How to make your fantasy football league win a reality

The time of the year has finally arrived for football to make it’s way back into people’s lives. Along with the hard-hitting action that the NFL and college football bring, another plus that accompanies football season is the return of fantasy football.  Whether you play for fun, bragging rights or put down hard-earned money, winning your league is at the forefront of every fantasy player’s mind. Here are some tips to make sure you earn that enviable title of “league winner” at the end of the year.

Draft big names

Odell Beckham Jr. Alvin Kamara. Julio Jones. These talented players, when not injured, somehow manage to outperform expectations each year and carry teams to fantasy championships. These big name players put up big numbers, and they make fantasy owners happy they drafted them. When drafting, keep it simple and pick the big names, which works more often than not.

Pray for injury luck

Injuries always seem to strike at the most inopportune times during the fantasy season. For example, my team lost both starting running backs to ACL injuries before the season even kicked off. While injuries are random and frustrating, you can do what you can to avoid them by taking players who aren’t known to be injury prone. You can also help out your causes by nicely asking the fantasy football gods for a injury-free and fruitful season.

Find the best matchups for your players

The ESPN fantasy app does the most by showing opposing team rankings in the app. This helps a ton as the season goes on, and you can see what defenses are favorable matchups for your quarterback, running back or wide receiver. Keeping track of what players play trash defenses will help you maximize points earned and earn you some easy dubs.

Make the right trades

While it may be favorable to keep the team you drafted together, finding and making the right trades can catapult you to a league title. Finding that missing piece to your team can take some research, but it’s worth it in the long run when you end up at the top of your league. Send a bunch of trades to different members of your league and hope someone will accept your offer. Waiting until later on in the season helps, as people in your league who are struggling will be more likely to part with their big-name players.

Remember to set your lineup

What seems like such a simple task does multiple fantasy owners in every season. Take the time to set up your best lineup earlier in the week to avoid the pain of waking up on a lovely, Sunday morning annoyed because the games already started.

These are a handful of tips to help you have a prosperous and fruitful fantasy football year. While the game is mostly based on dumb luck and chance, drafting the right players and doing everything in your control are the best chances you have of ending up at the top of your league. Good luck and Godspeed on this year, fantasy players.