Is It Sunday Yet? W6 - Getting Ready to Play the #1 Team

I usually post my lineup much earlier on Saturday. In fact, I usually know who I am playing by Thursday. I am having trouble choosing starters this week.

This week is different because:

1. Some players are on a bye week
2. Some players are injured
3. Some injured players are getting better and may play (or may not or they may play and get re-injured…or maybe no one knows what is going to happen but they are really good players and I need them!...SIGH)
4. I am playing the #1 team in my league and it is going to be tough  
5. BUT - I almost beat a really great team last week and with smart adjustments might beat the #1 team this week...

You only have to look at our cumulative totals across the last five games to see why I might be reaching in #5…

      My total after 5 games: 377  

My opponent’s total after 5 games: 577

My opponent’s team name is the Dust Bunnies, but please do not let this fool you. Her team is the most feared in the league. I think of the Rabbit of Caerbannog in Monty Python and the Holy Grail when I think about playing them.

(Run away! Run away!)

She has Brees, Forte, Best, Foster, Austin, B. Lloyd, B. Edwards, Knox, Keller and the Charger DEF. Would you call this team the Bunnies? Hmmm? They are more like the Beasts! There is so much talent there that you have to wonder how the rest of us let this happen.

I have a lot of respect for my opponent - but, she is 5-0 and needs to feel the agony of defeat. I will do what I can...

MY Week 6 STARTERS (unless I tinker with it...one...more...time)

  QB:     Big Ben (yes, I grabbed him of the ww – I have to take a chance)

  WR1:  Moss (here I go depending on Favre again…)

  WR2:  Havin (Ditto)

  WR3:  Smith (Okay Eli, I need repeat of last week)

  RB1:   MJD (please be healthy, please run – Run Like The wind!)

  RB2:   Addai (I had him last year and did well – but see #3 above)

  TE:     Witten (I am still mourning Finley…)

  K:       Bryant (Let’s hope ATL needs a few FGs)

  DEF:  GB (doing okay with them so far)

MY Week 6 BENCH:

  -Flacco (this might be a mistake)

  -McNabb (yep, I have 3 QBs again)

  -The Law firm (Brady might throw a lot)

  -Crabtree (Is he is a one-hit wonder?)

  -Tolbert (might regret this too…Thought process while making this decision: "Matthew is healthy again…but, he might not be or might get hurt again...but, he might not…such is the life of a FF team owner)

Wish me luck!

How Did I Do? W5 – Gotta Love A (almost) Comeback!

Monday Night Football was an absolute blast for me. As you all know, I started Moss and Harvin and they made me 35 points – in one game!

Sure, I lost by 2 pts. But, it was so much fun to watch my score climb and climb…everyone in our league chat room getting excited…(omg!  Another pass to Havin!  You could win!) ...that I almost did not care.

And, I just knew that there would be fireworks in the 4^th quarter. Yes, I did find myself yelling at Favre out of sheer frustration for the first three quarters (You have everything you need, Favre!  Man up, Favre!). But something inside me just knew that he was not going to go all night without throwing to a TD to Moss.

I loved it.

It was also fun because I played against one of my best friends - I have known her since the 2^nd grade. She is a very savvy FF player. She grabbed Hillis, Torian, and Vick off the waiver wire before any of us could blink. I look at which players she drops just in case I can use them. (I am not above grabbing another owner’s hand-me-downs). And, she is married to a Buffalo Bills fan – which shows that she has great taste. Congratulations, Allison! It was a pleasure playing against you this week.

It was not all roses for me, however. My TE Finley is hurt – which really hurts my team. He is one of the best TEs out there. And, the Bills shutdown MJD (I know, I should be happy for the Bills – but I could have won with those points!).

I still have work to do. I'm at 1-4 now.  

But, in the end, it is all about the fun for me…and boy it was fun this week.

Is It Sunday Yet? Top 5 Random Acts That Impact FF

A lot can happen in a week or even on a Sunday. Here are my top 5 *random* acts that can impact your fantasty football scores every week:

*5. You picked the wrong guy during the draft.

