IV. Stick to The Tiers
Tiers are a way to segregate players within their position, and even in a top overall player ranking, so that it is obvious who the next selection should be. On the website I should have a player ranking for the current year or one from last year, use that as a visual example as to what I am referring. Before I go into more detail about tiers, it is of significance to note that players within the same tier are still ranked according to expected value; however, all players in the same tier are expected to finish with a very similar amount of points come season’s end.
- Tiers help owners during the draft select the BPA for their turn. For example, if it is the second round and the 1st tier of RBs are all taken, yet there are a number of WRs available in the 1st tier, taking a WR is far more advantageous since he is the BPA. This also ensures that owners do not fall prey to runs. What I mean by runs is that if a large number of players at a certain position go in a round (RB for example), don’t reflexively take a player at that position thinking they will all be gone next time around. It is likely that another position will soon be targeted by everyone since the RBs have just been exhausted. Taking a player at WR here means taking one of the more highly valued players left on the board and potentially starting a run at that position. A RB in the same tier as the next one available will likely still be available for the next round. Think about it this way: a 1st tier WR and a 2nd tier RB are much more valuable than a 2nd tier RB and a 2nd tier WR, the latter is more likely to happen if the RB is taken first.
- Another use of tiers is to help compensate for weaknesses during the draft. If 2 WRs were taken with the first two picks for a team to start the draft, it is recommended to see what is available at the RB position. If only one RB is available from tier 1 and three are available from tier 2, then the RB in tier 1 has a perceived higher value than the others. Be sure to have the most updated injury/suspension information prior to the draft. If a player is still available multiple tiers above the rest of the players, he may have just had breaking news since they were last updated/downloaded, check any media source you can about that player.
- If players are grouped in tiers but not separated by position (top overall player ranking) then look at what position seems to have been already exhausted, and what is still needed. Make a smart, informed decision as to what needs are left and what may be available next round and take a player from the position that is needed most.
* This is block 4 of an 11-part series that will be posted over the course of the next week. It will then be posted in its entirety at the conclusion of the series. Thank you for reading and be sure to come back tomorrow to the Overtime Network for the next blocks!
