QB Rankings, Fantasy Football 2009 Season

QB Rankings based on 4 points per passing TD, -1 point per interception, 1 point per 20 yards passing, 1 point per 10 yards rushing and 6 points per rushing TD.

Tiers provided and some comments.

QB

1 Brady/8
2 Brees/5
3 Manning/6
---------------------
4 Rodgers/5 tough FF sched
5 Rivers/5
6 Romo/6
7 Warner/4 (age concerns)
-------------------------------
8 McNabb/4 Vick b/u worries moves him down a tier
9 Schaub/10
10 Palmer/8 (high ankle sprain)wait on him
11 Cutler/5
12 Rothlsiberger/8 foot tendon
13 Garrard/7
14 Ryan/4 steady

15 Trent Edwards/9 **
16 Cassel/8 weak O Line/new sys
17 Hasselback/7 OT loss ***
-------------------------------------

18 Orton/7
19 Delhomme/4
20 Favre/9
21 Jason Campbell/8
22 Eli Manning/10
23 Chad Pennington/6
24 Flacco/7
------------------------------

25 Bulger/9 pinkie throwing hand
26 Collins/7
27 Mark Sanchez/NYJ/9
28 Russell/9
29 Shaun Hill/SF/6
30 Stafford/Det/7
31 Quinn/Clev/9
32 B Leftwhich/TB/8

--------------------------------------------
33 Culppper/DET
34 McCown/TB/8
35 Mike Vick/PHI/4
36 Derek Anderson/Clev/9
37 Alex Smith/SF/6
38 Kellen Clemens/NYJ/9


Sam Hendricks, Author:
Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

Fantasy Football on the radio/internet

Check out http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ for live and taped fantasy football shows. They really do provide a wealth of information and it is always great to hear what others are thinking.

Some of the great shows available are:
FFMastermind
The Audibles from FFballGuys.com
FantasyGuru.com
FFToolbox
Rotowire Fantasy Sports hour
RD Fantasy Lunch (M-F from 1-2 PM CT)
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RDFantasyLunch/2009/09/01/RapidDraftcoms-Fantasy-Lunch

and.......
Red vs Blue Sportstalk Radio - NFL, Fantasy Football -
Hosted by Scott aka Team Legacy
Date / Time: Fridays 11:00 PM EST

Category: Sports

Call-in Number: (347) 324-5404

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/redvsblue

and check out the Fantasy Sports Channel on Thursday nights from 6pm to Midnight EST for 6 back to back hours of fantasy sports talk from industry players.

Sam Hendricks, Author:
Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203


Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

DEF/ST 2009 Fantasy Football Rankings

Scoring is based on 1 point for sacks, 2 points for safeties and turnovers, 6 points for TDs on KO/P RTNs and Turnovers. Shutouts get 10 points, allowing 1-6 points=8, allowing 7-13=4 points.

Expect the top DEF/ST to start to go in round 12 of a 20 round competitive PPR league. The teams are divided by tiers.

Def
PIT/8 *
SD/5
-----------------------------------------------------
CHI/5
MIN/9
PHIL/4
GB/5 *
NYJ/9 *
-------------------------------------------------------
BAL/7
AZ/4 *
NE/8
NYG/10
DAL/6
TEN/7
------------------------------------------------------
BUF/9
MIA/6
TB/8
IND/6
SEA/7
JAX/7
HOU/10
CAR/4
--------------------------------------------------------
OAK/9
CLE/9
WAS/8
DET/7
CIN/8 *
NO/5
ATL/4
STL/9
----------------------------------------------------------
DEN/7
SF/6
KC/8

Sam Hendricks, Author:
Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

Sam Hendricks on Fantasy Lunch, Monday 31 Aug 1 PM EST

Tune in to Fantasy Lunch this Monday 31 Aug to hear Sam Hendricks discuss the 2009 Fantasy Football season and his three fantasy football books.



I may also discuss my recent FFPC Classic Draft and other Fantasy Football topics...including the new Rapid Draft format.



http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RDFantasyLunch



Date / Time: 8/31/2009 1:00 PM EST
Category: Sports
Call-in Number: (347) 857-1972

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

Fantasy Index "Ask the Expert" Question: Based on what you've seen so far this preseason, what player has impressed you more than you expected?

Is this a trick question?

Many of my sleepers are impressing but then again I expected them to do that.

So I am looking for a player I did not expect to do well who has done well. Ok, Ray Rice seems to have solidified his role in the BAL running game more than I expected (I had him at the low end of the starting RBs) and seems ready to take over there (making him a RB26 now). He also looks to get more passes out of the backfield, which moves up his value in PPR leagues too.



As seen in ASK THE EXPERTS, Fantasy Football Index's Expert column found at http://www.fantasyindex.com/.

ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly with answers to a new question posted Thursday morning.

Sam Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Almanac 2009, all available at his website, http://www.ffguidebook.com/ , at all major bookstores, and at http://www.amazon.com/. He is a 19-year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF), National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th overall in the 2008 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC).

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009 Amazon BestSeller in Books

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009 tops the Amazon Bestseller list for Entertainment/Puzzles and Sports/ Fantasy Sports.
Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Guidebook are not far behind at 4th and 6th respectively.

There is still time for you to get your copy of each of these Fantasy Football books!

And announcing Fantasy Football Guidebook as the #1 seller in the Kindle category of Fantasy Sports for the past week!

Fantasy Football Guidebook for the Kindle is just $9.94.

