Fantasy football managers go into every fantasy draft looking to win big with the picks that compile their initial redraft league rosters. But it's also important to come away without making the key draft mistakes that will help fumble away any shot at a league championship.
How do you avoid falling in those traps and tripping up while it's your turn on the clock? Here are six pieces of advice you need to know to not drop the ball in 2025 drafts.
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Fantasy football's biggest draft mistakes
1. Ignoring your league format and settings
This sounds simple, but it is a good place to start.
You need to know what kind of game you are playing to win it.
Your first three foundational questions:
1. How many teams in my league?
2. How many starting positions?
3. How many draft rounds?
Then you can get into scoring (standard, half-point PPR, full-point PPR) and bench spots.
Believe it: There will be some drafters in your league ignorant of the basics. There's no bliss in that – only missing out on what picks to make to construct a loaded winning fantasy team.
Go over the rules and parameters several times so you're making the appropriate rankings and taking the right mock draft practice.
PPR RANKINGS: Top 300 Players | QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | PK
2. Failing to prepare for your draft
If Benjamin Franklin were alive to give fantasy football advice, he would tell you this is equivalent to "preparing to fail."
You don't need to get crazy-obsessed about mock draft simulators or study every single draftable player. But you do need to have some sense of the rankings tailored to your league format and what positions to consider in each round beyond printing out a PDF cheat sheet at the last minute.
Playing in a semi-competitive league requires a little effort — before, during and after your drafts — to field a winning team. Spend at least a little time reading and absorbing some various expert resources and it will lead to smooth, successful roster creation and management.
And of course, just remember to announce the player name when you draft. Don't just blindly grab a Brian Robinson Jr. sticker when you meant to pick Bijan Robinson:
He is never living this down
— Sheffield Shuffler (@SheffieldShuff) August 18, 2025
Took Brian Robinson Jr instead of Bijan Robinson 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/bOSrD3GWmv
3. Thinking too much about what happened last year
Even if you are playing in a dynasty league, this can be a misstep.
In redraft (single-year leagues), this mistake is more felony than misdemeanor. Although what a veteran produced last season is a good launching point to figure out what they might do in the upcoming season, much changes across the NFL from one year to the next.
Between personnel and coaching movement, schematic upgrades or downgrades, age, role, recent injuries, there are new variables to consider across the board when evaluating a player.
The one constant is change. Don't rest on your success or what players were great last year. Adapt to the changes or die with a losing fantasy team.
WARNING: Avoid these fantasy draft busts
4. Worrying too much about byes, backups and bargains
When you're drafting, the goal is to assemble the most talented and productive team in your league. It's nice to consider making some "safe picks" with players' scoring floor in mind, but winning requires going for the ceiling.
If you have a couple of stud wide receivers with byes in the same week, you shouldn't care. They can help win you most of the other weeks.
If you want insurance for your top players, be reasonable with handcuffing, going for clear No. 2s vs. targeting situations that could become full-blown replacement committees.
It's OK to go after a high-upside understudy of another manager's starting running back vs. forcing one of your own.
Finally, if you have a player you really like a little above his ranking and well ahead of his ADP, you shouldn't hesitate to take him. All it takes is one other manager to want that player before your next set of picks, sniping the guy who should have been yours.
EXPLOIT LEAGUE APPS: Yahoo, ESPN rankings can reveal sleepers, busts
5. Becoming too influenced by experts or other drafters
It's your fantasy team -- only yours.
Sure, you can listen to podcasts, consume every writeup on draft strategy (like this one) and compile consensus rankings.
In the end, you need to process all that information on your own and spit out the best decision. Stick with your guns on a player based on analysis or gut, and don't be quick to abandon that thought after hearing a contrary opinion.
When drafting, there are also a lot of positional runs and groupthink on what positions to take in a particular round. Don't fall into zigging when you feel more confident about zagging.
2025 DRAFT SLEEPERS: QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | Deep Sleepers | 1 From Each Team
6. Forgetting that fantasy football is still supposed to be fun
Whether you're playing for just bragging rights and a cheap trophy or vying for a big-bucks pot, don't go into your leagues being all about serious business.
Hopefully, you have a few in-person drafts or virtual video gatherings instead of just picking off a computer with no human interaction.
It's OK to have a few adult beverages (in moderation, of course) and take some time out to trash talk while you're waiting for your pick.
You might even find getting a little loose during the draft makes you a better drafter because it's easier to adapt and go with the flow.