Champions are born in May - Fantasy Football

Time to start admitting some wrongs and getting credit for rights. One thing I was wrong on was MJD. Its not entirely his fault, but having watched some terrible Jaguars football, he simply lacks any kind of breakaway ability and is nothing more of a plotter at this point. Give him the ball and pray for 3 yards. Wasted a 2nd, a 3rd and even traded for his services, clearly misjudged.

Reggie Bush came exactly as advertised. I was very bullish from the start but started to back off a little bit. Even going as far as saying "I don't trust him as my #2 back but he's a great flex" Reggie is playing like the back we all expected him to be coming out of college. He is no Gale Sayers, but this kid is a born football player.

5 teams and all ends of the spectrum 5-1, 4-2, 3-3, 2-4, 1-5

The 1-5 team is just so stacked too, 8 man, 2 flex PPR. Newton, Foster, Trent, MJD, Bell, D.Thomas, R.Wayne, M. Wallace, Gates, etc., Just getting unlucky, 2 close losses and a manager mistake last minute swap that attributed to a 3rd loss.

The one thing that should be constant is not giving up. Once you are mathematically eliminated, you start preparing for next season. Try out some strategies, be sure to keep paying attention to players especially over the last 4 weeks of the season.

My pride and joy is the 5-2 team. 12 man, standard NO FLEX.

Newton, Foster, MJD , Marshall, Fitzgerald, Gates, Gostkowski, NE Pats D

Bench Blackmon, CJ?K, Carolina D, Quizz Rodgers, Mike James and an uninspiring cast beyond.

Made multiple trades both kind of shitty. Sent McGahee and Mathews for MJD. Then sent Reggie Bush and Stevie Johnson for Larry Fitz and CJ. I still like my odds as the competition has been decimated.

My other 5-2 has really lived off luck. Down years from Roddy, Amendola, Doug Martin, MJD, but have really got some solid production from LeVeon Bell, Josh Gorson, Blackmon and the savior Knowshon Moreno.

Am already taking notes for next year and a list of DO NOT DRAFT is formed. Randall Cobb, Amendola, Trent Richardson among others are going to be in future "red" DO NOT DRAFT column.

Hope everyone has had successful fantasy seasons. In two of my leagues the playoffs are now set going into week 13. We play ours each round is over the course of two weeks. Both of these leagues, Im 8-4 and 7-5 respectively. The 8 win team lost Doug Martin and prett much a useless Roddy White and Danny Amendola. Yet was saved by Moreno and Josh Gordon. The 7 win squad is a collection of some really good high end performers Jamal Charles, Demaryious Thomas and Gronkowski.

Couple eliminated teams a 3-9 just unfortunate team fell victim to Megatron and Vernon Davis career games. But even then this was a doomed team with Foster, Richardson, Wayne all falling down. And a lasr minute week 12 insert had me sub out the Broncos D for Cleveland. I lost by 2 points and fall to 5-7, GONE FISHIN'  That was probably my best team.

Lastly my pride and joy which I've talked about in post #156, is now 9-2 and likely headed for a bye. Lost Arian Foster which I think greatly reduces my ability at home run potential and thus, winning it all, but I have managed to go in this late with CJ, MJD, Rainey, Ball, and Ogbonnaya. Only start 2. So I don't think its all lost just yet.

*9-3 correction

Anyway I have some points in regards to strategy that I wish to share with you.

For one thing, I look at the preseason rankings and just about every year we all go in with this belief that drafting RBs is the correct play. Like you MUST go RB-RB. I don't subscribe to this theory unless a unique situation presents itself on draft day. It is now imperative that you get a bonafide, matchup proof, stud WR or one of the two dynamic TE's in the game whom Ill let you figure out who they are on your own. My belief is that you should build a duo centering at RB/WR. Say for example that next year you have the #6 pick, and the first two players you drafted were Marshawn Lynch and AJ Green, you did damn good! Here is why, because now you have balanced your roster. Those two will start every week and now there is 1 spot per position, that is open. By having that 1 spot open, hopefully you draft well and fill in another quality RB or WR and be on your way to fantasy glory. But it also opens opportunities for you throughout the course of the season. So what I mean to say is, draft for balance. Hopefully in your first 5 picks you have atleast 3 different positions solidified.

Secondly, I can't recall a season where so many great players went down. Even before the season started we lost Crabs, Harvin, and Pitta to name a few. But look at this list; Aaron Rodgers, Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Julio Jones, Reggie Wayne and Randall Cobb were all top 40 picks. All got seriously hurt. Some of these unfortunate situations created opportunities, Harry Douglas, Mike James and later Bobby Rainey all made an impact. Even early on I seen Moreno, Stacy, Bell, and Woodhead hang around waivers.  Imagine going into the playoffs with those 4 as your RBs. You might be alright! Keenan Allen!! Point is to never give up on the season unless its mathematically over. Even then, have some respect and play the last couple weeks. You owe it to the league. With that said, its extremely important to be smart with your waiver claim. Maybe don't be a dumbski and claim Joseph Randle when DeMarco is just a few weeks from returning. Instead, wait for someone to win the St Louis job or take the last man standing in Tampa. Those were wiser decisions. I study the moves my opponents make and its mind boggling sometimes. Marvin Jones? Are you serious? That waiver and especially where you are in the order is a key piece to a winning formula. Use it right.

Lastly, it should always be fun. I know how I get when its a losing week and its no fun. Felt stressed out about it and then I sat back and realized, "its a few hundred bucks for a few leagues and at the end of the day the sole reason I participate, is for entertainment." So do I feel as awful about a bad movie or a poor experience dining out, Hell No!.Not gonna let this thing of ours get my mood down no matter what. With that Im not going to be loud and obnoxious about winning. Pretty much I like Belechick's way of taking it a game at a time and looking miserable, win or loss. That guy is not someone I'd want to play poker against. Just kidding, But honestly have fun.

AND BRING HOME A CHAMPIONSHIP

Hey everyone!

The landscape has changed a but this season with the draft moving a few weeks later. I particularly don't like it, but maybe long term the little extra time these coaches spend with the new class prior to being drafted may have a lasting impact on the league. Who knows, maybe someone would've discovered Ryan Leaf was a scumbag and his stock sky rocket. Never know.

If you think for one moment that the snooze button was set on, then you're sadly mistaken. Just as the NFL has become a 365 league with their little events, the fantasy player must keep. Coaching and Scheme changes, free agency, schedules, and the upcoming draft all factor. Of course it all comes to a screeching halt in late summer time when we are all staring at the same rankings and people are wondering if they should go RB-RB or mix it up.

I'm enjoying life away from the beautiful game of fantasy football and for those 4 grueling months and unnecessary stress coupled with euphoric joy on the horizon, a champion will be born!