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PrintDraft Strategy Guide: Design Update Test
- Know Your Rules (no kidding) ... The First Way To Win Your DraftGet the key details that will set you apart
- Use Dynamic Player Valuations – Not Just RankingsDiscover why rankings change as you draft
- Outsmart Your Competition By Understanding Positional ScarcityLearn why the highest-scoring player isn’t the most valuable
- Take Advantage of Mock Drafting To StrategizePractice making your perfect draft picks
- Hunt For Late-Round Fantasy StudsGet the formula for drafting hidden league-winners
- Manage Risk By Avoiding Busts & Injury RisksSpot a dicey draft pick with this method
- Live Draft Sync Technology … The Best Way to Execute All the Best Ways to DraftLeverage the difference-making tool of 2024
Draft Strategy: Tips & Tricks
7 Expert-Level Drafting Tips
1. Use Unique Rankings To Give Yourself an Edge
Many of your competitors will be drafting off of the same rankings (think: ESPN or Yahoo). Tough to get an edge that way. Put in the work. Stay up-to-date on the news. And don’t be afraid to break away from the herd when it comes to your rankings. It’s an easy way to out-draft your competition.
2. Weaponize ADP To Outsmart Your Competition
ADP is like having your opponent’s playbook. Whether subconsciously or not, ADP has a huge influence on draft behavior. Drafters rarely stray too far from it. Knowing which players your opponents are likely – and unlikely – to draft next can give you a big strategic advantage. (Hint: Use our ADP Market Index to help.)
3. Catch League-Winning Breakout Candidates
Leagues are won by nailing one or two breakout late-round picks. Think Jayden Daniels or Brian Thomas Jr. last year. When you’re on the clock and deciding between two or more players, always ask yourself: “Which of these guys is more likely to be the league-winning, had-to-have player?” Then take that guy.
4. Learn to Predict Your Opponents’ Picks
Drafting is part science (rankings, ADP, positional value) and part art. No two drafts will play out same. It’s your job to recognize the flow of your draft and react accordingly. It’s especially important to track positional needs. For example, if teams near you have selected a bunch of WRs but few RBs, you can assume they’ll be targeting RBs soon. Get out ahead of them and snag a RB with your next pick.
5. Discover the Next Bucky Irving
Let your league mates waste later-round picks on handcuffing their own RBs. You can get the jump on them by targeting RBs behind fragile starters. That was Irving, Tyrone Tracy, and Rico Dowdle this time last year. And we’re eyeing some intriguing new candidates for 2025.
6. Draft Immobile QBs in 2025 (Wait … What?!)
Running QBs are fantasy gold. Problem is, that’s no longer a secret. In many cases, the pendulum has swung too far toward those guys. And that’s turned some less-mobile QBs into values. Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott pop as undervalued QBs in 2025 drafts – despite their lack of rushing yards.
7. Chase opportunity at RB… and talent at WR
Fantasy scoring at RB is closely tied to playing time and touches. Target RBs who project to get the rock a lot. WR is a more talent-driven position. Targets are earned, not given. That’s why advanced metrics like targets per route and yards per route run should be key factors in your WR rankings.
3 Fatal Draft Mistakes
1. Don't Match Your Rankings To Last Year’s Stats (Consider What's Changed)
Weighing last year’s final stats into this year’s player rankings could cost you on draft day. Too much changes from year to year. That includes coaching staffs, offensive schemes, rookies, free agents, etc. That’s why it’s crucial that you live in the present – and weigh all the offseason changes when creating your 2025 player rankings.
2. Don’t Be Stubborn About Your Pre-Draft Plan
Instead, be flexible. You might go in with a Zero-RB strategy. But if enough teams grab WRs by the second round – a workhorse RB might fall into your lap. That’s when it’s time to scoop up the player who will best help your team win … not reach for a position because it was part of your pre-draft plan.
3. Don’t Pass Up Player Value to Chase Positional ‘Need’
NFL teams that try to fill “needs” (instead of adopting the “best player available” model) most often crap out on their draft picks. Same holds true for you. Reaching for a “need” player most often blows your chances at winning. And remember: Drafting the best player available gives you valuable trade chips down the road.