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

2 First Round NFL Rookies Remain Unsigned

Only 2 First Round NFL Rookies Remain Unsigned
Unsigned First Round Draft PicksPick #6 Andre Smith, OT CIN-Pick #10 Michael Crabtree, WR, SF-In the second round all of the Offensive scoring FF players are signed.Looks like just Crabtree has the dubious honor of being an after thought in 2009.Unless of course he gets into camp soon, but even then you have to wonder about all the time missed.

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

FootballGuys.com-A great resource!

One of the 201 tips in Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95), is Tip #169 about Fantasy Football Websites, I mention one such site that I have been a member of for years. http://www.fantasyfootballguys.com

I find myself gravitating to them each year because they are one of the best. They have tons of articles, player stats, depth charts, drafting software and much more. Their Sunday starter/injuries/weather page is worth its weight in gold!

They have a great deal with free daily email updates! It has 20-25 stories from around the NFL and is the most comprehensive news blast I have seen.

Try them out for free and see what you think.

Sign up here for free daily updates and mention that Sam Hendricks sent you, you may get some more good deals:
http://subscribers.footballguys.com/street/free.php

They also are the site behind the Draft Dominator software that lets you practice drafting and create customized rankings. How cool is that.

I have already mentioned this the past few days but their articles on QB/TE and Defenses by committe are the best.

You still have time to try them out for free.
Sign up here for free daily updates and mention that Sam Hendricks sent you, you may get some more good deals: http://subscribers.footballguys.com/street/free.php

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

Tips for Draft Master or Draft Expert Leagues-Part 2

8) If you get a big name at QB (Brady, Manning, Brees) get his handcuff too. No other owner will want Jim Sorgi so you can wait and take him with your last pick. This will also mean you have 4 QBs instead of 3. However, the insurance policy is worth it.

9) If you get in a bind and have to skip a player from the rule of having three at QB, TE, K and DEF then skip the defense since they will never have an injury to take them out of the lineup.

10) Use discriminators when deciding between players in the same tier. Use bye weeks first then decide if they are a conservative or aggressive pick. A player who is suspended or injury prone is not a good thing for a DM team. Go with players who are hot/cold if paired up with a consistent player as well.

A later bye is another discriminator I use. My philosophy is that I want to get as many points as possible from them before an injury occurs. If he plays for only 5 weeks and one of those was his bye then I only had him for 4 weeks effectively. Now take the same player and the same injury but his bye week is in week 8. I had him for 5 weeks. I also think it is easier to recharge with a later bye week. If you have only played 3 games and then you get a break it does less good then if you have played 8 games and then get a week off.

11) Avoid Kickers and QBs who have job security issues. No reason to pick a QB who may be good if he starts. If he does not start, you have just shot yourself in the foot. Better to have an average starter than a good clipboard holder.

12) You will have 32 defenses to choose from, kickers, however, are less sure as some are fighting to keep their job. Plan on only 26-28 kickers as really being draftable. So favor kickers over Defenses.

13) Draft a RBs handcuff since this is best ball. The best player automatically gets the start in this format. Grab RBs that are in a RBBC situation to monopolize the scores.
If you can get Donald Brown and Joseph Addai then you have cornered the IND RBs no matter who scores.

14) RBs are more consistent with their points (other then the top WRs) so I target RBs early and draft more WRs late and hope that quantity trumps quality.

15) Research the league to determine how many of each position are drafted and when. Know when you need to take your 3rd QB, TE, K and Defense. For example, in the FFPC Action 77’s only about 28 Kickers and Defenses were drafted. So you could afford to wait a little before getting your last one. I would take my 3rd kicker before the 3rd defense simply because there are only about 26-28 reliable kickers and you do not want to take one that may be suspended (Hartley NO)or hurt or fighting for his job.

16) Do not wait too long to get handcuffs for stud RBs. Remember every other owner will be drafting quite a lot of RBs so chances are good they will take the one you need just as easily.

17) In the FFPC with a 26 player roster I like this team 3 QB/6 RB/8 WR/ 3 TE/ 3 K/3 DEF. Maybe even 7 RBs and 7 WRs if the RB7 is a needed handcuff. Expect Defenses to go in the 15th round and Kickers to go in rounds 19 and 20. And without a doubt the expanded roster (26 players versus for example, WCOFF's 25) means I like the 3 QB, TE, K and Defense play. If I dropped one of those it would be Defense since they cannot be lost to injury.


Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

QB Rankings

We are just 3 weeks away from the start of Sunday football and less than that until the Thursday Kickoff game. Are you ready for some football?

Here is my latest QB Rankings to get you fired up.
Based on 4 pts per TD pass, 1 pt per 20 yds passing and -1 pt per INT
They are seperated by tiers

1 Brees/5
2 Manning/6
3 Brady/8
------------------------------------

4 Rodgers/5 ** tough FF sched
5 Rivers/5
6 Romo/6
7 Warner/4 (age)
8 McNabb/4
------------------------------------

9 Palmer/8 (high ankle sprain)wait on him
10 Schaub/10 *****
11 Cutler/5
12 Rothlsiberger/8 foot tendon
13 Garrard/7
14 Ryan/4 steady TG + R White
15 Trent Edwards/9 **
16 Cassel/8 weak O Line/new sys
17 Hasselback/7 OT loss ***
----------------------------------------

18 Orton/7
19 Delhomme/4
20 Favre/9
21 Jason Campbell/8 Finally repeats under same system
22 Eli Manning/10
23 Chad Pennington/6
24 Flacco/7
---------------------------------------------------------

25 Bulger/9 pinkie throwing hand
26 Collins/7
27 Mark Sanchez/NYJ/9
28 Russell/9
29 Stafford/Det/7
30 Quinn/Clev/9
31 Shaun Hill/SF/6
32 B Leftwhich/TB/8
-------------------------------------------backups
33 McCown/TB/8
34 Kellen Clemens/NYJ/9
35 Derek Anderson/Clev/9
36 Alex Smith/SF/6
37 Mike Vick/PHI/4

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

Tips for Draft Master or Draft Expert Leagues-Part 1

I have drafted in several draft masters drafts this season and decided to share some tips.

