HOW TO DRAFT A CHAMPION
As you prepare for your initial draft, you must plan your strategy It does not matter whether it is a Regular Season League or a Keeper Cap League, you must do your home work if you really want to be the Champion.
Here are my tips to draft a championship team.
Regular Season Leagues:
#1 Make a list that contains your preferences of
the following:
24 Quarterbacks, 48 Running Backs, 48 Wide Receivers, 24 Tight Ends,
24 Kickers, and 24 Defensive Teams. Return back to the Club House
and print off a copy of the Pre-Ranked Players Form. Fill in the
entire list using your preferred order.
#2 Check your work daily leading up to the draft:
Once you have completed your Pre-Ranked form, go over it daily looking
for any changes that might need to be made. Cross off or drop the players
down in rank if the player gets hurt or is not pre-forming well in preseason.
#3 What to bring to a draft:
The Draft can make or break your team. When going to a live
draft, bring your Pre-Ranked form, a high-liter to check off players that
have been taken, and have a strategy and stick to it. Your
strategy should be pre-prepared. If you are focusing on RB's, don't
change your plan and pick another position. It is important to have
an idea what rounds you feel a position or a player should be drafted.
Do not jump the gun if some of the other position start to fall in the
early rounds. That only means that other teams are missing the better
performing players.
#4 Do not panic:
If you stick to your draft plan, your final team should look similar to
what you had planned to have for your team. Do not get caught up
drafting players because a run has taken place. You may start a
run or jump in on a run of players early, but if you are deep into a run
you will be drafting worthless or underrated players. Example: say
you have the 12th pick in the draft and for some reason 5 Quarterbacks
are picked, would you pick a QB in 12th or 13th spot? NO!
What that means is that, 5 Teams have already drafted the top quarterbacks
and only 7 of you still need them. After the top QBs are gone the
values drop of dramatically. This would mean that top RBs or WRs
are still available. Would you rather have a player like Harrison,
Freeman, Owens, Robinson, Williams, Levens, and E. Smith, or would you
draft the QB's left like Aikman, Brunell, Kitna, and Couch?
#5 Do not pick with your heart:
This is an important key to winning. If you are taking players because
they are on your favorite team, your are only looking for a disaster.
You need to pick the best players available if you want to win.
The only time your favorites come into play, is if the players being considered
are close in value. Don't draft with your heart, draft with your
head. I can tell you that this is one of the hardest things to do.
You must also remember this is a Regular Season League and Keeper Cap
League tips are different.
#6 The Commissioners Draft Day Strategy:
a.) Make sure to have a completed pre-ranked draft sheet.
b.) Make sure to have a high-liter to mark off chosen players.
c.) RBs score points consistently every week, but there are only
a few
top RBs in the league.
I draft as many as I can in the top 4 rounds.
d.) I look to start trends not end trends. I do not panic
if there is a run on a position. I hold to my plan. If you
have the top players you will be able to trade for the weaker positions
later.
e.) I look to select the following positions around the times listed
below:
Running Backs (4): Rounds 1 -
6
Quarterbacks (2): Rounds 1
- 13
Wide Receivers (4): Rounds 4 -
15
Tight Ends (2): Rounds 9 -
16
Kickers (2): Rounds 6 - 15
Defense (2): Rounds 8 - 15
#7 Do not give away your secrets (sleepers):
If you are planning to draft a player that you really like, make sure
to draft that player when the time is right for that player. Do
not let other teams know who you like or a sleeper that you are favoring.
If you do, you might not get them at all. Owners talk to get the
edge and that player you liked might just be picked earlier than you expected
now. Don't panic if another team takes him before you had him valued
at. This only means that he has missed some better players
and your team will be that much stronger.
#8 Do not believe everything you hear:
After I just gave you that advice above, the opposite is true as well.
Teams may give out false information to get you to pick players or positions
early. Stick to your plan, not someone else's.
#9. After the draft:
When the draft is completed, you should have a team that reflects
your plan. Now you must evaluate your roster and keep it fine
tuned. Some players start off slow. As they are dropped, you might
take gamble and grab one of them. Check the waiver wires weekly
for bargains and try to add any hot running back or wide receiver surprises.
