Fantasy Phenom Diaries: Five to Guide

Fantasy Football has quickly become a mainstream activity that has changed the complexion of NFL Sunday's for millions of fans. 

I've heard everyone from a middle-aged, female bartender to the local weatherman discuss their strategies for the upcoming fantasy season.

I myself am a seasoned veteran having been the commissioner of a league since the early days of this now billion dollar industry. 

I've drafted names like Rice, Sanders, and Marino, so needless to say I've been doing this for quite sometime and I'm good.  Very good!

I've won countless championships against strong competition and taken a couple of heartbreaking losses along the way. 

Lit cigars in victory and smashed remotes in defeat.

So as any master of his/her craft would like to do, I've decided to take five readers under my wing and do my best to guide them through the 2009 fantasy season.

Every league has a couple guys or gals that love the action of draft parties, smack talk and just being involved, but have not a clue on how to manage a winning squad.

If you happen to be one of these people I feel for you and honestly respect your passion.

Before I tell you how to obtain my services, I would like to provide everyone with a little bit of insight and  strategy that have made me into a fantasy beast, and the one to beat in any league I enter.

The five chosen players will be given access to my individual and overall player rankings, draft preparation and help throughout the season. 

FANTASY STRATEGY:

Ranking of Players;

My approach to ranking the players before the draft is simple.

First, go through each position and rank those players accordingly.

Next, tier your rankings.

Example: Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald look primed to have huge seasons and are more than worthy of being chosen in the top few rounds.  They should wind up on your first tier. 

Brandon Marshall, on the other hand, has put up monster stats the last few years, but changes at coach and quarterback should push him into the second tier.

Finally, when compiling your overall rankings, use these tiers as guidelines in doing so.

Position-By-Position Draft Philosophy:

Quarterback:  Depending on how your league scores for passing touchdowns (usually four or six) will drastically determine the value of this position.

I've drafted Culpepper and Warner in the first round in the past,  but I've also won championships starting David Garrard, Matt Cassell, and Kordell Stewart so having an elite QB will not make or break your team. 

Play the matchups and remember that Chiefs' QB Tyler Thigpen was putting teams in the playoffs in 2008.

Running Back:  HORDE them!!  Running backs have traditionally been the juggernauts of fantasy football and it didn't take me long to notice that. 

I try to put as many backs on my team as possible and have been known to draft one with each of my first three picks, despite having the option to only start two.

To me, the 32nd rated starting running back is more valuable than 2/3 of the No. 1 receivers. 

Generally I try to draft three receivers, one QB, TE, K, and defense. The rest of my squad is running backs!

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