Last season, I described some of the benefits of going analog for your draft. Adding pencil and paper seems backward, but can give you an advantage over your all-tech opponents. I do it every year, and I know quite a few others who do as well.
But that doesn't mean you don't use tech at all. In fact, you can't avoid it. Even if your draft isn't done on a website or app, you'll probably need access to up-to-date information during it. So there's nearly a 100 percent chance that you'll be using some kind of device while selecting your players. And I'm advising you to use all available options to your advantage.
You should try to use as large a screen as possible during your draft or auction. Now, this is one of those silly things that people sometimes think is a waste of my time. Why aren't I ranking players? Giving you my best sleepers, or players to avoid? How about the latest injury news? Why am I talking about screens?
The answer is simple: When everybody has access to news and information, you have to differentiate yourself in other ways. Being the most-prepared person in the room doesn't cut it anymore. In a couple of hours, anybody can get 90 percent of your knowledge. So, aside from luck, little things are going to make a difference. And I think that the size of the screen you use is one of those little things.
I don't mean a jumbo smart phone versus an older relic. Forget the phones. You need a big screen. A laptop or desktop only. I won't even use a tablet, and I have a few of them. When I'm picking players, I want as much digital real estate as possible and a full, physical keyboard. Anything little thing that can give you an edge is worth doing.
Look, you probably have 60 or 90 seconds to make a pick. If you want to go back and forth between different tabs, the drafting app, and news sites, you don't want to do that on a phone. One fat-finger mistake and you're scrambling to get back to the draft room. A text or call at the wrong time can jolt you out of your rhythm. And the clock waits for no manager. You want to move quickly and use your time as efficiently as possible.
It might not affect you as much in the first couple of rounds. You probably know who you want out who whatever is left. It's the middle and late rounds (where a draft is won) that it matters. Giving yourself more time and less stress than your opponents will make a difference. They'll make mistakes you won't. You'll see opportunities they won't. And you'll have the ability to check other data points in your allotted time.
If you draft online and not in person at all, try to clear your calendar and use a desktop on a real desk. Give yourself plenty of space and remove all distractions. Take it seriously for the next hour or so, because the next few months depend on it. If you draft with other people, bring a laptop and find some space to sit and spread out. Don't sit next to your buddies with wing sauce and beer spilling everywhere. You can do that before and after the draft. During it, be more of a loner.
And if you're the only manager who brings a laptop, good. Differentiating yourself before the draft even starts is a great thing. When they're guessing later in the draft, you'll still be firing on all cylinders. If you don't have a laptop, ask to borrow one and make sure it's charged. It might feel weird lugging it into a restaurant if that’s where you draft, but it's worth it. Nobody ever lost a league because they had too large a screen and moved around it quicker than everyone else.
If you absolutely insist on using your phone, turn off all notifications. All of them. Your spouse doesn't need you in the delivery room, anyway (I'm probably kidding). The kids can eat after the draft (not kidding at all). But you get the idea. No distractions. The phone is only there to call the commissioner if you get locked out of the draft room. And please incorporate paper and pencil so you only switch between tabs when absolutely necessary.
You might think this is an age issue, and I'm just not as good on my phone than younger people. And that’s probably true. But even if I was able to move flawlessly at top speed, I still want more space to look over everything. I don't want to scroll up and down when the seconds are ticking down. I want to see an entire list at once. I want every tab ready to go so nothing has to move except my eyes. If it saves me 20-30 seconds each round, I consider that worthwhile. But it will probably save you even more, because you can also do quick, effective research when you're waiting for your next turn. And a lot of the draft is sitting around waiting for your turn. Make good use of that time.
Like everything else in fantasy football, it doesn't guarantee anything. All you can do is try to stack the odds in your favor. My job is to help give you an advantage, even a small one, and I think this might be one way to do it. If you’re drafting, good luck this week.
What tools do you use on draft day? Are you huddled around papers and screens, or are you doing it casually from your phone? Has switching up tactics made a difference for you, good or bad? Share your thoughts below.