[2Wycked]

NOTE: This post is fucking massive - around 7000 words. I clearly divided it into four sections so you will be able to jump to the parts you want to read. I was bored as shit during lecture today, so I did most of this on my laptop.

Historically, fantasy baseball was the most popular fantasy league. That was partially based on baseball’s popularity. Over time, fantasy football grew in popularity and now is very popular, with around 20 million participants in America. Let’s talk about various types of leagues, the state of current NFL teams as it relates to fantasy football and how to make money off playing.

LEAGUE TYPES, ETIQUETTE & DRAFT STRATEGY



There are three main types of leagues: head-to-head, dynasty and auctions.

Head-to-head is just what it sounds like – every week, your team goes head to head against another team. Whoever scores more points wins. This is the most common form of league – this is the sort of league I typically play. The stakes can be very high – my friends and I usually put in $100 bucks for an 8 person league. Also, understand the dynamics here. The amount of people in the league changes approaches drastically. League sizes can vary widely. The most common – 8, 10, 12 and 16. In my personal opinion, the 8 and 16 are the most difficult. In an 8 team league, there very often can be a super powerful team that destroys any all competition. I had a team like that in 2011 with Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Greg Jennings, Mike Wallace, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham and LeSean McCoy. I shit you not, that team went undefeated and steamrolled everybody, even in the championship game. I happily pocketed that 500 bucks.

As for 16 team leagues, talent is scare and some of the matchups can be nail biting. While drafting is also seriously important, it is very important here. I have only played in one of these leagues once and it was awful. I hated it. My team wasn’t bad, but barely missed the playoffs. The waiver wire is bone dry and injuries really hurt here because there rarely is any form of adequate replacement on the wire.

Let’s talk about scoring and different approaches to lineups. First, always check the scoring before you draft – it will seriously affect your draft. I play in leagues that emphasize running backs, some that emphasize quarterback play. For example, my favorite league has 1 point for 10 yards throwing, 10 points for TD’s and a 10 point bonus for 300+ yards. Yes, I know, extremely high scoring, but that means the first round of drafting is all QB’s. Some fool took Tony Romo in the first round and I was the last pick in a snake draft. I scored Calvin Johnson and Arian Foster and picked up Peyton Manning in the fourth. Guess who had a better season? As for lineups, leagues vary widely. Some are just one QB, some are two. My favorite league is 2 QB’s. I recommend that sort of league – very fun. Also, is the flex position. Traditionally, the flex was reserved for WR’s/RB’s, but it can be expanded to anything. The league I keep referencing has it wide open for anything. I think a few years back when my team blew I started two kickers in the meaningless final game.

Also, consider IDP leagues. I have never played in one, but it stands for individual defensive player league. The traditional approach is to start an entire defense, but in these leagues you field single defensive players. I have never played these leagues, nor know anything about them. Also, consider point-per-reception leagues. Once again, never played in one, but understand it is about the number of receptions a player has, so pass-catching RB’s like Ray Rice and Matt Forte are top picks.

As for dynasty leagues, they are long-term and if your team blows, it can take years to build a solid roster. Dynasty leagues start out with a draft, and then you own those players into perpetuity. Trades are extremely important and can have devastating affects if injuries take place or you hedge your bets wrong. I have only done one and no longer do one anymore – I signed my team over to a friend. I had Peyton Manning and had a terrible season with him out. I decided I no longer wished to have the team and a friend really wanted to get in on the action, so I gave it to him.

As for auctions, never played one but understand it is a salary-cap league. You start with an amount of cash and each player is individually priced. Obviously, players like Arian Foster and Tom Brady carry hefty prices. You have to design a plan, one based on your position in the draft, to create a credible team.



Let's chop up etiquette about in fantasy football leagues before reviewing the teams and draft strategy. In my honest to God opinion, nothing brings out the baby/beta/asshole behavior quite like fantasy football. I have had dudes beg me to do their draft for them over Facebook, have had guys throw temper tantrums when their team loses. Guys take this stuff way too seriously. It is about fun and, for some, making money. Now, I would assume RVF’s would have their shit together socially and psychologically, so take this as you will. First off, never give up on a team. If your team is doing poorly or facing a strong opponent, field a credible team. Nobody is asking or expecting of you to put together a maestro of a line-up, just that you do the minimal due diligence and put together a credible squad. I had one asswipe, when facing my undefeated team, leave multiple positions open and only started four players. Piss-poor etiquette. It hurts the league and makes you look lazy, petty or just an asshole. Finish your seasons. My very first season, I only had two wins against the worst team. I still put together a team even when it was clear my team was shit. Further, don’t badger or pressure fellow members for trades. I have one friend we have decided to not play with anymore because he would send all manner of pushy texts, FB messages and emails through ESPN that really pissed us off. We couldn’t watch the games with him because if he was winning, he was an insufferable gloat – if he was losing, he pissed and moaned like a queer. He also refused to contribute to the food and beer spread for game day. Not a team player at all – not only do we refuse to play with him, we don’t hang out that much with him anymore.

