The This and That of Fantasy Football

Week 1

1. Pay attention to all football news – For example, Olandis Gary was just traded from Buffalo to Detroit. Lions’ starter James Stewart separated his shoulder and is out for the season, so Gary will be a candidate to start at RB along with Shawn Bryson, who is recovering from a knee injury. Gary, a former 1,000 yard rusher, is the favorite to get the majority of the carries and is a solid free agent pickup. I’m not saying Gary will lead you to the promised land. What I am saying is that you can never have enough reserves in a game where injuries and bye weeks can wreak havoc on your season if you don’t have insurance. Some owners say things like, “I don’t have time to keep up with everything.” Translation is you don’t have time to be a fantasy football champion. Always do your homework.

2. Pick up talented backups as free agents in your league now – A friend of mine told me that he drafted Kurt Warner in his league. Every good fantasy player knows what my first question was – did you take Marc Bulger? My friend didn’t pick Bulger, and Bulger was still available as a free agent in his league. Bulger showed last year he can drive the Rams’ offense very capably down the field, and I told my friend to pick up Bulger as soon as possible. If Warner gets hurt, unless you are number-one on your league’s waiver wire, you won’t get him. Don’t put yourself in a position where you’ll be kicking yourself. If you didn’t do it on draft day and they’re still available, pick up any talented backups to any players with injury history that start for you.

For example:

Fred Taylor – pick up LaBrandon Toefield
Priest Holmes – Larry Johnson
Marshall Faulk – Lamar Gordon
Ahman Green – Najeh Davenport

3. Don’t sit your stars – I have always preached not playing the matchup game. You might say to yourself well this star player is playing Tampa Bay and this guy is playing Detroit. But, I learned the hard way last year not to play the matchup game when I didn’t follow my own advice. Last year in I started Marcel Shipp, who was playing Kansas City over LaDainian Tomlinson, who was playing at the time the league’s best run defense statistically in Denver. Kansas City came into the game allowing 125.7 yards a game rushing. Shipp was held to 26 yards rushing. Tomlinson racked up 271 yards of combined yards and scored three times. Supertars can do things other players can't, and that's why you can't play the matchup game with them. Sometimes one of your reserves may outscore your superstars, but so what because he won't outscore them in any way consistently. I'll tell you from the horrible experience that I had that watching your first round draft pick pile up 271 all-purpose yards and three scores while you have him on the bench is sickening and ruins your Sunday.

Sleeper of the week

Kansas City WR Marc Boerigter is a sleeper to start this week against San Diego. Last year against the Chargers in two games, Boerigter had 229 receiving yards and five TDs. In Week 16 against the Chargers, Boerigter had five catches for 144 yards and two scores. For the season, he scored two TDs in three different games. The former CFL player has a knack for the endzone and is a solid reserve for your fantasy squad.

Week 1 Picks

Jets over Washington

Panthers over Jaguars

Colts over Browns

Falcons over Cowboys

Saints over Seahawks

Raiders over Titans

49ers over Bears

Rams over Giants

Patriots over Bills

Steelers over Ravens

Dolphins over Texans

Broncos over Bengals

Cardinals over Lions

Packers over Vikings

Chiefs over Chargers

Buccaneers over Eagles

In other news, my first book, I Got Jokes and Anecdotes, is now available. My book is a collection of funny observations ranging from how movies that six people saw win awards to pleading with people with crusty feet not to wear sandals. Check it out on my web page:
I Got Jokes and Anecdotes<\/A>