In fantasy football, drafting multiple players with above-average upside is the key to winning the championship. Unlike traditional football, where one player always wins, the new version of fantasy football will reward you with multiple players that consistently outperform their ADP. The best players in fantasy football 2021 are the players with upside and risk baked into their cost. In most leagues, third place is as good as last place, so you should be willing to take some gambles.
Draft-day cheat sheet
If you’re planning a fantasy football draft, then a draft-day cheat sheet is a necessity. This tool is designed to help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. It contains millions of data points, including news and injury information. Developed by daily fantasy sports experts, these cheat sheets are available for several leagues and position types.
Drafting for a fantasy football team
If you want to build a solid fantasy football team for the upcoming season, there are a few things to keep in mind. Drafting for a fantasy football team is not a foolproof endeavor, and mistakes are bound to happen. However, if you stick to Field Yates’ 10 rules, you will have a good chance of building a solid team.
First, consider positional value. Generally, the quarterback is the highest-scoring position in fantasy football, so you should target quarterbacks and running backs who can run the ball well. Last season, Derrick Henry rushed for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns, but he didn’t finish as RB1 when Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey were healthy. Therefore, it is best to target running backs who are involved in the passing game.
Moreover, tight ends are an excellent pick in the sixth round of the draft. Logan Thomas, a Washington tight end, was an incredible breakout player last year, finishing with 72 catches for 670 yards and six touchdowns. Also, Matthew Stafford was ranked the 12th-best quarterback in 2020, and he is playing for the Los Angeles Rams.
Starting players
If you’re interested in building your fantasy football 2021 roster, you need to be smart about the players you start each week. While it is tempting to start everyone, it’s not wise to rely solely on their stats. Keep in mind that they may be out of the game or suffer an injury that may hinder them from playing.
The Seahawks are a strong fantasy flex pick and Rashaad Penny is an intriguing flex player. In the last year, he topped all running backs in fantasy points and yards per carry. He is a well-rounded runner and is a great fit at the flex position.
The Packers, Bengals, Lions, and Titans all have bye weeks this week. This means they won’t be able to start their top running backs. You can get better value by stashing a waiver pick from an injured player, or holding an elite player in case of an injury or off-day.
Handcuffing
Handcuffing is a must-own skill in 2021 fantasy football. You can build your team analysis using the FantasyPros Draft Wizard. As a running back, you should start Kareem Hunt over Nick Chubb, even though Nick has been relatively healthy. However, you should not bank on another injury to Kareem. If Zeke is injured, you can use Tony Pollard as a backup running back, who has already had 40 targets this season.
You need to use the right combination of handcuffs and backups in your fantasy football draft. The first step is to understand how handcuffing affects your draft odds. Drafting a handcuffed player will not improve your overall odds, but it will protect you against losing the floor or ceiling of your picks. Another key is to ensure that your handcuffs do not play with your picks and have the best possible usage.
Handcuffing your running backs is a controversial draft strategy. While it may not be the most exciting or sexiest way to select running backs, it can provide plenty of upside. Some fantasy owners will handcuff their starting backs if they feel their backfields are in a precarious situation. But in other cases, handcuffing an RB2 can be the best choice.
Two-for-one offers
When you are playing fantasy football, two-for-one offers are a great opportunity to upgrade your team. Trading two average players for a star can improve your team’s depth. However, you should make sure that the team you are trading with has depth problems and a losing record. It’s important to know the NFL schedule in advance to avoid problems and recognize which teams might be headed for trouble.
Trades
In today’s fantasy football world, the trade deadline for some leagues has passed, but there are still opportunities to add reinforcements through trades. Here are five players who could surprise you this fantasy playoff season, and are available for less than usual prices. If they can live up to their potential, these players could be true league winners.
Injured players have become a hot commodity, so owners should target those players who are available for trade. For example, if your team has an injury to Jamaal Charles, you should consider a fill-in trade for him. Antonio Gates is another player you should target for a trade. A fill-in trade is a good way to cover a positional surplus, and you can pull off a 2-for-one trade with another owner. However, you should make sure that you have an accurate roster before executing a trade.
Trade deadlines differ from league to league, but in most instances, they are the same. For public leagues, the trade deadline is November 14, at 11:59 PM PT. However, you will have more options if your league is private. Private leagues will have a different deadline, so be sure to check details carefully.
Waiver wire
If you want to maximize your fantasy football team’s chances of reaching the playoffs, it might be time to start scouring the waiver wire. There are plenty of players available, but some players are more interesting than others. These players can fill in a roster gap or make a difference for you in other ways.
- RBs: As we get closer to the end of the year, you may find some players worth drafting on the waiver wire. While there’s only one game left in the regular season, you can still add players to your roster who are worthy of a spot on your roster. For example, if you’re short on running backs, you can consider adding Trey Lance or Taysom Hill. These players have high fantasy football projections, and they’re worth adding to your team.
In addition to drafting on the waiver wire, you should try to draft on the basis of volume. For example, Rex Burkhead may not be the most flashy player, but his usage is critical in fantasy football. He carried the ball 22 times for 149 rushing yards last week and scored two touchdowns.