Fantasy 101: How to Not Look Like a Fool at Your Draft (Fantasy Football)
Your draft is one of the most fun parts of the season. The fast-paced frenzy of picking players is something to look forward to, but also something to feel nervous about. Then, just like summer break when you were a kid, it’s over way faster than you’d like.
The good news? Nerves fade quickly with a bit of preparation, tools, and a simple plan. This guide walks you through what to do before, during, and after the draft so you can build a fantasy mansion from the ground up and avoid looking like a fool.
Make sure to listen to The Fantasy Footballers Podcast for more actionable advice from Andy, Mike, and Jason heading into draft time and all season long!
Before the Draft
1. Know your S.T.A.R. Settings
The type of league you are playing is imperative. Find league info on your league homepage (Sleeper, ESPN, Yahoo, etc.). Once there, remember STAR.
Scoring format: Is it PPR? Half-PPR? Standard (no points for catches)?
Teams in the League: 8, 10, 12, 14+?
Active Roster Setup: How many starters are at each position? FLEX spots?
Rounds in the Draft: 15? 18? 20+?
Now that you know what you’re working with, head on to the next step.
2. Pre-Draft Preparation
Entering a fantasy draft without a plan is like giving a wedding toast without notes. You might survive, but the odds are that the pressure will hit you when it’s your turn, and you’ll feel like a firework mid-fuse. But the good news: you do not need to memorize every player in the league. You only need a list of players so you can approach each one of your picks with confidence.
Find a rankings list or a cheat sheet that provides a list of players’ projected points from the STAR settings. Open it on your phone or tablet, and the best players are at the top, with the rest listed in descending order. Now you have a script to follow, even if your football knowledge isn’t vast. You can also print these off if you prefer. Here’s an example of the Footballers list in the Ultimate Draft Kit (more on that later).
During the Draft
3. Use the Rankings/Cheat Sheet
Now that you have your digital or printed rankings, it’s time to start drafting! When the draft kicks off, you’ll be assigned a pick slot. Most drafts today are snake drafts. That means if you get the 1.01, you make the first pick in the first round but the last in the second round, the first in the third, but last in the fourth. You’ll flip-flop positions through each round of the draft.
When it’s your turn, you can keep it as simple as taking the highest player you need at a position. Did you take a WR with your first-round pick? In the second round, you could double up at receiver OR add an RB. Look to see who the top options are, which players you can target later, and who to avoid. Mark off the players who get drafted so you can identify the best remaining options to fill the rest of your team.
4. Understanding Draft Picks as Capital
Each of your draft picks is a resource, and the early ones lay your foundation. If you spend a high pick on a TE, you’ve built that part of your team. There is no need to stack more bricks on the same wall by grabbing another TE before your roster has shape and the other walls are up.
Mid and late-round picks are where you fill out the rest. Add WR depth, a rookie RB with upside, or a backup QB/TE if you choose, but make sure your starting lineup is stable first.
- Pro tip: Don’t panic when other managers start hammering one position. Let’s say five QBs go off the board back-to-back in the middle rounds. That’s called a “run” and is a chain reaction driven by FOMO, not strategy.
If you don’t have a QB yet, that’s fine, because this is where value emerges. A value at RB or WR may be available because owners worried more about filling an empty roster spot than scooping up a higher-ranked player. Check your rankings. If there are still solid QBs available (there will be), take the value on the board now and reevaluate that position later.
5. Don’t Forget the Ceiling
Think of your team like a house: the floor provides stability, and the ceiling allows it to grow. Some players offer a steady weekly baseline, but you’ll also need upside. It’s the kind of explosiveness that wins you a week with two long TDs and a 30+ point breakout.
Late in drafts, look for players with untapped ceilings. These could be rookies or second-year players without flashy NFL stats in their profiles. Drafters who rely on last year’s visible statistics instead of deeper indicators like opportunity or efficiency are called “box score drafters.” Do not be that. Stick to your rankings.
6. Don’t Be “That Person” in the Draft
Avoid these rookie mistakes:
- Taking a QB in Round 3 because everyone else is.
- Drafting 3 TEs before Round 10.
- Only drafting players from your favorite team.
- Overreacting to a hype video you saw on social media.
- Taking a kicker and/or defense before the last two rounds.
Save kicker and defense for your last two picks. You maximize value at every other position while the rest of your league grabs low-upside positions too early.
After the Draft
Now that you have a team, you’re the official manager! Start by exploring your platform and learning how to set your lineup. This area allows you to select which players start each week based on matchups and projections. Make sure no players are hurt, suspended, or out for any other reason to avoid a zero on the scoreboard.
Next, find the waiver wire. You can find all of the available free agents here. If you want to upgrade a player on your roster, you can drop them and pick someone up when waivers run each week. These usually run on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Bonus Tips to Make You Look Like a Footballer
- Queue Players Before It’s Your Turn – Having players ready keeps you calm and prepared when the clock starts, allowing you to plan who you can take for the coming pick. Queues are usually to the side or under the draft board.
- Try a Simple Stack – QB + WR/TE from the same team = double points when they connect for a TD or big game.
- Use the Ultimate Draft Kit – You can create custom rankings and cheat sheets. During the draft, you can mark off players who get drafted by other owners. That way, you know who the most valuable players available are when it is your turn.
Want to dig even deeper? Here are some additional articles to build on your pre-draft preparation: