Draft Strategy

[Chazzman 0]

I am curious what your strategy is for filling up your teams on draft day. My biggest struggle comes from figuring out if I should fill all starters first or pick the player with the greatest value regardless if I need that position or not.

 

 

Example: Let’s say you can start two (2) RBs and that you have picked RBs in both of the first 2 rounds. Now it is round 3… the undrafted player with the greatest value is another RB. What would you do? You don’t need any more RBs to start.. Would you still pick the RB (since he has the highest value) or would you pick the player with the highest value in a different position?

 

At some point, it must come down to quality. If the only position I need to fill is a kicker but there is still a quality WR on the board, I would probably take the WR… but at what point do you tilt away from the position you still need to fill and pick a backup of high quality?

 

I would love to hear your input.

[badmonkey 0]

I am curious what your strategy is for filling up your teams on draft day. My biggest struggle comes from figuring out if I should fill all starters first or pick the player with the greatest value regardless if I need that position or not.

Example: Let’s say you can start two (2) RBs and that you have picked RBs in both of the first 2 rounds. Now it is round 3… the undrafted player with the greatest value is another RB. What would you do? You don’t need any more RBs to start.. Would you still pick the RB (since he has the highest value) or would you pick the player with the highest value in a different position?

 

At some point, it must come down to quality. If the only position I need to fill is a kicker but there is still a quality WR on the board, I would probably take the WR… but at what point do you tilt away from the position you still need to fill and pick a backup of high quality?

 

I would love to hear your input.

There are too many variables to list here but I will give you a taste.

-It depends on your draft positition

-Who drafts behind you and what their needs are

-How valuable the players left are compared to what else is left on the board (ie. if there are 8 receivers in the same tier but a significant drop off at QB or TE I qould go after scarcity)

-You should not lock yourself into a strategy, it should change depending on how people draft around you,.

[Chazzman 0]

Thanks... any others have any input? I always tend to get stuck at that point when I am faced with either picking someone I need to fill my roster or picking a better player in a backup role.

[Manifest Destiny 0]

If you are faced with the scenario where it is your third pick and there is still a RB that you really like, take the RB. You prevent another owner from getting him, you have yourself well covered on bye weeks, you most likely will have better insurance than a handcuff, and good trade bait if you need it.

 

This has worked out well for me but I play in a ten team league and there is always good WR, TE, and QB talent still left in the next few rounds. If I played in a league that had more teams, though, I would scrap that theory as the talent pool thins a lot faster with your subsequent picks.

[Wildman 0]

I am curious what your strategy is for filling up your teams on draft day. My biggest struggle comes from figuring out if I should fill all starters first or pick the player with the greatest value regardless if I need that position or not.

Example: Let’s say you can start two (2) RBs and that you have picked RBs in both of the first 2 rounds. Now it is round 3… the undrafted player with the greatest value is another RB. What would you do? You don’t need any more RBs to start.. Would you still pick the RB (since he has the highest value) or would you pick the player with the highest value in a different position?

 

At some point, it must come down to quality. If the only position I need to fill is a kicker but there is still a quality WR on the board, I would probably take the WR… but at what point do you tilt away from the position you still need to fill and pick a backup of high quality?

 

I would love to hear your input.

 

I have experimented with picking the best value regardless of their potential to start for me, but it isn't something I'd continue to do.

 

I'll give you an example. Two years ago I experimented with 3 RBs in 3 rounds. I got Tomlinson, Michael Bennett, and Travis Henry. All three were projected as top 15 backs in many respects. This made my WR crop very weak. To top it off my 9th round pick was Chris Brown who out performed my 2nd and 3rd round picks.

 

I've tried this approach in different leagues in the past and found you draft with your starters in mind within your first 4-5 rounds. Unless there is a great back in round 4-5 (LJ last year) which is a very abnormal situation, you should find some valuable RBs in rounds 5-9 that might outperform what you'd get in rounds 3-5...Unless your league is filled with owners that don't draft RBs in the first two rounds, I wouldn't go 3 RBs in the first 3...

[Cuse9 129]

There are too many variables to list here but I will give you a taste.

-It depends on your draft positition

-Who drafts behind you and what their needs are

-How valuable the players left are compared to what else is left on the board (ie. if there are 8 receivers in the same tier but a significant drop off at QB or TE I qould go after scarcity)

-You should not lock yourself into a strategy, it should change depending on how people draft around you,.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself. I 100% agree!

[Chazzman 0]

I have experimented with picking the best value regardless of their potential to start for me, but it isn't something I'd continue to do.

