Fantasy Football Draft Strategy 2016: Blueprint to Forming a Winning Squad

There is no foolproof plan to winning a fantasy football championship.

That’s not the best opening sentence for a story on how to draft a winning fantasy football squad, but it’s the truth. Wide receivers are now seen as safer early-round investments, but tell that to everyone who drafted Dez Bryant last year.

Health and other randomness—a kicker getting the yips, a backup running back vulturing your starter’s goal-line touchdown, scoring the week’s second-most points but facing the team with the most—can steamroll a successful season. It’s a cruel game, but the informed are better prepared to sidestep heartbreak.

These guidelines are catered to snake drafters, but many of the principles still apply to auctions. For those who have never done an auction, try one out. It offers distinct challenges and involves more strategy.

It’s impossible to win a league on draft day, but selecting a suboptimal squad will derail any chances of claiming the crown. Here are some guidelines to leaving the draft with a formidable team.

Play to Your League’s Settings

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Advice columns paint with a broad stroke to help as many readers as possible. They’re written for the majority who use default rules on a major host site.

Everyone else, of course, must adapt to those settings.

In a league that awards six points for a passing touchdown, taking Drew Brees in the fifth or sixth round suddenly looks savvy. Drafters should desire stability from their top picks, which explains why volatile running backs are falling out of favor.

It doesn’t, however, justify avoiding a star mainstay such as Brees, who has averaged 4,855 yards per season during his decade with the New Orleans Saints. Last year’s 32 passing touchdowns represented his lowest tally since 2007.

As noted by ESPN.com’s Matthew Berry, Brees was the site’s second highest-scoring quarterback behind Cam Newton after returning from an injured rotation cuff in Week 4. Such a bankable star also increases in value when you need to start two quarterbacks.

Researchers should now have little trouble locating analysis geared for point-per-reception (PPR) leagues. The format turns Danny …

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