Mastering Your Fantasy Draft:

Have you ever had a time in your life when you went to bed after a big loss in any sport or competition and rested easily? Or how about at the office, after you lost out on a promotion to a guy who puts in half the effort that you do throughout the week? Sleep well then? Probably not. To me, every loss is a big loss because I always feel like I could have done something to prevent the horrible feeling of defeat. “If I would have done this, or if I would have done that.” These are the types of thoughts that consistently come to mind whenever I give away a game during a week in one of my fantasy leagues. If you are any type of competitor, fantasy football is no different, unless you’re playing the game just to pass time and/or have fun… and who would do that?!? This is why you need to do your homework in the preseason and put yourself in the best position possible come fantasy draft day. If you’re a true NFL and fantasy football fan, constant research should never cease. Along with this research, there are other factors that play a huge role in establishing yourself as a dominant fantasy force right from the start – on draft day.

Never Draft on Emotion
I do realize that it is much easier and enjoyable to watch a game or cheer for your favorite player, especially if he is on your fantasy roster. However, one of the worst mistakes that most fantasy owners of lesser skill grow accustomed to making is drafting a player based on their personal liking. For example, if your favorite player has been RB Shaun Alexander ever since he’s entered the league, and you have the first overall selection, it would be senseless to draft on your personal liking this year, even though you know he won’t be there for your next selection. Therefore, it’s time to move on and draft the better player with a bigger upside. That is an easy example, but especially in the mid- to late-rounds, you want to remain as consistent as possible, while never drafting on emotion.

Another prime example may be the fact that you absolutely despise WR Terrell Owens. Owens remains in the Top 3 WR’s in the NFL, and passing on him for a player of lesser talent because of a personal disliking could mean total disaster and proof of amateur play. Get over it and grow to like him! You won’t be doing too much complaining once he catches 12+ TD’s on 80+ receptions, and goes off for 1,100+ yards. As a matter of fact, you may also find enjoyment by being hated by other owners when you’re dominating your league. Do you realize how many millions of dollars are lost in sports betting because people wager based on an emotional feeling they have for their team or favorite NFL franchise? If you’re all about winning, which I’m sure most who read this are, you have to simply disregard your personal feelings and draft the next best player on the board. However, you have to first know that next best player and you have to decide whom to select with your gut and not with your heart. If you don’t abide by this rule, you could find yourself miserable and struggling to win games for most of the season.

Know Your Players and Do Your Research
Remember, ESPN and the Monday morning stat sheets can be extremely misleading when you wake up the next day. This is where actually watching the games, as many games as possible, will prepare you for now and the future. If you know the game in a way in which your opponents don’t, you can see things developing years before they actually happen. Perfect example - I was in a 10-team keeper league and each team could protect a total of three players. This league went on for 10 years starting in ‘92. It was never out of character for me to draft a rookie in the first round of any draft when most people didn’t really know who these rookies were. To make a long story short, in the first round with the 7th overall selection RB LaDainian Tomlinson remained on the board in his rookie season. Needless to say, I drafted him and went on to win the championship that year. How did I know about LT? First off, I know the game like I know the back of my hand, and I draft potential and talent the minute I get the opportunity.

I could also give you an entire chapter on how my wife and I set up a 52” and two 27” televisions in our basement in the mid-90’s. I know that was a little extreme, but it ended up saving us money anyway because we went to a local sports restaurant every Sunday, where we spent at least $50 per week. My point is this, do whatever it takes to get an edge on your opponents. Watch college games on Saturday, read quality material (about 5% of the material out there), make your own judgments, become a visionary (FanProphet), and always look for the up and coming player. If you want that edge, become a guru of the game – get your hands on as much information and material as possible, sort through it all, and use it to your advantage.

Talk Players Down
Talking players down is a fine art that takes plenty of patience, trust, and respect from your fellow peers. If they don’t respect your opinion or your genius, this will never work. Either you have these qualities, or you better get them because to me, it’s the fun in fantasy football and the element that will help you win titles year in and year out.

