Happens so often.. Its like you are forced to play more hands and open your range way more than usual. Matter of fact, sometimes when I stuck in a table, full of absentees and donkeys that will play 72, I even stay out myself in order to let the donks bust each other out. Many absentees in a freeroll is a recipe for bad beats, cause your opponents play any two cards.
My tips, would be to use your position, and dont raise from early with nothing just to steal blinds. Also beware of other players at the table how they play, how often they are stealing. Steal from the strealers often, but also play carefully, if the board is 39K7 and you have AK, if you see great resistance and the pot is getting abnormally big, procced with caution and dont assume you have the winning hand, unless you want to lose by a random two pair.