Fantasy football draft etiquette and rules to live by

It’s time for fantasy football drafts to take place, but these are the rules and etiquette you need to live by or risk getting kicked out of the league.

If you can’t spot the sucker in the first half-hour of your fantasy football draft, then you are the sucker.

Sampling Mike McDermott’s line from Rounders applies to your fantasy football draft. It’s draft season with many leagues waiting until the third preseason game to hold their drafts. You spent all summer reading rankings, injury reports, depth charts and following all your favorite fantasy football analysts on Twitter. Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves, make sure you have a strong wi-fi connection and draft your team.

But it’s imperative you follow these fantasy football draft rules and etiquette so you don’t get booted from your league.

1. Show up to the draft early – Everyone is excited to get the show on the road and fill out their rosters. Delaying the start of the draft so you can make it to the draft party is grounds for moving you to the last pick in the first round.
2. Treat your host with (beer) respect – This means bringing beer and/or food for your league-mates as you draft. If you’re going to a buddy’s house, consider giving him or her a six-pack of their favorite drink or a bottle of their favorite wine or liquor. It’s only right.
3. Pay your league dues right away – You’re an adult. Pay your league dues so commissioners aren’t chasing you down for money like my student loan collectors.
4. Don’t take the entire allotment of time to make your pick, especially early. – You’ve waited all summer to draft, why are you taking two minutes to take Alvin Kamara?! You’re holding up the line! You get a pass if it’s the 15th round, but using the entire allotment of your time is a quick way to make enemies with your league-mates.
5. Don’t ask if “really good player who was drafted in the top 15” is still available in Round 6. – There is always someone who thinks they found a steal in Round 7 because they didn’t keep up and think they can take Travis Kelce or Michael Thomas 50 picks after they were picked. Don’t be that guy.
6. Don’t take a kicker before your last pick – Seriously, don’t be that guy. In fact, drop kicker from the lineup entirely and add a superflex.
7. Do your research – Don’t ask your league-mates for advice. They aren’t your personal Matthew Berry to hit up for sleepers and busts.
8. TALK  ABOUT YOUR TEAM – You have to know your audience though. Some people don’t want to hear about your fantasy team. Yes, some people just don’t care. This is a safe space. We aren’t judging them. So don’t pester them with the trade that was vetoed in your league or how late you should wait to draft a quarterback. HOWEVER! If your friend, family member, co-worker, Amazon Prime delivery driver, etc. plays fantasy football, feel free to talk to them about it. It’s fun! Everyone is doing it! Why are we shaming people for talking about their team?!  I, for one, want to hear about the late-round sleeper that hit for you. I want to hear about your bad beat. I want to hear about your agonizing start/sit decisions.