Fantasy football is a very challenging, rewarding and, most of all, fun gaming activity. It is a relatively easy game to play, but very difficult to be good at, let alone master. We all indulge in this activity for the same reason we play any game—because we enjoy it immensely. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started and make the most out of playing fantasy football.

• Study

It’s one of the easiest things to do when immersing yourself in the world of fantasy football. This mostly involves a lot of reading and researching. There are a lot of hardcore fantasy football nuts out there like me, and it’s safe to say that despite the number of years I have been playing, I still learn something new every year. Utilize a good number of sites to do your research and try to improve your gaming skills. It all comes down to how much you want to know and how much time you are able to devote to the game.

• Cheat Sheets and Rankings

Before making the draft every year, make sure you prepare a cheat sheet. Print out a few rankings from some of the more reputable sites on the net and start building your own master list. A cheat sheet is the single most essential tool on draft day.

• Do Mock Drafts

A mock draft is simply a practice session for your real draft. This is an excellent way to get you accustomed to what a live draft should be like, and it also gives you an idea where all the players are drafted. Draft strategies can either be fine tuned and perfected or thrown in the waste bin to go back to the drawing board. You can do as many mock drafts as you can to help you iron out the bumps in your strategy.

• Join a Fantasy Community

You can have an edge in winning your games when you join a fantasy community. You can post questions about your team, get tips on sleepers, read up on strategies or simply just join in conversation about fantasy football or football in general. The key is having the right information and knowing how to use it to win.

• Try Joining Different Fantasy Leagues

It’s all about playing in a league that fits your gaming preferences. Try as many different league formats, websites and communities as you can until you feel all the pieces starting to fall into place.

• Draft Players You Like to Have on Your Team

While I don’t draft just my favorite players—that would be fantasy suicide—I will pass over the guy I am ambivalent about for the guy I really like if I have them closely ranked. My Sundays are much more enjoyable to cheer for a team of players I drafted that I really like as players.

• Know What You Enjoy

It won’t come to you immediately but when it does, it can turn you into a life-long fantasy football player. It is that simple. If you really enjoy the game, you will play it as long as you can. Take your time, enjoy each format and team you play as you go move along, tweaking what you want from your fantasy experience according to your preference until you achieve your ultimate goal in fantasy football—to be a winner.