Fantasy Football Glossary: A Complete Guide for Beginners

• QB (Quarterback) – The quarterback is the field general of any NFL team, responsible for leading offensive plays and making split-second decisions. In fantasy football, QBs deliver points for passing yards, touchdowns and occasional rushing stats. Most fantasy leagues require starting one QB per week, however formats such as SuperFLEX and 2QB leagues may allow two.
• RB (Running Back) – Running backs are players who carry the ball on rushing plays, typically earning points through rushing yards and touchdowns. In PPR and Half-PPR formats, RBs who catch passes out of the backfield hold additional value. Tracking NFL injury reports is critical with RBs due to frequent high-contact plays.
• WR (Wide Receiver) – Wide receivers are pass catchers who deliver points via receiving yards and scoring touchdowns - and occasionally rushing yards. Elite WRs are especially valuable in PPR and Half-PPR leagues, where every reception adds to their fantasy total. WRs are essential components of the Rotowire fantasy football cheat sheet and are a huge part of draft strategies.
• TE (Tight End) – TEs are hybrid players who block and catch passes. In fantasy, a few elite TEs can create massive scoring advantages. However, after the top tier of selections, the position tends to drop off sharply. Utilizing fantasy football draft assistant tools can help identify which TEs are worth reaching for.
• K (Kicker) – Kickers earn points through extra points and field goals, which added points the longer the distance. While not glamorous, consistent kickers can provide a weekly scoring floor.
• D/ST (Defense/Special Teams) – This position represents an entire NFL team's defense and special teams. Points are awarded for turnovers, sacks, touchdowns (both defensive and via punt/kickoff returns)  and points allowed. Smart managers stream D/ST units each week based on favorable matchups.
• FLEX – The FLEX spot gives managers lineup flexibility by allowing a WR, RB or TE to fill an extra starting position. Understanding which player offers the best matchup-based upside is key to best fantasy football draft strategy planning.
• SuperFLEX – This expanded FLEX spot allows for second QBs, making it critical to value quarterbacks more highly on draft day. SuperFLEX leagues also demand depth at QB in case of injury.
• Bench – These are players on your roster who are not active in your starting lineup. They accumulate stats but do not count toward your fantasy points unless started. Strong bench management is essential for bye weeks, injuries and speculative adds.
• IR (Injured Reserve) – IR slots are designated areas on your roster where you can stash players ruled out for extended time. Monitoring NFL player news ensures you maximize these spots by opening space to make waiver additions.

• ADP (Average Draft Position) – This represents the average spot a player is being selected in fantasy drafts. It's one of the most useful tools in determining a player's expected value during your draft. Checking fantasy football ADP can help you avoid reaching too early or missing out on a bargain pick.
• Auction Draft – In this format, every manager has a set budget (often $200) and bids on players, with the highest bid winning. Understanding fantasy football auction values is critical for success, as is having a flexible budget and prioritizing tiers.
• Snake Draft – The standard draft format in most leagues, where the draft order reverses every round. Draft position in a snake draft greatly influences strategy, especially regarding the turn picks at the end of each round and start of next round.
• Mock Draft – A practice draft that allows you to test your strategy and become familiar with player values. Running multiple fantasy football mock drafts using tools like Rotowire's simulator can refine your instincts before the real thing.
• Sleeper – A player projected to greatly exceed their ADP and offer excellent value. Identifying fantasy football sleepers is key to building upside into your bench or FLEX spots.
• Bust – A player likely to underperform their draft cost. Avoiding busts is just as important as finding sleepers.
• Handcuff – A backup running back with high value if the starter is injured. Smart drafters stash handcuffs to protect elite investments.
• Bye Week – A week where an NFL team doesn't play (and as a result your player doesn't play), requiring fantasy managers to plan their lineups accordingly. A balanced bye-week strategy is a key part of building a winning fantasy football roster.

• Standard Scoring – The traditional fantasy football scoring format where players earn points for yards and touchdowns but not receptions. Running backs and high-TD wide receivers tend to thrive.
• PPR (Point Per Reception) – Awards one point per catch, increasing the value of volume-based WRs and pass-catching RBs. Always ensure you're referencing 2025 fantasy football rankings specifically built for PPR if that's your league setting.
• Half-PPR – Compromise scoring format where receptions earn 0.5 points. A balanced setting that slightly favors WRs but doesn't overvalue short catches.
• IDP (Individual Defensive Player) – A league format where participants draft specific defensive players instead of a team defense. More complex but rewarding for stat-focused players.

• Waivers – A process through which managers claim available free agents. Waivers typically run bi midweek, allowing teams to make strategic adds before games begin on Thursday night. Priority is either rolling or reset weekly.
• FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) – A bidding system where managers use a set budget to acquire waiver players. This adds strategy and transparency to claims, preventing managers from simply relying on waiver priority.
• Start/Sit – Weekly decisions about who to place in your active lineup. Tools like Rotowire's rankings and draft assistant can help analyze matchups and make data-backed lineup decisions.
• Streaming – Rotating a position (like TE, QB or D/ST) weekly based on matchups. This approach allows you to get above-average production without using a high draft pick or roster spot. Success depends on monitoring news and using waiver pickups efficiently.
• Roster Lock – The point at which each player in a starting lineup becomes locked in for the week, typically at their game's kickoff. Ensure all injury reports and late-week news are reviewed before this deadline to avoid being stock with inactive players.
• Lineup Optimization – Using analytics and matchup data to set your ideal starting roster. Tools like projected points, Vegas lines, weather reports and injury updates all factor into this decision-making process. Many managers rely on their cheat sheets to cross-check rankings while setting their lineup.

