If Next Year's Fantasy Football Draft Was Today......

Sorry I've been M.I.A., but my laptop crashed and that has put me in a blogging tailspin. Here's something to think about for next year's draft (let me know what your thoughts are).

2008 First Round Fantasy Rankings in a PPR League:

1. Adrian Peterson – Best O-Line, best back-up, most explosive runner.
2. LaDanian Tomlinson – Losing Cam Cameron really hurt LT this year, but his numbers are still great for a first round pick and he’s a gamer.
3. Joseph Addai – Potent offense and catches the ball out of the backfield.
4. Reggie Bush – 19.5 points per game and plays hurt.
5. Tom Brady – Doesn’t miss games, pass happy team, no problem running up the score (something Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy don’t do), but don’t expect 31.0 points per game again. I think 25.0 points per game is more realistic. So many damn weapons!
6. Randy Moss – Yes he might get injured, yes he’s another year older, but if you throw out the season with the Raiders, we don’t even have that discussion. Moss should be good for 20 plus points per game (26.72 right now).
7. Terrell Owens – It’s tough to take a WR this early, but you just can’t ignore the RB injury factor in today’s NFL and T.O. is putting up 23.3 points per game. Why would that change next year with Romo under center?
8. Brian Westbrook – Marshal Faulk type numbers when healthy. If McNabb isn’t in Philly, then Westy drops out of the first round. Currently killing it with 24.57 points per game.
9. Steven Jackson – Either a bit too low, or too high. Bulger can’t stay healthy, Bruce is long in the tooth and Torry Holt has a knee issue. There’s also a potential coaching change and an O-Line that’s a wreck. Good grief!
10. Marshawn Lynch – Very physical runner and produced with two different QB’s, which is always a good sign. Perfect spot to grab a RB, then snag a top flight WR on the way back.
11. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Not the most durable WR, but as long as Chad Johnson is on the other side, T.J. is good for 20 plus points per game. I’ll take that from my first round pick any day. Housh is money right now at just over 22 points per game.
12. Reggie Wayne – Again, I’m looking for production with my first round pick and Reggie Wayne is the poster boy for that. He is averaging 19.39 points per tilt and he doesn’t miss games. Peyton Manning has proved to be highly durable and Wayne gets it done with or without Marvin Harrison.

Hold.....Hold.....HOLD!!!

How much longer can players with injury histories such as T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Brian Westbrook, Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth hold on?

Every single one of the above mentioned players missed time last year (Peterson at Oklahoma) and the fate of hundreds of thousands of fantasy football leagues rest on their shoulders. The prescence of Moss and Stallworth makes Wes Welker a top five fantasy wide receiver and Welker is absolutely crushing his ADP (average draft position), so as a Welker owner - I need Stallworth and Moss on the field.

I hate to put it out there, but I think the fantasy football injury gremlins are going to rear their ugly heads and take out at least two of the players I wrote about in the first sentence. I can't even mention their names, kind of like not saying "Macbeth" in the theatre - it's bad luck.

Here are the injury odds on those studs for week 9: T.J. Houshmandzadeh - 3 to 1, Brian Westbrook - 2.5 to 1, Adrian Peterson 7 to 1, Randy Moss 6.5 to 1, and the odds on Donte Stallworth (who's shed his 2005 nickname of "Stallworthlessness) getting injured in week 9 are 5 to 1.

If T.J. Housh goes down, I'm gonna say it's with an injury to his right foot (possible heel injury). Westbrook could be any number of things, but it's always safe to bet on the knee with him. Moss and Stallworth both get the hamstring and last but not least, Adrian "All Day" Peterson would probably be sidelined with an ankle sprain if he were to go down.

Now nobody wants to see these guys get hurt, but it's definitely a reality we all have to face. Hold your breath and try to survive week 9 - good luck!

Fantasy Leaders in PPR Leagues After Week 6

Top 5 QB’s
1. Tom Brady - 28.61 points per game.
2. Tony Romo - 26.01 points per game.
3. Derek Anderson - 22.98 points per game.
4. Brett Favre - 19.39 points per game.
5. Carson Palmer - 23.13 points per game (That’s with a bye week factored in - wow).
No: Peyton Manning or Drew Brees.


