Most fantasy franchise owners focus their time preparing for a successful draft on the "very critical" first two rounds. Your first two picks are important, but they are not going to make the difference between wining it all and finishing dead last.

The best fantasy drafters know that the core of the team, the major point getters, the men that will take them far into December playoffs, the true fantasy gold players, are the draft picks uncovered in the middle rounds. 

So how do you know you're about to discover a golden nugget in the middle rounds of your fantasy draft? Well, like all treasure hunters and gold miners know, it's all about where you look and how you dig.

Here is how to build your draft day treasure map. Hint: the first rule for treasure hunting is to keep the map a closely guarded secret!

RisingTeams

The first step in finding great middle round picks is to look at teams that are on the rise. Teams that finished in the middle of the pack last year just might break out this year. When teams start winning more games, they tend to score more points and play better defense. These teams are also more likely to be the home of big scoring fantasy players that flew under the radar of the majority. Look for teams that had a great free agent signing period, a solid draft, and one with young players waiting for the opportunity to show their skills.

Future Stars / New Surroundings

Once you have identified your "Rising Teams," make a quick list of the possible future stars. Look at players that are new to the team or will benefit from new additions. Start by viewing the prime positions on the roster: quarterback, wide receiver, running back and tight end. Consider what, if any, off-season moves will impact which positions the most. Are the receivers talented, but never had a good QB in the past and now they do? Is the RB going to be helped with an improved offensive line? Has there been a coaching move that will change the style of offence (more run, less pass or vise versa) or favors certain positions over the others (throws to the TE's or switches running backs down in the red zone)? You get the idea!

If a player is a new addition to a team, find out why they were sent packing. If they were under performers on there past team, find out why. Is the new team better for them? Is the problem corrected? If you think so, draft them.

Randy Moss went in the middle to late rounds in most drafts last year, but the fantasy franchise owners that knew the only reason he under-preformed in Oakland was he did not have a good QB, discovered a draft day gold mine when they picked him up.

Players change teams due to salary cap restrictions, free agency, being traded or as a result of an injury. You need to know why they are on a new team and what the implications of the move will be. This area of draft day planning requires time, hard work and a little digging for the answers.

Digging is where most of the treasures are found. It's hard work, it does take time, but the rewards far out weight the amount of time required. The talent and time required to analyze future starts and players in new surroundings is one of the hardest to predict Knowing more about a teams situation and possible potential, before the draft, than your competition, is the biggest key to draft day success. Try to predict and draft the players that the media will be writing about a few weeks after the season starts.

Consistency

Now that you have identified the teams on the rise and have found what might be the next break out player, how do you narrow down the choices? Do your homework on stats. Know where an average player should be and look for players that have had two straight years of consistent statistics: those that are just below, just above or are on par with the average NFL mark. Most players need two years to become a bonafide NFL force. If the player has had two solid, statistically consistent years and will begin their third year, chances are good that the break out season will be coming soon.

Dynamic Duos

If you look at past years, you will notice that some of the biggest scorers are part of a 1-2 punch. Take for examples Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, Chad Johnson and TJ Husmazada, the list could go on and on. Drafting one of the two is a fairly safe bet. In some years due to injury, game plan changes, changes in how other teams play them on defenses, the less spotlighted player becomes the star of the show. Also, while trying to identify future stars, look for players that are becoming the next NFL dynamic duo.

Use your best judgment and follow your gut. Have the courage to make a draft pick even if those sitting around the table laugh at you after each round. As long as you created a good treasure map to guide your draft day strategy, chances are the laughers will be holding back their tears once your team starts racking up the points, driving you deep into December playoffs and, hopefully, finding your hard earned treasure of fantasy football pay outs.