Here’s how it goes… You’re in a league with a group of friends, so you consistently begin talking fantasy football sometime around mid-June. You have no clue which selection you will draw in August, but you assume the worst and therefore, you begin talking players down. You’re nothing more than a salesperson selling the idea of why (example) you believe LT will not have a good season. You build a case, you begin mentioning names like Willis McGahee, Laurence Maroney, etc., and why you believe they are the up and comings and why LT is on his way out. For example, Tomlinson is on a franchise that just recently changed coaches, he’s on a team that‘s never consistently won, QB Phillip Rivers is only in his third year as a starter, why teams will play eight in the box, San Diego has no WR’s, Tomlinson is on the downside of his career…and to top it all off, you also make a case as to why Marty Schottenheimer was a great coach and it’s the only reason why Tomlinson had previous success. This may be a bit of a stretch, but you get the idea. You will ultimately force your opponents to second guess themselves while consistently making mistakes.

Sell the idea. Consistent audio advertising is the most influential thing known to man. If you hear it enough, you’re going to buy it. You may not use the case of Tomlinson, but even great players are subject to down seasons and if every writer (salesperson) in the NFL wrote about LT having a bad season, it’s guaranteed that people would listen. If you decide to utilize this idea, you have to refer to multiple players. You just can’t pinpoint a single player because people are not that stupid - be creative. Close the deal!

Each one of these ideas should be utilized in your draft, as well as free agent and trade strategies, and once you begin to take this intelligent approach, you will realize how easy it is to dominate your league. Never become emotionally attached to players, do your homework by reading quality material, watch games and not the stat sheets, and consistently look for angles and reasons to “talk players down”.

I guess I can’t blame the Eagles for continuing to sell newspapers and pipe dreams to their fans by making this unrealistic “Ocho Cinco” deal seem substantial. However, it all makes sense considering they haven’t a single Super Bowl win in their entire NFL existence. They have to sell something because dreams are made to seem real. The Eagles have to realize that for whatever reason, McNabb’s ego is way too big to coexist with another superstar on offense and it doesn’t matter if they bring in a Pro-Bowl caliber playmaker, they will not get along.

If McNabb was so good why not just turn average receivers into superstars? Brett Favre has managed to do it with names such as, Sterling Sharpe, Antonio Freeman, Donald Driver, and the more recent Greg Jennings. Why can’t McNabb do it? He’s already proven that he couldn’t coexist with a superstar and he’s proven throughout his career that he cannot turn an average receiver into a superstar. McNabb, leave the “Ocho Cinco” idea alone. You wanted playmakers and the front office brought in Desean Jackson. But, if you keep crying long enough maybe you can bring in Moss, Steve Smith, Terrel Owens and then you will have all the playmakers you’ve asked for.

So why are “The Eagles Too Stupid”? You figure it out!

Gilbert Arenas has a player option in Washington, but flat out said he’s gone if Jamison isn’t re-signed. Problem is that we are gonna be real cap tight with all the money we already have committed, not sure if Ferry can pull something off or not. We are definitely stuck with Ben and Wally, unless we trade them for equally worthless large contracts like we did with Hughes to get the 2 in the first place. I’m thinking they need to trade Andy and Sasha for cheap contracts or 2nd round picks. If Booby, Joe Smith, or Devon Brown can be brought back very cheaply than do it, if not we gotta let them walk in order to pony up all the cash needed to get Agent Zero in a Cav’s uniform. If that happens:
Agent Zero - Gilbert Arenas