Let’s talk about draft strategy. This will be general. First, is follow the NFL regularly or at least start in late July. Get at least two draft magazines and read them cover to cover. For me, you need to have it memorized so you can make good decisions on the fly. Mark them up! If you read enough about the NFL you will start to have gut instincts. Sure, they aren’t always right, but I had a gut reaction to drafting AJ Green as a rookie and I hit on that late pick. Also, be sure to do mock drafts. Seriously. You need to practice based on draft position. If you have the first pick or the last pick radically alters your approach. A good approach is always go safe in the first, but take at least one calculated risk in the second or third. Here is my approach: Last pick? Two sure players in the bottom of the first and top of second, then take a wild-card in your third pick coupled with another safe pick. You have to take gambles, but be calculated. A risky pick is a QB like Roethlisberger or injury-prone player like Maurice Jones-Drew. A risky pick this year would be Jay Cutler, as an improved offensive line and new offensive coordinators could mean a breakout year or another year of up-and-down play. Also, I never draft defenses or kickers. I do both on a week-by-week basis.

Another important aspect is late-round picks. This is where good teams become great – and your study will pay off. You have to be aware of sleeper picks. Often times, these are players that came on strong late in the previous season and are under the radar, rookies or just players that shined in training camp. For example, Percy Harvin was generally ranked a number two receiver last year. Before his injury, he was racking up top-five WR numbers. Also, understand schedules. Take Percy Harvin this year on the Seahawks. He will face solid defenses six times, in the 49’ers, Rams and Cardinals. Also, consider timing and your league schedule. Playoffs in week 13 and 14? Look at those matchups. If Harvin faces, say, the 49ers and the Bears, you should know there is a good chance he will not put up good numbers. Facing the Jaguars? Good chance he will clean up. I always do a detailed breakdown of a team schedules in August, so I will probably bump this thread with my data sheet.

BREAKDOWN OF ALL TEAMS AND FANTASY RELEVANCE

Can you figure out which is my favorite team? It isn't even close as I am a die-hard fan, like with the Boston Celtics.



Team Right Now: Bruce Arians, who did a good job of coaching the Colts after Chuck Pagano underwent treatment for cancer, inherits a talented defense and a terrible offense. Carson Palmer comes in at QB, but is a shell of his former elite self – injuries have stunted his abilities. However, he will be a great upgrade than the clowns the Cardinals started last year. He has Larry Fitzgerald, who now will be relevant again after a terrible year last year. The offensive line is a liability, as is receiver depth. The running back situation is a mess and will most likely be sorted out in the preseason. The defense is good and has many good players. However, in the difficult NFC West they are probably going to finish fourth.

Fantasy Impact: Fitzgerald is now relevant again. He had a down year last year because his QB situation was so abysmal. Seriously, it was a wasteland. Arians will probably scheme around the offensive line limitations and Palmer’s immobility, but it does nothing to make Palmer barely a backup. I personally wouldn’t have him as a backup. As for running backs, wait this one out. Mendenhall might win but is no lock as second-round pick Ryan Williams is still in the mix. Williams has only played five games in two seasons, so Mendenhall will probably win. He is a bare number two RB with upside. He will probably get 1,000 yards but his TD number will depend on Palmer’s abilities.



Team Right Now: 10 yards from a Super Bowl. This team has serious potential and quality players. Their strengths are their two star receivers, Julio Jones and Roddy White and a Hall of Fame TE in Gonzalez. Matt Ryan is a top QB, but not a Rodgers/Brady level. He now will hand off to Steven Jackson, who is a wild-card as we don’t know how much he has left . The defense is average against the run and above-average against the pass. They have a solid safety duo and a ball-hawk who hates tackling in Asante Samuel. Sean Witherspoon is an emerging star and the signing of Osi Umenyiora bolsters their weak pass rush.

Fantasy Impact: Matt Ryan is a very good QB, but not top material. Both receivers are number ones, but Jones is the better pick. White gets a lot of receptions, but is on the decline and Jones is the more explosive player. Gonzalez is still a top TE, but his age brings concerns. He is a consummate professional and a hard worker; I don’t consider his age to hurt his draft stock. Jackson is sort-of a wild card, but I think he will have a great year. The defense is average- nothing special.



Team Right Now: Reigning Super Bowl champs. Overpaid Joe Flacco. Even if he pulls an Eli Manning and suddenly becomes a good QB after his Super Bowl run, he still is vastly overpaid. Still, there is a lot of talent on the roster. Like all SB winners, they hemorrhaged players. Understand that the defense was average all year, but stepped up in the playoffs, so it’s not a huge loss. They still have Ray Rice, an improving Torrey Smith and an offensive line that doesn’t have a real identity. As for the defense, they signed Elvis Dumervil, which with Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata, means they will have a real pass rush. Linebacker is a real question mark, but the secondary gets back top corner Lardarius Webb. Michael Huff was signed to fill out Ed Reed’s role.

Fantasy Impact: Flacco is backup material. Unless he becomes more consistent and gets better receivers, he isn’t a starter in most league. Ray Rice is still a fantasy stud – one of the top players. Torrey Smith is a borderline number two with explosive upside. If he refines his route-running he will blow up as a receiver. The TE’s are bye-week fodder as either Pitta or Dickson can go off in a given week. This defense is a wild card. It will be well-coached, but whether the players mesh will be seen. Justin Tucker is a top kicker, if you like, take him in the last round, plug him in your lineup and forget about it.



Team Right Now: New coach Doug Marrone inherits a spotty roster in a division where Miami & New England are clearly better. He inherits a solid offensive line that could use help on the right side. He also inherits one star RB, CJ Spiller and a very good RB Fred Jackson. Stevie Johnson is a quality receiver who had the ability to beat Darrell Revis. The defense is another story; as yet another switch to a 4-3 further reinforces defensive questions. They have real talent with Jarius Byrd, Stephen Gilmore, Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus. Mario Williams was vastly overpaid but is a good pass rusher.

