Fantasy Quarterback Draft Strategy
by Hoai of RotoPicks.com
Everyone has a different opinion of QBs. Some owners like to lock in one of the elite signal callers early. And why wouldn't you? QBs are the highest scoring players in fantasy and a top end thrower with a great matchup can single handedly carry a team. Other owners don't target a specific QB at a specific spot, but they wait for the draft to play out and try to find a QB at a value price. And why wouldn't you? Drafting for value is never a bad strategy regardless of position. Some owners think all quarterbacks are the same and don't even consider taking one until after they lock up a set of running backs and wide receivers first. And why wouldn't you? Quarterbacks are the deepest position and finding a good fantasy producer late is easier for quarterbacks if you pay attention to the matchups.
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So if there are three basic philosophies in picking a QB, then how can all three have merit? The reason is that when it comes to fantasy quarterbacks, it isn't about the drafting strategy as much as it is about executing whatever strategy you choose correctly. You can win by drafting a QB in the first round, but it has to be an elite QB who will almost assuredly be one of the top fantasy producers for the week. This will have to be a player who is not only in the top tier of elite signal callers, but there needs to be a huge separation between the top tier and everyone else. With this strategy, you are betting your entire draft on him because you will be picking lower down the board for a RB, off of a list that will be somewhat depleted. Having said that, it is possible to draft a QB very early and win a weekly league because the truly elite QBs are the most consistent and explosive scorers.
Drafting for value when it comes to a QB is often a good strategy because, invariably, in every draft there is always a solid fantasy producing QB who slides down the board because the other owners either took a QB earlier, can't use a second one, or subscribe to the take one late strategy. As with any draft strategy, the key to this strategy is to look at the available players and to stack the board according to your personal preferences. The first thing you should look at is how many QBs down the board that you can go without being at a major disadvantage versus the other teams. I usually think that as long as I have a second tier or mid level fantasy producer, I will have a shot at winning. On any given weekend, there are normally 2 or 3 elite fantasy studs, 4 to 7 mid level producers and then a bunch of guys with question marks. So if you want to target a stud who slides into the 3rd or 4th round or a mid level producer who comes at a major discount, you must first identify these players before the draft and pounce when the last one in a tier is there for the taking.
When you fill out your roster by taking a QB late, you are letting all the upper tiered talent get taken in front of you while you fortify other positions and gambling that you can find a matchup play with a player lower down the board. This is a high risk/high reward strategy, but there always seems to be one or two QBs every week that come out of nowhere to post big numbers. The problem is that part of the reason these QBs are lower down the board is because they are impossible to predict, and even with a great matchup, they often disappoint.
All three strategies can work as long as you execute them correctly. The secret to any draft strategy is to understand how each pick will affect every other pick. When you draft a QB very early, you are locking in elite production from the highest scoring position, but you will often suffer with scraps at RB. Letting a value pick QB fall to you is probably the best plan, but it will force you to be very aware of how your board is stacked and to be flexible with your selection. Taking a QB late is a high risk/high reward proposition. I don't recommend this unless there are a couple of matchups that you have full confidence in. I can't say this enough. When it comes to drafting QBs, and drafting period for that matter, there is no hard and fast rule. The secret to maximizing your fantasy production potential is to have a plan, know when to adjust your plan, know how the board is stacked and know how each pick will affect every other pick you make.
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