PG: Gilbert Arenas
SG: Wally
SF: Lebron
PF: Big Ben

C: Z

Bench: Bring back Delonte West for 2.7 million to sub for both positions, we are stuck with Snow and Jones for one more year as the other guards, unless Snow decides to retire and take a lucrative assistant coach position. At the bigs, I bet we could get Joe back for relatively cheap, or another forward for cheap who can knock down a 12-15 foot jump shot 45% of the time. Also, there are about a thousand 6?10? basketball players who can’t make a basket or a free throw, but can play defense and rebound, that can fill the role of reserve bigs. The bottom line is we got 20 million a year in Big Ben and Andy, and neither can make a basket or a free throw. We are stuck with Ben at 14 million, but can get someone to do what Andy does for 1 million a year instead of 6 million if we trade Andy for nothing, which will free up more money to throw at Agent Zero. Also, with Gilbert, we won’t need Sasha as the minutes won’t be there, so that is 4.5 million more if we trade Sasha for nothing. Andy and Sasha are tradeable, which is why I bring this all up. Sure I’d rather ditch Ben, Wally, Snow, and Jones, but no one will take their contracts. We are stuck with them.

Lebron said it best in his interview after the game 7 loss. “We have to get better”.

In my oppinion, I’m not sure if bringing this team back in tact is enough. Sure we’ll improve in the win loss record next year with people being healthier, and the exprerience of playing together, but we can’t honestly say we’ll be good enought to win a championship. Not without another all star. Gilbert Arenas is out there, and would be the perfect player to team with Lebron.

Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Worthy and Kareem, Bird had McHale, Parish, Ainge, Duncan has Parker, Ginobli, etc. We can go on and on with the list. The fact that Lebron has done what he has done at age 23 with no “all-star” help in absolutely amazing.

Danny Ferry owes the Cavs at least 10 good years of GM decisions to make up for his 10 year player contract that ruined us in the late 80’s and 90’s. Right now is the time to find a way to get Gilbert Arenas into the Q to win a ring with Lebron. It’s gotta happen now, while Z and Big Ben got a little left in the tank to play good as bigs. If Lebron had another all star like Arenas to play with for the next 5 years, I can’t imagine the Cavs not winning a championship.

Adrian Peterson: Rookie of the Year

What is Al Davis thinking? Justin Fargas just signed a three year deal worth 12 million, Dominic Rhodes renegotiated, and second year running back Michael Bush (out with broken leg in ‘07′) is now healthy. Did I mention that Lamont Jordan remains in the picture?

Considering the Raiders just paid JaMarcus Russell an exorbitant amount of money last season you would think that a game-breaking receiver capable of taking pressure off of Russell would have been in the picture somewhere. If the Oakland Raiders have a lick of sense they will do their best to muster some sort of a deal to bring in a Chad Johnson or someone capable of making this Raiders offense somewhat balanced

Even though McFadden was the best player I just don’t see the need in Oakland at the running back position.

Where will Alexander end up?

After finishing 29th in total rushing yards last season the Chicago Bears could sure use a healthy Alexander. Unfortunately, Cedric Benson is not an every down back and with his late season injury and his lack of passion for the game Alexander may find himself in an ideal situation in Chi-Town.

If somehow Detroit doesn’t end up drafting the physical Rashard Mendenhall out of Illinois, Alexander could find a comfortable home in this rather pitiful Detroit run game. Detroit finished next to last in total rushing yards in 2007 with an unspeakable 1288 yards through 16 games.

Don’t completely count out the ability of a healthy Shaun Alexander. There are multiple teams that could find use for Alexander and regardless of where he finishes his career, if given the opportunity Alexander could be a late round fantasy steal in your 2008-2009 fantasy draft.

From a fantasy perspective never overvalue any free agent unless they’re re-signing with there current team.

Derek Anderson (Cleveland): Was it a case of Anderson making everyone on the offensive side of the ball better or was it the other way around? It’s weird how the NFL works; Charlie Frye was named the Browns starter during week one of 2007 and before the beginning of week three we never hear another word about him. I couldn’t tell you where Frye is right now, but I can tell you that Anderson is a bona fide starter and a draft day trade that landed Quinn in Cleveland could eventually backfire. Even when it looks like the Browns make excellent draft day decisions (Brady Quinn), it turns out that it may end up backfiring. So I ask, did Anderson make the Browns offense better or was it drafting Joe Thomas, the all-pro play of Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow’s maturation, or the resurrection of Jamal Lewis’ career that offered Anderson a sense of security? However we look at the situation Anderson is a perfect fit on a team that desperately needs to win.

