As the 2016 NFL Season approaches its official start on September 8 with a Superbowl re-match between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers, interests are also brewing over fantasy football among the fans. Over 74 million Americans will play fantasy football this year, including women, children over age 12, and people who are haggled into it because their friend needs another body.

It's a $4.7 billion business built on a competition that puts a little something at stake beyond bragging rights. Some play for the inclusion. Others for the money, which American Express recently projected to average about $107 per player; this includes litigious daily fantasy sites like DraftKings and FanDuel.

Once the draft begins, allegiances go out the window.

Seahawks fans are Andrew Luck fans. Tom Brady is somewhat likeable. Lifelong friends are Week 4 rivals. Marriages hinge on a spouse helping with game day strategy.

At this point, the only factor more important than creating the perfect team name is building a winning team. Here are five draft-day strategies that won't ruin your entire season.

Fantasy Rankings Don't Matter

Compare ESPN's 2015 preseason rankings to the eventual scoring leaders. The only crossover top 10 running backs are Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte. Four names come up among wide receivers: Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., Julio Jones, and A.J. Green. As for tight ends, only five of ESPN's top 10 met expectations.

Name recognition isn't enough. Fantasy owners must do their due diligence and look at injury reports, looming suspensions, and depth charts to anticipation downtime. Odds are that someone in your draft pool will give you a leg up by taking a player's worth at preseason value.

Forget About Hometown Loyalty

Fandom should only go as far as selecting your defense. "Forty Shades of Jay" gains nothing by drafting Jay Cutler, just like a Lions fan will regret choosing "Inglorious Staffords" once they and Matthew Stafford realize Calvin Johnson doesn't suit up anymore.

Showing loyalty is fine as long as your investment - aka fantasy team - isn't affected.

Wear a Cowboys jersey ever Sunday, pray Tony Romo takes a snap without breaking his collarbone; just don't let it happen at your team's expense.

Know the Scoring System

The difference between a standard scoring system and PPR (Point-per-reception) leagues changes how a team is structured.

Standard leagues go by the following format: six points for touchdowns, four points for a touchdown pass, and one point for 10 rushing or receiving yards. Kickers receive points based on the length of their attempt.

PPR leagues giver player one point per touch, meaning that a wide receiver like Antonio Brown would get five points for five receptions regardless of yardage.

Keep this in mind during garbage time when all that's left are short-yardage running backs and third-string receivers.

Prioritize Running Backs

Last December, Business Insider listed the biggest busts of 2015. The biggest disappointment, by far, was Packers' running back Eddie Lacy, who finished with just three touchdowns on 513 rushing yards. Placing second was Broncos' tailback C.J. Anderson and his three touchdowns on 496 yards.

Running backs are a draft board crapshoot. Their roles fluctuate so much from week-to-week that the best option is to draft them in bulk. When one goes down, you have a sturdy backup in place. It's your best bet at lucking into the next Devonta Freeman or DeAngelo Williams.

Wait on Starting Quarterbacks

Unless their surname is Newton or Rodgers, elite quarterbacks won't come off the board until the third or fourth round. The priority is to build on vulnerable running back and wide receiver slots. This goes along with the need to disillusion one's self about name recognition.

Why waste a pick on Rodgers or Wilson when premier playmakers are still available. One wouldn't think that Blake Bortles would bring much fantasy value last year, yet there he sat, on countless waiver wires halfway through the season as owners judged his jersey rather than his receiving corps.