The triumphant return
I’m like Paul Pierce in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Like Kirk Gibson against Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series.
Like Michael Jordan wearing the No. 45.
Like the Eagles in the early 90s.
Like George Foreman dropping Michael Moorer.
I’m back, baby. I’m back.
OK, so I realize that my extended absence from the blogging world probably cost me all five of my faithful readers, but that’s OK, I’m pretty sure my mom still reads this thing. And maybe my brother. So that’s enough reason to write a little something today.
Besides, in order to have a lifelong career in this business, it’s become clear to me that I must become Web savvy, and I must do it fast. So, here I am, for what it’s worth.
The NFL football is still months away, but it’s never too early to start talking about fantasy football. This year differs from recent years in that there is not a consensus No. 1 pick. You either go with L.T. or Adrian Peterson. One or the other, and that much has been pretty much determined.
This may sound crazy, but I don’t even want the No. 1 or No. 2 pick in my draft, basically because I don’t trust either of the guys. Peterson has been prone to injuries since he’s been in the national spotlight, and L.T.’s best days are clearly behind him.
Picking up Peyton Manning or Tom Brady might be an option for someone drafting late in the first round. Even though quarterbacks typically don’t put up enormous fantasy numbers like running backs, both of those guys are most likely going to be playing every Sunday.
It’s always a good idea to check your settings before the draft. The people who set up your league have the ability to customize the scoring, and if you don’t trust them, you might want to keep on eye on them. A simple adjustment here or there could drastically alter the playing field.
For example, my fantasy league last year valued wide receivers over running backs. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that pre-draft knowledge, but I knew something was up when Chad Johnson, Plaxico Burress and Marvin Harrison were coming off the board in the early rounds. That strategy ended up paying off for the people that looked at the settings ahead of time — or rather, made them.
Another good rule of thumb: seal up a solid tight end and legitimate defense. Those two slots are the most difficult to fill in free agency. Do yourself a favor and make it a point to draft well in those two areas.
Drafting a tight end won’t be all that easy this season. The old faithful selections — Tony Gonzalez, Jeremy Shockey and Antonio Gates – are no longer the hot commodities on the market. Players like Dallas Clark, Jason Witten and Kellen Winslow are now in demand more than ever.
If it were my selection, I’d go with Witten. He’s got a gun-slinger for a quarterback and he’s coming off the best season of his career. Choosing Winslow would be gutsy, considering his injury-plagued past, but the thought is appealing.
At quarterback, as much as I hate to say it, you’ve pretty much got to go with Brady as the No. 1 pick. I don’t know if I’d do it, just because I’m a Colts fan, but I would definitely recommend others to do it. He was a killer last year, and he’s only going to be more fired up after losing the Super Bowl.
From there, my list goes something like Manning, Tony Romo, Derek Anderson, Matt Hasselbeck and Phillip Rivers. You won’t see a top-six list like that because I don’t play by the numbers. I play from the gut a lot, and that’s what makes it fun.
I love seeing my risky picks pay off months after the draft. My friends laughed at me when I made Randy Moss my No. 1 receiver last year and chose Peterson as my No. 2 running back. But I had a feeling about both of them, and when they started dominating the league, I got to talk all kinds of trash to my friends.
That’s what fantasy football is all about. If I had one recommendation above all, I would say have fun with it. Make the risky move, offer your opponents bogus trades and don’t forget to rub a little salt in the wound.
