Comprehensive Beginner's Guide to Fantasy Football

If you’re crunched for time and know next to nothing about fantasy football, this guide is for you. It explains all the core concepts of fantasy football, it’s easy to skim, and it gives you the essentials to compete in your league. Bookmark this page and check out our other tools, fantasy team names, and other content.

Now, on to fantasy. Let’s be honest: you’re probably reading this right before a draft. First figure out your league’s scoring, then skim the drafting and advanced concepts sections, and you’ll have a fighting chance. Good luck!

I. Introduction

Welcome to the exciting world of fantasy football! For the complete newbie: Fantasy football is a game where participants act as virtual team owners and general managers, drafting real NFL players to create their own dream team.

The performance of these players in actual NFL games determines the points your fantasy team scores.

Fantasy football has been around since the 1960s, but it exploded in popularity with the rise of the internet in the 1990s. Today, millions of people worldwide (and especially in America) participate in fantasy football leagues, enjoying the thrill of competition, the satisfaction of strategic decision-making, and the enhanced connection it provides to the sport they love.

People play fantasy football for various reasons:

To add excitement to watching NFL games
To compete with friends, family, or colleagues
To test their football knowledge and strategic skills
To potentially win prizes or bragging rights

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started and set you on the path to fantasy football success.

II. Basic Concepts

A. League Structure

Fantasy football leagues come in various sizes and formats. Understanding these basics will help you choose the right league for your preferences and skill level.

League sizes:

8-team leagues: Smaller, more casual leagues. Every team will have a very strong roster.
10-team leagues: A good balance of roster strength and competition.
12-team leagues: The most common size, offering a good challenge.
14+ team leagues: More challenging, requiring deeper knowledge of players.

League types:

Redraft: The most common type. All players are drafted new each season.
Keeper: Teams can keep a certain number of players from the previous season.
Dynasty: Teams keep most or all players from year to year, similar to managing a real NFL team.

Public vs. private leagues:

Public leagues: Join open leagues with strangers, often hosted on major fantasy platforms.
Private leagues: Create or join leagues with friends, family, or colleagues.

B. Roster Composition

A typical fantasy football roster includes:

Starting positions:

1 Quarterback (QB)
2 Running Backs (RB)
2 Wide Receivers (WR)
1 Tight End (TE)
1 Flex (RB/WR/TE)
1 Kicker (K)
1 Team Defense/Special Teams (DEF/ST)

Bench: Usually 6-7 bench spots for backup players.

IR (Injured Reserve): Some leagues offer 1-2 IR spots for injured players.

Note that roster compositions can vary by league, so always check your specific league settings.

C. Scoring Formats

Understanding how points are awarded is crucial to success in fantasy football. The three most common scoring formats are:

Standard scoring:

Passing: 1 point per 25 yards, 4 points per touchdown
Rushing/Receiving: 1 point per 10 yards, 6 points per touchdown
No points for receptions

PPR (Points Per Reception):

Same as standard, but players receive 1 point for each reception
Increases the value of high-volume pass-catchers

Half-PPR (0.5 PPR):

A middle ground between standard and PPR
Players receive 0.5 points per reception

Custom scoring:

Some leagues use unique scoring systems
Always review your league’s specific scoring rules

To see what a stat line is worth in your format, plug it into the fantasy points calculator, which scores Standard, Half-PPR and PPR side by side.

D. Drafting

The draft is where you select the players for your team. It’s one of the most exciting parts of fantasy football.

Snake draft:

The most common draft type
Draft order reverses each round (e.g., 1st pick in odd rounds, last pick in even rounds)

Auction draft:

Each team has a budget to bid on players
Allows for more strategy but can be more complex for beginners

Draft order:

Usually randomly assigned
Some leagues allow draft position trading

Mock drafts:

Practice drafts to test strategies
Available on most fantasy platforms

E. In-Season Management

Once the season starts, your job as a fantasy manager begins in earnest.

Setting lineups:

Choose which players to start each week
Consider matchups, injuries, and recent performance

Waiver wire and free agency:

Add promising free agents to your team
Waiver priority determines who gets players when multiple managers want them

Trades:

Exchange players with other teams
Aim to improve your roster or address team needs

III. Advanced Concepts

A. Position Scarcity

Position scarcity refers to the limited number of high-quality players available at certain positions. Understanding this concept can give you an edge in drafting and trades.

