Klein: Fantasy Football Drafting Strategies

I am going to give you a draft strategy that will give your team quick success when the season kicks off. See, I usually don't do this, but I happen to like our readers. My fantasy football draft strategies are sacred in my eyes but I am always happy to help. For the next week I will make several posts with good ways to go about drafting and assembling the best team possible.

I am starting off this 3-day segment with a strategy I am hoping to use during my draft on the 29th. This is what I like to call the "Screw T.O., it's all about Fred Jackson" method.

**For this method to work you need to have a pick anywhere between the 1st and 6th pick.**
**ADP=Average Draft Position**

Back in April RB Marshawn Lynch was arrested for assault. Commish Goodell suspended the pro-bowler for the start of the season until Week 4. Most fantasy players don't know much about back-up's but the one filling in for Lynch will be quite special. RB Fred Jackson will play a Mewelde Moore-esque role in the Bills offense in Weeks 1,2, and 3. Also, if you are in PPR leagues then you will LOVE this guy. Playing strictly as a back-up in 2008 he was able to catch 37 balls while also rushing for 571 yards and 3 TDs. Now, these numbers ARE NOT astounding, but I only expect them to shoot up. With a passing game that should take the AFC by storm, the running game will be wide open! Jackson will be a top running back in the first three weeks of the season when facing run defenses such as New England (good), Tampa Bay (bad), and New Orleans (decent). These are all defense that he has potential to put up good stats against and trust me when I say that you will hear this guys name A LOT during the first Monday Night Football game this season.

Ok, so you know what kind of player he is, but why is it so important that you get him.
1) In the first round draft a top tier running back.
-Adrian Peterson
-Matt Forte
-Maurice Jones-Drew
-Steven Jackson
-Michael Turner
-Chris Johnson

All of these are suitable targets for your RB1 slot
2) In the second round I want you to now grab a top wide out.
*Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald WILL be gone by the time it comes back to the 19th pick*
-Randy Moss (ADP: 19.51) TARGET
-Steve Smith (ADP: 20.94) TARGET
-Marques Colston (ADP: 19.09)
-Roddy White (ADP: 23.09)
-Greg Jennings (ADP: 28.09) *Might be a bit of a reach in Round 2*
-Anquan Boldin (ADP: 16.92)

3)This is where it gets interesting. Marshawn Lynch is a running back that should be selected at the end of the 1st round/beginning of the 2nd round. He will fall to the 3rd round (ADP: 44.12 or 4th round) and that will still be a reach. You NEED to take him here though.

This will leave you with a team that will look something like this:
Maurice Jones-Drew
Randy Moss
Marshawn Lynch (who is already out Weeks 1, 2, and 3)

Doesn't look so hot. Only 2 of the 3 can play at the start of the season. But just wait.

4) If you don't understand the handcuff system for running backs I will briefly explain it. To "handcuff" your starting running backs you must always select their back-up in the draft. A handcuff RB is important to have for when your starter goes down and you already have the back-up. In this case Lynch is suspended so you MUST handcuff Jackson. This years most valuable handcuff is Fred Jackson because every fantasy player already knows he will be starting the first 3 games. Jackson's ADP is around the 100.97 mark where is had been taken before players like WR Jerricho Cotchery, QB Matt Ryan, and WR Donald Driver. This means you may have to reach a bit for Jackson but getting him is a MUST.

You will look to draft Jackson around the 9th round, a time where NO ONE else will contemplate drafting Jackson. If you wait too long to draft him then someone will snag him and demand a hefty trade to get him, which is not worth it for him to be your starter for three weeks.

If all goes well then you will have gotten Jackson and Lynch.

A line-up with Jackson in it will be very strong but it will only get stronger once Lynch is back. To have a top tier running back like Forte, for instance, and then Lynch, you will be set. These are two RBs that are 1st round talent and all you will pay for Lynch is late 3rd round pick.

RB: Forte (1st round)
RB: Lynch (3rd round) **THIS GUY IS SUPPOSED TO BE A 1ST ROUNDER!!!**
WR: S. Smith (late 2nd round)

Aside from Forte, you are getting Lynch and Smith at unreal values.

I hope this method is helpful if you believe in Fred Jackson like I do.

Any fantasy questions or advice that is needed I will be happy to help! Just comment or e-mail.