Fantasy Impact: QB is up in the air. Bills drafted EJ Manuel in the first round and he has no reason to start in his first season. This was an awful QB year in the draft and he needs to sit and learn for at least a year. Kolb will be nothing but waiver wire fodder in a bye week. CJ Spiller will likely be a top pick, however the big issue will be Jackson. Will it be a time-share? The Bills might use Jackson as trade bait – don’t count on it though because he has injury concerns and is old. He will only get traded if a top team loses their starting RB. Johnson is a solid number two, nothing more. The defense will likely be irrelevant, even in a 16 team league.



Team Right Now: Cam Newton was perceived to have had a sophomore slump – he did not. He did regress slightly in his raw numbers, but he was limited by a poor offensive philosophy that didn’t maximize their RB talent. Steve Smith and Greg Olsen are an effective tandem, but more receiver depth is needed. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart is the best one-two punch RB combo in the league. The defense has talent on the defensive line and can rush the passer. Luke Kuechly was a revelation at MLB and if the rest of the corp can stay healthy, they can have the best LB corp in the league.

Fantasy Impact: Steve Smith is still a star, borderline WR one material. Greg Olsen is good, but only is a starter in bigger leagues. They committee backfield approach he prohibits either RB from anything than flex material with number two upside. As for Cam, he isn’t a starter in smaller leagues but is a great backup in those leagues and has serious upside. The defense is nothing special and not worth starting even in bigger leagues.



Team Right Now: New coach Marc Trestman inherits a very talented roster. On offense, they have Brandon Marshall, Matt Forte and Jay Cutler. How Cutler plays will determine the arc of this offense. Jermon Bushrod was signed from the Saints and Kyle Long was drafted in the first round. Aaron Kromer should help this line. Run-game mauler Ja’Marcus Webb moves to right tackle. They also signed Martellus Bennett, who will be a credible pass-catching TE. As for defense, they fielded one the best defenses in years last season. Urlacher has retired, but Briggs, Peppers, Melton and Tillman are still playing well.

Fantasy Impact: Marshall is a legit number one receiver. Forte is a solid number two RB, with great upside depending on how he is used in the offense. Bennett will most likely be a backup or waiver wire material. Alshon Jeffery, a WR, is a wild card. If he develops, he could br flex or backup material. As for the defense, this defense is solid pick every week, no matter what the matchup. As for kicking, watch Robbie Gould’s injury – he might not be available in week one.



Team Right Now: The Bengals are coming off back-to-back playoff appearances that hadn’t happened in over two decades. Marvin Lewis coaches a good squad, with superstar AJ Green at WR and competent QB in Andy Dalton. The offensive line is good, but questions exist at TE and RB. As for the defense, they might have the best defensive line in the game. Geno Atkins is a superstar and his supporting cast is very good. Linebacker is a bit of a question, but the secondary is solid. Saftey Reggie Nelson has come on strong and Leon Hall is very good.

Fantasy Impact: AJ Green is a number one receiver. Dalton is a backup, maybe a starter in deeper leagues. Watch the competition at RB – the law firm Green-Ellis is a competent player, but is vulnerable to be dethroned. TE’s are another competition to watch. As for the defense, it is a starter in most weeks. Ignore their kicker.

[2Wycked]

Team Right Now: A bottom dweller. No serious talent on offense outside Trent Richardson. Brandon Weeden blew as a 28 year-old rookie. As for defense, they have some real playmakers. Joe Haden and free-agent Paul Kruger help the defense. They have talent but it needs to develop.

Fantasy Impact: Richardson is a solid number two RB with number one upside if he improves or Weeden does. Josh Gordon and Greg Little are flex options, if Little solves his drops issue he might – might! – have limited number two upside. Draft both as projects. TE’s are worthless as is the defense. If you draft Weeden you are a Browns homer or a damn fool. Moving along…



Team Right Now: Jason Garett has a squad with talent, but not enough to win the NFC East. Romo has unfairly earned the badge of being a choker – although I will stop defending him there. He is a good QB but that’s it. Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten form a great receiving corp, but the terrible interior offensive line limited Romo’s ability to extend time in the pocket. RB is a mystery as DeMarco Murry is an injury waiting to happen. The defense is shifting to a 4-3 under Monte Kiffin. It makes no sense as their personnel was tailored to the 3-4.

Fantasy Impact: Dez Bryant flashed number one WR potential. Injuries and consistency questions aside, he isn’t a number one. Miles Austin has injury concerns and is a solid number two. Witten is a solid TE, but isn’t a top TE, but he is close. Romo is a starter in bigger leagues, but in an 8 team league, he is a backup. The defense is a huge question mark. Whether the scheme change is good or bad will remain to be seen.



Team Right Now: Arguably the best team in the AFC. Peyton Manning rebounded last year and had a career year. The offensive line is very good and the receiving duo of Demaryius Thomas & Eric Decker is good – the addition of Welker makes this an elite group. TE is a committee, but it works for them. Defensively, John Fox defenses are typified by team play. Outside of Von Miller and an aging Champ Bailey, there are just solid players. They built depth on the defensive line and added Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to create a good group of corners.