Advanced Draft Strategy
7 Key Strategies for Tailored Player Rankings
The most advanced fantasy football draft strategy for any format, and any league, is a “Value Based Draft Strategy.” It can take different forms, and be based on any number of draft-value indicators.
Draft Sharks' value-based draft strategy actually has 17 Draft Value Indicators. Here are 7 crucial ones you can use in your draft:
1. Master Cross Positional Value
Which positions are most valuable in your league? Maybe QBs in a superflex. How do RBs stack up vs. WRs in PPR leagues? Understanding values across positions involves using a specific algorithm to analyze player values. It weighs various factors like scoring rules, starting-lineup requirements, ADP, and league settings.
2. Track Positional Scarcity on the Fly
This one is super important but also super hard. To measure positional scarcity, you need to track each pick – and see how it impacts the player pool. If there are seven QBs taken by the fifth round, that position becomes scarce. And QBs suddenly increase in value in your draft.
3. Prioritize Players With Greater Upside
You’re in the 11th round and torn between three players with roughly the same draft value. You need to highlight the player with the highest fantasy ceiling. Then make sure he doesn't slip by you in the heat of the draft. It might sound simple, but it’s mission-critical to identify these breakout players and pull the trigger when the time is right.
4. Look Out for “Bust” Red Flags
You probably know the red flags of a potential bust. But are you factoring them into your value of each player? Age, declining production, bad offensive line, competition for touches, a new offensive scheme that de-emphasizes a player’s role. Don’t blow your draft capital on a player who is screaming “bust!”
5. Use a Scientific Injury Risk Assessment
You know the scenario… You spend a second-round pick on a stud WR – and in Week 2, he suffers a soft-tissue injury and misses the next four weeks. Brutal. Injuries aren’t 100% predictable. But you can get reliable scientific data to avoid the biggest potential injury risk players.
6. Always Use Correlated ADP
This one is huge. Using ADP (Average Draft Position) is the ultimate measure to find value. The problem is this: If you use a redraft PPR ADP to prepare for your non-PPR Dynasty league, you’re doing yourself more harm than good. Find reliable ADP that is correlated to your specific rules and format.
7. Avoid Bye-Week Conflicts
You’d think this one would be so easy. But you know the truth. You’re in the heat of your draft, you’re on the clock, and bang … you double-up on the same bye week at a crucial position. You’re now forced to fix that mistake at some point in your draft – or later in your season.
Key Insight: There are a lot of factors that go into drafting for true player value. It’s not just about using “position tiers” or employing a “Zero” or “Hero” RB strategy. It’s about using a mix of scientific metrics and educated guesses in predicting player production. And how you and your opponents behave during critical times in your draft.
How To Execute This Strategy: You’ve got a lot to focus on if you want to execute these draft strategies in real-time – amid the chaos of your draft. In fact, it’s humanly impossible for anyone to implement every key strategy… AND work out every algorithm essential to a winning draft.
The real solution is to get real-time help from an AI “Draft War Room.”
Discover the Live-Draft Sync That Strategizes While You Draft
If what you’ve read so far makes sense, here’s a draft tool you need to learn more about.
It’s actually TWO tools that pair together so you can dominate your draft with one super tool!
A live-draft sync super-powered by the “Draft War Room” (DWR)
This super draft tool automatically re-ranks players on your draft board in real-time. Those dynamic player values are based on a variety of factors, including positional scarcity, team needs, injury risk, breakout potential, and bust risk. In fact, there are 17 draft-value indicators it calculates in real-time to come up with your player suggestions.
How It Works: You're just three clicks away from your league and draft being live-synced. From there, you’re on the road to draft domination. And it works across multiple platforms (ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Underdog, and Sleeper, to name a few). For multiple league formats (dynasty, rookie, keeper, best ball, auction, superflex – and, of course, redraft).
What It Means For You: You get dynamic player values customized to your league. Simply. And in real-time. When it's your turn to pick, the Draft War Room offers instant player suggestions tailored to everything happening in your draft. You’ll be unburdened from the pressure of being "on the clock." While at the same time getting specific player suggestions that are scientifically based and strategically sound.
Key Insights: No one who’s serious about winning their draft can use 2015 technology in the competitive environment of 2025. It’s really that simple. We know too much about the science behind successful drafting to keep basing decisions on “gut” and “educated guesses.” Yes, sometimes we roll with those two things. But we need to have a lot more (technology) at our disposal to be consistent fantasy football champions.
