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Fantasy Football Tips For Winning Your Fantasy Football League


Fantasy Football Tips For Winning Your Fantasy Football League
By James Hamaker

Fantasy Football Season is upon us again, and there are many issues to consider for this season. One of the biggest early decisions is who to draft in the early rounds of the draft. I would like to take this time to share with you my strategy on when I draft players and why you should draft your players at certain times during the draft.

The early rounds of the draft are the most important rounds for your fantasy team. The decisions you make with your early picks can make or break your team. Rounds one through four are very important, and you should draft carefully according to your place in the draft.

Your first pick in the draft should always be a running back or wide receiver. In a points-per-reception league, the WR position grows in importance. In most seasons, a running back should be selected in the first five to seven positions in the draft. If you draft later than seventh in the first round, you might want to consider drafting a wide receiver in the first round. In round two, you want to draft a wide receiver or running back. I would only draft a quarterback in round two if you selected a wide receiver in round one. In most seasons, you do not want to draft a quarterback early unless he is one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the league.

Your first four picks should be wide receivers and running backs. Do not draft a tight end or quarterback earlier than round five unless you pick up an elite quarterback. After the first four rounds, start filling up the positions on the rest of the team. I recommend filling all starter positions first before filling up the bench. Do not fill your kicker or team defense slots until the last two rounds of the draft. You can pick up better kickers and team defenses during the season.

Finally, pick up sleeper picks in the last rounds of the draft. Do not select benchwarmers or handcuff players in most situations unless you play in a really deep league. This will give you a better chance to win if an entire team is bad.

These are all the tips I recommend to fantasy football players. I wish you the best of luck with your team.

James Hamaker loves to write about everything. Look for more articles from James!

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Fantasy Football Surprises in 2009 Through Week 2


Fantasy Football Surprises in 2009 Through Week 2
By Ryan Lacioca

Here are some of the more pleasant fantasy football surprises of the 2009 season so far. We’re only two weeks into the season, so much is subject to change, but as it stands right now, there are definitely quite a few players exceeding all expectations placed upon them.

Mario Manningham, wide receiver for the New York Giants. Everyone wondered what would become of the Giants’ receiving situation. Having lost both Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the Giants entered the season without their longtime top two receivers. At wide receiver, Mario Manningham is amongst the biggest 2009 fantasy football surprises so far, and may very well be the biggest.

Manningham has been superb though. Through the first two games, Manningham has 208 yards and a total of two touchdowns. It’s clear that the Giants are in pretty good hands so far, and Manningham has broken out.

Fred Jackson, running back for the Buffalo Bills. Talk about a great first two games of the season! With 220 rush yards and 108 receiving yards (not to mention a touchdown too), Fred Jackson has one of the highest rushing totals in the NFL through the first two games of the season and is definitely one of the bigger fantasy football surprises of the 2009 season so far.

The versatile running back has done an excellent job filling in for Marshawn Lynch, currently serving a suspension, and one has to wonder what the running back situation will look like in Buffalo once Lynch returns. Without a doubt, Jackson will remain an integral part of the Bills’ offense.

Find out about more fantasy football surprises and join a free fantasy football league at RootZoo, the only site that pays you cash for winning your league! Play weekly pick ‘em too.

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Fantasy Hockey Preview – Gambles


Fantasy Hockey Preview – Gambles
By Gary J. Wilson

As you evaluate your draft list for the upcoming season, pay special note to a number of players who carry a bit of a high-risk, high-reward aspect. While you don’t want to necessarily avoid drafting them, you definitely want to limit the number of these guys that wind up on your roster. It’s ok to roll the dice on Marian Gaborik in round 3, as long as your first 2 picks weren’t equally risky. Don’t sprinkle more than 1 or 2 of these players in through the early rounds.

Offense

Marian Gaborik – Gaborik is the definition of a gamble player. Could be worth a first round pick, could be worth passing on altogether. Chances are he’s due for a great season. Might even crack 50 goals for the first time.

Simon Gagne – Gagne seems to be fully recovered from his concussion problems, but those things have a way of coming back. Particularly for Flyers forwards. If he stays injury free, he’s a goal scoring machine on a very talented Flyers roster. Gagne could easily return to being a 40 goal man in 09.

Martin Havlat - Minnesota replaced one talented, injury prone forward with another. Havlat is likely to be passed over by many GM’s, but he’s worth consideration early on. He’ll give you a point a game. It’s just a matter of how many games that will be. He’s the only offensive threat in Minnesota this season, so he may not deliver as well.

