Football games had gained many spectators over the years, especially when sports became available on TV and the internet! If you are an avid fan, you know that watching the leagues is more fun when you create, manage, and even own a team by playing fantasy football.
Fantasy football is one of the most prominent fantasy sports that draws millions of players worldwide. It allows them to set their line-up by drafting players, acting like the team's general manager or field manager, and then devising different strategies that they deem fit. In its most basic sense, fantasy football allows players to be a better coach.
However, while it seems that playing fantasy football is just as easy as pie, competing against other fantasy owners and emerging victorious is another thing. Of course, there are no sure ball ways to win, but you can make a mental note of some of these things to be on the right track.
Know the Importance of the Points
Like any other game, winning in fantasy football is also just about the points. Obviously, the higher your team's score can get, the better as it increases your chances of winning. So if you want to set your eyes on the prize, you must also know and understand how to score fantasy points.
Draft a Strong Fantasy Team
The other thing that you must focus on when playing fantasy is your roster line-up. Picking the perfect team entails that you must also consider the players' stats in their real games, and you don't just pick players because they look cool or are your favorite (but you can do so if you like to take risks).
A standard roster consists of starting and bench line-ups. The starting team usually has one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker, one flex (which can start either as a running back, receiver, or tight end), and one defense/special teams unit. The rest of the players (usually 5 to 7) are put on the bench.
Knowing who to place in your roster matters. Enumerated below are some of the things you must consider when choosing your starting and backup players:
Quarterback
Every starting team line-up usually has one quarterback. They are considered the offensive team leaders and get points for a touchdown pass, yards, or score negative points every time they throw an interception.
The qualities of a good quarterback include good leadership, quick to learn the system, and at the same time, must have strong arms, quick, and accurate. When choosing one, you must consider their experience. Ideally, they must have eight total starts in the last four seasons, at the very least.
Running Back
This is understandably one of the most important positions in your line-up, so drafting them early and often should also be one of your priorities. They are considered to be the foundation of your team because they usually get the bulk of the carries, as they should.
A great running back is alert, aware, intuitive, and must master the artful running and blocking skill. Check out the player's inside/outside runs, run block/pass block/effort block, and ball security, among others.
Wide Receiver
Wide receivers are also essential players, but their performance depends if the QB plays well. Another challenge that receivers must overcome is when they are faced with defenders who have a pretty good reputation for using the bump-and-run technique. In this case, agility is their most important skill set.
Tight End
Tight ends don't usually give significant points in the game, thus are not a considerable threat. Unless it's top talents like Dallas Clark or Antonio Gates or maybe the younger ones like Travis Kelce or George Kittle, you shouldn't take them too high, although there are still chances that they might lead you to victory, but otherwise, a dud.
Kicker
This position is among the least prioritized and underappreciated positions in the line-up. They gain scores for kicks, and sometimes, bonus points are given based on how far the kick is. Although most fans see them as having the least score contribution, they can actually be deciding factors for teams to win or lose the games.
Defense and Special Team Units
They can be strong assets for you, but they are also highly dependent on how good the team would play. Generally, defense players that have good kick returns could add up to the team's points. It is also best to consider if they will face the number one offense team for the week.
Bench Players
When you put players as a reserve, their stats will not be accounted for, so you will not earn points for that matter. Yet, they are equally important since they can replace poor-performing or injured starters. They are also there to replace players during bye weeks.
Be Updated
One news report could affect your overall fantasy performance. There might be cases when players are suspended or even traded. Therefore, knowing who's playing and when are vital. Researching always helps, and if you have trusted friends who are fantasy football experts, you can ask them for some advice.
Takeaway
Emerging as a champion in the NFL fantasy games simply means that you have to know the basics. From understanding the rules down to picking the perfect players for your team, knowing the essential factors in your game could help predict if you can 'make it or break it.'