Fantasy Impact: Expect 4500 yards and 30 TD’s from Manning. His elite offensive line ensures his health. Watch Montee Ball in training camp, if he flashes potential, draft him as a sleeper. I think he has number two potential. As for receivers, there are a lot of mouths to feed, but the signing of Welker hurts Decker the most. Right now, Decker is flex material with some bare number two upside. Draft Thomas confidently as a solid number two with upside. Welker is a wild card and wait to see what happens in the preseason. The defense is a great defense to start – they have a lot of bad offenses to feast on in the division.



Team Right Now: Don’t sleep on the Lions, like the Panthers; they lost many close games last year. Matthew Stafford looks to be a Drew Bledsoe sort-of guy – a guy who puts up great numbers by never becomes elite. He is behind an underachieving line. However, he has the best receiver in the game, Calvin Johnson. Receiver depth is an issue – wait to see how Ryan Broyles develops. As for running game, it is a black hole. I doubt anything but some flex player develops here. As for the defense, they have solid front seven, but the secondary is a huge issue. Chris Houston is adequate at corner and Louis Delmas and Glover Quin is a good safety combo.

Fantasy Impact: Calvin Johnson is the best receiver in the game, sometimes times putting up video game numbers. He was down on TD’s last year, but expect him to rebound this season. Stafford isn’t a great QB but he will get you points. He is a starter in most leagues. Avoid the RB’s here and only start their defense against bad opponents.



Team Right Now: Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the game. Good arm, fantastic decision-making and is mobile enough to get some running TD’s every year. He plays behind a below-average line. His play masks the line’s deficiencies. With James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb he has serious weapons. I don’t consider Jermichael Finley as relevant because he is not used that much. Defensively, the group is young and has room to grow. Casey Heyward came on during the year, but the pass rush is still anemic and their pass defense is not adequate. Mason Crosby is the most frustrating kicker in the NFL.

Fantasy Impact: Rodgers should be the top QB off the board in every draft. Depending on how the points are allocated in your league, he might be the first overall pick. Draft Cobb as a number 2 – don’t expect him to chase all those TD’s he got last year. Same with Jones – he is flex play. Nelson is another number two with some upside. He was hurt last year, but he a great deep threat. Great stereotype-breaker too, as he is white. Ignore Finley and start their defense against crappy opposition



Team Right Now: Ah, the Texans. So close, yet so far. Their biggest problem is Matt Schaub. He is a good QB, but will never be elite. They have to scheme around his limitations – usually his weak arm. He is behind a good offensive line – although there are some questions on the right side. He has the second best running back in the game, Arian Foster, and a great receiver in Andre Johnson. There are serious questions about receiver depth – hopefully it will be resolved in training camps as the Texans have invested picks the past two years on project receivers. Defensively, they might have the best player in the game – JJ Watt. He is an absolute terror on the field. With Brian Cushing coming back from ACL surgery, he will stabilize the linebacking corp. Ed Reed helps the safety position by replacing Glover Quin, although he won’t be able to help in the box like Quin did. Jonathan Joseph is a star and Kareem Jackson has come along after a disastrous rookie season. Their special teams blow.

Fantasy Impact: Arian Foster will be the second RB off the draft board, right after Adrian Peterson. Worry about Johnson’s health – but when healthy, he is a bonafide number one receiver. Schaub is a starter in deeper leagues, but a great bench player. Ignore the TE’s and play close attention to the receivers in training camp. Hopefully, a solid flex player with number two upside develops. This defense is very consistent and good. Start against all but the best opponents.



Team Right Now: With the Manning era in the rearview mirror, Colts fans are very blessed to have Andrew Luck. He showed a lot of promise in his rookie year, behind a crappy offensive line (outside LT Anthony Costanzo) and only one reliable receiver in a rejuvenated Reggie Wayne. They hope their young TE’s and receivers will grow and I think they will. Dwayne Allen is an up-coming TE. I’m really high on him. The running back situation is a mess. They need either Vick Ballard, Donald Brown or Delone Carter to step up. I don’t think any of them will. Defensively, they were terrible. Robert Mathis is a good pass rusher and safety Antoine Bethea and Vontae Davis are both very good. However, their front seven need serious upgrades. Their pass rush is not good and they get gashed in the run game. Their punter Pat McAfee is pretty good. End point – they vastly overachieved last year with 11 wins. Most likely will not happen again.

Fantasy Impact: Draft Luck and Wayne with confidence. Pay close attention to training camp to see if any running backs or receivers is impressing the coaches. Allen is a sleeper at TE, but I only see a starter in really deep leagues. Their defense is not-start able at all.



Team Right Now: Hopefully Jacksonville Jaguar’s fan isn’t a RVF member because he might be offended by the fact the Jags are the worst team in the NFL. Let’s start with note the team has only one star – running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who is been injured the past two years and might be past his prime. Blaine Gabbert was the worst starting QB in the league and has shown little sign of improvement. He has good arm strength, but his a terrible decision-maker. Justin Blackmon came on at the end of the year, but isn’t fast enough to be anything but a possession receiver – think Anquan Boldin. Cecil Shorts flashed some potential. Defensively, they have a decent pass rush with Jason Babin and Jeremy Mincey and a good linebacker in Paul Poslosnzy. Outside their defensive line, upgrades are needed. They drafted a punter in the third round last year. Seriously.

Fantasy Impact: Jones-Drew is the only serious weapon here. He is an injury risk and I would not take him in the first, but when he is healthy he is a clear number one. Pay attention to training camp to see if Blackmon steps up. If he steps up, he will be flex material with number two upside; it isn’t probable though. The only way I would start this defense would be against the Browns. Even then, I would start the Brown’s defense because it is better.



