The Fantasy Juggernaut
How to crush it in fantasy football, according to Alex Scantlebury.
For all of us washed up football players well past our prime and still looking to feel like a part of the game, fantasy football is the dream. Every year we sit down at our computers and put on our General Manager hats hoping to draft a championship team.
I myself am no different. During the NFL season I spend far too much time managing my fantasy team, all in an effort to win. And win I do. Over the last six NFL seasons I have drafted 13 teams, roughly two teams a year. Out of those 13 teams I have won seven titles, finished second four times, finished third once, and a lowly fourth place once as well (I don’t like to think about that team, injuries, injuries, injuries). I have a system that I swear by and it has paid off for me every year, and here are some of my basic rules.
1. Take receivers in Rounds One and Two
It’s a pass happy league now and wasting early round draft picks on running backs does nothing for you.
2. Take multi-purpose running backs
When you start taking running backs (wait until rounds three to five) take backs that do more than just run the ball. You need those third down style backs that also catch balls out of the backfield. ie. Le’Veon Bell, David Johnson.
3. Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep on QBs
Don’t even consider taking a quarterback until at least round five. In a 10–12 person league there are plenty of starters to go around, and let’s be honest, the first QBs off the board are always Brady, Rodgers, and Brees. I personally always scoop up Matt Stafford. With the Lion’s run game being literal garbage since the last time Barry Sanders put on a helmet, their bombs-away approach to offense means big-time fantasy points.
4. Research your tight ends
When looking at tight ends, look to draft from teams that either have a balanced attack (Washington, Dallas, Carolina) or teams that have a dreadful offensive line (take your pick). Teams that have a balanced offensive attack will always look to the TE in the red zone, and teams that have terrible O-lines will use their TE as a safety valve because they don’t have the time to take downfield shots. I went with Jordan Reed from Washington last year, and when he was healthy I was getting 15+ points a game out of him.
5. Pick divisions, not defenses
When you are talking defense, I like to draft from divisions that have weak teams. If your defense’s divisional schedule (six games per year) is weak, the opposition does half the work for you.
6. Punt on reaching for a kicker
Kickers are kickers. If they are pros, you can expect them to connect on a high percentage of field goals and converts. I like to draft kickers that have cannons attached to their hips. Look to Matt Prater for multiple 50+ yard field goals on the season.
A couple of things to consider for your team:
- Think about matching up your top receiver with their teams quarterback or vice-versa. If one of them is putting up big points, the other is also doing so. A two-for-one special can be devastating.
- Only draft one quarterback in your initial draft. Unless they get hurt, you are only going to need to cover their spot during their bye-week, and at that point, just pick up the best available option.
- It is important to keep an eye on what else is going on in your league. Who is injured, who is making trades, who ends up on the waiver wire. Picking up some gems throughout the season to compliment your regular stable is an easy way to pick up points each week.
Fantasy football is about luck just as much as planning and football IQ. So make sure you pay attention to what’s going on across your league.
Alex Scantlebury is a multi-sport contributor for theocho.ca. He is a professor for the Algonquin College public relations program. Aaron and Riley would like to thank him for giving them an extra hour each week to spend on Bleacher Report while he was teaching. Follow Alex on Twitter at@pen_ink_page.
