Fantasy Sports Counselor

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:24:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Is Fantasy Football Geeky?

I have been pondering the question if Fantasy Football is geeky or not. Many people will scoff at this converstation. After all, football has always been a “jock” thing and not a geek thing. But like most geeky things, fantasy football is based outside of reality. The fans of fantasy football are often obsessed like I am for a good Sci Fi show or Spidey comic books. Fantasy Football owners speak their own language and often discuss their success and failures Monday and Tuesday morning similarly to fans of BSG and LOST would do the day after their show.

Fantasy football may be fantasy but it is also based on real stats from real players. Fantasy football is stat based which is accepted for sports fanatics. It is sports related which is hard to reconcile with geekdom.

Fantasy football has become much more acceptable over the last twenty years. I remember when it was only for fringe few. Now, all sorts of people play fantasy football. Some of my friends used to never watch a football game but now that they are playing Fantasy Football, they watch football religiously.

Most of my fantasy football friends, are not jocks but many are geeks. I include myself in this group. We will often weave our conversations from sci fi to comics to fantasy football. Comics and fantasy football are the top two things I discuss with my father.

I really don’t know if fantasy football is really geeky or not. I do know that it lends itself well to many geeks and fits in our geeky nature. I am leaning towards including it in the more socially accepted geek obsessions. What do my readers think?

The Counselor is OUT:

But that was a different era!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:19:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

As sports fans, we like to discuss who is the greatest of all time for various sports. Mostly this is a futile venture but can lead to some interesting conversations. These conversations are killed with the phrase "But that was a different era!"

I have experienced this first hand numerous times. I was in a recent discussion about Michael Jordan and how I am not convinced that he is the greatest. My friend was adamant that Jordan is by far the greatest basketball player of all times. I asked him when Mikey scored one hundred points in a game, which he never did. My buddy gave me the standard kill phrase of "But that was a different era." I responded with, "yes it was and they did not have 3 point shots so it was more tough for Wilt Chamberlain than it would have been for Jordan."

Earlier this week on ESPN's Mike and Mike show, they were pronouncing Phil Jackson the greatest basketball coach of all time. The conversation turned to comparing him to Red Auerbac. One of their guests scoffed at the comparison and Proclaimed "But that was a different era."

The point of these debates are to compare and contrast players from various eras. To exclaim that it is unfair to contemplate the differences of players from different eras is ridiculous and ludicrous. When advocating someone as the Greatest, one is required to answer debate about players from other eras. Otherwise, this player is just the greatest of their era and not of all time.

The Counselor is OUT:

Dez Bryant Huppla

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:32:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

This last week, a lawsuit was filed against Dez Bryant. He is accused of not paying his tab for $500,000 in jewelry. He may have stiffed his co-signer and the two jewelry stores for the cost of his new bling. If he did this, then Dez is showing his youth and immaturity.

Some people have blown this out of proportion. They are ranting and raving about Bryant. These same people declare he is falling apart and will self destruct the Cowboys.

We all know that wide receivers can be divas. Some of them like the flash and spot light. Dez appears to be one of them.

Dez Bryant has not physically harmed anyone. He was not stopped for driving drunk. He has not even ranted about his teammates and/or his coaches. It is not like he was caught with hookers and cocaine.

Bryant flashed his skill and talents on the field last season. Injuries prevented him from playing several games but he demonstrated why the Cowboys coveted him at the draft. He will be a playmaker for years to come.

I am not saying that we need to dismiss Bryant’s off the field issues. He should be held accountable for his bills and choices. If he owes this money for a vanity like jewelry, then he should be made to pay for it. I hope he learns from this and adds people around him to help him with his off the field and financial choices. But this is not at a level that will be detrimental to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Counselor is OUT:

Opening Day Renewal and Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:06:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

The air is full of the smells of the Spring. Scents of cut grass and pollinating pollinating trees hang and mix with the oxygen. Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is upon us.

Opening day of Baseball season brings me a sense of renewal. After a cold hard winter, it is the gateway to warm weather. The grass, trees, flowers, and plants are renewed and coming back to life. Even at age 40, the start of baseball season brings the promise of playing outside and the upcoming summer months (no longer 12 weeks of summer vacation but still).

Every baseball fan anticipates opening day. His or her team is undefeated. This could be the season that their team breaks out, returns to dominance, and could win the World Series. As a Texas Rangers fan, I am hopeful for a return to the Series and this time a championship. Even my family and friends that are Kansas City Royals fans believe that this could be their break out season. Opening Day is all about Renewal and Hope and I am grateful for it.

The Counselor is OUT:

Interview with Cardinals Minor Leaguer- C.J. Beatty

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:08:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

(Original article posted in the March Edition of Sports Jabber Magazine)

Recently, St. Louis Cardinal Minor League Outfielder, C.J. Beatty, agreed to an interview with me for Sports Jabber Magazine. C.J. is a prospect who was the Top Athlete at North Carolina A&T for two years prior to being drafted. I gathered questions from the Sports Jabber community and made my list. I found C.J. to be a down-to-Earth guy who just loves to play baseball and who has high aspirations playing for the Cardinals in St. Louis.

I am sure you will enjoy his responses to our questions.

1) The first question and comments are from Sports Jabber’s Co-Owner Reg.
“First of all, I want to thank CJ, on behalf of SJ, for doing this interview.
Secondly, since you play in the organization of my favorite MLB team AND you & I attended the same GREAT school, you are now one of my favorite players. ;-)
What are some of your goals...in baseball and in life?
GO AGGIES!”

MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO ONE DAY BE A MAJOR LEAGUER! and SECOND....BE ABLE TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ACHIEVE THIER DREAMS!

2) As Reg mentioned, you attended college at North Carolina A&T, near your hometown. Please tell our readers more about North Carolina A&T: size of enrollment; what is the school known for; and why you selected North Carolina A&T?

I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT 12,000 STUDENTS AT A&T. THE AGGIES ARE KNOWN FOR THE BEST HOMECOMING ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH...ALSO I THINK OUR HOMECOMING WAS RANKED IN THE TOP 5 IN THE NATION AT SOME POINT.

I COULD HAVE WENT TO ANY SCHOOL OF MY CHOICE....UVA, OHIO STATE, NC STATE, LSU, JUST TO NAME SOME… I CHOSE AGGIE LAND BECAUSE THEY ARE D-1, 30min AWAY FROM HOME, AND THEY GAVE ME A FULL SCHOLARSHIP.

