7 keys to Draft like a Pro With Top Fantasy Football Draft Advice

The best way to learn any subject is to experience it firsthand. No amount of cheatsheets, checklists, buddy advice, or new ideas can replace the wisdom that comes with years of experience.

The good news is that it is possible to glean some knowledge from those that have been there before. Our science is built by standing on the shoulders of giants, and our games are the same way.

Playing fantasy sports has increased exponentially in popularity over the past 10 years. This can be traced to the Federal Government's decision to declare participating in fantasy leagues for cash prizes to be perfectly legal. As the NFL season approaches, prospective managers are honing their skills and planning their draft strategies. Given that skill levels may vary from one manager to the next, it would seem some fantasy football draft advice would be in order to try to even the playing field a little.

The following are tips every fantasy football pro learns through their experience.

1. Understanding the Leagues Rules and Scoring Format - It is imperative for each manager to read and understand the leagues rules and scoring format. Generally, each league will put a little extra emphasis on a particular position's scoring format, creating a scoring bias. If a manager can identify this bias, they can focus their draft towards players that will provide the best scoring opportunities in all the right places. As an example, some formats have a bias towards running backs. If this is the case, an astute manager will focus on picking up two distinguished running backs in the first two rounds and worry about other positions in subsequent rounds.

2. Selecting Type of Draft - There are two primary drafting formats used for most fantasy football leagues. The standard snake draft goes round by round with the first team getting the first pick in the first round and the last pick in the second round. This continues until all players are drafted. The auction draft is a little more exciting because each manager has a pool of funds to be used to bid on players. In this format, each manager has an equal opportunity at all players, but must endure a draft that runs 2-3 times longer than a standard draft.

3. Online Mock Drafts - If a manager has the time, it would be very beneficial to participate in a few mock drafts offered through online fantasy sports sites. The mock drafts can provide some insight as to where certain players may go in the draft or what value they might carry in an auction format.

4. Vary picks based on scoring system.
Having a great quarterback is nice, but most leagues nerf their scoring capability by reducing the number of points earned from passing stats. Aaron Rodgers is worth a high draft pick at six points per TD and one point per 20 passing yards. Four per TD and one point per 30? Not so much.
The most common example is PPR (points per reception). Wide receivers gain value, and the running back rankings get shuffled. Matt Forte is a mid to low end RB1 in traditional scoring, but in a league that uses PPR, he's a stud. One point per reception adds 100 points to his total in 2014 alone.

Draft to the Scoring Format - As indicated above, a league's scoring parameters are the best guide to use when drafting a team. If significant points are awarded for yardage, players who touch the ball the most will carry the most value. If number of catches is an important category, possession type receivers, including running backs, might carry as much if not more value than those receivers who score touchdowns. The point is that each manager needs to understand the scoring in order to pick the best team possible.

5. Draft safer picks early.
Not every "safe" player gets to play the season, but it's possible to reduce the risk. Every player available early is a great player. Aside from last year, picking Adrian Peterson over Darren "Glass Man" McFadden was a no brainer to any pro. Early picks are the cornerstones of a team, and picking an injury or legal risk in the first round is unnecessary.

6. Draft for upside after starters and subs are set.
Grabbing a halfway decent starter as a second or third backup wide receiver may sound great, but it’s a terrible idea. Players can and will go down during the season. More importantly, players can and will pop in a given year. Arian Foster the year he broke out, Kelvin Benjamin last year, and Alfred Blue and Davante Adams this year are great examples of “sleepers”- players that surprised most owners and put up top end fantasy scores. The league champion will likely have one or two starters that no one expected, and unless a league uses 20 man rosters replacement level players to cover bye weeks and injuries will be readily available.

re:  Diamonds in the Rough - Most fantasy football leagues are won by the managers who draft players in the later rounds that deliver results far exceeding projections. The best way to find these types of players is to look at least year's last six games and see if any players began making great improvements in their performance. These are the types of players who will continue to improve going into the new season.

7. Finding Balance - The best fantasy football draft advice is as follows; The best teams are the teams with the best overall balance. A manager doesn't always need the highest scoring players to win a league. If a manager can focus on having top 12 players at each scoring position, they will match up well versus teams that have 2-3 high scorers mixed in with the inconsistent sorts that don't always deliver.

For players who are unsure about their prowess as a manager, there are plenty of online fantasy sports services that provide advice on how to develop a fantasy team given and type of format. Some sites offer its services for a fee while others provide information for free. If a manager needs the help while they gain experience, it is definitely available.