Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet for Beginners

Put your headset on and get ready to coach your fantasy football team this fall. This game has become more popular over the last 30 years, letting you control an imaginary team of real NFL players. If you’ve never participated, it can seem overwhelming. Here’s a guide to use as a fantasy football cheat sheet when drafting your team this year. 

How Does Fantasy Football Work?

The rules differ depending on your league, but most guys play with a similar setup. Your buddies will likely play with a points-per-reception (PPR) or half-PPR system. This format simply means a player earns a point (or half a point) with every catch they make. 

With this system, your wide receivers, tight ends and running backs become more valuable. Each player also earns points when they gain yards or score touchdowns. The NFL has become a more offensive-friendly league, so there are more opportunities than ever to put up big-time points. 

Each week, you’ll face one of the opponents in your fantasy football league. If you win enough games, you may make the playoffs. These last few rounds occur in the weeks leading up to the NFL’s last regular season games. Imagine standing tall among the 29.3 million players nationwide as you claim a championship trophy. 

How to Draft Your Fantasy Football Team

Winning the trophy at season’s end starts in your draft. Your first few picks make all the difference, so give these guys the most attention. Here are your priorities when picking up players. 

Running Backs

While their relevance slowly diminishes, running backs can provide much value for your fantasy team. Consider using your first-round pick on one of these players if the cards fall in your favor. There aren’t a ton of consistent running backs, so don’t rely on Jim Brown or Walter Payton to save the day in your league. 

The good running backs will likely go early, so which ones should you prioritize? Here are the top fantasy football tailbacks in most rankings: 

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
3. Breece Hall, New York Jets
4. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
5. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
6. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
7. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

The shortage of stellar running backs means you should take one of these guys if you see them on the board. Don’t pass up the opportunity to have a guy like Christian McCaffrey, considering he was the best running back in fantasy football last season. 

Wide Receivers

In modern fantasy football, wide receivers are the cream of the crop. There are a ton of great wideouts across the league, so grab a couple of these guys for your starting lineup. While the talent is tremendous, a few athletes stand out above the rest. That said, there are considerations for each player. 

For example, consider Justin Jefferson. The 25-year-old Vikings star is arguably the league’s best wide receiver. However, his starting quarterback — J.J. McCarthy — is out for the season. Jefferson must rely on backup quarterback Sam Darnold to carry the Minnesota torch. 

Who are the other wide receivers to watch for in the draft? These guys are must-see TV, so get your finger foods and flat-screen TV ready to watch them on Sundays:

1. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
2. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
3. Jamarr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
5. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
6. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
7. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
8. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

Quarterback

In real football, the quarterback is the most important position on the field. The signal caller controls the offense, sets guys in motion and changes the play when necessary. However, they aren’t as valuable in fantasy football because they don’t earn as many points. Your running backs and receivers gain more points with their yards and catches. 

Don’t stress about quarterbacks in the first few rounds. That said, you can gain some points by drafting offensive leaders who can run the football. The ability to score touchdowns makes them even more effective. Here are the QBs to prioritize on your fantasy football cheat sheet:

1. Lamar Jackson
2. Josh Allen
3. Jalen Hurts
4. Patrick Mahomes
5. Anthony Richardson
6. C.J. Stroud
7. Dak Prescott
8. Joe Burrow
9. Jordan Love
10. Kyler Murray

Don’t draft your quarterback too early because you might miss out on some key skill players. Wait until some come off the board before scooping up one of these QBs. 

Tight End

Tight end is a precarious position for your fantasy football league because of their varying value. Some guys can be as valuable as a wide receiver or a running back, while the others don’t offer much on a weekly basis. 

Travis Kelce — who plays on the Super Bowl favorite Kansas City Chiefs — used to be one of the best players in all fantasy sports. However, he’s not getting any younger. Other stars are rising, so you have some options for this position. Remember, tight ends also block on the offensive line, so they won’t always go for a catch. 

Here are the best tight ends to watch for in the fantasy football rankings: 

1. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
2. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
5. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
6. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
7. Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
8. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Defense and Special Teams

Most leagues require players to draft an entire team’s defense and special teams units. If you’re a dedicated football fan, you could select individual players. However, that’s too much work for the average fantasy football user. Don’t worry about the defense until later in the draft because they won’t add much value to your team.

Defenses are tricky because they can be volatile. For example, the $9 billion Dallas Cowboys can provide a bunch of points through interceptions and fumbles. However, getting blown out by the 49ers makes them a liability for your weekly wins. That said, they still belong in the top fantasy football defense rankings:

1. Cleveland Browns
2. New York Jets
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
7. Kansas City Chiefs
8. Atlanta Falcons

Remember, the defense also includes special teams. So, a kickoff or punt return for a touchdown could provide unexpected points.

Placekicker

You’ll also select a placekicker who kicks extra points and field goals. Most NFL kickers are pretty solid, though some guys stand out more than others. Pick a guy whose offense regularly relies on field goals to earn points. Stay away from the unreliable kickers who miss field goals and extra points because they deduct points. 

Here are the best kickers in the NFL for this upcoming season:

1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
2. Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys
3. Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs
4. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
5. Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals
6. Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans
7. Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins 
8. Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons

What to Do After the Draft

You have your roster set for the season, and now it’s time to sit back and watch your players shine. That said, the work isn’t completely over. If you want to win the championship, there are more tasks to put your team over the top. Here are the most critical post-draft assignments:

• Weekly adjustments: Each week, your players face a new matchup. How will your running backs fare against a great defense? You may need to rely on your bench and adjust your starting lineup. The bench is also critical if one of your starters is hurt, so pay attention to the weekly injury reports. 
• Waiver wire: The NFL season brings surprises through rising stars. If they went undrafted in fantasy football, use the waiver wire to pick them up. Be the first to get there to ensure their roster spot.
• Trades: If you like to wheel and deal, trades could be fruitful for your team. Some cohorts may put a player on the trading block, so make a fair offer in return. 

Drafting an Elite Fantasy Football Team for 2024

Fantasy football is fun because it makes you feel like a real coach. If you’re a casual NFL fan, this game turns you into an expert because you’ll intently watch all season. Beginners may think it’s intimidating, but our guide makes it much easier.