How to Execute This Strategy: Make sure you pick a “live-draft sync” over a simple “league sync.” A league sync doesn't work during your draft to adjust player values in real-time. To learn more about the live-sync option, check out this page explaining our live-sync tool.
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Read More »Top Draft Tips from a Longtime Pro
I don’t know everything about the best ways to draft for fantasy football …
But I gotta tell you – I am a
n OG in the fantasy industry:
I co-founded DraftSharks.com back in the last century (1999). And then the World Championship of Fantasy Football three years later.
So it’s fair to say that I’ve witnessed damn near everything when it comes to fantasy football drafting. From the “good” to the “great” … to the “OMG I can’t believe he just made that mistake!”
With all that in mind … I feel compelled on my 26th anniversary of heading up Draft Sharks to share some of the best ways to draft for 2025.
And here they are, my friend:
TEST - PICK 0
1. Know the Rules (no kidding) ... The First Way To Win Your Draft
In Vince Lombardi’s first team meeting as Packers head coach, he showed the team a football, and remarked, “This, gentlemen, is a football…” Talk about starting at the beginning…
Fantasy football is a bit similar. Gotta master the simple things first:
Before you lay out money to play, you MUST know your league rules and format
Sounds like everyone would know that. They don’t.
Check out a platform like the FFPC (Fantasy Football Players Championship). A quick glance shows there are no fewer than 12 different formats and variations. That includes “Slim Drafts,” “Terminal Leagues,” and even a “Playoff Challenge.”
Not to mention: You start two flex players, and TEs get 1.5 points per catch.
Vince Lombardi knew his league's rules.
There are plenty of stories of FFPC team owners who – having thought they won their league – were reminded to go back and read their league rules. Other stories of team owners who built an insufficient roster because they didn’t know how many rounds were in their draft.
But even if you’ve been playing in the same league for years, you need to know the rules and scoring format for a somewhat different reason. This one is huge: Figuring out the true value of your player rankings.
QBs are valued differently in leagues that award 4 points per passing TD vs. 6. WRs are valued differently in leagues that require you to start three vs. two.
Key Insight
Knowing the scoring rules and league setup, format, starting rosters, etc. is the foundation to knowing the best way to draft for your particular league. It will determine your player rankings and values. There are so many different league scoring and setup rules in 2025 (as compared to when Draft Sharks started in 1999). You have to know ever detail of your leagues!
Best Way to Execute
The most important rules to check on are (i) the scoring rules, (ii) your league format, and (iii) the position requirements for your starting roster. A simple and flawless way to execute is to get a cheat sheet that live syncs to your draft.
2. Use Dynamic Player Valuations – Not Just Rankings
“Dynamic player valuation” means a player's fantasy value changes based on a number of factors.
Take scoring and lineup settings, for example. Using the FFPC again: TEs get 1.5 points per reception (PPR). (That’s why it’s called “TE-premium” scoring.) And you can use a TE in your flex spots.
That makes a big difference in the value of a TE – as well as all the other positions in relation to TE.
When things change during the draft, you need to be smart about picking players who are bargains or steering clear of those priced too high, all based on what's happening right then.
By being flexible, you'll boost your chances of putting together a winning team that fits just right with your league's special scoring rules and team needs.
Key Insight
Player values are not static and vary greatly depending on your league's scoring format, size, and roster setup. But values also depend on how your draft unfolds and your team needs.
Best Way to Execute
Use tools that adjust player rankings in real-time based on your league’s setup, draft trends, and your specific team needs. That way, you're always aware of the best value on the board.
3. Outsmart Your Competition By Understanding Positional Scarcity
Positional scarcity = player value
In fantasy football drafts, not every position carries the same value. And as the draft unfolds, some positions lose good players faster than others. This means you have to be smart about when to pick players for these important spots.
For example, QB is the highest-scoring position in most leagues. But elite RBs and WRs typically get drafted first because you need more starters at those positions and their scoring drops off more sharply.
That's why the best way to draft is generally to prioritize RBs and WRs while waiting on QBs and TEs.