Tips
1) It is a total points league not H2H so you need to have a different mindset altogether. You always want to have at least two QB, TE, K and Defense. I suggest three of each but will explain why later. You need two of each because you cannot go to the waiver wire to add free agents on bye weeks. In a Draft Masters or Draft Experts league, it is draft and forget; meaning there are no free agent transactions. What you draft is what you get for the entire season. The format gives you the best score each week based on who is on your roster. Therefore, if you have only one kicker, then the week he is on a bye you will get no kicker points. Always have at least one extra player at each spot to cover for the byes and when injuries occur.

2) Watch the bye weeks. Remember NO adds or drops. Therefore, if you have only two QBs and they are both on the same bye week you have hosed yourself out of QB points one week. Even if you have three QBs and only two are on the same bye week you lose their ability to back up the other one on a down week, when two are out on the same bye week.
You cannot leave points missing like that.

3) Try and get starters used for a flex position all from different bye weeks. This is tough and is not a must just a good to know type thing. In FFPC, you start 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE and 2 flex so that is 7 players starting from those 3 positions. There are 7 bye weeks (weeks 4-10). If each of the starters is out on bye on a separate week then you only need one strong replacement to step up each week from your bench to have steady points. If three or more starters are out on the same week that could potentially be a very bad week and reduce your overall points significantly.

4) If the roster size allows it, draft three QBs, TEs, Ks and Defenses. Why? The extra player at each position will give you on average about 30 points above most combinations of QBs, TEs, Ks and Defenses. Try it yourself. Look at the scores for most combinations of players then factor in an additional player from the bottom 25th -32nd. In many cases the extra player is used on the two bye weeks when only one of the combinations of players is available and then on a few more weeks he may be the top player and give you a few points more then you would have had. All in all 4-5 weeks as your top player at that position and giving you 6 more points each of those weeks means 25-30 extra points. Now if you do that at each of the positions (QB, TE, K and Defense) you have just guaranteed yourself another 100-120 points. What have you lost? Four players who were deep sleepers or handcuffs. You lost your RB8 and 9 and WR8 and 9. If you think one of the RBs and WRs at those spots can give you 100 extra points over your starters and backups, then by all means continue to draft them. I prefer easy extra points versus banking on a deep sleeper who will only start if my starters are hurt. I rationalize it that if my RB1 gets hurt and I need help and have to rely on my RB8 or 9, my season is over anyway.


5) Never wait until the last round to draft one of those third QB, TE, K or defenses unless you absolutely know there will be enough for you in the last round. Bottom line is draft all of the third QB, TE, K and Defenses before the last round. Save the last pick for an extra WR sleeper.

6) Look at combos: QB by committee, TE by committee, defense by committee etc. FFGuys.com always has articles about which combos are best to go with. Look at these articles and plan whom you think you can get and who works best.

7) Look at who is left and how best to draft. If you have three TEs with the same bye week to choose from for your TE2 and another TE with a different bye week, who do you pick? Go with one of the TEs from the same bye because chances are your third TE choices are less likely to be from that bye week now that so many were gone. Basically try and look ahead to which TEs will be left and their bye weeks. Try to draft a player who has a bye week that is not the same as the majority of the players from that position left to draft.

Check back tomorrow for more Draft Master Tips!

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Almanac 2009: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide ($12.95, http://www.amazon.com/1602643989)

2009 Fantasy Football Draftbook Expert League

Ok time to look at another team of mine from an Experts Draft. Today I look at my Fantasy Football Draftbook Expert team. It was a 16 player roster, with 11 other experts including Lou Tranquilli from http://www.bfd.com/,
David Gerczak from http://www.theffpc.com/, Emil Kadlec and Nathan Zegura among others. You can find the entire draft along with my rankings in the 2009 Fantasy Football Draftbook magazine

12 Experts particapated in early June in this draft. Each team drafts 16 players to form a starting roster of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DEF and one flex player either RB/WR or TE.

My team is below:

FFGuidebook.com

QB Draft Spot BYE
D McNabb 6.12 4


RB
A Peterson 1.01 9
Reggie Bush 4.12 5
Larry Johnson 5.01 8
Chester Taylor 8.12 (HC for AP) 9
Fred Taylor 10.12 7
Jamaal Charles 14.12 (HC for L Johnson) 8

WR
Roddy White 2.12 4
Dwayne Bowe 3.01 8
Jerricho Cotchery 7.01 9
T Ginn 9.01 6
Chris Chambers 11.01 5
Mark Clayton 12.12 7

TE
Heath Miller 16.12 8

K
Gostkowski 15.01 8

DEF
Minnesota Vikings 13.01 9

Overall: I elected to forgo a QB2, TE2, K2 and Def2 in order to stockpile RBs and WRs. I think both RB and WR is strong and QB will do as long as Donovan stays healthy ( a big if for sure). I will make some FA moves to add a QB, TE, K and Defense on their alternating bye weeks.
Week 8 will be a problem with both my TE and K on a bye but that is a long way off.

