telling them that I'll beat them all.
I'll still finish in the top few every single year in every league I'm in.
I regularly do that to give people extra motivation to knock me off my high horse. It's more fun when it's more difficult.

Inevitably, there will still be people who decide to pout when things go wrong and they'll stop trying so hard.

But there is a lot of luck. What do you do when Kupp gets off to a good start and then exits the game late in the second quarter? that can be a rough week.
I was worried the same thnig would happen when London went out last night after the late hit to the head. I felt fortunate when he returned later to put up another 20 points that night.

Watch games.
Check snap count stats.
Check route count stats.
Check target shares.

Look for situations like we see in Chicago, Tampa Bay, and Cincinnati where veterans lead a backfield, but there is an obviously more talented young guy waiting to take over. Target those guys in trades or waiver claims or whatever.
There's a lot of luck, but it's good strategy.
Sell high and buy low.

I'm a sad Zach Moss owner. I'd love to offload him, but I'm not sure I can. Before long, Chase Brown will surely supplant him. He's so much more explosive.