CRUSH YOUR DRAFT!
Read this blog. Soak it up. If you do, you will have the power to draft the BEST team in your league. You will CRUSH! your draft. You will CRUSH the competition all the way through the playoffs. Best of all, your team will WIN your Fantasy Football League Championship!
Pre-Draft Preparation:
- Have a plan.
- Keep organized notes.
- Know your leagues scoring system, and which type of players are more valuable in that system.
- Use a color-coded system, that takes into account players strength of schedules, sleepers/breakout players to target, busts to avoid, running back handcuffs & even tier your players according to when you want to take them in various rounds.
- Most live/online drafts only allot you 60-90 seconds per pick. Time is a premium!
Value Draft:
- Focus on the best available players.
- In most formats, look to nab a RB early (Top 5-6 RB’s). After that, value draft!
- Grab a QB or WR if elite RB’s have already been taken.
- If possible, research previous years final stats to determine which players are the most valuable (in your leagues scoring format) to acquire early. Do RB’s or WR’s score more overall points? Do QB’s score significantly more points than RB’s or WR’s? Adjust your selections accordingly.
Strength of Schedule (SOS):
- It’s extremely important to factor Strength of Schedule (SOS) into your draft day selections.
- First, look at a players SOS throughout the season. If it’s strong, star that player.
- Second, and most importantly, look at a players SOS during the weeks of your leagues fantasy football playoffs. If it’s strong, double star that player!
- Players with strong SOS’s during your leagues playoffs will put you in the best position to WIN your fantasy league!
Mock Draft!:
- At the least, enter a few prior to your draft.
- Most major fantasy football sites offer them (Yahoo, ESPN, NFL.com, CBSSports, etc.).
- Get a feel for what players are being selected, and where. You can nab yourself some draft-day steals.
- Practice makes perfect!
Draft Day Intelligence:
- Never get caught at the end of a “run” on players at the same position.
- Always focus on the best available!
- Running Back By Committee (RBBC) is a growing NFL trend that looks like it’s here to stay, which means quality RB’s will still be available in later rounds.
- Get who you want, when you want, because they probably won’t be there in the next round.
DEF, K & IDP in the Final Rounds:
- Always draft team defenses, kickers & individual defensive players in the final rounds of your draft.
- Use your mid-round picks on high-risk, high-reward WR’s & RB’s. DEF, K & IDP’s can be frequently upgraded on the waiver wire throughout the season.
Other Things To Consider:
- Avoid rookie QB’s & WR’s-the adjustment from college is huge, and extremely unpredictable
- Only select rookie RB’s in a situation where they have a good chance to excel (ex. Ryan Mathews)
- TE’s are deep this year. It might be wise to select a TE later, rather than early in your draft
- Handcuffs – If you’re lucky enough to grab an elite RB, it’s reasonable to reach a round or two earlier than you would for their backup. Get that insurance!
- In the middle to later rounds, gamble on a sleeper who may breakout, rather than a mediocre veteran who you won’t end up starting anyway
- Anticipate others picks so you’re not surprised when your turn comes, and you can be ready to pounce on the best available player!
- Many websites and fantasy football magazines post the Average Draft Position (ADP). All drafts are different depending on the scoring system used, but ADP can be a good resource to proactively gauge when you can get the player you want without selecting him too early.
- And, for obvious reasons, don’t Crush too many beers during your draft! The only time I will tell you not to Crush!
Some Draft Day Mistakes!
- Spending a high draft pick on players whom have had a recent/prior major injury; NFL football is a tough sport, and players who have been injured in the past have a tendency to get injured more easily in the future
- Passing up the opportunity to add quality depth to your roster at the ‘core’ positions (QB, RB, WR & TE) by selecting a K, DEF or IDP any earlier than the last few rounds
- Forgetting to select a good/quality backup for your QB position; if your #1 QB gets injured, so does your chance for a fantasy football championship!
- Not selecting your team based on their teams’ regular season & playoff week Strength of Schedules (SOS)! Huge Mistake! Tougher schedules mean less chance for high production.
