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A League of Your Own
What Fantasy Football is and how to play the game.
Bye:Joseph Levit lavishjetpoet@aol.com
A Pastime Unsurpassed
If you've ever second-guessed an NFL coach's decision to yank his starting quarterback in the middle of a game, cajoled with or jeered at players on the screen after a big play, or shouted that you would have gone for two instead of sending out the kicker for the point-after, then fantasy football is for you.
This is a game that allows football fans to 'put his or her money where their mouth is', oftentimes literally competing for cash, and always with bragging rights on the line. People get to "own" a football team, and draft players like NFL teams do. But in fantasy football, you are the general manager, owner and coach rolled into one. You get the chance to assemble a cast of stars at every position. Nowhere else can you play Ricky Williams, Peyton Manning, and Brian Urlacher together, capable as their boss of benching them on your slightest whim. Only in fantasy football can you enjoy all of this. But you must play to win, so get in the game!
In Short
Initially, you'll join a league and then get to participate in an action-packed draft. Each week you will decide who plays and who rides the pine. Your starting players will score points for you, and if they do well enough each week, you can be in a position toward the end of the season to compete for the league championship.
League Type
Determine from the start your style of fantasy football. Making an accurate assessment of your specific interest and available time will go a long way toward ensuring fun for everyone. You can decide to develop a league of your own, but it is probably a wise choice for beginners to join a league and learn the basics, much like a quarterback who learns on the bench for a year. Here are three types of league that may interest you:
o Redraft - This kind of league is the most common because it is simple in format and involves the smallest commitment. Team owners draft players for one season only. Any owner could produce the worst team one year and the league champion the next.
o Keeper - Keeper leagues allow owners to carry over certain key players to the next fantasy season. This rule permits owners to get some value from good decisions made during drafts, but still allows for player turnover.
o Dynasty - A dynasty league requires a lot from an owner. In these leagues, every player is retained from year to year. The NFL rookie draft and free agents from other professional football leagues provide the only fresh talent. Choose this type of league if you are in it for the long haul, and enjoy the opportunity to build a winning squad over time.
Owners
After selecting the league format that's right for you, you get to find the people you want to compete against. Most fantasy football fans play with at least some of their friends or family, though the Internet enables people to participate in many types of leagues and remain nearly anonymous. There are advantages to either option. By playing with your friends or relatives, you create a closer and oftentimes more thrilling, league. However, playing with total strangers makes it easier to settle league rule changes or potential conflicts because personal feelings are less apt to become a part of the equation.
Teams
The number of teams you choose to include in your league is important. Leagues with too few teams sanction every owner to sport a Pro Bowl starting lineup. Too many owners thin the talent too much - you don't want anyone to have to start Chris Weinke at quarterback each week. Most leagues settle on between 10-16 teams. The higher the number of owners, the more skill is involved in fielding a winning team, because people must research and take a chance on some sleepers* and unknowns. In win-loss leagues, there needs to be an even number of teams so that each owner can play an opponent every week. Point leagues can play an odd number of teams.
Commissioner
Every league needs to have a commissioner. This person (who is usually also an owner) is in charge of scoring and judging disputes. Because the position demands dependability, be sure to pick the person wisely. Since being a commissioner can be so much work, you can rotate the responsibility yearly.
Draft Day
The draft itself is the single most exhilarating experience in fantasy football - after winning the league. There are ways to improve your roster during the fantasy season (adding/dropping players, trades) but a solid draft is a solid start.
Drafts can be held live or by email. With a live draft you can influence each other's picks by lauding or ridiculing previous selections. The best way to draft live is to get all of the owners together in one physical location. Live drafts can also be completed online by constructing chat rooms designed for that purpose before the draft.
Email drafts are less personal and often take days or weeks to complete. The upside of email drafting is you can make your selections at your leisure, and this type of drafting works well in leagues with owners who harbor hectic schedules. After deciding how the draft will be held, owners should choose the draft format.
o Serpentine Drafting - Owners draw draft positions randomly, and then draft in the numbered order. To make the selection of players fair for everyone, the league reverses the drafting order in alternating rounds. So, round one would go from owner 1-12, round two from 12 to 1, and so on until every team has filled its roster. These drafts are usually efficient, but you will miss out on many of the players you pegged for success.
o Auction Drafting - During an auction draft, owners use a set cap of real or pretend money to bid on players to fill their fantasy lineup and bench. The beauty of this type of drafting is that you can acquire any player you want, if you have the money left and are willing to pay for him. This dynamic format can take a long time because of the bidding process, and be more difficult to track for the same reason.
