Fantasy Football: How to Win Your League With Waiver Claims

Sep 7, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back

(25) carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

6) LOOK FOR THE UNDERPEFORMING VETERAN

Above all, fantasy football is entertainment. Consequently, your fellow fantasy league owners will make even more emotion-based decisions than their pro counterparts. That reality causes mistakes that the winning fantasy owner stands ready to exploit.

One example might be if Jamaal Charles continues to put up multiple weeks like his 7 carry, 19 yard performance on Sunday.

Above all, fantasy football is entertainment. Consequently, your fellow fantasy league owners will make even more emotion-based decisions than their pro counterparts

Some fantasy owners will pull the plug on underperforming players way too early. This effect seems to be stronger, and more irrational, the higher the expectations the owner had for the player coming into the season. In 2002, I was able to claim Curtis Martin, in a year in which he was drafted in the 1st round, but put up 4 disappointing games in a row (98 total rushing yards in his 1st 4 games with 0 TDs).

Expecting a fantasy horse instead of a bust, the owner cut Martin in a fit of anger.

Fortunately, I held the 2nd waiver claim in the league, and couldn’t knock myself over fast enough to put in a claim. The guy with the top claim used his rights on a WR after suffering a short-term injury to his no. 1 pass catcher, and I was able to land Martin even though I already had a stable loaded with star running backs.

Much to the annoyance of everyone else, I was able to play Martin at the flex position most of the season. I went undefea ted in a head-to-head league with a perfect 16-0 record. My running back stable included Priest Holmes, Travis Henry, and Martin, who rushed for 996 yards and scored 7 TDs in the last 12 games of the season.Situations to look for are: 1) teams who have changed offensive systems, 2) star players with early, nagging injuries, and 3) teams who suffer a lot of early blowouts. Running backs, in particular, can be forgotten under such circumstances and end up with bad fantasy football numbers through no fault of their own.

Evaluating unknowns who put up big numbers using these tips, while adding in an eye for emerging talent, will put you on the path toward building a fantasy football powerhouse.