Yardbarker

Yardbarker

Thursday, August 27, 2009

What to bring with you to a draft

The Counselor is IN:

If you have a live draft or auction, then I have 10 suggestions. These are the things to bring with you to a draft.

1) Your custom draft list- you should be making these in advance and editing every week or so until you are done with all your drafts.

2) Pencil and paper to track your players, other owner’s players, auction prices, and to mark off players from your list

3) Be a good guest and bring snacks to share with others- people prefer to trade with people that they like and bringing snacks sure helps.

4) Bring beer that others like- it is better to get them drinking than for you to drink (limit it if you do partake)

5) Calculator if you are in an auction league- need to track everyone's money

6) Injury report- this is for you and to share with other owners- it will make you look knowledgeable and a nice guy.|

7) Projected depth charts for all the NFL teams- this is for you only

8) List of sleepers for late rounds and keep auction players

9) As much knowledge as you can find about the other owners including their favorite teams, players, and typical draft strategies. It is always good to chit chat with owners to help understand who they like and don’t like

10) You ability to adapt to change with the draft. Things will not go as you planned. You will need to leave your plan and list from time to time.

The Counselor is OUT:




CP Radio Tonight

The Counselor is IN:

Don't forget to listen to the Fantasy Sports Counselor on CP Radio tonight from 9:30-10:30 CDT.


The Counselor is OUT:


Thursday, August 20, 2009

Hints for an Auction League

The Counselor is IN:

I love auction leagues. I started my fantasy football trek 15 years ago with an auction league. They are finally finding popularity. Even the “Four Letter Network” is promoting the auction league. If you are the adventurous type and want to try your hand at the auction, here are a few tips you need to know.

1) Throw out players you do not covet. This is especially true for the first 2/3rd of the draft. If you throw out that rookie you really want early in the draft, then the other owners will drive the price up on those players. Save them for later.


This also applies to the stud players you are seeking. If you hope to get Adrian Peterson, it is best not to throw him out early. His price will be high anyway but it will be higher in the first couple of rounds.


If you know that another owner desires a certain player, then throw them out as early as possible. When other owners are less efficient with their cash, the more your cash will buy.

2) Spend all of your money. I can not tell you how many teams will leave money on the table. This is only hurting your team if you do not spend all of your fantasy dollars. Do not wait until the end of the draft to start spending the money.

3) Go Ahead and bid big money for those stars. This is related to # 2. To win, you need to have those stars on your team.

4) Save some money for the bargains. In the last 1/3 of an auction, you can usually find quality players for discounted rates. It is helpful if you have some money to pick up these players.

5) Know how much money all the owners have at all times. This is very important. There is strategy in knowing if you have the money to out bid someone for a player or not and what their needs are .

6) Do not pay more than a dollar or two for any defense or kicker. Defenses and kickers are a dime a dozen.

7) Know your off weeks. Nothing is worse than having a backup with the same off week as your starters. There is always someone that has to get a third kicker because of off week issues. Do not let it be you.

8) Never bid more for a player than you are willing to pay for them. It is great to bid owners up that really want that player. But every owner has a value that they will not pass. If you are trying to bid up a player, make sure you are willing to pay it for that player or you might just get him anyway.

9) Pick dollar players with up side. At the end of an auction, a lot of players start going for a dollar. It might be all you have. You will face the choice to throw out that below average player or that rookie that might do nothing. I always go with the guy with the most upside. Last year I was able to pick up Steve Slaton for a dollar and he had a great season for me.

10) Know your rules. Your auction values do change with the rules of a league.


The Counselor is OUT:


Fantasy Sleepers

The Counselor is IN:

1) QB Brett Favre- Vikings

Everyone knows Brett. He is a sleeper because many are not giving him a chance to succeed. Most mock drafts have him going very late. He had 15 TDs and 11 INTs after the first 8 games. That would project out to 30 and 22 (very decent) if he had not become injured.

