Fantasy Football & the Bible Drafting the Best Understanding (2024)

Fantasy Football & the Bible Drafting the Best UnderstandingJuly 25, 2024Rob Dalrymple

Fantasy Football & the Bible Drafting the Best Understanding (1)

So, it is that time of year for those who play fantasy football. Over the next month, we will listen to podcasts, scour the internet, and peruse all sorts of Fantasy Football resources in preparation for the day! The day is, of course, the day of our fantasy football draft.

What if I were to say that we should read our Bibles like we were preparing for a fantasy football draft?

In the league I play in, we no longer do in-person drafts. Too many have relocated to various points in the country. Nonetheless, we still jump on a Zoom call to connect and make fun of the few in our league who are dumb enough to draft players from the Raiders!! It is a great time to reconnect with good friends.

Fantasy football drafts require work.

Compare this to voting for the Pro Bowl or the Major League Baseball All-Star game. When voting for all-star competitions, we vote for the players we want to see play, the ones on our favorite teams, or the players we just like more than others. The game doesn’t count, so who is playing doesn’t matter.

In fantasy football, you shouldn’t just pick your favorite players—well, not if you want to win. The thing about Fantasy Football is that you want the best players on your team. You need the players that will score the most points consistently throughout the season.

It is not about picking your favorite players (though that makes it enjoyable sometimes). You need the players who will actually score the most points this season—not last season, nor over their careers. The only players you want on your team for this year are the ones who will score the most points this season.

Picking an MVP

Occasionally, Sportscenter will put up the stats for three or four players to see which player we think deserves the MVP, the CY Young (best pitcher), or an All-Star nod. However, they intentionally do not attach names or faces to the stats. They do this in hopes of eliminating bias. After all, if we knew who the players were, would we be more prone to choose the player on my favorite team—even if that player didn’t deserve it as much as another? Just looking at the raw stats eliminates this bias.

What does this have to do with the Biblical Interpretation?

Well, a lot actually. We are too often prone to reading the Bible to find verses that suit our interests than we are concerned with discerning what the text says. It’s like the all-star balloting. We pick our favorite players even if another is more deserving.

For example, have you ever seen people cite Jer 29:11 at a wedding, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope”? (There are wedding bands you can purchase with this verse inscribed).

This may sound good, but it really doesn’t work. The book of Jeremiah is about judgment and exile. Jeremiah explains that the Israelites will spend 70 years in Babylon because they failed to keep the covenant. So, Jeremiah encourages them to settle down, build homes, and plant gardens. You ain’t going anywhere for a while. You must suffer the consequences of your sins.

They were not without hope, however. After all, God promises them that after 70 years, He will bring them back to their land.

This is where Jeremiah 29:11 comes in. The verse encourages the Israelites to endure their present situation because someday, God will restore them to the land.

So, suppose a couple wants to use this verse for their wedding. In that case, the question becomes, are they saying, “Well, this marriage is not what it is supposed to be, but we are going to make the most of it until God carries out His plan and gives us something better”?

Understanding the Bible takes work

When it comes to biblical interpretation, we have a lot of work to do. The Bible was written almost 1900+ years ago, in ancient languages (Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic) and in an ancient context.

To understand the Bible well, we must get beyond our favorite verses and delve deep into the text, its history, culture, language, and much more.

The problem with doing this is that we might find things we don’t like.

Back to fantasy football for a moment. What if the best player for me to choose happens to play for the New York Jets? Well, I have principles. I would rather choose another player and hope it works out. (Of course, until recently, I didn’t have to worry about selecting players from the Jets).

This is similar to finding out that applying Jer 29:11 to your marriage is like saying that your spouse is a source of punishment and that you are to endure 70 years, and then God will give you something far better.

What do we do when the Bible says things we don’t like?

“Oh, well, I like everything in the Bible,” “It is, after all, God’s Word,” You might suggest.

Well, the Bible certainly is God’s Word. But I dare say you haven’t read if you think you like everything in it. There are things like “love your enemies.” Sounds good, but I don’t want to love my enemies. Isn’t it okay to try hard not to hate them?

I don’t like the “Take up your cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). Why can’t I just follow Him on my Harley? Do I really have to carry a cross?

And then there are the “not meant for children” verses that describe the brutal treatment of captives from war.

When it comes to understanding the Bible, we need to do the hard work required to discern what the text really means. And we must realize that sometimes it says things we don’t like.

It ain’t about picking your favorite players. It is about the truth.

On July 25, 2024, I will host two livestreams. These livestreams will be available on the Determinetruth YouTube page: Part 1: Jesus, the poor, and the Kingdom of God (Luke 6); Part 2: The unjust steward, and the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16). In these sessions, we will examine Jesus’ teaching on love, money, and the poor. I believe there is a great disconnect between what Jesus said and much of the church today. I fear that when it comes to love, money, and the poor, we have read the Bible like it was an All-Star competition: we pick what we like. Instead, we must be prepared to understand Jesus in light of what He really meant, even if we don’t like it.

Our goal is to keep these posts free of charge. I do not intend ever to hide them behind a paywall. I can only do this if those of you who have been blessed by them and can afford to give ($5, $10, $25, or more/month) do so. You can give a tax-deductible contribution by following this link.

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Fantasy Football & the Bible Drafting the Best Understanding (2024)

FAQs

What is the most successful position to draft in fantasy football? ›

In 12-Team Half-PPR, the best draft position is pick No. 1 or 2. Drafting optimally from the No. 1 or 2 spot in 12-team half-PPR drafts lands you on the same team through six rounds -- and a whopping 328.6 3D Value points.

