what has worked in best ball all 4 years

3 min read 23-12-2024

what has worked in best ball all 4 years

Best ball is a fantasy football format where you draft a team and the highest-scoring players each week are automatically selected for your lineup. No setting lineups means less stress but more strategy is required when drafting. Over the past four years, certain approaches have consistently yielded success. This article dives into the strategies and player archetypes that have consistently performed well in best ball leagues.

Year 1: The Rise of Zero RB

The inaugural year of many best ball leagues saw the "Zero RB" strategy gain significant traction. This approach prioritizes elite wide receivers and tight ends early in the draft, delaying the selection of running backs until later rounds. The rationale? Running back production is notoriously volatile, with injuries and committee backfields frequently impacting performance. By loading up on high-floor receivers, you ensure consistent weekly points, even if your running backs underperform. However, this strategy does risk completely whiffing on running backs.

Key Takeaways from Year 1:

Value at Wide Receiver: Elite WR1s and even high-end WR2s significantly outscored their ADP.
Late-Round Running Backs: Finding value in the later rounds with RBs who had the potential to breakout was crucial.
Zero RB Risk: The strategy worked well for many, but those who missed on late-round RBs often fell behind.

Year 2: The Importance of ADP Deviation

Year 2 highlighted the importance of understanding Average Draft Position (ADP) and identifying players being undervalued by the consensus. Players with rising ADPs before the season were often seen as having inflated values that couldn't be sustained. Conversely, those consistently drafted lower than their projected performance were valuable targets.

Key Takeaways from Year 2:

ADP Deviation: Targeting players significantly below their projected value (based on expert rankings) proved very effective.
Injury Risk Management: Drafting players with a lower risk of injury was becoming an increasingly important factor in best ball.
Positional Scarcity: Recognizing positions with fewer reliable options allowed for securing high-value players at a later position.

Year 3: The Year of the "Boom or Bust"

Year 3 saw a shift towards selecting players with high upside, even if it meant accepting higher risk. The "boom or bust" strategy, prioritizing players capable of explosive games, became increasingly popular. This wasn't solely focused on unproven players; even established stars who possessed the ability to post high-scoring weeks were sought after.

Key Takeaways from Year 3:

High-Ceiling Players: Players with the potential for multiple 30+ point weeks were highly valuable.
Volume Over Efficiency: Sometimes, sheer volume of touches outweighed efficiency metrics for running backs.
Late-Round Darts: Taking chances on high-upside players late in the draft paid off for many.

Year 4: A Balanced Approach

Year 4 demonstrated that a balanced approach, blending elements from previous years, often yielded the best results. While high-upside players remained important, the focus shifted to securing a mix of consistent performers and high-ceiling options. This meant careful consideration of injury risk, ADP deviations, and overall team construction.

Key Takeaways from Year 4:

Combination Strategy: Combining high-floor and high-ceiling players provided the best balance of consistency and explosive potential.
Early Round Safety: Ensuring a solid foundation with high-floor players in the early rounds mitigated potential later-round busts.
Draft Capital Management: Strategic allocation of draft capital, balancing value and position scarcity, proved crucial.

Conclusion: Adaptability and Research Are Key

Over the past four years, the most successful best ball strategies have been characterized by adaptability and thorough research. While certain player archetypes (high-ceiling WRs, late-round RBs) have consistently performed well, the ability to adjust to changing circumstances and identify undervalued players is paramount. By combining deep analysis of player projections, ADP, and injury risk, you can significantly improve your chances of winning your best ball league. Remember to consistently learn, adapt, and refine your approach year after year to stay ahead of the curve in this ever-evolving fantasy format.