Top 5 WR’s
1. Randy Moss - 24.83 points per game.
2. TJ Houshmandzadeh - 27.94 points per game.
3.Plaxico Burress - 21.45 points per game.
4. Braylon Edwards - 21.03 points per game.
5. Steve Smith - 20.48 points per game.
No: Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens.


Top 5 RB’s
1. Ronnie Brown - 25.70 points per game (3rd overall fantasy player in 07).
2. LaDanian Tomlinson - 24.26 points per game (5th overall fantasy player in 07).
3. Adrian Peterson - 23.64 points per game.
4. Brian Westbrook - 22.00 points per game.
5. Willis McGahee - 16.95 points per game.
No: Frank Gore, Steven Jackson, Reggie Bush, Shaun Alexander, Willie Parker or Travis Henry.


Top 5 TE’s
1. Antonio Gates - 19.28 points per game.
2. Jason Witten - 16.90 points per game.
3. Tony Gonzalez - 16.67 points per game.
4. Kellen Winslow - 15.27 points per game.
5. Dallas Clark - 17.48 (Bye week factored in)
No: Todd Heap, Jeremy Shockey, Alge Crumpler

10 Things to Think About for Week Six.

1. T.O. puts up huge numbers, but he has poor technique when he attempts to catch the ball, as witnessed by his league leading dropped passes in ‘06, the two point conversion he dropped vs. the Bills on MNF and the pass that he dropped on the last drive. Way to come up small T.O.!

2. Bucs RB - Earnest Graham will be the undisputed starter with Michael Pittman out 6-8 weeks and Kenneth Darby will be moved to the number two spot. Look for the Bucs to try and make a deal with the Dolphins for the rights to Ricky Williams. Put Williams on your "sleeper radar".

3. Seahawks WR - Deion Branch will miss two games, so Nate Burleson gets a bump in value, as does Bobby Engram and TE Marcus Pollard.

4. Green Bay rookie WR - James Jones had two key fumbles against Chicago and that makes veteran Koren Robinson’s reinstatement that much more attractive from a waiver wire stand point. K-Rob would be a factor in the Packers’ offense that relies so heavily on the pass.

5. Damon Huard has not been ruled out in the Chiefs week 6 game at home vs. the Bengals, but if he can’t go Brodie Croyle will get his first NFL start and that should negatively impact Dwayne Bowe’s numbers. Consider this - as bad as the Bengals D have been, they look like a pretty darn good fantasy option against Croyle.

6. Look for Ravens WR - Demitrius Williams to have his best game of the year at home against the Rams porous secondary.

7. Fantasy owners who are sitting on Devery Henderson better look for points elsewhere, considering the state of the Saints’ O-Line, a QB in Brees that has thrown for only one TD in four games and the pending rotation of Terrance Copper and David Patten. Ugh!

8. Former Tennessee Volunteer Jason Witten is on pace for 92 receptions, 1302 yards and 12 TD’s. I don’t know about you, but he was by far the best value pick of my draft.

9. If Jamal Lewis misses any games, backup RB Jason Wright could be an excellent waiver wire play in PPR leagues.

10. From the "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" department, look no further than Browns WR - Tim Carter, who had three catches for 50 yards and a TD grab against the Patriots when Joe Jurevicius left the game. With the week six bye upon us, EVERYBODY is desperate for a warm body. Carter might be the guy for you if you are hurting for waiver wire bucks and or options.

Clayton and Paolantonio Guess Wrong.

John Clayton completely missed the boat and gave out bad fantasy information regarding Derrick Ward this past weekend. Clayton, based solely on his own conjecture, said on the air Saturday, that Ward wouldn’t play vs. the Eagles on Sunday night. We at FantasyFreakinFootball.com didn’t believe Mr. Clayton and I kept Ward in my lineup. Ward had said earlier in the week that he was ready to take whatever the Eagles would dish out, so that seemed enough to convince me that this guy was not about to surrender the starting job with a little ankle booboo. Apparently Clayton wasn’t convinced by that, or the fact that Ward had practiced on Thursday, before sitting out with "soreness" on Friday. Mr. Clayton should remember what Sergeant Joe Friday used to say, "just the facts."

