Fantasy football tips for women: step-by-step beginner advice, simple strategies, and league-winning confidence tips from Gridiron Goddess.
My Not-So-Glamorous Fantasy Football Origin Story
If you’re anything like me, your love of football developed as part of a family ritual. Sundays with Dad watching the Cowboys and being under the Friday night lights in central Texas (for the high school both my parents taught at, and I eventually attended) meant that football became ingrained in me from a pretty young age.
I’ve been playing fantasy football for long enough now that I don’t remember when I first learned it was a thing. But I do remember wanting to join my first league. My wife and I built a house in a super cute neighborhood—literal white picket fences and all. A post came across the Facebook page asking if anyone wanted to play. I thought it might be a good way to get to know some of our new neighbors, and I knew enough about football that I thought I could hang.
However… I could not, indeed, “hang.” My first draft was so bad—I literally got laughed at for my first pick. Yikes.
After that embarrassing night, making a pretty terrible football impression, I knew I needed help. So I went looking for resources—and what I found was pretty disappointing. A “Fantasy Football 101” article here or a “Fantasy Football Starter Tips” article there, but nothing super comprehensive that would really get me where I needed to be. Or… it was waaay above my skill level. Target market share, what?
I spent the next football season guessing. I set lineups based on the point projections in the ESPN fantasy app, and that was it. I ended up making some trades and waiver wire moves that had me finish in the middle of the pack that first season, but it was really all luck.
Not Everyone Speaks Fantasy Football Yet—and That’s Okay
So I decided to write the resource I needed.
In general, content for fantasy football players lives at the extremes. It’s either too vague (i.e., telling people to “draft good players” with no details), full of acronyms that new players have to constantly Google (PPR, 3RR, YAC, etc.), or made up of high-level stats that beginners don’t need to get started.
Even the so-called beginner resources usually assume a level of knowledge that just isn’t there.
As a former teacher, the term “scaffolding” is super important when teaching content. It’s a fancy term for building from the ground up with topics that might be more complicated. In fantasy football, “scaffolding” is severely lacking.
This process shouldn’t just be about learning the rules—it’s also about building confidence in new players so they can play and actually enjoy the game.
The Weight of Proving You Belong in a Fantasy Football League
As I kept digging into fantasy football culture and content, I realized the lack of beginner-friendly resources wasn’t just a “me” problem—it was a bigger issue, especially for women.
According to the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association, about one in three fantasy football players are women, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the landscape. Most fantasy content, platforms, and communities still cater to men by default—both in tone and design.
Women are often treated like guests in fantasy football spaces—welcome to play, maybe even tolerated in the group chat, but not truly seen as competitors. That unspoken message shows up in the way questions get answered (or mocked), and in the way beginner resources often assume you’ve been talking fantasy around the bar with your buddies for years.
Just two days ago, this comment appeared on a TikTok of mine because I wasn’t making content the way this dude wanted me to:
“Until you’re able to display that you know what you’re talking about (i.e. make a cogent point), please leave.”
This disconnect feeds imposter syndrome—even for experienced women. There’s often an unspoken pressure to prove you belong, like you have to be twice as prepared or twice as knowledgeable just to be taken seriously.
I’ve heard from women who were invited to compete in the Scott Fish Bowl—one of the most respected and inclusive charity tournaments in all of fantasy football—who still felt nervous about participating in live drafts.
Not because anyone was rude or unkind, but because of that lingering fear:
What if my picks get judged? What if I get side-eyed for not knowing every stat?
That kind of internal pressure, the fear of being dismissed or looking “dumb,” is something many women carry, even in spaces that are genuinely welcoming.
It’s not always about the people in the room; it’s about the years of messaging that told us we don’t really belong there. And that fear keeps so many smart, football-loving women on the sidelines.
The Fantasy Football Guide I Wish I Had
Fantasy football can feel overwhelming at first—but once you understand the basics, it’s empowering, strategic, and so much fun. To help you start strong, here are 7 beginner-friendly tips that will keep you confident all season long:
1. Don’t draft just your favorite football players.
It’s tempting to build a team around players you love, but fantasy success comes from balance. Draft based on position needs and projected points—not just heart.
2. Know your fantasy point scoring format.
Before draft day, check whether your league is PPR (points per reception) or standard scoring. This changes how valuable wide receivers and running backs are on your roster.
3. Prioritize running backs early in the draft.
RBs are in short supply and consistently put up big numbers. Locking in a strong one early gives your lineup stability.
4. Live on the fantasy waiver wire.
Every week, undrafted players break out. Stay active on the waiver wire—it’s often where championships are won.
5. Watch the football bye weeks.
Stacking players who all sit out the same week can leave you with zero starters. Spread out bye weeks to keep your roster strong.
6. Be patient with drafting quarterbacks.
Unless you’re targeting a superstar like Josh Allen, you can wait on QB. Great value often falls to the later rounds.
7. Trust your instincts (with backups).
Gut feelings matter, but always check matchups, injury reports, and projections before locking in your lineup.
With these strategies, you’ll avoid rookie mistakes, draft a competitive roster, and set yourself up for a season of wins (and bragging rights).
You Belong in Fantasy Football
At the end of the day, this is about more than just fantasy football. Yes, it’s a game, but it’s also a gateway to confidence, connection, and community. Learning to play fantasy can deepen your love of the NFL, give you a seat at the sports conversation table, and create a fun, shared experience with your friends, coworkers, or partner.
I’ve seen women go from feeling intimidated to feeling like total bosses in their leagues and that shift is important. Because when women are empowered to take up space in traditionally male-dominated areas, it changes the culture for the better. Women deserve to feel like we have the invitation and aren’t just the “plus-one” at the table.
An experienced fantasy player once told me that fantasy football isn’t just about memorizing stats—it’s about learning how to think like a fantasy manager. That’s the real key for beginners, and it’s exactly what I want to help you unlock.
If you’ve ever wanted to play but didn’t know where to start, or if you’ve tried before and felt lost in the jargon, I’ve got you. On my page, you’ll find resources that explain the game step by step, more tips to learn the game, and confidence-boosting tools that make fantasy feel less intimidating and a lot more fun.
Whether you’re drafting with your partner, your coworkers, or your new neighborhood besties, you can do this—and actually enjoy it. Head to my page to grab the extras, get even more insights, and start building a team that feels 100% yours.
You belong here.
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