 

I'll give you an example. Two years ago I experimented with 3 RBs in 3 rounds. I got Tomlinson, Michael Bennett, and Travis Henry. All three were projected as top 15 backs in many respects. This made my WR crop very weak. To top it off my 9th round pick was Chris Brown who out performed my 2nd and 3rd round picks.

 

I've tried this approach in different leagues in the past and found you draft with your starters in mind within your first 4-5 rounds. Unless there is a great back in round 4-5 (LJ last year) which is a very abnormal situation, you should find some valuable RBs in rounds 5-9 that might outperform what you'd get in rounds 3-5...Unless your league is filled with owners that don't draft RBs in the first two rounds, I wouldn't go 3 RBs in the first 3...

 

 

Thanks for the reply. I play in a 12-team league and RB's fly off the blocks almost immediately. Last year I had the # 5 or # 6 pick and the Draft Buddy suggested that I pick Moss. By the time I had my 2nd pick, all of the good RBs were gone and Draft Buddy had me pick another WR. Third round and Draft Buddy had me pick ANOTHER WR. I had a great WR corps, but my RBs absolutely SUCKED. In the 4th or 5th round (I don't recall), the best available player was another WR. Understandably I ignored him and took an RB or whomever else I needed to fill my starting roster.

 

Anyway, to make a long story short, I finished 6th in my league. At this point, if DB suggests that I pick a WR in my first round, I am likely going to kick it into the trashcan.

[biglou 2]

I always teir my cheatsheets and that's what I go by. Go for the most value. Last year I kept Julius Jones, Kevin Jones, and Torry Holt. We are only obligated to start 2 RBs, but we also have to start at least 2 WRs. I picked up Westbrook with my first pick, 4th round. I later used both JJ and Westbrook in a trade for Shaun Alexander. Take the most value, your team will see the fruits of you patience later in the year. I held off on both other WRs, QBs, and TEs and still drafted M. Hassleback as the 10th QB, Rod Smith and valuable tight ends.

[Guest the_chefs?]

I am curious what your strategy is for filling up your teams on draft day. My biggest struggle comes from figuring out if I should fill all starters first or pick the player with the greatest value regardless if I need that position or not.

Example: Let’s say you can start two (2) RBs and that you have picked RBs in both of the first 2 rounds. Now it is round 3… the undrafted player with the greatest value is another RB. What would you do? You don’t need any more RBs to start.. Would you still pick the RB (since he has the highest value) or would you pick the player with the highest value in a different position?

 

At some point, it must come down to quality. If the only position I need to fill is a kicker but there is still a quality WR on the board, I would probably take the WR… but at what point do you tilt away from the position you still need to fill and pick a backup of high quality?

 

I would love to hear your input.

 

It depends alot on the scoring in your league. Since RB looks deeper this year than in years past, if there is still a quality RB left in the 3rd it might be worth it to take him for trade value. In my league, I might take a value RB in the 3rd and work a 2-for-your-1 trade and maybe get a pair of sneaky sleeper WRs. You can make the case for the trade to just about anyone since it's fair to both parties since your RB is going to score about the same as the 2 WRs, but in reality you make out fat because you didn't need the RB anyway and you've shored up at WR.

 

That said, I think the depth we're going to have this year in 10 team leagues is going to allow for a RB, WR, RB, WR draft order and still come away with pretty good talent all around.

[Great White Hope 0]

I believe you should take the best player available who will give you the best value at that spot. If you already have 2 RBs in the first 2 rounds, the odds are that the best available player will not be another RB. There should still be some top 10 WRs on the board as well as perhaps an Antonio Gates, who would be a great pick in a TE required league in the 3rd round.

 

If you have 3 RBs and don't start filling out your roster, you will only have RBs, which means you will be forced to trade them for talent elsewhere and by doing so, you may end up giving up more value than you get in return, unless you do a really decent job of trading during the season.

[Wildman 0]

Thanks for the reply. I play in a 12-team league and RB's fly off the blocks almost immediately. Last year I had the # 5 or # 6 pick and the Draft Buddy suggested that I pick Moss. By the time I had my 2nd pick, all of the good RBs were gone and Draft Buddy had me pick another WR. Third round and Draft Buddy had me pick ANOTHER WR. I had a great WR corps, but my RBs absolutely SUCKED. In the 4th or 5th round (I don't recall), the best available player was another WR. Understandably I ignored him and took an RB or whomever else I needed to fill my starting roster.

 

Anyway, to make a long story short, I finished 6th in my league. At this point, if DB suggests that I pick a WR in my first round, I am likely going to kick it into the trashcan.

 

 

That's probably why it's always good to know your league. Since DB also lets you track your draft, you'll know next time to see what's been taken and who is left. Going to the opposite extreme isn't going to help you either