NFL Fantasy Football Draft Day Survival Tips Can Leave You LOST

NFL.Com has posted their 10 step survival kit for everyone's upcoming fantasy football draft. This is the same kit found in their NFL.com Fantasy Football 2005 Preview. Now, we really like the NFL (especially since we probably wouldn't be in business without them), but don't you think the premier football organization in the universe should be giving you the best possible draft information?

Well, they would have if they had just checked with us first. (Like old Walter Brennan used to say in The Guns of Will Sonnett, "No brag, Just fact!")

Lets look at their tips and tell you the way things really are.

"1. Know Your League's Rules"

• At least they got one right. We agree completely. In fact, we told you in our Introduction to Fantasy Football series (see the 6/01/05 - 6/30/05 archive) how important a knowledge your league's rules and scoring system is to your chances of success.

"2. Read Up"

• Read up, but read smartly. It's true that you need to keep abreast of all the most current player movements. However, remember that just because the source reporting the information may be knowledgeable doesn't mean that their opinions are valid for your league. In other words (and keeping with the family values of this site) opinions are like arm pits. Everyone has a couple and they usually stink.

• Lets look at defenses. Just because a team has a defense that ranks #1 in points allowed and yards allowed (making them every writers all world D) doesn't mean they are worth squat in you league. They may be, but then again they may not. Likewise, just because a team has a lousy defense doesn't mean they won't score a ton of points under your specific Fantasy Football scoring system. Want some proof?
  

• In their own publication the NFL ranks Buffalo as the #11 Defense. Yet, under scoring systems such as that used by EA Sports Fantasy Football the Bill's outscored #1 Baltimore in total season points 185 to 161. Why? because EA Sports Fantasy Leagues along with other leagues such as Best Buy Fantasy Football use scoring systems that don't take into account points and yards allowed. Rather, they are based only on turnovers (No Miami fans, not that type of turnover), and defensive TDs scored.

• Want another example? OK, ESPN's Fantasy Football 2005 lists KC WR Dante Hall as 104th out of the 112 they rank. Might sound reasonable unless, of course, you happened to be playing ESPN's own Yardage Only game in which Hall was the third best point producer in the league, finishing just ahead of Peyton Manning.

• Oh, by the way, speaking of keeping current, the NFL's Fantasy Football 2005 Preview lists Minnesota's Ontario Smith as the #31 ranked RB. Pretty good since he'll be watching all the games on TV this year. (See why your $14.95 is better spent with us)
  

"3. Make Your Early Picks Count"

• Really? Gosh, we never thought of that one. Why I always draft the likes of a Jerricho Cotchery (who?) in the first round rather than someone like Priest Holmes or Daunte Culpepper. Come on guys, if we haven't figured this one out by now we shouldn't be playing the game.

"4. Draft Your Running Backs First"

• Sorry fellows, but we don't agree. OK maybe generally, but not necessarily in the first round. While it is a common misconception that the RBs are the biggest scorers in Fantasy Football, (with apologies to Cole Porter) it ain't necessarily so. In the leagues we covered last year, here is how the QBs finished:

• ESPN League Manager: 7 out of the top 11 and 10 of the top 16 point scorers
• ESPN Traditional: 8 out of the top 11
• ESPN Performance: 5 of the top 10, 10 of the top 16
• ESPN Yardage: 4 of the top 10 and 6 of the top 12
• Yahoo Default: 9 of the top 10
• CBS Sportsline: 9 of the top 11
• Fox / Sporting News: 6 of the top 10 and 10 of the top 15
• AOL Fantasy Football: 7 of the top 10 and 11 of the top 15 point scorers
  

• Pretty convincing numbers. (Want to know who they were, and who those few others to crack the top 10 were? Sorry, for members only [Hint: Click here and Join Now]). Also, the drop off in RBs just isn't that great any more. Too many good ones out there.
  

"5. Draft Your Kickers Last"

• Late maybe, but not last. Face it, in a ten team league with each team drafting three RBs and four receivers, you're looking at an Antwaan Randle El, an Eric Moulds, or a Tyrone Calico in the later rounds. Are you seriously going to take one of these guys when you could have a Mike Vanderjagt or an Adam Vinatieri? Personally, I'd probably draft a TE or a backup WR last.
  

Tomorrow we'll debunk...errr...discuss the remaining five myths...I mean...ahh...items on the NFL list.