Fantasy Football: 15 Things You Need To Know For 2009

Contrary to popular belief, fantasy football owners feel exactly the same as NFL players after the clock strikes quadruple zero at the Pro Bowl. No, they don't sigh over the NFL season "officially" being over. They cringe and jump (at the same time, mind you) with a mixture of excitement and pressure over the fact that all that planning and research starts all over again. It's Popeye meets Robin Williams. And yes, I know Williams actually played that very character, but if you pointed that out before I did, you're missing the point.

But come on, do you want to win next year, or not?

Whether you like it or not, to consistently win in anything in life, you need to have dedication, planning, and talent. But sometimes the first two, if there's enough of it, can surpass the other.

But I don't want to get into the habit of repeating myself. Instead, I want to shove out some information the day after the NFL season "ended", because you all know just as well as I do, we're just getting started, baby!

The following is a list of the 20 things (in my mind) that are crucial to the 2009 NFL season, and while you'll probably come across them sometime this summer regardless, knowing them now gives you that head start advantage that you've been craving (even if you still think you don't need it).

1. Larry Fitzgerald, (up top where he belongs) is officially the best receiver in the league, which means he should be your first receiver off the board in the next draft. With 21 touchdowns in his last 21 games, he hasn't quite tapped into what Randy Moss did two years ago, but nobody has the combination of skills, size, and awareness that Fitz' has. If you don't draft him, you'll be sorry.

2. Brett Favre coming back could be the best thing that will ever happen to you. But in what sense? Depending on the overall intelligence level of your league, there's bound to be one guy who takes a chance on the near 40-year old, which means that's one more elite signal caller for you to grab in the mid-rounds. So, yes, Minnesota Vikings fans, cheer Favre back to the Jets.

3. Even if the money shows, don't draft Darren Sproles. In return yardage leagues, he was a dynamo performer, but trailed near the end of the season. he picked it up in the final two weeks and led the Bolts' to a surprising playoff birth, and even a victory over the Colts. But this is the best example of playing to get paid. Think Jerome James, but a tiny, speedy version. Different player and sport, but unfortunately likely the same result.

4. In regards to Sproles, Brandon Jacobs is an entirely different story. My bet is the Giants keep their sanity and let go of the right player this off-season (Plaxico Burress), instead of letting this beast of a runner escape to another team. Jacobs is like Ray Lewis at the running back position. He's the type of runner that linebackers lose sleep over, and the kind of performer that opposing fantasy owners always seem to underestimate.

5. Tom Brady is going to be back, and he's going to be very good. The Matt Cassel franchise tagging means almost nothing. He's likely to get traded, and even if he doesn't, he's just there as an insurance policy. Brady, barring any setbacks, should be the first quarterback off the board this year.

6. Ladanian Tomlinson is not done yet. Sproles will be out there door (most likely), and the Chargers will probably draft LT's eventual replacement in April (something tells me they're not sold on Jacob Hester). Tomlinson posted "pedestrian" stats last year, but still topped 1,000 yards and 10 scores. All this, and he was hobbled with toe, knee, and hammy injuries all year. Let everyone else buy into the hype, and watch yourself draft the biggest steal of the draft in the second or third round.

7. Monitor the Kurt Warner situation. If he does in fact retire (which wouldn't make any sense) is Matt Leinart suddenly a hot commodity, or does the entire Arizona offense suffer from it? See major off-season fact No. 1. Fitzgerald's value can only go up, but Anquan Boldin is entering Chad Johnson territory. His attitude could end up making or breaking this team, but the glue that Kurt Warner has become should hold this core together for at least one more year.

8. As far as fantasy football owners are concerned, Julius Peppers can retire, stay with the Panthers, get traded, i.e. WHATEVER, because defensive ends simply are not relevant. A few years ago Aaron Kampman put up over 80 tackles and 10 sacks-but that's a ridiculous fluke.

9. Philadelphia Eagles fans, despite being one win away from the Super Bowl, might see an entirely different team next season. There's no telling what kind of changes are headed their way. It seems every season is Donovan McNabb's "make or break) season, as he continues to gripe over his team's lack of play-makers. While he may have a good argument, he may not be around long enough to finish it.

10. What happens to Chad Johnson? And after the awful display by him and his teammates last season, do we even care? It all starts with the health of Carson Palmer (who you should avoid), but oddly enough could even more depend on whether or not T.J. Housmandzadeh jumps ship. If that happens, we could see an escape attempt by "Ocho Cinco," as well.

11. Allow yourself to get sucked into "Dirty Bird" ball. Michael Turner was clearly the real deal, albeit an at times sickly inconsistent real deal. However, with another year in the offense for both Turner and Matt Ryan, we could see even more production from Atlanta's offense. I'll go ahead and vouch for Roddy White, too, who surprised me on so many levels with at least four dominant performances over the course of the season. He jumped from a fringe WR 3 to a star after the first five games last season.

12. Despite Mike Singletary's solid presence, the fact that 49ers' management is not only leaning towards re-signing Alex Smith, but actually offering him a chance to compete with Shaun Hill, forever frightens me. Hill has posted an awesome rating, completion percentage, and solid win/loss ratio, yet for the second year in a row, has not been able to win over his peers and coaches. He's in an NFL quarterback's version of the Twilight Zone.

13. Holy crap, Aaron Rodgers is good! And he's only going to get better. Donald Driver (rumored to be a cap casualty) will still be around, and Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson round out yet again one of the league's best receiving corps. The one hindrance on offense that kills Mike McCarthy and just about anyone who had Ryan Grant on their team, is will that offensive line ever be able to get it together?

14. Wherever Ray Lewis winds up (home discount or not), he's still worth being drafted in IDP leagues. People are questioning his skill level now that he's in his mid 30's and posted his lowest tackle total in a 16-game season. But I say nay. He still had 3.5 sacks, over 100 tackles, and was responsible for five turnovers, while likely contributing on several others.

15. Lebron James will not be signing with the Cleveland Browns, despite what his commercial says. Shoot, maybe he should. If you're thinking Braylon Edwards will rebound from his god-awful season last year, you will be at the bottom of your league, most likely. He dropped almost as many as a third of the amount of balls he caught. Seriously, people, look that up.

Before I end my list and allow you to get sucked into the NBA, March Madness, and the MLB for the next six months, I have to place an emphasis on preparing for the next fantasy football draft. It's easy to not prepare if you don't care where you wind up in the standings, but if you don't care, then why are you playing.

Let's get the competitive juices flowing extra early this season!

Hit me up at [e-mail] for any questions about next year's draft.