Draft Preview: Draft Day strategies

What to do; what to do? It's the first round of your league's Fantasy draft, and you're up. The rest of the league waits with baited breath while you try to figure out who you should pick. There's that sure-fire running back you hoped would be there, but then again that quarterback who tosses all those touchdowns is also available. The clock's ticking -- are you blanking out, or are you ready to go with the name of the man you want to build your team around?

All right, it doesn't sound very exciting when you read it, but when you're actually there faced with your first pick, your heart might be racing.

Hopefully you're ready to pull the trigger on a player (or a trade). But in case you aren't 100 percent sure what you want to do with your Fantasy draft, we're here to help with a few suggestions. Each one is a Fantasy strategy that has been tried again and again -- some successful, others not as successful.

But one caveat from the get-go: Blowing off a Fantasy game plan prior to your draft is a big mistake. I've played with a guy in a league for years who looks at a few names before the draft and says he's ready. He's never had a winning record or sniffed the playoffs. It won't hurt you to spend a little free time getting ready for your draft, especially if winning your league means something to you (and why wouldn't it?)

Here are some strategies used on Draft Day:

The three-back strategy

Also known as "The Faulk Strategy," coined by my cohort Michael Fabiano. This idea is simple -- you spend your first three draft picks on running backs, regardless of who's left at other positions when you pick. In most leagues, you will find that running backs are the most picked position early on in the draft as Fantasy teams scramble for guys who touch the ball 20 or more times a game. The gist is that in leagues where you start two running backs, you're covered at one of the most coveted spots for the entire season, plus have a solid backup in case one of your "horses" gets hurt.

Pros: If you draft three good running backs, you will have trade bait to make a move before your trading deadline, thus getting a good chance to improve your team. Not every team in the league will have even two good running backs, much less three, so you'll have some quality at a key position. If you play in a league that allows three starters at running back, this may very well be the best strategy to use.

Cons: Ultimately, one of your first three picks will be on your bench if you only start two backs. You will definitely miss out on (at least) the top quarterback and the top six or seven wide receivers. Also, if you draft too well, you could make some bad decisions when picking who you start each week by leaving the best running back on your bench. In 2007 drafts, running backs will almost be taken exclusively in the first two rounds, so grabbing three solid RBs will be almost impossible.

Best player available

Chad Johnson could be a best-player available selection for owners in '06. (Getty Images)

This one's pretty straightforward: When it's your turn to pick, take the player you think is the best on the board regardless of the position. This will mean a lot of prep work before your draft, choosing which players you like better than others. But if you follow football close enough and know who you like and who you don't like, you won't have a problem deciding who to pick.

Pros: In most cases, a good Fantasy owner will build a well-rounded team this way. By the time you enter Round 10, you'll know how your lineup is going to look for most of the season, which is a plus. You may also develop a surplus at a certain position, which may help you in making trades later on in the season.

Cons: If there's a player you love and others don't, you could wind up stretching for him when you could snag him in a later round. Also, if you draft too much at one position, like taking four quarterbacks, you're not helping yourself out, even if you pick, say, Kurt Warner over T.J. Duckett when you need a running back.

The two-QB strategy

I witnessed this one in 2002: A fellow owner drafted two well-known quarterbacks in the first round and second round, then announced to the league, "When one of you needs a quarterback, come see me." His intention was to hoard two of the top quarterbacks, then deal one off for one or two quality players later on. He eventually did deal one of them for a middle-of-the-road receiver and a fairly productive running back after losing six of his first seven games. Years later, he's still lamenting (and wishing I would stop writing about it).

Pros: You will set yourself up for a trade -- and the sooner you make one, the better if you want maximum value for one of your guys. Think about moving one right after Draft Day. If you draft well after these picks, you will surely be the cat's meow.

Cons: You will run into lineup problems all year long. By spending your first two picks on a position where you start one player, you force one of your guys to sit on your bench. The rest of your lineup will suffer. Plus, you'll be behind the rest of the league when forming your team during the draft.

The sleeper strategy

In this strategy, an owner will spend maybe one out of every three picks on players they desperately want, and it may mean picking a player a few rounds ahead of when he could be had. I have one friend who did this two years in a row with the hopes of catching the sleeper of the draft. In 2001, he took TE Tony Gonzalez with his first-rounder, and in 2003 he took Quincy Morgan in the fifth round. He didn't win either year, but neither pick cost him a playoff run.

Pros: If you're right, you've made a heck of a pick.

Cons: If you're wrong, you've wasted a heck of a pick. Keep in mind, it's okay to take a sleeper or two, but wait until the second half of your draft, or else ...

The homer strategy

Here, an owner drafts players from his or her favorite team or teams (or college). For example, if you like the Miami Hurricanes, you'll pick guys like Willis McGahee, Clinton Portis and Edgerrin James ... and Ken Dorsey, Kellen Winslow and Najeh Davenport.

Pros: While it won't give you the best possible team, it will make for a fun year on a personal level. Besides, if your favorite team does great, your Fantasy team will too.

Cons: If your favorite team bombs, you'll become really frustrated with your squad and you'll end up with players others won't value as much as you do. Plus, you won't have a flexible lineup, which is a must for any Fantasy champ. And if you go after players on a certain NFL team only, what will you do during their bye week?

The big-bang theory

This is one of my favorites. In this scenario, you pick up inconsistent players who are known for hitting it big one week, then tanking the next, then coming back big a few weeks later. Guys who fit this profile include Michael Vick, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Willie Parker and Donte Stallworth. The idea is building a lineup full of players who are always capable of a home-run performance each week -- and some will one week and another will another week.

Pros: Unless all the players have an off week, you should have one or two scoring big while one or two slump. The balance should be enough to have a strong score most weeks.

Cons: If they all tank, you tank. There will be some bad weeks where no one scores more than eight points each, and if they come at the wrong time, there's no playoffs for you.

Kickers and D/STs

For years, people have asked, "When is it right to pick up a kicker and/or a defense/special teams unit?" There are three trains of thought when it comes to this quandary.

Pick 'em sooner: Many owners like to spend two of their first 11 picks (between rounds 8 and 11) on a kicker and a defense, then find backups at other positions later. The eighth round is when the first defense should be picked, and the 11th round or so is when the first kicker should be had. By picking these positions at this point, you pretty much assure yourself the pick of the litter. Of course, by doing so, you deny yourself players at other positions, which could hurt the depth of your team.

Pick 'em later: Round 8 is too soon for some people, so they plan on jumping on the bandwagon once a few kickers or DSTs fly off the board. By Round 11, the top-tier placekickers and DSTs will be gone, but other good-looking units and kickers will still be on the board. By settling for them, they spend a few picks (around Rounds 11 and 14) gathering these lineup necessities.

Pick 'em last: There are even some Fantasy folks who prefer to pick up one kicker and one DST with their last two picks in the draft. The thinking here is that a roster is better off full of position players, and with so many kickers and DSTs available via free agency each week, one could start the kicker or unit that has the most favorable matchup among the bunch. Of course, if you do this, you'll never have one of the top defenses or kickers in the league, and it can come back to haunt you.

So which one is right for you? Chances are, it will depend on how your draft is going. If it's your pick in Round 8 and your first seven picks have been great, go get the Bears or Steelers. If you're not impressed with your team, you'd better perk up your squad and get a defense and/or kicker later.