People are picking players at a fast rate during the draft and it is not uncommon to click on the wrong player while you are reaching for your beverage. Example: Adrian Peterson was sitting in the To Be Drafted box, unspoken for, when I picked MDJ. Oops!

4. Your player is injured.

This is a common and painful thing for both players and FF owners. I had to deal with the first week. My opponent had to deal with it all day last Sunday. It is never-ending and not completely predictable – can you really know who is going to get turf toe?

3. Your player is benched for bad behavior.

I had to face this one the first week too when the media reported that two of my WRs, Crabtree and Britt, were in the doghouse. The DUIs, bar fights, etc, etc – I can be Madden-ing.

2. Your WR or TE does not have the right chemistry with the QB (or the reverse).

Something magical needs to happen between QBs and the WR/TE. You can see it when you watch the game. Experts often talk about “looks”. You would think we were talking about courting and…hmm...maybe we are. Some of this is knowable. We know some famous couples like: Matt & Andre, Phillip & Antonio, Peyton & Reggie, Eli & Steve (or so I thought), Drew & Marques, Drew & Lance, Drew & Robert (okay, some QBs are more monogamous than others). But, FF owners are always looking for those new relationships - looking for the "looks"...

1. Your player is traded to another team.

Moss is a Viking! See what a difference a week makes. Now, there are so many questions. Will Randy have chemistry will Brett? Will Tom start looking more at Brandon or will he venture outside the home and talk to WRs on other teams? What about the bridesmaids, Wes and Percy? Will Wes see more attention from the defense? Will Percy get less attention? And, of course, we will get to see a Randy-Darrelle reunion on MNF. Let’s hope it is fun. And, let’s hope this trade is a game-changer for me.

And…on that note…Here are my Starters for Week 5:

QB: Flacco (I liked the chemistry I saw last week)

WR1: Moss (Go Randy!)

WR2: Smith (please, Eli, show him some love!)

WR3: Havin (picked Percy off the waiver wire)

RB1: MJD (did great last week, yeah!)

RB2: Tolbert (I think he is a steady-eddy)

TE: Finley (great chemistry with Rodgers)

K: Bryant (did well last week too)

GB: Green Bay (did fantastic last week)

Okay - I am excited. Wish me luck. I want to be 2-3!

*Not to be confused with pick a guy on purpose and he does not perform well. This one is not random folks because some players are better than others – but, it is a painful reality that we begin to face around week 5.  

Is It Sunday Yet? W4 - Know Thy Defense

It is time to finalize my starting line-up for Week 4. I have a few difficult decisions to make - but that is the whole point of FF.

Last year, I rarely thought about the teams My Guys were playing. I was lucky to know players names. Whenever I asked my oldest brother (I have 3 brothers) for advice on who to start, he would always say: "Who are they playing?" This week my middle brother (the Ravens fan) had to kid me about benching Flacco: "He was playing the Browns!"

This year I plan to take defenses a little more seriously.

I knew to be nervous when Randy Moss was facing the Jets. The Jets have a great cornerback, Darrelle Revis. He is so good at intercepting balls thrown to WRs that his area of the field is called Revis Island. But, Randy out ran him for this great one-hand catch.  That is why Moss is considered an Elite player or Stud.

And, you always play your Studs - no matter what the match-up is. Moss is an easy decision - a "must play" every week.

My other WRs? Steve Smith is usually Eli's go-to guy and, therefore, a stud. Things have been shaky for Eli and I am not so sure - but I will play Smith as my WR2 because he is talented. I am not so sure what do at WR3.

My RBs? Maurice Jones-Drew is an elite player too...or at least he was. I have to play MJD because I drafted him in the first round. All the experts say he will "break out" this week. Let's hope so. I have to play him - I have no other choice at RB1. But, I do have a major decision at RB2.

My TE Finley is a Must Play now. He may be the GB QB Rodgers' favorite target (which would be awesome because Rodger loves to throw the ball!)

I will play the GB defense because they are doing well.

I dropped my kicker Tynes and picked up the Atlanta kicker Bryant because it looks like ATL is on fire and their kicker is good.

....And then...there is my QB situation.....

