Fantasy University: Course 501 — Winning habits to help you dominate your league

Fantasy football can be a random game, riddled with complications like unpredictable injuries, unforeseen depth chart shakeups and the like. However, the randomness of the game doesn’t necessarily mean the path to a fantasy championship is total chaos; certain things are in your control to help ensure you’re putting your roster in the best possible position to withstand the blows of the unexpected. Our analysts are here to share tips for sustained success in your fantasy football leagues.

What are the most common habits of winning players?

Andy Behrens: We often like to remind you that the NFL is a league ruled by chaos, reshaped each week by injuries, unexpected breakouts and general mayhem. Attempting to predict individual performance in such a league can be a humbling experience. Winning fantasy players tend to be people who adapt and react well to new information — that is to say, they won’t hold firm to a pre-draft opinion if it fails every early regular-season test. Adaptability and humility are essential.

Scott Pianowski: Settle into a routine with a consistent cadence. Have recurring fantasy tasks and checkpoints marked on your calendar. Get used to auditing the landscape of your league; who’s rostered, where teams are deep and shallow, who’s been recently dropped. Detail-oriented people always have the best chance of success.

Dalton Del Don: Positional values in drafts can change yearly, and the most successful fantasy players see the trends coming before they happen. More than any fantasy sport, football championships are won by finding one of the handful (if that) of true difference-makers each season.

Matt Harmon: Flexibility is a trait universally held by all winning players. It’s fine, perhaps even wise, to have rules, templates and strategies for each event on the fantasy calendar. However, knowing when to pivot away from your anticipated strategy or even individual player takes is critical for a season of success. Draft room malleability is obvious. No two drafts are going to be precisely the same. I’d argue that knowing when to jump ship on a prior conviction once the season starts is just as important.

One key tip for a winning season

Andy: We are still waiting for the first season in fantasy history in which every league-winning golden-ticket player actually gets selected on draft day. Every year, without fail, the waiver wire delivers huge hits. Just ask the managers who scooped up Jerome Harrison in 2009, Rashaad Penny in 2021 or Puka Nacua in 2023. Fantasy football is not a game in which you can remain idle for weeks or months after your draft; the most successful managers are active and aggressive on the waiver wire.

Scott: Long-term injury optimism is not your friend. When a team talks about a player being out, say, 4-to-6 weeks, I want you to focus on the six. And remember, even when players return from injury, they might not be used in full-time roles right away. It’s not always fun to play fantasy football like an actuary (this also relates to aging curves), but it’s often a +EV move.

Dalton: Run an exercise in your head and try to predict next season’s fantasy rankings. Football is generally a sport for the young, and it’s better to be a year too early than a year too late when it comes to avoiding aging veterans.

Matt: Once you get through your bye-week gauntlet, start to worry less about depth on your bench and start layering in upside fliers. These don’t have to be the backup to the starting running backs on your team. Don’t be afraid to snag the understudy to one of your opponents’ workhorse backs. Adding rookie receivers before their breakout game for the stretch run has been a winning strategy over the last few seasons.

What are some trends you expect to impact this fantasy season?

Andy: Well, as one of the fantasy industry’s original LaPortists, I can tell you the tight end position has changed in a meaningful way. After a seven-year run of utter dominance in which Travis Kelce was a tier-of-his-own player, finishing as the top-scorer at his position five times (and second twice), he enters 2024 with new draft coordinates. We’re not going to be drafting any tight end in the first or second round, because the position now appears fully stocked with talent — LaPorta and Kelce at the top, down through Njoku, Engram and Ferguson.

Scott: I’m going to try to assemble dominant receiver rooms at the top of my draft, with the one exception of an anchor back (who could be taken anywhere from Round 1 to Round 4). Puka Nacua was a wonderful story but an exception, not a rule. I implore you to build wide receiver rooms that start themselves, and that means getting into that position early — even as many of your opponents will also be targeting that area.

Dalton: The first tier of quarterbacks separates itself thanks to their rushing ability, but generally speaking, the position has never been deeper. For those who don’t play in Superflex formats, expect some drafters to wait longer than ever before addressing the absolutely loaded QB position.

Matt: Veteran values at wide receiver. The fantasy industry as a whole has become youth-obsessed at the receiver position. This is not necessarily a bad thing as second-year breakout players and rookie overperformers have treated us well the last few seasons. At the same time, the overall richness of depth at receiver hasn’t faded just because new talent has been added. My guess is that this will create some value among established receivers who haven’t even come close to 30 years old yet. Don’t be afraid to steer into “boring” this year.

You’re nearly ready for the cap and gown, but don’t get a case of senioritis; it’s time for one final lesson.