Five Tips to Help You Draft Your Fantasy Football Team

Statistics are everywhere in sports, particularly football. All across the country, people have turned to stat-machines, armchair analysts. Fantasy Football Team They run the numbers not only about their favorite players, but also the third-string running back for the fourth-best team in another Division. Fantasy football is the reason.

You have complete control. You can be a puppet master and make real decisions. Yahoo! says that fantasy is a form of power. Brad Evans, a fantasy football analyst at Sports, is hosting an event in Las Vegas today to commemorate National Fantasy Football Draft Day.

Evans was a fan of fantasy football back in 1995, when he used the newspaper’s box scores to create his spreadsheet and tally stats manually. He can now spit out statistics like a machine gun. He adds, “Drew Brees averaged more than 5,000 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2007,” while making a point. He’s part of a passing offense that has averaged 658.7 attempts per year since 2009. But his delivery isn’t one that would be expected from a math geek. He is more like a man you might argue with in a bar and invariably wins (but he’s not infallible- he believed that Johnny Manziel would start Week 1).

We can help you if your email inbox is bursting with fantasy football invitations or your office league is getting started, or your friends are pushing you to join the action. Evans shared some helpful tips that will help you succeed, no matter your level of experience, whether you are a novice or a fantasy football GM.

Tip #1: Throwing a party

Evans even pulls in a beer with his friends and hosts a draft party. He says, “There is a lot trash talk.” Each year, there is a trophy that can be taken with you. Evans says that the poor soul who finished last year had to eat a cement mixer shot.

Tip #2: Follow the Zero-Running Back Theory

The “zero runningback theory” recommends investing in your draft picks in a top quarterback or wide receiver, rather than clamoring for a multi-purpose running back. Adrian Peterson, LeSean McCoy, Matt Forte, and Jamaal Charles are all great options if you have one of the top five picks. It’s easier to draft players who will be the best at their position, as those hardworking running backs are rarer than ever. Evans suggests looking at potential players like Peyton Manning or Calvin Johnson, Jimmy Graham, and Demaryius Thomas.

Evans also stressed the importance proven consistency, which means that you draft players who are confident they will produce rather than players with great potential.

Tip #3: Forget About “Quarterback Patience.”

“Many people in our Fantasy Football Team industry emphasize patience at the quarterback. Evans states that Evans is not one of them.

Evans provides this statistic: “43.3 per cent of running backs who were drafted in the top 12 have failed at the end of the five-year period.” This is a bust rate in excess of 50 percent. Instead, you can take advantage of the NFL league’s pass-first policy and draft an elite quarterback (ex. Drew Brees, Manning or Aaron Rodgers).

Tip #4: Don’t take a kicker or defense until the last few rounds of your draft. Period.

Evans states that kickers are unpredictable and a dime-a- dozen. Evans also says that you can stream with defenses. Streaming refers to a fantasy player who swaps his defense every week according to matchups. Evans warned against reaching for the Seattle Seahawks defense, as they are readily available. Instead, look for defenses that can thwart a shuttering offense every week. It is better to take the probabilities into consideration.

Tip #5 – Stockpile Running Backs

Evan suggests that running backs should fill at least three out of five remaining bench spots. A solid stable is essential. You’ll likely end up with several solid running backs, and there is always the chance of someone having a breakout season. He says, “You can stockpile these guys, and hit a lotto ticket, and if that lotto ticket cashes you have not only depth at running back but also trading material.”

Sleeper Picks

Scouting for a gem in the rough is a sure-fire way to succeed in fantasy football. Many bench players can change the outlook of your fantasy team by getting injured. Here are a few Evans’ sleeper selections.

Carlos Hyde (San Francisco 49’ers): He’s a wrecking ball. He averaged 7.3 yards per run for Ohio State last season and ran 3,198 yards in his three seasons. Hyde, who is playing behind Frank Gore (31 years old) in San Francisco could be eligible to play significant minutes.
Bernard Pierce (Baltimore Ravens). Most people think Ray Rice will be the main man after his two-game suspension. But Evans disagrees. Pierce is the perfect choice for Baltimore’s offense and will be able to show it in the first two weeks.
Brandon Cooks, New Orleans: Evans describes him as Speedy Gonzales. He’s quick, can cut on the spot and is a great route runner. He could be named Rookie of Year.
Charles Clay, Miami: Evans called Clay “criminally underestimated” before predicting that Clay would catch for 800 yards this season and score 7 touchdowns. Clay, Jordan Reed, or Kyle Rudolph are all good options if you don’t get Jimmy Graham.