Here are my decisions to make....
QB: Flacco or McNabb??
RB1: Tolbert or Stewart or (new player) Green-Ellis??
WR3: Crabtree or Washington?

There are A LOT of webpages and TV shows devoted to helping people with their starting line-ups. One of the factors that everyone takes into account is...yep...Who are they playing?


My QBs:

Flacco is facing saftely Polamualu (who intercepted him during the playoffs last year) and the rest of Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain. Yikes! The PIT DEF is one of the main reasons that are No. 1.  Polamualu can read where the ball is going.

McNabb is also facing a tough Philly Defense - but it is not as tough as PIT. PIT scares me. (Also, McNabb is walking into his old stadium...maybe he will be extra motivated to play well? Hmmm?)

Decision: I'm playing McNabb


My RB2s:

Stewart: I am still not convinced he will get the ball much. His partner in crime, DeAngelo Williams, is doing well. So, I am keeping Stewart on the bench for now.

Tolbert: Before SD's main RB Ryan showed that he was well enough to play, I was definitely playing Tolbert. Arizona's defense is second to the last in defenese against the run. I even considered playing Tolbert, even though he will not start.

BUT...I dropped GB RB Jackson and picked up NE RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis, aka "The Law Firm". Deciding whether or not to play him every week is going to drive me crazy because you never know who NE is going play at RB. But, he is the only RB right now on that team and Miami is #16 against the run.

Decision: I'm playing The Lawfirm (I just love that nickname!)


My WR3s:

This is always a tough one to pick. Your WR3 is your lowest level WR. They are the new kids, the old guys, the injured, the inconsistent. If the weren't, they would be WR1s or WR2s

Thomas/now Harvin: I dropped DEN WR Thomas because, while QB Orton looks great, you cannot tell who is going to throw to. I want to avoid the WR merry-go-round. I picked up Harvin  because he is great when he is well. But he is on a bye this week - so he won't play.

Crabtree, the infamous SF WR,  is suppose to be a stud-in-waiting (aka a sleeper). I am just not seeing it yet. Sure they have a new offensive coordinator, but some say the '9ers are unraveling.   Crabree is either going to do great or go down in flames again. Do I want to take a chance?

Or...do I want to play TEN WR Nate Washington?

Hmmm...SF is playing ATL and TEN is playing DEN. ATL is #21 against the pass and DEN is #26 against the pass....

Decision: I am going to play Washington.


My Starters:
QB: McNabb
RB1: MJD
RB2: BJGE
WR1: Moss
WR2: Smith
WR2: Washington
TE: Finley
DEF: GB
K: Bryant

We will see what happens. Wish me luck!

FF101: How to Score (in Fantasy Football)

I thought it would be useful to explain how teams earn points. This way you will be able to watch the games and understand the feeling of anticipation when your QB throws a long pass and the feeling of sadness when it is intercepted.

Leagues differ in scoring. But, here is a basic scoring primer for our league:

Quarterbacks earn...
  1 pt for every 25 years he throws the ball successfully
       (i.e., the RB or WR catches it)
  2 pts for a safety
  4 pts for a passing TD
  0 pts for a rushing TD (the pts go to the RB)
 -2 pts for an interception
 -2 pts when they fumble and lose the ball

Runningbacks earn...
  1 pt for every 10 yrds they rush
  2 pts for a safety
  6 pts for every rushing TD
 -2 pts if they fumble and lose the ball

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends earn...
  1 pt for every 10 yrds the ball travels to them when the catch it
  1 pt for every 10 yrds they run with the ball after they catch it
  2 pts for a safety
  4 pts for every receiving TD
 -2 pts if they fumble and lose the ball

Offense can also earn points by..
   Turning a fumble into a TD (6 pts)
   Turning a punt return into a TD (6 pts)

Kickers earn...
   1 pt for every extra point made after a TD
   3 pts for a field goal that is between 0-39 yards
   4 pts for a field goal that is between 40-49 yards
   5 pts for a field goal that is between 50+ yards
  
Defenses earn...
   10 pts if they allow the opposite team to make 0 pts
    8 pts if they allow the opposite team to make 1-6 pts
    6 pts if they allow the opposite team to make 7-13 pts
    4 pts if they allow the opposite team to make 14-20 pts
    2 pts if they allow the opposite team to make 21-27 pts
    0 pts if they allow the opposite team to make 28-34 pts
  -2 pts if they allow the opposite team to make 35+ pts

    1 pt for a sack
    2 pts for an interception
    6 pts for a TD (rushing or catching)
    2 pts for a safety
    2 pts for a blocked kick


How do I keep track of all of this for my team?

