Standard scoring and PPR formats with two QBs, two to three WRs and a Flex player seem to be the accepted norms in fantasy football leagues nowadays, with most owners compiling their rosters in snake draft formats. Yet if you are looking for a challenge or an interesting new way to play, some other alternate formats can raise the levels of intensity, competition and opposition you may face.
Leagues in which you can start two quarterbacks rather than one have been popular among hardcore fantasy footballers for years. The format certainly changes the flow of the draft, especially early on.
Quarterbacks will fly off the board in the first two rounds, and you have to decide whether or not to naturally join in the rush for passers, or go contrarian and pick off some top RBs or WRs instead.
You really should not be too deviant on avoiding the QBs early, though. Get at least one in the first two rounds to ensure that you have at least one higher-level starter.
If you prefer to not make your defensive selection a generic one, then you can form or join an individual defensive player (IDP) league. Rather than just drafting a team defensive unit, you start defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs. They will receive points for their tackles, sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries, and sometimes other categories such as passes defensed may be included.
Linebackers are the biggest tackle producers, but the position usually is very deep. Safeties tend to be more prominent contributors than CBs. Impact defensive ends can be difference-makers and harder to find. It’s still best to focus first on offensive players in IDP drafts, as many of the leagues still put a higher emphasis on offense.
If don’t want to be locked into a particular draft position and go after any player you desire, then an auction league is for you. You won’t miss out on Antonio Brown if you don’t have a top-five pick, you can aggressively bid on him. Auction formats are great because you can build your team without being a slave to the draft process.
The best approach is to target two top players you really want, then build around them. After getting some more mid-range players, some bargains can fall to you when everyone has spent a lot of money.
If you simply just love draft day, try a best-ball league. Following your draft, you don’t have any transactions thereafter. Your highest scoring players at each position then receive starting lineup points every week.
Make sure you nab key RB handcuffs and don’t hesitate to grab an extra QB, either. Study the depth at WR as well, and don’t hesitate to draft upside performers and concern yourself less with weekly consistency. best-ball drafts can tend to have more rounds than standard formats.
For more from Scott Engel and his team, watch FNTSY on Cablevision Ch. 238 and listen to the RotoExperts in the Morning on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio every weekday from 6-10 a.m. Post readers can get more fantasy football content with a special offer at fantasysportsnetwork.com/post.
Scott Engel’s Top 50
Using PPR scoring format
1. Adrian Peterson, RB
2. Antonio Brown, WR
3. Marshawn Lynch, RB
4. Dez Bryant, WR
5. Eddie Lacy, RB
6. Le’Veon Bell, RB
7. Jamaal Charles, RB
8. Julio Jones, WR
9. C.J. Anderson, RB
10. Demaryius Thomas, WR
11. Odell Beckham Jr., WR
12. Jordy Nelson, WR
13. Rob Gronkowski, TE
14. Calvin Johnson, WR
15. A.J. Green, WR
16. Randall Cobb, WR
17. Alshon Jeffery, WR
18. LeSean McCoy, RB
19. Matt Forte, RB
20. Jeremy Hill, RB
21. Mike Evans, WR
22. Arian Foster, RB
23. Justin Forsett, RB
24. DeMarco Murray, RB
25. Andrew Luck, QB
26. Aaron Rodgers, QB
27. Jimmy Graham, TE
28. Melvin Gordon, RB
29. T.Y. Hilton, WR
30. Brandin Cooks, WR
31. Andre Johnson, WR
32. DeAndre Hopkins, WR
33. Julian Edelman, WR
34. Latavius Murray, RB
35. C.J. Spiller, RB
36. Emmanuel Sanders, WR
37. T.J. Yeldon, RB
38. Alfred Morris, RB
39. Kelvin Benjamin, WR
40. Lamar Miller, RB
41. Russell Wilson, QB
42. Ben Roethlisberger, QB
43. Mark Ingram, RB
44. Golden Tate, WR
45. Jordan Matthews, WR
46. Keenan Allen, WR
47. Mike Wallace, WR
48. Amari Cooper, WR
49. Travis Kelce, TE
50. Greg Olsen, TE