Fantasy Football Draft Strategy 2012: Keys to Picking the Perfect Team

There are multiple ways to dominate your fantasy football league, but you only need to remember a handful of keys in order to pick the perfect team.

As the NFL preseason heats up and hopeful fantasy owners around the country begin plotting their plan of attack in 2012, we take a closer look at the big points to remember when drafting your next championship roster.

Here are the keys to picking the perfect fantasy football team.

Don't Put Too Much Stock Into Last Season

Just because a running back rushed for 1,000-plus yards last season, doesn't mean that he is poised to do it again this year. The key to drafting dependable talent for your fantasy squad is to pick up players who have proved themselves over time. 

An example of this in 2012 is Dallas Cowboys' running back DeMarco Murray. Murray rushed for 897 yards and two touchdowns last season before breaking his ankle in Week 14. He enters the 2012 season as the No. 8-ranked running back in ESPN's fantasy football projections. 

In my eyes, Murray is a bit of a risk to take in the first two or three rounds. He has only played 13 games in the NFL and is coming off an injury. To me, drafting a proven veteran like Fred Jackson or a younger star in Darren McFadden makes more sense. Both players are ranked below Murray in ESPN's 2012 projections. 

Draft to Win, Not to Fill Positions

The key to drafting the perfect fantasy team is going after the player with the highest scoring potential. Sure, a kicker can have a big day, but the odds are he isn't going to win you your fantasy league. Sometimes owners will reach a round or two early on a kicker in order to fill that position, but they rarely wind up winning their league.

I've made this mistake far too many times in the past, so this key is particularly close to my heart. It's important to have options, though. Injuries happen more often in football than in any other sport it seems, making fantasy football a battle of player management. 

Quite frankly, the more talent you have to choose from at the key positions (quarterback, running back and wide receiver), the better off you will be when injuries strike and stars emerge. Not to mention you will have some coveted trade bait to work with. 

Do Your Research

This is without question the single most important key to remember when drafting your fantasy football lineup. Just like putting together a real NFL team, drafting a fantasy squad takes time and preparation. Odds are, the more research you do on the top prospects and sleepers, the better you will do in your league. 

Sure, knowing exactly how many touchdowns Aaron Rodgers threw in 2011 isn't going to make or break your roster this fall, but understanding how often the San Francisco 49ers plan on utilizing Randy Moss could make the difference between drafting a dud or stealing a star. 

Research is vital to understanding anything, especially fantasy football. Do your homework this summer and follow these keys, and you will be on your way to drafting the perfect team in 2012.

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