I don't.

The computer does and that is why I am always watching my team's scoring box to see if I have any more points...or if my opponent does:

I am pretty sure that I took a fuzzy picture on purpose. I do not want to be reminded how low my numbers were. 

I forgot to tell you that you get 0 pts in my league if the QB throws to a WR or TE and they do not catch the ball. So, no points for this play:

My DEF did earn 2 pts here for sacking the Buffalo Bills QB:

And yes, it did hurt to earn points this way.

In fact, I experienced what psychologists call "cognitive dissonance" - which is the discomfort you feel when you try to hold to conflicting ideas in your head at once. Like: I am happy my DEF earned 2 pts + I am frustrated my favorite team's QB got sacked.

And, I felt it a little bit here when my RB scored against the Bills. But, after last week, I was mostly happy about having one of My Guys score a TD.

(I just had to throw a psy term in there!)

That is a quick blog about scoring in fantasy football. I will post my line up before the games start.

If you were following the NFL news, you know that I need to send Vincent Jackson back to the waiver wire. Darn it! I thought I was being clever...

How Did I Do? Week 2 - A Sense of Humor Helps

Do you hear that?....THAT is the sound of my butt hitting the bottom of my league standings chart. I am #12...out of 12 teams. And, 0-2.

Yep. I lost again. Ahhhhhhhhh...

Before you think I am being dramatic. Here is a picture of me taken by my league commissioner when I was on my losing streak last year:

That is me waiting to win again. She posted it on our gal pal webpage - it was all in good fun. (Thanks for the pic, Commish!)

It is important to keep a sense of humor in times of Great Sorrow. I am lucky that my league does not play for money. Actually, my league is fun because that we meet in the chat box on our league’s website during games and joke around. If you are losing, you will see supportive posts to you like: “Oh. That was bad. Sorry.”, “Hang in there!” and “Come on, Eli!” My fellow FF owners keep me from crying while My Guys get sacked or miss catching a ball thrown *right to them*.

I was ready to cry this Sunday. As you all know, Flacco is my starting QB. He did manage to score a touchdown, but also threw 4 interceptions. SI.com reports that Flacco's coach still has faith in him. My faith is a little shaken.

But, let’s start at the beginning…

Every Sunday during NFL football season is like Christmas to me. I wake up wondering how My Guys are going to do.

Will this be the day that one of them catches 3+ TDs and everyone pats me on the back for having the foresight to draft him?

I begin to prep. Get chores out of the way. Make breakfast. Then, I turn on the TV and watch the commentary:

Do you notice something? Yep. I do not have a wide screen TV. Maybe if I write a great blog, Santa will buy me one (Hint).

Then, I boot up the computer. The computer is even more important to the FF player than the TV. You can keep track of your scores on your FF league’s website:

Sorry it is hard to read. I’m trying to follow the “Keep It Real” commandment in the blogging world. Plus, I don’t know how to do screen captures.

Next, I check for injuries. Are all My Guys playing?

And then, I move to the NFL.com site and pull up the main game I want to track. Last Sunday it was the Buffalo Bills-GB Packers game:

Wow – that is a bad picture! But, you get the idea. The NFL.com site is SO useful because it will show you the plays with all the details. Here is what it looks like when a player catches the ball and runs all the way down the field:



This is very exciting to the FF manager that has player on their team (this has not happen to me yet) and very upsetting to their opponent (this will happen to me).

I like watching the game online better than watching it on TV because sometimes I do not know if My Guy has the ball or not. (I guess I could learn all of their numbers). And, I can bounce back and forth between games. (Thank you, NFL.com, for this feature!)

