[Document

subtitle]

Introduction
Its that time of the year again. The days get shorter, the leaves are beginning
to change color. Its also time to play fantasy football! The wonderful game of
Fantasy Football is a pastime enjoyed by millions across the country (and some
international folks) involving the drafting of a roster and leading your team to
victory. The game allows you to mimic being a general manager of a football
team, making effective coaching decisions in order to win games. What was
that? You finally want to win the league this year? You are sick of coming in
last place because you drafted somebody who retired seven years ago? Well you
found the right book. This guide to fantasy football will explore many of the
different parts of our beloved and exciting game.
By reading this book, you will gain a wide grasp on how fantasy football works,
as well as ways win your league this season and for years to come. In addition
to learning the keys for success, you will do it in style with a memorable team
name that will make your opponents jealous. As a wise man once said,
Knowledge is the key to success, and this guide will definitely give you both of
those.

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Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

How to Play Fantasy Football

The Scoring System
Drafting Your Fantasy Football Roster
Mock Draft
Drafting Tips
Team Name Selection
How to Host a Draft Party
Final Thoughts
References

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How to Play Fantasy Football

For Fantasy Football, there are two main website outlets used to take part in
the activity, Yahoo and ESPN. These websites contain slightly different rules.
This guide will focus on ESPNs ten-team format however everything in this
guide applies to all website hosts. To get started, you need to create an online
account. ESPN offers a simple account creation system in which all you need is
your email, age, and password. No payment is a required for their services yet
if you would like, you can buy the insider deal which permits access to extra,
more intellectual articles about Fantasy Football. This is definitely not a
necessity and the average user should not feel inclined to purchase the pack.
After setting up an account comes the stage of joining a league. All you have to
do here is go to the fantasy football screen located on the left side of the
webpage. From there you must click draft and can go on to starting your
championship campaign.
Now you are ready to play and let the action begin. To play fantasy football you
must draft a team of around 16 players from the NFL (this number can change
based on individual league regulations). Below is a list of what a roster is
composed of and what each position means.
QB
RB
RB
WR
WR
TE
FLEX

Quarterback
Running Back 1 (Your top RB)
Running Back 2 (Your second best RB)
Wide Receiver 1 (Your top WR)
Wide Receiver 2 (Your second best WR)
Tight End
RB/WR/TE (This is either your third best
WR/RB or second best TE.)
Defense/Special Teams. This will be a
combined defense and special teams of one
team which encompasses both points.
Kicker
Any Player (Points do not count unless
moved into a starting position.)
Any Player (Points do not count unless
moved into a starting position.)
Any Player (Points do not count unless
moved into a starting position.)
Any Player (Points do not count unless
moved into a starting position.)
Any Player (Points do not count unless
moved into a starting position.)
Any Player (Points do not count unless
moved into a starting position.)

D/ST
K
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE

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The Scoring System

In fantasy football, the objective of the game is to beat your opponent in each
matchup. In order to calculate the winner, fantasy football has a unique point
scoring system. If you score more points than the opposition, you win. The
scoring is based on the real-life performances of the players you drafted. The
objective is to score more points than your opponent to win as many games as
you can in order to qualify for the playoffs, and ultimately win the
championship. On each of these graphs the column on the left represents the
scoring category while the column on the right represents the amount of
points allocated to that specific category.
The quarterback scoring system is as followed.
25 Passing Yards
Passing TD
Rush TD
Interception
Two Point Conversion

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4
6
-2
2

The Running Back Scoring System:

10 Rushing Yards
10 Receiving Yards
Rushing TD
Receiving TD
Two Point Conversion
Fumble

1
1
6
6
2
-2

The Wide Receiver Scoring System

10 Receiving Yards
Receiving TD
Two Point Conversion
Fumble
The Tight End Scoring System
10 Receiving Yards
Receiving TD
Two Point Conversion
Fumble

1
6
2
-2

1
6
2
-2

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The D/ST Scoring System:

Kickoff Return TD
Punt Return TD
Fumble Recovery TD
Interception Return TD
Blocked Punt or FG for a TD
1pt Safety
Sack
Blocked Punt/FG
0 Points allowed
1-6 Points Allowed
7-13 Points Allowed
14-17 Points Allowed
18-27 Points Allowed
28-34 Points Allowed

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6
6
6
6
1
1
2
5
4
3
1
0
-1

35-45 Points Allowed

46+ Points Allowed
Less than 100 yards allowed
100-199 Yards Allowed
200-299 Yards Allowed
300-349 Yards Allowed
350-399 Yards Allowed
400-449 Yards Allowed
450-499 Yards Allowed
500-549 Yards Allowed
550+ Yards Allowed
2pt Return
Safety
Kickoff Return TD
Punt Return TD

-3
-5
5
3
2
0
-1
-3
-5
-6
-7
2
2
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The Kicker Scoring System

Each PAT Made
Missed FG
FG Made 0-39 Yards
FG Made 40-49
FG Made 50+

1
-1
3
4
5

As you can see, there is a lot to take into consideration when it comes to how
points are calculated. This is why you have to know which players to. What?
You dont know how to draft? Oh yeah, thats why you have this guide! Lets
keep going!

