Whether you're brand new to fantasy football or have been playing for years, this space's primary focus is helping teach fantasy football terms and basics of the game. It will be an ongoing series covering the basics of fantasy football, including topics ranging from how to start a fantasy football league to how to play in different types of leagues.

The Scott Fish Bowl has become an annual tradition in fantasy football, eagerly anticipated by fans and analysts alike. Its charitable goal and creative format have set a standard for fantasy football leagues. The league started modestly with a few dozen participants. It quickly gained popularity due to its innovative format and charitable focus, and the number of participants has grown over the years.

When heading into drafts, most managers come to the table with a strategy. There are many different approaches, all with fancy names to indicate the heart of the plan. As an analyst and fanatic, I’ve tried them all a few times. Zero-RB, Zero-QB, Robust-WR, and the list goes on. However, there’s one that I keep going back to repeatedly: Hero-RB.

Each year, fantasy football leagues are won by a savvy manager able to cull significant value from their drafts while opposing managers swing and miss. As we embark on draft season for most fantasy football leagues, equipping you with the knowledge to be that shrewd dude or cagey lady, so you can befuddle your league mates. Sifting through the running back average draft position (ADP), I was able to unearth some RB values for you to target in drafts.

There’s an old adage in many different forms that states that while you cannot win your league on draft day, you can certainly put yourself at a significant disadvantage by mishandling your picks. 

The last thing anyone wants to do is bury themselves before the first games of the NFL season even get played.

So, how can we avoid this massive pitfall? It starts with a few actions on the part of the manager.

Underdog ADP It is now officially July, which means that best ball summer is in full swing. For those unfamiliar, the best ball format affords players all the excitement and intrigue of drafting a fantasy team without the burden of having to make weekly roster decisions; as the system gives you your highest-scoring lineup automatically. […]

These rookies stepped onto the stage in downtown Detroit this April and heard their names called for the world to listen to. Now, it is their time to show the world what they are made of. Not all rookies will meet their fanbase's expectations in their first year, but some players will start building a resume on their path to a golden jacket during their rookie seasons.

This series is focused on helping you to learn how to play fantasy football.

In this article, we'll focus on the basics of what you need to start your own league. We will discuss how to decide what league format you want to play in, a few of the different platforms you can play on, and how to create your league settings.

First and foremost, let's discuss deciding who you will be playing with.

In my series this season, I'll examine weekly matchups to determine if an NFL WR2 can outperform a WR1 on another team. It is important to look beyond the label of "WR1." Considering factors such as matchups, injuries, and team dynamics, I'll find what No. 2 options are worth putting in your lineup.

Last year, several wideouts surprised us by putting up WR1 numbers when they were WR2 (or WR3) on their teams. DeVonta Smith, Gabe Davis, and Tee Higgins each had four games as a top-12 WR in points per reception (PPR) scoring.

Rashid Shaheed, Jakobi Meyers, and Noah Brown all had three. Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., Jordan Addison, Joshua Palmer, and Cooper Kupp tallied two.

Should I give out bad advice, I’m not really the sentimental type. Being apologetic for failing to predict the future seems disingenuous, anyway. The fine folks at Optimus want me to contribute the stuff that spills from my eyes, ears, and nose, so this column will put just that at your fingertips. Should it aid you in a redraft or dynasty league victory, or even a DFS lineup, that’s cool beans. I aim to win in an entertaining way, so they don’t ever sack me for being boring. Bring on the rush, I’ll stand tall (or scramble) the only way I know: with pizzazz.

Keeping your fantasy football rosters in tip-top shape is no small task; it requires a level of almost psychotic tinkering that only a few in this world are capable of. It can drive some to madness and others to championship glory. We prefer to help you do the latter.

Which teams are at risk of facing an unexpected upset and commencing the season with a disappointing loss? Furthermore, which resilient teams are poised to learn from past setbacks and aggressively pursue their Super Bowl aspirations? The spotlight will be on a few promising rookie players aiming to showcase their talent right from the start. Will they walk into the tunnel after Week 1, leaving a significant mark on the league?

All these compelling NFL Week 1 storylines will be analyzed and dissected in our latest series, "Storyline, Storytime," which will bring you exclusive insights crafted by @hoovtube on X.

Each week, I'll provide five players as look-ahead players for the next week, who could be THE waiver wire claims for the following week. But they won't be available in your league because you already have them. We haven't even played a snap of regular-season football yet, but we're already looking ahead to Week 2's players.

Note: If these players get hurt in Week 1, I cannot be held responsible, so please don't tweet me @ktompkinsii if that happens.