Alright, guys, let’s talk about my recent dive into the world of fantasy football mock drafts. I’ve been playing fantasy football for years, but I’ve always kind of winged it on draft day. This year, I decided to get serious and actually prepare.
So, first things first, I jumped onto a few different fantasy football websites. I won’t name names, but you know the big ones. Most of them have free mock draft lobbies you can join.
Getting Started
I joined a few 12-team PPR (points per reception) mock drafts, because that’s the format of my main league. I wanted to get a feel for where players were being drafted, and to test out different strategies.
- First mock: I went in with a “zero RB” strategy in mind. That means I focused on grabbing top-tier wide receivers, tight ends, and a quarterback early, and waited until later rounds to pick up running backs. It… didn’t go great. I felt like my team was weak at RB, which is kind of a problem in fantasy football.
- Second mock: I tried the opposite approach – “hero RB.” I grabbed a stud running back in the first round, then focused on other positions. This felt a bit better, but I still felt like I was reaching for some players later on.
- Third mock (and beyond): I started to experiment with a more balanced approach. I tried to identify “value picks” – players who were being drafted later than I thought they should be. This is where those mock drafts really came in handy. I started to see patterns, like which round certain players were typically going in.
The Process
The whole process was pretty eye-opening. You sit in this virtual “draft room” with other people (or sometimes just computer-controlled opponents), and you take turns picking players. It’s like a real draft, but without the pressure of your league mates yelling at you.
I quickly realized how important it is to be flexible. You might have a plan going in, but if everyone else is grabbing running backs early, you might have to adjust. You gotta read the room, so to speak.
I also started using the “queue” feature on these sites. You can add players you’re interested in to a queue, so you don’t have to scramble to find them when it’s your turn to pick. This saved me a lot of time and stress.
The Takeaways
After doing a bunch of these mock drafts, I feel way more prepared for my real draft. I have a much better sense of player values, and I’ve developed a few different strategies I can use depending on how the draft unfolds.
It also helped me identify some potential “sleepers” – guys who are being overlooked but could have a big impact. I’m not going to reveal my secrets here, of course, but let’s just say I’m feeling pretty good about my chances this year.
My biggest takeaway for today’s fantasy football mock draft? Do your homework! Don’t just show up on draft day and hope for the best. Do some mock drafts, get a feel for the player pool, and develop a plan. It might just help you win your league!