Olli Jokinen – Jokinen is as unpredictable as they come, but if goalscoring is something you like on your roster, he’s still worthy of a mid-round pick. Even with a major dip in points the last 2 seasons, he still is averaging over 30 goals a season. A full season in Calgary may settle him back into a 70-80 point pace. Don’t blow him off just yet.

Anze Kopitar – Kopitar was one of the biggest disappoints in 2009. After much promise and fanfare in his first 2 seasons, he slipped back down to 66 points. LA still hasn’t shown that they’re worthy of fantasy respect, so it’s hard to get overly excited. Then again, don’t be shocked if he comes out storming and tops 80 points this year.

Vincent Lecavalier – For a guy with his reputation, his point totals over his career are extremely erratic. You may be drafting a top 5 scorer, or you may be wasting a precious early pick on a 60 point scorer. I say he’s worth the risk. Don’t be suprised to see him top 90 points in 2009.

Defense

Bryan McCabe – McCabe appeared to be nearing the end in 2007, but he bounced back in a big way with 15 goals last season. With Bouwmeester leaving town, the show belongs to McCabe. He could rocket back up the leaderboard in ‘09. Then again, we could see him slide out of sight once again. Take your chance.

Scott Niedermayer – Much like Lidstrom, this superstar has peaked and is about to start to see a decline in his production. It should be a gradual fall, so don’t write him off yet. But don’t bank on him approaching 60 points again in his career.

Joni Pitkanen – Pitkanen displays flashes of brilliance one game, then disappears the next. He has the potential to rise to a top 10 defensemen in the league. He is just as likely not get drafted. Big time risk/reward. We say go for it this season. He seems comfortable in Carolina, and ought to net at least 40 points this season.

Mark Streit - It’s hard to fairly rank Streit as a defenseman, since he plays a good many games as a forward. As the Islanders young forwards start to come into their own, expect Streit to settle back into the defense position full time. Expect his numbers to slip a bit when that happens. Still, Streit is probably good for 50 or so points in the upcoming season.

Goalies

Ray Emery – It’s impossible to know what to expect from Emery this year. He did well statistically in his last NHL season, but that’s not what concerns GMs. Philly is strong and getting better, so whoever earns the #1 job for the Flyers will be worth the pick. Problem is, there hasn’t been an undisputed #1 goalie in Philly for a decade. Why not Emery?

Marc-Andre Fleury – Amazing potential and skill. Amazingly inconsistent. The Penguins have never been built to favor good goalie stats, but Fleury has hung in there anyway. Don’t get too excited about his playoff performance. He still has to face a few breakaways every night in the regular season.

Jaroslav Halak – Halak was the better goalie in Montreal last season, but Price will be given the job to lose again come fall. Nonetheless, Halak could potentially claim the job if Price struggles. For now, don’t get too excited about him come draft time.

Chris Osgood - It’s tough to know what to do with this guy. Is he the all-star, Hall-of-Fame goalie of the playoffs, or the guy who has to split time with a different backup every season. He hasn’t played more than 46 games in the last 5 seasons, so don’t count on him as your #1.

Carey Price – Price is a good goalie, despite the disaster of 2009. However, Montreal is not a good team. Until this mess gets straightened out, don’t rush into drafting Price. Take a chance on him late in the draft if he’s available; otherwise, stick with something a little safer.

To get more free fantasy hockey tips and tools, visit http://www.landsharkhockey.net. Landshark Hockey offers a free draft guide and draft ranking tool to help generate your draft sheet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_J._Wilson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Fantasy-Hockey-Preview—Gambles&id=2760705


Great Fantasy Football Surprises in 2009


Great Fantasy Football Surprises in 2009
By Nathan Gero

There have been so many football players stepping it up and exceeding expectations through the first few weeks of the 2009 fantasy football season. Sure, this kind of thing does happen every year, but it seems like there are more “no names” rising to the occasion this year, suddenly emerging as top players at their positions. Let’s take a look at a few of the many guys who have outperformed the expectations placed upon them at the beginning of the season. Keep in mind that we’ll only be listing a few of the many players who fall into this category.

1. Steve Smith of the New York Giants. Who would have thought that this Steve Smith would be the fantasy stud WR through the first five weeks of the football season? He was basically unknown before the season started, and he’s outperformed the “real” Steve Smith handily. With 481 receiving yards and 4 TDs through five weeks, his numbers have been off the charts so far.