Some positions (like RB) have fewer elite options, making top players more valuable
Other positions (like QB) often have many solid options, reducing the need to draft them early

B. Position Values

Not all positions are created equal in fantasy football:

Running backs (RBs):

Often the most valuable due to scarcity and high-touch opportunities
Top-tier RBs are usually drafted in the first round

Wide receivers (WRs):

Valuable, especially in PPR formats
More depth available compared to RBs

Tight ends (TEs):

A few elite options, then a significant drop-off
Top TEs can provide a big advantage

Quarterbacks (QBs):

Despite scoring the most points, often drafted later due to position depth
In leagues that start two QBs, their value increases significantly

C. Quarterback Styles

The style of play of a quarterback can significantly impact their fantasy value:

Running QBs:

Can accumulate points through both passing and rushing
Often have a higher fantasy ceiling due to rushing touchdowns

Pocket passers:

Rely primarily on passing yards and touchdowns
May be more consistent but have a lower ceiling than running QBs

D. Draft Strategies

Several popular draft strategies exist, each with its pros and cons:

Zero RB:

Focus on WRs early, draft RBs in later rounds
Can work well in PPR leagues

RB-heavy:

Draft RBs early and often
Aims to corner the market on a scarce position

Balanced approach:

Aim for a mix of positions in the early rounds
Provides flexibility but may miss out on elite players at certain positions

Best Player Available (BPA):

Draft the highest-ranked player regardless of position
Can lead to strong overall team value but may result in positional imbalances

E. Understanding Luck in Fantasy Football

While skill and strategy are important, luck plays a significant role in fantasy football:

Weekly matchups:

You can’t control your opponent’s performance
Sometimes a lower-scoring team wins thanks to a favorable matchup

Injuries:

Can derail a season for even the best-managed teams
Emphasize the importance of depth and waiver wire management

Unexpected performances:

Players can over- or under-perform projections
Focus on the process of making good decisions rather than results

IV. Tips for Success

A. Research and Preparation

Use rankings and cheat sheets:

Consult expert rankings to guide your draft and weekly decisions
Create your own cheat sheet based on your research and league settings

Stay updated on news and injuries:

Follow reliable sources for up-to-date NFL news
Pay attention to injury reports and player status updates; the NFL injury report collects each week’s official designations for fantasy positions

Analyze stats and trends:

Look beyond just point totals
Consider factors like targets, red zone opportunities, and offensive line performance

B. In-Season Management

Waiver wire strategy:

Be active in acquiring free agents
Look for breakout candidates and injury replacements
If your league uses FAAB, the FAAB bid calculator prices a claim off your remaining budget

When to make trades:

Address team weaknesses
Consider trading from a position of strength to improve weak spots

Streaming positions:

For positions like QB, TE, and DEF, consider playing matchups week-to-week
Can be an effective strategy if you miss out on elite options; the DST streaming rankings rank this week’s defenses

C. Matchup Analysis

Evaluate player matchups:

Consider the strength of the opposing defense
Look at historical performance against specific teams

Understand defensive strengths and weaknesses:

Some defenses are strong against the run but weak against the pass, or vice versa
Use this information to inform start/sit decisions

D. Long-Term Planning

Plan for bye weeks:

Ensure you have viable replacements for players on bye; the bye week checker flags the weeks where your starters share a bye
Consider bye weeks during drafts and trades

Prepare for the fantasy playoffs:

Look at player schedules for weeks 14-17 (typical fantasy playoff weeks)
Consider trading for players with favorable late-season matchups

E. Using Tools and Resources

Fantasy football calculators:

Use the fantasy points calculator to see what any stat line is worth in your league’s scoring
For a trade, weigh both sides against your own roster; Chalk & Sharp argues the case for and against

Start/sit tools:

For tough lineup calls, the weekly cheat sheet puts this week’s Vegas totals, soft matchups, injuries and streamers on one page
Remember, these are guides, not gospel - trust your instincts too

Expert advice and podcasts:

Stay informed with fantasy football podcasts and articles
Remember that even experts can be wrong - use multiple sources

V. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Drafting based solely on the previous year’s performance:

Situations change year to year
Look at trends and situation changes, not just last year’s stats

Neglecting the waiver wire:

Many league winners come from waiver wire pickups
Stay active throughout the season

Starting players on bye weeks:

Always check your lineup for players on bye
Plan ahead for bye week replacements

Overvaluing name recognition:

Don’t draft players just because they’re famous
Focus on projected performance, not past glory

Making rash decisions after one bad week:

Don’t panic if a player has one bad game
Look for patterns before making major moves

VI. Glossary of Terms

ADP (Average Draft Position): The average position a player is drafted in across many drafts
Handcuff: A backup player, usually an RB, drafted to protect against injury to a starter
FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget): A system where teams have a budget to bid on free agents
Sleeper: A player expected to outperform their draft position or ADP
Bust: A player who underperforms relative to their draft position or ADP
Stack: Drafting a QB and WR/TE from the same NFL team to double up on touchdowns
Taco: A term for an inexperienced or unskilled player in your league

VII. Conclusion

Fantasy football is a game of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck. As you gain experience, you’ll develop your own strategies and insights. Remember, the goal is to have fun and enhance your enjoyment of football. Don’t be afraid to take risks, learn from your mistakes, and engage with your league mates.

Keep learning, stay active on the waiver wire, and trust your instincts. With time and practice, you’ll be competing for your league championship in no time. Good luck, and may your players stay healthy and your touchdowns be plentiful!