Not drafting for your own league is the most fatal mistake a fantasy owner can make. Now what does that mean?
Don’t take “expert” opinions as law. A quick look around the internet will show thousands of results saying to wait on quarterback, but not every league waits till the 10th round to draft quarterbacks and if yours doesn’t neither should you.
When searching for draft advice take into account who your fellow league-mates are. If you are in a family league where everyone has a quarterback and a backup by the 8th round, then don’t wait until the 10th round for your first. It sounds simple, but if you take a look at mock drafts from expert leagues compared to the general public. There are a few outlying trends to watch for.
Looking at one of CBS Sports experts mock drafts as an example. In the expert league there were only two quarterbacks off the board in the first 3 rounds. That is right, 3 rounds. Andrew Luck fell into the third and early picks were filled with running backs. It was not until the 9th round that Ben Rothlisberger was taken, followed by most other teams taking their first quarterback in the 10th round.
In real life football the quarterback is the most important player on the field and in family leagues this mindset can often translate directly into the fantasy draft. As an example draft, Andrew Luck is the second overall pick and backups start getting taken in the 8th. With your draft, remember to be flexible and adjust to those around you. Since most experts have the same thoughts on what positions are valuable their strategies work for their leagues, but waiting two more rounds in a family league would put your starting quarterback as the 15 or 16th off the board and a significant week-to-week disadvantage.
Quarterbacks are just an example though. If your home team is the Packers and your league is filled with raving fans, then they might draft them earlier. If your League has rules that value defenses more, then take it into account when looking for draft advice. In the end, make sure to take a look around at your league mates and make your opinions based on theirs.