To underscore the point: Ask yourself why kickers are drafted so late even though they can outscore other positions.
The answer is simple: Kickers are drafted lower than TEs because of “positional scarcity.” There are more kickers who can put up high point totals than there are TEs who can. Ergo, high-scoring TEs are more valuable based on their scarcity.
Key Insight
There's varying drop-off in talent across different positions. That's why TEs are (in almost every league) more valuable than kickers. Even is kickers score more raw points.
Best Way to Execute
Prioritize positions with limited depth, ensuring you secure top talent where it counts. The best tools have these built into their suggested player algorithm. Using technology to draft smarter is your best competitive advantage.
4. Take Advantage of Mock Drafting to Strategize
Now that you understand some of the basic best ways to draft … it’s time to start (mock) drafting!
Strategic mock drafting is like a full-scale war game in advance of your actual fantasy football draft. It’s where you can experiment with different draft scenarios in a no-stakes environment.
By participating in mock drafts from various draft positions, you get a feel for potential scenarios you might face, helping you adapt your strategy on the fly when the real draft comes.
This practice allows you to identify late-round sleeper picks (more about that in a minute …), understand positional depth, and gauge when to draft your targets.
Essentially, mock drafts are a critical tool for honing your draft-day game plan.
Key Insight
Mock drafts let you build your “draft muscles” in a no-risk environment. Feel free to test strategies and adapt to various scenarios.
Best Way to Execute
First, find a mock draft simulator that can accommodate your league setup and scoring rules. Next, engage in mocks from different draft positions to explore different strategies. Use these mock draft sessions to refine your draft approach.
Let the Mock Draft Trainer Prepare You
5. Hunt for Late-Round Fantasy Studs
You’ll actually want to use your mock draft sessions to identify the players you’ll target in the late rounds of your REAL draft …
When you're deep into the draft, and the obvious choices are off the board, that's your cue to roll the dice on potential breakout players. This is where your draft will go from “good” to championship-level great.
Look for those under-the-radar players. Maybe it's a rookie with a weak veteran in front of him … or a second-year player poised for a breakout due to an improved offense or an expanded role.
It could even be a veteran coming back from injury, who’s now overlooked and undervalued.
These late-round picks have the potential to drastically outperform their ADP, giving your fantasy team a boatload of unexpected points.
Key Insight
The later rounds of your draft give you opportunities to gamble on potential breakout studs. Make sure you have a handful of players highlighted as potential breakouts!
Best Way to Execute
Focus on young players stepping into new roles, those returning from injury, or guys in enhanced offensive systems. These picks can bring you a fantasy championship. Looking for a tool that does this automatically late in your draft? Check out Upside Mode on the Draft War Room.
How Can Upside Mode Help YOUR Draft?
6. Manage Risk By Avoiding Busts & Injury Risks
Risk management in fantasy football – much like in investing – involves balancing the potential for high rewards against taking a big hit.
So how do we minimize that risk?
Warren Buffet – arguably the most successful investor of all time – nails it perfectly when he says:
"Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing."
Ain’t that the truth?!?
So it’s your job to “know what you’re doing” while you draft.
When you mock draft, does your roster look like the “Just About to Retire” team? Is a hospital ward about to be named after the injury magnets you drafted?
Warren Buffett: Worth $128 billion because he has won 75% of his fantasy leagues by minimizing risk
To be sure, fantasy football is full of surprises. Every player comes with a certain level of risk, whether it's due to injury history, inconsistency, or changes in team dynamics.
That means by analyzing injury predictors and historical performance data, you can identify which players carry higher risks.
It doesn’t mean you don’t ever pick those players. But you value them more realistically in light of their risk level.
Key Insight
All players come with some risks. Looking at their injury history, age, team environment, and how they've performed in recent years can help you understand these risks.
Best Way to Execute
Mix reliable players with riskier options who could score big. Don’t ignore past injuries or recent performance. At bottom, be realistic in your valuation and treatment of risky players – for both their upside and downside. The Injury Predictor score is a great guide to determining injury risk.
7. Live Draft Sync Technology … the Best Way To Execute All The Best Ways to Draft
So how do we wrap up all the “best ways to draft” into THE best way to draft?
For me, this one’s a complete no-brainer.