2. Joe Flacco. In just his second season, Flacco is suddenly one of the more prolific fantasy football quarterbacks. He’s fifth in overall scoring for QBs in 2009, and no one would have expected that entering the season. Flacco was typically drafted near the end of drafts, if at all.

3. Ricky Williams. The storied career of Ricky Williams is once again on the upswing. Williams is having his best season in years, with a ton of rush yards and receiving yards, not to mention 3 TDs through five games.

Get the latest on all DeLonghi toaster ovens at the DeLonghi toaster resource.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Gero
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Fantasy Baseball Home Stretch - Optimize Your Team For the Win


Fantasy Baseball Home Stretch – Optimize Your Team For the Win
By Alex A. Woods

As fantasy baseball season begins to wrap up, those that play in rotisserie style leagues all know that September is the championship month. At this point the trade deadline has passed and teams are locked in. Managers without a realistic chance of winning have probably stopped actively managing their teams. For those teams still in the mix, there are a number of actions you can take as a manager to maximize your chances of success.

1. Make sure you use all pitching innings. This one is huge one and a no brainer. Not using all your pitching innings is like leaving money on the table.

2. Identify categories where your team has a realistic chance of gaining ground and focus on them. Make waiver wire moves that will help you. For example, if you see that your team falls in tight band in the HR category with a few other teams, go out and pick up a player with some power and try to move up in that category. It seems that steals, and saves are the easiest categories to make a quick move in while BA, ERA, and WHIP are tough to make an impact on at this point in the season.

3. Following the same thinking as rule #2 – identify categories to punt. Are you so behind in saves that there is no way you can catch the league leader? Then trade/cut your closers and uses those roster slots to focus on categories where you actually have a chance to make up some ground.

4. Try to use all games for your positional players. Most leagues have a maximum games played at each position. Most people fall behind, particularly at the catcher position. If you can begin streaming players and maximizing your games played it can give you a small edge that can in some cases buy you the extra point that winds up being the difference between winning and losing.

5. Don’t be afraid to cut slumping stars. At this point you have given your guys the entire season to perform. If someone has not come through, do not be afraid to cut a big name to try to fill games. I just cut Big Papi Ortiz for this very reason.

In summary, following these 5 simple rules are not required to win, but can increase your chances of championship glory. The rules are laid out in order of importance so if you only implement a few of them make sure you start at the top of the list and work your way down. Good luck to those of you with a shot to win, and for those of you who are out of it, be sure to study up for football.

For more fantasy baseball news check out BleacherCreatureRotoTalk.com
Fantasy Baseball

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Best Fantasy Football Sites


Best Fantasy Football Sites
By Jake Wilson

It’s common practice for us football fanatics to spend the off season doing research for the upcoming fantasy season. The best fantasy football sites are the ones who provide up-to-date player rankings, mock drafts, reports, general information and high quality resources that can guide you to the promise land and the prized title of fantasy football champion. Fantasy football sites are everywhere. The way these sites gain popularity is through credibility and the level of resources and information they provide.

Most of us are not professional fantasy players so we rely on the information given to us by these sites. It’s pretty standard for people to find a site they like and latch onto it for the entire football season. Just because someone has a fantasy site we automatically assume they know what they are talking about. But if the fantasy football season ends and you find yourself at the bottom of the heap, chances are you won’t go back to that site when in need of help. The best fantasy sites have built a solid reputation for themselves over the years and have proven to be industry leaders and providers of accurate and relevant fantasy football information, year after year. If a site has sustained itself over the years and has grown in popularity, chances are they know what they are talking about.

One of the top things people look for when browsing for the best fantasy sites is information regarding the ADP, or Average Draft Position. This is a very valuable tool for fantasy players on draft day. It is essentially a list of all NFL players that is compiled from thousands of mock drafts and/or real drafts, that shows a players value in relation to others in the league.

This information can be used in conjunction with NFL fantasy player rankings to create one of the most accurate resources that determines the order players will be chosen on draft day. Amateur’s and professional fantasy football players alike, use the ADP for reference during the pre-season and on draft day. It’s widely becoming the “go-to” list when in need of the next best pick.

The most popular or best fantasy football site on the internet may not exactly be the best site for you and your team. Be sure to keep your eyes open for current information and don’t tie yourself down to just one site that you get your information from. Browse all the best fantasy football sites and get pertinent information from each one. They’re out there for a reason; to help you. Take advantage of their services while you still have a winning record.

RapidDraft is a new and exciting NFL fantasy football game that lets you play against the best fantasy players in the world. For under $10 bucks you can play RapidDraft for a chance to win the guaranteed cash prize of $250,000 dollars. Create your own online fantasy football league through RapidDraft today and draft your team that will take you to the promise land.