Team Right Now: The Chiefs are much better than their 2-14 record. They got a good coach in Andy Reid who will develop the offense. Alex Smith is an upgrade and will make defenses be honest about the passing game. Dwayne Bowe is good and Tony Moeaki is a credible starting TE. Jamaal Charles is the real deal and will have a great year – assuming he gets fed the ball, as Reid is notorious for under using his RB’s. Defensively, they have some real talent. Their defensive line is subpar, but Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali are stars at linebacker. Corner Brandon Flowers is very good, as is safety Eric Berry.

Fantasy Impact: Bowe is a solid number two who will flash upside at times – think against the Raiders and Chargers. Charles is an excellent number one RB. Smith will be a backup in deeper leagues. Their defense will improve and might be a starter against crappier teams.



Team Right Now: QB Ryan Tannehill impressed as a rookie and should improve in year two. He isn’t fantasy starter material just yet. Mike Wallace adds credibility to the receiving corps and they upgraded the TE position with signing Dustin Keller. Their offensive line could have issues at the tackle position as Jonathan Martin shifts to the left side and may struggle against faster players. Their defense is alright, with some real talent in Cameron Wake. They made a big gamble in the draft to trade up to snag Dion Jordan from Oregon. If he comes on strong, they will have a good pass rush. Dan Carpenter is a solid kicker.

Fantasy Impact: Wallace is borderline number two/one. Don’t get too high on him, although understand Tannehill has a great arm and they will use him as a deep threat. Ignore their tight ends and draft Tannehill late in the draft as a project. Only start their defense against crappy competition.

[2Wycked]

Team Right Now: The Vikings are coming off a playoff appearance primarily fueled by superstar RB Adrian Peterson. He had a record year and carried this anemic offense to the playoffs. Greg Jennings brings credibility to the receiving corp. QB Christian Ponder sucks and they constantly scheme around his lack of arm strength. TE Kyle Rudolph is good and so is their offensive line. Defensively, they are good group. Safety Harrison Smith had an impressive rookie season. They have a good pass rush but have holes at linebacker. Rookie kicker Blair Walsh had a great season.

Fantasy Impact: Adrian Peterson will most likely be the first player off the board in most drafts. Jennings is a solid number one receiver who may have games like a number one. Rudolph is a sleeper but do not overrate this guy. This is a running team first. Defensively, start this squad against bad or mediocre competition.



Team Right Now: This team matters because of superstar QB Tom Brady. He is protected behind a great offensive line and has weapons in the backfield and in receivers. Stevan Ridley is a good RB. Their famous TE duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez is powerful. Note that Gronkowski had another arm surgery and has back issues. He may be an injury bust. Danny Amendola was signed to replace Welker, but he is fragile like Gronk. If healthy, this is one of the most dangerous offenses in football. Defensively, they have some quality players and they stop the run effectively. They desperately need corner Aqib Talib in the lineup because without him their pass defense is horrid. They have great special teams.

Fantasy Impact: Brady is a top QB who should come off the board after Rodgers and Brees. Hernandez is the most reliable pick here beyond Brady. Let somebody else gamble on Amendola and Gronkowski – unless they fall to you in later rounds. If Gronk is available in the third is a good gamble. Draft Ridley cautiously because he sometimes falls into a rotation with other RB’s. Play their defense against the Jets and Bills.



Team Right Now: This team needs Sean Payton in the worst way possible. Their defense was absolute shit with no ability to stop the run or pass. You could seriously do whatever you wanted to. Drew Brees was the lynchpin that kept this team relevant. Their offensive line is good, but they have lost starters in the past two offseasons. Marques Colston is a good receiver, as is Lance Moore. Darren Sproles is the ultimate gadget player. They have a committee approach to their backfield and TE Jimmy Graham is a star. Once again, their defense blows.

Fantasy Impact: Brees is the second-best fantasy QB after Rodgers. Draft Colston as a solid number two and nothing more. Draft Sproles and ignore the rest of the RB’s. Graham will be over-drafted so unless he falls to you, don’t take him. Moore is a flex player or backup. Avoid their defense like the plague.



Team Right Now: Always an intriguing squad helmed by Tom Coughlin. Eli Manning is a very good QB who had led this team to two SB’s over Tom Brady. Their offensive line has questions, but if they stay healthy, they should be adequate to protect Manning. Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks are a powerful one-two punch at receiver. Cruz is a revelation out of the slot and if Nicks stays healthy he is a number one receiver. Defensively, their calling card is their pass rush. Jason Pierre-Paul is a stud, as is the aging Justin Tuck. Their linebacking corp sucks and their secondary has questions. They need to stay healthy to ground this team – Terrell Thomas in particular needs to stay healthy and Corey Webster has to become consistent.

Fantasy Impact: Manning is a starter in all leagues. Cruz is a number one receiver, Nicks will flash number one upside but treat him as a number two. He gets injured every year and you don’t want to have to lean on him as a number one. RB’s are up in the air, but pay attention to David Wilson to see if he gets the starting job. Ignore their tight ends. Only play their defense against bad teams but don’t expect any fireworks because they don’t get many picks or return any TD’s on special teams.



Team Right Now: One of the worst teams in the league. Rex Ryan is a great defensive mind but is not good at running an offense. Mark Sanchez is the most embattled QB in the league. Their offensive line is up-and-down and has problems on the right side. Santonio Holmes is a good receiver and Jeremy Kerley flashed some potential in the slot. TE is a wasteland. Defensively, Muhammed Wilkerson had a great year – so did Antonio Cromartie. Outside of that, they have many overpaid players. They need at least two good drafts and some free agents signings to make this team relevant.

