The Anduzzi’s Guide to Fantasy Football

It’s Fantasy Football season. Millions of players all over the country are drafting their teams and preparing for the new season to start. Whether you’re a first-time player or have been playing for years, everyone could use a few pointers. Here are some do’s and don’ts for this fantasy season:

Do: “Handcuff” your top running backs

                Running backs can be tricky in fantasy football. Some explode out of nowhere, so fizzle out after a dominant previous season, and some get bit by the injury bug. In order to provide your team with some insurance should your top backs get hurt, use later draft picks to choose their backups. Drafting a starting and backup RB, also known as “handcuffing”, allows you to have piece of mind, knowing that if you star back gets hurt, his replacement is already on your bench.

Don’t: Draft a defense/kicker early

                Now on paper, this might seem like a smart move. Draft eleven players instead of one? Genius, right? Nope. Every fantasy football league has those one or two team owners that will reach early for a defense and kicker. While they get to have the flashier options at these positions, they are sacrificing filling out their starting lineup and bench to do so. Often, you can pick up a defense off the waiver wire each week that has a favorable matchup, so use the rounds where people start reaching to add depth to your roster.

Do: Take risks on young WR’s in great offenses

                Towards the end of the draft, most starting receivers will have been taken in your fantasy drafts. So, for the last one or two WR spots on your roster, look for young wideouts on teams with great quarterbacks. If a starter on that team gets hurt, or the young player has a breakout year, then you suddenly have a top target on a team with a great passing offense.

Don’t: Let your rooting interest blind your draft decisions

              Now, it’s not a secret that football fans have bias when it comes to their favorite team and players. Because of this, it is very common to see the players from the local NFL team get drafted higher than they are valued on draft boards. Drafters who are aware of this fact can cash in by drafting the higher valued players that fall down the board as a result.

Side Note: Also, be sure not to draft too many players from a single NFL team. Your team will become too dependent on the success of a single squad, and its unlikely that all of the players you have from a single team will have great production in the same week.

Do: Book your fantasy draft at the Anduzzi’s nearest you

                One of the best parts of the fantasy football season is the draft itself, so it is critical that you make your drafting experience a great one! This fantasy draft season, groups of 8 or more can book one of Anduzzi’s banquet rooms to serve as their draft day HQ. While you are drafting, enjoy deals like 2-for-1 drinks and $10 pizzas. It’s a great way to gather your league together in person and make your draft more fun and unique.

Now, one last Don’t: don’t draft Andrew Luck. Just trust us.

Note: Banquet rooms can be reserved for three hours maximum