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Drafting your Fantasy Football Roster

Being a smart drafter is the most important aspect of fantasy football. You
want to create the best possible team in order to score as many points per week
as you can in order to win each of your matchups. Although taking the best
player each time sounds like a logical idea, that is rarely the best approach.
When it comes to drafting there is a lot to consider. There are the players
statistics, the teams the players are on, as well as bye-weeks. When drafting
players, you must keep these things in mind. Below is a mock draft giving you
an idea of who to draft and at what point you should do that. Although this is a
good tool, it is beneficial to develop your own opinions as well as taking needs
and bye-weeks into consideration. There is no point in drafting 10 running
backs in the first round or your team will be terrible. If you draft a team where
everyone has bye-week 7, how are you going to win?
Just as in any draft, each team will choose one player per round. Prior to the
draft, you should prepare for which player you would like to select. I have
assembled a mock draft below which provides you with a reference point for
when you should draft each player and how they should be valued. The first
round will have a full analysis of each player while the other rounds will just be
listed. This is how most mock drafts are done, and this one will be no different.
As mock drafts are one of the most important tools in helping you have a good
draft, I urge you to use this to help you decide who to draft when the time
comes.

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Mock Draft
Round 1
1. Antonio Brown (WR): Antonio Brown is a great option for the
number 1 pick. He has a limited injury history, a consistent arm behind
him (Ben Roethlisberger), and consistently puts up big numbers.
Normally, you will see a RB go first however I like Brown for 2016. The
past three seasons, he has been an absolute force scoring touchdowns
and totalling serious yardage every game. I expect this sort of
production once again, and for that he warrants the #1 overall pick in
your fantasy football raft this summer.
2. Todd Gurley (RB): This pick might come as a surprise as the running
back will be moving into just his second season in the NFL however, this
pick does not come unwarranted. In just 13 games last year, Gurley
attributed over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns. Just imagine what he
can do with a full season and a year of experience in 16 games.
3. Leveon Bell (RB): In terms of in-season production, Leveon Bell
cannot be beaten. However, he is so injury prone that it is impossible to
select him first. Last season he was out for the first two games. He came
in and produced ridiculous number before getting injured again to close
out the season. This pick is a risk, but the reward cannot be beaten.
4. Julio Jones (WR): This past year Julio Jones caught fire. The Falcons
WR led the league in receiving yards and tore up the league with a below
average quarterback. Coming into next year, he will have already
entered his prime and had RB Devonta Freeman to help disrupt the
defense. If you can get both of them on your team somehow, you should
be set for the year.
5. Odell Beckham Jr (WR): OBJ will come into the season bigger, faster,
and stronger than last year. He has a relentless work ethic and wants to
improve. With two years of experience under his belt, Beckham is sure
to have yet another outstanding season and might even break some
records along the way.
6. DeAndre Hopkins (WR): DeAndre Hopkins had a breakout year last
season. He made his first Pro Bowl as a result of having the third most
receiving yards and being in the top ten in receiving touchdowns. Look
for Hopkins to have another monstrous year this season and to improve
with Brock Osweiler at QB.

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7. Adrian Peterson (RB): After coming back from a season-long

suspension the year before, Adrian Peterson produced some
outstanding numbers lat year. He had an amazingly high number of
carries and was able to score 11 rushing touchdowns, among the top five
in the league. The undeniable trust that Peterson and his coaches should
lead to yet another fantastic year for the running back.
8. Devonta Freeman (RB): Devonta Freemans season last year came
as a shock to all as the running back ended up leading the league in
rushing touchdowns. Coming into the season, he wasnt expected to
start, let alone destroy everything in his path. I expect the same sort of
production from Freeman next year as the roster will not be changing
very much and his explosiveness is still there as he enters his prime at
the age of 24.
9. Rob Gronkowski (TE): The New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski
has said he does two things, party and score touchdowns. Although he
finished second amongst tight ends last year in touchdowns, he
accumulated way more yards than any other player at his position. No
tight end should be taken before him and with Tom Brady throwing him
the ball, Gronkowski is a force going into next season.
10. Dez Bryant (WR): Dez Bryants season last year did not go to plan. He
only played five games however managed to put up very strong
numbers in that time span. He was able to gain over 400 yards and
scored three touchdowns. Assuming he stays healthy next year, his stats
look to be among the leagues best. However, staying injury free has
been a problem in the past for Bryant which is why he drops to number
10 in this mock draft.

