How I Think and Prepare For A Fantasy Draft

I have decided to write a post based on how I think and strategize before and during a fantasy sports draft. Everyone has their own strategies during drafts which makes it fun and keeps everyone guessing on who the person is going to draft next. I will go into how I think and certain rules that I set for myself when preparing for any fantasy draft.

Knowing The Depth At Each Position

This first one is a rule that I set for myself while researching prior to a draft. Knowing the players at a certain position and who is also in the same tier is huge. ADP or average draft position, will tell you where the player is going in drafts. For instance, if I know their is a huge drop off at a position, then I will draft one of those players in that tier so that I would not be hurting in that area. This is kind of common sense, but it really helps to know which players are in the same or different tiers as the others in the draft pool. The same rule applies if the position is really deep. In my fantasy baseball drafts, the shortstop position is always really deep so I tend to wait on one. To me, it makes no sense to draft Fernando Tatis Jr. in the first round when you could get a player like Javier Baez, Tim Anderson, or Carlos Correa in the middle rounds.

Do Not Get Rattled

If someone drafts a player that you really wanted, do not react. By not responding or reacting, you can shake it off and draft the next best player. I have had this happen many times, but I try my best not to react and carry on with the draft. Not getting rattled is one of the best things that one could do while participating in a fantasy draft.

Do Not Be Intimidated

My fantasy experience began at the age of 11, so being the only kid in most of my leagues at the time, I tried not to get intimidated by the much more experienced competition. Going in focused is also huge for me, especially if the draft is in person. Keeping my composure and not getting flustered is also big as well. Sticking to my plan is something that I have to follow for me to be successful. As many would imagine, this rule still applies today, as I tend to take this hobby very seriously.

Listen To Yourself

When you decide to draft a player, stick with who you want. Not being influenced by other league mates can be huge in your success. Over time, as I have watched my fair share of sports, whether it be baseball or football, or even basketball, go with who you want and let no one else tell you otherwise. Going with my gut is one of the best things that I could do. It could be anything from where they play the majority of their games to who you think will outperform the other. Deciding between players could be tough, but if I can factor in those types of things then that makes the decision much easier.

Have A Set Plan

Having a plan of who you want to draft is one of the biggest things that you can prepare for. Like I mentioned previously, going with who you want is a huge part of your success. After having been in a handful of fantasy leagues, I usually go in and break down my plan by position, not by player. For me, fantasy baseball is easier than fantasy football, although the majority of people may disagree, I am more of a baseball fan than any other sport.

Doing Research

This one is high on my list if I want to do well. Researching the players is the biggest thing that I do prior to a draft. Whether it be online, reading magazines, books, or whatever else I can get my hands on to prepare for the draft is something that I tend to do. Out preparing my competitors is something that I aim for, because I want to be prepared as much as I can. Sure, I do not win every league, but if I have and show maximum effort in the preparation process, then hopefully that leads to success during the season. Staying up that extra hour or however long it takes me to feel good about the draft will pay off in the end.

Plan In Advance

Planning for a fantasy draft is something that I prepare for weeks, maybe even months in advance. If I were to begin my research the night before, I am setting myself up for failure. It is like with anything else, if I do not set aside time to research or study then I will probably do awful.

Using My Head

This one may sound a bit funny, but if I am really wanting a player and it is going to be awhile before I pick again I will tend to look at who is available, compared to who I am wanting. Looking at other teams during the draft is huge for me, because it outlines what position I need to draft next in the middle rounds.

Having A Positive Mindset

Having a positive mindset is key if I plan to do well. If I go in saying to myself that I am going to do awful, then that is what probably is going to happen. Staying positive is half the battle in preparing and participating in fantasy drafts and leagues, because some weeks I get blown out of the water, other weeks can be close, while others I will take home a win.

Scout The Opponent

Scouting the opponents in your league can pay off big time as well. Over time, I have been in the same leagues with most of the same people year after year. At some point, I catch on to who they like to draft, what position they like to target early in drafts, etc. By doing this, I can prepare for what I think will happen. That way, once the draft begins, I can be ready and not be caught off guard to what I think they will do. If I guess wrong or something else happens, then I can make an adjustment and recover.

Do Not Give Up

Giving up and quitting is the worst thing that I could do in fantasy leagues or with anything else. For instance, I started a dynasty football league this year, I am 0-3, and am in last. Sure, I feel like giving up, but if I quit then why did I start the league in the first place? There is still a lot of season left, as I could turn it around and make some kind of run. Giving my absolute best and being active in the league is of course better than just packing it up, calling it quits, and going to the house.

This last paragraph is not really a section or a rule that I set for myself, but I decided to Include it Anyways:

Before a draft, I will pace my basement thinking in my head of who I am going to draft. Typically the night before, I am very nervous and excited at the same time, as I seem to not sit or stay still. The day of the draft, I treat it like gameday, as I cannot get my mind off of it from the moment that I wake up. This hobby has brought both joy and heartbreak throughout the years, but I could not have drawn it up any better.

Final Thoughts: I hope you all have enjoyed reading my post about how I prepare and think before and during a fantasy draft. I like doing these posts, because it gives you all a look into how I think when it comes to sports related things.