Sal Paolantonio caught a piece of the ESPN disinformation bug, when he announced on air that Laurence Maroney would be active for the Patriots’ Monday Night Football tilt with the Bengals. Maroney watched the game in street clothes, just like many Maroney owners who didn't bother to switch out Maroney with Sammy Morris, based on the bogus report. What gives guys? If you don’t know, then offer up your OPINION - otherwise, if you want to guess, then get a job at Magic Mountain guessing peoples weight.

Pimp My Fantasy Ride

Aaron Stecker - I told people last week on the show to put him on your radar and here’s why: in 2004 when Poop McAllister went down with an injury, Stecker stepped into the starting RB role on the road vs. the Rams and broke off 106 yards rushing on 18 carries and had 1 TD, and threw in four receptions for 20 yards for good measure. Stecker followed those receiving numbers the following week with six receptions for 71 yards. The problem here is that only Barry Sanders could make chicken soup out of the Saints Chicken poop O-Line. They’re horrible right now.

Brian Leonard - My apologies to my father who dropped him last week. I drafted him in the WCOFF and the timing is awesome with Santana Moss out on bye and Deuce going bye-bye. The former Rutgers back is used to winning and runs angry. There’s no reason why he can’t have a solid showing against the Cowboys, especially in PPR leagues. I’m expecting 80 yards on the ground, 1 TD and 4 receptions for 30 yards. Believe it!

Kenny Watson - with as good as the Bengals O-Line looked against the Seahawks, Watson could help fantasy owners in a pinch with the bye weeks and all. Watson put up 60 yards and a TD on only nine carries. Me likey.

Andre Davis - He plays for the Houston Texans for those of you who don’t know who he is. He was targeted five times (the most of any Texans WR vs. the Colts) and hauled in 4 balls for 70 yards.

Cedric Wilson/Nate Washington - Wilson would be a gutsy start vs. the Cardinals, but could actually be a starter if Hines Ward doesn’t play. He would be sharing time with Nate Washington though.

Demetrius Williams - Williams just needs targets. He caught three balls on four targets, for a scintillating 17.3 yards per reception. If Todd Heap gets hurt, or Mason, or Clayton, he’s got value.

Earnest Graham - This Buccaneer was great after contact, ran hard and put up 75 yards and two TD’s on only eight carries. One of the TD’s was from 28 yards out, so he’s no fluke. With Cadillac on the injury report virtually every week, I think Graham would be a nice little pick up.

Welcome to Must Win Town - Population 1

Week 3 is almost upon us and it's always fun to find yourself in a must win situation after two heartbreaking losses. Better still, is the fear factor of knowing that I will be going against LaDanian Tomlinson, who seems due for a breakout game. Last year Red Ryder and I stared down LT in the playoffs of our WCOFF satellite league, in route to our championship victory - so I take heart in knowing that it can be done. The over/under on LT's point total for week three in ppr leagues is 30 points and the smart money is on the over.

This is what I expect to see in week three of the NFL - lots of impact injuries! Where are the injuries that change the fantasy landscape as quickly as a Donovan McNabb torn ACL, or Randy Moss hamstring tear? Make no mistake, like cocaine residue in Lindsay Lohan's purse, it might not be seen by the naked eye, but it's there. The injury bug is waiting to sink it's disease ridden teeth into your fantasy team, so the question you have to ask yourself is - "do you feel lucky punk? Well do ya?" Do you have the depth to handle the losses of early producers like Randy Moss, LaMont Jordan, Braylon Edwards and Plaxico Burress?

Teams that have been living high off the Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards and LaMont Jordan hog, have to ask themselves how long that gravy train will last. Conversely, Reggie Bush, LT, Steven Jackson and Peyton Manning owners' will at some point get the pendulum swing of production come flying back towards them. Willie Parker, Travis Henry, Frank Gore, Steve Smith, Chad Johnson and Rudy Johnson owners should continue to see a steady stream of consistency - as long as these studs stay healthy. Peyton Manning doesn't miss starts, but can the same be said for Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan? There is a ticking timebomb in Randy Moss' hammy and only God knows when that baby will detonate.