Back to the games...

The morning started off well. My GB players were doing well. One of my starting RBs, Jackson, scored. My TE Finley did well. And, my DEF sacked the Bills QB…many times… Okay, it was little painful to watch it because the Bills are My Team. But, at least I was getting points.

And then, it was all downhill from there.

Here are The Stats: 

My QBs:

Flacco BAL (my starter): 2 pts

Young TEN (on my bench): -2 pts

McNabb WAS (on my bench): 21 pts

Question: Who would you start next week?

RBs:

Jones-Drew JAX (starter): 2 pts

B. Jackson GB (starter): 9 pts (and there was much rejoicing!)

Stewart CAR (bench): 4 pts

Question: Do you think I need to start looking around for another RB? Or, do you think Jones-Drew is still the stud everyone says he is? (FYI, “stud” is an official term in FF.)

WRs:

Moss NE (starter): 9 pts (Yes! Randy beat Revis at the goal line!)

Smith NYG (starter): 3 pts (uh-oh)

Crabtree SF (starter): 3 pts (uh-oh again)

Washington TEN (bench): 9 pts

V. Jackson (bench): still has not found a home

Observation: I need Vincent Jackson to be traded and establish excellent rapport with his new QB ASAP. 

TE:

Finley GB: 10 pts (but at the Bills expense)

DEF:

Green Bay: 14 pts (but at the Bills expense…so sad…)

K:

Tynes NYG: 2 pts (Did you see the Manning bowl? Ouch!)

How did the guys I dropped from my team last week do?

Brown IND = 1 TD + yardage

Hester CHI = 1 TD + yardage

I must admit, I was nervous playing my opponent this week because:

1. She kicked butt last year – beating me three times, including the playoffs.

2. She is lawyer – and lawyers are smart and crafty.

I was right to be afraid. Here is the final tally:

The Fighting Irish = 54 pts

My Opponent = 81 pts

How did my opponent win it? One reason is that she had Houston QB Schaub and one of his WRs Jacoby Jones, which means she can get double the points for one TD. I will explain how this happens and other scoring issues in next blog on Thursday:  FF101 – How to Score (in FF, that is)!

And – a big Shout Out to my friend Nikki who was at the Panthers game! Better luck next week!

Is it Sunday yet? Getting ready for Week 2

Okay - Week 1 was a disaster. But after many changes to my line up, I am feeling renewed. (And, my blog has now officially caught up with my progress so far...so you will not get another blog from me for a few days).

After many fast email exchanges with my consultants - my dad and my oldest brother - I made the following changes:

- I dropped RB Ryan (he's gone, there is nothing we can do about it!) and picked up his backup B. Jackson
- I dropped RB Brown and picked up QB Young TEN
- Then, QB McNabb became available. I dropped QB Stafford and took McNabb. Do I need three QBs? No. But I am in panic mode. (I cannot lose 6 times again!)
- I also decided to let go of WR Britt and pick up WR Nate Washington because he seems to have his job now.
- And...when the news came out about WR Vincent Jackson. I could not resist! I dropped Hester for him. We will see how that turns out. I may have another Moss situation on my hands.

As you can see I love the waiver wire and I have to tinker. This may be my undoing...

I am ready for Week 2!

My starters:
QB: Flacco (I don't trust McNabb yet)

RBs:
Jones-Drew (one of my studs!)
B. Jackson (he is playing the Bills and even I am a realist)

WRs:
Moss (yes, I know about Revis Island)
Smith (he is still the go-to guy)
Crabtree (I'm giving him one more chance)

TE: Finley (again, they are playing the Bills)
DEF: Green Bay (I have a lot of GB on my team)
K: Tynes (he should do okay)

Wish me luck!

How Did I Do? Week 1 - So much hope...

In my last post I described the draft process and my overall feeling of confidence in my choices.

There are two things I learned last year when I played FF:
1. You have no control over what happens.
2. Anything can happen.

It is one of the reasons why I *love* fantasy football. I am a total control freak and FF teaches me a lot about giving up control.

