Disspelling Common Fantasy Football Myths

Today, we will be talking about some of the common fantasy football myths, whether that be draft strategy, everyday thoughts, or anything under the sun. Fantasy football has some myths that people live by. That could be sayings, lines of thought, or strategies. If you play in a home league or have had the same league mates for a while, you know how they think and how they draft. Below are three myths when it comes to fantasy football that will help you draft this season.

Are these Fantasy Football Myths for Real?

“You can’t win your draft in round one, but you can lose it.”

Many believe later picks factor more into your fantasy finish. This past NFL season busted this common fantasy football myth. Of course, if you got production from rookies like Brock Bowers, Brian Thomas Jr., or Jayden Daniels late, that helped a ton. However, hitting on first-round picks is the key in fantasy. Ja’Marr Chase and Saquon Barkley lapped the field when it came to being on playoff rosters. And Jahmyr Gibbs was a catalyst in bringing home titles for many against San Francisco in a Monday Night shootout. First round picks were getting managers to the playoffs and then bringing them home the gold in 2024. I suspect we will see a lot of the same in 2025, with Chase, Robinson, Barkley, and Lamb among others set up to have a monster season.

You can win your draft in round one, but I am not dismissing the possibility that you can’t lose it either. Christian McCaffrey and what felt like the injury heard around the fantasy world, with Kyle Shanahan announcing him missing week one against the Jets, the day of the game. The crazy scramble to pick up Jordan Mason and looking to drop a player because 30 teams already played that week will be something fantasy managers won’t soon forget. Tyreek Hill, the consensus first receiver off the board, also struggled with injuries in 2024. The lesson in this is that no picks are safe, no matter how you slice it.

“Draft your Handcuff Running Backs.”

With more and more backfields moving to a committee approach, the idea of drafting the handcuff to your starting running backs is as popular as ever. We have seen the preseason hype for players like Jordan Mason, Braelon Allen, and other players in ambiguous backfields. The question is whether to spend the draft capital and lock up the entire backfield. We have seen injuries already dramatically boost the ADP of Tony Pollard and Omarion Hampton. When Tyjae Spears and Najee Harris return, they will eat into the values of Pollard and Hampton.

And that is the conundrum you face when making the decisions. I personally would advise against it. For example, if I draft Kenneth Walker instead of targeting Zach Charbonnet, I would look to draft Jordan Mason instead. That way, I have a chance at two starters instead of just one. If an actual timeshare develops in any of these backfields, you do not want to be making weekly decisions on who to start. So, you would be using time and draft capital to get into a potential headache that is easily avoidable.

The other side of the coin, which I must mention, is something like last year’s Bucky Irving comes about. Rachaad White was highly drafted, and Bucky Irving came in, took the job, and never looked back. That scenario is improbable, but it is not impossible to see someone like Braelon Allen or Jordan Mason dramatically tank the current starter’s value. So there are multiple scenarios where this decision is relevant, but I will not be drafting handcuffs to my starters this fantasy season.

“Stacking your QB with a pass catcher is a must.”

The most common form of stacking is drafting a quarterback and one or more of his pass catchers. Stacking is more popular in bestball formats, but is still prevalent in season-long formats. The thought process is that it eliminates one variable. If your starting quarterback does well, it is likely his receivers will as well. And when done correctly with the right players, it can win you weeks. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase on the same team likely saw their fair share of wins in 2024.

The downside is that you do not want to sacrifice value in your draft to complete the stack. That is a common mistake, whether it be reaching a round or two, or passing on a player that will significantly help you at receiver or running back. Another downside is that if the team does not perform in a given week, it will likely guarantee your team a loss. So, as fun as it is seeing double points for a touchdown, stacking should likely be a pass in redraft.

Taking the Value

However,  this fantasy football myth could go either way if the quarterback or skill player starts to fall, do not be afraid to stack in that scenario. When the value is right, everything should be on the table, but there is a heavy risk in this strategy. That is especially true if you are not doing it with an elite quarterback or elite offense. The downside starts to outweigh the upside. So do not be afraid to stack, but it is not a requirement to win your leagues.

Conclusion

There are many myths surrounding fantasy football. And what you believe in defines you as a player. There is no wrong way to play when it comes to strategy. So, don’t be discouraged if you draft handcuff running backs or if you like to stack offenses. Everyone plays in their own way, and that is part of what makes fantasy football so great. Anyone can win with any strategy or method of thinking. You can choose to agree or disagree with these statements, but keep these in mind as you enter your drafts for 2025! As you may hear them from fellow league mates discussing the draft.

Comment below with your favorite fantasy football myth!

For more great fantasy football rankings and analysis, make sure to check out the 2025 FantraxHQ Fantasy Football Draft Kit!