Resolutions to win more games, have more fun in 2010
You have to change.
If for no other reason than the NFL constantly changes, you have to keep up and reevaluate how you approach this maddening hobby of ours. I have played fantasy football for about 20 years now, co-founded and been lead analyst for The Huddle for 14 years and even wrote the best seller Fantasy Football: The Next Level and yet I have to change. The thrill and excitement – and frustration and heartache — are all about the dynamic nature of football and how often it can be unpredictable. In order to keep the odds in your favor, you need to change.
Like every season, I will incorporate what I have learned into my plans for 2010. I am sure we have all learned at least some lessons this year.
Resolution No. 1: Grab the veteran half of a running back tandem
Look, no one loves a rookie running back more than me. In the past, there were always great values in picking up rookies and watching them flourish. And it almost never happens anymore. I had a great year with Joseph Addai on most of my teams — Donald Brown owners not so much. Short of Adrian Peterson in 2007, rookie running backs have been less than spectacular. Matt Forte did well last year thanks to being the only back on the roster when Cedric Benson left. But through the last five years, rookie runners have almost always disappointed and the veteran half of the tandem has usually been the better and cheaper draft pick. Sure, I will always end up with a rookie on my roster because they are like crack in fantasy football. But in a league that is becoming more about passing, the veterans are just more valuable.
Resolution No. 2: Never pick up a defense early
It never fails. No matter what I do on defense, it always ends up a disappointment. This year was grabbing the Steelers who are apparently nothing more than Troy Polamalu and ten other guys who only wish they were Troy Polamalu. When he is out, the only thing the Pittsburgh defense can shut down is their own fantasy value. I'll grab two decent defenses late and watch the waiver wire for whatever defense ends up to be the new version of 2009 Saints.
Resolution No. 3: Snatch up every stud wide receiver possible
Short of taking Chris Johnson with the first overall pick, it is going to be hard to convince me taking a low-risk, high-reward wide receiver is not the optimal draft pick in the first two, or three rounds. With so many committee backfields and the typical injuries and such, running backs do not offer the bang for the buck anymore. Starting out WR-WR-RB-RB is likely better than the old RB-RB-WR-WR. In a league with points for receptions, starting with a wide receiver should be your default draft strategy.
Resolution No. 4: Never touch a backfield that uses more than two running backs
Sadly, it is almost impossible to find teams that do not regularly use two-man backfields but if any team regularly uses three or more — leave it alone if you can. This is mostly about the Patriots who prefer to use four different runners in a game but has spread to teams like the Raiders, Bills, Buccaneers, Eagles, Texans and Saints. It can happen when a primary starter is injured and no player steps up to take a big role but it is generally a wave of the future. You have to be able to rely on your running backs to get a significant share of the work for consistent fantasy points. This is getting hard to do and may seem to be in contrast to drafting wide receivers early instead of running backs. When possible, look for complementary backs and not a backfield that has several backs of all the same size and basic talent. Take a cue from the NFL teams — if they won't rely on one of their players for most of the work then they won't benefit you either. Let other fantasy teams be the August optimists and play the waiting game to see if anyone steps up to take a majority of the work.
Resolution No. 5: Play in fewer leagues and yet be more involved
Sure, doing all the homework makes it tempting to keep adding new leagues but at some point it becomes a chore to manage them all. Fantasy football should be about competition and camaraderie, not checking eleven rosters to see which ones have the Sunday surprise inactive player. Be more involved with fellow team owners if only to talk smack with them and give your head-to-head matchup a little more flavor. Congratulate the guys that beat you and make fun of the ones that don't. Get to know your league mates and your league better. Make fantasy football about fun, not a weekly statistical exercise. For a local league, make the draft an even bigger event this year.
Each season shows just how dynamic the NFL is and keeping up with those trends and changes is a big part of the enjoyment of fantasy football. Keep changing with the times and above all else — have more fun with your league in 2010!