Keep in mind that impact injuries, combined with brutal bye week losses, will ultimately tell the story in your fantasy league - despite how the first two week prologue has read.

If you are also entering must win town, you can join me in the bar. I'll be the guy yelling for Peyton Manning and the Colts to get their redzone act in gear, Santana Moss to finally find the endzone and Detroit to keep hucking the ball around the field like recess football.

Bad Calls, Bad Beats, and Bad Lineup Decisions

The Bengals Defense killed me by allowing Braylon Edwards to look like the second coming of Michael Irvin. The worst defensive effort I think I’ve ever seen. Actually, defensive effort would be an oxymoron for this pathetic unit - since their "effort" was a bad joke.

Kellen Clemens is the real deal. His live arm kept putting the ball in an area where his receivers could make plays. I just don’t think McCareins was used to that velocity and he really had no business on the field. "Hey Justin, you eat with those hands?"

Harrington has been sacked 13 times in the last two games. The Dirty Birds have Lost 9 of their last 11, going back to last season. Pick up defenses that play the Falcons.

Anthony Gonzalez was looking like a baller - catching the ball with his hands at its highest point and then coming right back with a tough slant catch in coverage.

Adalius Thomas - Nobody that big, should be able to move that fast. Wow! As long as he stays healthy and the Pats have an axe to grind, they are the odds on favorites to secure home field advantage in the AFC. Remember, they are doing this sans Seymour and Harrison.

Am I the only one feeling like he goes up against fantasy players that have their career day when they play me? This is getting outright disgusting. Braylon Edwards?!! That second TD catch of his was a joke - there wasn’t even a defender in the camera shot until he was rolling into the endzone.

New Orleans - The good news is you are deep at WR, but the bad news is you can’t rotate guys in and out constantly, because Brees can’t develop any rhythm or chemistry with them. Put Colston and Henderson in and leave them there for now. One of them will be hurt soon enough, then Patten and Copper, et. all will see the field.

More Saints - With :49 seconds to go in the third quarter, the Saints got their first offensive TD OF THE SEASON to fullback Mike Karney. I don't really know what to make of this, except to write that the Saints need a home game in a bad way. McAllister should have been in the goal line package on Karney's TD. Putting in McAllister over Calvin Johnson in my flex position is looking like one of the worst fantasy lineup decisions I've ever made. Deuce, you are about to find your overweight ass on my bench.

Lions - Martz's decision to call a pass play for O'Sullivan on third and eleven, when the Lions were already in field goal range was typical of Martz's throw first, ask questions later. O'Sullivan throws an interception and the Vikings give the ball right back, courtesy of Tavaris Jackson - allowing the Lions to steal a win from the cookie jar in overtime. The Vikings couldn't move the football Martzie! A field goal there would've been huge. Martz needs to see the whole chess board, not just the move he's got his head in at the moment.

Steven Jackson owners are befuddled right now and rightfully so. The fact that he didn't go off for a career day against me this past sunday should be a warning sign, since everyone else has a hall of fame day against me fantasy wise. Braylon freakin' Edwards?!

Jamal Lewis ran like a man with something to prove, while the Bengals D tackled like they had money on the Browns.

Kyle Boller - I said it on the podcast before and I'll write it again here - Boller CAN play. He's not Joe Montanna, Roger Staubach, or Brett Favre, but with a healthy Todd Heap, Demitrius Williams, Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason in the lineup, the weapons are there for solid fantasy production. Put him on your radar.

Derrick Ward averaged six yards per carry against the new, tough look Packers D. It will be hard to show this guy the bench when Brandon Jacobs returns to practice.

Lito Sheppard is out tonight for the Eagles on the MNF tilt versus the Skins - if Santana Moss can't deliver a six catch 100 yards receiving and one TD performance tonight, he might find his non producing ass on my bench. No joke Santana!

Shaun McDonald quitely went out and put up seven receptions for 71 yards. He is the new Bobby Engram in point per reception leagues.

