10 Fantasy Football Commandments by John Laghezza, with TD Mayka
Put those pencils down, test time is over! Finally, a kickoff that matters. Ah, nothing quite like the real thing. Speaking of which, just because rosters and lineups are set, does not mean our work here is done. So, I’ve compiled my 10 Fantasy Football Commandments for players of all skill levels to live by. These 10 Commandments Aae Fantasy Football Musts
- Honor Thy Studs
Don’t get cute. You wouldn’t believe some of the start/sit questionsI’ve seen as a resident fantasy guru. Yes, start Christian McCaffreyeven if the Seahawks defend the run well—or Josh Allen under any circumstances short of global catastrophe (and maybe even then). - Thou Shalt Not Fall for Preseason Hype
However deranged drafting 100s of teams from the beachmade many of us this summer, none of that matters once regular season games begin. Not a single coach or coordinator cares if we shelled out a three-round premium to secure an RB in an obviously shared backfield. Most unknown or obscure players rank that way for a reason. Set realistic, projection-based expectations when setting those initial lineups. - I Am The Roster, Your Team; Place No Hobby In Front Of Me
Drafting is fun, but even the world’s best GMs suffer injuries and bye-week headaches. Life gets busy. The best way to avoid falling behind due to scrambled brains is to set a schedule. Especially in this newfangled era of infinite providers with different rules, it’s entirely too easy to miss a critical waiver deadline. Set those alerts! - Remove Thy Primetime Players From FLEX Positions
Not just a talent motivator, sending a clear message to the locker room. Jamming Thursday Night players into starting RB or WR slots affords a layer of flexibility in case of late emergency. Keep that FLEX spot open—you never know when a Scheftie-bomb may drop. - Thou Shalt Covet Thy Neighbor’s Sleeper
Don’t hesitate to jump on anyteams off to a bad start. Desperation sets in quickly, opening opportunities to buy low on your favorite preseason darlings and stashes. Ditto for the players you missed on, who got out of the box slowly. - Respect Thine Matchups; Harken Sportsbook Prices
In terms of draft capital, outside the top six or seven most valuable players on your team, any commitment to starting roles goes out the window. A great place to settle close decisions rests with the sportsbook itself. Forced to share well-researched information, don’t be shy about checking providers for prop lines or game totals to settle close calls. - Exercise Thine Patience With Rookies
First-year players often get off to slow starts, but that doesn’t lessen their chances for a second-half breakout. Understand rookie trajectory and do everything in your power to avoid dropping a potential league-winning player too soon. - Stock Thine Bench With Running Backs
The days of +300-touch tailbacks on every team ended a long time ago. Most NFL clubs, like it or not, will split backfield touches, causing the majority of fantasy GMs to experience some degree of RB panic during the season. Best way to get ahead of all that unnecessary stress? Fill your bench to the brim with anyoneprojecting for high-value touches if called upon. ` - Do Ye Trade Diligence
Nothing is worse in all of fantasy football than the tsunami of sour-grape group chat reactions to trade notifications. Nothing. Cries of “Is that all they got?”, “I would’ve paid more!” and “This is why we need vetoes!” grind on my last grain of patience-like nails on a chalkboard. Don’t be that person. Be proactive, not reactive—reach out and touch someone - Trust Thy Gut
At the end of the day, fantasy is a game and should be fun (ducks). If you got that funny feeling bubbling deep down inside, screaming this is Sunday’s big sleeper—go for it (providing it’s a top-50 player heading to the bench). Most FLEX plays wind up disappointing anyway.
Thanks for reading, and I had a blast this draft season and look forward to a great season