Fantasy Impact: Outside of Santonio Holmes, there is little. Sanchez has put up some solid fantasy numbers in the past, but it’s doubtful he will do so with any regularity again. Draft Santonio as a number two. Maybe snag QB Geno Smith in the last round in the off chance he develops. Although I wouldn’t recommend wasting a bench slot on him.



Team Right Now: Terrible on defense, less so on offense. They have no true star on the team, as McFadden is always injured and can’t make anybody miss. Matt Flynn comes into a bad situation but I think he will do alright. The offensive line isn’t that bad and receivers Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford have room to grow. Defensively, their strength is at the line. The line can rush the passer. Their secondary might the worst in the NFL and their linebackers aren't great. Competent linebacker Phillip Wheeler walked in free agency so they need more help here. Seabass is still an elite kicker.

Fantasy Impact: Little. McFadden is not a true number two RB, but has upside if he stays healthy and get into open space. Moore and Ford have flex upside, but probably only Moore deserves a roster spot. Start their defense if you want to look stupid.



Team Right Now: Completely in flux after the Andy Reid era. Chip Kelly inherits a roster with a lot of talent but serious questions. At the forefront is Michael Vick. He would be a good fit for Kelly’s offense but is getting old and is frail. RB LeSean McCoy is a star. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are a good combo at receiver, Brent Celek is a competent TE. Getting Jason Peters back at LT will help the line. Defensively, this is no dream team. They are switching to a 3-4 for no reason. Their star DE Trent Cole has never played in that sort of scheme. Their linebacking is good with Connor Barwin and DeMeco Ryans. Their secondary is not good.

Fantasy Impact: Watch the QB competition. At this point in his career, Vick is probably a backup QB. Draft LeSean McCoy with confidence. DeSean Jackson is a borderline number two but takes some games off from a fantasy perspective. Maclin is a flex player, nothing more. Ignore their defense at all costs.



Team Right Now: The most popular team in the league with the Cowboys. Ben Roethlisberger is a very good QB. Their offensive line needs to stay healthy so they can gel as unit. RB is a mess and watch carefully who shines in training camp and the preseason. Antonio Brown is a stud at receiver, as is Heath Miller. Defensively, this unit is getting old and recent draft picks have not been that good. LaMarr Woodley is a good pass rusher and Lawrence Timmons is an excellent inside ‘backer. The secondary is getting old, but some young bodies have shown promise. I believe one young corner walked in free agency.

Fantasy Impact: Brown is a top number two, possibly a number one receiver now that Wallace is gone. Big Ben is for sure a starter, but understand he is a bit risky due to injuries and his lack of consistent 4000 yard and 25+ TD’s seasons. Pay close attention to the RB battle as whoever gets the nod will get many carries. Play this defense with a level of confidence but not against top teams.



Team Right Now: Good defense, great pass rush and questions on offense. Can Sam Bradford take the next step? This is huge year for him as the Rams got star LT Jake Long to man his blindside and traded up to get Tavon Austin at WR. He needs to have a good year for this team to succeed. RB is a bit of a mystery now that long-time RB Steven Jackson packed his bags for Atlanta. Defensively, this defense is solid up and down. They have a great defensive line and talent at corner and linebacker. Safety is a big question mark.

Fantasy Impact: Minimal outside whoever wins the RB battle and their defense. I don’t trust rookie receivers for fantasy football. If he comes on at all, it will be late in the season. Bradford is a backup in deep leagues. Their defense is a good start every week.



Team Right Now: In a bad place. With the Chiefs on the upswing and Peyton is still the division they will not get to the playoffs. Offensively, there is talent but serious health issues. Phillip Rivers is on two years of decline – I fear it may be permanent. Over the past few years, this team has been ravaged by injuries and hemorrhaged talent on both sides of the ball. Losing Vincent Jackson hurt, so did Kris Dielman’s retirement. The offensive line was porous. Ryan Mathews can’t stay healthy and when he does he was not worth a first round pick. He is good, but not great. Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Brown are the only receiving threats. Antonio Gates is washed up. Defensively, they have lost too much talent. Eric Weddle is a star at safety and Melvin Ingram tore his ACL recently and that means their pass rush will be anemic.

Fantasy Impact: Minimal. Treat Mathews as a flex player with number two upside. Floyd is a purely a flex player and bench player. Rivers is backup that occasionally will flash starter potential.

[2Wycked]

Team Right Now: Excellent squad on both sides of the ball. They have the best offensive line in football and have some real maulers in the run game. Their offense is strong and Colin Kaepernick needs to build on his impressive first year. Michael Crabtree ruptured his Achilles, so is out for at least six months, which means he will be gone for most if not the entire season. Anquan Boldin looks like a good trade now, but Boldin is slow and is just a possession receiver. Defensively, they are great. Their front seven is among the best in the game and the secondary isn’t bad. Losing Dashon Goldson hurt, but they had a great draft and will have some young talent work their way up.

Fantasy Impact: Huge. Kaepernick is a question mark, as he might have a sophomore slump. I wouldn’t draft him unless he fell to me, but I can be conservative. Gore is a number one, but might slip into number two status. Vernon Davis puts up good numbers but has many games with minimal impact. Cautiously draft Boldin as a number two, but only because Crabtree is out and somebody has to catch passes. Use the defense against just about any team. Plug it in and forget about it.