When I co-founded Draftsharks.com in 1999, the internet was in its infancy. Every fantasy football cheat sheet was static. Most league commissioners calculated scoring by using newspaper box scores. And Christian McCaffrey was potty training.
2025 is a whole new world of technology. And live draft sync is the best way to draft.
Simply sync your league’s draft to a tool that incorporates the 6 best ways you just read about …
And your draft experience will be life-altering:
Using "live draft sync" is like having a fantasy expert who works with your draft in real-time, giving you tips on who to pick as the draft happens.
With live draft sync, you're not just guessing or going off your homework. You get fresh advice and ideas right when you need them, making your choices smarter as you go.
It keeps track of who's been picked, shows you the top players that fit your team, and looks at what's happening in the draft.
This helps you change your plan fast, guess what other teams might do next – and, ultimately leads you toward smarter picks.
It's like having a fantasy football expert giving you tips while you're picking your team.
Key Insight
Live draft sync tools offer an advantage by integrating with your draft to provide instant analysis and player recommendations.
Best Way to Execute
Using a live draft sync tool automatically tracks picks to show the best available players. Those player suggestions are based on your needs, your scoring rules, the flow of your draft, and other key value indicators. You’ll get instant advice based on how your draft unfolds.
The Last Step Toward Your Championship …
If the above ways to draft make sense to you, then you might want to check out our Draft Sharks Live Draft Sync.
It incorporates everything you just read about. Plus quite a few other features and benefits.
Discover how it can turn your 2025 season into a Championship run!!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fantasy football strategy?
The best fantasy football strategy boils down to drafting for value in every round of your draft. If you get guys who over-perform their ADP, you'll be a consistent winner. If not, you'll constantly be near the bottom of your league.
How do beginners prepare for fantasy football draft?
Beginners should prepare for their fantasy football draft by researching player rankings, understanding scoring formats, and practicing with mock drafts. Focus on drafting a balanced team with a mix of proven players and sleepers. Learn key positions' value and avoid over-drafting one. Stay updated on player news, injuries, and team changes. Use tools like a live-draft sync to make informed decisions and adjust strategy during the draft.
What is the Draft Sharks Mock Draft Trainer?
The Draft Sharks Mock Draft Trainer lets you practice fantasy football drafts by simulating realistic draft scenarios customized to your league's settings. It provides real-time player recommendations, allows you to explore different strategies, and offers immediate feedback. This tool helps you refine your draft approach, gain confidence, and ensure you're well-prepared for the actual draft day. Whereas most mock drafts take hours to complete, you can complete your draft on our Mock Draft Trainer in less than 5 minutes.
Should I draft a RB or WR first in fantasy?
In 2025 fantasy football, drafting a running back (RB) or wide receiver (WR) first depends on your league format and draft position. If you're in a standard or half-PPR league, top-tier RBs often have more value because of their dual role in rushing and receiving. In PPR formats, elite WRs can be prioritized for their consistent points. Ultimately, choose the best available player based on your draft strategy and league settings.
Who should I pick first in fantasy football?
The first pick in most fantasy football drafts in 2025 should be Ja'Marr Chase. If you're not picking first overall in your fantasy football draft, then your best first pick will likely be another WR or a RB. Exactly who that player should be -- and whether it should be someone at another position -- will depend on your draft position, your league format, and who's available in your draft.
How many RB and WR should I draft?
If you need to start at least two RBs and two WRs every week, then you should plan to draft at least 5-6 RBs and 5-6 WRs. Those numbers increase (or decrease) depending on how many you're required to start at each position and how many flex positions your lineup has. You'll most commonly want to draft 5-7 RBs and 5-8 WRs.
Is it better to draft early or late in fantasy football?
It's not better to draft early or late in fantasy football. The truth is -- most successful fantasy teams each season don't tend to come from either end of the draft but more toward the middle. But beyond that, the biggest factor in a successful fantasy football draft is using a draft tool like a live-draft sync to help you stay organized and get real player value at each pick.
How long has Draft Sharks been around?
Draft Sharks has been around since 1999. It was co-founded by Lenny Pappano and Michael Hiban, two friends who shared a passion for poker, politics, and fantasy football. Draft Sharks is now celebrating its 27th season of helping fantasy owners win their leagues.
