Week By Week Guide To Maximizing Your Fantasy Football Lineup
If you consider yourself entry-level when it comes to fantasy football, you might be surprised by how hard it can get. They say practice makes perfect, yet no matter how often you change up your lineup, victory never seems to be in sight. This is a sign that it’s time to really step up your tactics.
Fantasy football doesn’t have to be full of headaches. With the right tactics, anyone can make noticeable improvements in as little as a week or two. Here are some of the best tips you may not be implementing that you should be.
Always trade away injured players as soon as possible
If you’re new to fantasy football, you may be prone to making some amateur mistakes. One of the most common beginner missteps is not replacing injured players in time, and then getting stuck with them for future matchups.
The best way to correct this is to check in on your rosters often. Once a week is sufficient, but once a day is even better. Developing good habits like this is an easy way to avoid future problems.
Draft your RBs and WRs before everyone else
Patience is not always a virtue when it comes to fantasy football. If you’re eager to get in on sportsbook hype like WSN then it might seem like a good idea to take your time picking every single member of your team, but this can be detrimental.
The early bird gets the worm in this case, so you will want to select your RBs and WRs quickly before anyone else. You probably won’t get the very best players this way, but you also won’t get the worst ones either.
In other words, don’t be too picky. Look at who looks good within the first week or two and then try to grab them up before they’re gone. You can always look out for opportunities to trade them away later on if you are dissatisfied with their points or performance.
Don’t select your kickers and defensive linemen too quickly
If you think your fantasy team always needs an even mix of offense and defense, think again. With the way fantasy football scoring and leaderboards analyze the points, you will have to think a little more unconventionally to have your team rise up to the top.
Think about prioritizing your more important players earlier on instead. Quarterbacks and running backs get scooped up quickly, and for good reason. It’s totally safe to select a top kicker after week one. However, there’s no rush to get all your eggs in one basket. If anything, a rushed mentality can cause more harm than good in the long run.
Fantasy football insurance can prevent total losses
Being a multibillion-dollar industry these days, fantasy football has attracted a lot of players and just as many losses. To help cushion these losses, more players are opting for insurance.
One premium can act as a major safeguard if any of your top players experience a severe injury or loss. This can be a great long-term addition if you are not feeling especially confident about your lineup.
There are different insurance plans, each with their own premiums and payouts. There’s no harm in looking them all over to see if there’s one that feels like a good match for your team and how they have been performing.
Two for one trades can make all the difference
Lots of fantasy football players swear by simple one for one trades, but a two for one trade can be the only thing separating you from the acquisition of a top player. There’s no harm or shame in making a juicy offer that can land you a potential all-star.
Whether you want to trade two RBs for one QB or two offensive linemen for one wide receiver, there’s a lot of potential available to you when you start making these types of trades.
If you must use autodraft, get it analyzed and optimized
Using an autodraft feature to finish off your lineup is not usually recommended. Not only are they not foolproof, but they suck the fun out of customizing and building your own team. However, if you’re feeling stuck or out of ideas, they can come in handy.
If you do choose to use autodraft, you should use it in conjunction with a fantasy football optimizer or analyzer. While autodrafts are informed by data and spreadsheets, they can’t tell you just how well your team will function. Lineup analyzers are a lot like a second opinion: everyone should get one.
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