Fantasy Football for Rookies: A Guide to Help You Get Through the Season with (Reasonable) Success

-by Caleb McKee

I can’t help you draft the right team. We’re beyond that. Even if we could go back, I couldn’t have told you John Kuhn, Green Bay’s fullback, would score the Packers only rushing touchdown last night. I can give you five (probably overly) simple concepts that can guide you to a successful fantasy football season.

1. Elite Players? Start ‘em.

Did you scoff at that one? I would’ve. Obviously you start your best players, right? There are a number of people, especially new to the world of fantasy football, who see Aaron Rodgers against the best defense in the last decade and sit him. The argument against is he only gave your team 9 points last night. I know, I hear ya. But, when you have real-life game changers on your team you do not leave them on your bench, not ever. When it comes elite (generally top 3-5) quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and even tight ends (Jimmy Graham and/or Rob Gronkowski if he’s healthy) anything wonderful, absurd, and laughably magical can happen for you.

2. Play the Waiver Wire

Every week there are players who rise to stardom, guys you’ve never heard of, and some guys who after you pick them up will crawl back into obscurity at the back end of your bench. Last year guys like Julius Thomas (Denver, TE) and Andre Ellington (Arizona, RB) were game savers, especially during the dreaded bye weeks, where there just aren’t enough starters to go around.

which brings me to...

3. Avoid the Flash in the Pans

You know the kind of guy. Some third or fourth receiver in Kansas City will go off for 100+ yards and a couple of touchdowns after the first week and you rush to the waivers to pick him up. That’s great, do that. And after you do that, leave him on your bench. Unless you absolutely need to, do not start the Flash. As mentioned above there will be players who go off. Guys who just have a ridiculous game one week, and then finish the next with one reception for seven yards. Don’t be one of the many fantasy teams that will have that statline in their starting lineup. Playing the Flash is an unnecessary risk that often times leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth.

4. Don’t Dump Guys After One Bad Week

Especially after week 1. If you drop a guy after one poor performance, the rule is: he will almost certainly go on to have one of the best fantasy seasons ever. That’s not to say if one of your players is no longer a starter or clearly has lost his mojo, go ahead, but for any of you who see Aaron Rodgers’ 9 point day and want to ship him off for a second or third running back. It’ll come back to haunt you. I promise.

5. Don’t Stash Extra D/STs or Kickers

If you have extras, go drop them right now. Go on. Do it. You’ll never have a second kicker or defense that wins you games. You might have a flex position guy that wins you a game or two.

BONUS: Trust Your Gut... or Don’t…

The only person who can really win your fantasy football league for you, is you. So either trust your gut and take the risks and fly high. Or don’t. Read everything you can and make the safest calculated decision possible and play that guy. Either way, make your own decisions and have fun. After all, we’re playing a game of a game.