This is our Fantasy Football Positions article – the place to be if you would like to learn more about all the fantasy football positions, as well as what criteria to take into consideration in the process of building up your roster. We encourage you to take the time and read it from the beginning till the very end to learn what can help you and what you should rather not do if you would like to be successful. You will not regret it!

What You Need To Know About Each Position

In this main section of today’s article, we are about to present one by one each fantasy football positions. They are Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Kickers and Defense. Under each category, you can find all you need to know about the specific position and nothing that you do not.

1. Quarterback (QB)

The first of the fantasy football positions we would like to bring to your attention is the Quarterback (QB). What is specific about it has to do with the fact that QB is considered to score on a most consistent basis and is associated with a ceiling that is higher than any of the other positions. This is the most important position to have in mind when you play cash games, and it also plays a significant role as far as GPP’s are concerned.

There are multiple criteria to take into consideration when you make up your mind whom to choose as the QB in your roster. The first thing you are encouraged to do is to check the Vegas lines to see what amount of points the team name of the respective QB is expected to score. Not only is it free to benefit from the projections of the Vegas lines, but it is good also to remember that the people in charge of it are true experts in their field. Let us give you an example to illustrate how exactly you can estimate the projected score.

1) Let us assume that the total points are 45. You need to divide it in half which makes 22.5.

2) After that, it is necessary to take the line and also divide it in half. If the line is 3, then three divided in half makes 1.5.

3) If the respective team happens to be the favorite, we need to estimate the sum of the total (22.5) and the line (1.5). This will show us how many points we expect the team to score (in this case 24). On the other hand, if the given team is not the favorite it would be reasonable to subtract the line (1.5) from the total (22.5). In the specific example, the projected points would amount to 21.

What you aim at is targeting a Quarterback whose team’s projected total in a game that will take place shortly are high. It makes sense to look for games that are close for a simple reason. If it turns out to be a blowout, unfortunately for your Quarterback the winning team is highly likely to stop passing the ball. Therefore, it is not recommendable to run the risk of selecting a QB whose team is expected to lose unless you have more than one entry and it is about GPP lineups.

In addition to what we said so far, we encourage you to use the opposing defense as another key to success. Given the fact that a Quarterback is playing a team which is weak against the pass, you can target him. What can help you in the process is checking out the DvP (defense vs. position) rankings which can provide you with precious information about some of the fantasy points that the opposing team tends to give up to Quarterbacks. Also, the opposing team’s pass rush, as well as pass coverage statistics are data worth taking into consideration. For example, if a team puts less pressure on a respective Quarterback, then it is more likely for this Quarterback to be capable of picking it apart. The way in which you can project whether a QB is likely to get the ball to his receivers has to do with the approach of defenders when they cover the pass.

Last, but not least you have to make sure your QB will be stacked with minimum one of his receivers. After all, the success of a QB goes hand in hand with an excellent performance of at least one receiver. So, it makes sense to invest in the possibility of doubling the points your lineup can end up getting.

2. Running Back (RB)

The second of the fantasy football positions we would like to present is the Running Back (RB). Apart from the QB, this post is also considered to be extremely consistent when it comes to daily fantasy football. What is even more important than knowing who is about to be carrying the ball for a respective team refers to the one who will be capable of doing it successfully so that he can get into the end zone. TD’s matter the most, after all.

When you look for an RB, make sure you check the Vegas line, again. In this case, you should rather focus on games in which the team of your RB is expected to be running the ball at the end of the match. This would make the team be considered a prohibitive favorite. On top of that, it is worth evaluating the DvP for opposing defenses against Running Backs. For example, we would not encourage you to target a Running Back if he needs to face the best performing rushing defense in the National Football League. This might only be an acceptable alternative assuming that you take part in a GPP based on an ultra-contrarian play. On the other hand, it is recommendable to target Running Backs in cases in which the defenses they are facing are not in the top half of the rankings.

Snap counts, as well as usage, are other factors that play a role. We aim at drafting Running Backs who are not only part of the game, but who manage to get the ball while in the match. In the best case scenarios, the target RB’s are in the red zone and goal-line situations. After all, it is painful to have to witness how your Running back succeeds in getting five carries for all the 30 yards in drive only to end up taking out for the team’s goal line back at the 2-yard line. Even if it might be valuable to have players who are capable of getting 20 carries for 100 yards, what we aim at are RB’s who might get 15 carries for 60 yards and a TD.

The last aspect to have a look at refers to the scoring rules of the site. This is of particular importance as far as points-per-reception (“PPR”) are concerned. For example, assuming that we talk about a full PPR league in which a Running Back receives one point per reception, it would make more sense to go for players like Matt Forte who manage to catch the ball significantly out of the backfield, rather than targeting players such as Jeremy Hill who get mainly used as runners.