Best picks: Fred Taylor in 10th. I think he will get some touches at NE.

Regrets: I would have liked another QB but instead went with a handcuff for Larry Johnson.

Read more in Fantasy Football Draftbook magazine in stores now!

Sam Hendricks, author
Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

Tip # 206 Whom to choose with last draft pick

Assuming I already have a kicker, defense or TE, it all depends on my depth at other positions. Normally I look at my team and the big three positions: QB, RB and WR. Which of those three positions am I weakest? That will be the position I need to bump up with an additional sleeper that I can hopefully hit on. Having said that, if all else is equal, I will go with a WR since they are more likely to breakout and be the difference maker. By the last round, there are not too many RBs or QBs who can make a difference.

Remember performance is based on opportunity and talent. So go with younger WRs instead of the old vet. The veteran has had his day and now is in the twilight of his career, he is more likely to fade then shine. The 2-4 year WR has mastered the system and can now prove his worth if given the opportunity.


Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

About a quarter of the league's teams have a quarterback competition going on. Which potential winner will have the greatest fantasy impact this seaso

I see 5 major QB battles in DET, NYJ, SF, TB, and CLE. Of course, Favre ended any QB battle in MIN. There may be minor skirmishes at OAK and DEN too, but I will assume Russell and Orton are safe for now.

Here is who I think wins the battles and their ranking.

Mark Sanchez-Looks sharp and inherits a playoff capable team (QB28)
Matt Stafford-Anyone with Calvin Johnson gets high points
Shaun Hill-Has more recent experience
Brady Quinn-Beats out Anderson barely
Byron Leftwich-Best of the worst (QB32).

Sanchez gets high marks for his attitude and the team he inherits. Both he and Stafford should start and have plenty of rope to work with since they are top draft picks and have looked solid so far in the pre season. I have been high on Sanchez and he has done nothing to lose that confidence.

As seen in ASK THE EXPERTS, Fantasy Football Index's Expert column found at http://www.fantasyindex.com/.

ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly with answers to a new question posted Thursday morning.

Sam Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Almanac 2009, all available at his website, http://www.ffguidebook.com/ , at all major bookstores, and at http://www.amazon.com/. He is a 19-year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF), National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th overall in the 2008 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC).

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Injuries and other NFL news

Let's start with Michael Vick going to PHIL. What is up with Donovan McNabb saying he is prepared to give up some snaps to Vick and may play WR or TE.

SAY WHAT? I do not want my Fantasy QB playing WR or TE and getting his bell rung or ankle broke etc. Especially not McNabb who has been injury prone in the past.
This development scares me FF wise.

Breaking NEWS: Chaz Schilens OAK WR out 6-8 weeks with broken foot (at least the Head Coach did not hit him), he was shaping up to be OAK #1 WR which does not mean much but still a starting #1 WR is sometimes better than a WR3 elsewhere.

Injuries
QB
Brady looks healthy from Knee (ACL) injury
Bulger is out 2 weeks with broken finger
Palmer has a high ankle sprain ( oh no)

RB
Andre Brown NYG out for season
Addai is recovering from off season knee surgery
Buckhalter DEN has some mystery injury
Moreno will miss 1-2 weeks with MCL knee
Reggie Bush-some swelling in his knee
Jonathan Stewart-missed OTAs due to ankle
Chris Wells AZ -ankle
DeAngelo Williams-Toe
DeShawn Wynn-Knee

WR
Donnie Avery-STL-left foot out 4-6 weeks (maybe Week 1)
Berrian-hamstring
Breaston-AZ-PCL in knee
A. Bryant-TB-Knee
Michael Crabtree-Still holding out
Steve Smith-NYG-shoulder, hopes to be back for Week 1

TE
Brent Celek-PHI-Seperated shoulder
Todd Heap-whatever
Zach Miller-

K
Vinateri--Hip surgery-should be ready for Week 1

Oh yeah and Brett Favre has signed with the VIKES. OMG!


Sam Hendricks, author
Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Brett Favre to sign with Vikings today! Bring out the Purple and Gold #4

According to a Minnesota Media source, Brett Favre is on his way to sign with the Vikings today.

Players hinted at this yesterday.

Apparently we are back to tracking Brett's plane again.

If it happens so be it. Lets go vikes.

If it does not happen then please let this be the last mention of Mr Favre and the Vikings ever again.

I thought (and still do) that Rosenfels should be the man after the Vikes traded for him. Then after the off season humiliating waiting game with Favre I had hoped it was over.

I guess not. No offical word yet but a high placed Viking offical expectes Brett to sign today.



Sam Hendricks, author
Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

FFPC Pros vs. Joes DraftMasters Challenge

Pros vs. Joes League 6 Irvin’s Candy Store

Here is what I drafted from the 12th spot.

