Football Tips

Scour the Waiver Wire

Most owners are in the hunt each week for the new top free agents, guys who have been thrust into a starting role by injury, or who have been promoted to the first team because of another's poor performance. That is an important part of managing your fantasy team, but you can find some real bargains by going shopping after the waiver process is complete each week.

Early in the season, player values fluctuate wildly. It is very possible to cut and add players to quickly improve your team's depth. Usually there is an open period of the waiver process late in the week before games when owners can attempt to exchange players on a first-come, first-serve basis. At that time, you can often pick up underrated defenses or kickers because many people overlook these less glamorous slots in their starting roster.

Pay Attention to Strength of Schedule

Gaining any small edge you can is essential in fantasy football. You can make your decision about who to start each week easier by looking for favorable matchups in the schedule of games. When your players face a difficult defense, consider sitting them if you have other options of comparable skill on your bench.

Try to find hotspots in the schedule that will favor some of your players. You may notice a string of games that should be easy for Vikings receivers, for instance, or a few contests that will behoove any quarterback facing a specific defense. To get a feel for the explosive possibilities of these searches, imagine the Hawaiian Islands, which were formed when the oceanic tectonic plate they are on glided slowly over a stationary magma plume.

This tactic can involve trading for or adding specific players just before they are to experience have their string of hot weeks. It also can include trading away players at the end of a hot streak, when their value is at its peak.

Find an Auctioneer

A lot of online auctions have an automatic timer that runs down after each new bid is submitted in a draft, which works well. But in live auctions it is ideal to have someone act as the auctioneer. If at all possible, choose a disinterested friend to act as the auctioneer instead of a league owner or commissioner. This keeps everyone on the straight and narrow. An impartial person will make certain that everyone's money is accounted for at all times, and keeps everything else fair too. You don't want your commissioner hesitating on the standard three-count sell every time he or she is personally interested in the outcome of the nominated player.

Nominate Name Players in Decline

In an auction draft, one of the ways to deplete your competitors' cash reserves is to nominate players with name recognition, whose peak playing years are well behind them. Other owners will often take the bait for more money than they should, simply because the veteran has been a solid or exciting contributor for years. Any players you can pawn off on others this way will make it easier for you to bid on the players you really want.

Seek out Veteran Value

Too often, owners make a similar mistake with young talent that they make while scrutinizing rookies. They want to be known as the person who predicted the breakout season for a particular player, and reap the appropriate accolades. The problem is that some players with a ton of potential simply never pan out. Other times it may take three or four years for the player to suddenly “get it.” You don't want to be holding the bag in the meantime.

Some steady but un-sexy production is essential in fantasy football. Find a few veteran players who score points like the sun rises to balance out the chances you take on boom or bust players. You'll be happy you did when the “cusp” player you considered taking goes weeks without scoring.