3) You were twice named Athlete of the Year at North Carolina A & T. You were the big man on campus. Now you are in the minors. How does it compare going from being the best athlete on campus to playing in the minors?

FUNNY YOU ASK! I WAS USED TO BEING TREATED AS A KING, NOW I’M AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL AGAIN TRYING TO CRAWL BACK ON TOP! BUT IT’S FUN.

4) You were drafted in the 26th round in the 2009 Draft after your Junior year. At that point, did you consider staying in school for another year in hopes your draft stock might rise? If so, what convinced you to go to the minors?

WELL....IN BASEBALL, IT’S DIFFERENT. WHEN YOU ARE A JUNIOR, YOU HAVE SOME PULL. BUT WHEN YOU GO PRO AFTER YOUR SENIOR SEASON, REGARDLESS OF WHO YOU ARE, YOUR STOCK IS NOT AS VALUABLE. ONLY BECAUSE SCOUTS KNOW YOU "HAVE" TO SIGN. PLUS THE CARDINALS PAID FOR THE REST OF MY EDUCATION!

5) You had a wrist injury your rookie season that cut your season very short. Last season, your batting average was significantly down from your college stats with North Carolina A&T. Were you still recovering from the wrist injury or was it from a learning curve of professional baseball?

NO....MY WRIST WAS TOTALLY HEALED. IT’S THAT LEARNING CURVE THAT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH. EVERY YEAR I LEARN MORE AND TRAIN HARDER....SO WE SHALL SEE :-)

6) The Cardinals are a storied franchise. They have the second most World Series rings. The have a long list of great players from Stan the Man to Ozzie Smith to Mark McGuire to Albert Pujols. Is it intimidating or inspiring to be with an organization like the Cardinals with such history and iconic greats? Who is your favorite Cardinal of all time?

Noooooooo noooo! MAN I FEEL LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE BEING IN THE CARDINALS
ORGANIZATION! IT’S A JAW-DROPPING EXPERIENCE. I REALLY DO LOOK UP TO ALBERT
BECAUSE OF HIS STRONG WORK ETHIC!

7) This is your second Spring Training with the Cards. How are you approaching it this season?

THIS SEASON, I PICKED A DIFFERENT THEME! LAST SEASON, IT WAS "SHOW ‘EM WHATCHA GOT." THIS SEASON IT’S "COME EARLY...LEAVE LATE, STAY HUNGRY AND HUMBLE."

8) C.J, I live in Springfield, MO. It appears likely that you will be sent to AA Springfield Cardinals this season at some point. Any thoughts on how life may change being so far from home in a small city in Missouri?

UMMMMM.....NOT TOO MUCH THOUGHT! I’M SO FOCUSED ON CLIMBING THE CHARTS THAT IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW FAR OR HOW COLD OR HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AT THE GAMES! I WANNA PLAY FOR TONY ONE DAY AND IMMA TRY MY VERY BEST TO GET THERE.

9) You have been involved with the group L.E.A.D. Tell our readers a little bit about L.E.A.D.

WELL, IT STANDS FOR LAUNCH, EXPOSE, ADVISE, DIRECT. IT’S A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION GEARED TOWARDS HELPING INNER-CITY KIDS OF ATLANTA, GA PLAY BASEBALL AT A HIGHER LEVEL. JASON HEYWARD IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND HE AND I WORK REAL CLOSE WITH THIS GROUP.

Here are some other questions from our readers.

10) CJ, who inspired you to be so involved with the kids at school and the youth groups
that you speak to?

WELL TO BE HONEST....I KINDA INSPIRED MYSELF. I USED TO ASK MY PARENTS GROWING UP, WHY, WHY, WHY SOME PRO ATHLETES HAVE A PROBLEM SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS OR SPEAKING TO SCHOOLS! FROM THEN ON, I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF TO BE AN ATHLETE THAT WOULD SIGN EVERY AUTOGRAPH AND TALK TO KIDS AND HELP THEM BE ANTHING THEY WANNA BE.

11) What got you interested in baseball to begin with?

FUNNY STORY TOO! MY MOTHER WAS A MOM THAT COULDN’T STAND SEEING HER SON AT THE BOTTOM OF A FOOTBALL PILE.....SO MY DAD DIRECTED ME TO BASEBALL....GOTTA KEEP THE WOMEN HAPPY RIGHT?!?! lol

12) Who was your favorite team/players growing up?

NEW YORK YANKEES BABY! DEREK JETER WAS AND STILL IS MY IDOL.....HE PLAYS THE GAME THE RIGHT WAY AND IS A CAPTAIN.

13) Can you tell us about your first experience of attending a Major League ballgame?

IN ONE SIMPLE BUT STRONG WORD! "WOW"
EVEN TIL THIS DAY I GO AND SAY TO MYSELF......
"I CAN’T WAIT TO PLAY HERE." IT’S LIKE HEAVEN TO ME .

14) What are your other hobbies besides baseball?

I LOVE PLAYING CHESS, XBOX LIVE, POKER, AND SPADES.

15) Do you play fantasy baseball or any other fantasy sports?
How good are you at them if you play?

NO, I’M NOT INTO THAT YET.... BUT MY FRIENDS HAVE TALKED ME INTO PLAYING THIS
SEASON....I HEARD IT GETS REAL COMPETITIVE! SO I’M READY BABY!

16) How long do you expect it to take before you are promoted to the big club?

UMMMM....I’M NOT SURE. HOPEFULLY IF IT’S GOD’S WILL, I WILL BE PINCH HITTING IN
2 YEARS FOR TONY IN A TIGHT SITUATION :-)

17) Final question for you C.J. You have your own website and you are well known on Twitter and Facebook. Can you give our readers your contact information for these sites?

SURE NO PROBLEM....

WEBSITE: WWW.CJBEATTY.COM
EMAIL: cjbeatty44@yahoo.com
TWITTER: @cjbeatty44
FACEBOOK: FOR MY PERSONAL PAGE: CJ BEATTY
FOR MY FAN PAGE: C.J. BEATTY

Thank you once again for your time and willingness for this interview.
If you are assigned to AA Springfield, I hope to have an opportunity to interview you
in person.

NO NO NO.... THANK YOU! I REALLY ENJOYED IT.....TAKE CARE.

