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What I’ve learned from my first fantasy football league

If you couldn’t tell from the unpacked jerseys from last season or the aroma of buffalo chicken dip in the air, week three of the NFL is here. 

Fans will return to their teams irrespective of last season’s outcome and are optimistic about what this year will bring. And if their team can’t bring home the win, they’ll shift their ambitions to their fantasy football teams. 

For many, fantasy leagues are no joke. Some rate their league buy-ins highly, with payouts of hundreds of dollars awarded to winners. And I’m sure we all have an idea of what is expected to happen to league losers by the end of the season. 

As a first-timer to fantasy football, there was a lot I didn’t know about the process, and there is still a lot I have to learn. Luckily, I do not have the pressures of impending public humiliation weighing down on me if I take last place. 

Considering I joined both of my leagues an hour before draft time, it probably would have been a good idea to do some preliminary research before committing. I wish I spent more time studying the current landscape of the NFL before my draft.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching football, but I definitely didn’t watch enough of it last year to give me an edge going into this year’s draft. However, if there is something I have picked up on, it’s that fantasy football is incredibly unpredictable. 

Some players may be ranked as high-priority picks, but they end up underperforming. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is a prime example of this, going from many players’ first overall draft pick to the injured reserve.

If it weren’t for the help of my friends, I would have fallen victim to a poor draft strategy. My first instinct was to select Joe Burrow in round one, but I was sternly advised not to do that. Running backs and wide receivers take priority in the early rounds, and picking up strong players in those positions is deeply beneficial. 

I also learned that you don’t want to draft two non-quarterback players from the same team because it may be difficult for both to do well and generate points each week. 

Kickers and defenses are better left to the end of the draft to be picked, too. 

Something I’m still trying to wrap my head around is the waiver wire. This feature allows you to pick up any unclaimed players at the end of the week, but whoever shows interest in that player is ranked by priority according to league standings.  

As the season progresses, I plan to learn how to utilize that to my advantage. 

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Despite the learning curve, I have had a great time participating in fantasy football so far this season. I’m more motivated to watch the NFL and stay up to date with what’s going on in the league. I also enjoy participating in something and getting to enjoy sports with my friends. 

My Draft Order:

Round 1 Pick 11: Jonathan Taylor

Round 2 Pick 1: Garrett Wilson

Round 3 Pick 11: Josh Jacobs

Round 4 Pick 1: Josh Allen

Round 5 Pick 11: Mark Andrews

Round 6 Pick 1: Rashee Rice

Round 7 Pick 11: Christian Kirk

Round 8 Pick 1: Najee Harris

Round 9 Pick 11: Jordan Addison

Round 10 Pick 1: Keon Coleman

Round 11 Pick 11: Jonathon Brooks

Round 12 Pick 1: Jerome Ford

Round 13 Pick 11: Jameson Williams

Round 14 Pick 1: Trey Benson

Round 15 Pick 11: Dolphins D/ST

Round 16 Pick 1: Evan McPherson

Record: 0-2

centresj@miamioh.edu


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