Your Questions - What do we offer?, Why are we so different in the Fantasy Football world? Who are we?

As we countdown the days to the start of this year's NFL season, we have had a lot of new visitors to StatLeader.com along with most all of our members from last year.

As the new visitors drop by, I have been getting a lot of questions about who we are, what we offer, and why we are so different? OK, Lets take a few moments to answer them.

Who are we?

• A group of Fantasy Football fanatics that were not happy with the availability of certain types of Fantasy Football information on the web. We decided that we wanted to offer things no one would or could.
  

• Some detailed info on each of us is provided at the bottom of this post (to spare you having to read it now).
  

What Do We Offer?

• Simple! An approach to Fantasy Football information that has never done before. This includes:

• Rating of players, including point projections for their next game. This is done using individual league scoring systems and enough player data to choke a .... whatever. Rocket Man's proprietary (again Miami fans, that means "protected so we're the only ones to have them") equations making these projections the most accurate on the web.

• Live pre-game player updates every game day (Yes, including Thanksgiving and all Monday Nights.) Sure this information may be available elsewhere on the web but you have to search many sites to find it all in a timely manner. We do it for you. Our "Final Countdown" will continuously scan over 40 web sites as well as TV and radio broadcasts to bring you all the information as it breaks in one place.

• Our unique blend of commentary. We don't play favorites and frequently, we don't agree with anyone else in the Fantasy Football world (let alone each other).

• A draft package tailored for specific league scoring systems. Think this doesn't help, just read some of our posts on surviving the NFL's "Draft Day Survival Tips".

Why Are We So Different?:

• While we rely on statistics (with a little intuition thrown in), we also have done a lot of work understanding just exactly what those statistics mean and how to use them properly. There's an old saying "Figures lie and liars figure". In other words, one can make statistics say almost anything they want them to. At Statleader, we make sure we make them say the right thing.
  

• We track the statistics of every offensive player, kicker, and team Defense in the NFL game-by-game. The stats are thrown into a couple of thousand or our equations providing unique and spookily accurate rankings and projections.

• We base everything in your actual league scoring system. We'll be following somewhere between 15 and 20 of the most popular leagues this year. When you see our analysis for your league, it's based on your specific scoring system, not one that is "close" to yours.

• When we do our calculations we take into account such things as how the defense a player is going up against has performed in giving up Fantasy Football points (again based on your individual scoring system).

• We provide a whole barrage of other numbers like consistency factors, estimated points to be scored in the next game, a +/- range for that figure, participation trends, scoring trends, and more. What's more, we actually tell you how to use them.
  

• On certain salary cap games (ex. Best Buy Fantasy Football) we'll even tell you who are the best buys (no pun intended). We do this by calculating a "Fantasy Points Projected /Salary Cap Dollar" value. It will help you get the most for your money.
  

Who are we (continued)?

Man, if you are still reading this, you are a real glutton for punishment. All right, here it goes:

• The names you see at the top of the page were the primary architects of this whole effort. However, while we are the most visible, there are numerous others who work behind the scenes to keep everything going smoothly.
  

• Let's start with Rocket Man, since I probably know him best. RM is our stats guru. He really is a rocket scientist having spent almost 23 years working for NASA on both the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs. He has a graduate degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from THE Ohio State University and has been doing Fantasy statistics since the mid-80s (when he was involved with Rotisserie League Baseball).
  

• Next up is Mister2. 2 is our linebacker. He fills the holes wherever they may appear. Marketing, web design, commentary, run the LA office, 2 does them all (not very well, but he does them all ... just kidding 2). He has been a fantasy sports nut since the late 80's when he and Rocket Man co-owned a championship fantasy baseball team.
• Why the name Mister2? Well, 2 is named after his father but rather than being a "Jr." he is a "II" (2nd). One day 2 received a piece of computer generated marketing material that proceeded to promise tremendous benefits for "Mister II" and the entire "II family". Thus the birth of Mister2.

• Johnny Wishbone is one of our younger guys. Johnny also happens to be our primary web expert. When things go well, Johnny is loved by all. When they don't, his head is the first one to be cut off. Keep up the good work Johnny (Especially if you want to keep all your body parts attached.)

• The young lady of our main staff is the Crew Chief. While the NASCAR side is currently in the Pits undergoing some revamping, the Chief is still busily working away on a storehouse of articles for next season. The Chief has been a racing fan most of her life and has been a regular at both Richmond and Dover the last couple of years. While she can occasionally be a little opinionated (a little?) she has an amazing understanding of the sport, especially for a devout Tony Stewart fan.

• I still don't know who Ranny Knows is. Probably that guy that runs around the office a lot mumbling something about "Invader Zim".

• As I noted earlier, there are many others who work behind the scenes. Some of whom you will be meeting shortly, others of whom we will keep locked up in the vault working. Thanks to all of you.

• As for me? I'm just an ill-tempered, crotchety old man (just ask my kids) who likes to pick on those poor NFL millionaires. (Not to mention fans of the University of MeatChicken, The "ewe" [Ewe-niversity of Miami], the Knitting Lions of Penn State, "Condom U" [Southern Cal Trojans], The Tennessee Titanics, the Cleveland Clowns, and The Cincinnati Bungles, to name a few.) Like Rocket Man, I also went to THE Ohio State University. Unlike Rocket Man, I studied Biology (worthless) and Biochemistry (more worthless). My undergrad years aligned with Archie Grifffin's four seasons (most worthy) however, I received my Masters during Earl Bruce's tenure (pretty worthless except for the '79 team [11-0]).
  

• Biggest thrill: Being at the '78 Gator Bowl and watching Woody nail Clemson player Charlie Baughman (face it Charlie, you deserved it)
  

So that's our story. Hopefully I've answered a few questions and maybe helped you to understand why we confidently say that we have a totally new and different approach to Fantasy Football. One that no one else can hope to duplicate.

That is why we are StatLeader.