The Counselor is OUT:

National League Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:48:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

(Original article posted in the March Edition of Sports Jabber Magazine)

Spring Training is in full swing. The fans are optimistic about their teams since every team is undefeated. The itch for green grass, cold beer, and the smell of hot dogs entangle the fans. Hope springs eternal during Spring Training.

It is also the time of the year where the prognosticators bring out their crystal balls in an attempt to clearly see October. I will pretend I am Carnac the Magnificent and give my predictions.

NL East
1) Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have the best rotation in baseball: Halladay; Lee; Hamels; Oswalt; and Blanton. They won 97 games last season before adding Cliff Lee. At times last year, they struggled to score runs and having lost Jason Werth is not going to help. They should have more than enough starting pitching to make up for it and to have the best record in the National League.

2) Atlanta Braves
The Braves are an up and coming team. Too bad they are in the same division as the Phillies. The team’s big names are Heyward, McCann, and Uggla. The pitching staff is lead by Tim Hudson, Derrek Lowe, and Jair Jurrjens. I expect the Braves to contend for the Wild Card.

3) Florida Marlins
The Marlins are a good team that could compete in most other divisions. They have a good starting pitching staff: Johnson; Nolasco; and the inconsistent Javier Vazquez. Hanley Ramirez is the star of this team as a Short Stop. The Marlins can make some noise but it will be tough in this division.

4) New York Mets
Just examine the big names (at least before they become Mets): Santana; Beltran; Wright; Reyes; Bay; and Rodriguez. Every season, this team looks great on paper but they do not fulfill their potential. I don’t think this season will be any different. It looks like the same old Mets to me.

5) Washington Nationals
I really like the Nationals in five years if they keep their young players and do not trade them away. They are building something special in Washington but they are not there yet. They did bring in Jason Werth to add to the veteran presence of Livan Hernandez and Pudge Rodriguez. This team will surprise some people but will not win more than 75 games.

NL Central
1) Milwaukee Brewers
This division is the hardest to judge. I could see any of the top four teams winning this division. The addition of Zach Greinke tips the Brewers over the top for the division in my opinion. Braun, Hart, and Fielder lead this team’s offense. The Brewers should win this division in a tight race.

2) Cincinnati Reds
The Reds won the division last season with 91 wins and will compete for it this season. The offense will be good with Votto, Bruce, and Rolen leading it. The pitching staff should be decent but they do not have the one good Ace on their team. They will be in the hunt for the NL Central and the Wild Card.

3) Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have a good rotation if they can stay healthy but their offense is not frightening too many people. The addition of Garza to the rotation with Dempster and Zambrano should be formidable. They will put pressure on the Brewers and Reds but in the end they will fall apart as usual.

4) St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals went from the top of the division for these rankings to the fourth when Adam Wainwright injury requring Tommy John elbow surgery. He is done for the season. The Cards still have their “Co-Ace” Carpenter but he will be 36 in April. Albert is still a stud but will the non-contract extension lead to distractions later in the season. The Cards could still win this division but I think the odds are becoming stacked against them.

5) Houston Astros
The Astros will miss Oswalt, who they traded last year at the trade deadline. Wandy Rodriguez is close to becoming the Ace of this staff. Brett Myers is a good pitcher. This team looks like they have too little offense to make a run at the division title but they should be close to being a .500 team.

6) Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates lost 105 games last season. It appears they will lose another 100+ games this season. They have a few really good pieces like 3B Pedro Alverez and OF Andrew McCutchen. But the Pirates do not have enough talent to be competitive.

NL West
1) San Francisco Giants
The World Champs should win the NL West. Their rotation is really good with Lincecum, Cain, and Sanchez leading the way. In the Bullpen, Fear the Beard will continue to close games down. Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey are young cornerstone to the offense of this team. The Giants will be hard pressed to win the series again but they should make the playoffs and anything can happen once you make the playoffs.

2) Colorado Rockies
The Rockies have a lineup of young position players who have a ton of upside. They will soon be a team to be feared with Ian Stewart, Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith, and of course SS Troy Tulowitzki. They have a decent pitching staff lead by Ace Ubaldo Jimenez and Closer Huston Street. This team is good and could fight for the NL West and the NL Wild Card.

3) LA Dodgers
The Dodgers have a decent team with a good pitching staff. The rotation is solid with Kershaw, Billingsley, Lilly, and Kuroda. They have a couple of outfielders leading their offense in Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. They should be around .500 again this season. They could get hot and contend but I would not count it.

4) San Diego Padres
The Padres overachieved last year when they won 90 games. I would not look for them to overachieve again. They will be lucky if they go .500 this season. Mat Latos is a stud young pitcher who is developing into a true Ace. The rest of the staff is decent but not good enough to content for the NL West this season.

5) Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks have a good offense. They are going to need it if they are going to win games. Justin Upton, Chris Young, Kelly Johnson are upper level players that have major upside. Their pitching staff is below average.

NL Wild Card: Atlanta Braves
NL Champion: Philadelphia Phillies
World Series Champ: Philadelphia Phillies

NL MVP: Ryan Braun
Runner Up: Albert Pujols

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
Runner Up: Zach Greinke

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Baseball- What Kind of League is right for you - part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 02:48:00 +0000

Fantasy Baseball Draft vs. Auction

Draft Leagues uses a method of taking turns to pick the players you want for your team. The most common draft style is the snake draft. The snake draft has the teams set in order. If there are ten teams in the league (most leagues have between 8 and 16 teams), then it will go from 1 to 10 in order for the first round. Then the second round goes back from 10 to 1. This order is usually set up as either random or the inverse order of where teams finished from the last season.

Ideally the draft should set up teams to have the teams have a fairly even superstar, great players, good players, average players, and sleepers. The teams rarely work out that way but ideally by taking turns, the teams should be evenly matched.

Auction leagues are set up with each team having a set amount of auction dollars (not real money) and bidding on players. The most common dollar amounts allotted teams is $260 since that was the amount used in the original rotisserie leagues. This can vary from league to league. In most leagues, the auction dollars are only tracked during the draft but some leagues will ensure that you stay under the cap during the entire season.

