New to FF, need draft help

[JBNYC]

Hey All,

New to FF but not new to Football. Need to come up with a draft strategy to help me understand the order in which to draft.
15 player roster: must start 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 Def/Spec Teams, and 1 flex player (RB or WR).

So do I go RB, RB, QB, WR, WR, TE with my first 6 picks? Do I then move to DEF and return to back-up RB, QB, WR..... thoughts?



SCORING SYSTEM
FG - Field Goals 3 points - Plus 1 point for a FG of 40 to 50 Yds - Plus 2 points for a FG of 51+ Yds
FL - Fumble Lost, Including ST plays -3 points
Pa2P - Passing Two-point Conversion 2 points, PaInt - Passing Interception -2 points
PaTD - Passing TD 4 points - Plus 1 point for a PaTD of 21 to 45 Yds - Plus 3 points for a PaTD of 46+ Yds
PaYd - Passing Yards 0 - 500 PaYds = .20 points for every 5 PaYds
Re2P - Receiving Two-point Conversion 2 points
ReTD - Receiving TD 6 points - Plus 1 point for a ReTD of 21 to 45 Yds - Plus 3 points for a ReTD of 46+ Yds
ReYd - Receiving Yards 0 - 500 ReYds = .5 points for every 5 ReYds - Plus a 10 point bonus @ 250+ ReYd -Plus a 5 point bonus @ 200+ ReYd
Ru2P - Rushing Two-point Conversion 2 points
RuTD - Rushing TD 6 points - Plus 1 point for a RuTD of 21 to 45 Yds - Plus 3 points for a RuTD of 46+ Yds
RuYd - Rushing Yards 0 - 500 RuYds = .5 points for every 5 RuYds - Plus a 10 point bonus @ 250+ RuYd - Plus a 5 point bonus @ 200+ RuYd
XP - Extra Points 1 point

Scoring for Defensive Categories
DFR - Defensive/ST Fumble Recovered (ID/DT/DST) 3 points
DTD - Total Defensive and Special Teams TD 7 points
Int - Interceptions 3 points
PA - Points Against, Total Points Scored 0 - 6 PA = 7 points
7 - 13 PA = 5 points
14 - 20 PA = 3 points
21 - 27 PA = 1 point
SACK - Sack 3 points
STY - Safety 4 points
YDS - Yards Allowed 0 - 49 YDSs = 10 points
50 - 99 YDSs = 8 points
100 - 149 YDSs = 6 points
150 - 199 YDSs = 4 points
200 - 249 YDSs = 2 points
250 - 299 YDSs = 1 point

[stomperrob]

First, start off by reading this thread (lots of good tips in it, particularly the one by Plindsey on pg 1):
viewtopic.php?t=329323

A lot depends on how many teams are in your league and what position you draft in. If for example youre in a 12 team league as oppsed to a ten team one, then RB's are gonna be that much more valuable and you'll wanna get 3 really early.

Personally I don't normally grab a QB until much later in the draft, around round 8 or 9 maybe. Defences and Kickers are normally left until the end of the draft - some people will grab a Def a little earlier, maybe rounds 10-11, while others will leave it until the last preferring to play weekly matchups (each week they grab a Def off the waiver wire that has the easiest matchup). A kicker should be left until last since they vary so much from year to year and even if the one ya grab doesn't work out there'll be good ones on the waiver wire. Do not draft more than 1 kicker, Def, or TE - you can pick one up when ya need one during their bye week - don't waste the roster spot now, better to stash extra RB's and WR's.

I normally go with a system of RB, RB, WR, WR, RB, TE, WR, QB, and go from there - but that is not a hard and fast rule - ya have to be flexible and also look at who is the best player available on the board. Also as mentioned earlier, my draft position and the size of the league may necessitate change. But RB's are gold in FF, ya really wanna make sure you're set there. And make sure ya have a good cheatsheet so ya know how the players are ranked - if ya look in the lefthand margin here you'll see a Rankings" link you can click on that has a cheatsheet prepared by some of the regulars here at the Cafe. If you're doing a live draft, pre-ranking is essential for beginners so you're not hunting all over the page during the draft for who ya want to pick next (that's where you list the players in the same order as your cheatsheet well in advance of your draft to make it easier during the draft to find them in the order you have them ranked).

And basically just read as much as ya can on the forums here at the Cafe. And each week before the games, make sure you're aware of injuries before setting your lineup (you can check here for that too). And don't be afraid to ask questions - guys around here are generally pretty helpful.

Good luck!