[Tuesday Edition]
Fantasy Do’s and Don’ts
We have reached that time of the year, there’s a light breeze blowing from the south and across the horizon you can see the sun setting. With a faint sound of a whistle in the far off distant and children playing in the park, somewhere gathered around your average dinning room table are a group of men coming together in a battle of wits to test their own knowledge and mortality.
Not many outside this growing legion of fantasy football followers can fully grasp the extreme intensity that is involved when one participates in their annual fantasy draft. Like every year, the fantasy draft is more than an encounter; it’s an experience and a fight for survival. Always one of your biggest keys to enduring this marathon of football strategy, is know your “do’s and don’ts.”
2009 Do’s…..
If you are drafting in a quarterback friendly league, do take Tom Brady, Drew Brees, or Peyton manning with one of your top picks if they are available. Touchdowns don’t come cheap and these boys figure to put up many this season.
If you are playing in a PPR league you’re going to want to look at Matt Forte, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Steven Jackson with your top pick if Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner are gone and in some cases even before. All-Day and Turner are the best sure bets to see more than enough touches this fall to have huge impacts in fantasy, but the others compensate heavily with the abililties out of the backfield.
Drafting a top-notch wideout could prove to be tough this season if you are drafting low. Once the big-three (Moss-Fitzgerald-A.Johnson) have cleared the board, don’t turn your attention away from the receiver’s position. Do look to take Steve Smith (Carolina), Marques Colston (Saints), or Roddy White (Falcons). While the big three will be expected to turn in their big numbers once again, this second set will not be over-shadowed by much and will most definitely be worth heavy fantasy consideration.
Once your draft is well underway and you are looking at the tight end spot, aside from the standard play of Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, and Anontio Gates consider Chris Cooley, Dallas Clark, and Owen Daniels in similar company. There may be a slight drop off here from one tier to the next, but not enough to be a weekly difference maker.
2009 Don’ts....
If you are looking at the elite quarterbacks to draft, Philip Rivers and Kurt Warner may be worthy of some consideration following their impressive 2008 campaigns, but don’t count on quarterback Jay Cutler to fill the same shoes. A new team, a new system with new personnel does not necessarily equate to great numbers. He becomes a heavy risk with a high draft slot.
If you are looking to draft a good back in a touchdown friendly league, stay out of the Cleveland and Cincinnati backfields; only six touchdowns last season.
Need a great passing attack for your fantasy roster, but all the top arms are taken? Don’t expect to see miracles happen in Minnesota, Cleveland, or Oakland. The Vikings passing game could improve in 2009, but they tout one of the leagues best rushing attacks, with or without Favre they will run the ball. In Oakland and Cleveland, two of the leagues worst passing attacks should be avoided; they will not suddenly get healthy in 2009.
If you believe the Cardinal’s will produce a 1,000-yard rusher in 2009, don’t bet on it. Despite what head coach Ken Whisenhunt claims as far as running the ball, his Cards are built to throw the ball. Just ask former Dolphin’s head coach Don Shula, when quarterback Dan Marino came strolling along.
More Do’s & Don’ts….
Do draft…
Ryan Grant
Donald Brown
Steve Breaston
Brent Celek
Peyton Hillis
Chris Henry
Felix Jones
Jonathan Stewart
Derrick Ward
Earnest Graham
Ahmad Bradshaw
Nate Burleson
Kevin Curtis
Don’t draft….
Tarvaris Jackson
Daunte Culpepper
Brady Quinn
Derek Anderson
Ricky Williams
Michael Crabtree
Darius Heyward-Bey
Limas Sweed
Michael Jenkins
Antwaan Randle-El
Todd Heap or L.J. Smith
Dolphin’s receivers
Bear’s receivers
Raven’s receivers
Remember to check back for more "Monday Morning Huddle!"
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