Peyton Manning played exceptionally well against the Titans, but his fantasy numbers aren't warranting a first round, or even second round pick at this stage in the fantasy season. Waiting on a QB for fantasy drafts is still the way to go - i.e. Tony Romo, Big Ben Roethlisberger, or Jon Kitna. The guys in my league that own these QB's, just have that little extra depth afforded to them at RB by patiently waiting on their QB.

Relax LT owners, I play LT in week 3 this Sunday, so he's guaranteed to go off for 37 fantasy points. He always chews me up and spits me out crying like a little girl. How great would've it been to play him last night against the Pats though! I love LT and he's on the mantle, but if he could put together one more piss poor performance, that would be....never happen, he goes off this Sunday and I cry like a little girl.

Steve Smith could be pound for pound, the best player in the NFL. His third TD was just sick. What's it like to own a player who scores 41 fantasy points? I haven't had a player on my roster do it for so long I can't even remember. Take your 41 points and choke on 'em!

Roy Williams is showing why I took him as my first receiver in both high stakes drafts at the WCOFF in Vegas. Running without the helmet! Sweet Roy, super sweet.

Somebody unfroze Joey Galloway just in time for the beat down versus the New Orleans Aints. Yes, the Aints tag applies until they can get some fantasy production from Brees, Bush and McAllister who looks very uninspired on the football field. Did the Aints actually have two extra days to prepare for this woodshed beating?

Favre hasn't looked this good for three years. James Jones is developing nicely at WR and if they could get Koren Robinson reinstated at some point, that would only help. Favre utilized his Tight Ends well also, showing patience in not forcing the ball when his receivers where covered.

Rex Grossman is just not the guy for the job in the windy city. Grossman makes games far too interesting by letting his ego throw passes into tight spaces, when a punt, or sack would be the better part of valor. The Bears need to find an offensive identity, because unless they think Hester can return punts and kickoffs with regularity, then they will struggle against good defenses.

Week 1 - Thinking Out Loud.

Saints - Body language told the story. Reggie Bush hanging his head, DB’s with their heads down. Let’s not forget the Saints are still a young team and when faced with adversity on the road, they need a leader to step up. Thursday night, nobody did.



Saints - Not Reggie’s week. Fantasy Freakin Football loyalist/correspondent Mike "the Unabeekler" Buechler was wearing his fantasy freakin football shirt at Jinky’s restaurant on Sunset Blvd. Sunday morning, when he spotted none other than Jesus in cleats - Reggie Bush. With a gorgeous woman in tow, Reggie asked when his table would be available, to witch the Maitre’ D asked, "what’s your name?" And people wonder why there’s no football team in Los Angeles.



Jacksonville - WR Broussard - who is this guy? Nice TD catch.



Bills D/Special teams - Roscoe Parrish. Run Forrest, run!


Denver - Travis Henry looked great, racking up 139 yards on the ground. Nobody is more money when it comes to grabbing first down receptions than Javon Walker. Clutch!


Last on Denver - Our prayers are with reserve TE Kevin Everett, who underwent spinal chord surgery to remove bone chips in his neck. As much as we all love the great game of football, seeing Everett lying motionless on the field is a sobering reminder of how brutal and physical the game can be.


Patriots - Wes Welker - hate to say we told you so.....but (fill in congratulatory pat on the back here for Red Ryder and me) Welker filled it up with six receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. Great move by the Miami front office letting Welker go. The guy they brought in to replace him in Tedd Ginn Jr., caught....um, ugh....well he did have 70 return yards.



Houston Texans - QB Matt Schaub was steady and Andre Johnson brought home the fantasy football bacon with seven receptions for 142 yards and one TD.



Houston Texans D - hate to say we told you so.....but (play any defense against KC in your fantasy league).



Texans D - Mario Williams scored more fantasy points than Reggie Bush this week. The Texans front office is finally vindicated.



KC Offense - hate to say we told you so......but (LJ not looking like a top 3 pick behind that line).

More KC - They had balance on offense - couldn’t run, couldn’t pass.

Pitt - Big Ben/Santonio Holmes - told you so.



