Okay, let me walk you through how I tackled the fantasy draft in Madden 24 the other day. It’s always a bit of a fun ritual for me, starting fresh with a completely new squad.
Getting Started
First things first, I booted up the game. Navigated over to the Franchise mode. You know how it is, clicking through the initial setup screens. I decided to start a brand new league, using the regular NFL rosters as the base for the player pool.
The key part here is when it asks you about the starting point. Instead of picking the regular season or preseason, I made sure to select the Fantasy Draft option. This is crucial, obviously. I usually just let the draft order be randomized, keeps things interesting, you know? Didn’t mess too much with other league settings at this point, just wanted to get drafting.
The Draft Itself – Round by Round Thinking
Alright, so the draft lobby loads up. You see all the other teams, the clock starts ticking down for the first pick. My spot came up… I think I was somewhere mid-pack, like 15th or something.
Early Rounds (Picks 1-5ish): My strategy usually depends on who’s available. This time, I saw a top-tier QB was still on the board when my first pick came around. Felt like I couldn’t pass that up. So, I grabbed my franchise quarterback right away. Felt good to get that sorted. In the next few rounds, I focused on getting playmakers. Snagged a solid wide receiver, then looked for a cornerstone defensive player – maybe a pass rusher or a lockdown corner. You gotta get those blue-chip guys early before they vanish.
Mid Rounds (Picks 6-15ish): Okay, core pieces in place. Now it was about building out the team. I realized my offensive line was looking pretty thin, so I spent a couple of picks grabbing a decent tackle and a guard. Can’t have my shiny new QB getting hammered all game. I also started looking for value at positions like linebacker and maybe a second or third receiver. You look for guys who might be slightly underrated but still solid starters. It’s a balancing act, trying to fill needs on both offense and defense without reaching too much for a player.
- Focused on Offensive Line
- Looked for starting caliber Linebackers
- Added depth at Wide Receiver
- Kept an eye on Cornerback
Late Rounds (Picks 16+): This is where it gets a bit more about filling the gaps and hoping for potential. Need a tight end? Grab one here. Still need depth in the secondary? Find some safeties or corners. This is also where I usually grab my kicker and punter – can’t forget special teams, even though it feels like an afterthought sometimes. I also look for younger guys with good physical traits, hoping they might develop over the season or in future seasons if I continue the franchise.
Reviewing the Squad
Once the draft finished, the game takes you back to the main franchise hub. First thing I always do is go straight to the ‘Manage Roster’ or ‘Depth Chart’ screen. I look it over, see how the pieces fit. Did I leave any glaring holes? Does the offense look like it can score? Is the defense solid enough?
This time, I felt pretty decent about it. Got my QB, some weapons, a functional O-line (hopefully), and a defense that looked okay on paper. You never really know until you play the games, but the initial feeling was alright. It’s always satisfying seeing that roster you built from scratch.
So yeah, that was pretty much my process for running through the Madden 24 fantasy draft. It takes a bit of time, but it’s a great way to mix things up and build a team exactly the way you want. Or try to, anyway!
