Nick Falato discussed some of the more rudimentary terms of Fantasy Football while providing a lot of tips and tricks on how to maximize said terms in the inaugural episode of Falato’s Fantasy Corner.
In this episode
Know the lingo about the sport within a sport:
- Waiver wire: How to maneuver, work, and manipulate your league mates to put yourself in a better position to win your league. Most casual players fail to successfully take advantage of the waiver wire; Nick discusses the importance of the tool and how to maximize it to your advantage.
- PPR: Means “Points Per Reception.” It’s vital to fantasy success to KNOW your league settings and scoring format before the draft. Way too many people go into drafts blind and it’s such a dereliction of duty. By knowing the format, you’ll increase your odds of having success.
- ADP: Means “Average Draft Position.” Where players are being drafted throughout the industry. This is a consensus list on specific players that gives fantasy owners an idea of where the player’s value lies.
- Streaming: A fantasy ideology that is popular with quarterbacks, defenses, and tight ends. Instead of having an every-week starter at a position, you play the matchups and work the waiver wire to get the most points out of each week.
- Handcuff: A term used when you draft a star running back and his back-up. If the star suffers an injury, then you have the backup to fill his void instead of losing out on a potential great fantasy position (i.e. Minnesota RB).
- RBBC: Running back by Committee. A.K.A., not the most desirable fantasy outcome for star running backs. Teams like the New England Patriots have been known to utilize RBBCs.
- Super Flex: Instead of the normal “Flex” position, a super flex allows a team to start a second quarterback. This changes the entire draft strategy and gives quarterbacks more precedent in a league.
- Snake Draft: Typical fantasy drafts where the first pick in the first round selects last in the second round and the last pick in the first round selects first in the second round.
- Auction Draft: A much more comprehensive draft style where owners auction players with a cap set at an agreed amount of money.
- FAAB: Means “Free Agent Acquisition Budget.” Adds a totally different dynamic to the waiver wire. Instead of waiver claims, an owner has to commit a part of their waiver budget to select a player off the waiver wire. The owner who puts the most money forward is rewarded with the player.
- IDP Leagues: “Individual Defensive Player.” Leagues that have a slot designated for defensive players that accrue fantasy points through tackles, pass defense, interceptions, sacks, and tackles for a loss.
- Keeper Leagues: A-league where owners keep players from the previous year and sacrifice the upcoming draft selection depending on where the kept player was selected the year prior (i.e. spending a 12 round pick on Mark Andrews and losing a 12 in the upcoming draft).
- Ceiling & Floor: A player’s ceiling is the highest he should score in a given week and his floor is the lowest.
- Stacking: A strategy commonly used in DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) where a quarterback is teamed up with his receiver, running back, or tight end. Then if the quarterback throws a touchdown to the receiver, it’s double the points because each player is rewarded a touchdown. Stacks can also be had for defenses and kick returners.