As I’ve grown from child to adult, one of the worst answers I’ve ever been given to the question of “Why?” is “Because that’s the way it’s always been.” What is that? That’s the way it’s always been? Is that not the dumbest rationale you’ve ever heard and, as a society, would we not still be living in the Dark Ages if that were really the case? Yet there we go, throughout numerous facets in life, accepting things as they’ve been and never taking the time to understand that what has been may not be what’s best for us now.

It’s called change. It’s called evolution. It’s about debunking myths that have somehow stood the test of time whether they have any remote validity or not. So with that, I would like to take a few moments of your day to do away with some of the myths in fantasy football and put you all back onto a winning path. Sure, you can stubbornly hold onto to certain beliefs and maybe even win a few games, but while you’re doing that, the rest of us are going to happily pass you by. Remember...no one cares who wins the consolation ladder.

Running Backs First

We can open gently here as this is one of the classic myths which does seem to be seeing more and more opposition as the NFL adopts a more pass-heavy style. The fantasy Old Guard continues to stand by the belief that running backs are the way to go early as they are the most valuable players in fantasy. He who touches the ball most is destined to score the most fantasy points, right? Not always and certainly not with the way the running back position has changed over time. Gone are the likes of LaDanian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk, Shaun Alexander and Terrell Davis. Nowadays, most teams employ multiple backs as a way to preserve health and keep fresh legs on the field. You’ve got your between-the-tackles guys, you’ve got your third-down, pass-catching backs and you’ve got your short-yardage/goal-line specialists. You’ve got three guys doing the job one guy did just a few short years ago and the disparity in overall touches and fantasy points is more than just significant. Now sure, you’ve got your bell-cows on some teams, but then we can discuss the increased physicality of players now versus then and the amount of punishment that one guy gets coming out of the backfield. PPR leagues are becoming more of the norm these days and the number of pass plays is, and has been, steadily on the rise. You can be just as successful waiting on the running back position as you can be if you were to take a running back first. Building a successful fantasy team can be done in multiple ways on draft day, so don’t think there’s just one formula for the first few rounds.

The Preseason Doesn’t Matter

Your star players are your star players and you should expect them to practice hard and play minimally in the preseason. But does that mean the preseason doesn’t matter? Of course not. Fantasy football titles are not won in the first few rounds of your draft. They are won in the later rounds and during the season via the waiver wire. If you ignore the preseason and miss out on the expected pecking order at each position of each team, then how are you supposed to build your depth? If Frank Gore gets hurt, most will turn to Robert Turbin or Jordan Todman because that’s what the depth charts say. Those who scoop up Josh Ferguson because they watched him run in the preseason are the ones who are winning.

Strength of Schedule is Important

There are just too many things that can happen between now and the start of the regular season. There are just too many things that can happen between Weeks 1 and 5 for that matter. And just because a team’s defense is listed as poor in the offseason doesn’t mean that they are necessarily going to be that bad. Your stars will shine against both good teams and bad. Draft the skill, not the schedule.

Don’t Draft Players on Bad Teams

Well this is just crazy talk! In baseball, we’ve already disproved the notion of not drafting closers on bad teams, so why are we still holding onto this fallacy in football? I can give you the “any given Sunday” cliché, but instead, let me just say this – bad teams fall behind early and spend the rest of the game trying to catch up. Quarterbacks on bad teams tend to air it out more and the receivers see a ton more work as well. You want to get a running back on a good team because they run out the clock? Sure, but then, conversely, grab some receivers from some not-so-hot teams and love on the garbage time yards and scores.

Planning Ahead is Important, Especially for the Playoffs

If you’re in a league with a deep bench, then there’s nothing wrong with a couple of stashes to prep for the future. However, keep in mind that injuries occur and you are going to probably need some of those bench spots for players you need right in that moment. You want to grab Kenyan Drake and stash him? Fine. But if Odell Beckham gets hurt and is out for a few weeks, well, you’re not only going to have to stash him on your bench, but you’re also likely going to need a couple of extra receivers from which to choose each and every week. There’s nothing wrong with being proactive, but you need to live in the here and now and win these games one week at a time.

Running Backs Are Done At Age-30

Seriously? Are we still saying this? Did anyone watch Adrian Peterson last year? At age 30, he rushed for almost 1,500 yards and had 11 touchdowns. In 2013 Frank Gore, at age-30, rushed for over 1,100 yards with nine touchdowns and then the following year, broke the 1,100-yard barrier once again. Since the year 2000, there have been 24 over-30 running backs who have cleared 1,000 yards in a season while there have been 16 who have cleared double-digit touchdowns. Are the older guys your first targets? No, but dismissing them completely just because of age is ridiculous.

Third-Year Wideouts Have Breakout Seasons

Here’s another great myth that has been debunked over the past few years. Have there been wideouts who have broken out in their third year? Of course. But there have also been a number who haven’t. Again, it’s about skill, opportunity and growth, so just because a guy is going into his third year, it doesn’t mean that he is primed for a breakout. What if he’s stupid? What if he can’t learn to run routes properly? What if he’s Josh Gordon? Of all the third-year wideouts last year, only DeAndre Hopkins had a breakout campaign. Keenan Allen got hurt, Tavon Austin didn’t do much, Terrence Williams was silent and Cordarrelle Patterson still sucked. And what about Markus Wheaton or Kenny Stills? This year’s class was part of the Year of the Rookie Wideout in 2014, so while there are certainly some great names like Odell Beckham, Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins and Brandon Cooks, you cannot expect them to automatically surpass any of the numbers they’ve already provided.

Avoid Players on the Same Bye Week

Really? Not in my world. In fact, I love to build a team where everyone actually has the same bye week. Rather than have to keep plugging holes each week, why not just throw away one week…say, Week 10….and have your full squad for each and every other week? It’s a tough feat to accomplish on draft day, but not only can it be done, but it can be done successfully. I tested out this strategy last season and it actually worked out great as I went 10-3 during the regular season and earned a first-round bye. Injuries hosed me for my first playoff match-up, but I cruised through the regular season. You can’t do it half-assed and end up with four guys on the same bye and five on another because, again, anything can happen, but choosing one receiver over a better option just because that better option had the same by week as your other top wideout is a mistake.

The Best Fantasy Team Wins

Here’s where we can throw down the always trite “any given Sunday.” Shit happens, people. Injuries, bad games, poor match-ups, whatever. Just because you have the best team on paper doesn’t mean it’s always going to show in the win column. That’s why you should always have a clause in your league rules that a team with the most points gets automatic entry to the playoffs, regardless of win/loss record.

Got any more myths to de-bunk? Find me in the Fantasy Alarm Forums, tweet me @rotobuzzguy or join me every Sunday night on SiriusXM’s Fantasy Sports Tonight as we roll through the 2016 fantasy football preseason!