Fantasy Football: A Guide to Managing Your Fantasy Team

Fantasy football has quickly become a national pastime. Pro football players are even asked how they think they will perform so that people can decide how to set their lineups. Web sites are setup that offer cash prizes to winners or tickets to games. There are even fantasy football contests for tickets to the Superbowl. There are free leagues, and there are pay-to-enter leagues. Just about anything you can think of associated with football is available in a fantasy league.

Drafting:

We would all like to get Manning or Brady, Tomlinson or Johnson, Harrison or Holt. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work that way. To be honest you don't have to have all the marquee players to win your league. What you really need are consistent performers. I will agree that one or two stud players doesn't hurt, but it will not guarantee you victory. In fact, I have seen teams loaded with stud names go down in flames. This usually occurs because of injuries. It is inevitable that these guys are going to get hurt at some point during the season. They may not be out for more than one game, but one game can cost you the season.
To draft a winning team do your homework. Research the players and their schedules.

Larry Johnson may have monster games 8 or 9 times during the year, but he is probably going to have a couple of stinkers as well. Be prepared for that game when he faces a tough run defense. Have a second running back in your lineup who faces a weak defense during that time. In standards league formats you get 14 or 15 players and can usually start 9 or 10 players. This usually consists of 1 quarterback, 2 or 3 running backs, 2 or 3 wide receivers, 1 tight end, 1 kicker and 1 defense. This is why you need to draft that consistent guy to cover you on those days when your fantasy stud is facing the tough run or pass defense. You never want to sit your stud, they may have that monster game, but your steady producer can help you out if the stud is a dud that week. Also, look at who is coming out of college. There is usually one or two guys out of college who live up to expectations immediately.

One note here: It usually is not the number one draft pick. It generally is the guy in the middle rounds who was steady in college and translates that into the pros. An example would be Maurice Jones-Drew from 2006 or like this year it is Dewayne Bowe in KC. They are unexpected and can help you win several games. These guys you can pick up in the late rounds of your draft or even better if you get them off the waiver wire. When you are preparing your draft you really need to consider your draft order and stick to it. Running backs are usually the first to go, with the exception of a few select quarterbacks or wide receivers.

Don't be tempted to jump on the band wagon because some fool thinks he has the secret to winning. If someone jumps in and takes the Chicago defense in the 3rd or 4th round doesn't mean you need to do the same. Follow your draft order. Save the defense and kickers for the last rounds. Go for the guys in the first rounds who get their hands on the ball several times a game. This is what is called looks and touches. Wide Receivers get looks or how many times a ball is thrown their way during a game.

Running Backs get touches and looks or how many times they rush and receive during a game. That is why running backs are so valuable, they see the ball more than anybody. Tight Ends are good for the middle to later rounds. There are only so many Gates' and Gonzalez' in the NFL and your chances of getting them are minimal. Usually somebody thinks he has to jump to be first and takes them early which is good for you because then you have a better chance of getting that solid running back or consistent quarterback. Just do your homework.

In-Season Play

This is where you win your championship and bragging rights. I always play in a league at my job. It is so much fun to beat someone you know and then throw down a little smack talk afterward. Setting your lineup in the first few weeks of the season is usually a little difficult. You generally have to rely on the previous years performance to gauge what is going to happen. It is best to go with your top lineup, the best players from the previous year. Don't get down if your players suck those first couple of weeks. Defenses generally start off faster than offenses. After a few weeks the offensive players generally get on track and you start to see the cream rise. LJ, LT, Manning and the rest start getting into their groove after about week three of the NFL season. It is also during these first few weeks that the first signs of the injury bug come into play. The stud running back for a team may have gotten injured and you are looking for that replacement.

This is where your patience in the draft pays off. Even though you did not get that stud running back or quarterback, you got that steady force and they have now become the league star. An example was in 2006 when Donovan McNabb went out. In stepped Jeff Garcia and he performed like a rock. Keep your eyes on the injury report and always scan the waiver wire for a potential gem. You can also look for favorable match-ups during a particular week. Remember when I said that every player comes against a good run or pass defense, this is where the waiver wire comes into play. If Tomlinson is playing the leagues top rushing defense you are still going to play him, but your second back may have a bad match-up as well.

Search the waiver wire for a running back who has a favorable match-up. Insert him as your second back and hopefully it will payoff. You should also continue with your research during league play. Several sites offer good advice and stats throughout the season. NFL.com, Yahoo, Rotoworld and several others offer good columns to read throughout the NFL season. They have Sit or Start columns and others that can keep you informed on happenings during the week. Always and I do mean always, keep on eye on the injury report. If someone is listed as probable then they are going to play, if someone is listed as questionable then you better start looking at your backups and if someone is listed as doubtful or out then insert that backup or find a good alternative on the waiver wire.

Waiver Wire:

There is one way that I play the season. I always look for a Kicker with a good match-up each week. Very seldom will I keep the same kicker through a complete season. Kickers are the most unpredictable bunch in the NFL. One season it is Rackers with a good leg and the next season it is Bironas. There are usually a few that perform consistently year in and year out. The problem is that most fantasy leagues have some genius that thinks he has all the answers that draft these guys in the 5th or 6th round. Thats good for you because that leaves a good running back, wide receiver or quarterback on the board.

This is why I regularly drop and add kickers each week. I can usually find one with a good matchup. I often do this with defenses as well. There is generally a fair defense that is matched up against a horrible offense. I am not saying that this is the strategy you should use every-time. If you get your hands on a solid defense, hold onto them. If you can't get a solid defense this is an option. As I have mentioned before, the waiver wire is also a good spot to find a temporary gem when your primary has a bad match-up. Keep your eyes on the wire throughout each week, somebody will generally drop a good player because they are injured that week. This is planning for the future. If you can pickup that player they will come in handy down the road.

Final Notes:

Never play just players from your favorite team. Being a fan is a glorious thing, but you are trying to win a championship. This will not win you a championship. Most players have a bad game or two and that can ruin your season. Get as many good players from various teams as you can and give yourself a chance.
Enjoy Fantasy Football and Go Chiefs!