It’s the most wonderful time of the year – that is, if you’re a fantasy football fanatic – and if not, good luck keeping up. If you’re anything like me and let the world of fantasy football go completely over your head, don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to catch up. It’s never too late to learn the lingo and the ins and outs of why Sunday is the most important day of the week.
The Draft:
The basic idea of fantasy football is relatively simple; select a team of real NFL players from different teams and positions and manage your squad throughout the season. Simple enough, right? First, however, you’ll need to join a league and participate in a draft. While it’s best to do some research or have some general knowledge about the players you’re choosing pre-draft, you can always err on the side of beginner’s luck and choose randomly, though good luck in the playoffs.
There are many ways to determine draft order: roll the dice, draw cards, compete in a running race or base it on last year’s standings. But for the most part, it’s random. If the competition ever gets too heated, however, just rely on an app such as the NFL’s which will randomly select an order for you.
As for the actual drafting, most leagues use the “snake” draft method, which reverses each round. A time limit will also be in effect to ensure you’re not spending all day waiting for your friends or colleagues to decide.
So, who do you actually draft? You’ll select a starting lineup and while leagues may differ slightly, the NFL standard league offense consists of a quarterback, a tight end, two running backs and receivers, and a flex – which is a receiver, tight end or running back. You’ll also draft a team defense and a kicker to round out the roster. The commissioner of your league will also determine the number of bench spots.
While there’s no official position to draft first, the consensus lies with the running backs, so aim for that position first.
The Basics
Once drafted, it’s time to put your team to the test. Essentially, the scoring in fantasy relates to your player’s real-life performance and statistics. Offensive points can be scored via a positive rush, a completed pass, a touchdown, field goal or two-point conversion, a reception, earned yardage and more. Defensive points can be scored through sacks, turnovers, special teams scores and more.
The most common method of play is head-to-head. In this format, your team will play against an opponent in your league each week. Based on both team’s real-life NFL performance, you and your opponent will earn points in fantasy. If you earn more points than the opposing team, you win that week’s matchup. If you win enough regular season matches, then you’ll earn a spot in the playoffs. While some leagues differ in their style and method of playoff seeding and brackets, the basic idea is just like real life: don’t get out!
And that’s it! While each league has unique styles and methods that often get deep in the weeds with complexities, that’s all the cut-and-dried information needed to grasp the basics. So, next weekend when you’re enjoying football Sunday, feel free to impress your friends with your newfound knowledge, because, after all, fantasy is all about bragging.