Back to my team's performance during Week 1:

My QBs:
- Flacco (BAL) - Played the Jets and was sacked on the first play. He made 5 pts for me. Most QBs make at least 10 pts - the great ones make 20+ pts. Oh well - everyone predicted it.
- Stafford (DET) - Suffered a shoulder injury and will be out for at least a few weeks. He made 1 pt. I am glad I played Flacco. But, so much for my QB committee (see previous post)

My RBs:
- Jones-Drew (JAX) - Did fine, but no TD.
- Ryan (GB) - Major injury, is out for the entire season. (Ahhh! He is one of my starters!)
- Stewart (CAR) - Saw little playing time
- Brown (IND) - Saw little playing time

My WRs:
- Moss (NE) - Rarely saw the ball. Watched the other WR on the team score multiple TDs.
- Smith (NYG) - Rarely saw the ball. Watched the other WR on the team score multiple TDs.
- Crabtee (SF) - Rarely saw the ball. Is in the doghouse with his coach and teammates
- Britt (TEN) - Rarely saw the ball. Is in the doghouse with his coach.
- Hester (CHI) - Saw the ball once. I was not even sure he was playing at one point.

TE:  Finley (GB) - His QB was intercepted trying to throw him the play the first play, rarely saw the ball after that.
DEF: Green Bay - Did well. Go DEF!
K: Tynes (NYG) - Did okay, spent most of the game kicking 1 pointers - but I will take it.

Are you noticing any trends? Potential problems? Man, it was bad. NONE of my players scored a TD. I lost to my opponent by 50+ points. In all fairness she is the reining champion and has Peyton Manning as her QB. But, it still hurt to watch my great team fall apart on Week 1.

And, then my No. 1 WR Moss gets on camera and complains about how no one appreciates him. Why did I draft this PIA?  Oh yeah, he is unbelievably talented.

Now, some of this will work it self out. But - I have to take care of these injuries ASAP.

Time to go to the Waiver Wire. That is where the un-owned, free agents live until you are in a tight spot or one of them does unexpectedly well in the game and you now want them.  I scoured the wire last year after every game. I ended up with a team that looked like the Island of Misfit Toys - but I did get into the playoffs.

FF 101: Drafting my team "The Fighting Irish"

My first post. Let me give a little background about my league, in case you are new to FF...

There are many formats. I play in a re-draft league, which means I pick a new team every year. Which I wish was not true because I had great players by the end of last year (Rodgers, Rice, Charles, Austin, etc.). But, it also meant that I could study up on draft strategy and create the Greatest Team in the History of FF. Yeah, right.

My league has 12 teams and we all pick 14 players. That's a lot of players. In my league, everyone needs at least: 1 quarterback (QB), 2 runningbacks (RB), 3 wide receivers (WR), 1 tight end (TE), 1 defense (DEF - yes, we draft an entire defense), and 1 kicker (K). We have to pick people to start in those 9 positions every week (i.e., you Start'Em). Then, you draft 5 more people who can serve as your back-ups and they may spend some time on the bench (i.e., you Sit'Em).

There are many drafting philosophies. Mine last year was to pick two people from my favorite team the Bills (which was not a good idea) and then let the computer pick the rest (which had mixed results because I ended up with many WAS players and their team imploded). I lost my first 6 games (OUCH!)

This year, I spent considerable time reading FF websites and participating in mock drafts. I was ready! I had a list of great players (i.e., Studs) and good players or those I thought could become great (i.e., Sleepers).

I did decide to pass on the top QBs (e.g., Rodgers, Brady), but picked up two mid-level QBs and planned to play them as a committee (which means you decide week to week which one to play, taking advantage of their match ups).

I drafted the following guys:

QBs: Flacco (BAL)/Stafford (DET)
RBs: Jones-Drew (JAX)/Ryan (GB)/Stewart (CAR)/Brown (IND)
WRs: Moss (NE)/Smith (NYG)/Crabtee (SF)/Britt (TEN)/Hester (CHI)
TE: Finley (GB)
DEF: Green Bay
K: Tynes (NYG)

I am posting this after Week 1. And so, if you know these players, know what happened to me.

I went down in flames.

So much for all the prep work...see next post...