How’s it going my Fantasy Guru fam! We have been getting asked a decent amount of questions in our chat room about 14-team leagues. So I have decided to go ahead and dig into this format at this time.
This is very similar to a 12-team PPR format which I’ve already covered. If you haven’t read it yet, you can check it out here. The biggest difference between the two is that a 14-team league is much deeper, which means that you will have a larger player pool and will be drafting players that typically are not being drafted in smaller leagues.
Just like any PPR, the playing field for running backs, wide receiver, and tight ends is a bit more even because every time a player catches a pass, they get a point.
For the purpose of this article, here is the roster breakdown: 1-QB, 2-RB, 3-WR, 1-TE, 1-Flex, Defense, and Kicker. The scoring is as follows for receiving and rushing:
| OFFENSIVE PLAYERS | SCORING |
| Passing Yards | 1 point per 25 yards |
| Passing Touchdowns | 4 points |
| Passing Interceptions | -2 points |
| Rushing Yards | 0.1 point per 1 yard |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 6 points |
| Receiving Yards | 0.1 point per 1 yard |
| Reception | 1 point |
| Receiving Touchdowns | 6 points |
| 2-Point Conversions | 2 points |
| Fumbles Lost | -2 points |
| Fumble Recovered for a Touchdown | 6 points |
RUNNING BACKS
This is a position that I typically prioritize by no later than the third or fourth round in smaller leagues, but in this format, I will be drafting a running back with one of my first two picks in most cases. Based on ADP, 15 running backs come off the board by the end of the second round in a 14-team PPR league, compared to an average of 11-12 running backs in a 12-team PPR. The difference may not appear significant, but the quality of running backs thin out rather quickly in these larger sized leagues, so prioritizing at least one productive back is something I like to do.
In other words, with a league of this size, I personally do not like to implement the Zero Running Back Strategy, especially if you are picking on the back end of the draft, because by the time you are on the clock again in the third round, you are likely looking at RB20 or lower in most rankings as your RB1. It could most certainly pan out for you, as we have seen many running backs ranked outside the top 20 turn in strong seasons, but you are going into the season with a very a big question mark at the position. Hence, why locking in a reliable running back in the first two rounds is very important for me in these deeper leagues.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The receiver position does not get impacted as much as the running back position in this format because there are so many more receivers than running backs in the league. Just like in a regular PPR format, I am aiming for at least one top-end receiver and then focusing on mixing in volume wide outs with high-upside pass catchers the rest of the way. Being that this is a PPR format, high-volume backs generally provide safe floors because even though they are not getting you 100+ yards and scoring touchdowns regularly, they are still productive with their five receptions for 55 yards performance, as that equates to 10.5 fantasy points in PPR.
TIGHT ENDS
I normally wait until later in drafts to take a tight end, but when I am in a league this deep, I try to draft a tight end earlier than I normally would. The reason for this is because this is a position that is tough to find consistent production from and in a lot cases any type of production. Since other teams like to take two tight ends during draft day, waiting too long could put you in a situation where you miss on fantasy relevant tight ends and head into the season with a big disadvantage, possibly having a tight end on your roster that will not give you any production. Therefore, it is best to get yourself a tight end you can somewhat rely on before it is too late. Keep in mind, I am still not taking Travis Kelce in the second round in this format, but I would be considering someone like an Evan Engram in the early-mid rounds. If you cannot get someone like that, try to at least get a top 12 tight end in your rankings.
QUARTERBACKS
This is a position I am still waiting on drafting until later in the draft. As I have pointed out in previous articles, the drop off between QB5 and QB25 on averages in fantasy points per game is not significant enough for me to exhaust an early round pick at this position. Even more so in a league this deep where the running back position gets thin pretty quick.
MY THOUGHTS
The later rounds is where these deeper leagues separate themselves in a big way from the regular 12-team formats most of us are used to. Being that an extra two players are coming off of the board each round, once you get to the 12th round of a 14-team league, it is like you are drafting in the 14th round of a 12-team league. Truly understanding this concept is extremely important because it gives perspective as to the actual value of players.
First things first, if you are really high on a player, do not be afraid to take him earlier than his ADP suggests. This is something I practice in all formats, but even more so in this one. Because there are so many picks in between yours, the likelihood of a player falling to you in the next round is not great. Therefore, if you like a player, just take him. Granted, I like Marlon Mack a ton, but I am not suggesting to take him in the first round either. However, he generally goes toward the back end of third rounds or front end of fourth rounds in 12-team leagues, so taking him late second or early third in these deeper leagues is something I would most certainly do.
Do not panic, but do not wait too long either. This can be difficult to do because, for those of us who like waiting for certain positions such as tight ends and quarterbacks, the run of either position can occur sooner than you think in deeper formats. This is why I placed a tad more emphasis on not waiting too long to take a reliable tight end. Otherwise, it can get to a point where you feel forced to address a certain position because of the run and this can cause you to panic, leading to a potential mistake during your draft. So make adjustments like you would in any other league, but remember that in these formats with more teams, the majority of the rosters will have a weakness somewhere. Therefore, do not overthink it too much.
Understanding roles and opportunities is important in all formats really, but since we are digging in deeper into our rankings in a 14-team league, it becomes even more important here. For example, someone like Spencer Ware is essentially going undrafted in most leagues, but in this format he is a player I would be targeting late in drafts because with an injury to Marlon Mack (has battled with injuries since joining the league), there is a good chance that he could have a solid role and be useful in fantasy. Which leads me to handcuffing, something I usually do not do, but in a league like this one, I am on board with it. Especially if the backup will be handling a large part of the duties during an injury to the starter. When deep into the draft, do not hesitate to take a player that could have a significant role if an injury occurs, take pass catching backs, and make sure you are aware of the red zone touches of each team.
As you can see, there are some difference in the way we approach a 14-team league versus a 12-team league. However, aside from making adjustments as to when you prioritize certain positions and having a better understanding of roles, the concept is the same. The main focus is to have a balanced lineup with a strong foundation and plenty of depth.
It’s been fun my peeps. Don’t forget to stop by our chat room if you have any questions and as always, you can reach out to me on the Twitter machine @Armando_Marsal.