Team Right Now: Another great NFC West squad. Russell Wilson the real deal. A leader, charismatic and good decision maker. I was very impressed by his game against Atlanta in the playoffs. He is undersized, but fast and elusive. The offensive line is good but the right side is merely adequate. Marshawn Lynch is a damn beast and the tandem of Sidney Rice & Percy Harvin is fantastic – although both have health issues. Defensively they have great talent. They have some solid pass rushers but they need Chris Clemons to come back healthy as he is their best rusher. K.J. Wright was a revelation as a rookie at MLB. Their vaunted secondary is the best in football. Two stars in Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner at corner and good safeties in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

Fantasy Impact: Huge. Draft Lynch with confidence, but be a bit bullish on Wilson as he might have a sophomore slump. Harvin is a number one receiver, but the other options on this squad plus his injury history may force him down to a number two. Rice is a good number two. Defense is great start against any team.



Team Right Now: An intriguing squad. Being squashed behind Atlanta and New Orleans hurts this squad, but they have real talent. This is a huge year for QB Josh Freeman. I have been a big fan of his since college, but he needs to display consistent good decision making. With his offensive line healthy he will have good protection, except maybe at right tackle. Receivers are solid, with Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams. RB Doug Martin is an absolute beast. Defensively, they were number one against the run, but last against the pass. They helped themselves by getting Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson. Getting Adrian Clayborn back will aid the pass rush and take pressure off the secondary.

Fantasy Impact: Big. Martin is first round material. Jackson will flash number one receiver potential, but is really a great number two. Williams is a flex play. If Freeman sacks up, he will be a starter in deeper leagues. As for the defense, wait to see how they play together before using them. They have sleeper potential.



Team Right Now: The Flaming Thumbtacks are not a good squad. Their defense is adequate, but their offense needs help. Jake Locker hasn’t lived up to his draft status. Chris Johnson has been a disappointment since his brilliant 2000 yard season. Kenny Britt has flashed serious potential, but has had maturity and injury issues. Nate Washington was good in spots and they signed Delanie Walker who is a good TE. Defensively, they are nothing special. They have some good players in Derrick Morgan, Michael Griffin and Akeem Ayers. They need a few more good players to have a good defense. They consistently have great special teams.

Fantasy Impact: Minimal. Chris Johnson is a number two running back, who occasionally will have a great game. Britt is a borderline number two, with potential to be just a flex play. Lockes isn’t fit for a backup spot. Kicker Rob Bironas is a reliable kicker. Don’t start their defense unless they are playing the Jags.



Team Right Now: Anybody stuck around this long? Huge question marks around Robert Griffin III. Does he come back for week 1? Does he still have his explosive speed? My estimation is he will be at full speed by week 10. He is a good quarterback and will continue to grow. Alfred Morris is a good running back who is a perfect fit in Mike Shanahan’s scheme. They need receiver depth, as streaky Pierre Garcon is the presumptive number one WR. Their defensive is improving and their front seven is solid. Ryan Kerrigan is good as is Brian Orakpo. Orakpo in particular needs to take his game to next level. The secondary is a mess, as they had to blitz often to cover up their poor secondary.

Fantasy Impact: Morris is a great running back but be aware about how fickle Shanahan can be with RB's. I’d be uncomfortable with him as my number one. Garcon is a decent number two, but I would treat him more as a flex – in deep leagues he is a solid number two. Draft RG3 only if he falls to you. Pay attention to training camp and the reports on his health. Also watch for WR’s flashing potential. I’d avoid this defense unless they have a great matchup.

HOW TO MAKE $$$ OFF FANTASY FOOTBALL

I wrote most of the above off the top of my head. If you know the NFL like I do, you would be foolish to not cash in.

Straight-Up League Play: Just play many leagues and bet money on them all. Obviously, this can be risky. One year I won two leagues that had $120 buy-ins. $20 went the manager, $100 went to the pot. I got $500 bucks from each league. That is incredibly unusual, as that was my season with two beyond loaded teams. Spread your money around and be sure play leagues with people you don’t know – particularly if the stakes are high. You don’t want to lose a friend if you stomp them in the championship game.

Straight Up Betting: While this isn’t technically fantasy football, you can bet at CBS Sports and ESPN on games. They may be just one game, they may be year long. ESPN runs a season-long program where you bet on probabilities on MNF games. The most correct person over the course of the year gets a big payout. Do it – it is free and can be done in a minute or two. Check out FanDuel – I have never used it but an acquaintance has and vouched for it. You draft a new team every week and can get up to $500 for winning. Check out Fireleague. I haven’t used it nor know anybody who has. I found it on a Google search. They claim you can get up to nine grand in cash and prizes – looks to be a sort of auction league. Finally, just search CBS Sports and ESPN. They run various contests throughout the season where you may be able to make a couple quick bucks.

Running A League: Well-managed leagues are in high demand. Especially in the workplace, where guys needs a break from the grind. If you have the mentality to not deal with bullshit and don’t mind fixing idiot’s rosters, do it. Charge a premium for league play. If you get a reputation as a fair and good manager you can increase your charges to reflect your competency. You can also ask that you will throw parties on football Sunday but your members need to bring the beer and food. Set your ground rules firm. Immediately deal with any allegation of bullying or bullshitting. I was in league some years back when the lazy manager refused to deal with a bullying member. It ruined the league for the year. Also, put your foot on down on changes to rosters at the last minute. It is good to demand that everybody’s rosters are set before kickoff on Thursday night games. I have never ran a league, so take these as observations on good league managers. The best managers, in my opinion, had these traits.