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Fantasy Hockey – Avoid the Dreaded Split Crease


Fantasy Hockey – Avoid the Dreaded Split Crease
By Gary J. Wilson

When it comes time in your fantasy hockey draft to select a goalie, one critical thing to be wary of is goalies sharing time in net. You might be drafting a stud with a 2.1 GAA, but if he only gets 50 starts, it’s going to hurt you in the long run. So here a handful of teams that have a cloudy picture between the pipes, and what it should mean for you at the draft table.

TORONTO – Toskala/Gustavsson
Toskala faced the same handicap when he split time in San Jose, only this time, his space is being crowded by a new guy from overseas. Gustavsson is a big unknown, but the situation seems to indicate that he’s going to start a good number of games. Then again, it doesn’t mean Toskala should be shown the door. He’s a still a very good goalie and either one could put up some good numbers on a Toronto team that promises to be tough on defense for the first time in many, many years.

ANAHEIM – Hiller/Giguere
While it seems on the surface that Hiller should be the undisputed #1 based on his amazing playoff run, the fact is, Giguere is a huge cap hit and he’s still got talent. Similar to what almost played out in Chicago last year, it’s possible that the Ducks would look to shop Giggy, but to do that, he has to get in some games. Expect this to be a steady rotation for the first half of the season until someone gets hurt, dealt, or emerges as an undisputed #1.

NY ISLANDERS – DiPietro/Roloson/Biron
The first #1 goalie threesome in recent memory. Don’t be surprised to hear the term 1C emerge at some point. Even if DiPietro does the expected and sits in the E.R for half the year, there’s no clear cut winner among the other 2. Roloson is surely winding down his career, but may be good for a run here and there. It’s somewhat shocking that Biron couldn’t land a better situation than this. He still has a chance to emerge as a #1 goalie someday. Regardless of all that, do you really want an Islanders goalie on your roster? Didn’t think so.

NASHVILLE – Rinne/Ellis
The Predators have a history now of burning through the goalie of the month club. Every season a hot hand emerges to push out last year’s hot hand. Will Rinne be the one to break the mold? Unlike with Vokoun and Mason, Ellis actually stuck around to confuse the situation. Expect him to get a good number of starts this season, which should lower the value of Rinne on your draft list. And don’t be afraid to take a chance on Ellis with a very late pick.

WASHINGTON – Varlamov/Theodore
Again, the general public has all but forgotten Theodore once again and have crowned Varlamov the starting goalie in Washington for the next five years. Put things in perspective. He was hot for a couple weeks, then showed a weak glove hand against the Pens. You didn’t see guys lining up to draft Brian Boucher, even after his 5 game shutout streak a few years back. (though, I’m tempting to draft him as a Flyer this year). Yes Varlamov has been on the radar for some time as an up and coming goalie. Just don’t get silly and place him in your top 10.

LOS ANGELES – Quick/Ersberg
Let’s face it, you’re not interested in drafting a goalie from the Kings anyway. But if you were, it’s not worth taking a chance on either guy being the #1. Let it play out for a month or so and pick up the winner as a free agent around Thanksgiving. He’s still be available, and you won’t look silly at the draft.

To get more free fantasy hockey tips and tools, visit http://www.landsharkhockey.net. Landshark Hockey offers a free draft guide and draft ranking tool to help generate your draft sheet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_J._Wilson
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Fantasy Hockey – NHL Players on the Rise


Fantasy Hockey – NHL Players on the Rise
By Gary J. Wilson

As you continue to prepare your draft list, take some time and scour the stats sheets for players on the rise. The trends indicate that these players are getting better every year and should continue to climb in 2009. If you draft purely on last year’s stats, you’ll probably undervalue many of these players.

Offense

Nik Antropov – Atlanta just may be the situation Antropov needs to turn his talent and size into a big pile of points. If he gets paired up with Kovalchuk for any length of time, he could be the steal of the draft. Plan on him setting a career high in points and goals in 2009.

David Booth – Booth played at a point-a-game pace for the second half of last season. He also topped 30 goals in just his third season. Expect Booth to raise his production even further this time around and make a go at 40 goals.

Daniel Cleary – Cleary demonstrated his talent when given the chance in the playoffs last season. His biggest challenge is finding playing time on the Redwings roster. With a few big names moving on this summer, the door is open for Cleary to crack the top 2 lines. Don’t be surprised to see him approach 70 points in 2009.