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Round 2
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

AJ Green (WR)
Demaryius Thomas (WR)
Matt Forte (RB)
Mark Ingram (RB)
Keenan Allen (WR)
Lesean Mccoy (RB)
David Johnson (RB)
Allen Robinson (WR)
Alshon Jeffery (WR)
Thomas Rawls (RB)

Round 3
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Julian Edelman (WR)

Cam Newton (QB)
Doug Martin (RB)
Jordy Nelson (WR)
TJ Yeldon (RB)
Martavis Bryant (WR)
Chris Ivory (RB)
Sammy Watkins (WR)
Amari Cooper (WR)
Mike Evans (WR)

Round 4
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.

TY Hilton (WR)
Andrew Luck (QB)
Tom Brady (QB)
Kelvin Benjamin (WR)
Brandin Cooks (WR)
Jarvis Landry (WR)
Aaron Rodgers (QB)
Greg Olsen (TE)
Jeremy Maclin (WR)
Tyler Eifert (TE)

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Round 5
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.

Allen Hurns (WR)

Eric Decker (WR)
Jordan Reed (TE)
Demarco Murray (RB)
Josh Gordon (WR)
Jeremy Langford (RB)
Jamaal Charles (RB)
Emmanuel Sanders (WR)
Doug Baldwin (WR)
Jeremy Hill (RB)

Round 6
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.

Latavius Murray (RB)

Travis Kelce (TE)
Johnathon Stewart (RB)
Michael Floyd (WR)
Delaine Walker (TE)
John Brown (WR)
Melvin Gordon (RB)
Russell Wilson (QB)
Carson Palmer (QB)
Carlos Hyde (RB)

Round 7
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.

Carlos Hyde (RB)

Ben Roethlisberher (QB)
Arian Foster (RB)
Matt Jones (RB)
Danny Woodhead (RB)
Charcandrick West (RB)
Drew Brees (QB)
Julius Thomas (TE)
Jordan Matthews (WR)
Michael Crabtree (WR)

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Round 8
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.

Blake Bortles (QB)

Darren McFadden (RB)
CJ Anderson (RB)
Devante Parker (WR)
Eddie Lacy (RB)
Giovani Bernard (RB)
Stefon Diggs (WR)
Dion Lewis (RB)
Kenny Stills (WR)
Matt Ryan (QB)

Round 9
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.

DeAngelo Williams (RB)

Philip Rivers (QB)
Eli Manning (QB)
Ryan Tannehill (QB)
Tavon Austin (WR)
Gary Barnidge (TE)
Justin Forsett (RB)
Javorius Allen (RB)
Tevin Coleman (RB)
Panthers D/ST (D/ST)

Round 10
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.

Martellus Bennett (TE)

Seahawks D/ST (D/ST)
Broncos D/ST (D/ST)
Cardinals D/ST (D/ST)
Antonio Gates (TE)
Golden Tate (WR)
Teddy Bridgewater (QB)
Joique Bell (RB)
Desean Jackson (WR)
Karlos Williams (RB)

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Round 11
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
107.
108.
109.
110.

Owen Daniels (TE)

Dwayne Harris (RB)
James White (RB)
Rams D/ST (D/ST)
Texans D/ST (D/ST)
Ezekiel Elliot (RB)
Bilal Powell (RB)
Ameer Abdullah (RB)
Tony Romo (QB)
Matthew Stafford (QB)

Round 12
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.

Josh Doctson (WR)

Willie Snead (WR)
Jalen Strong (WR)
Dante Moncreif (WR)
Andre Johnson (WR)
Darren Sproles (RB)
Steve Smith Sr. (WR)
Austin Sefarian Jenkins (TE)
Jimmy Graham (TE)
Charles Clay (TE)

Round 13
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.

Jaguars D/ST (D/ST)

Isaiah Crowell (RB)
Tyler Lockett (WR)
Nelson Agholor (WR)
Vincent Jackson (WR)
Ladarius Green (TE)
Devin Funchess (WR)
Zach Ertz (TE)
Jason Witten (TE)
Dwayne Allen (TE)

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Round 14
131.
132.
133.
134.
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.