Pos Name Bye Team Pick
QB Trent Edwards 9 BUF R9 P12
QB Jake Delhomme 4 CAR R10 P1
QB Chad Pennington 6 MIA R11 P12
RB Kevin Smith 7 DET R3 P12
RB Cedric Benson 8 CIN R5 P12
RB Jamal Lewis 9 CLE R7 P12
RB Jerious Norwood 4 ATL R12 P1
RB Ricky Williams 6 MIA R14 P1
RB Maurice Morris 7 DET R15 P12
RB Leonard Weaver 4 PHI R26 P1
WR Larry Fitzgerald 4 ARI R1 P12
WR Calvin Johnson 7 DET R2 P1
WR Terrell Owens 9 BUF R4 P1
WR Santana Moss 8 WAS R8 P1
WR Devin Thomas 8 WAS R18 P1
WR Chansi Stuckey 9 NYJ R19 P12
WR Matt Jones -- FA R25 P12
TE Owen Daniels 10 HOU R6 P1
TE Tony Scheffler 7 DEN R13 P12
TE Chase Coffman 8 CIN R20 P1
K Lawrence Tynes 10 NYG R21 P12
K Nick Folk 6 DAL R22 P1
K Josh Scobee 7 JAX R24 P1
DEF Philadelphia Eagles 4 PHI R16 P1
DEF Miami Dolphins 6 MIA R17 P12
DEF Houston Texans 10 HOU R23 P12

Larry Fitz dropped to me with the 12th pick and I grabbed him but I then went WR with the first pick of the 2nd round too. At 2.01 I took Calvin Johnson to go WR-WR. Mistake! I even looked quickly at what round 3 and 4 would bring and I saw lots of WRs. So I should have gone with DeAngelo Williams instead of CJ.

Of course 23 picks later it makes it back to me and I have to reach for a starting RB in Kevin Smith and then I see T.O still on the board. I just could not reach for another RB and went with a value play in Owens. So now I am at 1 RB and 3 WRs and it is time to stock up on RBs.

Cedric Benson (5.12) is a starter and I like him to improve on his 2nd half performance. But again rather then reach for a RB (which I need) I go with a Top 5 TE in Owen Daniels with 6.01.
So after 6 rounds I am at 2 RB/3WRs/1 TE.

The 7/8 turn leaves me with just Jamal Lewis ( other options were Hightower/Donald Brown and Leon Washington all who may prove to be better than the old starter Lewis) and then I saw Santana Moss and got greedy again at WR (8.01). Mistake. Should have gone with another RB from the three mentioned above.

9/10 and 11 are QBs as I try and make up for no QB early. T Edwards, Jake Delhomme and Chad Pennington give me a good shot at decent numbers in this best ball format.

The rest of the draft was to get 2 more TEs and 3 Kickers and Defenses.and some supporting RBs and WRs.

Maurice Morris was to handcuff Kevin Smith.
Matt Jones will start for someone at some point in 2009

To see the entire draft click here
http://www.fantasymojo.com/mojo/news.do?action=prosvsjoesdraftviewer&draftId=112851

FFPC Action 77 Team in Draft Masters League

R1 P6 RB Michael Turner, ATL (4)
R2 P7 RB Clinton Portis, WAS (8)
R3 P6 RB Ronnie Brown, MIA (6)
R4 P7 WR Brandon Marshall, DEN (7)
R5 P6 WR Anthony Gonzalez, IND (6)
R6 P7 WR Lee Evans, BUF (9)
R7 P6 QB Tony Romo, DAL (6)
R8 P7 WR Donald Driver, GB (5)
R9 P6 QB Carson Palmer, CIN (8)
R10 P7 RB Earnest Graham, TB (8)
R11 P6 TE Bo Scaife, TEN (7)
R12 P7 TE Tony Scheffler, DEN (7)
R13 P6 RB Ricky Williams, MIA (6)
R14 P7 QB Sage Rosenfels, MIN (9)
R15 P6 WR Sidney Rice, MIN (9)
R16 P7 TE Randy McMichael, STL (9)
R17 P6 DEF Chicago Bears, CHI (5)
R18 P7 DEF Arizona Cardinals, ARI (4)
R19 P6 K Lawrence Tynes, NYG (10)
R20 P7 K Adam Vinatieri, IND (6)
R21 P6 WR Mark Bradley, KC (8)
R22 P7 K Dan Carpenter, MIA (6)
R23 P6 RB Peyton Hillis, DEN (7)
R24 P7 WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, OAK (9)
R25 P6 DEF Cincinnati Bengals, CIN (8)
R26 P7 WR Matt Jones, FA (--)


Paired up 2 Kickers on same bye week because I hit the draft button when it was highlighted on Carpenter whom I had just moved into the pre pick pile as a backup. I wanted Scobee who was at the top of the pre pick file but C'est La Vie.

TE is weak and paired up two TEs on bye week 7 simply because after I drafted Scaife I saw there were no other good TEs left other than Schefler so I made a command decision that Scheffler was worth having even on a same bye week.

Fantasy Football Tip # 205 Always check the latest news before the draft and DURING the draft!

Everyone should know enough to check the latest news before the draft and update their cheat sheets with who has been released, signed, hurt and holding out. But, do you check the news during your draft?

Drafts can occur at all different times of the day or night. In fact, with Rapid Draft (www.rapiddraft.com) you pick the time you want to draft. When Steve Smith, WR CAR recently became injured and was carted off the field that information did not make it to my eyes until 9:05 E.S.T
About 5 minutes into a draft.
I became aware of this situation only because I checked the FF News website, http://www.footballguys.com/(one of many I use) after I entered the draft room.

My point is that news that is important to drafters does not come out at certain times of the day. A breaking story may come out while you are drafting. If you have the time, a quick check of the headline FF news could give you a little advantage over the other owners. In the Steve Smith case I passed on him with the 2nd pick because I did not know enough information other than he was hurt. That may prove to be a great call or not. However, I am happier knowing that he was carted off and not taking a chance on him. I avoid risks in the early part of the draft.

