To win a championship in fantasy football requires significant contributions from nine players on the field each week. As stated previously, you have one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one defense/special teams and one flex (typically a running back, or wide receiver).
Last year, my team was largely carried by three players – running backs Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram (New Orleans Saints teammates) and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. My wide receivers were inconsistent, although the top two drafted (Doug Baldwin and Brandin Cooks) were fairly good.
Other than the five above-mentioned players, it was a revolving door for my team. I did pick up LA Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein early in the season, and he turned out to be the No. 1 fantasy kicker. But no kicker will make, or break, your team. Only one defense – Jacksonville was dominant, and I didn’t own them.
The most important players to focus on in the draft (and on the waiver wire later) are running backs and tight ends. Why? Because good ones are in short supply. You will probably draft a running back in the first round. You may want to pick up a good tight end in the third, or fourth round. There aren’t many.
Wide receivers are a crap shoot. Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers and DeAndre Hopkins proved to be in a class by themselves last year, and they will inevitably be drafted in the first round in most leagues. However, I will probably draft a top running back in the first round unless they are all gone by the time I pick.
Tomorrow: What fantasy players to draft in the early rounds.
Doubting Thomas' Fantasy Sports 