Oh My! Saturday Is My Fantasy Football Draft Day, What Do I Do?

I’ll admit that I was a late entry into the world of fantasy football. I am a 50-something-year-old-guy who will be starting his fifth season of fantasy football this year. The first couple of years I just did the autodraft thing. I started doing live drafts about two years ago.

This Saturday will be my first ever in-person live draft. For all you veterans out there, it is no big deal; but for me, it will be a new experience.

When you draft online and make a stupid pick, all you have to deal with is someone belittling you in the chat window. But in a live draft, all the mocking will be up close and personal—and yes, I want to avoid that if possible.

Knowing there is a chance the other people in my draft will read this, I’m not sure if I should expose my insecurities going into my first in-person live draft. And I don’t want to tip off all the fantastic draft day decisions I will make.

But since most of the other members of my league are part of the sports department at work, I feel pressure to get it right.

I will have my lists of top 200 players, top QB’s, WR’s, RB’s, and all that. I’ve done a few mock drafts and learned some things from them.

But what else do I need? What player and position do I pick first (I have the No. 6 pick, by the way)? Do I pick the best RB out there or the best overall fantasy scorer?

These are the questions which are bothering me with draft day almost here.

I can handle picking a running back who others just don’t think is as good as another available player. I am worried about picking someone who is not going to play the first six weeks because of injury, suspension—or worse, someone who retired a couple weeks ago. 

When drafting online there is usually information on all that in the list of available players. But on Saturday I won’t have that information handy. So I will have a list of injured and suspended players as well.

So, to all you long-time fantasy football players, what are your suggestions on how to avoid draft-day embarrassment, and on picking a competitive team? Share your strategy and suggestions on having a successful fantasy football draft.