1 You join a league.You can join a public league, where anyone can sign up for a spot, or a private league, where you need an invitation to play. Some people play just for fun and some play for serious coin. League selection is an important factor, so don’t take it lightly. Chapter 3 discusses the different kinds of leagues and what to look for when signing up for one.
2 You prepare for your league draft by scouting players.Before choosing your fantasy team, you need to research all the available players so you can pre-rank them according to your personal preference. In Chapters 5, 6, and 7, I tell you what I look for when scouting the NFL so you can become your own expert.
3 You build your fantasy team via the draft.The draft is the most fun and exciting day of the fantasy season. During the draft, each fantasy coach selects one NFL player at a time until the rosters are complete. Chapter 4 explains how to prepare for every type of draft and how the draft works. Chapters 8 and 9 offer in-depth draft strategies to help you outsmart your opponents and create a fantasy force.
4 Your team competes against another team every week.During the NFL season, the real teams face each other and so do the fantasy teams in your league. The players’ real-time stats are converted into fantasy points by your league provider, and in the most common head-to-head leagues, the fantasy team that scores the most points wins the game for the week. Points-based leagues work a little differently. Check out Chapter 2 for a breakdown of how fantasy scoring works.
5 You make moves to improve your team.As a fantasy coach, you’re in total control. You can drop players you think aren’t good enough and replace them with free agents. If one of your starters gets hurt, you can bench him and start a healthy player instead. You may even make a trade offer to another coach. Chapters 10 and 11 explain how to manage your team each week and how to adjust your roster via player movement.
6 Your team (hopefully) makes the playoffs and wins your league.Only the strong survive, and at the end of the fantasy season, the top teams square off in a tournament to decide the league champion. Chapter 12 offers some strategic advice for managing your playoff team and presents a breakdown of the various playoff formats. The last team standing may win a trophy, a cash prize, or just honor; but make no mistake, there will be only one winner.
How scoring makes you a winner
Fantasy football simulates the real deal by using a performance-based scoring system. A touchdown (TD) is worth 6 points for an NFL team and 6 fantasy points for a player on a fantasy team (for rushing or receiving touchdowns. Many leagues count passing TDs for 4 points). Fantasy players are also awarded 0.5 or 1 point per catch, points for yardage gained, such as 1 point for every ten yards gained rushing or receiving. Bad NFL plays often count as negative fantasy points; interceptions and fumbles lost can be worth -1 to -2 points respectively. In general, every statistic can be used to rate a player’s achievements, good and bad, depending on your fantasy league.
TABLE 1-1 A Good Week for Your Fantasy Team
| Position | Actual Performance | Fantasy Points Scored | Fantasy Point Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | 240 yds passing 2 touchdowns 1 interception | 240 / 25 = 9.6 2 x 4 = 8 1 x -2 = -1 | 16.6 |
| Wide receiver | 110 yds receiving 6 receptions 1 touchdown | 110 / 10 = 11 6 x 0.5 = 3 PPR 1 x 6 = 6 | 20 |
| Wide receiver | 85 yds receiving 3 receptions | 85 / 10 = 8.5 3 x 0.5 = 1.5 PPR | 10 |
| Running back | 140 yds rushing 35 yds receiving 2 receptions 3 touchdowns | 140 / 10 = 14 35 / 10 = 3.5 2 x 0.5 = 1 PPR 3 x 6 = 18 | 36.5 |
| Running back | 80 yds rushing 75 yds receiving 4 receptions 1 touchdown 2 lost fumbles | 80 / 10 = 8 75 / 10 = 7.5 4 x 0.5 = 2 PPR 1 x 6 = 6 2 x -2 = -4 | 19.5 |
| Tight End | 40 yds receiving 3 receptions 1 lost fumble | 40 / 10 = 4 3 x 0.5 = 1.5 PPR 1 x -2 = -2 | 7.5 |
| FLEX (WR/RB/TE) | 110 yds receiving 6 receptions 1 touchdown | 110 x 10 = 11 6 x 0.5 = 3 PPR 6 x 1 = 6 | 20 |
| Kicker | 2 field goals 2 extra points | 2 x 3 = 6 2 x 1 = 2 | 8 |
| Team defense | 14 points allowed 2 sacks 1 fumble recovered 1 interception | 14 points = 1 2 x 1 = 2 1 x 2 = 2 1 x 2 = 2 | 7 |
| TOTAL: | 145.1 |
How important fantasy terms keep you in the loop
Like the rest of the sports world, fantasy sports has a lingo all its own. The slang terms are all fairly easy to grasp and fun to use, so don’t be scared off! I include the following list so you can get a good feel for these fantasy football terms before you start playing, and I use them repeatedly throughout the book:
Breakout: