Fantasy Football 2015: Mobile Cheatsheet, Mock-Draft Strategy for Top Positions

Fantasy football is back. Finally.

With NFL teams working in training camp and the league creeping up on the 2015-16 season, fantasy owners are preparing for the biggest event of the year—the draft.

A poor showing at a fantasy draft almost always spells trouble for even the craftiest of owners. It doesn’t necessarily equate to a terrible season, but it definitely makes things difficult.

So you’re really going to want to nail that 15-round war.

Let’s talk about how to do it.

Cheatsheet

First up, it's important to have a good base of information. Below is a sheet of the top 10 options at each position, according to the good folks at Fantasy Pros.

Position QB	Player	Team
Position RB	Player	Team
Position WR	Player	Team
Position TE	Player	Team
1	Andrew Luck	Colts
2	Aaron Rodgers	Packers
3	Russell Wilson	Seahawks
4	Peyton Manning	Broncos
5	Drew Brees	Saints
6	Ben Roethlisberger	Steelers
7	Cam Newton	Panthers
8	Matt Ryan	Falcons
9	Tony Romo	Cowboys
10	Eli Manning	Giants
1	Adrian Peterson	Vikings
2	Le'Veon Bell	Steelers
3	Jamaal Charles	Chiefs
4	Eddie Lacy	Packers
5	Marshawn Lynch	Seahawks
6	C.J. Anderson	Broncos
7	Matt Forte	Bears
8	DeMarco Murray	Eagles
9	Jeremy Hill	Bengals
10	LeSean McCoy	Bills
1	Antonio Brown	Steelers
2	Dez Bryant	Cowboys
3	Demaryius Thomas	Broncos
4	Odell Beckham Jr.	Giants
5	Julio Jones	Falcons
6	Calvin Johnson	Lions
7	Jordy Nelson	Packers
8	A.J. Green	Bengals
9	Alshon Jeffrey	Bears
10	Randall Cobb	Packers
1	Rob Gronkowski	Patriots
2	Jimmy Graham	Seahawks
3	Travis Kelce	Chiefs
4	Greg Olsen	Panthers
5	Martellus Bennett	Bears
6	Zach Ertz	Eagles
7	Jordan Cameron	Dolphins
8	Jason Witten	Cowboys
9	Julius Thomas	Jaguars
10	Delanie Walker	Titans

Strategy: Run Your Team

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

For some folks, rankings and cheatsheets are gospel. If Dez Bryant is ranked over Odell Beckham Jr., then the Dallas Cowboys star is who they pick.

Don’t let a sheet of paper rule your team.

If you think OBJ is going to continue tearing up the league, toss that list aside and take him over Bryant. Chaining yourself to rankings doesn’t always work.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Now, that’s not to say it’s smart to take a guy like Doug Martin over Le’Veon Bell. But players that are close to one another are usually interchangeable.

Here are a few examples:

• DeMarco Murray was ranked by ESPN as the No. 9 running back last year. He wound up leading the league in rushing and tied with Marshawn Lynch for the most touchdowns (13).
• Andrew Luck was ranked as the fifth quarterback and wound up passing for more touchdowns than any other QB. Only Aaron Rodgers put up more fantasy points.
• Zac Stacy was the No. 11 running back and found himself primarily on the bench after four games.

Most of the time, however, what is expected to happen…happens. Rodgers and Peyton Manning toss for multiple touchdowns every game. The big-name receivers usually rack up big yards and a bevy of scores.

But, again, if you have a hunch, take a chance.

Allow the rankings and cheatsheets to guide your team, not rule it.

Positional Tips

QB: Know thy league

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Most leagues are different. It’s crucial to know what quirks, if any, yours has.

For example, the majority of leagues value passing touchdowns as four points. A smaller number of leagues grant six points for TDs through the air, though, which makes Rodgers, Luck and Manning much more valuable.

Prior to the actual draft, look up the rules of your league. The most obvious one would be whether it’s PPR (point per reception). In those leagues, a player like Matt Forte is super valuable.

TE: Get Gronk or wait

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Outside of New England Patriots megastar Rob Gronkowski, all tight ends are pretty much the same.

Julius Thomas is on the Jacksonville Jaguars now, so don’t expect a whole lot from him, at least initially. Jimmy Graham is going to be blocking a ton with the Seattle Seahawks.

Who else is worth reaching on?

Gronk is really the only sure bet at TE, and it might mean lunging in the second or third round to snatch him up. If you don’t get your hands on Tom Brady’s favorite target, wait.

Either be the first to take a tight end or one of the last.

WR: Snatch one of the big dogs

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There are about 10 truly elite receivers. You’re going to need at least one—and in 12-, 14- or 16-team leagues, that’s obviously going to be difficult.

Outside of the big 10, all of whom are listed above, there are only a few reliable options as a WR1. Kelvin Benjamin of the Carolina Panthers might give you 100 yards and a touchdown one week, and then get held to under 30 yards the next.

The same could be said for Jordan Matthews, Brandin Cooks or even someone like DeSean Jackson (though his down-games would be to a much lesser extent).

Running backs are plentiful and typically much easier to scoop up throughout the year through the waiver wire. Consistent, elite receivers? Not so much.

RB: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Think of how many top RBs are in new or different situations.

Adrian Peterson is back on the Minnesota Vikings after essentially a year off. What will he look like? LeSean McCoy (Buffalo Bills) and DeMarco Murray (Philadelphia Eagles) are sporting different colors. Bell is dealing with a suspension.

That’s not to encourage shying away from those guys, it’s just to encourage caution. It might take all of them a few games to figure things out. It also might take them zero games, and they’ll dominate right out the gate.

The thing is, you have to be prepared for whatever happens.

Depth at running back is more important than perhaps any other position in fantasy. So handcuff when you can, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Stats and numbers are courtesy of ESPN and Fantasy Pros, and are based on traditional scoring.