You now know the secrets to selecting the best team in your league! Print out this Blog. Memorize it. Good luck (not that you’ll need it now), and always CRUSH!
Out,
Brian
Don’t forget to check out my website: www.crushfantasyfootball.com
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Wet Blanket Cornerbacks Who Crush!
When speaking of shutdown cornerbacks in the NFL, there are two guys that are the BEST in the business. They hold almost every wide receiver they face to virtually ZERO fantasy points. It doesn’t matter how SICK a WR is, these two cornerbacks Crush them. This seasons unquestioned #1 WR selection in fantasy football drafts, Andre Johnson, was held to almost nothing going up against one of the cornerbacks (4 catches, 35 yards, 0 TD’s). Amazing! Who are they you ask? None other than wet blanket #1 & #2, Darrelle Revis (NYJ) & Nnamdi Asomugha (OAK).
The New York Jets held #1 WR’s to 29.4 yards/game & 3 TD’s in 2009. Darrelle Revis held the following #1 WR’s to 35 yards or less: Randy Moss (x2), Terrell Owens (x2), Andre Johnson, Steve Smith (CAR), Marques Colston, Roddy White & Reggie Wayne. Wow. That is dumbfounding. Not only do the NYJ have Revis, they signed Antonio Cromartie (SD) this season, who helped San Diego hold #1 WR’s to the 2nd lowest yardage total per game last season (47.5 yds/game)!
If your #1 WR is going against the New York Jets Defense, you might want to consider benching him that week…seriously…he may not even catch a ball! Especially take note if your #1 WR plays them during your fantasy football playoffs…it could cost you the championship trophy!
Nnamdi Asomugha was the NFL’s least ‘targeted’ cornerback. He was only thrown at 27 times, for 13 completions the ENTIRE 2009 NFL season! In 2008: 27 targets, 8 completions. In 2007: 31 targets, 10 completions. Wow.
Playing against Oakland, however, your #1 WR might have a chance to score more fantasy points than vs. the NYJ. Asomugha only plays one side of the field. Opposing QB’s just throw at the other cornerback. Revis, however, lines up against the opposing teams #1 WR the ENTIRE game!
My philosophy when playing these two wet blankets: Revis=No Chance, Asomugha=Maybe.
Other notable cornerbacks include: Charles Woodson (GB), Dominique Rogers-Cromartie (ARI) & Champ Bailey (DEN). Though they’re notables, I wouldn’t even hesitate on the sit/start dilemma with any #1 WR’s with these guys.
Don’t forget to check out my website: www.crushfantasyfootball.com
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Crush Out,
Brian
Crushing Trades!
What is one of the most overused, yet important, economic cliches that you’ve most often heard? Yes! Buy low, sell high! Why would fantasy football trade philosophy be any different than this highly touted economic philosophy? It’s not! Bring on the cliches!
Every owner proposing a trade wants the upper hand…they want to come out on top. The trick to trading is to convince other owners in your league that their team has the best chance to benefit from the deal. What to do…
First: Find the player on another team that hasn’t quite lived up to his fantasy football point production potential. This player most likely fits the profile of a highly drafted prospect that has not produced the points expected from his 1st, 2nd or 3rd round selection. An owner is more likely to get rid of a player when he’s down (buy low). Take advantage of it! You’re looking for a quality player that has proven his consistency in the past, who happens to be down at the moment. The only catch is, you need to accurately predict that this player will explode into the fantasy dominance where he was originally projected once traded.
Second: Find the player on your team, that you selected in mid to late rounds of your fantasy draft, who has strung together a couple fairly high scoring weeks (sell high). This player hasn’t really proven himself as a quality, consistent player in years past, but his current point totals might generate interest from other teams owners. It’s probably a good bet that this player will not continue his high scoring lucky streak. You now have your trade bait!
Third: Propose the trade! You are now buying low and selling high! Many owners don’t think in ‘future’ mode and how a player will perform, but are more drawn to the ‘present’ and how a player is producing right now. Use this to your advantage, and come out on the winning end of a trade!
