The simplest way to understand any subject is to have it firsthand. No quantity of cheatsheets, checklists, buddy advice, or new ideas can replace the wisdom that comes with years of experience.

What’s promising is that it’s possible to glean some knowledge from those that have been there before. Our science is made by looking at the shoulders of giants, and our games are the exact same way.

These are tips every fantasy football pro learns through their experience.

1. Understand which kind of league you are in.

The sort of league is a factor in the worth of a player. Brandin Cooks is an excellent example; Cooks was a good pickup in dynasty leagues a year ago บอลสเต็ป 3, but wasn’t more than a sleeper option in redraft leagues until this year. After gaining some experience, he’s projected as a potential stud.

2. Know your league’s roster rules.

Sure, it would have been great to possess Marshawn Lynch, DeMarco Murray, and LeSean McCoy as your first three picks, however, if the starting lineup can only include two running backs, a lot of points will go to waste while another position suffers. A master always includes a full roster plan in mind.

3. Vary picks centered on scoring system.

Having a good quarterback is nice, but most leagues nerf their scoring capability by reducing how many points earned from passing stats. Aaron Rodgers may be worth a higher draft pick at six points per TD and one point per 20 passing yards. Four per TD and one point per 30? Not too much.

The most frequent example is PPR (points per reception). Wide receivers gain value, and the running back rankings get shuffled. Matt Forte is a mid to low end RB1 in traditional scoring, however in a group that uses PPR, he’s a stud. One point per reception adds 100 points to his total in 2014 alone.

4. Draft safer picks early.

Not every “safe” player extends to play the summer season, but it’s possible to reduce the risk. Every player available early is a superb player. Aside from a year ago, picking Adrian Peterson over Darren “Glass Man” McFadden was a smart choice to any pro. Early picks are the cornerstones of a group, and picking an injury or legal risk in the first round is unnecessary.

5. Draft for upside after starters and subs are set.

Grabbing a halfway decent starter as another or third backup wide receiver may seem great, but it’s a terrible idea. Players can and will go down during the season. More to the point, players can and will play a given year. Arian Foster the season he broke out, Kelvin Benjamin a year ago, and Alfred Blue and Davante Adams this season are great types of “sleepers”- players that surprised most owners and set up top end fantasy scores. The league champion will probably have one or two starters that no body expected, and unless a group uses 20 man rosters replacement level players to cover bye weeks and injuries will undoubtedly be readily available.

6. Never draft a kicker or defense early.

Every rule has exceptions, but look at the previous tip. Acquiring a high end kicker or defense takes a pick somewhere in the eight to tenth rounds, a good range to pick top end sleepers. Kickers vary wildly from year to year, and many pro fantasy players make use of a different defense weekly to chase easy matchups. A “streaming defense” can outperform even top end defenses. That doesn’t mean drafting the Seahawks isn’t worth the pick, there’s just more value in waiting on a high defense.

They are just the beginning. It’s possible to create entire novels on fantasy football, and each and every rule can occasionally be broken. The main element is to remember this 1 word: value. The very best fantasy football owners find methods to generate extra value and acquire better players for less cost.