Good Luck, see you in the winners circle
Keeper Cap Leagues:
#1 Make a list that contains your preferences of
the following:
31 Quarterbacks, 60 Running Backs, 60 Wide Receivers, 24 Tight Ends,
31 Kickers, and 31 Defensive Teams. Return back to the Club House
and print off a copy of the Pre-Ranked Players Form. Fill in the
entire list using your preferred order.
#2 Check your work daily leading up to the draft:
Once you have completed your Pre-Ranked form, go over it daily looking
for any changes that might need to be made. Cross off or drop the players
down in rank if the player gets hurt or is not pre-forming well in preseason.
Consider that some players start slow an the players that you draft are
for many years so make sure you understand the players characteristics.
#3 What to bring to a draft:
The Draft can make or break your team. When going to a live
draft, bring your Pre-Ranked form, a high-liter to check off players that
have been taken, and have a strategy and stick to it. Your
strategy should be pre-prepared. If you are focusing on RBs, don't
change your plan and pick another position. It is important to have
an idea what rounds you feel a position or a player should be drafted.
Do not jump the gun if some of the other position start to fall in the
early rounds. That only means that other teams are missing the better
performing players.
#4 Do not panic:
If you stick to your draft plan, your final team should look similar to
what you had planned to have for your team. Do not get caught up
drafting players because a run has taken place. You may start a
run or jump in on a run of players early, but if you are deep into a run
you will be drafting worthless or underrated players. Example: say
you have the 12th pick in the draft and for some reason 5 Quarterbacks
are picked, would you pick a QB in 12th or 13th spot? NO!
What that means is that, 5 Teams have already drafted a the top quarterbacks
and only 7 of you still need them. After the top QBs are gone the
values drop of dramatically. This would mean that top RBs or WRs
are still available. Would you rather have a player like Harrison,
Freeman, Owens, Robinson, Williams, Levens, and E. Smith, or would you
draft the QBs left like Aikman, Brunell, Kitna, and Blake?
#5 Do not pick with your heart, but get players that you enjoy:
This is an important key to winning. If you are taking players because
they are on your favorite team, you are only looking for a disaster.
You need to pick the best players available if you want to win.
The only time your favorites come into play, is if the players being considered
are close in value. Don't pick with your heart, pick with your head.
I can tell you that this is one of the hardest things to do. If
you have a few young players that you feel strong about, go ahead and
grab them. Keeper Cap Leagues are designed so you can have time
to build your team. Good young players may mean a strong team for
many years to come.
#6 The Commissioners Draft Day Strategy:
a.) Make sure to have a completed pre-ranked draft sheet.
b.) Make sure to have a high-liter to mark off chosen players.
c.) RB's score points consistently every week, but there are only
a few top RB's in the league. I draft as many as I can
in the top 4 rounds.
d.) I look to start trends not end trends. I do not panic
if there is a run on a position. I hold to my plan. If you
have the top players you will be able to trade for the weaker positions
later.
e.) I look to select the following positions around the times listed
below:
Running Backs (4): Rounds 1 -
6
Quarterbacks (2): Rounds 1
- 13
Wide Receivers (4): Rounds 4 -
15
Tight Ends (2): Rounds 9 -
16
Kickers (2): Rounds 6 - 15
Defense (2): Rounds 8 - 15
f.) Rookies can be a big part of your draft.
I prefer running backs over quarterbacks and wide receivers. Running
backs can jump right into the starting roles and score big points.
#7 Do not give away your secrets (sleepers):
If you are planning to draft a player that you really like, make
sure to draft that player when the time is right for that player.
Do not let other teams know who you like or a sleeper that you are favoring.
If you do, you might not get them at all. Owners talk to get the
edge and that player you liked might just be picked earlier than you expected
now. Don't panic if another team takes him before you had him valued
at. This only means that he has missed some better players and your
team will be that much stronger.
#8 Do not believe everything you hear:
After I just gave you that advice above, the opposite is true as
well. Teams may give out false information to get you to pick players
or positions early. Stick to your plan, not someone else's.
#9 After the draft:
When the draft is completed, you should have a team that reflects
your plan. So not give up on players that are proven in the
past to soon. Some players start off slow. Check the waiver
wires weekly for bargains and try to add any hot running back surprises.
Good Luck, see you in the winners circle
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