Sam Gagner - Gagner had a very slow start to the season last year, but came on huge down the stretch, scoring 21 points in 17 games at one point. Count on him being a much bigger factor for the Oilers in 2009.

T.J. Oshie – Oshie was dynamite for the Blues in the second half of last season. He’s one of the top rising players in the league and may break out for a monster season in 2009. Definitely count on him getting into the 60 point range or better.

Drew Stafford - Stafford is improving slowly, but surely, as he enters his fourth NHL season. He may not be ready for star status just yet, but he will be starting on a fantasy roster by the end of the season. Why not make it yours?

Defense

Cam Barker – Barker took a big jump in 2008 going from 18 to 40 points. He should continue to climb in points if he’s able to play a complete season. Barker could rise into the upper tier of fantasy D in the next couple of years.

Jack Johnson – Jack Johnson has gotten a lot of press on his future potential, but it has yet to translate into meaningful results for Kings fans and fantasy owners. It’s his third year in the league, so expect him to jump considerably from his 11 point totals of his first two tries. Figure him to land in the 30 point range this season.

Kris Letang – In case you missed the playoffs, Kris Letang is a major talent on an offensive-minded Championship team. With Whitney gone from the picture, Letang will get full power play duty next year, along side of Sergei Gonchar. This is all good news for the rising Penguins star.

Ryan Suter - Suter’s numbers have risen in each of his first 4 seasons, and all signs indicate that this trend should continue. Anything less than 50 points would be a disappointment this season. Expect him to get closer to 60.

Goalie

Chris Mason – Mason was the hottest goalie in the league over the last 2 months of the season, as the Blues hit their stride. With Eric Johnson returning in the fall, he’ll get even more support, making him an attractive option as a #2 goalie.

Jon Quick – One of these years the Kings are bound to get better, and whoever is in net will likely reap the benefits. This go around, the money is on Mr. Quick. He showed promise in his rookie year with a .914 save percentage, on a young team that allowed plenty of shots. Quick is worthy as a backup and could deliver much more.

To get more free fantasy hockey tips and tools, visit http://www.landsharkhockey.net. Landshark Hockey offers a free draft guide and draft ranking tool to help generate your draft sheet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_J._Wilson
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The Vegas Nightmare Online Sports Betting System Reviewed


The Vegas Nightmare Online Sports Betting System Reviewed
By Brent Jaworski

Most of us have heard the popular expression “the house always wins” when it comes to gambling. That’s because the house always has a slight advantage and over time, they end up winning a small percentage more than the gamblers. But that hasn’t stopped many intrepid and sometimes foolhardy individuals from attempting to beat the house or their local bookie.

Some of these gamblers even look for sports betting systems and then gamble online. Although the internet is indeed an extremely powerful moneymaking tool, the trick is you need to know where to look. While most get rich quick schemes online are just that…schemes, a few of them are worth a closer look.

Recently we had the opportunity to visit a site that offers a system that has made hundreds of people substantial amounts of cash faster than you can say “let it ride!” The system is cleverly and from what we have seen appropriately called “The Vegas Nightmare.”

According to the most recent reports, sports betting on the internet is a 14 billion dollar a year industry that continues to grow with each passing month. But, of course, not everyone on the internet is making money. The trick is to locate a system that works for you and can make you money day after day, week after week, and month after month. Just like with any effective stock trading system, the key is consistency. That is what we think we’ve found with The Vegas Nightmare-a consistent way to make money betting on sports on the internet.

The best thing about betting on sports on the internet is that is available to you 365 days a year. That means you can bet whenever you want on nearly any sport your want-unless, of course they are in their offseason.

Like any system, the most important thing to do is to follow the system and not get greedy. Just like day traders on in the stock market, you will likely have your fair share of ups and downs, but if you can consistently make money, then you will end up well ahead of the game.

So let’s get behind the slippery sales talk and actually take a look at this system.

The sports betting system works a lot like a day trading robot, which is a computer software program that analyses the market to see which stocks are a good buy; and that is exactly what the Vegas Nightmare does, it examines the sports markets to find opportunities every day of the week.

The beauty of the system is that you don’t have to be a sports expert to profit from the system. In fact, many successful gamblers have spent a lifetime amassing the knowledge and experience that is provided to you by this system. It is no surprise to learn that the creator of this system spend over five years and hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money perfecting the Vegas Nightmare.

This sports betting software also provides easy-to-follow tutorials for beginners. Once you are ready to start winning, betting odds and recommendation will be sent directly to your computer. There is even a money management calculator that will take most of the guesswork out of betting.