Minnesota D - Drafted them in both Draft Masters high stakes leagues (NFFC/WCOFF), but had to go up against them in my main event league this week. Now I’m fighting for my fantasy life heading into the MNF double header.



Minnesota Offense - It appears to be Adrian Petersen and Ryan Longwell. Oh, and thanks for nothing in my flex position Chester Taylor.



Green Bay D - Jules and I both drafted them and love their ball hawking and linebacker speed.


Philly - The muffed punt was bigger than the dissapearance of Reggie Brown. Philly is out of synch, but Green Bay defense didn't help them any.



Skins - Jason Campbell played tight and missed a wide open Santana Moss. Luckily they were playing the Dolphins, or as I like to call them - the Chiefs of the sunshine state.


Patriots D/Special Teams - Congrats to return man Ellis Hobbs, on his record setting 108 yard kickoff return. Welcome to the majors Mr. Hobbs.



Pats - The demise of Randy Moss has been greatly exaggerated.


Panthers - Who said Jake Delhomme would go off in week one? Jeopardy answer: Who is Wonderboy. I can't stress this enough - THE RAMS DEFENSE SUCKS.


Eagles - Jason Avant. Who’s Jason Avant?


More Packers - Favre took a lot of hits in the backfield.



Cleveland - L. Vickers is now on the radar at the RB position. Kellen Winslow Jr. is showing why we have him projected for 75 receptions and the number two TE overall for 2007.



Titans - Chris Brown, not Vince Young was the story in Jax with 175 yards rushing. Wow! What happened to the Jags run D?



More Green Bay - Huge win for this young team that will only get better.



Still More Green Bay - Mark of the Beast line: Donald Driver 6 receptions for 66 yards (666).



Oakland - If you drafted TE Zach Miller like I did in competitive, 20 plus round, l2-14 team leagues, then you are a happy camper with the targets he was seeing. He didn’t put up big numbers, but the sleeper potential is there.



Oakland - New, 31 year old Head Coach Lane Kiffin has his USC fingerprints all over the Raiders new look offense. Sweeps, passes to the fullback, passes to two different tight ends, targets to Curry, Porter, Mike Williams (yes, that Mike Williams) and LaMont Jordan. This will be a much improved team on the offensive side of the football. LaMont Jordan had nine receptions for 89 yards. Where the hell was this last year?! Ronald Curry was huge and made Red Ryder and I look good for pimping him (he was the first player mentioned on FFF's "Two Minute Warnings" segment on Youtube this pre-season.



Detroit - Six rushing attempts in the first half. That’s what I like to see as both a Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson owner. A special thanks to all the owners in my league who passed on Calvin Johnson. Super sweet.



Cowboys - Terry Glenn owners' loss, is Jason Witten owners’ gain. Romo put up 345 yards passing on only 15 completions. Is that a record? He looked like Dan Fouts out there.



Cowboys Defense - Isn’t Wade Phillips a defensive guru? The 35 points his team surrendered makes me think otherwise. It’s official, Roy Williams is the worst cover safety in the NFL - I don’t think he could cover a bed.



Giants -Eli Manning's interception was not his fault as Plaxico Burress slipped and hung the young Eli out to dry. Let’s hope the injury he sustained on his throwing shoulder is just soft tissue damage and will heal up this week with treatment. Seriously, he’s my back up quarterback.



Cowboys - Jason Witten kept me alive with his monster -116 yard, six catch and one touchdown performance, heading into tomorrow's MNF games. This will allow me to go into work tomorrow and not punch somebody in the face.


Giants - Plaxico just caught another TD on the Giants plane ride home home.

Giants - It didn't take long for Brandon Jacobs to answer the highly debated topic of weather or not he could handle the load for the Giants at RB, with his upright style of running. Ward looked fantastic in relief. Go get him.


Quote of the week comes from my girlfriend Rebecca, when told that LaDanian Tomlinson (whose picture and football card reside on our mantle) threw a touchdown pass - "that’s why he’s on the mantle."



Runner up quote of the week from Philip Rivers - "we got a little frustrated, because we had some opportunities and field position and failed to capitalize and you hate to do that against a good dufus - defense." Yes, the Bears are a good dufus indeed.

