Secrets to a successful fantasy football draft
Key takeaways
- That legendary Ricky Bobby quote certainly applies to the game of fantasy football, as they don't engrave the runner-up's name on the trophy.
- Winning a fantasy football league requires work and that work begins with the draft.
- Let's start with the obvious: To win the game, you need to know the rules.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Will Bijan Robinson be the first overall pick in your fantasy football draft? Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Mike Clay Jun 3, 2026, 07:03 AM ETClose Mike Clay is a senior writer for fantasy football and the NFL at ESPN. Mike is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. His projections power the ESPN Fantasy Football game, and he also appears on "Fantasy Football Now" and the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.Follow on XMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions"If you ain't first, you're last."
That legendary Ricky Bobby quote certainly applies to the game of fantasy football, as they don't engrave the runner-up's name on the trophy.
Winning a fantasy football league requires work and that work begins with the draft. Outlined below are the secrets to dominating on draft day in 2026.