DRAFT DAY ANALYSIS

DO'S
/DON'TS

COMMENTS

Maintain your focus during your draft. This means keep your focus even during the middle to late rounds. Focus regardless if you've gotten the players you wanted or the players you wanted were taken right before you were going to choose them.  Don't be afraid to change your strategy along the way.  If you draft your two running backs in the first two rounds, this will direct the rest of your draft. How the other owners in your league are drafting also will dictate who is available to you and thus, could change your draft strategy. If the team drafting next already has their quarterback, grab that receiver or running back they're targeting next, then get your quarterback. Be flexible, but be prepared. 

Let your draft be overshadowed with a hangover or not enough sleep from the night before.  Never draft drunk or after a hard night out on the town.   Some of the best draft spots have been torpedoed by the worst management decisions.

Draft a Running Back early and in some leagues, often. Most any fantasy expert will tell you that  running backs are the key to most teams success.  The point differential between receivers and even among quarterbacks isn't as significant as the point differential among running backs.  Unless your league is weighted heavy towards the quarterback position, or you have a chance to get the Top QB, then take a quality running back and build your team around him.  Know your leagues system and draft accordingly.

Draft a Rookie too early, most don't pan out or make an immediate impact. Only on rare occasions does a rookie make a big enough impact to be taken in any of the higher rounds.  If you want to take a chance on a rookie, do so in the late middle or late rounds.  This is not to say you shouldn't take some late round chances on some "sleepers".

Take into account a teams strength of schedule or difficulty of schedule.  This will have a significant impact on the success of your team.  Check out our Strength of schedule section of our website. Also, don't forget to check out our new Hall Zone scheduling tool.  This tool will show you which teams are in an "easy zone" and which teams are in a "hard zone". If it comes down to choosing between two similar players, choose the player with the easier schedule.

Forget about playoff weeks.  The team you draft today will change throughout the year, but the main players probably won't (barring injury).  Be sure to check out what teams your players play against while you're drafting.  One lopsided week of hard opponents can send the best fantasy team right out of the playoffs.  Again, choose wisely when it comes to players that will give you a distinct advantage come playoff time.

Take into account bye weeks. We felt it so important we included the bye weeks on our Cheat Sheet.  Many leagues require using backup players for bye weeks so it is pivotal that bye weeks are not overlooked.  Why draft a backup quarterback who will be off the same week as your starter?  With our Cheat Sheet, this won't be a problem.

Watch your division foes carefully.  It never hurts to have the offsetting wide receivers if your division opponent has Kurt Warner.  Keep up with who each of the opponents in your division drafts and if possible, if you're in a position to do this, draft defensively.  Grab Culpepper if you opponent has Moss, or grab Moss if you think your opponent will be drafting Culpepper.  Now only do this if you're not hurting your overall team, in other words, don't give up a quality player and draft a lesser quality player.  Only draft defensively if the players you have to choose from are similar in production and one of the two would help offset a key player of your opponent.

Stop at Draft Day.  The season will be won or lost depending on how well you keep up with injuries, moves, what rookie is coming alive, and what players or teams are struggling.  Again, it's easy to draft with the tools we give you, but you need to keep the lines of communication open and keep on top of those players who are coming into their own and get them before everyone else does.  That's where we come in at email@hallsfantasyfootball.com we'll answer all your questions and make sure we help you improve your team each and every week,  just  sign up and write us and we'll respond back and together, you'll have "all you need to succeed".