The auction owners take turns with one owner throwing out a player for a specific dollar amount (usually in $1 increments). Each owner is given a chance to bid more on the player. When no one else bids a higher amount on the player, the owner who bid the most gets the player. The money bid on that player is subtracted from owners allotted money. Then the next owner throws out a player and the process begins again. You do have to have enough money to fill your entire roster. There is equal opportunity for every owner to get specific players.

There are very different strategies for each style. The snake draft strategy is to spend the early round picking the stud players. You need ;to get the big names early or you will not pick them up. The middle rounds should be used to pick up good players to fill in your active roster. The last rounds are used for picking up those flyer players and the undervalued guys.

The auction is a very different creature. In the early rounds when people have a ton of money, you are often better served by throwing out players either you do not want or you do not want at the price that others will want them for. You do not want to sit back and wait for all the good players to be taken but you can be wise on what players you are willing to pay for early. Some owners will draft early and overpay for players and be left with very little money for the rest of their team. Other owners will sit back and keep all their money and not be able to get the top level players. You do not want to be either team.
If your auction is a live in person draft, then there is strategy to reading the other owners and bidding up players so they get the player at a higher amount of money. Be aware of this strategy because you can find the other owner was doing the same thing to you or they had a hard number they were willing to pay for players. Never bid a dollar more for a player than you are willing to get the player for.

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Baseball- What Kind of League is right for you - part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:56:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

This is a series to assist fantasy owners in selecting the best kind of league for you. Fantasy Baseball has numerous variations and differences which can either enhance your fantasy experience or lessen the enjoyment. I hope to bring some understanding for those new to Fantasy Baseball and give some options to the savvy veteran owners.

Redraft vs Keeper vs Dynasty

Redraft leagues are fantasy leagues where your league redrafts or re-auctions a team every season. You get a fresh start at picking players every year. If you did poorly one season, then the next year you get a clean slate. The same is also true if you won the league the season before. There is no reward to picking up potential players unless they break out this season. It is better in these leagues to leave potential players for others to gamble on and pick up the proven commodities except as a late round selection or a cheap auction pick up.

Keeper Leagues are leagues that allow you to carry a predetermined amount of players from one season to the next. I have seen leagues that allow you to keep 3 players and leagues that allow you to keep 15 players from season to season. In auction leagues, you can usually keep the player for the amount you drafted them at for a limited time. Some leagues have contracts for auction leagues that you sign players longer term but then you have to keep those signed players. In draft leagues, often you can keep the player at the draft round you picked them up for. In other draft leagues, the kept players come off of the amount of players you can draft.

Keeper Leagues do reward you for draft well one season to the next since you can keep a certain amount of players. A strategy in keeper leagues is to pick up some players with potential or that are rookies. Since you can keep these players year to year, you might be able to find the next Pujols for a bargain basement price. But you should primarily pick up trusted veterans for most of your team if you want to win now.

Dynasty Leagues are similar to keeper leagues in the fact you can keep your players. In most Dynasty Leagues, you can keep your entire roster from season to season. You have a draft or auction every season to pick up free agents and rookies after the initial season’s auction or draft. Players with potential and youth are a premium in these leagues. Since you can carry the entire roster to the next season for the entire existence of the league, you need to think about winning now and you need to pick ups veterans but also need to think about how to win in 5 years from now.

Part 3 will discuss the differences of Draft (AKA Snake Drafts) vs Auctions.

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Baseball- What Kind of League is right for you - part 1- Roto vs H2H

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:17:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

This is a series to assist fantasy owners in selecting the best kind of league for you. Fantasy Baseball has numerous variations and differences which can either enhance your fantasy experience or lessen the enjoyment. I hope to bring some understanding for those new to Fantasy Baseball and some options to the savvy veteran owners.

Rotisserie vs Head to Head
Rotisserie Baseball, named for a New York City restaurant where the concept was originated, - La Rotisserie Française, was the original fantasy sport. Roto (short for Rotisserie Ball) complies statistics through out the season. The stats are broken down into categories, usually between 8 and 12 categories. The stat categories are split with half on offense and half on pitching. Typical statistic categories often are Homers, RBI, Stolen Bases, and Average on Offense and ERA, WHIP (Walks+Hits/Innings Pitched), Wins, and Saves for pitching. Your stat categories are compared to all the teams in the league and each category is ranked. If there are 10 teams in a league, a team will be give 10 points for the best in that category and all the way down to one point for the worst in the category. Your points for each category are added together for a grand total. The team with the most grand total points at the end of the season wins the league. Your position in the league can change greatly day to day. Earlier in the season the changes are more dramatic than later in the season. In a league with 8 categories and 10 teams, an owner could have as much as 80 points or as little as 8 points at any time. It is difficult to come close to the max or minimum points.

Head to Head is much more like Fantasy Football and is becoming more popular every season because of it. You play against another team in your league each week. You are given points for winning categories against your weekly opponent (categories are the same type as used in Roto leagues). Those points compile to determine your ranking in the league. The top teams make the playoffs. The playoffs are usually win the week and play the next round, lose and go home. The best regular season team does not often win the league.

There are some strategic differences in the leagues. In a Roto style, a team needs to be somewhat productive in category to be successful. With Head to Head, you can punt or minimized productivity in a category such as Saves or Steals and still win the league. I am a firm believer in not punting categories but some people are successful using this strategy

Part 2 will discuss Redraft Leagues vs Keeper Leagues vs Dynasty Leagues

The Counselor is OUT:

Greatness of Fantasy Baseball is also Detriment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 02:46:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Ten years ago, Fantasy Football was only for sports geeks like me. Over the last decade, Fantasy Football has taken the nation by storm. It is no longer just for stat nerds. I now know a higher percentage of people who participate in Fantasy Football than don’t. There are leagues for all levels of fans including Girls Only Leagues where it is accepted to pick players by the color of their jerseys and tightness of their behind sides.

Fantasy Baseball has not enjoyed the mainstream focus that Fantasy Football has. Fantasy Baseball is the the father of all fantasy sports. It was the original. Yet it is primarily only for stat geeks. Most of the die hard baseball fans I know do not play fantasy baseball. They only care about the stats of their team and do not desire to be distracted with Fantasy Baseball.

In my opinion, the greatness of Fantasy Baseball is also its detriment when it comes to attracting the mainstream public. This applies to both the traditional Rotisserie and the Head to Head Fantasy Baseball games. I will list four points why I think Fantasy Baseball is a superior game and why it limits the marketability of it.