What's the best way to draft if I have the 12th pick in my fantasy draft?
At the 12th pick, go for a balanced strategy: draft a top-tier RB and WR or two WRs to secure elite talent with your first two picks. Focus on players with high upside and consistency. In rounds 3-4, target the best available RB or WR to strengthen your roster, then consider a top QB or TE in mid-rounds for a well-rounded team. Prioritize depth and flexibility.
Draft Strategy: Tips & Tricks
7 Expert-Level Drafting Tips
1. Use Unique Rankings To Give Yourself an Edge
Many of your competitors will be drafting off of the same rankings (think: ESPN or Yahoo). Tough to get an edge that way. Put in the work. Stay up-to-date on the news. And don’t be afraid to break away from the herd when it comes to your rankings. It’s an easy way to out-draft your competition.
2. Weaponize ADP To Outsmart Your Competition
ADP is like having your opponent’s playbook. Whether subconsciously or not, ADP has a huge influence on draft behavior. Drafters rarely stray too far from it. Knowing which players your opponents are likely – and unlikely – to draft next can give you a big strategic advantage. (Hint: Use our ADP Market Index to help.)
3. Catch League-Winning Breakout Candidates
Leagues are won by nailing one or two breakout late-round picks. Think Jayden Daniels or Brian Thomas Jr. last year. When you’re on the clock and deciding between two or more players, always ask yourself: “Which of these guys is more likely to be the league-winning, had-to-have player?” Then take that guy.
4. Learn to Predict Your Opponents’ Picks
Drafting is part science (rankings, ADP, positional value) and part art. No two drafts will play out same. It’s your job to recognize the flow of your draft and react accordingly. It’s especially important to track positional needs. For example, if teams near you have selected a bunch of WRs but few RBs, you can assume they’ll be targeting RBs soon. Get out ahead of them and snag a RB with your next pick.
5. Discover the Next Bucky Irving
Let your league mates waste later-round picks on handcuffing their own RBs. You can get the jump on them by targeting RBs behind fragile starters. That was Irving, Tyrone Tracy, and Rico Dowdle this time last year. And we’re eyeing some intriguing new candidates for 2025.
6. Draft Immobile QBs in 2025 (Wait … What?!)
Running QBs are fantasy gold. Problem is, that’s no longer a secret. In many cases, the pendulum has swung too far toward those guys. And that’s turned some less-mobile QBs into values. Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott pop as undervalued QBs in 2025 drafts – despite their lack of rushing yards.
7. Chase opportunity at RB… and talent at WR
Fantasy scoring at RB is closely tied to playing time and touches. Target RBs who project to get the rock a lot. WR is a more talent-driven position. Targets are earned, not given. That’s why advanced metrics like targets per route and yards per route run should be key factors in your WR rankings.
3 Fatal Draft Mistakes
1. Don't Match Your Rankings To Last Year’s Stats (Consider What's Changed)
Weighing last year’s final stats into this year’s player rankings could cost you on draft day. Too much changes from year to year. That includes coaching staffs, offensive schemes, rookies, free agents, etc. That’s why it’s crucial that you live in the present – and weigh all the offseason changes when creating your 2025 player rankings.
2. Don’t Be Stubborn About Your Pre-Draft Plan
Instead, be flexible. You might go in with a Zero-RB strategy. But if enough teams grab WRs by the second round – a workhorse RB might fall into your lap. That’s when it’s time to scoop up the player who will best help your team win … not reach for a position because it was part of your pre-draft plan.
3. Don’t Pass Up Player Value to Chase Positional ‘Need’
NFL teams that try to fill “needs” (instead of adopting the “best player available” model) most often crap out on their draft picks. Same holds true for you. Reaching for a “need” player most often blows your chances at winning. And remember: Drafting the best player available gives you valuable trade chips down the road.
Advanced Draft Strategy
7 Key Strategies for Tailored Player Rankings
The most advanced fantasy football draft strategy for any format, and any league, is a “Value Based Draft Strategy.” It can take different forms, and be based on any number of draft-value indicators.
