Fantasy Baseball 2011: 8 Reasons Why It's Better Than Fantasy Football

With the Super Bowl taking place over a month ago, it is time to start focusing on the 2011 baseball season.  So get out your cheat sheet, start entering those mock drafts and get ready for one of the most anticipated baseball seasons yet.

Over the past few years, fantasy football has become the leader in the fantasy sports industry.  Fantasy football may be the most popular, but the question is: Is it really the best?

This slideshow contains eight reasons why fantasy baseball is better than fantasy football.

All Day, Every Day

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DUNEDIN, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Infielder Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats against the Detroit Tigers February 26, 2011 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

In fantasy football, you get one day, maybe two, to watch your players perform.  How much fun does that sound?  From five to six days out of the week, there is nothing going on—only waiting, listening, and unnecessary anticipation (just like a bad M. Night Shyamalan movie).

In fantasy baseball, you get to watch your fantasy team perform every single day for 162 games.  Each day could prove to be monumental as your team battles your opponent for the W at the end of the week.  You can change your rosters daily (depending on the format) which makes you feel more engaged in the process as ever.  Besides, what else are you going to do at work?

More Players

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PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 08: Buster Posey #28 catcher of the San Francisco Giants against the Seattle Mariners during the spring training baseball game against at Peoria Stadium on March 8, 2011 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

There are so many more players in fantasy baseball than fantasy football.  From all of the 25-man rosters on each major league squad, to the five levels of minor league play, there are more players than you could imagine. 

Although many of these players will never reach the bigs, there are countless sleepers that can separate you from the rest of your fantasy league.

How about Buster Posey last season?  He was just one of the many minor league players who have made an immediate impact on your fantasy baseball league.

Less Luck, More Skill

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 19: Jason Allen #20 of the Houston Texans defends a pass to Kenny Britt #18 of the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field on December 19, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

As much as I’d like to say fantasy football takes an enormous amount of skill, it also takes a tremendous amount of luck.  You could have the best player in the entire league, Chris Johnson, only to have him get completely shutout by the opposing team. 

You could have a bench player, Kenny Britt, explode for 200-plus yards and three TDs out of nowhere (I’m still mad about that) to ruin your fantasy week.

Baseball, on the other hand, is more of a team effort.  Even if one of your players does very well in one week, he still only represents 1/14th of your total roster in standard fantasy leagues. 

If you want to win in fantasy baseball, you better not try and bank on a one-hit wonder week in and week out.  You need a balanced attack at every position. 

What does this mean? At the end of the day, the best fantasy baseball team usually wins.  And that’s all you can ask for.

More Knowledge Required

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PEORIA, AZ - MARCH 02: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies makes a throw to first against the San Diego Padres during spring training at Peoria Stadium on March 2, 2011 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

For you to be successful in fantasy baseball, you have to have an extensive knowledge of the game.  You need to know the elite players, the rising stars and everyone in between.  The league isn’t won in the first few picks; it’s won at the end of the draft by picking those sleepers who will outperform all expectations.

In fantasy football, sleepers are much harder to come by.  Sure, you may stumble across an Arian Foster, Ryan Grant or Miles Austin at some point, but for the most part, you know who you are getting from the start. 

What’s the fun in that?

Injuries

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 7: Justin Morneau #33 of the Minnesota Twins in the dugout during game two of the ALDS game against the New York Yankees on October 7, 2010 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien /Getty Images)

In fantasy football, if your team suffers a season-ending injury (see Ryan Grant, Tom Brady, Antonio Gates), your season is more or less done.  There is little you can do if one of your top overall picks goes to the wayside.  It’s just a cruel fact about the volatile world we know as fantasy football.

In fantasy baseball, on the other hand, your season will not be totally ruined if one of your star players gets hurt.  You would still have 20-plus players who would be able to fill the position's void. 

Who would want one player to influence your entire fantasy season?  Not me.

More Drafting Strategy

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 23: Brian Wilson #38 of the San Francisco Giants poses for a portrait during media photo day at Scottsdale Stadium on February 23, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Fantasy baseball requires more strategy on draft day.

For fantasy football, your options are limited.  Do you go with a QB, RB, WR or TE?  Choices, choices, choices…

The options for fantasy baseball, on the other hand, are aplenty.  There are over 14 positions you have to draft and it is never easy to figure out how you want to go about filling them.  

Do you go with the power hitter?  Do you go with the five-tool player?  Do you draft for position scarcity?  Do you go heavy on pitchers?  Do you go heavy on hitters? Is it time to draft a reliever?

At the end of the day, there are just so many more strategies required for fantasy baseball that make it more fun and exciting.

Diversity of Fantasy Baseball

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DUNEDIN, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Outfielder Rajai Davis #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays runs to first base against the Detroit Tigers February 26, 2011 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

In fantasy football, the format is clear.  Just add up the points and whoever is the highest wins the week.

In fantasy baseball, there are so many different formats to keep fantasy baseball exciting day in and day out.  There are rotisserie leagues, head-to-head leagues, head-to-head roto leagues and numerous other formats that make fantasy baseball great.

If you don’t like one format, there are many other types that you can try.  You don’t have to stay committed to one, cookie cutter set-up that everyone seems to use.

Lockout

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NEW YORK - JULY 27: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers questions from the media after reinstating Michael Vick on a conditional basis on July 27, 2009 at the InterContinental Hotel in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Do you still think that fantasy football is better?  Maybe so.  But you better start getting into baseball soon because from the looks of it, it may be all you have left.