Fantasy Football Update

Down to the wire for most of you in your fantasy football leagues going into Week 12.

Most are trying to make that playoff berth and others are simply fighting for a respectable win/loss record, keeping away from being at the bottom of the "toilet bowl" for the year.

I'm in two different leagues, a 12 team league (league 1) with playoff staring Week 14 (6 playoff teams), and a 10 team league (league 2)with playoffs starting Week 15 (only 4 playoff teams).

I won't sit here and share my lineup in either of my leagues with you, but I will share some dramatic stories, who to keep an eye on in terms of free agent pickups in the next few weeks, and my draft strategy, along with keepers.

Free Agent Pickup that should have never happened:

Trent Edwards (league 2)- picked up after the Tampa Bay game to be my bye week fill in for Aaron Rodgers.  My draft day back up was Mark Sanchez.  The Sanchise had a better week than Trent.  In the end, I picked up Kyle Orton, won on Rodgers' BYE week, but in a league that charges X amount of pesos per waiver move I should have stuck with my original draft day pick.

Bad drop of the season:

Sidney Rice (league 1) - he was actually available in one league after a few decent games going into Week 5. I picked him up that week then dropped him.....forgetting this league gives 5 points for every 5 receptions.  Now I am stuck with bouncing around Roy Williams or T.O. as my #2 receivers.

Best draft strategies:

• Drafting both leagues with the same fantasy baseball strategy.....fill your starting lineups first then worry about your BYE week fill-ins and backups
• Drafting players that will have something to play for down the stretch.  Worst thing is being in your FFL playoffs and Peyton Manning plays only the 1st half that week.
• Drafting Ray Rice and Tony Gonzalez in both leagues - I compare drafting Tony to drafting your catcher in fantasy baseball (yes I draft Victor Martinez each year.....and yes I've won my fantasy baseball league twice in the past 3 years)  
• Identify your sleepers based on 2nd half production last season and pre-season (see Ray Rice.....and some dude named Cedric in Cincy)
• Look at major coaching changes - example:  New Orleans defense
• Look at unproven #1 draft picks - I drafted Maclin and Nicks in both leagues. Mr. McCoy has value.  Donnie Brown will have value down the stretch.
• Look at BYE weeks of course
• Look at team schedules - example:  In League 2 my strategy was to draft Aaron Rodgers (2 games vs. Lions) and Brett Favre (did I mention he plays the Lions twice as well).  Another example:  Does your QB, RB, WR, or DST play against the Lions during your league's playoffs
• Do not be afraid to draft good backups at RB position - in league 2 I have Felix Jones AND Tashard Choice
• Look at previous year scoring and scoring rules for your league - example:  In League 1 Wes Welker was drafted late.  Remember, 5 points for every 5 catches.  Makes WR's and catching RB's more valuable depending on scoring.
• Draft 3 very good WR's.
• Draft a high scoring kicker as soon as you draft your starters and a reliable backup WR.
• Drafting Mendenhall knowing Willie Parker can't stay healthy
• Drafting Brandon Marshall and being patient

Worst waiver/roster moves I made this year:

• Being impatient with draft choices and their production - yes, I dropped Nicks after he got injured and Maclin after McNabb got hurt....sue me
• Dropping Sidney Rice after one week when he was obviously going to be Brett's go to guy
• Staring Vernon Davis on a thursday night over Tony Gonzalez - a definite no-no!  Tony MUST start the same way A-Rod MUST start
• Not sticking with my drafted squad in a league that has a fee for every waiver move.  Let's just say I made 7 waiver moves in that league....for a 6-5 record after 11 weeks?!?!?!?
• Trying to figure out who to keep:  Andre Johnson or Ray Rice?  I would think Dre is a slam dunk, but Ray Rice is oooooo tooo nice......I need fantasy advice!

Some quick notes and thoughts:

• In League 1, Ricky Williams is 8th in RB scoring through 11 weeks and in the top 20 in scoring for RB/WR
• In League 1, 6 RBs average more than 15 points each week, and only 4 WRs, while 7 QBs average more than 20 each week.  All points to drafting great, consistent QB's early, and having a great strategy of possibly drafing 2 WRs on your first two picks next year
• In League 1, only 6 defenses/ST average more than 10 points each week
• BYE weeks will kill most teams and their playoff push, so plan ahead!
• In both leagues I am within 10 points of being the top scoring team, but have 6-5 records in both due to teams having their BEST WEEK against me.....gives me hope come playoff time in both leagues.

In the end, being successful in any fantasy sports league is a science (with hockey, draft two goalies 1st, then draft your best scoring defensemen, etc.).  You need a gameplan going into any draft.  Make a list of your top 3 picks in each position and don't lose out on consistent scoring.  Believe it or not, Green Bay and New Orleans DST we're both on my list......those points count, and the defensive coaching moves they made along with player acquisitions and defensive player draft picks weigh in heavily.