3. Wide Receiver (WR)

There is no other position among the fantasy football positions which is as associated with volatility and frustration as the Wide Receiver (WR). Moreover, what is the point in putting many resources in rostering someone like Calvin Johnson if he ends up getting two catches for 25 yards and 0 TDs? To avoid situations like this, we advise you to take into account the following insights. First, similar to the previous positions it helps to check out the Vegas lines, as well as the DvP. What we look for includes the close game, a high-scoring and opposing team which is not famous for defending the pass well.

Regarding your Wide Receiver (WR), it makes a difference to be clear about the amount of targets he gets. In cases when the ball does not end up thrown to a player, it would be difficult to get yards, a reception and any TD’s. Moreover, what we aim at are at least eight targets per game.

What is more, pay attention to the usage especially when it comes to the red zone. While the 50 yard TD pass is not an easy thing, a 10 yard TD pass is more likely. Therefore, we strive for targeting players whom the Quarter Back can rely on in similar situations.

4. Tight End (TE)

When it comes to this of the fantasy football positions, it is not worth expecting a lot of TD’s to perform well consistently. It is hard to come across this type of players if we leave aside Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. Against all the odds, there are stills some strategic steps you can undertake to maximize your chances of success by utilizing your TD.

Once again, we recommend starting with checking out the Vegas lines, as well as information related to the way in which opposing teams tend to defend the pass and TEs. Having in mind that there are teams which are good at defending the pass but still do not easily manage to cover TE’s, so it is likely that teams might strive for utilizing this area. After all, what can help you identify the TE that can go off during the specific week is namely to look for weaknesses and using them in your favor.

Similar to the Wide Receivers, we encourage you to keep an eye on usage and targets. Still, there are not a lot of Tight Ends who will be able to get a lot of objectives it makes sense to stress on red zone usage.

5. Kickers

Many sites do not offer kickers, so we will not spend much time here. If you play at a site that does so, strive for rostering the cheapest possible option. It is not worth putting many resources in a position that is highly unlikely to add value. When it comes to strategies in the process of selecting Kickers, here is what we can say. Look for games associated with high-scoring projections. The more points there are, the more chances your kicker will have regarding kicking FG’s and PAT’s. Do not forget that the weather can have an impact on the game. More so than any other factors, wind, and sloppy conditions will impact the kicking game.

In the same time, do not forget to check out the scoring rules of the site you use. Make sure you take into consideration the kickers and teams which are capable of kicking 50+ yard FG’s in the cases when a team happens to give bonuses for longer FG’s. Also, remember to have a look at the red zone success rate. Struggling in the red zone typically goes hand in hand with many FG’s. Keep in mind also the defenses that buckle up in the red zone, and you will be able to identify who is the kicker that is capable of kicking 3-4 FG’s in one single game.

6. Defense

We would like to bring this fantasy football positions article to an end by checking out one more position – the Defense. As far as GPPs are concerned, this is the position that plays the most important role in regards to whether you will finish last or first. Even if you use the same roster as the winner, it will not help you given the fact that his defense manages to score double as many points as you. Therefore, do not underestimate the influence of the Defense, but take the following aspects into account.

First, look for projected low-scoring games. Unlike other positions, you should not aim at a high over/under. If you use the Vegas lines, we encourage you to go for Defenses with less than 17 projected points allowed by the respective team. Second, what also matters is the opposing Quarter Back. In the best case scenario, it helps to choose Defenses, whose opposing QB’s are weak, as well as expected to throw INT’s, and pick 6’s. Third, make sure you are clear about the frequency associated with the opposing team turning the ball over. The more Turn Overs there are, the more fantasy points you can hope for. Furthermore, it helps to know how often there are sacks given up by the other team. Sacks also bring fantasy points and can lead to fumbles or hurried passes which can turn into interceptions. The more interceptions and fumbles there are the more likely it is to get return TD’s. Therefore, we advise you to go for defenses that face teams giving up a high amount of sacks.

Last, but not least make sure you check the return game impact. It might be good to target teams with excellent return units as long as the site you play at gives points for special teams TD’s. However, keep in mind that this should not be the primary reason why you pick up a player.

Fantasy Football Positions Conclusion

As we saw, when it comes to strategies related to fantasy football positions, there is more to it than what meets the eyes. No matter which particular position we take into consideration, multiple factors contribute to whether we will have high chances of winning or not. However diverse they may seem, just remember that it is worth to check out sources like Vegas lines and to have a systematic approach. Everything in daily fantasy football (and in life) is interconnected.

We hope this Fantasy Football Positions article provided you with valuable insights and information so that now you can be one step closer to a successful and exciting player experience!

Best Fantasy Football Players

1. Highest-Paid Players at Every NFL Position (From Quarterback to Punter)
2. NFL’s Greatest Combine Performers Ever (Greatest Workout Warriors)