Draft Sharks' value-based draft strategy actually has 17 Draft Value Indicators. Here are 7 crucial ones you can use in your draft:
1. Master Cross Positional Value
Which positions are most valuable in your league? Maybe QBs in a superflex. How do RBs stack up vs. WRs in PPR leagues? Understanding values across positions involves using a specific algorithm to analyze player values. It weighs various factors like scoring rules, starting-lineup requirements, ADP, and league settings.
2. Track Positional Scarcity on the Fly
This one is super important but also super hard. To measure positional scarcity, you need to track each pick – and see how it impacts the player pool. If there are seven QBs taken by the fifth round, that position becomes scarce. And QBs suddenly increase in value in your draft.
3. Prioritize Players With Greater Upside
You’re in the 11th round and torn between three players with roughly the same draft value. You need to highlight the player with the highest fantasy ceiling. Then make sure he doesn't slip by you in the heat of the draft. It might sound simple, but it’s mission-critical to identify these breakout players and pull the trigger when the time is right.
4. Look Out for “Bust” Red Flags
You probably know the red flags of a potential bust. But are you factoring them into your value of each player? Age, declining production, bad offensive line, competition for touches, a new offensive scheme that de-emphasizes a player’s role. Don’t blow your draft capital on a player who is screaming “bust!”
5. Use a Scientific Injury Risk Assessment
You know the scenario… You spend a second-round pick on a stud WR – and in Week 2, he suffers a soft-tissue injury and misses the next four weeks. Brutal. Injuries aren’t 100% predictable. But you can get reliable scientific data to avoid the biggest potential injury risk players.
6. Always Use Correlated ADP
This one is huge. Using ADP (Average Draft Position) is the ultimate measure to find value. The problem is this: If you use a redraft PPR ADP to prepare for your non-PPR Dynasty league, you’re doing yourself more harm than good. Find reliable ADP that is correlated to your specific rules and format.
7. Avoid Bye-Week Conflicts
You’d think this one would be so easy. But you know the truth. You’re in the heat of your draft, you’re on the clock, and bang … you double-up on the same bye week at a crucial position. You’re now forced to fix that mistake at some point in your draft – or later in your season.
Key Insight: There are a lot of factors that go into drafting for true player value. It’s not just about using “position tiers” or employing a “Zero” or “Hero” RB strategy. It’s about using a mix of scientific metrics and educated guesses in predicting player production. And how you and your opponents behave during critical times in your draft.
How To Execute This Strategy: You’ve got a lot to focus on if you want to execute these draft strategies in real-time – amid the chaos of your draft. In fact, it’s humanly impossible for anyone to implement every key strategy… AND work out every algorithm essential to a winning draft.
The real solution is to get real-time help from an AI “Draft War Room.”
Discover the Live-Draft Sync That Strategizes While You Draft
If what you’ve read so far makes sense, here’s a draft tool you need to learn more about.
It’s actually TWO tools that pair together so you can dominate your draft with one super tool!
A live-draft sync super-powered by the “Draft War Room” (DWR)
This super draft tool automatically re-ranks players on your draft board in real-time. Those dynamic player values are based on a variety of factors, including positional scarcity, team needs, injury risk, breakout potential, and bust risk. In fact, there are 17 draft-value indicators it calculates in real-time to come up with your player suggestions.
How It Works: You're just three clicks away from your league and draft being live-synced. From there, you’re on the road to draft domination. And it works across multiple platforms (ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, Underdog, and Sleeper, to name a few). For multiple league formats (dynasty, rookie, keeper, best ball, auction, superflex – and, of course, redraft).
What It Means For You: You get dynamic player values customized to your league. Simply. And in real-time. When it's your turn to pick, the Draft War Room offers instant player suggestions tailored to everything happening in your draft. You’ll be unburdened from the pressure of being "on the clock." While at the same time getting specific player suggestions that are scientifically based and strategically sound.
Key Insights: No one who’s serious about winning their draft can use 2015 technology in the competitive environment of 2025. It’s really that simple. We know too much about the science behind successful drafting to keep basing decisions on “gut” and “educated guesses.” Yes, sometimes we roll with those two things. But we need to have a lot more (technology) at our disposal to be consistent fantasy football champions.
How to Execute This Strategy: Make sure you pick a “live-draft sync” over a simple “league sync.” A league sync doesn't work during your draft to adjust player values in real-time. To learn more about the live-sync option, check out this page explaining our live-sync tool.
