|
|
 Home Field |
 Fantasy football |
 NFL Draft |
 Links page |
 News |
 Lambeau Field |
 Interact |
 The Team |
 Schedules |
 Games! |
 Site map |
 Eat and Sleep |
 Green Bay Attractions |
 History |
 Misc. |
 Awards |
2. Stats don't lie, highlight reels might- Trust the stats, they're for real. Michael Vick might make a lot of fabulous plays, but he won't put up consistent stats for you. I had Vick last year; big mistake. Don't make the same mistake. Drafting him later in your draft could add good backup value, but find a good starter first.
3. Play the Free Agent Market- This is where Championships can be won and lost. How many people look really good for acquiring Larry Johnson when Priest went down? More isn't always better, but it never hurts to find that sleeper pick halfway through the season who is just about to explode with offensive production. Muhsin Muhammed is a great example. He was a decent first half player who erupted in the second half to finish as the leading receiver in the NFL.
4. Backups- Your computer crashes, but you're in luck, you've backed up all of your key drives. Do the same with your stud running backs or injury-prone players. Speaking of Larry Johnson; those with Priest and Larry on their team hardly lost anything when Holmes went down. Don't lose your season because you failed to take the must-have backup.
5. Good offensive teams=good offensive players- It's a simple concept. Brandon Stokely, the Colts third wideout could easily outperform many teams first receivers. It also goes both ways. How much production did you get from Kevan Barlow last year. Enough said.
6. Nothing wrong with #12- Don't fret when you log into your draft and you have the #12 pick. You have the potential to get a couple of quality running backs, or perhaps the must-have receiver, or even one of the top 2 quarterbacks. Even better, you get 2 picks in a row. This applies to all draft positions. There are positives and negatives to any pick, but no matter what happens, don't go into a tantrum.
7. Keeping score- Know your scoring system well. Many leagues are different. Some only give 4 points for passing touchdowns and 6 for rushing. This would make the difference between Manning and Culpepper substantially less. Or a point for every reception. This makes good receiving backs like Tomlinson and Westbrook even more valuable.
8. Don't show favoritism- Bears fans may want to take Cedric Benson over Ahman Green just because of fan allegiances. Don't let this allegiance get in your way on draft day. Maybe you hate Randy Moss with a passion, but if he slips into the early third round, you know what to do (assuming you haven't already taken a receiver). If you like smack-talking, you can use this to your advantage. It's great to encourage the sentimental pick. Tell your Dolphins-crazed fan that Ricky Williams is predicted to take the starting job by week 3. This strategy can be especially lethal near the end of the draft against the guy who hasn't studied for days and nights like you have. When he can no longer recognize the player's names after the 10th round, convince him to take their team's backup tight end.
9. Defenses and kickers won't win you a championship- As a rule of thumb, don't touch any defense until mid-draft at the earliest, yes, even Baltimore. Assure your offensive positions first and probably even start adding some depth before even considering a defense. Don't take kickers until the last 2-3 rounds. They may win a game in the last second, but I'd rather have a quality backup running back than the top kicker.
10. Risk worth the reward?- While it could very well pay off, don't load up on injury-prone guys (or those in a position battle)who are tagged with the always-appealing scouting phrase, enormous potential. Don't take Clinton Portis over Peyton Manning. Joey Harrington could have a big year, but why risk it when he's on the end of his leash, and Jeff Garcia is his backup. This same principle applies to the old guys (like Curtis Martin or Jerome Bettis), or the must-have sleeper (LaMont Jordan). In all of these cases, the player could have a good year, but I wouldn't want to be stuck watching Staley getting 20 touches a game while you're stuck with Bettis in your starting lineup.
11. Study on your own- I can almost guarantee that no cheat sheet is correct. Don't treat one as the ultimate formula to winning. While I like to think mine is correct, it probably won't be. There's nothing more satisfying than finding your own sleepers.
12. Gaining the mental edge- This tip is for draft day. Always get inside your opponent's heads. In the few minutes before the draft, just remind all your opponents how many fantasy magazines you own (whether or not you've read them), or how many fantasy football championship trophies are sitting on your shelf. Then of course, it get's even better during the draft. When someone takes, for example, Domanick Davis (nothing wrong with that pick), respond by saying, "too bad you can't draft him an offensive line." Or to the guy who takes a player way to early, "that stinks, you stole my eleventh round pick." For the injury-prone pick, just say, "Enjoy all five of his games." It goes on and on. Have fun!
That's all I have for now. Check back in by the beginning of August for my complete in-depth cheat sheet.