Daunte Culpepper (Oakland): I am truly not ready to give up on Culpepper’s career and if he signs on with the right team with a favorable situation he should rebound from his less than perfect return from injury last season. In 2007 with the Oakland Raiders Culpepper showed signs of the old “Pep”, but on other occasions he looked confused and completely out of his comfort zone. Look for improvement this season and his best case scenario would be to squash any type of beef he has with the Vikings and grow with a team close to making big noise in the NFC. In my opinion, a healthy Culpepper could replace about 50% of starting quarterbacks in a quarterback starved league but then again, I don’t earn millions making NFL decisions.

Other Free Agent Quarterbacks:

Josh McCown (Oakland): Career backup hoping to hang onto a job in Oakland.

Quinn Gray (Jacksonville): I don’t think Gray is as far away as most people think. However, at best he’s a couple years away from being an every week NFL quarterback and that’s only due to any type of injuries.

Drew Henson (Minnesota), Ken Dorsey (Cleveland), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Cincinnati), Jared Lorenzen (NYG), Cleo Lemon (Miami), Jamie Martin (New Orleans),

Luckily while googling the NFL I ran across a simulation league which allows owners to draft any defense, offensive line, skill positions, and everything in between. What makes this cool is you can take players from the beginning of the NFL all the way to this past 2007/2008 season.

Of course there is a level of strategy that owners must employ to remain competitive throughout the season. Do you want a run oriented offense? Pass oriented offense? How about a defensive juggernaut such as the 2000 Bucs? If you like to run the ball (like I do), how about the 1963 Cleveland Browns offensive line with Eric Dickerson’s 1983 season and Wilbert Montgomery (1977) as his backup? Where would you like to call home? Is it Lambeau, the old torn down Cleveland Municiple? How about good ole’ Candlestick Park?

Whatever the case, I’m pumped and cannot wait until this season begins (It starts as soon as it’s full). “It’s never quiet in the NFL”.

Come play or just check it out.

Under normal circumstances I would easily choose the Dallas/Boston match-up as the NBA game of the night, however, due to the uncertainty of Kevin Garnett (abdominal) and Ray Allen (flu), even without Tony Parker the San Antonio at Phoenix match-up has much more fantasy appeal. For those of you who play in weekly fantasy basketball competitions, hopefully you were able to fill you roster with players from this game. Read Full Article…

We’ve seen some great team and individual performance this season; rookies breaking single-game records, veterans adding to their legacies, franchises and individual season performances dominating the stat sheets, and history about to be made. With this Super Bowl match-up between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, I feel somewhat cheated this season. Does it have to end in a blowout like the one that’s about to happen on February 3, 2008?

Don’t get me wrong the Giants are playing fantastic football and have for the past several weeks, however, this is a no-contest as Belichick and his record-setting Patriots gear up for their 19th consecutive win and their fourth Lombardi trophy in the last seven years. Could you ask for a better storyline? History in the making!

New England fans and fans in general should be excited as we all have the opportunity to witness a perfect season and an unprecedented 19 wins. Why the resistance? We should all embrace change and never be too quick to reject greatness. Our parents were fortunate enough to witness greatness with the ‘72′ Dolphins and their perfect season, Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth’s Home Run record, and Wilt Chamberlain score 100 points in a single game. So why the resistance this day and age when athletes show greatness and franchises from top to bottom show dominance? Has the media and their negative press corrupted sports so much so that it continues to give games and franchises a black eye? We may never again have the opportunity in our lifetime to enjoy, appreciate, and embrace the soon to be perfect season of the 2007-2008 New England Patriots. Enjoy it!