SEASON WINDING DOWN...

If you are like me, you are out of the playoffs...and before you pack it in...you might want to reflect on things and make a couple of mental notes...

I think I made two big errors in the draft - the first was drafting 3 RB's off the bat, then taking a WR and a TE...my QB's were awful and I paid a price down the road...I think I need to balance my team better...
Second, listen to your gut...too many times, I made changes on Sunday morning that killed me...paralysis by analysis. Listen to one voice...yours. Don't let everyone dictate your moves...then next season, someone else will inherit the slogan....on the bench for a top scorer of the week...

MY GUT...WRONG AGAIN!

The story of my season...Brian Westbrook - 32 points.....ON THE BENCH! Done...out of the playoffs....

As I've learned the hard way, you can have too much talent...I think I need to balance my talent better...file that under lessons learned...

Wait till next year....

WHAT A DAY!!!!

Thanksgiving - a day of food, family and football - and for a lucky few, a day unlike any other in the fantasy world....
All three games were blowouts, with some hefty fantasy numbers turned in by a number of players...and for once, I didn't have to say my big scorers were "on the bench".
My one team has a 99-5 lead going into Sunday...after big days by RB Brian Westbrook & Chris Johnson and K Rob Baronas...if I don't win my game, you will hear a scream....

I WON, BUT DID IT AGAIN...

Matt Cassel 33 points in my league... (Say it with me) ON THE BENCH!..at least I won my game..

Two things to watch this week...Thursday's Thanksgiving games begin around noon...make sure to set your lineups and don't get burned by players being locked out...

Playoffs begin next week and some leagues don't allow any waiver moves - think ahead and get rid of some dead weight by picking up a potential gem....

Happy Thanksgiving!

...ON THE BENCH.

The three words to describe my season...I can't believe I sat Matt Cassel for 36 points and Kerry Collins for 19....either play would have given me an easy victory instead of a two point nailbiter (Played Matt Ryan for 9 points). Let's not forget Marshawn Lynch for 22 while I played Brian Westbrook for 7...AHHHHHHHH!

I dumped all my extra players (DEF/K) and grabbed some spare parts which could pay dividends down the road....you might do the same.....

BYES ARE OVER

Now is the time to dump the extra kicker and defense you've been carrying and go get some players who could help down the stretch....yes, the cream may be picked...but there are some waiver wire gems still to be had....also, look at teams who may be out of the hunt...those benchwarmers could get a chance to play and shine for you.
Be wary - teams may start sitting players once they clinch and you could lose a stud for your playoff game.

Another note of caution....don't wait too long to put an injured stud back into the lineup...I left Colston on the bench this week, it may cost me since lee Evans had another stellar game...2 points....

ANOTHER LOSS...

Time to throw in the towel...another loss and Schaub on shelf for at least two weeks...Sigh...

Hit the waiver wire early if you need a QB, since others are probably doing the same...also last week of byes - picking might begin to get slim...

Also, look for players who have been underperforming that folks have given up on...they may shine and be the difference between winning and losing...

ANOTHER MISTAKE....

When you have a deep team, you sometimes have to make decisions on who to play, and this year, for me, the choices I've made have proven wrong...
Case in point...this weekend, I put Brain Westbrook back into my lineup and sat Brandon Jacobs thinking Westbrook would have a big day and Jacobs would struggle...Checking the latest injury reports around noon Sunday...I saw a note about Westbrook might be limited in his game...what do I do? flip the two...Westbrook gets 32 on my bench, Jacobs, - 4...luckly, I've got my game covered with Tennessee RB Chris Johnson still to play tonight....that could have been costly...

What did they say in school? Go with your first instinct...it's usually right....

FINALLY A WIN!

Can't believe I've gone 5 week without a win, but had a big game Sunday and ended up top scorer in my league. My one regret - lenDale White on the bench on my other team for 32 points, but M. Cassel gave me a one point win...

Take note of the your league's rules - trading deadline is coming up - be on the lookout for some frustrated owners to dump their stars to a strong team and making the rich get richer. Most leagues allow teams to veto trades...look at your rules and keep an eye out...maybe you could swing a deal to make the stretch run...