Key Tip: Set a predetermined time limit for selections during your draft. If you don't, someone will always take too long to choose each round - your time is precious.
Scoring
There are myriads of ways to tally results in fantasy football. This limitless aspect of the game is one of its strengths. In your league, create the values for scoring with the following factors in mind:
o Method - If you have simple scoring rules, it is possible to score games by hand. However, lots of leagues choose instead to use an online service for scoring purposes. This option helps mitigate human error. Additionally, most online sites score fantasy matchups in real time. You can be behind in your match up for most of a Sunday, and then shoot ahead of an opponent after your last receiver does well in the night game!
o Types - Different scoring options suit different owners. Leagues can choose between three primary options:
o Basic scoring - Basic scoring assigns fantasy points to drafted players based on actual scoring values in an NFL game. Six points is awarded for touchdowns, three points for a field goal, and so forth. This mode is simple and straightforward, and these leagues favor players who score touchdowns.
o Performance scoring - Leagues that choose this option score the same way that basic leagues do, but also give points to yardage. Most leagues give one point to players for every 10 or perhaps 20 yards rushing or receiving. Quarterbacks must pass for 30 or maybe 50 yards to earn a fantasy point. Performance scoring is a nice balance between the effort a player makes on the field, and the scoring he produces. After all, some NFL players move the ball between the red zones, but don't get the opportunity to score.
o Bonus scoring - This option is a variation of the previous types of scoring. Additional points are allocated to players who attain certain statistical benchmarks in an NFL game. For example, points may be given to running backs or receivers who gain over 100 yards during a contest, quarterbacks who throw for 300+ yards, or kickers who connect on long field goals.
o Points - You can calculate points in whole or decimal amounts. For instance, if a receiver catches passes totaling 67 yards, some leagues count that as six points. Other leagues go by decimals, and award 6.7 points for the yardage.
Most leagues also subtract points for certain player errors. For example, quarterbacks lose points for interceptions, and players who fumble are penalized.
Defensive scoring differs vastly between leagues. Some leagues start entire defenses, and award fantasy points based on the actual points the defense gives up. Other leagues start individual defensive players and count sacks, interceptions, fumble recoveries and tackles. It is up to you to determine the scoring that is right for your league.
Things to Consider
In order for a fantasy league to run smoothly, it is imperative to establish sound rules. Raise questions about any issues you foresee and discuss them with other owners. You can vote for or against each option until the rules are thus set for the league. Some questions to think about:
o What player slots constitute a fantasy team
o How will the league draft
o How many players will be in the starting lineup
o What player slots will be required in the league
o When and how will starting lineups be submitted
o How will owners acquire undrafted players
o What will be the scoring method
o How are playoff teams determined
o What kinds of trades can owners pursue
o Who makes the playoffs
o What is the schedule for head-to-head matchups during the season and then the playoffs
o What are the league's tiebreakers
o Are there trade deadlines
o What is the league fee and are there other costs involved
o Who is awarded prizes and what do they receive
Distribute the league rules after they are set so everyone remains informed throughout the season.
Key Tip: In leagues that play for cash, insist that owners pay their league dues before the season starts. There is nothing worse than an owner who won't ante up after the losing starts.
Fantasy schedules
Separate leagues into an appropriate number of divisions, and then create a schedule that allows each team to play every other team in the league at least once. The fantasy season should end after week 14 in the NFL. Most leagues then have two rounds of playoffs, during weeks 15 and 16, to determine the league champion.
The Season
Fantasy football is a long and exciting race. During the season there is time to make up for a slow start, and leaders can falter if their players suddenly succumb to injury. Each week, owners must submit a lineup for that weekend's matchup. Lineups usually consist of one quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, a tight end, a kicker and a defense. Some leagues allow a flex player* or individual defensive players.
To acquire free agents, owners should look to the waiver wire. To improve the competition in the league, set up a selection schedule which puts the teams with the poorest record at the top of the pecking order to grab new players. Some leagues decide instead to use a first-come, first-serve setup to determine who gets specific free agents.
Trading is another way to improve your team during the season. Figure out where you have depth on your team and try to make a trade using players from that position. If you have lots of talented wide receivers, but are starting duds in the tailback slot, propose a deal to an owner who has a surplus of stud running backs but is thin at the wideout slot.
