Alright, so I decided to fire up Madden 24 today and jump into a Fantasy Draft. Been meaning to do this for a while, see what kind of team I could build from scratch. It’s always a bit of a gamble, you know?
Getting Started
First things first, I set up the league. Just a standard fantasy draft, nothing too crazy with the settings. Let the computer randomize the draft order. Ended up picking somewhere in the middle, which is fine I guess. Not the first pick, but not the last either. Gives you a chance to see who goes off the board.
Before the clock started, I didn’t do a ton of prep. I know the big names, obviously. My main thought was just trying to get good value, not reach too much for guys early on. Gotta build a solid foundation.
The Early Rounds – Grabbing the Stars
Okay, draft’s on. Round 1, the usual suspects fly off the board. Top QBs, stud RBs, elite WRs. When it got to my pick, I saw a running back I liked still sitting there. Felt like a no-brainer. You need a guy who can carry the rock, so I snapped him up. Felt pretty good about that.
Round 2, similar vibe. Looked at who was left. A top-tier wide receiver was available, someone who can really stretch the field. Pulled the trigger on him. Gotta have weapons on offense, right? So, RB and WR locked down early. Pretty standard stuff, kinda like everyone says – get those skill position studs.
Middle Rounds – Building the Core
Now things get interesting. Rounds 3 through maybe 8 or 9, this is where you build the guts of your team. I started looking for a QB. Didn’t grab one of the absolute top guys, but found a solid starter I felt comfortable with. Someone with decent throwing stats and maybe a bit of mobility.
Then I started bouncing around positions:
- Needed another good WR. Found one with good speed ratings.
- Started looking at the defense. Grabbed a pass rusher – always need someone to get after the QB.
- Picked up a solid linebacker too. Looked at their tackling and awareness traits, seemed decent enough.
- Can’t forget the O-line! Started grabbing some blockers. You don’t want your QB running for his life all game. Looked for guys with decent pass block and run block grades. Nothing fancy, just solid starters.
Honestly, during these rounds, I was mostly scrolling through the list, looking at the overall ratings and maybe a couple of key stats or traits for the position. Snagged a tight end somewhere in here too. Just tried to get players who felt like good value for that draft spot.
Later Rounds – Filling the Gaps
Alright, hitting the double-digit rounds. Now it’s about depth and filling out the roster. Looking for cornerbacks, safeties, more offensive linemen, backup running backs.
At this point, you’re not finding superstars. I focused on guys with maybe one good skill, like speed for a CB or WR, or good hit power for a safety. Also took a look at some younger players with decent potential ratings. Maybe they develop, maybe they don’t, worth a shot late in the draft.
Key thing here: Just making sure every starting position was filled and had at least one backup for key spots. Grabbed a kicker and punter somewhere near the end too. Can’t forget special teams!
Wrapping Up – The Final Roster
And… done. The draft finished up. Took a look through the roster screen. Got my QB, my main RB and WRs, a decent O-line on paper, and filled out the defense. Some positions look stronger than others, obviously. Got a couple of guys I’m excited about, and a few I’m kinda “meh” on but they fill a need.
Overall, it feels like a decent team. Not amazing, maybe, but solid. You never really know until you start playing the games, right? That’s the fun of a fantasy draft. Now it’s time to actually hit the field and see how this squad performs. Should be interesting.