OH MY...LAST PLACE

Another loss to drop to 1-5....my powerhouse is the 4th highest scoring team, but opponents are scoring more against me than anyone else. Got screwed by not paying attention and could get a replacement for Shayne Graham as he missed Sunday's game with the Jets...while it didn't really make a difference, it's typical of my season...
Today's lesson - make sure to check injury notes on friday or saturday...I didn't and it cost me....
One good thing - the pick-up of WR Roy Williams may pay off big time now that he's in Dallas....
If you are like me and carrying only one K & D/ST, make sure you look ahead and pick up what you need for a bye a week early, or put a claim in on waivers ealry in the week...this way, you aren't scrambling....

WHAT A DISASTER!!!!

For someone who was soooo pumped about his team after the draft, I'm 1-4....can it get any worse...
My problem - I keep trying to play matchups and always get it wrong...also, I have an abundance of good players, just never get the right combinations....
The one thing I need to keep in mind and remind you if you are in a similar position...keep at it...most leagues have playoffs and you can still recover....
Now, it would be nice to get a win this week...

WATCH THE WAIVER WIRE...

With the bye weeks upon us, you need to keep an eye on the waiver wire...some owners make some very unwise decision and you can grab a stud...
Case in point...one guy has half his team on a bye and needed a receiver...based on his performance this season, he dumped Roy Williams of Detroit...I saw that and swooped in...not because I needed a receiver, but I know someone who's looking for them...had a trade offer from him earlier but wasn't ready to...now, maybe I can get a Matt Cassel for a stud WR....

BYE WEEK TIME

This is the first week you need to pay attention to who's on a bye...make it a habit to check early in the week and plan ahead, so you don't get caught without a replacement for a bye player. If you are like me, you will need to grab a defense or kicker to cover a bye, it might also be a chance to improve both.
CHECK YOUR LINEUPS! There's nothing more aggravating than losing because you didn't sub a player which could have been the difference between a win and a loss....

MONDAY MORNING BLUES....

Today is a day for moaning the blues...I'm tied in my game with my opponent having Thomas Jones going tonight...there's a loss...
What hurts more - I have M. Lynch and R. White on my bench for 40 points...either in my lineup would give me a comfortable margin tonight...Lynch scored more than all of my backs (we have flex) and While scored more than my receivers combined...

Don't over analyze things...go with your big guns...you drafted them for a reason...Lesson learned...

IKE KILLS ME AND OTHERS IN FANTASY!!!

The late Saturday postponement of the Balt-Hou game really screwed me...I was left with Matt Hasselback as my starting QB - does he stink without anyone to throw to! People who didn't bother to check their lineups Sunday AM got screwed....

WEEK ONE OBSERVATIONS

Tom Brady/Nate Burleson owners...that's life...get replacements NOW!!!!!

make sure you know how your waiver system works....alot of leagues use an inverse of the standings..that means if you won your game, you are at least 6th in the order in a 10 team league...

Championships are won and lost by the moves you make during the season....I have a gut hunch TE Anthony Fasano for Miami will have a monster year...tried to grab him in both my leagues, was one and one....

One piece of advice - if you get DIRECTV's Sunday Ticket...pay for Superfan...the edited games are a great way to look at all the games during the week and note players who could be on the horizon...

Good luck in week 2....

TALE OF TWO DRAFTS (PT. II)

This is the one which still has me scratching my head....
Sunday night - 10 team league - I'm picking 5th...
The usual suspects go 1 & 2, then S. Jackson goes and Tom Brady...I get Brian Westbrook with 5th pick. Then the real shockers - E. Graham & D. McFadden in 1st round, Peyton early 2nd, and when I come up - Marshawn Lynch...WOW!...
Moving on - 3rdround - McNabb & Farve taken with first picks...New England Defense right before me (WHAT!)...I get Brandon Jacobs - 3 of the top 12 RB's...what a break...
The headscratchers continue - PK N. Folk om 3rd round; Julius Jones in 4th round (Stretch), WR Steve Smith of Giants - 5th round (WHAT!), and so it goes...
This was one of the strangest drafts and I thing I did pretty well...