Key Tip: Quality bench players can become terrific trade bait as the season progresses.
Above all, remember to keep it simple and have fun. Once you have organized your league, go for the top with gusto! n
Joseph Levit is a fantasy football writer who has written for fantasy football magazines and websites, and for major sports sites. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America, and a devoted Detroit Lions fan. He can be reached for inquiry, praise or insult at lavishjetpoet@aol.com.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr1')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Steven Jackson Setting Modest Goals, Looking For More
(5/12 12:21 AM PT)
The Facts:
Last June, Jackson announced he was shooting for 2,500 total yards from scrimmage. He wound up with about half that, rushing for 1,002 yards and adding 271 receiving yards in 12 games. He missed four games with injuries, and the Rams tumbled to 3-13 and last place in the NFC West. "My goal right now until (training camp in) July is to (learn) this offense, so I can play fast," Jackson said. "When I'm playing fast, I know what I'm doing."
Diehards Line:
Assuming he -- and his offensive line -- avoid the injuries that caused so many problems last year, Jackson, heading into the final year of his rookie contract, figures he can rebuild his stats and enhance his bargaining power at the same time. A monster season would push Jackson, 24, even further up the potential-earnings chart, and he's counting on putting up big numbers. "Well, we all know what happens in a contract year: you ball out," he said with a laugh. "So, I expect to."
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr2')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Michael Turner Among Falcons On The Mend
(5/11 12:24 PM PT)
The Facts:
Several veteran players recovering from injuries took part in the Falcons' first mandatory mini-camp on Saturday. Turner (shoulder) participated in most drills after being medically withheld from a voluntary mini-camp in April.
Diehards Line:
Turner had surgery on the shoulder earlier this year and is expected to be fully recovered before training camp. ... Meanwhile, QB D.J. Shockley and WR Brian Finneran, both trying to make comebacks from season-ending knee injuries, went through the majority of the dual practice sessions. For Finneran, who wore a heavy brace on his right knee, just going through a non-contact practice is a huge step. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in consecutive years during practice. He last played in 2005.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr3')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">GM Disappointed, But Not Ready To Bail On Cedric Benson
(5/11 12:22 PM PT)
The Facts:
GM Jerry Angelo expressed disappointment that Benson put himself in a situation last weekend that resulted in his arrest near Austin Texas, but Angelo said the team isn't rushing to judgment in the case and that he expects Benson to be at training camp competing for the starting job in July. "The thing that I am most disappointed in is the fact that he put himself in a position to be the victim," Angelo said.
Diehards Line:
Coming off arguably the worst of his three disappointing seasons with the Bears, Benson was expected to face an uphill battle for playing time against second-round pick Matt Forte even before the legal problems. Benson is still in the process of rehabbing the latest injury, but he hopes to be 100 percent healthy by the start of camp July 23.As reported in this week's Fantasy Notebook, there has been speculation that the Bears might release Benson, but Angelo dashed those rumors. "There's no plans to cut him," the Bears' GM said.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr4')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Saints' Interest In Jeremy Shockey Ongoing
(5/11 11:16 AM PT)
The Facts:
The talk of the Saints' interest in acquiring Shockey is seemingly never-ending. When asked about whether or not improving depth at tight end is a priority in the offseason, HC Sean Payton said, "If the right player was available and we felt like he could come in an compete with the guys we currently have on our roster, than we'd be interested in doing that."
Diehards Line:
In light of Payton's comment, it might be worth noting a Newark Star Ledger report this morning in which Giants OC Kevin Gilbride's said he's not sure if Shockey will play another down for the Giants or if he'll be traded. "It's so nebulous right now. I just have no idea what's going to happen," Gilbride said. Gilbride said he has spoken to Shockey recently, but wouldn't say what the TE's feelings were. The coach also suggested the team's improvement with Shockey on the sidelines late last season had more to do with Steve Smith's presence than Shockey's absence.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr5')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Torry Holt Unsure About Long-Term Future With Rams
(5/11 11:15 AM PT)
The Facts:
On Saturday, in his first comments to St. Louis reporters since the end of the 2007 season, it was clear that Holt is taking a realistic view about his future with the Rams. "I have this year and next year, and hopefully I can finish those years out," Holt said. "Then, I'll see where I'm at. I'll see where I'm at physically. I'll see where I'm at emotionally, financially."