Fantasy Redemption

Jackson Brown wrote a line in his profoundly deep song "Barricades of Heaven," that aptly describes my annual fantasy football pilgrimage to Vegas - "Better bring your own redemption when you come."

2006 for my Co-Manager and myself was piss poor to say the least. I can still hear the words of my first round selection (I say "my" and not "ours" - because my Co-Manager wanted Rudi Johnson) LaMont Jordan resonate in my ears. The 3-8 record that our team managed was the worst fantasy football team that I've ever assembled. There were plenty of excuses to be offered up - poor draft spot, difficult league in regards to value that just wasn't present like in other leagues, etc. and so forth and blah, blah, 3-8. Scoreboard. We sucked. The sucktion of our team would actually pull me towards the television on Sundays and by the afternoon games, we were usually out of it.

"There's always next year," I would say. Well f'en A - next year is here! In the six years that my Co-Manager (who I like to call dad) and I have been in the WCOFF, this is our highest draft position ever.......fourth! And we'll take it. We'll take it all the way to the league championship, because we've already excepted that owning LaDanian Tomlinson just isn't in the cards for us, but drafting fourth, given the crap drafting spots we've had at the back of the bus, might as well be first.

These snake drafts, given the high level of competition isn't really a fair format. C'mon, who are we kidding? Who goes into a fantasy football draft and says, "hot damn! I'm drafting 12th?" The experience of spending a weekend in Vegas with people who share the same passion for football as we do and more importantly, the hobby of fantasy football - coupled with the fact that you are all playing for big dollars ($7000.00 for the league champion and $300,000 for the overall champion) make up for any structural flaws of the contest. I apologize for that last run on, poorly structured sentence, but it's 3:12am the night before Christmas - I mean the NFL season opener and I'm exhausted.

I have a plan for redemption in place. First - control the draft by ignoring ADP (Average Draft Position) and go back to my drafting philosophy of "Target Drafting". In short, this is where I make a list of the players that I want and simply go after them. If it means taking Wes Welker in the eight round, when he's going in the 10th round in most drafts, then damn the torpedos! My goal this year is to turn last year's 3-8 record on it's head and post eight wins this season in the eleven game format. I've never had a losing record in fantasy football, so to post such a humbling record has forced me to focus and reclaim the eye of the fantasy football tiger.

If you're in Vegas this weekend at the South Point Hotel and Casino, I'll be the guy wearing the fantasyfreakinfootball.com shirt and hat, with a Bill Cowher like determination. Somewhere between Frank Gore, Joseph Addai and Reggie Bush (sorry LJ), lies our first round pick. And this year, I guarantee that the L.A. Knights will smash down the Barricades of Heaven with some fantasy football rolling thunder.

Fantasy Draft Smack!

Smack talk is an art. Some people thrive on it in a competitive situation and can effectively use their mouth to get their opponents on "tilt". Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson is notorious for jabbering with defensive backs not only during the game, but in the week leading up to it. Poker great Mike "the Mouth" Matusow yields his mouth like a samurai sword, cutting up people with ego demolishing jabs and counter punches.

For people with excellent concentration, smack talk is nothing more than white noise, but for others - smack talk is a gauntlent that has been thrown at their feet and to not respond would be cowardly.

Here are some vintage fantasy football, smack talk smart bombs - that you can use to either silence a "mouth" at your draft, or get another owner on tilt. All I ask, is that you send me an email describing the look on the persons face that you dropped one of the following lines on.

1. "Bad picks won't grow your hair back."

2. "Wow! And I thought your LAST pick was bad."

3. "Make way, dead man drafting!"

4. "If you get points for bad picks, then you're in the playoffs for sure."

5. "Nice pick. He might even play this season."

6. "Let's have a moment of silence for your team."

7. "I'm glad you're not letting that 3.8 yards per carry average scare you."

Pick your spots to drop your smack and as always - make your own luck!