QB - Hasselback & Schaub
RB - Westbrook, Lynch, Jacobs, C. Perry. C. Johnson (TEN), B. Jackson (GB)
WR - Colston, C. Johnson (DET), S. Holmes, R. White, L. Evans & E. Royal (Sleeper)
TE - Whitten & V. Davis
PK - S. Graham
DEF - Redskins

I think I've got a winner...

The one thing I want to point out - watch how things play out and stick to your plan. I saw everyone else grab Kickers and Defenses - I waited till round 15 to get a kicker and round 16 for a defense....they are pretty much crapshoots.....

Good luck in week one!

THE TALE OF TWO DRAFTS (Part I)

I want to tell you the story of two drafts I participated in this weekend...I'm going to limit myself to these two leagues and comment on my performance. I am somewhat surprised by the results...

First of all, you must take some time to rank your players in any online draft...computer problems do happen even during a draft, and if your list isn't done right, the autodraft can a wacky pick - In one draft, D McNabb went #1 in 3rd round to someone who's computer crashed and while rebooting made a pick (They weren't happy), another team on autopick - NE Defense pick #4 in 3rd, no RB for this team until 4th round and Rudi Johnson in the 9th round....

The first was an online draft early Saturday morning - I picked 10th overall in a 10 team league. My general draft strategy is go RB-RB-WR-WR and then go from there, but I will change if need be...Got RBs Marion Barber & Marshawn Lynch with the first two picks and then waited. By the time I came up again, 5 QB's were gone and I wanted to get Carson Palmer so I had to grab him and grabbed RB Reggie Bush with my other pick...the problem now - no WRs...that's going to hurt...what do I do in the 5th & 6th rounds - RB LenDale White & TE Kellen Winslow. Let me explain here, I use a program for my drafts and it advises me on my picks and it was guiding me away from WRs. Grabbed WR Dwayne Bowe and TE Chris Cooley (Good for me in past) next...spent the rest of the draft catching up on WRs - did get value with some WRs...got a decent team here, I hope...

QB - Palmer & V. Young
RB - Barber, Lynch, Bush, White, Morris
WR - Bowe, Chambers, Galloway, D. Mason, K. Walter
TE - Winslow & Cooley
K - Kaeding
DEF - J-ville

One note if you still haven't drafted - you really only need one kicker and one defense - you can pick up one on your bye week. Also, leave them until the end of the draft - they were my last two picks....

I'll talk about my other draft in the next installment...

ONE MORE THING...

Make sure you have some sort of cheat sheet to work off of and keep track of players picked. Online drafts make this easy, but a live draft doesn't have that ability.

Also, be aware of bye week...you don't want half your starters off one week with no replacements. Try to stagger your byes among your starters so no more than 2 of your main starters are off.

GETTING DOWN TO CRUNCH TIME

If you play fantasy football, chances are your draft is very soon...alot of good tips last week on the Locker Room...audio is archived at shoresportsnetwork.com.

A couple of tips....do a mock draft or two ahead of time - this will give you a feel for what will happen; check latest news prior to draft - I got burned once by a late injury report by not checking; Have a gameplan in mind for draft - Jeff Pasquino said it best, plan from the end up - figure out where you grab D's and PK's and fill with RB's and WRs.

Stay cool and have fun! This is the first step of a marathon...you can help yourself win in a draft, but you can't lose if you prepare properly.

FANTASY TRAINING CAMP ON THE RADIO

This week, tune into the Locker Room at 5:05 everyday for Fantasy Training Camp...experts cover everything you need to know about fantasy football as you prepare for your draft...

Next week - my draft tips...

GET READY...

The month of August means back to school shopping and prepping for FANTASY FOOTBALL! I will attempt to guide you thru the upcoming season with some tips and tricks to do well. I've done OK over the years...in the playoffs just about every year.

Here's some starters...
1) Get a magazine or two - which the info may be old in them, it gives you some basic info to prepare.
2) Subscribe to a service - There are alot of them, I use two Fasntasyguru.com and footballguys.com. I can vouch for both with a number of tools and tips which will work.
3) Get your drafts days set....clear your calendar for those special nights...nothing beats it for the experience of playing fantasy football...
4) Have fun!

I'm off on vacation next week...got my magazines ready to read on the plane and by the pool.