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Another Rapid Draft team analyzed

Ok I did it. Again!

I tried out the new Rapid Draft site again since I had another free code. Unfortunately, I can not give that code out due marketing reasons but you can still visiti Rapid Draft and use the other free code if you have not tried it yet. I will include it at the bottom of this review.

Here is the gist.You draft against 11 virtual Experts. The experts all update their rankings so that every draft, whether it is in June or Sept, has 11 experts with up to date cheat sheets. Each expert has his or her own style and different rankings.

The best part is you pick when you want to draft and what spot!

The scoring system is a performance league with a bonus for TD plays of over 40 yards. Therefore, the basic 3 pts for TD passes/ 6 for rushing or rec TDs and 1 pt for every 20 yards passing or 10 rushing/receiving and 1 point for every reception (so PPR). One quirky rule is that kickers get 6 points for FG’s over 40 yards and 9 points for FG’s over 50 yards. Hmmm I don’t really like making kickers (of all positions) that powerful, but heck it’s their game.

Here is my draft from the 6th spot

QB
Brees
Delhomme

RB
D Mcfadden
Willie Parker
Jamal Lewis
Tim Hightower
Fred Jackson
Mewelde Moore

WR
Larry Fitzgerald
Reggie Wayne
Kevin Walter
Greg Camarillo
Michael Jenkins
Davone Bess
Kenny Brit
Devrey Henderson

TE
Antonio Gates

K
Kris Brown

Def
Baltimore

You start 1/2/3/1/1/1 + 1 Flex.

Overall: Started WR-WR but wish I had gone WR-RB. The Brees pick in the 4th round was when the computer had kicked me out of the draft room. Arg!

But great QB and TE, strong at WR and Def. RB is weak but I do have some depth. F. Jackson will start the first 3 games of the season and Hightower may have some love if Beanie Wells continues to stay off the field due to injuries.

Time will tell.

Here is the web site and promo code if you have not tried it already. (http://www.rapiddraft.com/nfl/lm/LM2009/RDLanding.aspx)
There is a current promotion where you can try it out free. That is a $10 value. The promo code is “go4it”. Try it and see if you like it.

Sam Hendricks, authorFantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

It's the last round of a draft, and you've already taken your kicker. What no-name player, any position, might you draft here, and why?

It all depends on my depth at other positions. Normally I look at my team and the big three positions: QB, RB and WR. Which of those three positions am I weakest? That will be the position I need to bump up with an additional sleeper that I can hopefully hit on. Having said that, if all else is equal, I will go with a WR since they are more likely to breakout and be the difference maker. By the last round, there are not too many RBs or QBs who can make a difference.
This year I would snag Pierre Garcon or Austin Collie. Both have a chance at being the WR3 at IND and that has to mean some looks from Peyton Manning. If they do not hit, then you can drop them mid season if you need to free up room.


As seen in ASK THE EXPERTS, Fantasy Football Index's Expert column found at http://www.fantasyindex.com/ .

ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly with answers to a new question posted Thursday morning.

Sam Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Almanac 2009, all available at his website, http://www.ffguidebook.com/ , at all major bookstores, and at http://www.amazon.com/. He is a 19-year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF), National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th overall in the 2008 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC).

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669)

Watch FFPC Pros vs Joes Draft live tonight at 9 PM E.S.T with Sam Hendricks at 12th spot

Background: Tonight is the last (of the 6 total) Pros vs Joes Draft Challenge. A draft was held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night last week and this week, where tonights is the last league.

To review briefly, these drafts pit the players at FFPC (the Joes) against an assortment of industry experts (the Pros). Each league consists of 12 teams which conduct a 26 round draft in a DraftExperts format (best ball scoring). A bundle of prizes and bragging rights are on the line, as well the prestige of being crowned the 2009 FFPC Pros vs Joes Draft Challenge Champion.

I am a Pro in this 6th draft representing my books, Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

and Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

I draft from the 12th spot

The draft will go off around 9:00 pm EST tonight. If you want to view the picks as they happen, or want to review the results after the fact, visit FantasyMojo's Joes vs Pros draft viewing page below.

Here is a link to the draft site. Select Thursday (8/13) Nights Draft and you will connect with a draft board where you can watch the draft live!

http://www.fantasymojo.com/mojo/news.do?action=showArticleId&articleid=114

Rules: This is a 26 round draft using the Fantasy Football Players Championship (www.theFFPC.com) scoring and roster configuration.

(That’s Point Per Reception (PPR)of 1 for RBs and WRs and 1.5 PPR for TE’s).

It a best ball/ optimal lineup configuration, so the system will automatically plug in your best performing players each week. So it is a "draft and forget" system where there will be no weekly lineup decisons and no free agent additions or trades the entire season.

What you draft is what you get.

The weekly starting roster is distributed as follows:

1 QB

2 RB

2 WR

1 TE

2 Flex (RB/WR/TE)

1 K

1 D

Hope you enjoy the show!

Fantasy Football Tip # 204 Do not waste time chatting, especially in online drafts. Stay focused!

In a recent draft, I started to feel a little cocky and started up a side conversation via the message box. The draft was going excessively slow and I decided to start some lively banter. You know, good-natured trash talking. Afterwards I realized I had broken one of my cardinal tips of drafting. Do not waste time chatting. Instead, stay focused and do something, anything, productive.

