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Fantasy 101: Chopped Leagues (Fantasy Football)
Jul 1, 2026Colt WilliamsThe Fantasy Footballers
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Brock Bowers
TE · LV · #general
...mage" alt="Nov 2, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates after a touchdown during the second half against the Jacks...
Malik Nabers
WR · NYG · #general
...antasyfootballers.com/fantasy/malik-nabers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malik Nabers worth your entire FAAB budget in a chopped league? <img src="https://s...
Ashton Jeanty
RB · LV · #startrecommendation
...ntasyfootballers.com/fantasy/ashton-jeanty" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ashton Jeanty eventually finished as the RB12, but he started slowly and, after the...
TreVeyon Henderson
RB · NE · #general
...footballers.com/fantasy/treveyon-henderson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TreVeyon Henderson , for example. Both players are currently going in the middle of the fo...
Carnell Tate
WR · TEN · #general
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Welcome to Chopped Leagues 101! Whether you are new to the format or a chopped veteran, this guide covers everything you need to know not only to survive but also to dominate your chopped league. From understanding the nuances of the format to building the right roster through the draft to managing your FAAB, you will find these strategies to help you stay far away from the chopping block. Looking to learn even more about fantasy football? Head over to our Fantasy 101 page to start building your knowledge of all fantasy league formats and how to crush them! What is a Chopped League? Imagine this: You and 17 of your friends (18 teams total) play in a fantasy football league together. In a normal redraft league, you face off head-to-head each week until you make the playoffs, and then a champion is determined. In a chopped league, there are no head-to-head matchups. Instead, whoever has the lowest score each week is chopped from the league, and this continues until one team remains and a champion is crowned. What Happens When a Team is Chopped? This is my favorite part of choopped leagues. Once the dust has settled and Monday Night Football comes to an end, their entire roster is released onto the waiver wire, where you and your leaguemates will pick it apart with blind bids using your FAAB . Traditionally, there is no trading to keep the league fair. That means the FAAB you have is all the FAAB you will get. Now you may be thinking, “ One of the best parts about fantasy football is trading ”, and I agree, but I promise you will still get your fix crunching the numbers, week in and week out, determining what to bid on each player. How does the Waiver Wire Work? After the draft, everyone is given $1000 in FAAB. Every league is different, but $1000 is the default. To simplify things, most of the time it is best to use percentages (“I spent 10% of my FAAB for Terrace Marshall Jr .”) rather than the actual amount, since league FAAB amounts can vary. Early in the season, it will be slim pickings. Remember, it is an 18-person league, so if you picked at the 1.01, first overall, you will not pick again until the 36th pick. Once your budget is gone, it’s gone. Draft Strategy Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images While there are many things to consider when making your first few picks, here are some things to contemplate every time you are on the clock: Consistency is Key: Is this a boom-or-bust player like Jameson Williams , or is he consistent like teammate AmonRa St. Brown ? In the earlier rounds, I like to play it safe when deciding which player to draft. Adding Insult to Injury: Remember this: You don’t have to be first; you just can’t be last. Injured (or suspended) players are much riskier in chopped leagues, as even one missed game can send your head rolling. Strength in Numbers: Look at the early-season schedule. Take Javonte Williams and TreVeyon Henderson , for example. Both players are currently going in the middle of the fourth round of fantasy drafts, but when using the Strength of Schedule tool in the Ultimate Draft Kit , their early-season schedules are night and day. Rookie Mistakes: In most leagues, the players that you draft in the single-digit rounds will be starting for you early and often until you win some bids on the waiver wire. That means when you draft rookies that are going in the first 10 rounds, like Jeremiyah Love , Carnell Tate , or Jordyn Tyson , you are starting them through thick and thin. Sometimes it’s a rough start. Last…