What's the best order to draft in fantasy football? ›

Some fantasy leaguers try to form a pre-draft plan of how to construct their roster by position. For example, they might intend to start with a running back in the first round, then a wide receiver in the second, another wide receiver in the third, and a second running back in the fourth.

What positions to draft first in fantasy football 2024? ›

Grab a wr and a rb in the first two rounds. Draft a top QB in the third then grab the best players from there. I play PPR so I go heavy on WRs. I think this works because the top QBs are finishing with well over 350 points.

Who is the best player to draft in fantasy football? ›

Despite dealing with a calf injury to close out training camp, Christian McCaffrey remains firmly atop most draft boards as the No. 1 pick in 2024.
  • Christian McCaffrey. Q. ...
  • Tyreek Hill. Q. ...
  • CeeDee Lamb. WR - DAL - #88. ...
  • Breece Hall. RB - NYJ - #20. ...
  • Bijan Robinson. RB - ATL - #7. ...
  • Ja'Marr Chase. Q. ...
  • Justin Jefferson. ...
  • Amon-Ra St.
2 days ago

Who should I draft #1 overall in fantasy? ›

Draft Slot 1

Round 1 (Pick 1 overall): Christian McCaffrey is the consensus No. 1 pick. He led all of fantasy in points per game last season, scoring 100.8 more total points (and 3.2 points per game more) than any other running back did.

When should I draft a QB in fantasy football? ›

Drafting multiple upside QBs later in your draft can work well. There are some massive benefits to implementing a late-round QB strategy. Savvy fantasy players can leverage strong matchups to get QB1 production from a QB2 in a given week. We generally see a late-round QB or two break out from late draft positions (C.J.

Should I draft a RB or WR first in fantasy? ›

That said, if it's potentially position-leading upside you desire at running back, spending one of your first two picks on RBs was much more likely to result in success: 31% of running backs selected in the top two rounds finished top five at the position in scoring.

Is it better to draft early or late in fantasy football? ›

Winning a fantasy football championship is no easy feat. Hitting on your early draft picks can ensure you have a solid squad, but if you select a player in the late rounds and he ends up breaking out, that can be the difference between a playoff team and a championship team.

What positions should you draft in each round? ›

Perfect 2024 fantasy football draft strategy, round by round for 10-team leagues: Picks 4-7
  • Round 1, Picks 4-7: Draft a wide receiver.
  • Round 2, Picks 14-17: Draft a wide receiver or running back.
  • Round 3, Picks 24-27: Draft a quarterback.
  • Round 4, Picks 34-37: Draft a running back or wide receiver.
Jul 24, 2024

Who should I draft at 7 in fantasy football? ›

In Rounds 6-7, consider WRs Zay Flowers, George Pickens, Amari Cooper, TE Kyle Pitts (if you didn't draft a TE earlier) viable options.

What is the standard scoring strategy for fantasy football draft? ›

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy 2024
  • Load up on running backs.
  • Know the league rules.
  • Know the ADPs of players during the draft.
  • Wait on Tight Ends.
  • Anchor your team with an ace QB.
  • Balance your roster.
  • Always back yourself up with depth.
  • Be picky and use the “CUDDY” System when drafting.
5 days ago

Who to draft with a 3rd pick in fantasy football? ›

Round 1, Pick 3: Draft a wide receiver

The strategy at this pick is simply to take the best wide receiver. Star running back Christian McCaffrey is likely off the board, and it's a little too early to select Bijan Robinson or Breece Hall.

Who to not draft in fantasy football? ›

Inflated ADPs shape this year's 'do not draft' list for fantasy...
  • Joe Burrow, Bengals (ADP: 7 | my rank: 11)
  • Saquon Barkley, Eagles (ADP: 5 | my rank: 11)
  • Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (ADP: 9 | my rank: 15)
  • Travis Kelce, Chiefs (ADP: 1 | my rank: 3)
2 days ago

What positions to draft in fantasy football first? ›

But elite RBs and WRs typically get drafted first because you need more starters at those positions and their scoring drops off more sharply. That's why the best way to draft is generally to prioritize RBs and WRs while waiting on QBs and TEs.

Who will be the best QB in fantasy? ›

Quarterback Fantasy Football Draft Rankings
QB TierQB RankPlayer Name
11Josh Allen
12Jalen Hurts
13Patrick Mahomes II
24Lamar Jackson
48 more rows
1 day ago

What position scores most in fantasy? ›

Looking at teams that are more on the heavy passing side of things, they are generally going to rank well in quarterback fantasy points, and then wide receiver and tight end fantasy points.

What's the best draft position in fantasy football 10 team? ›

In 10-Team PPR, the best draft position is pick No. 3
PickPlayer3d value
3.03De'Von Achane43.9
4.08Cooper Kupp40.5
5.03Jaylen Waddle40.9
6.08Tee Higgins34.9
3 more rows
Aug 21, 2024

Where is the best place to do a fantasy draft? ›

7 best locations to hold a fantasy football draft in person
  • Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Strip. ...
  • NFL Stadium. ...
  • Buffalo Wild Wings. ...
  • Dave & Busters. ...
  • TopGolf. ...
  • At A League Member's House. ...
  • Any public park.
Jul 27, 2024

How many of each position should I draft for fantasy football? ›

The Optimal Number for Each Position in Fantasy Football

However, a growing consensus appears that this is the best way for fantasy owners to draft a team that scores touchdowns, has better matchups, and, ultimately, ends up playoff-bound: 2 QBs. 4-6 RBs. 6-9 WRs.

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