Posts tagged AFC
5 Ways to Make Your Fantasy Football Team Better
This weekend the NFL preseason began with the Hall of Fame festivities in Canton. Saturday saw Cris Carter, Jonathan Ogden, Dave Robinson, Larry Allen, Bill Parcells, Curley Culp and Warren Sapp enter into the hall. The Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins will play the first preseason game of the 2013 season tonight. This means that we are now less than a month away from the kickoff to the regular season.
I can’t wait for this time of the year. It means watching the games and starting up fantasy football leagues. If you are like me you are in at least three to four leagues per year. With all the time and effort spent on building the best team out there you want to see a return on your investment. Here are five ways to help you get an edge in your fantasy league.
1. Podcasts
Just like any other topic there are many podcasts on fantasy football. The good thing about these podcasts are that the hosts put in all the time and effort into researching the best players. Make their hard work pay off for you. One podcast that I listen to for solid fantasy football insight that also makes me is laugh is the “Duke and Boy Show.”
These guys are funny, but they get you ready week in and week out with great analysis. Plus they have very knowledgeable guests on their show. Writers from CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, and more. They even have NFL players on the show to breakdown players in the league as well. So the next time you are at the gym or in your car just listen to the “Duke and Boy Show” to help with your fantasy team.
2. Watching Preseason Games
Now there are NFL fans out there that can’t stand to watch the preseason games. For the life of me I don’t get those people. I love watching any NFL game that is on the TV. Watching these games help you pick out the sleepers for this year’s draft. The more games you watch you get to see what players are making a constant contribution to their team. Not only are you noticing those players, but the coaching staff is doing that as well.
When you are drafting in the late rounds you can pick up another kicker or the running back that looks to steal the spotlight from an aging veteran. I have had a few successes (and fails to be fair) of a drafting a few sleepers by watching games in the preseason.
3. Be the Commissioner of Your League
Now by no means am I suggesting you use your powers as the commissioner to break the fantasy football code of ethics. Fantasy football karma is real and you don’t want to abuse your power. Being the commissioner of your league allows you to reach out to those friends and family members you want in the league.
If you don’t like the people that win on beginner’s luck don’t invite a newbie. If one guy keeps on stealing your draft picks each year, don’t invite him. You get the picture? Set up the league with friends who make the league competitive, but not the ones that drive you crazy.
4. Be Patient
You will find each week a guy you either want to drop or pick up. WAIT! Don’t make any foolish moves or trades. You drafted that guy for a reason. Give that player at least three weeks to see if they pan out. Some players jump right out of the gate, while others need a few games under their belt. If your bench can handle that latter player keep him there. One he might start scoring points for you or you can use that player as trade bait.
5. Don’t Be a Homer
Not talking about Homer Simpson, but “that guy” who drafts everyone from his favorite team. One or two players sure. Let’s say if you are a New Orleans Saints fan drafting Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham is definitely the smart move. Taking all the wide outs, tight ends, and running backs from the Saints is a big faux pas. Be a homer by wearing all your favorite team’s gear, not by drafting them. 
Hopefully these tips can make you the champion in your league. If you do win the championship by using this article I don’t mind a few dollars thrown my way. Just sayin!
Aug 4th
Patriots Smack the Jets Silly
Silly!
You enjoy this beat-down? I just love the way our good friend Chris Stout put it this morning: “Belichick’s not evil; he’s strategic.” If strategy is sending a message to a division rival in the form of an absolute and embarrassing drubbing, then yep, he once again proved he was a master strategist. Throwing in the 4th quarter, going for it on 4th down? I suppose they were just working on certain aspects of their game that needed improvement.
Giving credit where it’s due, this was one of the prettiest game-plans I’ve seen all season long. Knowing that the Jets defense was lacking its heart and soul, Belichick and Brady decided they’d go ahead and dismember the body as well. Cromartie and Revis? Non-factors. Isolate them, spread the field, and check down to the space where pass catchers can run. With everyone going fast and hard, from Welker to Woodhead, there were just too many weapons on the field for the Jets defense to deal with. Especially considering Mark Sanchez and the offense couldn’t sustain a drive, and once they were able to run, they had too little time to pursue it. They had to pass, and that led to one of the biggest surprises of the night–the Patriots defense.
I’ve definitely warmed to Belichick in the past couple of seasons. Maybe something about coaching youth sports led me to a deeper understanding; however, I thought the dude was crazy for not hiring a defensive coordinator in 2010. Bottom line, the Patriots defense is pretty bad, but last night they showed up in full force. They stuffed the run early, and picked off the passes late.
In a word, they “exposed” Mark Sanchez for still being slightly under-ripe. When a similar “exposure” took place last season, Rex Ryan reinforced the necessity of being able to run the ball. I suppose we’ll see the same sense of focus from the Jets moving forward in response to this, New England’s declaration for the AFC East.
The mystique that the Jets carried through the past several weeks of winning game after game is clearly no more–perhaps it was more of a magic act than a mystique, based on winning several games that they just as easily could have lost vs. inferior opponents.
Considering the Patriots, it would make sense to refer to them as the best team in the AFC. While they’re certainly not the most talented, and the defense is incredibly suspect, they possess an offense that can put up points against anybody, and how flippin’ tough are they at home? The only two teams that I see potentially giving the Patriots fits in the AFC are the Steelers and… …the Chiefs. We fans of the NFC are going to find out how good the Bears are come Sunday when the Pats head to Chicago.
Dec 7th