The goal of trading is to gain more than you lost. No owner in their right mind would accept a lopsided trade. You need to propose a trade that looks to benefit both teams, where you will have a slightly better chance to come out on top. Look at other teams rosters and see where they might need help. If you are stacked with WR’s, but need a solid RB, search for an owner who might part ways with a RB. Send that owner an email attempting to prove your rationale for the trade. Offer something realistic and believable. Act like a lawyer. Prove your case with stats, current performance, future strength of schedules, etc…anything to show why the other team needs to make this trade for their teams own good. Do this convincingly, and you will dominate the fantasy football trading world!
Additionally, always keep an eye out for key injuries, suspensions or poor performance. In these instances, owners will be more likely to accept a trade that may be in your favor.
You now have the knowledge to Crush Trades! Go dominate your fantasy leagues, and upgrade your team with intelligent, well thought out trades. You are one step closer to a year of bragging rights and the coveted Fantasy Football Championship!
Crush Out,
Brian
Don’t forget to check out my website: www.crushfantasyfootball.com
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Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson?!
Who’s #1?! CJ? AP? I will break down the positives & negatives of the two top players in Fantasy Football Drafts around the country…then YOU decide!
Adrian Peterson has been consistent and steady with his fantasy production for 3 years straight. Proven. Reliable. Will AP continue his consistency this season?
Chris Johnson had an amazing year last season. Over 2,500 total yards, 11 consecutive 100 yard games and 16 TD’s. Can he keep up this type of production?
Adrian Peterson:
- 3 straight years of at least 1,300 rushing yards, and at least 10 touchdowns
- Extremely consistent for 3 years in a row
- Lead the NFL in carries inside the 10 yard line
- Once again, a strong offensive line
- Held under 70 yards rushing for six games last season
- Average receiving skills at best, but getting better every year; he did have 43 receptions last season
- If Favre is back (most likely), then Minnesota will not have to rely as heavily on the running game
- Has a tendency to fumble
Chris Johnson:
- The most consistent NFL fantasy football player last season
- A threat to score every time he touches the ball
- May be one of the fastest players on the field every game he starts
- Durable for his small stature
- Has a great set of hands, a gifted receiver
- On a fairly weak passing team, CJ is the focal point of the offense
- His offensive line is strong, but there have been some changes this year
- Tennessee may try to keep him fresh and limit his touches this year
- Rushed for over 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final nine games with Vince Young at QB…will he show continued excellence thru 16 games with Vince Young in charge?
- There’s potential for a CJ holdout over contract issues
I have Chris Johnson ranked higher than Adrian Peterson in most fantasy football league formats, but if you are lucky enough to have one of the top 2 picks in your draft, you’re in a win-win situation. If you have the #1 pick, go with your gut…if you have a feeling one of these guys will outperform the other, don’t hesitate…you will CRUSH!
Out,
Brian
Check out my website! www.crushfantasyfootball.com
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HandCUFFing
Why do people pay ridiculous amounts of money to companies for seemingly nothing in return? I’ll tell you why!…because you get CRUSHED if you don’t back up your investment! Same thing goes for fantasy football. The only difference is, with fantasy football, you really don’t pay anything except a draft selection a few rounds earlier than he should be selected.
Accidents can happen…same thing with injuries. If you have a Top 5 or 10 draft pick in your fantasy football league, wouldn’t you want to get some “free” insurance on your Round 1 (or Round 2) investment?? Of course you would! If your star player goes down for the season (or a game or more), chances are his backup will perform as good as, if not equally as good as, the level that your star player was playing at before his injury.
The thing with handcuffs (the term used to describe a backup player in fantasy football) is that all the other teams in your league wouldn’t mind stealing your insurance policy! It’s extremely beneficial to your fantasy team, and your fantasy football livelihood, to draft a handcuff earlier than you would otherwise.
