Archive

Archive for July, 2010

Two can be better than one

July 27th, 2010

In the fantasy football world player selection is constantly asking the question—who is getting the touches? In mock drafts and then in the real draft, we base a lot of our selection on who is the primary player.

I believe that when it comes to many receivers that they benefit from being teamed with another good player. Why? It is because if you are doubled teamed all the time, it is very hard to get open often and make big plays.

It takes a good QB and offensive line to give the receivers time to get open. But thanks to the NFL’s do not touch after the line of scrimmage rule, it is easier today than a few years ago.

Let’s look at who will benefit this year from additional help. Let’s start with Derrick Mason of the Ravens. Who would you put your best defender on when playing the Ravens, most likely Anquan Boldin. Last year, the defenses thought of Mason first. Now Derrick is getting older and only so many passes will be thrown, but he will get his share and I predict that his average yards/reception will be better.

Another player who will eventually benefit will be B. Edwards when Holmes is allowed to play. Santanio will be the primary go to guy and Edwards, starting in week 5 will become a secondary receiver. But what an opportunity for him, if he can hold on to the ball, he has a chance to be a big time fantasy player, even more productive than early in the season when he is the number one guy on the pass playbook pages.

A primary receiver can also benefit when a good number two shows up. Take Chad Ochocinco, for example, now he has bad knee Bryant and the foot in mouth disease T. Owens to take pressure off of him. I think if either number two is healthy and motivated, Chad’s numbers will soar. Palmer must be on his game, but assuming the same as last year, more openings due to less coverage for Chad O.

There are other examples, such as Dez Bryant, the greatest receiver to never play a pro game, teaming up with Austin Miles. I am sure that the Cowboys are dreaming of single coverage on either guy and letting Romo toss it to the open man. Of course, Dez must live up to his own hype, but the idea is good.

Finally, when a good receiver leaves it opens up opportunities for their replacements. Steve Breaston of the Cardinals is an example. The only difference is that Warner had retired and now Leinart will be the QB, that could be a problem, but let’s see how Matt looks when he is the man.

Player selection tools will help spot the hidden gems, but self searching helps. Use Data Sense to help you, but remember you are the GM of your team and its your call.

Have a good week, do some mock drafts, get your salary caps teams ready. Training camp is almost upon us and the real fun is less than seven weeks away.

Braincase Uncategorized

Mock Drafts and The Live Cheat Sheet

July 19th, 2010

This is an unabashed promo for the best tool available for those in drafting leagues. We do mock drafts in fantasy football for fun and learning. What could be better than to do them with the Live Cheat Sheet from FSO?

Fantasy Sports Optimizer’s unique tool can be used time and time again. Now is the time to purchase it and see what a difference it can make. This is a great time to practice using it and be super sharp when you are drafting for real.

We know that the NFFC has several high stakes games that are lots of fun, win or lose. However, wouldn’t it be better to win? Well, the first step would to be using Live Cheat Sheet, combined with Data Sense for player selection. These two tools will get you off to a fast start and give you the advantage you need in leagues of this caliber.

Live Cheat Sheet assist you in positional selection and which player(s) at that position are best to be selected. Selecting the position is so important due to the variance in league rules and scoring and The Live Cheat Sheet is adjustable for all leagues. Additionally, The Live Cheat Sheet sets up the drafting aid depending on your draft position. Drafting ninth is far different than being first.

Plus as you get use to using The Live Cheat Sheet, your confidence will increase and you can start to feel the thrill of victory.

I would say to those in private leagues…..this is the tool for you!!! It totally adjusts to your rules and can be used in any format or scoring system that is at all rational. I know, some aren’t there, but most are….especially the one that you are in.

Go for it in a big way this year and don’t start with an OK draft, when you can have a great one. FSO’s system isn’t perfect, but it is the best available and combined with your personal knowledge, you are destined for greatness.

Speaking of greatness, my Bears are undefeated so far this year!!!! Go Bears!!!!

Sweetness Uncategorized

Training camp noise

July 15th, 2010

Every year as we approach training camp there are numerous open questions. This year, however, we have a list of different questions involving some very big names.

