“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” – Michael Corleone, Godfather III
I can’t seem to shake the sound of Michael Corleone’s (played by Al Pacino) iconic words from the Godfather III film. As my faithful readers know, I took the departure of the professional football team formerly in St. Louis pretty hard. No, I didn’t go find a dark corner in the basement and cry away my frustrations. It was more like a ‘you’re dead to me’ moment, not for just the team, but for the entire league.
I passed on last year’s Super Bowl. I have managed to avoid most NFL-related stories. I also vowed to find a better way to spend my Sundays than being parked on the couch watching football for the entire day. Then came that fateful email. The commissioner for the fantasy football league that I have played in for over a decade had set the draft date for the 2016 season. Fantasy football is about to begin.
Talk about a conundrum.
Just when I was prepared to go all-in with my NFL boycott, the fraternity of fantasy football threw a wrench in the game. This particular league is the same league in which I won the championship for three out of four years. It features old high school buddies, a pack of Green Bay fans from Wisconsin, a guy who makes incessant ‘yo mama’ jokes like it was still the 90s and a guy who is constantly on the phone, working league managers for trades as if he were a real-life GM. Fantasy football has forged introductions and friendships that never would have otherwise occurred.
It has also created relevancy for virtuoso performances where they might otherwise not exist. Fans far outside of Denver will remember Peyton Manning’s 462-yard, 7 TD performance against the Ravens in September of 2013 due to the fantasy impact. The same goes for non-Philly fans who had Michael Vick on their roster when he threw for 333 yards and 4 TDs and rushed for 80 yards and 2 TDs versus the Redskins in 2010. Fantasy football makes all every game, score and turnover matter to those who play.
According to American Express’ Spending and Savings Tracker, nearly 75 million Americans are expected to field fantasy football teams this year. They will spend nearly $5 billion on fantasy football-related expenses (league fees, strategy guides, draft kits, etc.). The game’s extreme popularity has had a direct effect on the NFL’s surging popularity, as evidenced by the league’s RedZone channel. The channel was formed to show coverage of every single time a team moves within twenty yards of the end zone. Without fantasy football, the RedZone channel would not exist.
As much as I’d like to punt fantasy football down the road, I just can’t bring myself to do it. Even with limited interest in watching the actual games, there’s still an allure to attempting to predict breakout performances each week. There’s a considerable joy in taking a flyer on a third-string running back in the 15th round and watching them emerge into a fantasy stud. On the flip side, there’s considerable disappointment when six players drafted spend significant time on the IR and your team flops terribly at the bottom of the standings (my experience last season).
If you one of the 75 million players, preparing for a fantasy draft, here are a few tips to help get you atop your league leaderboard.
1. Be patient on drafting a QB, but pay attention to the run.
While it’s true that monster years from guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson may have almost single-handedly led fantasy teams to championships over the past few years, it’s also true that guys like Blake Bortles, Nick Foles and Kirk Cousins have taken turns as fantasy studs. While it’s OK to bet early on a bona fide stud, be mindful that you can still get high-producing QB anywhere from the 5th to the 8th round in most fantasy leagues. Just pay attention to the run on the quarterbacks when it happens because, much like the Bears, you don’t want to get stuck with Jay Cutler as your starting signal-caller.
2. Don’t wait on running backs!
Though there are more quality running backs now than in years past, it’s still not a terribly deep position. After the top 10 or 12 guys, the drop off in production is pretty steep. Most leagues require two running backs with other options for flex players. Make sure you get at least two quality running backs in the early rounds.
3. Pay close attention to injury history.
As I mentioned before, last season was ruined for me by an excessive amount of injuries. However, I took unnecessary risks on oft-injured guys like Percy Harvin, Desean Jackson and Justin Forsett. Don’t get burned by fragile players. Move them far down on your draft board and save the risks for the later rounds.
4. Budget your funds wisely (auction drafts only).
Watching fantasy players spend more than half their auction funds on a single player is usually the true sign of a sucker. Sure you may land Adrian Peterson or Todd Gurley but you won’t have enough virtual funds to land anybody else of note. Sit and watch as the draft ballers make it rain early in the draft, then assemble a deep and productive roster as they sit idle with empty pockets during the middle of the auction.
Good luck and happy drafting! Have fun!
Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk
