How to Pick up Undrafted Players in Fantasy Football

Most fantasy football teams are allowed to carry 15 players on each team in the league. There will be times during the season when you need to release players for various reasons and pick up undrafted players. This can occur because of injury, bad play, bye weeks or overstocking on the position.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Choose an Undrafted Fantasy Football Player

1. Select an undrafted player when one of your players is injured. Injury is usually the main reason to pick up someone who has been undrafted during your league's initial draft. It is rare that a team will make it through the entire season without one or more players being out due to injury.
2. Read the section on your host site that lists undrafted players. Most sites list them according to position and points rankings for the season.
3. Choose a player to add to your team based on all of the following factors: durability, points earned so far this season, upcoming opponents and bye week. Also, before you drop the injured player, always make sure the injury is as serious as reported. If it isn't and the player is back in a week or two, someone else in your league may pick this person up and use him against you.
4. Stay informed about your players. Every real-life player goes through a slump during the year. When deciding to pick up another fantasy football player to replace a slumping player, be careful not to replace him too quickly. He could have a small injury that the team doesn't know about or some other problem that can easily be worked through.
5. Do your homework before you replace a player for poor play. Most leagues have player listings with notes about any new issues that come up for each player. Clicking on the player's name will take you to his bio page where you can read this information.
6. Keep abreast of bye weeks. Check to make sure an undrafted player isn't going into a bye week before you pick him up on your team. Also, try to choose someone who might be valuable to trade to someone else in your league if you decide not to keep him.
7. Pick up an undrafted player when you are overstocked on players in a certain position. This is another situation when it is helpful to change a player for someone undrafted. Make sure it is someone you want and need to fill a slot on your roster.
8. Leverage trades. The good side to being overstocked on a certain position is that someone else in your league may need some of your players. If you wait a few weeks to replace a player, another team in your league might be willing to trade with you if one of their players is injured. You could pick up a better player than someone on the undrafted list.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember when selecting a player who has been undrafted that you must give up a player on your team. Make sure you really want this undrafted player and that you won't later regret the player you give up.