1) Seven days a week compared one game a week.
There are baseball games every day of the week. Most MLB position players will play 5-6 games a week. This compared to one game a week with the NFL unless it is their bye week.

Advantage: One bad game will not kill you when you have several games a week. If your Star power hitting Outfielder strikes out 5 times in one game, he has the chance to come back and hit .400 and 4 homers for the rest of the week. In NFL, if your star Wide Receiver is shut out from catching the ball then you get no points for him.

Disadvantage: Many people don’t desire to keep up with their players every day of the week. In a Head to Head league, you often change your line up daily. In a traditional Rotisserie league, you still have to examine injuries, DL stints, and pick up for under performing players.

2) Fantasy Baseball season is longer than Fantasy Football.
Fantasy Baseball season is usually over 20 weeks and then the playoffs. The Fantasy Football season is usually 13-14 weeks and then the playoffs.

Advantage: The longer Baseball season help the cream float to the top. Some teams will start off fast but they have to maintain the pace. It is a marathon instead of the sprint of Fantasy Football.

Disadvantage: We are a fast food generation. We want things quick and fast and get bored with things that take time. Many Fantasy Baseball owners will get bored and stop paying attention after the first month. These owners rarely return next year.

3) Defense is half of your stats in baseball.
Pitching is half of your stats. Fantasy Football rarely uses defensive stats. A small minority use Individual Defensive Players. Even with IDP, the offense stats usually over weigh the IDP stats.

Advantage: Pitching is a key to baseball and is half of the stats of Fantasy Baseball leagues. It allows the owners to find a balance between their offensive and defensive teams. It is a closer representative of owning your own team. Defensive is a huge part of any NFL game but is rarely relevant in Fantasy Football.

Disadvantage: Offense is “sexy”. Chicks dig the long ball. Many fans do not care about defense and do not wan to mess with tracking stats for it.

4) Baseball is more entrenched with stats than football.
Statistics are a for most baseball fans. Football fans are not usually that focused on the stats.

Advantage: Fantasy sports are based on statistics and comparing to other teams stats. Fantasy Baseball is tied closely to specific statistics. Many fans can rattle off what the stats of their favorite players. It is a perfect marriage.

Disadvantage: It is difficult to change and tweak the stats used in Fantasy Baseball because of the tradition. It is much easier to change the values of a touchdown, field goal, or 10 yard rush.

The Counselor is OUT:

7-9 Seattle's playoff victory is a good thing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 01:41:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

The reigning Super Bowl Champ New Orleans Saints fell to the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks in today's playoff match. All week I continued to hear about the disgrace of the Seahawks making the playoffs. This so called disgraceful team just took down the defending champs. I believe this is actually a good thing.

Before you question my sanity, let me give you the reason I believe this is a positive for the NFL.

One of the great strengths of the NFL is the equality in the league. There really is not that much difference between a 7-9 team and a 10-6. This allows teams to make the playoffs that missed out last year. It is the reason for the Mantra of Any Given Sunday (or Saturday). Unlike in other professional sports, any team making the playoffs can win the Super Bowl. Most of the fans grow tired of the same teams playing deep in the playoffs (like the Patriots and Steelers). This victory does give hope to all the fans.

The Counselor is OUT:

Review of the Texas Rangers and 7 questions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:48:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

The Texas Rangers were one of the biggest surprises of the 2010 season. Their young pitchers stepped up and pitched well even in the Heat of an August in Dallas. The youth of the Ranger's offense made considerable advances and scored points in bunches. Midway through the season, Texas acquired Ace Cliff Lee. Lee did not pitch that well during the season but stepped it up in the post season and helped lead the Rangers to their first World Series appearance.

The Rangers targeted three key pitchers during the off season. Their top priority was to re-sign Cliff Lee. They lost out on the Lee sweepstakes to the Phillies. They were attempting to trade for Cy Younger winner Zack Greinke but lost out to Milwaukee. Tampa Bay's Matt Garza was the third option but the Rangers were rejected by the Rays when they traded Garza to the Cubs. The Rangers did sign 3 time All Star and Cy Young winner Brandon Webb but Webb is recovering from surgery and has not pitched since April of 2009.

The Rangers did make a big splash in free agency by signing 3rd Baseman Adrian Beltre. Beltre is a power hitter who will add some needed power to the Rangers order. He should add some protection behind Josh Hamilton. This will move Perennial All Star Michael Young to 1st Base.

Questions about the 2011 Texas Rangers

1) Can Brandon Webb return to his former self? He has 3.27 career ERA but he is now 31 years old. He could be the steal of free agency if he comes close to his past numbers.

2) Can the Rangers pitching staff achieve at the same level as last season? At this time, a rotation of Wilson, Lewis, Hunter, Webb, and Feldman does not scare many teams. They will need to be a smart pitching staff like they were last year to have the same level of success.

3) Will Michael Young adjust to 1st Base? He adjusted well when he moved from Second to Short and then Short to Third including All Star Seasons for all three positions. He will not be a power hitting 1st Baseman but the Rangers do not have a power hitting 1st baseman.

4) Will Beltre be able to add protection for Hamilton? Beltre is now 31 years old. He had a great season last year with Boston with 28 homers and a batting average of .321. I don't see a reason why should should not continue to hit for decent average and power but probably not those numbers.

5) Can the Rangers hold off the other A.L. West teams? Last year the Angels severely under achieved. The Rangers did improve from the season before but would not have won the division if the Angels would have performed up to expectations. The Rangers will need to continue to improve and mature as a team if they want to win their division again and make the playoffs.

6) Will the Rangers continue to pursue an #1 starter? After missing out on their top 3 targets, I think they will start the season with their current pitching staff. If they are playing well in late June and early July, I look for the Rangers to make a trade for a #1 guy like they did last year.

7) Can the Rangers win the World Series this year? Yes they can. They will need their team to come together like last season. The Rangers have a lot of potential but they also have potential for a disappointing season after their success last year.

The Counselor is OUT:

Thoughts on Cowboys Hiring Jason Garrett as their New Head Coach

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 05:49:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

I have mixed feelings about the Dallas Cowboys hiring Jason Garrett as their new Head Coach. There are things I really like about Jason. I also have concerns about Garrett.