Huge Fantasy Busts

As a red blooded American male and as the picture of the sexy blonde indicates, I love big busts. I find it difficult not to stare at big busts, even when I'm walking next to my girlfriend - guilty as charged. The one place where big busts are not welcome, however, is on my fantasy roster. Sure we've seen it before, the fantasy football teases who whisper in your ear during the preseason, then steal your wallet and run off with the mailman when it counts. Not on my watch baby! Here are the top five Running Back busts that just may be sunbathing by the pool in 2007.

1. Willis McGahee - What you talkin' about Willis? I'm talking about the fact that since McGahee's fantastic 2004 campaign, where he posted 13 TD's - he's only scored 11 total TD's since and had an enemic 3.8 ypc average over the last two seasons. Somehow he's going at the end of the first round, or the beginning of the second in many fantasy football drafts. Are you kidding me? You can do better.

2. DeAngelo Williams - I've heard my father say many times that "potential and ten cents will get you a cup of coffee." Save your dime on this overhyped Panther with an injury history that everyone seems to ignore. In Williams' rookie season he found the endzone one time in 121 carries. Williams isn't doing much in training camp to separate himself from DeShaun Foster either. Sherlock Holmes would say avoiding this cat is "elementary".

3. Kevin Jones - Me aaaaaaannnnddddd Mr., Mr. Jones. Uh, no. Jones finished his rookie season incredibly strong, but just can't seem to stay out of the trainers room. Add to this the take it to the house threat that Tatum Bell will bring to the Lions' offense and this spells bad news for KJ. There are rumors coming out of Detroit that KJ might start the season on the PUP list and miss the first six games. Even if those rumors prove to be false, he still doesn't seem sound from the ankle injury. Pick this guy at your own perill.

4. Vernand Morency - First time, shame on you. Second time, shame on Vernand Morency's horrible fumbling problem that will cost him to lose the starting job to Noah Herron. Morency has great wiggle to him, but he's neither a short yardage runner (think goal line opportunities), or reliable workhorse back. Morency is going in the seventh round in some drafts and I say don't fumble that pick away on this guy. Get it? You see what I did there....nevermind.

5. Brian Westbrook - I've saved the best for last here. A healthy Westy makes me shake in my boots if I'm playing him in a point per reception league. I know what you're thinking - Wonderboy wears boots in Los Angeles? Yeah, sometimes. Westbrook has never played 16 games in a season in his five year career. I can't take a first round pick on this player that you have to hold your breath everytime he touches the ball. Incredibly talented? Yes. Incredibly injury prone? Yes. Pass on this guy and hope you don't face him until late in the fantasy season when he will be on the bench in street clothes.

Mistake Free Fantasy Football Drafting

World Series of Poker champion "Action" Dan Harrington, has made his reputation by limiting his mistakes and inducing some from his opponents. Sounds simple enough, right? Harrington doesn't go into a hand half cocked, but methodically weighs the risk vs. reward factors of the hands that he chooses to play.

In a fantasy football draft, like in poker, you must understand the concept of position. It is critical that you have an accurate estimation of which players will be available to you in your first five rounds. Why the first five rounds? Because the first five selections in your fantasy football draft will set the foundation for your team. That's not to say that you won't be able to collect some serious sleepers later on, but if you had the misfortune of drafting Lamont Jordan last year, your fantasy season was over before it really began.

I'm drafting from the four hole in this years "high stakes" World Championship of Fantasy Football in Las Vegas. I am already planning on laying a foundation with two running backs and one top tier wide receiver after the first three rounds. With my second pick (21st overall) there is a very short list of wide receivers that I would pick from to supercede taking another running back here - Steve Smith (he'll be long gone), or Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco will be off the board by this point). Terrell Owens is an inury risk that I'm not comfortable taking here, especially since there's a good chance that I will have Frank Gore on my roster who's another M*A*S*H risk. Torry Holt, Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison are all excellent receivers, but if I take a running back with the 21st overall pick, there's an excellent chance that one of those receivers will be available to me with my third pick (28th overall).

Quite simply, your fantasy draft should be easy based on your pre-draft preparation. If you are fumbling around and/or agonizing over ANY of your first five picks, then you didn't understand what kind of a team you would be building based your draft spot. Understand that and you will be a formidable fantasy footballer, not just in 2007, but for many seasons to come.