Early Fantasy Football Drafters Beware!

Never hold a Fantasy Football draft before the preseason is over – this should be the universal golden rule. However, seeing how it isn’t a rule and sites like Yahoo, Draft Kings and CBSsports.com like to hold drafts prior to the end of exhibition play, you need to have a plan B.

There has to be a backup plan for that moment, your starting quarterback or tight end goes down with injury. There are easy alternatives, such as drafting a backup player for that position but that’s not always the best answer because odds are you’re drafting him late and he’ll be a backup in real life too.

So how can you bypass this issue?

Don’t be like the Carolina Panthers and look within for an answer to an injured player. Given Devin Funchess could be the next big thing, but as far as backup starting wide outs go – the cupboard is thin in Carolina. The NFL odds at TopBet.eu still have the Panthers out in front in week one but by a very slim margin. Why is this surprising? They’re playing Jacksonville!

So how can you avoid getting caught with your pants down? Always be ready. Midnight, 1am, 2am, etc.

Have your finger on the button. Going into each preseason week, narrow down a player in the free-agent bin at each position and watch your guys like a hawk. Of course the better alternative is to not draft early, nevertheless though you thought you’d outsmart the game.

In a recent draft that I conducted, Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson was selected in the second round.

Less than 48 hours later, his season was over. The team owner acted fast and sunk his hook into Reggie Wayne knowing that he’d be headed to a new team this week. There’s been rumors swirling around his name for weeks and finally it happened, he went to New England.

Had that team owner not been ready and prepared, his whole season could’ve gone down the drain. He was able to replace a starter with another likely starter though. Just goes to show, you have to be ready.

He was on-guard, completely and devastatingly heartbroken but on-guard. He scoped his guy and made a move right when Nelson landed on the turf at Heinz Field. If you’re not constantly prepared when drafting early, don’t be surprised by your early exit from playoff contention.