Let’s start with the coaches dream boy. Mr. C. Johnson of the Tennessee Titans. Yes, the leagues number one rusher is making noises like HOLDOUT! It is very interesting to hear someone say I need $30,000,000 guarenteed or I can’t play. If I were the Titans, I would say that I was going to offer $29,000,000 guarenteed, but withdrew my tentative offer because I didn’t want to show disrespect. CJ also said he wants to rejoin his teammates as quickly as he can once this is resolved. The offensive line should tell him that he will be donating big to them this year or he can do it himself. I always liked CJ, but really guy “don’t look so self centered.”

The next guy who can’t believe that he isn’t being swooned over is the mouth himself. T.O. is having a problem comprehending that as his skills have waned, his reputation has not. And that rep is bad,bad,bad. Too bad, T.O., nobody wants your mouth. I know you were well behaved in Buffalo last year, but only because no one asked or cared. Good teams want winners, not locker room disrupters. Let’s hope he signs some where he can contribute in all ways. Just act like an adult!!

The next stop is in San Diego for Mr. Jackson, wide receiver star of the Chargers. Things are not going well, rumors of suspensions, angry statements about team mates and the club itself. What is with this guy? This is a team that has been on the edge of greatness and yet always manages to lose in January.

One year it was a defensive back who”had to make a play.” All he had to do was fall down with the ball or knock down the pass. However, he decided to be a hero and ran the interception back, fumbled and lost the game and the season. Sure, New England had to score, but why give them the chance. What happened to let’s be a champion?

There are other examples, but let’s close this on a positive note. There are numerous, wonderful team players in the NFL who play to win as a team. It is a shame that most of the press goes the other way.

Have fun this week, do a few mock drafts, test out your a few of your salary cap ideas and visit FSO’s home page.

Braincase Uncategorized

Fantasy Football Drafting Tools

July 7th, 2010

What are some fantasy Football drafting tools? Well, there are numerous rankings of players available on several different sites. Remember, however, that if the site has a fantasy football game, the rankings may be made with this in mind. Check out the difference between ESPN’s player rankings and CBS’s player selection tool and rankings. The difference is huge and the reason is that their respective leagues are very different in how many of each positions are played at one time. We have noted this in previous blogs and are not being redundant, I hope, by pointing out what a player ranking system means to you. If you play in their leagues, the rankings are worthwhile, but DO NOT switch them.

That then brings up what do you do in your league? Well you can see how similar your private or public league is to one of the public leagues that offers free drafting tools. One thing this does is take out some of the bias in other’s drafting tools and helps move you closer to your league. Does it help. sure, but make sure that you understand the difference in scoring and number of players at the various positions.

What else can you do? Well, one good player I know, does relative rankings based on last year’s results and how he thinks it is going to be this year. For example, he views Joe Flacco more favorably this year than last due to the improvement in his receiving corps. Now does he add 10% or 24% or 37% to Joe’s score from last year? He isn’t telling me, but it may make Baltimore Joe an earlier pick than normally. You can do the same, just don’t get carried away. Baltimore Joe is not going to pass for 5400 yards and score 439 points, new help or not.

Something else some fantasy’s gurus do is pick players in later rounds that are going to have their BREAKOUT years. Year three is the magic year for receivers or so they say. Sometimes adding a Farve is even better. So look around and see who is in a much better position this year than last and draft accordingly.

Does your league have mock drafts? Probably not, but it might be fun. Think of the goofing off you can do and the beer you can drink. Party mock drafts should be started everywhere just for the fun of it.

My favorite drafting tool is The LIVE Cheat Sheet from none other than Fantasy Sports Optimizer. FSO’s drafting aid is the only true interactive, on line, real time drafting tool available any where. It also allows you to enter your leagues parameters into the system before the draft and then it is poised to spring forward when the clock starts. Just think, your draft is unique and proceeds along its own path. LIVE Cheat Sheet goes right along with it, constantly adjusting to the changing conditions and give you the positions to pick and recommended players. WOW!!!!

Check it out on the FSO website and then buy it. It is very affordable and will make a big difference in your drafting this year.

By the way, the Fantasy Football Open Championship website is inactive this year. Too bad. However, Fanball’s National Fantasy Football Championship is alive with more high stakes games than ever. Lots of fun and lots of dollars. Look em up at Fanball.com

Now a word about my Bears. They are poised for greatness this year. Mad Mike and the Jaybird are still talking to one another, the defense is sacking the local markets and the offensive line promises to block forward this year. Its too much to ask for, but Lovey does anyway. What a team…look out Pack and Vike fans, the Chiville team is number one in the Black and Blue division this year.

Go Bears!!

Sweetness Uncategorized