a roster spot. The move to take the better known ‘Best Available’ as opposed to the filler works best when you take the tier system approach I referred to earlier. Taking a top tier WR over one of the middle tier RBs will always be beneficial in the long run. There is no such thing as too much of a good thing and this is no exception. If VJax or DBowe are starring you in the face, don’t pass on them simply because you need a LeGarrette Blount or Cedric Benson to fill your lineup.
6. “They just hate me ‘cause they ain’t me.”
Shit talking is part of the draft. No matter what you do or who you take people are going to try to bring you down or make you doubt your picks. More often than not (unless you’re the a**hole in my league that took Detroit in round 3) the guy bashing your pick was praying that guy was coming back around to him. Have confidence in your picks and hold to your guns. If you made the pick you wanted to in that situation then throw the rest of the room the finger and remind him of the pick some December.
7. “Time is a precious thing. Never waste it.”
Bye weeks are easily one of those things no one pays attention to come draft day. There are a few ways to attack the bye week problem. Some people like to load up players on a certain week and essentially sacrifice that week for the sake of running full-steam the rest of the year. Others like to make sure they’re only missing a guy or two each week. Both strategies are effective if used properly but can be tricky to try to execute. The really important thing is to make sure that those guys riding pine won’t be doing so during your star player’s bye week. I’ve seen it happen to plenty of guys who use a high pick to take a quality backup QB only to realize they have the same bye and now they’re playing Alex Smith in week 8.
8. “In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women. ”
There seems to be a history of guys who succeed when their next contract is right around the corner. There is also a history of guys who just signed a big number deal flopping the next year. Motivation can be a huge factor for the success of an NFL player. Prime example: Albert Haynesworth, former star of the Tennessee Titans, who signed a 7-year, $100 million contract and then dropped off the face of the earth. Jamarcus Russell, former 1st round pick of the Oakland Raiders signed a $61 million contract and never had a successful play in the NFL. Chris Johnson on the other hand signed a 5 year contract worth nearly $7 million and is now in a hold out because he’s earned the paycheck on the field. SPOILER ALERT: By the time CJ2K re-laces his pads he’ll probably be the highest paid running back in the league.
9. “Kid can’t even read. T-T-T-TODAY Junior!”
For those of you who will not be drafting in one of those online chat rooms and may be forced to actually interact with other individuals, you’re going to want to ensure you know the names of the guys you are drafting. In order to avoid the T.J. Who’sYourMomma fiasco of 2008, do a little homework and come to the draft prepared. No one wants to be ‘That Guy’ come draft day. Now saying it wrong won’t mean you lose your pick but you may just lose your dignity. When it doubt, just write it up on the board and let some other a**hole stutter through the name. Then you can chime in with the rest of the group and ruin that guy’s draft day.
10. “If winning isn’t everything, why do they keep score?”
Know the scoring of your league. If it is PPR (Point Per Reception) then those guys who are going to grab nearly 100 balls a year should shoot up on your scouting reports. Receivers and scat backs become a far bigger asset on your team. If passing touchdowns count for as much as rushing and receiving touchdowns then a top tier QB is a must-own. Knowing what is going to count in your league is vital to a successful season. Take a good look at the scoring settings before entering your draft. When it comes down to two guys when it’s your turn to draft, you’ll probably have a much easier time deciding if you know what the scoring settings on your league are.
Got other Fantasy Football Draft Day Rules? Comment below and tell us what you think is a must for the draft!
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