• RB1 / WR1 / QB1 – These designations identify players ranked in the top 12 at their respective positions. For example, an RB1 is expected to finish among the top 12 running backs in fantasy points over the course of the season. These players are often taken in the first few rounds of your draft and form the core of your weekly starting lineup. RB1s are usually bell-cow backs with heavy workloads, goal-line touches and involvement in the passing game.
• RB2 / WR2 / QB2 – These players are projected to finish between ranks 13–24 at their positions. While not elite, RB2s and WR2s are crucial to rounding out your lineup, especially in deeper leagues or FLEX formats. Their value often hinges on matchup and volume. For quarterbacks in 2QB or SuperFLEX leagues, QB2s can be the difference between weekly wins and losses.
• Flex-worthy – A player deemed viable for the FLEX spot (RB/WR/TE). These players aren't always consistent but have upside in the right game environment. They're often matchup-dependent and valuable for exploiting weak defenses. Reviewing weekly cheat sheets can help identify top FLEX options based on real-time projections and injury updates.
• Top Tier / Mid Tier / Low Tier – Tier-based drafting groups players with similar projected production. Tier rankings are critical for identifying value gaps and knowing when to reach or wait during your draft. For example, if you're at the end of a tier, grabbing the last top-tier WR can be more valuable than waiting for the next run. Incorporating tier-based thinking is a staple of the best fantasy football draft strategy.
• Stud – A high-end, elite fantasy player who consistently posts top-tier numbers. Studs are foundational pieces typically drafted in the first few rounds and are rarely benched regardless of matchup.
• Streamer – A player not on your roster who you pick up and start for a one-week matchup advantage. Streaming is a common approach for positions like defense, tight end and kickers. Some players will also do it for QBs in a one-QB league.
• Breakout – A player expected to have a career-best season or make a significant leap in performance. Breakout players are often second- or third-year players who showed flashes the prior season or players in contract years.
• Ceiling – The maximum potential points a player could score in an ideal matchup or situation. Managers target high-ceiling players in situations where they need big performances to win.
• Floor – The minimum expected output a player typically provides. Players with high floors are consistent and less likely to bust in a given week.

• Trade Block – A feature in most fantasy platforms that lets managers make players available for trade. Keeping your trade block updated signals activity to your league and opens doors for negotiation. Pairing this with insight from fantasy football rest of season rankings can increase your leverage in trade talks.
• Buy Low / Sell High – A classic strategy where you trade for underperforming players with upside ("buy low") or trade away overachieving players before regression hits ("sell high"). Monitoring usage trends, snap counts, and NFL player news gives you the edge needed to make savvy deals before your league mates catch on.
• League Settings – The rules that govern your league, including roster positions, scoring format, waiver type and playoff structure. Understanding your league's settings is essential for tailoring your draft plan, waiver strategy and in-season management. Custom leagues can also include keeper, guillotine or dynasty formats, where it is crucial to value long-term assets.
• Commissioner – The manager who sets up and administers the league. This role includes finalizing rules, resolving disputes and maintaining fairness throughout the season. Commissioners often guide new players and enforce league deadlines, trade rules and scoring adjustments.
• Dynasty League – A long-term fantasy football format where managers retain most or all of their players from year to year. Success in dynasty leagues depends heavily on fantasy football dynasty rankings, prospect evaluation and long-term player value.
• Keeper League – A hybrid between redraft and dynasty where teams keep a set number of players each season. Rules on how long a player can be kept vary by league. Keeper values often change based on draft round penalties and league format.
• Guillotine League – A fantasy football format where the lowest-scoring team is eliminated each week, and its players become free agents, creating intense competition and strategic roster upgrades throughout the season.
• Playoffs – The postseason of your fantasy league, usually held in Weeks 15–17 of the NFL season. Understanding your league's playoff structure helps you plan ahead and manage player matchups during crunch time.
• Tiebreaker – Rules used to determine playoff seeding or weekly winners in case of identical scores or records. Common tiebreakers include head-to-head record, total points scored or bench points. Some leagues may use total points from a specific position, like WR.

One of the most frequently asked terms in the fantasy football glossary is: What does RB1 mean?

RB1 refers to a top-12 running back, based on weekly or season-long rankings. These players are the foundation of fantasy rosters. An RB1 is expected to get the majority of touches in a game, often including goal-line carries and passing-down work. They're often drafted in the first two rounds and are crucial to consistent scoring - and winning.

Examples of RB1s: Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley and Bijan Robinson. Use the latest 2025 fantasy football rankings to identify RB1 candidates across different formats and scoring systems.

• Rotowire Draft Kit – Includes cheat sheets, tiered rankings, mock draft support, and lineup tools.
• Rotowire Depth Charts & Projections – Helps you understand player roles, target share, and usage trends in real-time.
• Rotowire Fantasy Football Mock Draft Tool – Practice your strategy and identify values using current fantasy football ADP.
• Rotowire Sleeper Rankings – Find high-upside picks using Rotowire's curated fantasy football sleepers section.
• Rotowire Dynasty Rankings – Access fantasy football dynasty rankings to dominate long-term keeper and dynasty leagues.

Final Thoughts: Learning the Fantasy Football Glossary Makes You a Smarter Player

Understanding this glossary won't just help you draft better — it'll help you make smarter start/sit decisions, waiver pickups and trade offers all season long. Bookmark this page and revisit it often during the 2025 season.

Whether you're a beginner looking to win your first league or a returning player aiming to sharpen your strategy, mastering the fantasy football glossary gives you a massive edge before the first snap. Knowing the terms is the first step — pairing them with expert tools and a solid draft kit is how you build a championship roster.