Positives:
1) Garrett changed the culture in Dallas. This to me is the biggest selling point for Jason. After starting the season 1-7 and the players quiting on Wade, Jason was able to rally the troops. He implemented harder practices, hitting during practice, personal responsibility for behavior, expectation of showing up on time, and dressing up for road games. The team responded positively to these changes.

2) Jason know the system. Jason understand the current system in Dallas. I am sure he will want to make some changes. But he will not come in and cause the Cowboys to spend the next 5 years rebuilding because of his scheme changes.

3) Garrett knows how to deal with Jerry and management. It can take some time to understand how an organization works. He will have no issue here.

Concerns:
1) The Offense was part of the problem under Wade. Garrett was the Offensive Coordinator for the first 8 games where they went 1-7. They did not run the ball and the play calling was predictable. We could not protect Romo because we could not run the ball. This was a gigantic issue.

2) Record was not that impressive. Yes we went 5-3 under Jason and over a full season that would be an acceptable 10-6. But the last win that we squeaked out was against an Eagles team that rested most of their starters. I do understand that we started a third string QB but this team should have dominated the Eagles backups. If they had started their starters, we would be 4-4 under Jason and that would only be an 8-8 season.

3) He has never been a head coach at any level. He did a decent job for his half season but he has never been in charge of an off season or a draft. This is a concern for the Red Headed Genius.

Conclusions
Ultimately Jerry did not consult my opinion. He picked Garrett and believes in him. The players appear to be backing this decision full hearted. As much as I have some reservations about this selection, I am not sure Jerry would have gotten a bigger name coach. Other teams were asking permission to interview him. I throw my support behind Jason and hope he can continue to change the lazy culture of the Dallas Cowboys. I will continue to hope that Jerry made the correct decision.

The Counselor is OUT:

New Years Day should be Bowl Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 03:37:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

The Tostitos BCS Championship Game is on January 10th this year. When I heard this I was taken back by it. My first thought was, “why is it so late in the year?” I do understand the answer is money but I am frustrated with that answer.

I know I might sound like some old timer with these thoughts but I hate that the College football season does not end on New Years Day. When I was a youth, all of the big College Bowl games occurred on January 1st. There were some minor Bowl games during the week after Christmas, but the 1st was College Bowl Day. We would watch the top level Collegiate football all day long.

This season there are 7 Bowl games after the New Year. There are a few big historical Bowl games on this list like the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl and of course the BCS Championship Bowl game. But there are other ones that are not big name games after New Years like GoDaddy.Com Bowl, and Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

When the BCS game started, they slated it to January 2nd. I did not like it then. Now it is on January 10th. When does this extending of the season end? Is Martin Luther King Jr Day the next big Collegiate Bowl day? Why not push it back to the weekend before the Super Bowl or put it on Presidents Day? Why not start March Madness off with the BCS Game?

Lets end the insanity and make New Years Day the big Bowl game day that it was in years past.

The Counselor is OUT:

Is Jason Garrett the answer in Dallas?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 22:27:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Two weeks ago, I would have laughed at this question, “Is Jason Garrett the answer in Dallas?” The only thing that brought more fear to me than leaving Wade Phillips as the coach, was to give the position to Jason Garrett because his offense appeared to under achieving more than Wade’s defense. After two victories under Garrett, I am not so quick to deny the validity of the question.

During the first 9 weeks of the season (only played 8 games because of bye week) , the Dallas Cowboys average right around 10 penalties a game. In the two weeks under Jason “Red Headed Genius” Garrett, the number penalties have almost dropped in half. The Cowboys have averaged 5.5 penalties over the last two weeks.

Under Wade this season, the Cowboys continually turned over the football. They were -10 on the turnover ratio for Wade’s eight ball games. Over the last two games, the Cowboys are plus 3.

Jason Garrett is having the Boys work on the small details. He has them wearing pads and practicing at full speed during the week. He is enforcing meeting times and making the players be responsible. He even implemented a dress code for the players for flights and game day. You can see this has made a difference by watching how different this team has approached both of these games under Garrett. It is hard to argue with the declining penalties and turnovers.

It does appear that Garrett has been the answer over Wade Phillips for these two games. After just two games, I am not willing to declare Garrett the long term answer in Dallas. They need to continue to stay focused and disciplined. If Garrett can get the Cowboys to play more focused and to continue to work on the details this season, then he just may be the long term answer in Dallas.

The Counselor is OUT:

Rangers Win First Playoff series

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:00:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

As a Texas Rangers fan, this is a time of celebration. Congratulations Rangers. Don't celebrate to long because you will be facing the New York Yankees come Friday.

It is a strange story how I became a Rangers fan. I grew up and still live in Southwest Missouri. In the early 80s both the ST. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals were fantastic. Since they were both so good, the local fans would argue over which team was better. I grew tired of these debates so I picked a random team from the list of MLB teams. I had no idea where the Texas Rangers played (other than in Texas). I continued to cheer for both the Cardinals and Royals but from that time forward, I am a Texas Rangers Fan first.

As I started rooting for the Rangers, I quickly learned that this team was not like the Royals and Cardinals of the early 80s. The Rangers were not a winning team and did not have a positive mentality. It did not matter because I picked them as my team and I continued to cheer for them.

I loved the Nolan Ryan years for the Rangers. I still smile when I think about Nolan Ryan beating the snot (and blood) out of Robin Ventura.

I hoped and dreamed the Rangers of the late 90s when the made the playoffs but then ousted by the Yankees.

I am very excited about the Rangers victory over the Rays. It was a strange series with the road team winning each game. I was enthralled with tonights game with the Rangers aggressive base running to take the lead and keep it on the Rays. Go Rangers and beat the Yankees.

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Football: Pick Up or Dump

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:02:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Pick Up or Dump is a section about what players you should pick up on the waiver wire this and those players you should drop from your roster.

Pick Up

1) RB Arian Foster - Texans

Huge Up Side for all season and in keeper leagues

Foster is already owned in many leagues. ESPN is showing him available in 15 % of leagues and Yahoo shows him available in 29 % of their leagues. If he is available in your league, pick him up quick. He will not be available for long after last weekend's performance. He will not rush for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns every week but he should be a solid #2 RB for you.

2) RB Brandon Jackson - Packers

Huge Up Side for all season and for keeper leagues

Running back Ryan Grant was placed on the Injured Reserve with a torn ligament in his right ankle. This has promoted Jackson to the starter. Grant has 1253 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Jackson was drafted 4 years ago to be the starter until Grant beat him out for the starting gig. Look for Jackson to attempt to prove he should be the starter.