The only position that handcuffs are really necessary for are running backs. If you draft Maurice Jones-Drew, splurge…pick up a late draft pick in Rashad Jennings earlier than you would if you didn’t draft MJD! Of course, don’t go crazy and pick him up in the 6th round or anything, but don’t be afraid to reach for him!
Other key handcuffs:
Anthony Dixon or Glen Coffee (Frank Gore)
Javon Ringer (Chris Johnson)
Toby Gerhart or Ryan Moats? (Adrian Peterson)
Willis McGahee (Ray Rice)
Some handcuffs can even be decent flex starters on weeks that the have good Strength of Schedule matchups!
Point is, you NEED your star running backs’ HANDCUFF, and don’t be afraid to REACH for him in your draft!
Out,
Brian
Check out my website! www.crushfantasyfootball.com
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Strength of Schedule (SOS)
If you were the only team to select your players based on their Strength of Schedule (SOS), you WILL WIN the Championship. Yes, that’s right, you will be crowned Fantasy Football League Champion for the 2010 season. If every team in your league picked the best possible player each time they made a selection, all the teams in your league would be fairly even. Selecting based on Strength of Schedule will give your team an unparalleled advantage.
Why does Strength of Schedule matter you ask? Simple. If all the players on your team have an easier schedule than all your opponents players, you have a SUPREME advantage every week you go to battle with the opposition. By drafting your teams players based on the strength of their schedule, you are giving your team the potential to Crush! the scoreboard each and every week.
Not only must you look at the regular season SOS, but equally, if not more important, is the fantasy football players playoff SOS.
The regular season (in most standard leagues, week 1 to week 13 or 14) strength of schedule is only half the battle. If you draft based solely on players with the best regular season schedule, you will go into the playoffs as the #1 seed, but lose in the first week of the playoffs.
Taking into account fantasy football players’ playoff SOS (in most standard leagues, any combination of weeks 14-17) can be more important than their regular season SOS.
Draft players with a strong enough regular season Strength of Schedule for your team to make your leagues playoffs. Place more emphasis on fantasy football players with an easy playoff Strength of Schedule, and you will Crush! the competition throughout that playoffs, all the way to your Leagues Fantasy Football Championship!
Crush Out,
Brian
Check out my website! www.crushfantasyfootball.com
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Consistency is Crush
No matter what type of fantasy football league you play in, the ABSOLUTE, MOST important thing to look for when building your team is CONSISTENCY. What do I mean by that? 100 times out of 100, I would take an average player who puts up average points consistently OVER an explosive player who inconsistently blows up one week and then lays-an-egg the next.
For example, in your standard points-per-reception (PPR) league, Maurice Jones-Drew (JAC) had more total fantasy points than Ray Rice (BAL). However, Jones-Drew had twice as many weeks (than Rice) where he failed to produce enough fantasy points to bring a smile to owners’ faces. If you lost 2-3 close fantasy games due to the fact Jones-Drew didn’t show up to play on Sunday, than inconsistency is the reason you lost. If you had a more consistent Ray Rice, than you would have won those close games. If you have an extra 2-3 wins, are you more likely to make the playoffs? Of course! Therefore, consistency crushes, and I would take Ray Rice OVER Jones-Drew.
Let’s say you have very consistent players on your fantasy team, and that they always score around 100 total points weekly. You will find that most teams in your league are all over the place; they’re scoring 125, 70, 95, 130, etc. total points each week. If you score 100 points on a weekly basis, you are minimizing the likelihood of an inconsistent team beating you in any given week.
If you can be consistent, you will win.
If you can be consistent, you will be one of the highest total scorers in your league at the end of the season.
If you can be consistent, you will give your team the best chance to make the playoffs. If you can be consistent, you have just put your team in a position to win your league. You will Crush if you are Consistent.
Stay tuned to my blog if you want to know how you can draft consistent fantasy players in your league. I will unleash my website, complete with customized spreadsheets (tailored for your scoring system!), early this summer…don’t miss out!
CONSISTENCY IS CRUSH
Hell Yeah!
Humps
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