Fantasy Football 101
ROMER BAUTISTA, STAFF
With NFL teams preparing for the start of the 2007 season, most NFL fans have some preparation work to do themselves. What exactly are they preparing for? Well, if they’re like me, they have to prepare for one of the most important days of the year, they’re fantasy football draft. According to cnnmoney.com, an estimated 15 million to 18 million Americans play fantasy football each year.
Unfortunately, a hefty portion of those players have no idea how to play the game and how important the draft really is. With that in mind, I have compiled a list of several, simple tips that everyone from first-time players to seasoned veterans can use to make their draft day a successful one.
1. First things first — shore up your running back positions
Only in fantasy football is your running back more important than your quarterback. They not only get you the most points, but they are also at a premium. So, within your first three picks, make sure you have at least one solid running back (two of them is even better). Having the likes of Peyton Manning on your team can sound appealing, but pairing him up with someone like Vernand Morency is a recipe for a shitty season.
2. Back it up
Running backs get hurt . . . often — just ask anyone who has drafted Clinton Portis in the past couple of years. One way to cushion the blow of losing your top back to injury is by using a late pick to snatch up your top RB’s backup. It’s a cheap investment that could pay huge dividends during the season.
3. Wait on picking up a tight-end or kicker
There are only so many reliable tight-ends available, so if you are unfortunate enough to miss out on Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez, don’t exacerbate the problem by panicking and picking up L. J. Smith in the next round. After the first tier of tight-ends, the rest of the available choices are pretty much a wash, so wait it out, and solidify your other positions before taking your tight-end. The same can be said for kickers.
4. Watch the bye weeks
Wouldn’t it be sweet to be able to have Drew Brees as your starting quarterback, and Vince Young as a backup? No, it wouldn’t, because in week five you won’t have any quarterback to start. Keep an eye out for the bye weeks of your drafted players and make sure that your backup doesn’t share the same bye week.
5. Factor in the off-season
It really goes without saying, but a good fantasy football player will keep track of the off-season news that will have huge fantasy football implications. There’s the obvious difference-making news, such as Michael Vick’s off-field issues making Joey Harrington a viable fantasy quarterback option. And then there are the not-so-obvious moves that can have a big impact on results, such as Will Shields retiring from the Kansas City Chiefs. With Willie Roaf retiring a year ago, the Chiefs’ once formidable offensive line is now a question mark, which will make things tougher on the entire offence.
6. Try to avoid the injury bug
Nothing can sink a team faster then your star player going down with an injury. So proceed with caution when drafting the likes of Donovan McNabb and Shaun Alexander.
7. Look out for rookies
Take a look at the rosters of teams that did well in fantasy football last season, and you’re likely to see the names of Marques Colston and Maurice Jones-Drew appearing quite often. Drafting the unknown rookie who turns into the fantasy football superstar could be your ticket to the championship. Pick wisely, however, because for every Colston and Jones-Drew, there are the likes of LenDale White and Sinorice Moss.