3) QB Michael Vick- Eagles

Some Up side and potential

Michael Vick had a great week one coming in for QB Kevin Kolb who had a concussion. It is unlikely that Kolb will have recovered enough to play this next weekend. If Vick continues to play well, he could start a QB Controversy in Philly. Kolb was not having a good game when he got his concussion.

4) WR Dexter McCluster - Chiefs

Long term Up Side and Potential especially in a keeper league

McCluster had a huge weekend as a return specialist. He has a lot of potential as a wide receiver in an improving Chief's offense.

5) WR Mike Williams - Bucs

Major Upside and Potential especially in a keeper league

Rookie receiver Mike Williams is the number one receiver already in Tampa. He has a ton of potential. He had 5 catches and a touchdown in weekend.

Dump

1) WR Anthony Gonzalez - Colts

Gonzalez was the up and coming Wide Receiver for the Colts at the beginning of last season. He went down with an injury and has lost his place. He is injured again with an ankle injury. Many believed he would be back to that same level but he is clearly behind Collie and Garcon.

2) WR Patrick Crayton - Chargers

Crayton was traded to the Chargers. Many thought he would step into a starting role since Jackson is still holding out. It is clear after this last weekend that Crayton is no better off with the Chargers than he was with the Cowboys.

3) WR Chaz Schilens - Raiders

Chaz was the top receiver on the Raiders coming into season. He had a decent season last year and was expected to progress with a new QB. With his injury, his potential for a big season is dropping fast. I suggest dropping his a quick.

The Counselor is OUT:

Week 1 Fantasy Football Injuries- Thursday Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Here are the Thursday edition of Week 1 fantasy injuries and my commentary. I am posting a Thursday's edition and the regular Weekend edition. The Thursday Edition will list injuries for the Thursday's games only.

Packers:
QB Brett Favre is probable with a sprained ankle. Favre will continue his record of most starts and will play on Thursday night's opening of the NFL season. I look for a shootout from two of the best QBs in the league.

WR Sidney Rice is out indefinitely with a hip injury. He is expected to miss about half the season.

Saints:
WR Marques Colston is probable with a bruised kidney. He suffered the bruise in the final preseason game but will start. The kidney should not affect his fantasy value.

The Counselor is OUT:

Updated Cheatsheets

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 04:48:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

All of the fantasy football cheatsheets have been updated on Saturday September28th. Check the original posts for the Top 150 and each position and those are the updated cheatsheets.

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Football Sleepers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:35:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Here is my list of fantasy football sleepers. A sleeper is someone that is undervalued and should reward you for picking them up. I have three different levels of sleepers: Sleepers, Deep Sleepers, and Rip Van Winkle Sleepers.

Sleepers
These players most likely will be drafted but are being drafted lower than their estimated value. I rank them in order that they may be able to be productive starters or rotation guys.

1) Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego Chargers
If you have not seen a Chargers pre-season game, you are missing the up and coming stud running back. Do not sleep long on Matthews. He is a great #2 RB for you and may be a stud #1. If you are in a keeper league, make him a priority.

2) RB Arian Foster Texans
Foster had a good year last season after becoming the starter. It looked like he had lost his job to the rookie RB Tate but an season ending injury has given Foster the starting job again. Look for him to prove he deserves it.

3) RB Carnell Williams - TB
Cadilac has become a forgot runningback. Don’t forget about him. He is a great flex or third RB and could prove to be a really good #2.

4) RB Michael Bush- RaidersEverything points to Bush as the starter for the Raiders. He is being drafted far after McFadden. He is a great backup and could prove to be a starter.

5) QB Jay Cutler- Chicago
Cutler starts his second season in Chicago. He has been sporatic but this may be the season that he puts it together. He is a fine backup and could become your starter.

6) RB Jahvid Best-Detroit Lions (Rookie)
Rookie runningbacks are often good picks later in the draft. Many are cautious of Best because he is on the Lions. I look for Best to have a good rookie year and would be a good #4 back for you.

7) WR Mike Williams - TB (Rookie)
Rookie Wides are often a bust but Williams has displayed in the pre-season that he is the best WR on the Bucs roster. I would be pleased with him as a fourth WR. I would definitely pick him up in a keeper league.

8) WR Jacoby Jones- TexansJones toys has toyed with my sleeper list the last couple of years. It is possible that he might beat out Walter before the end of the season as the #2 WR in a potent Texas passing attack.

9) WR James Jones - GB PackersJones has become a forgot man in the Packers offense. He looks like he is now on the same page with Rodgers. He has lots of potential this season.

10) WR Johnny Knox- Chicago
Knox came out of no where for many last season as a spot starter who was very hot and cold. I look for Knox to continue to develop with Cutler and to put up decent #3 WR numbers at the cost of a #5 WR.

Deep Sleepers
These guys should be bench players for you but could pay off and become starters if the situation turns their way. Don’t overpay for them but these players do have good upside.

1) RB LaDainian Tomlinson- Jets
LT is past his prime but still has some moves and may get all the goal line carries.

2) WR Mike Wallace- Pittsburgh Steelers
Wallace has potential especially when Big Ben returns.

3) TE Dustin Keller- Jets
Keller has a ton of potential and should be the safety value for a developing Sanchez.

4) TE Zach Miller- Raiders
Miller has a new QB and should return to the world of owned TEs.

5) WR Chaz Schilens- Oakland Raiders
Schilens has some good games last season and should have a better season with a new QB.

6) WR Kenny Britt- Titans
Britt has ton of potential. If Young continues to develop at QB, Britt will have a good year.

7) WR Julian Edelman- Patriots
Edelman is known as a poor man’s Welker. He has a chance to come out of no where like Welker did a couple of seasons ago.

8) WR Early Doucet- Arizona
Doucet has a lot of potential and has moved up the depth chart but his QB situation could keep him from breaking out this year.

9) RB Marshawn Lynch Buffalo
Remember that Lynch was a fantasy stud just a few seasons ago and he is only 24 years old. I look for him to get traded or prove himself this season. This is a hit or miss pick.

10) RB Willis McGahee- Baltimore
McGahee continues to produce from time to time. If Rice gets injured then McGahee could become very valuable.