Once you sign up for a membership, the system has three easy steps.

Step 1

The system identifies the best bets for the current day and sends you an alert, or you can simply login to the website each morning and check the best bet for the day.

Step 2

Then you simply choose a bet you want to make and the calculator will tell you exactly how much to bet on that particular sports play. The easy-to-follow formula is designed to keep you on the winning side each and every week.

Step 3

Lastly, you place your bet or bets and if you are successful (which is likely), the money will be immediately transferred into your account and is free for you to withdraw at any time.

It’s as simple as that! Even though the sports betting industry is replete with systems and schemes, The
Vegas Nightmare
appears to be the real deal and should be closely examined by all online sports bettors.

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Fantasy Football Key Draft Strategies


Fantasy Football Key Draft Strategies
By Alex A. Woods

The following are 10 rules you must master if you expect to be competitive in fantasy football. I can’t emphasize just how important the draft is and how hard it is to recover and have a decent season if you screw this up. More than any other fantasy sport, football is the most based on luck. Injuries are a huge part of the game and you must plan accordingly for them before the season begins. The name of the game is “minimize risk”. Following the these Fantasy Football Draft Rules will help you to minimize your risk exposure and give you a small advantage which can be the difference between winning and losing on any given Sunday.

1. Know your league rules
A few years back I got killed for not knowing my league rules. This really can have a big impact on player ranking. For example, in a PPR league running backs that catch balls will be ranked highest followed by wide receivers. Another example is leagues where quarterbacks get 6 points for a passing touchdown. In this case, QBs will have tremendous value and for the most part be the highest ranked players. In short, be aware of your scoring system as it can have an impact on the ranking system you are using.

2. Forget your loyalties
This really should be obvious, but many do not follow this key rule. If you are playing in a competitive fantasy football league its business not personal. Drafting with your heart rather than following the rules will cost you the season.

3. Beware of Injury
Fantasy Football is a game decided by injuries. Going into the draft you need to know who is hurt or coming off injury. Most rankings are assembled weeks before the fantasy draft season. Not knowing who is hurt can cost you the season.

4. Playing for a contender/bad team=less opportunity
This is an interesting rule, but it should play a role in your draft strategy. When deciding between two players it is best to take the one who plays for a winning team. Running backs who play for bad team teams tend to have the box stacked against them. Furthermore, their teams are constantly playing from behind limiting their running opportunities. QBs on bad teams will suffer from an increased pass rush and swarming defenses. In short, good teams create good situations where players are more likely to post points.

5. Player Projections
I came across an interesting statistic while putting this piece together that stated running back and quarterback projections are generally more reliable than WR/TE projections. When deciding who to draft between players who play different positions you must take into account the standard deviation of the ranking associated with WR/TE.

6. Position Scarcity
Always be aware of who your opponents have drafted. It seems like common sense, if everyone has a TE except for you, you can probably wait a few more rounds to select one. Also, it goes without saying that the running back position is scarce. However, now that there are two back running back systems on almost every team the position is more scarce than ever.

7. Year End (came on strong vs. faded late)
It is best not to take rankings at face value. If two players are ranked right next to one another, think of what is going into the ranking. Did one player come on strong at the end of the season? Is one of the players injury prone? Who is playing on a better team? Does one of the players play alongside an injury prone player? Answering these questions will help who to decide on – surprisingly it often is not who is ranked higher.

8. Monitor the Bye Week
Make sure you monitor when your players bye week is. You can really set yourself up for failure if everyone has a bye on the same week. A typical problem occurs after not paying attention to this, many of your players will have a bye on an early week and you will be forced to drop a talented player. Don’t let this happen to you! Likewise, once the bye weeks roll around look out for your opponents who were forced to drop good players due to this situation.

9. Kickers & D wait until the end
Don’t get caught up in the Defense run. Let someone else take Baltimore’s D in round 6. This is a golden draft rule. Take a kicker in the last round and defense in the second to last round. These positions can be changed every week and are tough to predict before the season begins. I promise you that there will be a top ranked defense on waivers after week 1.

10. Don’t overrate sleepers and rookies
Rookies typically play like rookies. Don’t get caught up in the hype. The only rookie position we would recommend taking could be a running back. With a plethora of fantasy information there are not many true sleepers these days. Another interesting recommendation I came across on the web is after you identify the sleeper you want, hold off a round. If the player is still there he is a legit sleeper.

By: Alex A. Woods

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