The latest NFL season may be at an end but we’ve already reached the stage where preparations for the 2022 campaign can begin. Franchise teams from across the country will be assessing their rosters and looking at where improvements can be made ahead of the next term.
Fans can also look to the future by preparing their own fantasy teams for next season. Fantasy football is hugely popular with reports claiming that some 40 million people play the game across the United States. It’s quickly becoming a global phenomenon too so what action should you take while the NFL takes a breather?
Comings and Goings
Anyone looking ahead to the next round of fantasy football should be keeping a close eye on news updates. It’s certain that many players would have included legendary quarterback Tom Brady on their theoretical roster but the player has now called time on his incredible career.
Brady, and other retired players will not be included on the list of options from the fantasy sports providers so there’s no danger of missing out on points here. However, departures from the sport mean that fantasy players will need to start thinking about replacements right away. Here sports with sbobet.
Using Tom Brady as the obvious example, it’s important to research the qualities of potential alternatives. Who comes in to replace him? Should you be calling on the services of Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen or Kyler Murray.
Those names are among the many options who can come in to replace Tom Brady in a fantasy football team. There are others and it’s down to the fantasy coach to run the rule over all of their stats.
The same principle applies to all of those who will be leaving the game after the 2022 Super Bowl. Now is the time to look at the statistics from the most recent season in order to identify those who need to be replaced moving forward.
Watch the Draft
The biggest influx of new players into the National Football League comes via the annual NFL draft. The best footballers from within the college system have now graduated and are ready to sign up for their first ever professional contract.
The rules of the draft state that the worst performing team from the previous campaign gets to pick first. They will invariably select the number one draft pick while the best franchises have to wait their turn.
The system makes it tricky for fantasy coaches: The best college talent is ready for that step up into the pro game but the ones at the top tend to play with weaker franchises. They will get game time but it may be tough for them to stand out in a poor franchise.
In contrast, the quality players at the end of each round go into successful teams. They still have the talent but is there room for them in the starting XIs?
For these reasons, it can be a good idea to include one or two draft picks in your fantasy football side without going overboard. Monitor their progress through the season and look to bring in some mid-term trades when you can.
Don’t get too Emotional
Let’s say you’re a New York Jets fan looking ahead to the new season as you put together your fantasy football team. As you cross the Hudson for the local derby against great rivals the New York Giants, you vow never to select a Giants’ player for your fantasy team.
It’s an approach that many hardened football fans choose to take but it can prove costly. All across the NFL there are rivalries: They are not always local but, whatever the reason for the ill feeling, it shouldn’t be a factor for fantasy coaches.
Some will remain stubborn and disregard the advice, but fantasy coaches should not ignore a talented player simply because he plays for a rival team.
Go Big Where it Matters
In any fantasy sport, the responsibility for scoring the majority of points will fall to one or two key players. In the NBA, it’s the point guards, in soccer it’s the main strikers while, in fantasy football, we need to be focusing on the Quarterbacks.
Here, we have the one player in the team who will be supplying passes, adding yards and, at times, scoring touchdowns themselves. Overall team budgets mean that fantasy players cannot pay big money throughout the roster but they should certainly spend where it really counts.
While it may seem early, there’s never going to be a better time to start preparing your fantasy football strategy for the new season. Player trades, draft picks and retirements will be confirmed in the weeks ahead and forming an early strategy can help fantasy coaches to gain an edge over the competition.