In addition, this tip is not in my latest book, Fantasy Football Tips.
Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669) has 201 Tips, so I will be adding additional ones like this one here at my blog on occasion.

Why not chat, because you lose an advantage. If you use the time to check what the other owners are doing, perhaps you can negate their handcuff strategy with your next pick. Alternatively, maybe you notice an error with your own picks and can correct it early versus waiting for free agency. No, every minute of the draft is precious. You cannot afford to be idle with chitchat; instead stay focused on the draft and how it unfolding around you. Save the smack talk for after the draft when you love you team and your opponent has two QBs on the same bye week.

This is especially true for online drafts. There is no one to distract you except your own surroundings. Do not be decoyed into a conversation during the draft and divert your attention from some other cross check. In a live draft, the occasional comment is OK just do not get into protracted debates about whether the beer has a “great taste” or is “less filling”(I am dating myself here) and miss something critical to your championship run.

Sam Hendricks, author
Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Sports magazine (Sept issue) Expert Draft

Now that the Fantasy Football magazines have hit the bookstore shelves, I can discuss my Expert teams in these magazines. Today I look at my Fantasy Sports Magazine Expert team. You can find the entire draft along with my rankings in Fantasy Sports magazine (September Issue).

Fantasy Expert Player Rankings
Expert Draft

12 Experts (including MockDraftCentral, FootballGuys, DraftSharks and RotoExperts to name a few) participated in late June for this draft. Each team drafts 16 players for a starting roster of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DEF and one flex player either RB/WR or TE.

I drafted from the 12th spot. My team is below. :

FFGuidebook.com

QB
Eli Manning
Trent Edwards

RB
Clinton Portis
Ryan Grant
Willie Parker
Jamal Lewis
Ricky Williams

WR
Calvin Johnson
TJH
DeSean Jackson
Michael Crabtree
Justin Gage
Chris Henry

TE
Owen Daniels-HOU

K
Bironas-TEN

DEF
Minnesota

Overall I think it is a strong team with no weak spots considering it is only a 16-man roster. QB may be a little weak now that I look at it but I really am hoping for big things from Trent Edwards. RB and WR are strong and I have said it before I like Owen Daniels to be a Top 5 TE in 2009.


Best picks: Owen Daniels in the 10th round. MIN def in the 14th

Regrets: Michael Crabtree is missing lots of time right now. It is always critical when a rookie misses some of training camp.

Read more in Fantasy Sports magazine in stores now!

Sam Hendricks, author
Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

Fantasy Football Tip # 203 Do not Help Your Opponents!

Fantasy Football Tip # 203 Do not Help Your Opponents!

I drafted in a Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC, http://www.theffpc.com/) draft on Monday 10 Aug. It is an Action 77 Draft Masters league which is a “draft and forget” or “best ball” format.

At some point, an owner drafted Matt Stover at kicker. On the online chat box I posted “Ouch isn’t Stover dead or something” trying to be cute, knowing that Stover was a free agent.

The reality is that Baltimore released Stover simply because they did not think he had the leg strength anymore. Despite being one of the NFLs most accurate kickers (when was the last time he missed a XP?), his true makeable (is this a word?) FG distance was shrinking. Therefore, they did not resign him and instead opted to let Steve Hauschka and Graham Gono fight for the position. Maybe they were also tired of having two kickers, Stover and the other kicker for kickoffs (again due to leg strength). But I digress.

Back to the tip.

I should not have said anything.
Why tell my opponent that he may have a chink in his armor in a kicker that he thinks is starting but is not? If I had kept my big mouth shut, he may have drafted only two kickers (unlikely but you never know-check back on Saturday for Draft Master tips), one of which may have been out of work. In this “dream” scenario, his other kicker gets hurt in week one and now he has no kicker points for the rest of the season. Since it is draft and forget, there are no free agent pickups!

Therefore, DO NOT HELP YOUR OPPONENTS during the draft. Even an innocent dig may prove to be a vital help to an otherwise content owner. And it is even more important in a Draft Masters league where no free agent pickups are allowed. In a DM league it is all about the draft baby!

Player Note: Stover may end up coming back to Baltimore or be picked up by another team with a kicker issue, but I am not going to draft him.

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95, www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669) has 201 Tips so I will be adding additional ones like this one here at my blog on occassion.

Sam Hendricks, author
Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Index Expert Auction Draft

Now that the Fantasy Football magazines have hit the bookstore shelves, I can discuss some of my expert teams. Today I am analyzing my Fantasy Football Index Mock Auction team. You can find the entire draft along with my rankings in Fantasy Football Index 2009 Draft Guide on the following pages;

Fantasy Expert Player Rankings page 44-61 (Including a Question and Answer Interview on Tight Ends on page 61
Expert Mock Auction pages 68-73

11 Experts (Including Chris Harris-ESPN, Dave Gerczak-BFD FF, David Dodds-FFGuys and Scott Pianowksi-Yahoo!) and 1 Fantasy Index reader particapated on May 17 in this auction. Each team starts with a $200 auction budget and must pick 22 players for a starting roster of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K and 1 DEF.

Last year I finished a close second to Ian Allen after leading for much of the final stretch. A hurt MB3 wrecked any chance of holding on to first place.

It is a DraftMasters (or DraftExperts) format. This means it is a best ball format where there are no free agent pickups during the season. So it is a “draft and forget” league where the computer will automatically start the player with the best performance for the week for you. My team is below with the bid cost.