Coby Fleener (TE)

Colts D/ST (D/ST)
Eagles D/ST (D/ST)
Shane Vereen (RB)
Lance Dunbar (RB)
Breshad Perriman (WR)
Marcus Marriota (QB)
Joe Flacco (QB)
Stephen Gostowski (K)
Stephen Hauschka (K)

Round 15
141.
142.
143.
144.
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.

Adam Vinateri (K)

Cody Parkey (K)
Justin Tucker (K)
Dan Bailey (K)
Shayne Graham (K)
Shaun Suisham (K)
Dan Carpenter (K)
Robbie Gould (K)
Jack Doyle (TE)
Dwayne Allen (TE)

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Draft Tips
When it comes to drafting a winning team, there are many theories as to how
to do this. Some believe in drafting a QB early, some believe in waiting. After
many years of doing drafts, I have come up with my own methods for success.
The tips below have been compiled to help you draft the best possible team.
Tip 1: Look at the strength of a prospective players schedule.
In 2015, Atlanta Falcons RB Devonta Freeman led the league in rush yards.
Although this was a tribute to his skill, the lack of hard competition definitely
assisted him in the process.
Tip 2: Wait until the later rounds to draft a kicker and defense.
Every single year there is always that one guy who drafts the Seahawks D/ST
in the fifth round. That move is completely unjustifiable as for the past five
years, the highest ranked defense has proven to rarely finishes as a top five
defense. These units have disappointed by not putting up as good numbers as
in the previous year. (ESPN).
Tip 3: Draft a Running Back in Round 1
In almost every NFL team, there is one RB who gets almost all of the reps or
carries in the rushing attack. Because of this, early picks should be spent on
running backs while later picks should be used for receivers. When it comes to
receivers, if they drop the ball, it might not come back to them. However,
running backs almost always maintain their average reps per game. This
security of playing time will result in more points for your team.
Tip 4: Do research to find which teams do not have a set in stone pecking order
for their wide receivers.
Last year, the St. Louis Rams receiving core featured three WRs of almost equal
value with none of them being the out and out number one. Because of this I
decided to draft all of them and it worked. By Week 5, it was clear that Tavon
Austin had taken the number 1 receiver role for the Rams. He soon slotted in
to my starting line-up, gaining points for my team.
Tip 5: Do some research on sleepers.
A sleeper is a player who is expected to be drafted in a late round with potential
for early-round value. Some examples of past sleepers are Devonta Freeman
and Doug Martin in his rookie year. They are extremely valuable due to the
fact that they offer middle to top round production from the late rounds.

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Tip 6: Take a look at who is injured and consider drafting them.

When a top player goes down with an injury they can go from being selected in
the first round and end up being selected in the fifth. The value lies in when
you get the player, if you are willing to sacrifice 2-3 weeks of not having one of
your best players, you can end up with a really valuable addition to your team
in the middle of the season.This is because you are drafting first round quality
in a round where you should be getting players who score half the points.
Assuming you make the playoffs, you have could have two or more superstars
against someone who has one. For example, last year I drafted Arian Foster in
Round 6. When he came back from injury , he produced first pick numbers.
However the risk proved to be there when he got injured at the seasons end
once again.
Tip 7: Wait to draft a QB. In each draft, there are at least 12 strong fantasy
football options at the quarterback position. You can usually pick one of these
in around the eighth round. However, some people choose to draft a QB in the
early rounds. I disagree with this as the difference between an eigth round RB
and a third round one was around 6 points per game and over 16 games, that
is a lot in fact 128 points. Meanwhile the QB difference is around 3 pts per
game. (Yahoo).
Tip 8: Dont get to clever. At the end of the day, in the NFL there are superstars
and there is everyone else. Just because you read an article about Donald
Driver and his potential to be a star this season does not mean you should draft
him in the first round.

