For most fantasy owners, the draft is the most fun part of the whole thing. While I am not one of those believers that thinks the draft will make or break a season, drafting well can be very exciting. So, what can we do to ensure that we have a successful draft? Well, let’s first look at the factors of the draft.
Let's identify factors that we can influence, and those that we can’t. Most leagues offer a random-ordered snake draft. It is the most fair type of draft in my opinion, where nobody really loses out, even if you are blessed with the last pick. What we can’t influence is our draft position. Most leagues offer a computerized random-number generator that determines the order, and we can do nothing but pray. Another factor that we can’t influence is other players’ decisions. While we can try to talk them out of drafting a certain player, use reverse psychology, and other methods, chances are the people you play with are around the same intelligence level as yourself, and are not easily fooled. I prefer to keep quiet during the draft and let others make their own mistakes, but, if you feel you are persuasive enough, go ahead and talk.
Now let’s look at your draft position. Did you get the first/second/third pick? Congratulations, you have just landed Durant/Paul/James. These guys will be the heart and soul of your team, and they are a step above the rest. Did you get the last pick of the draft? While others might be laughing at your misery, you might want to keep to yourself before rubbing their faces with your two consecutive picks of Deron Williams and Pau Gasol (very achievable in a standard 10 player league). Did you get a middle position that doesn’t really stand out? It’s actually my favorite position. See, if you get the first pick or the last pick, every other round you must wait 18 picks in between your picks. I hate that. I am a heavy sleeper drafter, and crossing my finger 18 times that my sleeper isn’t taken is just too much torture. Having a middle position (5,6) means that while I always get plenty of time to decide between picks, I still don’t have to wait long (8-10 picks at the most).
Everyone can draft well for the first 5 rounds. Just google “2010 NBA fantasy draft board” and everyone can find a pretty even consensus of the top 50 fantasy players in the league. Past round 5, however, you need to start taking into consideration which position you need to have filled, what category you need help in, what role these players play on their respective teams, and how injury prone they are. It’s not easy. You don’t find these kind of information just lying around. You need to research for it. Furthermore, rounds 6-8 is still too early to draft sleepers in my opinion. I like to have a solid team that I know will perform before I begin taking risks.
Well, I hope this article will help you on your big day. Remember, do plenty of research, take your time, and may lady luck smile on you! Check back once the season starts for more fantasy advice.
No comments:
Post a Comment