Fantasy Football strategies to help win your league this season

While NFL players use training camp and preseason to get ready for the real games, fantasy football owners are also hard at work this summer. Ideas about how to craft the best possible roster ahead of season-long fantasy campaigns should be cemented before Week 1. Here are some suggestions to help you dominate fantasy football in 2023.

It can be easier said than done, but it’s important to stick with the player rankings you trust during your draft. It can be tempting to snag your favorite NFL player much earlier than he’s projected to go, but that player may still be on the board when your name is called next. If fantasy football owners want to reach, it’s best to do that in the later rounds.

For many years, it was wise to hold tight on drafting quarterback because the position was so deep. Heading into 2023, the landscape has changed, and there are only 5-6 signal callers that owners can feel really good about coming away with. Players like Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa and Kirk Cousins all have their limitations or concerns after the top tier of guys are picked.

It sounds extremely obvious, but the point of fantasy football is to win your league, rather than construct an average team. As a result, target backup players(especially running backs) who stand to get the bulk of the workload if the starter goes down. RB Tank Bigsby of the Jacksonville Jaguars and RB Elijah Mitchell of the San Francisco 49ers figure to be two players who fit that mold.

Kelce is far and away the best tight end in fantasy football, and it isn’t even close. It’s not crazy to spend a late first round pick on the Kansas City Chiefs star. However, if you elect not to go that route, waiting is the best move. While Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson and George Kittle are talented, there are better values to be had around where those players are projected to be drafted.

Logically speaking, it can be attractive to pair two players on the same team together—especially quarterbacks and wide receivers. If the quarterback throws a touchdown to the wide receiver, and both are on your team, both players get points for the same touchdown. However, it’s unwise to move heaven and earth to end up with a stack, so only go for it if it falls to you.

Under no circumstances should a kicker or a defense be taken earlier than the last two picks. In auction drafts, save a dollar or two at most for these positions. It’s extremely hard to project who will score consistently and optimally each week at these slots, as a lot of production tends to be matchup based.

As alluded to above, it’s important to target players who will have the volume to gain yards and score touchdowns. Running backs who get 15+ carries in a game, and wide receivers who are heavily sought out by their quarterbacks are the key to fantasy success. Really think about who stands to get the most chances to shine on offense, and let that guide your decision making.

Throughout the regular season, there will be chances to improve your roster. FAAB(free agent auction budget) or waiver priority are the two main systems used for fantasy teams to pick up players. Only spend large portions of the allocation or your favorable waiver claim on players that have a chance to do damage for multiple weeks at a time.