How to Rank Players for a Fantasy Basketball Draft

One of the most enjoyable aspects of playing fantasy basketball is the player draft at the beginning of the season. It is also the most important step in building a quality team. It is vital to be prepared if you hope to have a successful fantasy basketball draft. Before the draft begins you need to rank your players. Fantasy basketball drafts can go quickly and if you do not have a plan, the stress of the moment can trick you into making a poor decision.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Understand your league's rules and scoring system. If your league utilizes field goal percentage you will have to value players who excel at that category over players who do not. If three point field goals are a category, you will need to draft at least a couple of players who will make a lot of three pointers. If it is a system that combines a player's stats to come up with a per game point total, look for players who are very well rounded and are high scorers.
2. Break players down by their position. If you have to sort through a few hundred players it can be a very difficult and time consuming task. If you sort players by position, guard, forward or center, it will be a much easier task. It will also help during the fantasy basketball draft if you need to draft a player from a certain position, you can just nab the next one on your list.
3. Sort the top players through at least the first two rounds. It is important that you do not make a mistake in the early rounds. Drafting a player who does not deserve to be drafted as highly as you took him can handicap your team for the remainder of the season.
4. Use past performance, a player's role on his team, potential for future improvement and their injury history to rank players. Try to keep your personal feelings from clouding your judgment. Many teams have been ruined by players who have been drafted because they play for someone's favorite team or ignored because of their college. Also, make sure that you do not fall prey to the expectation of a young player's potential to improve substantially in one off season.
5. Stick to your list. You created your list when you had time to think clearly and make sound decisions. Do not change your mind at the last minute when you are feeling the pressure of the fantasy basketball draft.

Tips & Warnings

• Take advantage of all the information on the Internet and in magazines, but do not compile a list strictly from what they say. Make your own decisions and you will enjoy your successes more and learn more from your mistakes.