Fantasy Football Draft Preview: Strategies and Trends

The initial segment of a six-part series on Fantasy Football Draft Preview delves into general draft strategies. Up next: tight ends.

Did you know that more can often be better? Just think about making birdies in golf—it’s pretty satisfying to rack them up.

And what could be more enjoyable than watching a few episodes of your favorite shows? Perhaps binge-watching an entire season!

In the realm of fantasy teams, drafting a few might be fun, but the thrill really kicks in when you’re drafting dozens!

More teams often mean more enjoyment. Maybe there’s something to that old saying about greed being good?

Consider Fantasy Madman as the enthusiastic supporter of what they call Gang Greed cards—at least when it comes to the world of fantasy football.

Sure, we love collecting a multitude of teams, but, really, this season we’ve taken things up a notch by expanding our database of fantasy statistics, enhancing our draft value quotients (DVQ).

Diving deeper into the data provided me with a clearer perspective on trends concerning coaching, player age, and various other factors.

Rising Stars

With factors like coaching trends and age in play, three players have emerged higher in rankings than others.

Tank Dell is expected to be sidelined this season due to a severe knee injury from last year. Meanwhile, with Stefon Diggs now on the Patriots, Texans’ WR Nico Collins finds himself rising in the ranks.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. had an outstanding rookie year, and with a new coach, we anticipate his performance to improve even further in his second season.

The same goes for Rud McConkey from the Chargers.

Our model favors younger running backs, and Bucky Irving is particularly set to benefit, likely capturing a larger share of the Buccaneers’ backfield workload.

Draft Value Quotients: Your Essential Tool

The revamped Fantasy Madman rating system for this year is here. We’ve fine-tuned the system, widening the database while eliminating some outdated elements. This makes it leaner and more impactful. What’s next? Introducing the latest insights on draft value quotients (DVQ).

So, what exactly is DVQ? It’s a comprehensive system that assesses players, balancing their values against the depth of the position. Each player’s DVQ rating indicates at what point in the draft you can expect the best production relative to draft value. The idea is that all draft slots represent a value of expected output. This typically declines at a consistent rate—meaning the expected points you miss with each descending pick decreases gradually. That said, a player’s actual production might present more of a rollercoaster effect. For instance, top-tier players could have a 1.0 DVQ, whereas those ranked at the bottom might sit around 13.3 DVQ. The drafting pool often has only minor point differences separating players rather than gaps.

So gear up, get educated, and prepare to draft using DVQ!

Quarterback Landscape

This season, quarterbacks are rated higher than in previous years, particularly those who can run.

Players like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jaden Daniels, and Jalen Hurts are all hovering within the top 40 picks.

Traditional pocket passers are off to a slower start, with only Joe Burrow making the cut.

It’s important to note that injuries have had a more significant impact recently, although many running QBs have managed to stay healthy.

Older Players and Projections

As always, the projections for older running backs, especially those who’ve had injuries in the past, are what you’d typically expect.

Names like Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, and Joe Mixon are among those projected for a less favorable season.

Drafting Strategies

When it comes to the early draft picks, it generally tends to be straightforward—and this season is no different.

Ja’Marr Chase is undoubtedly a top pick. Following him, you can’t go wrong with Bijan Robinson, Justin Jefferson, or Jahmyr Gibbs.

However, remember the frequent injuries many running backs experience? That’s precisely why Saquon Barkley isn’t included in our top five picks.