We are all aware that Fantasy Draft in Football Manager often gets overlooked by users, but this year there are so many new changes and features that have been added. I am going to have a look at the main ones that stand out, and really give you a reason to dive into a fantasy draft in FM22.

It has been amazing to watch the streamer showdown and all the other head-to-head draft communities that are being set up. This year is definitely the year SI have stepped up their game, in delivering improvements that feed directly into that community vibe. With a brand new feel and update to Fantasy Draft, I believe this year will be something special.

Let’s begin…

Player Pool and Setting Up

If, like me, you like to play around with settings then this is perfect for you. You want an all American draft? Perfect, you can do this. Do you want only English players available for the draft? That is also fine, you can set it up in any way you’d like.

This year you can really elevate the options of players you have at your disposal. If you want a World pool that is an option, however you can also select players from specific regions if this is something you want to do.

This gives the user an endless choice of players they can pick from. Even giving you an option to add your own database in, which will really take Fantasy Draft in FM22 to the next level. The community is full of amazing databases, and arguably the most famous 2001/02 Retro Database for Football Manager 2022 (https://twitter.com/MadScientistFM) will no doubt be a good choice for many players. At the end of the day, who doesn’t want Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham in their Fantasy Draft team in FM22?!

Some of the other areas which you should keep an eye out for are definitely the squad budget and competition format. With budget, customise this to what you think is best, I normally go with unlimited, just because I want the best players at my disposal. In terms of format, there are three formats: Group Stage & Knockout, Knockout Cup and League. They are all fairly self explanatory. However, if you’re still unsure, press each one and underneath the format it will explain what each format is.

There are other settings you can adjust, for example: number of legs, how many times you play each other, VAR, suspension rules etc.

Picks and Range

This is the most exciting part of Fantasy Draft in FM22, picks and range. It’s as simple as this. 

Picks give you restrictions that remain for the duration of the draft. You can add as many restrictions as you wish. Obviously, make them sensible as you don’t want a player pool of 20 players between ten managers.

Range is slightly different and is done in increments of 5 rounds. Similar to how picks work, you select as many restrictions as you want for the 1-5th round, 6-10th, 11-15th, 16th-20th and 21-25th picks. You can add as much variety as you want, and have differing rounds to add more tense rounds.

The restrictions are as follows: Preferred foot, Nationality, Division, Height, Position, Value and Age. During this stage you are able to see how many players are eligible from the selection you are making. With a custom database that’s very specific, this will be brilliant to use. The endless possibility of players available, and player combinations will really elevate your Fantasy Draft in FM22.

The Draft

The draft is where you really can separate the best from the rest. Before the actual draft takes place, there is a shortlisting stage where you can find the players you want to sign. Then, the draft takes place with rounds being used. The host or admin can set the order of the draft, but I leave it on random, just as it adds that little bit more immersion to the game.

If you selected range picks, this is where your whole player list will change every 5 rounds based on what you have selected. So for example on the fifth round, once you and everyone else has selected the players will change to match the new restrictions.

One of the main features this year is the ability to auto-pick.  With improved AI intelligence, it will really make your fantasy drafts realistic. You have the ability to auto-pick any player, or be more position-specific. The auto-pick will match what the restrictions are as well as the budget set. This is a great way to get players if you aren’t really sure what you need.

After the draft is complete and all managers have selected their squad, you are then taken to the inbox screen. This is where the game comes to life and you’ll be able to watch a live draw (depending on the competition) then play games to see who really is the best Football Manager.

Summary of Fantasy Draft in FM22

At the end of the draft, and once the winner has been announced, you will be given an option to re-do the draft, known as a mid-term draft. You can choose the players you want to keep, and change them for different players if you wish. After the draft, you will go back to inbox and play until a winner is decided.

A few words to the wise, as you get ready to dive in.

First, auto-picks should be used, but be mindful of your budget. You don’t want to be left short towards the later stages of the draft and lacking depth in key areas. Make sure you keep an eye on budgets and get the best out of what you have.

Second, have a plan whilst drafting. If you play a certain way in FM22, try and replicate that with similar players in the draft. Whilst searching for players, look at what attributes you want them to have in the drafting or shortlisting stage. This will help you gain an advantage over other managers.

Finally and most importantly, have fun. It’s as simple as that, this updated game mode can really add life to Football Manager. Enjoy it, but don’t go throwing any water bottles.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide and look into Fantasy Draft in FM22. I really hope you win a draft, or at least avoid a heavy defeat.

Other articles you may enjoy:

http://dictatethegame.com/staff-meetings-fm22/

http://dictatethegame.com/football-manager-primer-playing-on-the-edge-with-widecentreback/