Last-Minute Fantasy Football Draft Prep To Make You Look Smart
You don't need weeks of research or piles of spreadsheets to hold your own on draft day. Even if you're showing up with nothing more than a phone and a drink in hand, a little last-minute prep can still give you the edge. Here are some quick hacks that'll make you look like you've been planning all summer.
1. Know the Early-Round Targets
If you remember nothing else, remember this: the first two rounds set the tone. Lock in a reliable running back or wide receiver early. Don't overthink it. Grab a proven name from last year's top finishers. Even if you haven't done research, sticking with stars avoids rookie mistakes. You can sort available players by their projected points or by their ADP (average draft position) to help you make some decisions. If they have an injury tag (Q, O, PUP), make sure to see how long the player is expected to be out.
2. Don't Draft a Quarterback Too Early
It's tempting to grab Josh Allen first, but fantasy football is a numbers game, and there is plenty of QB depth available. The difference between the QB5 and QB12 is usually smaller than the gap between RB20 and RB35. Wait, and you'll look like a seasoned pro while everyone else is panicking about their RB depth.
There's no hard rule for this. It mostly applies to single QB leagues, but if you plan to try to stack an elite QB and receiver from the same team, go for it. You might get a little smoke, but follow your gut. If you're in a Superflex league and plan on playing 2 quarterbacks in your starting lineup, you can kick off the draft with a top QB, if you'd like.
3. Use the "Teammate Rule"
Not sure who to draft? Grab players tied to good offenses. Think of it this way: if the Eagles or Chiefs score a ton, their WR2 or RB2 will still rack up fantasy points. Just avoid loading up too many players from the same team; you don't want your whole lineup ruined by one bad Sunday.
4. Don't Sleep on Tight Ends
You don't need to reach for a tight end, but grabbing a mid-tier TE like Sam LaPorta, David Njoku, or Evan Engram will save you from playing the waiver-wire guessing game later. It's one of the fastest ways to look like you knew what you were doing. If you're playing in a tight end premium league, meaning that you get bonus points from your tight end's performance, you should consider trying to draft a top-tier TE like Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, or George Kittle in the first or second round.
5. Keep a Cheat Sheet Handy
Spend five minutes downloading one list of 2025 fantasy football rankings -- we'd recommend those on RotoWire.com. Having names in front of you keeps you calm and makes it look like you've got a full strategy, even if you're just crossing players off as they go. This will also help you to keep an eye on the bye weeks. You wouldn't want to draft a bench player with the same bye week as your starter.
6. Defense and Kicker Last
Don't be the person who drafts the Broncos Defense in the 9th round. Wait until you're comfortable with your bench. Trust me. You'll look like a pro when your buddy wastes a pick on a kicker while you're still scooping up running back depth.
7. Stay Flexible
The biggest draft-day secret? Stay calm and roll with what the room gives you. If everyone's panicking and drafting QBs early, scoop up top RBs and WRs. If the tight ends are going fast, grab one before the run ends. Flexibility = confidence.
Draft day doesn't have to be intimidating. With a couple of simple tricks up your sleeve, you'll walk away with a roster that looks competitive, and no one has to know you threw it together at the last second.
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