Cantor Gaming: I called a friend on this one, as he is the betting expert. According to him, Cantor Gaming runs a joint out of Vegas that allows guys to assemble teams every Sunday and place significant bets on the teams (up to two grand). There is an app he claims to use. However, the caveat is you bet on the lines Cantor creates for the teams they assemble. I don’t gamble on this stuff so here is his breakdown. He says they post teams of one QB, two RB’S and two WR’s, one kicker and one D. You can draft your own team and bet on whether your team or the Cantor team you picked will outperform the other. He said it is simple and you can make some serious scratch if you place big bets.

RESOURCES:

Football Outsiders: Best blog in the NFL business. One the main contributors, Aaron Schatz, is a big mangina and he had a mini-meltdown in on the threads a few months ago and had long-time readers call him out for being a bitch. Besides that, they have great resources on the game and fantasy football.

Pro Football Focus: Great blog that I cruise at least once a week. Nothing else to say here because I am not a commenter.

ESPN NFL Nation Blogs: Great collection of blogs based on divisions. Some writers suck, but guys like Bill Williamson, Kevin Seifert and James Walker are very good writers, Walker in particular. The comments can get crazy and I personally think some the world’s best trolls post there. I am a long time commenter (I won’t give you my handle because it is linked to Facebook) and there are some good discussions. It is a community kinda like RVF. I have had some epic troll moments – one guy has had a hard on for me for YEARS. I know it’s him because always has some Celtics hating name when he comments – my favorites: Pauly Pierce is a G.A.Y., KG SUCKS HIS MOMMAS TIT.TIES and, my favorite Ray Ray N*gger Allen Sucks Goat P.E.N.I.S. I can cite those because they obviously got deleted by mods. He literally has come at me with more than 100 different handles. Regardless, it is usually a good community.

Conclusion

Fantasy football is fun as hell and is a great experience. You know the NFL likes it when shit games between the Jags and Browns matter to people. Understand the landscape and educate yourself. Know you can make some serious cash if you are smart and take advantage of the opportunities.

[Garth]

Jesus Christ what a post

[Walderschmidt]

I don't even follow American football. Not my thing.

But well done, you got my attention.

[Handsome Creepy Eel]

This isn't my cup of tea, but I admire your dedication. I've never placed any money on any kind of bet or lottery in my life, and the closest thing I got to following a sport was when I was a kid playing basketball in my room (with only one net) and shouting NBA team names like Pokemon.

[Kickb]

Nice!

My team last year was 8-2and then I lost 4 of the last 5 games. And got blowed out in the playoffs.

[Mentavious]

I gave up FF last year. Why? Because I couldn't enjoy the game if certain players weren't doing well.

[samsamsam]

This was an awesome post. Nice recap. I gotta figure out which leagues to play to put some coin in. I am most curious about your sleepers. Those late rounders that make the difference. PM me those lol.

[2Wycked]

' d

[2Wycked]

Bumping this because I will be dropping my analysis on 2013 fantasy football late next week, if not Monday or Tuesday the week after.

I will be analyzing schedules, draft strategies this year, etc.

Stay tuned.

[speakeasy]

2Wycked may be the first forum member to hit 100 rep points with less than a thousand posts.

[LeBeau]

I'm not interested in Fantasy Sports, all I know is I'd love to see you, Athlone, and some others doing a massive, empirical, easily accessible take down of Modern Feminism in book format.

There are so many good examples and essays around the RVF/ROK, I think it's time we have something we can just hand out to guys, with an iron tight rebuttal to everything society/academia is trying to indoctrinate into them. For all we know, it could spread around campuses like "The Game".

[Mentavious]

I'd be down for an RVF fantasy football league. I'm refreshed after a year off from FF and I would enjoy playing in an extra league.

[2Wycked]

Hmm, good idea CThunder86 - we should do a forum fantasy league. I wonder how many would be interested?

[samsamsam]

(07-24-2013 07:40 PM)2Wycked Wrote:  

Hmm, good idea CThunder86 - we should do a forum fantasy league. I wonder how many would be interested?

I'd be down for it. 2Wycked has to start with a loss.

[cardguy]

Worth reading.

http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2013/07/how...tasy-life/

[kosko]

(07-24-2013 07:43 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 07:40 PM)2Wycked Wrote:  

Hmm, good idea CThunder86 - we should do a forum fantasy league. I wonder how many would be interested?

I'd be down for it. 2Wycked has to start with a loss.

Count me in also

[Swooper]

I'm in for sure. I love football. Great stuff Wycked

[Seth_Rose]

Hmm I thought this year would be my first year NOT playing fantasy football. I've been playing fantasy football, and kicking ass since 7th grade. Damn so over a decade now...

I just get way to in to it. I would, however, potentially be interested in joining and RVF league, let's see what happens.

[Mentavious]

I believe we could get 10 members. If a few more respond then I'll be willing to get this going. Season very soon.

[Roadrunner]

(07-24-2013 08:09 PM)kosko Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 07:43 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

(07-24-2013 07:40 PM)2Wycked Wrote:  

Hmm, good idea CThunder86 - we should do a forum fantasy league. I wonder how many would be interested?

I'd be down for it. 2Wycked has to start with a loss.

Count me in also

I'll do it.