Rip Van Winkle Sleepers
These players are flyers in the late rounds. They have potential to have a break out year but are also likely to do nothing for you except be waived for a pick up.

1) WR Devin Aromashodu- Bears

2) WR Laurent Robinson- STL

3) WR Jordon Shipley- Cincinnati

4) RB Montario Hardesty- Browns

5) QB Josh Freeman-, Buccaneers

6) WR Dwayne Jarrett - Carolina

7) QB Matthew Stafford - Detroit

8) QB Chad Henne Miami

9) QB Alex Smith- SF

10) RB Kenneth Darby- STL

The Counselor is OUT:

What to Bring to Your Fantasy Football Draft

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:36:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

If you have a live draft or auction, then I have 10 suggestions. These are the things to bring with you to a draft.

1) Your custom draft list- you should be making these in advance and editing every week or so until you are done with all your drafts.

2) Pencil and paper to track your players, other owner’s players, auction prices, and to mark off players from your list.

3) Be a good guest and bring snacks to share with others- people prefer to trade with people that they like and bringing snacks sure helps.

4) Bring beer that others like- it is better to get them drinking than for you to drink (limit it if you do partake).

5) Calculator if you are in an auction league- need to track everyone's money.

6) Injury report- this is for you and to share with other owners- it will make you look knowledgeable and a nice guy.|

7) Projected depth charts for all the NFL teams- this is for you only.

8) List of sleepers for late rounds and keep auction players.

9) As much knowledge as you can find about the other owners including their favorite teams, players, and typical draft strategies. It is always good to chit chat with owners to help understand who they like and don’t like.

10) You ability to adapt to change with the draft. Things will not go as you planned. You will need to leave your plan and list from time to time.

The Counselor is OUT:

Overrated Fantasy Players

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:23:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Every season there are players who are taken too early in the draft for various reasons. This does not mean these players are bad players or that you should not draft them. These hyped players will not give you the bang for your pick or your auction dollars that other players might give you. Here is my list of players that I consider to be overrated.

1) QB Aaron Rodgers- Packers
Rodgers is a great player. I have ranked as my 4 best QB and should be taken in the middle of the first round. In many mock drafts, Rodgers is going in the mid first round as the first quarterback taken. Aaron was sacked 50 times last year. He is likely to get injured if he continues to get pounded.

2) RB DeAngelo Williams- Carolina Panthers
Williams had a great fantasy season in 2008- 1,515 rushing yards with 18 touchdowns. He had an average season in 2009- 1,117 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. Stewart is another year more mature and should continue to steal carries. This year they have Matt Moore as their starting QB and if things go badly, rookie Jimmy Clausen. I expect 8 men in the box all year round. He is currently going in the late first round to early second round. He should be drafted in the late second to early third round.

3) WR Larry Fitzgerald- Cardinals
There is a huge difference in Kurt Warner being your QB and Matt Leinart. I have watched a some of the Cardinals preseason games and I will be down grading their whole team. Fitz may be the best receiver in the NFL but he will have to demonstrate it continually to justify the early second round pick. I would move him to the end of the second round to be a decent value.

4) RB Chris “Beanie” Wells - Cardinals
As stated above, this team will not be the same without Kurt Warner. He is going at the end of the third round as the 15th overall runningback. He is going all most a hundred picks before Tim Hightower and Hightower is ahead of Wells on the depth carth.

5) Jets Defense
There is no doubt that the Jets have a great defense. Even the best defenses should not be drafted in the first 10 rounds. The Jets are going in the middle of the 6th round. Stop the insanity.

6) WR Chad OchoCinco- Bengals
Chad may benefit from T.O. being in Cincinnati. I doubt he will benefit enough to justify the middle fourth pick when T.O. is going in the middle seventh round. Chad only had a 1,166 yard and 5 TD season last year.

7) RB LeSean McCoy- Eagles
Do you think the Eagles will run the ball? Really? I like McCoy and think he does have potential especially catching the ball out of the backfield. But I do not see value in picking him at the end of the thrid or beginning of the fourth round.

The Counselor is OUT:

Who to take with the #1 overall pick?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:48:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Who to take with the #1 overall pick?

You can make the case for a few different guys. I will discuss three different guys. In a few lines I will give you the reasons you should chose of these guys and then why you might want to chose someone else.

1) Chris Johnson- RB- Tennessee Titians- 24 years old.

    Positive:
Johnson is the top contender for the number one spot. He rushed for 2,006 yards, 16 touchdowns, and an NFL-record 2,509 yards from scrimmage in 2009. He rushed for more than 100 yards in 11 consecutive games.

   Negative:
358 carries. That is the number of carries that Johnson had last year. Historically this large number of carries. Most of the runningbacks who have had 350+ carries during one season will have a much more pedestrian season the next year. Sometimes the player ends up with an injury plagued season.

2) Adrian Peterson- RB- Minnesota Vikings- 25 years old.

    Positive:
Peterson is a competitive running back who is on a great team with Brett Favre. Favre forces the defense to respect the pass and this will give All Day some running room. Peterson has been a top 5 fantasy player over the last three seasons. He had 18 touchdowns last season.

   Negative:
FUMBLE! Peterson has had a bad case of the fumbles with 16 over the last 2 seasons. His rushing yards per carry has gone down every season.

3) Maurice Jones- Drew- RB- Jacksonville Jaguars- 25 years old.

    Positive:
Maurice is a well rounded back who is coming into his own. Last season he had 1,391 yards on 312 carries with 15 TDs. He also had 53 receptions for 374 yards and one TD. I look for Jones-Drew to have a break out season this year.

   Negative:
He is not the home run hitter that Johnson is. He is not the power back of Peterson. He appears to be at the level below.

When weighing out the positives and negatives, I would personally draft Peterson number 1. I understand the rationale for drafting any of these three at overall number 1 slot.

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Football Defense List

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:32:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Below is my cheatsheets for Defenses. The highlighted rows are the start of new Tiers. Remember that Defenses and Kickers are inconsistent in value and should be saved until the end of the draft to pick.

The Counselor is OUT:

Fantasy Football Kicker List

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 04:10:00 +0000

The Counselor is IN:

Below is my cheatsheets for Kickers. The highlighted rows are the start of new Tiers. Remember that Defenses and Kickers are inconsistent in value and should be saved until the end of the draft to pick.

The Counselor is OUT: