Fantasy Football 101 - Tips for New Fantasy Football Owners

Okay, so you've finally decided to join the rest of the country and play fantasy football.  Maybe you've played and want to get better.

On this blog, I'm going to be posting tips and advice from some of the best writers on the internet.  So keep coming back, because there will be new advice daily.

Vin Sadicario at FFToolBox.com wrote an excellent Top Ten Tips for new owners:

1. Know What You Are Getting Into
No one likes an owner who quits. Whether it is after the draft, or halfway through the season, no one wants to p7lay in a league of quitters. Owners who quit or stop paying attention ruin leagues for the rest of the owners. If you are planning to join a fantasy football league, plan to be active for the whole season.

2. League Choice
League choice is very important, especially for beginners. If you are a beginner, you probably do not want to join a high stakes league consisting of fantasy football experts. Look for a league of owners similar to yourself, maybe a group of novice friends. Just like with anything else, you want to start out slow and work your way up.

3. Know the Rules
After finding the perfect league, you must learn the rules specific to your particular league. Is there a draft or an auction? How many players do you start at each position? How does the waiver wire work? How many teams make the playoffs? How does scoring work? These are some questions that you must know the answers to before you draft. Make sure you read over a copy of the rules a few times before you draft a team.

4. Be Prepared
Before you draft there are a few things you must do. The first and most important thing is research. Make your own cheat sheets of player rankings. If you are not sure how to make your own cheat sheets and player rankings, we have great cheat sheets and tons of player projections here at fftoolbox.com. Being prepared will give you a plan of attack for your draft. When it is your turn to select, you will have a list of players who you have already ranked, thus making your pick easier.

5. Practice Makes Perfect
While every fantasy football draft is different, participating in a mock draft or two will help you during your real draft. Not only will a mock draft help you get an idea of where players will be drafted, but they will also help you stay cool, calm, and collected when you are on the clock in your actual draft. Your first fantasy football drafted can be overwhelming, so make sure you participate in a mock draft or two prior to your first real draft.

6. Drafting
So you have found the perfect league, read up on the rules, done your research, participated in a mock draft or two, and finally you are ready for your first fantasy football draft. Whether you are sitting around a backyard with a group of friends, or sitting in front of your computer, a fantasy football draft is always an exciting time. That night will for the most part, determine the fate of your team for the rest of the season. At the draft, you should have your cheat sheets, a copy of the rules, paper, and a pen. After a player is drafted, cross him off your cheat sheet. Also, try to keep track of how many players have been drafted at each position. Another important stat is bye weeks. Make sure you have written down the bye weeks of every player on your cheat sheet. Try to avoid picking too many players who have the same bye week. This is especially true for backups. If you plan to pick two kickers or defenses, make sure they do not have the same bye week.

7. Waiver Wire
Know your league waiver wire rules. Are the rosters locked over the weekend? Or are pickups and drops allowed at any time? The waiver wire is an important tool in fantasy football that can make a tremendous impact on your team. Make sure you pay attention to the injury situation of not only your players, but also players whose backups can make a big difference to your team. If you see a key running back go down to injury, make sure you run to the waiver wire to pick up his backup.

8. Starting Lineups
Make sure that you know the deadline for lineup changes each week. Some leagues lock lineups when the first game of the week begins, while some lineups are locked at 12 P.M. on Sundays. Check the schedule for games being played on Thursdays or Saturdays, as this will affect your league roster deadline. Also, make sure that you have substituted players that are on a bye week. If you need to make a pickup from the waiver wire to compensate for a bye week, try not to make the pickup close to the roster deadline.

9. Trading
Trading is an important part of any fantasy game. Before making any trade, you should do your research on every player involved. Is one of the players injured or about to lose playing time? Another thing you should consider with all trades is the benefit to your team. While you may be getting the better players in a deal, they are only better if they will improve your team. For example, acquiring Tiki Barber for Roy Williams would seem like a great deal, however, if you already have Larry Johnson, Clinton Portis, and Ronnie Brown at running back, and are short at wide receiver, you may not want to make the deal. Always consider every point of view on trades.

10. Have Fun
While some people look at fantasy football as a life or death matter, it is in fact only a game. Make sure that you have fun. After the draft has taken place, and trades have been discussed, sit back and enjoy the game. The strategy and unpredictability of fantasy football makes it a great experience for all involved. Make sure that you have fun.

Don't Forget

FantasySportsTrophies.com is kicking off a fantasy football fundraiser for the 2013 NFL season.  Proceeds raised will benefit the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

We're looking for people/businesses to bid on eight open spots in our Wounded Warrior League.

Weekly updates will be posted on the Patch.  The league winner will receive a $50 Visa Debit card and a fantasy football trophy from our website.

If you're interested, please contact Tom Harkins @ 215-593-9316.