NFL Lockout: How Am I Supposed To Defend My Fantasy Football Title in 2011?

On a scale of 1 to 10, the head of the NFL Players Association says it's a 14 that there will be a lockout prior to the start of the 2011 season. Well, isn't that just grand?

My only question is, should I lose my dynasty league title next year after gutting out a win this year, how the heck am I supposed to go two years with the sour taste in my mouth of losing the title?

Anyone who is an avid fantasy football player and plays in competitive leagues know that it's hard to repeat. It's almost like the fantasy football gods have something against you the year after you win the title. Although you hope to repeat, the likelihood of that happening in a competitive league isn't good.

How could the owners and NFLPA possibly do this to me? Well, not just me, but hundreds of thousands of others?

Sure, like any football fan, I love the playoffs and the Super Bowl. But, that's not when I get the most excited. I get the most excited in weeks 14-16 because I know that year-in and year-out I put together a team that will compete in the playoffs. Now, some years that doesn't happen, but most years I'm right in the thick of the playoff hunt.

As soon as the Super Bowl ends on Sunday, my immediate thinking goes to next year. Which players should I look at drafting? Which rookies should make an immediate impact for their team? Should I really trade one of my wide receivers just so I can move up in the first round?

These are all questions I will begin debating with myself, if I haven't already done so. That's what I love to do.

Then, it gets to the beginning of August and it's time to do the draft and set up my team for the next year.

So, again I ask, what the heck am I supposed to do if there is a lockout in 2011?

Sure, I know this isn't truly about the fans, or else there would already be an agreement in place. And, who knows which side is being fully truthful in the matters of the collective bargaining agreement.

The one thing I do know is that there are 27 million other people around the world, with at least a few of those millions being serious players, that would have to find something better to do with their time than the nine hours a week they average updating their team, making trades, talking trash, and figuring out who they should start and sit.

Now, that's the fantasy football guy in me. The other side of me is just a plain football fan and to not see any NFL games be played would be such a travesty. Putting fantasy football aside, the NFL is for the entertainment of the fans. Without the fans, there is no million-dollar players.

Regardless of what the money issues are, players and owners need to figure something out. Not because it's the economical thing to do, but because it's the right thing to do.

And, keeping my fantasy football fix going isn't a bad thing to think about either!