Edition 06

Because this year, we’re drafting our OWN teams.

Maybe you joined the office fantasy league because everyone else was doing it. Maybe your family needed one more person. Maybe your friends convinced you to join and you still don’t totally understand what you signed up for.

Or maybe you’re one of the many women who has historically handed the phone to your boyfriend, husband, brother, dad, or nearest football-obsessed man and said:

“Can you just draft for me?”

Not this year.

Draft season is here, which means work leagues, family leagues, friend leagues… and a lot of us pretending we totally know what we’re doing.

So whether this is your first league or you usually let someone else take over on draft night, not this year. We’re going over everything you actually need to know to draft your own team, keep up throughout the season, and maybe even win the whole thing.

Trust me, you can do this.

The easiest way I can explain it:

You are building your own imaginary NFL team using real NFL players.

You draft players from different NFL teams, and every week their real-life performances earn points for your fantasy team.

So if your running back has an amazing game on Sunday? Great for him.

More importantly, great for YOU.

Every week, your fantasy team goes head-to-head against someone else’s. Whoever’s players score the most fantasy points wins.

Think of it like managing a group project where your group members are NFL players and you have absolutely no control over whether they do their part.

Your league settings may be a little different, but most fantasy teams have some version of:

QB — Quarterback
Usually one starter. Very important in actual football, obviously, but that does not automatically mean you need to draft one first.

RB — Running Back
They run the ball and can also catch passes. Good ones are extremely valuable in fantasy because they have plenty of opportunities to get you points.

WR — Wide Receiver
They catch passes. If you’re playing PPR—which we’ll get to in approximately 30 seconds—receivers can become your best friends.

TE — Tight End
Part receiver, part blocker. There are usually a handful of tight ends everyone really wants…and then the rest of us figure it out.

FLEX — The Wild Card
Usually a spot where you can start an extra RB, WR, or TE.

Basically: Who on my bench has the best chance of getting me points this week? Get in there.

D/ST — Defense/Special Teams
Instead of picking individual defensive players, you usually draft an entire NFL team’s defense.

K — Kicker
Exactly what it sounds like.

He kicks.

We do not need to draft him in Round 3.

Then you have your bench—players who are on your team but aren’t currently in your starting lineup.

There are a LOT of fantasy football terms, but these are the ones you’ll actually hear:

PPR — Point Per Reception
Your player gets a point every time they catch the ball, plus whatever other points they earn. Half-PPR = half a point per catch. Standard = no extra points for the catch. Check your league settings before you draft because this can change which players are more valuable.

ADP — Average Draft Position
Basically, around where a player is usually being picked. If someone’s ADP is 15, they’re typically going around the 15th pick.

Sleeper
A player people aren’t expecting much from who could end up having a great season.

Bust
Someone expected to be great who…very much is not.

Waiver Wire
Players who aren’t currently on anyone’s fantasy team and are available to be picked up.

Bye Week
Every NFL team gets a week off. If your player is on a bye, they’re not playing—and they’re getting you zero points.

Start/Sit
Deciding who goes in your starting lineup and who stays on your bench.

Stack
Having a quarterback and one of their receivers on your team. If they connect for a touchdown, you can get points from both.

Look at you. Already sounding like you’ve done this before.

Most fantasy leagues use a snake draft, which just means the draft order flips every round.

If Round 1 goes:

1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8

Round 2 goes:

8 → 7 → 6 → 5 → 4 → 3 → 2 → 1

So if you pick last in one round, you pick first in the next.

This is where everyone starts to panic. Don’t. If your draft is around 16 rounds, here’s a simple game plan:

Rounds 1–5: Focus mostly on RBs and WRs. Build a strong core.

Rounds 6–9: Start looking at QB and TE, while still grabbing good RBs and WRs when they’re available.

Rounds 10–13: Build your bench. Look for players with potential who could end up being a steal.

Rounds 14–16: Fill any remaining spots, then grab your defense and kicker.

And remember: you do not have to fill your lineup in order. If you already have two WRs and another great one is sitting there, you can absolutely take them.

Don’t overthink it. Build your team and trust your picks.

Drafting a QB first just because you recognize his name.
Yes, quarterbacks are the celebrities of football. No, that doesn’t automatically mean you need one with your first pick.

Drafting your entire favorite team.
You do not need the QB, RB, WR and TE from the same NFL team just because you root for them on Sundays.

Forgetting about bye weeks.
Every NFL team gets a week off during the regular season. If your player’s team isn’t playing that week, he’s getting you a lovely zero points.

Panicking because someone took the player you wanted.
It WILL happen. Have a few options ready and move on.

Taking a defense or kicker way too early.
We are not sacrificing a potential starting WR because we desperately needed a defense in Round 6.

Here’s the important part: your draft is NOT your final team.

The waiver wire is basically a pool of players who aren’t currently on anyone’s roster. Maybe someone gets injured, a backup suddenly becomes the starter, or a random player has an amazing week—you can pick them up and drop someone from your team.

So even if your draft doesn’t go exactly as planned, you’re fine. Staying active throughout the season can completely change your team.

Think of it this way:

Draft night is the first shopping trip. The waiver wire is TJ Maxx—you have to keep checking because you never know when you’ll find something good.

I wish I could tell you I casually researched fantasy football for this edition and moved on with my life.

I did not.

I have been mock drafting 24/7. A mock draft is basically a practice draft—nothing counts, but you can test different strategies and see what your team could look like depending on where you pick.

Sounds innocent… until you’re on mock draft number 12 thinking, “Okay, but what if I go RB here instead?”

I’ve tried different draft spots, different strategies, and have gotten genuinely annoyed when someone takes the player I wanted in a FAKE draft.

But honestly? It helps SO much. You start recognizing players, seeing when certain positions tend to go, and feeling way more confident about what you’re doing.

My advice: do a mock draft. Or 17. Whatever feels right.

You drafted your own team. Now please do not abandon it.

1. Check for injuries.
Make sure everyone is actually playing.

2. Check bye weeks.
Anyone on a bye needs to come out of your lineup.

3. Look at projections.
They’re not guarantees, but they’re helpful when you have no idea who to start.

4. Check the waiver wire.
See if there’s anyone worth picking up.

5. SET. YOUR. LINEUP.
Please don’t be the person starting someone who has been injured for three weeks.

That’s it. Fantasy football does not need to become your full-time job.

"Someone asks about your fantasy draft strategy?

Hit them with:

“I’m trying to load up on RB and WR depth early and worry about quarterback later.”

Say it casually. Take a sip of your coffee. Do not elaborate.

Let them wonder when you became a fantasy football expert.

NFL preseason is officially here.

Panthers @ Bills — Saturday, August 15
A little hometown love for the Panthers. Plus, preseason is a good chance to see some of the younger players fighting for a roster spot.

Rams @ Chiefs — Saturday, August 15
Two teams with plenty of fantasy-relevant names. Just remember: if your first-round pick plays five minutes and disappears, do not panic. It’s preseason.

Eagles @ Ravens — Saturday, August 15
Another good one to have on while you’re working on those mock drafts.

Why you should care: Preseason isn’t necessarily about who wins. For fantasy football, it’s a chance to see rookies, backups, and potential sleepers before your draft.

If you’ve always had someone else draft your team because “they know football better than me”… not this year.

Will you make a questionable pick? Probably. Will the person who listened to 73 fantasy football podcasts also make one? Absolutely.

Draft your team, talk a little trash, and trust yourself.

And if someone asks if you need help?

Tell them you’ve got a Playbook.

Now you know. 💚