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In-Season Tips
So now you have your team. The draft went great and the season is about to
start. What do you do in the middle of the season? When it comes to winning
your league, there are steps beyond the draft. You must stay on top of your
team and be ready to make changes.
First, edit your line-up every week. How can you expect to win your league
based on only the draft in a season chock-full of injuries, surprise stars, byeweeks, and suspensions? Thats right, you cant. Every week you must edit
your line-up based on things such as opponent, past performance, and
comparison against the rest of your team.
Secondly, watch the waiver wire. In fantasy football, the players not on
anybodys roster are referred to as free agents and the system in which they
are in is the waiver wire. Every year there are players who do unexpectedly
well because of either injury or pure luck. These may be three-week things or
may go on for the duration of the season. A good manager will always be ready
to add players every week and not get attached to their players because like
you they also went to Northeaster Missouri State University of California! You
have to be willing to cut the tie or your team will collapse. Its not easy being a
general manager!
Next, dont trade away your whole team. A few years ago I always had this
mind set that I needed certain players or I would stand no chance. I
subsequently ended up trading all my stars away for people who might not
even start for their own NFL team! It was ridiculous but, just know that a few
trades can be beneficial but a whole new team by the seasons end is
problematic.
Lastly, ensure that you are prepared for bye-weeks and injuries. Dont let these
slip away. I lost my league this year because I forgot to edit my line-up in the
final. With three minutes before kick off I realized that Alshon Jeffery was
injured. Although I got to the site, my wifi was too slow and I was unable to
swap him with Michael Crabtree. This resulted in me losing my game by 11
points when Michael Crabtree had 12. Had I been on the ball, I would have won
the trophy.

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Team Name Selection:

When it comes to a great fantasy football season, one cannot forget how
important your team name is. It needs to be funny, clever, have loads of pun,
and have some sort of relation to your team.
How do I select a team name?
Before you select a team name, you first have to do your draft. I recommend
keeping whatever your default name may be until the end of the draft so you
do not become bias when selecting players. After the draft is done, take a look
at your roster. Who has a name that is versatile? Can I make a joke out of it?
Have they done something noteworthy that has been in the new lately? For
example, take a name like Mike Wallace.
What you have to do is look for players on your roster whose names you can
make puns out of. For example, Carlos Hyde. Almost everybody is familiar with
the film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. To make this into a team name insert Carlos
for Mr. and there you go, a fantastically memorable name fore your fantasy
football squad Dr. Jekyll and Carlos Hyde. Now there are many other things
you can do like making fun of things athletes have done in public (like Jameis
Winstons Crab Stealing) to make a joke. To use Winston as an example here,
you could use a name such as Those Legs Jameis Stole! Its all about relevant
funny names, you just have to find the balance.

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How to host a Draft Party

Ok, so your league is all set up and ready to go. You cant wait for football to
begin and you have one more job before the season begins, hosting the draft
party. This momentous occasion must have great snacks, all the league
members, as well as a nice location.
Great Snacks are essential when it comes to fantasy football. Most players
enjoy little things to snack on. Just like at a stadium on gameday, nobody
wants a four course meal with sorbet in between to cleanse the pallet. We are
grazers! We are talking snacking food. I am a firm believer in chips and dips as
well as sweet things. The perfect list in my opinion includes tortilla chips with
all the sides (guacamole, salsa, sour cream, cheese, etc.) Then we have pita
chips with assorted dips, to go along with some flavoured popcorn and cookies.
Lastly, lemonade and iced tea are a must if you are not of legal drinking age (in
which case beer is the top option).
When deciding to choose the location, take into account the opinions of your
league members. Do they want to or can they afford to travel? Would they
rather stay home? Things such as that must be considered when selecting a
location. If they want to travel, the beach is always great, and if they want to
stay home your house is obviously a prime candidate for the job. Wherever you
end up drafting, make sure that place has good wifi!

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Final Thoughts
I hope this guide was helpful and enjoyable for you. I made this guide to help
people figure out where to start as I had to figure everything out all by myself
at the age of seven. As you can imagine, I didnt do too well in my first couple
years. I sincerely want you to be a great fantasy football player and enjoy it as
much as I do. Good luck!

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References
ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016. <http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics>.
"ESPN Fantasy Football - Play For Free." Rules Index. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.
<http://games.espn.go.com/ffl/content?page=fflrulesindex2015>.
"ESPN." Fantasy Football. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.
<http://games.espn.go.com/frontpage/football>.
"The Huddle." Fantasy Football Online News, Reports & Forums in. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.thehuddle.com/fantasy_football_features.php>.
McCormick, Jim. "Way-Too-Early 2016 Fantasy Mock Draft." Bleacher Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 06
Mar. 2016. <http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2603772-fantasy-football-a-way-too-earlymock-draft-for-the-2016-season>.
Miller, Matt. 1000 NFL Fantasy Options. N.p., 4 Apr. 2016. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.
<http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2628878-br-nfl-1000-ranking-the-top-1000-overallplayers-from-2015>.
NFL Fantasy Football Team Names. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2016.
<http://www.bestfantasyfootballnames.com/nfl/>.

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