By David Dorey, TheHuddle.com
You have to change.
If for no other reason than the NFL constantly changes, you have to keep up and reevaluate how you approach this maddening hobby of ours. I have played fantasy football for about 20 years now, co-founded and been lead analyst for The Huddle for 14 years and even wrote the best seller Fantasy Football: The Next Level and yet I have to change. The thrill and excitement – and frustration and heartache — are all about the dynamic nature of football and how often it can be unpredictable. In order to keep the odds in your favor, you need to change.
Like every season, I will incorporate what I have learned into my plans for 2010. I am sure we have all learned at least some lessons this year.
Resolution No. 1: Grab the veteran half of a running back tandem
Look, no one loves a rookie running back more than me. In the past, there were always great values in picking up rookies and watching them flourish. And it almost never happens anymore. I had a great year with Joseph Addai on most of my teams — Donald Brown owners not so much. Short of Adrian Peterson in 2007, rookie running backs have been less than spectacular. Matt Forte did well last year thanks to being the only back on the roster when Cedric Benson left. But through the last five years, rookie runners have almost always disappointed and the veteran half of the tandem has usually been the better and cheaper draft pick. Sure, I will always end up with a rookie on my roster because they are like crack in fantasy football. But in a league that is becoming more about passing, the veterans are just more valuable.
Resolution No. 2: Never pick up a defense early
It never fails. No matter what I do on defense, it always ends up a disappointment. This year was grabbing the Steelers who are apparently nothing more than Troy Polamalu and ten other guys who only wish they were Troy Polamalu. When he is out, the only thing the Pittsburgh defense can shut down is their own fantasy value. I'll grab two decent defenses late and watch the waiver wire for whatever defense ends up to be the new version of 2009 Saints.
Resolution No. 3: Snatch up every stud wide receiver possible
Short of taking Chris Johnson with the first overall pick, it is going to be hard to convince me taking a low-risk, high-reward wide receiver is not the optimal draft pick in the first two, or three rounds. With so many committee backfields and the typical injuries and such, running backs do not offer the bang for the buck anymore. Starting out WR-WR-RB-RB is likely better than the old RB-RB-WR-WR. In a league with points for receptions, starting with a wide receiver should be your default draft strategy.
Resolution No. 4: Never touch a backfield that uses more than two running backs
Sadly, it is almost impossible to find teams that do not regularly use two-man backfields but if any team regularly uses three or more — leave it alone if you can. This is mostly about the Patriots who prefer to use four different runners in a game but has spread to teams like the Raiders, Bills, Buccaneers, Eagles, Texans and Saints. It can happen when a primary starter is injured and no player steps up to take a big role but it is generally a wave of the future. You have to be able to rely on your running backs to get a significant share of the work for consistent fantasy points. This is getting hard to do and may seem to be in contrast to drafting wide receivers early instead of running backs. When possible, look for complementary backs and not a backfield that has several backs of all the same size and basic talent. Take a cue from the NFL teams — if they won't rely on one of their players for most of the work then they won't benefit you either. Let other fantasy teams be the August optimists and play the waiting game to see if anyone steps up to take a majority of the work.
Resolution No. 5: Play in fewer leagues and yet be more involved
Sure, doing all the homework makes it tempting to keep adding new leagues but at some point it becomes a chore to manage them all. Fantasy football should be about competition and camaraderie, not checking eleven rosters to see which ones have the Sunday surprise inactive player. Be more involved with fellow team owners if only to talk smack with them and give your head-to-head matchup a little more flavor. Congratulate the guys that beat you and make fun of the ones that don't. Get to know your league mates and your league better. Make fantasy football about fun, not a weekly statistical exercise. For a local league, make the draft an even bigger event this year.
Each season shows just how dynamic the NFL is and keeping up with those trends and changes is a big part of the enjoyment of fantasy football. Keep changing with the times and above all else — have more fun with your league in 2010!
By David Dorey, TheHuddle.com
