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Fantasy Football: Using Tiers In Season Long Fantasy Drafts

ByBruce Lamb|
Jan 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Saints defeated the Falcons 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Fantasy Football
Aug 7, 2016; Canton, OH, USA; A general view as fans leave the 2016 Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The game was cancelled due to safety concerns with the condition of the playing surface. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Fantasy Football: Draft Prep

You ever go into a draft with your mind set on getting a certain player or players no matter what?  I used to draft like that.  I always had my mind set on getting ‘my guys,’ and as a result I either found myself taking someone too early so I made sure I got him, or I he would go right before I picked and I would be left scrambling with no back up plan.  Needless to say, I didn’t have much success during those days in my fantasy football leagues.

Once I started using tiers in my season long draft, I began to have much more success.  Now, if you are wondering what tiers are in regards to your fantasy draft, let me explain.  I group players in each position based on what I project them to do for the upcoming season.

My top Tier of QB’s heading into the 2016 Fantasy Football season are as follows:

  1.  Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers: Cam is a dual threat with his rushing TD’s, but look for some regression this year.
  2.  Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers:  I think he could wind up the #1 fantasy QB this season.
  3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints:  Is there a less talked about fantasy stud than him?
  4. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts:  He will be much improved over the disappointing season last year, look for him to get back to a top 5 QB.
  5. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers:  This team is loaded, as long as he stays healthy he will be a fantasy beast!

Rather than having my mind set on getting Rodgers no matter what, I will go into my drafts and accept any of the tier 1 qb’s should they fall to me when I’m ready to take a QB.  If I don’t get ‘my guy,’ I will be ok with taking one of the other players in that tier.  Let’s take a closer look to how I set up tiers for my drafts.

Next: How to use Tiers in Fantasy Drafts

Fantasy Football
Jun 6, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) takes a break during organized team activities at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

What I like to do is pair players up in order based on how I project them to do in the upcoming season.  I try to keep them within the same projected point range.

At WR my top tier includes:

  1. Antonio Brown
  2. Odell Beckham Jr
  3. Julio Jones
  4. DeAndre Hopkins
  5. A.J. Green

Depending on how the draft goes, if I get one of those guys as my WR 1 I will be happy with that.  There shouldn’t be much of a drop off from #1 to #5 on that list.  My next group of WR’s is Evans, Marshall, Allen, Robinson, Cooks, and Bryant.  There should be a drop off between the tier 1 and tier 2 players, but as with all fantasy leagues, you just never know.

There isn’t a set amount of guys to put in each tier.  In my TE tiers, Gronk is the lone tier 1 TE.  He is by far the best, and is in a class by himself.  As you get into your tier 3 and 4 players, you may notice a bigger group than your tier 1 and 2 players at each position.

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The think I like most about using this strategy, is I don’t get myself set on taking a particular player, and I always have a back up plan if the player I’m targeting gets taken.  If I’m picking late in round 1, I will be taking a tier 1 RB or a tier 1 WR depending on the scoring system in my league.  Instead of targeting 1 player, I will be targeting a complete tier of players that could be available when I pick.

This eliminates the shocked feeling you get when someone takes the guy you want before you pick.  It will also help you determine value when your picking.  If you are in round 4 and you still have a tier 2 running back available, there is value with taking someone like CJ Andersen in the 4th round as he is in my tier 2.

Next: Zero Running Back Strategy

As you prepare for your drafts, using this strategy could prove beneficial.  I like it because I don’t get set on a certain player and I don’t get shell-shocked if he isn’t there by the time I pick.  To me, that helps me stay on course and executing my draft plan.  If Brandon Marshall goes a few picks before I wanted to take him, I would not have a problem taking Keenan Allen or Mike Evans.  Do a few mocks using this strategy and see how your drafts turn out.

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