How do you draft a winning fantasy football team?
Know how your league's scoring and roster rules work. Pre-rank and tier players. Build a team with strength and depth at every position. Value what a player will do over what people say they will do in the preseason. Don't fall too much in love with one player early on. Draft with flexibility.
Learn how your league works first.
All of these factors affect a player's value: League format (scoring rules, roster spots, starting requirements, bonus points, and number of teams). For example, one player might be more valuable in a league that gives you points per reception than in a league that doesn't.
Prepare rankings and tiers.
Rank your players by position, and cluster together the ones that have roughly equal value. This will give you a sense of where each position might be getting thin and where you can feel more comfortable waiting. There may be a handful of good QBs available, but just one or two good RBs left, for example, in which case the RB might be the right call.
Pay attention to each player's role.
You want players with consistent snap counts, a defined role, and target share across different parts of the field. This could be a running back that can catch the ball, a wide receiver who can catch the ball from a pass-heavy offense, or a tight end who gets a lot of targets. Don't just draft a player because his name is familiar. Look at his role, team, injury status, and competition for touches.
Build depth as you go.
Obviously there will be injuries, byes, and changing roles throughout the season. The right backup can prove to be a huge asset. Additionally, try to avoid picking up too many players that have the same bye week. In addition, don't over-draft players off of the same team unless your league is built for it.
Stay flexible during the draft.
If there are multiple other managers taking several players at one position in the first few rounds, there might be value elsewhere. Let your draft plan inform your decisions, but not dictate them. Your goal should be to end up with solid everyday players, a couple of quality backups, and plenty of chances to improve your squad via the free agent market and trades throughout the year.