Diehards Line:
Holt went on to explain: "Then, if they would like to do something here, I'll consider it. If not, then I'll have the option to go and explore and give my services somewhere else." Holt raised eyebrows three weeks ago when he talked about reuniting with his brother Terrence -- a safety for the Panthers -- when the final two years of his contract were up. To a degree, it was clear Holt was joking, particularly the remark about "resigning" from the Rams. But he admitted Saturday that if he moves on, Carolina will definitely be the first choice. Still, Holt fully plans to play out the remaining two seasons on his current contract.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr6')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Darren McFadden Showing Off Speed, Versatility
(5/11 12:20 AM PT)
The Facts:
McFadden practiced in his No. 20 jersey, showing speed and burst in both rushing attempts and pass routes. "It's so easy for him to run really fast," HC Lane Kiffin said. "He's running by people and it doesn't look like it's really hard to do. Reggie (Bush) was that way. They don't even have to go to the next level until they really need it."
Diehards Line:
As Chronicle staffer David White pointed out, contact isn't allowed in off-season workouts, so plays were whistled dead when tackles seemed imminent -- not that many defenders on hand looked capable of doing so in an open field. Meanwhile, Oakland Tribune beat man Jerry McDonald notes that McFadden caught a number of passes in Saturday's workouts -- both out of the backfield and while split out wide. He even lined up at QB taking shotgun snaps less than 24 hours after Kiffin cautioned about throwing too much at the rookie too soon.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr7')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Matt Ryan Starting At Bottom Of Depth Chart
(5/10 4:31 PM PT)
The Facts:
The Falcons just finished the first of five mini-camp practices and Ryan made his debut -- as the third-team quarterback. This veteran coaching staff is going to make him earn his stripes. So, for now, he worked behind Chris Redman and Joey Harrington and rotated with D.J. Shockley.
Diehards Line:
The Falcons have yet to tip their hand when it comes to the approach they'll take with Ryan. He could start, or the coaching staff could make him earn his way up the depth chart. But as the AJC notes, the offense is new and Redman, Harrington and D.J. Shockley don't have a big head start on the rookie. That could emerge as a determining factor in the staff's strategy.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr8')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Mario Manningham Slowed By Injured Hip Flexor
(5/10 2:57 PM PT)
The Facts:
Manningham and QB Andre' Woodson were sidelined by injuries Saturday during the New York Giants' mini-camp for rookies and free agents. A third-round draft pick from Michigan, Manningham suffered a hip flexor on his left side running a pull-up pattern early in the morning workout. Woodson pulled a quad muscle in his left leg.
Diehards Line:
Manningham said the injury happened because he did not run his pattern right. "It ain't nothing bad or serious," Manningham said. "If it was serious I would not be walking. ..." HC Tom Coughlin said Manningham, the third-round pick from Michigan, "showed some flashes" before the injury.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr9')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Chris Perry Ready To Contribute
(5/10 9:16 AM PT)
The Facts:
HC Marvin Lewis said Sunday that Perry will be available Tuesday when the team begins voluntary on-field work. Perry was placed on season-ending injured reserve in 2007 after sustaining a serious ankle injury Nov. 26, 2006.
Diehards Line:
According to Enquirer staffer Mark Curnutte, the reason the Bengals didn't take a running back in last month's NFL Draft wasn't because they wanted to sign Shaun Alexander, who had been released by Seattle. The reason is that Perry appears to be healthy and ready to play this year. ... The Bengals want Perry to return to the role he occupied in 2005, when he played in 14 games with two starts and had 51 receptions and a 4.6-yard rushing average as Rudi Johnson's backup. To do so, of course, Perry would have to avoid the kind of injuries that have limited him just 9one full season in four years as a pro.
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class="headline" onClick="expanddiv('tr10')" style="cursor:hand; cursor:pointer" onmouseover="window.status=' ';return true">Kyle Boller Running With First Team; Flacco Impresses
(5/10 1:15 AM PT)
The Facts:
Boller got most of the work with the first team but looked shaky during team drills. He threw two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by the defense.
Diehards Line:
According to ESPN.com's James Walker, rookie Joe Flacco shared secondary reps with Troy Smith and didn't disappoint. The rookie first-round pick showed off his arm strength with several nice deep balls, including one that connected with receiver Mark Clayton for a touchdown. He also threw crisp slants and check downs to running backs. ... All indications are Boller will be the opening day starter but don't be surprised if the new staff pushes Flacco into the lineup as quickly as possible.
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