2) QB Chris Simms- Broncos

Chris is a deep sleeper. He is not currently starting. He looked good in the first pre-season game and Orton looked terrible. Simms may steal away the starting job but it has not happened yet according to the Denver Post. If he wins the job at some point this year, he would have Royal and Marshall to throw the ball to.

3) QB JaMarcus Russell- Raiders

Rusell is also a pretty deep sleeper but I think he could be a decent backup with a lot of upside. He will be in his third year as a starter. He has a monster of an arm. This may be his year.

4) RB Darren McFadden- Raiders

Everyone went crazy for McFadden last year and he did not live up to the hype. I think he will live up to it this year. He should be a good #3 RB with potential for a #1.

5) RB Knowshon Moreno- Broncos

Knowshon has the hype that McFadden had last year. Do not over reach for him but if he is there, I think he will have a solid year for you as a third or fourth back.

6) RB Pierre Thomas- Saints

Thomas still gets no love. He had 12 TD’s last year (9 rushing and 3 receiving). He is a great pick for your # 2 RB. He will get the goal line carries and may be the “Wildcat” QB for the Saints.

7) RB Ray Rice- Ravens

Rice is the starting back for the Ravens. I look for them to run, run, run Ray. He is another #2 back with great upside.

8) RB Rashard Mendenhall- Steelers

How Mendenhall has fallen with fantasy owners in a year. He was the pick for a rookie RB last year but he was injured early on. Fast Willie is another year old and I look for Mendenhall to get a lot of carries for the Steelers.

9) RB LeSean McCoy- Eagles

McCoy will serve as the backup for Westbrook. Westbrook is now 30 years old. I look for McCoy to get some good playing time by mid season. He is a deep sleeper but one I feel comfortable taking late.

10) RB Glenn Coffee- 49ers

Who? Exactly! Coffee is a Super Deep Sleeper. He is the backup for Frank Gore. I have been very impressed with him. I would take him with my last pick or as a dollar player.

11) TE Dustin Keller- Jets

I look for Keller to make the leap to a top 7 TE.

12) WR Eddie Royal- Broncos

This guy is for real. If Marshall does not show, then Royal will be the number 1. He should be a solid # 3 with Marshall and may be better if Marshall holds out.

13) WR Anthony Gonzalez- Colts

Gonzalez is replacing Harrison as a starter for the Colts. Did I mention he plays for the Colts with Peyton.

14) WR Lance Moore- Saints

Does anyone know Moore? He is the starter opposite of Colston in New Orleans. He will be receiving the ball from some guy named Brees. He is recovering from a torn labrum but he will be healthy enough to start the season.

15) WR Ted Gin- Dolphins

I remember when I was floored by this draft pick a few years ago. Gin has great speed and someone has to catch the ball in Miami. He is should be a WR 4 or 5 for you with upside.

16) WR Earl Bennett- Bears

Bennett will be a starting WR for the Bears. He will surprise a lot of people. I think he has good upside. I think Cutler will display Bennett’s abilities. He is a sleeper but he will not be next year.

17) WR Chaz Schilens- Raiders

Here is another Wide Out that no one knows. Chaz is the number 1 receiver for the Raiders. If Russell does take a step forward this year, Schilens should shine. He is worth a late round pickup.



The Counselor is OUT:


Sunday, August 16, 2009

FSC- Standard Top 100 Rankings 2009

The Counselor is IN:

Rank

Top 100

Team

Bye

1

Adrian Peterson

Vikings

9

2

Maurice Jones-Drew

Jags

7

3

Matt Forte

Bears

5

4

Chris Johnson

Titans

7

5

Frank Gore

49ers

6

6

Michael Turner

Falcons

4

7

Larry Fitzgerald

Cardinals

5

8

DeAngelo Williams

Panthers

4

9

Steve Slaton

Texans

10

10

Steven Jackson

Rams

9

11

Peyton Manning

Colts

6

12

Andre Johnson

Texans

11

13

Tom Brady

Patriots

8

14

Randy Moss

Patriots

8

15

Drew Bress

Saints

5

16

Marion Barber

Cowboys

6

17

Brandon Jacobs

Giants

10

18

Calvin Johnson

Lions

7

19

Reggie Wayne

Colts

6

20

Kurt Warner

Cardinals

4

21

Ladainian Tomlinson

Chargers

5

22

Brian Westbrook

Eagles

4

23

Clinton Portis

Redskins

8

24

Greg Jennings

Packers

5

25

Roddy White

Falcons

4

26

Anquan Boldin

Cardinals

5

27

Philip Rivers

Chargers

5

28

Marques Colston

Saints

5

29

Dwayne Bowe

Chiefs

8

30

Darren McFadden

Raiders

9

31

Ronnie Brown

Dolphins

6

32

Knowshon Moreno

Broncos

7

33

Tony Romo

Cowboys

6

34

Jason Witten

Cowboys

6

35

Steve Smith

Panthers

4

36

Wes Welker

Patriots

8

37

Donovan McNabb

Eagles

4

38

Antonio Gates

Chargers

5

39

Brandon Marshall

Broncos

7

40

Kevin Smith

Lions

7

41

Pierre Thomas

Saints

5

42

Terrell Owens

Bills

9

43

Chad Ochocinco

Bengals

8

44

Tony Gonzalez

Falcons

4

45

Aaron Rodgers

Packers

5

46

Ryan Grant

Packers

5

47

Ray Rice

Ravens

7

48

Dallas Clark

Colts

6

49

Derrick Ward

Bucs

8

50

Johnathan Stewart

Panthers

4

51

Chris Wells

Cardinals

4

52

TJ Houshmandzadeh

Seahawks

7

53

Eddie Royal

Broncos

7

54

DeSean Jackson

Eagles

4

55

Jay Cutler

Bears

5

56

Matt Ryan

Falcons

4

57

Greg Olsen

Bears

7

58

Vincent Jackson

Chargers

5

59

Roy Williams

Cowboys

6

60

Anthony Gonzalez

Colts

6

61

Antonio Bryant

Bucs

8

62

Willie Parker

Steelers

8

63

Felix Jones

Cowboys

6

64

Ben Roethlisberger

Steelers

8

65

Matt Cassel

Chiefs

8

66

Carson Palmer

Bengals

8

67

Larry Johnson

Chiefs

8

68

Donald Brown

Colts

6

69

Kellen Winslow

Bucs

8

70

Jerricho Cotchery

Jets

9

71

Santonio Holmes

Steelers

8

72

Chris Cooley

Redskins

8

73

Zach Miller

Raiders

9

74

Eli Manning

Giants

10

75

Marshawn Lynch

Bills

9

76

Fred Taylor

Patriots

9

77

Tim Hightower

Cardinals

4

78

Rashard Mendenhall

Steelers

8

79

Owen Daniels

Texans

10

80

Dustin Keller

Jets

9

81

Braylon Edwards

Browns

9

82

Hines Ward

Steelers

8

83

Matt Schaub

Texans

10

84

Joseph Addai

Colts

6

85

LeSean McCoy

Eagles

4

86

Santana Moss

Redskins

8

87

Donnie Avery

Rams

9

88

Bernard Berrian

Vikings

9

89

Lance Moore

Saints

5

90

John Carlson

Seahawks

7

91

Joe Flacco

Ravens

7

92

Reggie Bush

Saints

5

93

Jeremy Shockey

Saints

5

94

Lee Evans

Bills

9

95

Donald Driver

Packers

5

96

Kevin Walter

Texans

10

97

Matt Hasselbeck

Seahawks

7

98

Patrick Crayton

Cowboys

6

99

Mark Clayton

Ravens

7

100

Laveranues Coles

Bengals

10

The Counselor is OUT: