Sports
Fantasy Football on the Rise

-- Maurice Draine

Fantasy football has taken over the sporting world as we know it, subconsciously deprogramming die-hard football fans everywhere. This glamorized office pool has completely changed the way fans view American football. And now that it’s here, there’s no chance of it ever going anywhere.

In the old days before fantasy football existed, fans only cared if their favorite teams won or lost on Sundays. Now since fantasy football crashed the scene about 15-20 years ago, die-hard football fans could care less if their favorite team wins or loses anymore. The only thing that is important to them now is "did Daunte Culpepper throw any touchdown passes today?"

Wins and losses just don’t matter anymore. It’s all about stats, stats, and more stats. Fantasy football is fun and I do recommend everyone tries it at least once, but proceed with caution. After a season or two of playing fantasy football, you’ll start to notice the effects of this phenomenon when next season rolls around. You’ll start to notice that when Sunday approaches, you don’t really care about the NFL like you use to. As long as you can log on to your fantasy football site and watch the live scoring stats change every few seconds, you’re having a good day.

Some fantasy football players have taken it to the next level though, and for worse. Some die-hard players actually root for guys on the real field to get injured, so the guy on their fantasy team can get in the game and get them some points. Pitiful indeed.

The NFL is openly against gambling and always has been. Fantasy football is gambling to me. And I’m one-hundred percent sure that some of their players participate in these leagues for big money against their NFL buddies all the time. The league wants to just act like they have no idea into what’s going on.

Last year I won my fantasy league and the pot was two hundred dollars. I only put in 30 bucks to join, so this was a one-hundred seventy dollar profit I made. Compared to a number of other leagues, these stakes are small time. There are huge leagues with large entry fees that if you take the whole league, you can get a couple of thousand dollars. Like I said, sounds like gambling to me.

The funny thing about it is the NFL makes fantasy football playing so easy for all participants. During every game the NFL endorses the live fantasy stats that go across the bottom of the screen. If you are going to be against gambling, why are you helping millions of people including your own players’ gamble? Could it maybe be money?

You bet its money. NFL.com has a page where you can join a fantasy league and pay your fees and everything. As a perk for paying all that “Jack” to NFL.com, they offer you live statistics so you can keep up with your team’s stats and then cash in at the end of the year. So maybe the NFL should just stop pretending to be anti-gambling and just come right out and say it’s okay to gamble...if you pay a fee first.

If you chose to still play fantasy football and risk losing your drive to almost never watching another game, or care who wins or loses ever again. Well I can’t let you go out there into the wild, wild fantasy football world without any draft tips.

First: Always draft a running back with your first pick. They generally touch the ball more than anyone else does. On a good day, a Back could get 30-40 touches.

Second: Get a marquee receiver. If you’re in a yardage heavy league it only takes a few 15 to 20 yard catches and your receiver just had a productive day. Touchdowns are just a bonus.

Third: By the third round all the Mannings, and Culpeppers are gone, but don’t worry. With the quarterback position you can get a second or third tier QB that could be very productive for you. If you have a great running back like Tomlinson, L. Johnson or Alexander who can carry your entire team week in and out, more times than not that second, or third tier QB will have huge statistical games that you never expected from them and that’s called a "sleeper."

If you get one of these, brace yourself. Everyone in your league now will be trying to give you low first and second rounders to get their hands on that "sleep." A "sleeper" can also be a RB, WR, TE, or K. Either keep him, or trade him away for a higher drafted player to fill any other weak areas that you may have.

Fourth: After you have your core group of players, it’s time to fill in all the empty areas with serviceable players. They don’t have to be great either, but make sure their at least starters on their teams and you’ll be in business. Set your line-up, and destroy the week one competition and beyond.

Follow these tips and you’ll for sure take your league by storm.