Fantasy Football Guidebook
QB Donovan McNabb 16
Carson Palmer 11

RB Chris Johnson 48
Brandon Jacobs 36
Larry Johnson 15
Ahmad Bradshaw 5
LaMont Jordan 1
Michael Pittman 1

WR Anquan Boldin 19
Antonio Bryant 11
Lance Moore 8
Kevin Curtis 5
Derrick Mason 4
Devery Henderson 3
Patrick Crayton 2
Austin Collie 1

TE Owen Daniels 6
Brandon Pettigrew 2

K Nick Folk 1
Shayne Graham 1

DEF Chicago Bears 2
Baltimore Ravens 2

Overall I think it is fairly strong at every position except WR. I am hoping that Boldin and Bryant can be good enough WR1 and WR2 and the others can come up with a WR3 every week I have two NO WRs in Lance Moore and D Henderson so I am hoping for a good year again for Drew Brees. Kevin Curtis could surprise if the rookie J Maclin is slow to produce for Phil.

In the magazine, they ask me to discuss my outlook for Larry Johnson.
“I am cautiously optimsitic about LJ as he and KC seem to have kissed and made up. He had a good rushing avg in 2008 (4.5 yards per carry) and with Matt Cassel at QB should not see as many eight-man fronts. He is Kansas City’s starter and I see a healthy LJ with 1,250 yards and 8 TDs.”

Best picks: Either QB and Owen Daniels for $6 I think he could be a Top 5 TE this year.

Regrets: Pulling the trigger on Chris Johnson for $48. I wish I had waited and gotten two lesser RBs for $40 and saved some of those dollars for later in the draft. $1 later in the draft is worth a ton more than $1 early on when bidding is crazy!

Read more in Fantasy Index Magazine in stores now!

Sam Hendricks, author
Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669
Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Rapid Draft team examined

Ok I did it.
I tried out the new Rapid Draft site (http://www.rapiddraft.com/nfl/lm/LM2009/RDLanding.aspx)
That hopefully you have all heard about. There is a current promotion where you can try it out free. That is a $10 value. The promo code is “go4it”. Try it and see if you like it.

Here is the gist.
You draft against 11 virtual Experts. The experts all update their rankings so that every draft, whether it is in June or Sept, has 11 experts with up to date cheat sheets. Each expert has his or her own style and different rankings.

The best part is you pick when you want to draft and what spot!

The scoring system is a performance league with a bonus for TD plays of over 40 yards. Therefore, the basic 3 pts for TD passes/ 6 for rushing or rec TDs and 1 pt for every 20 yards passing or 10 rushing/receiving and 1 point for every reception (so PPR). One quirky rule is that kickers get 6 points for FG’s over 40 yards and 9 points for FG’s over 50 yards. Hmmm I don’t really like making kickers (of all positions) that powerful, but heck it’s their game.

Here is my draft from the first spot

QB McNabb/4
Pennnington/6

RB A. Peterson/9
C Taylor/9
Pierre Thomas/5
Larry Johnson/8
Tashard Choice/6
Glen Coffee/6
Rashard Jennings/7

WR T. Owens/9
L. Coles/8
W Welker/8
K Curtis/4
M Crabtree/6
P Harvin/9
Kenny Brit/7
Bryant Johnson/7

TE Dallas Clark/6

K J Hanson/7

Def Pittsburgh/8

You start 1/2/3/1/1/1 + 1 Flex.

Overall: I think it is a strong team but no real depth. The WR position has way too many rookie sleepers. B. Johnson is already hurt and Crabtree is holding out. How we doing so far.

I targeted Hanson at K for his kicking in the Dome and Detroit probably not getting in the end zone too much. Do you know how many 50 yarders he had last year?
8

Sam Hendricks, author
Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting

Now You Can Experience Victory in High Stakes Fantasy Football Championships Yourself

Through his new book Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting. Learn the unique strategies and tips that prepare you for a higher winning percentage and more League Championships!

Find out how to pick the right league; how to rank players and draft smarter with over 200 ideas in this tip filled 166-page book.

Learn how to draft like a pro by ordering Fantasy Football Tips for only $9.95 AND for a limited time get Fantasy Football Guidebook ($19.95) for 10% off at Amazon.com.

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/0982428669

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203

In general, do minor preseason injuries cause you to avoid certain players (sign of things to come) or target them at value prices (preseason injury)

It really depends on the type of injury and in some cases the player. Even if they are an “Iron man” and play through the injury, there will be some degradation. There is a clear relationship between a player’s age and his injuries. As he ages he gets more injuries and his ability to recover from those injuries decreases. Likewise, if a player was previously injured, his chances of playing a full 16-game season are less than a player who has never been hurt. Bottom line in my mind, if a player has been hurt before, chances are he will be hurt again. But this does not mean I pass on them, I just move them down my cheat sheet; if I can get them later then I will jump on their value.

As seen in ASK THE EXPERTS, Fantasy Football Index's Expert column found at http://www.fantasyindex.com/ . ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly with answers to a new question posted Thursday morning.

Sam Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Almanac 2009, all available at his website, http://www.ffguidebook.com/ , at all major bookstores, and at http://www.amazon.com/. He is a 19-year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF), National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th overall in the 2008 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC).

2009 FFPC Pro's vs Joe's Challenge

The 2009 FFPC Pros vs Joes Draft Challenge concept is simple. Take a group of hard core FFPC fantasy players (the Joes) and pit them against a contingent of fantasy industry experts (the Pros). There are 72 teams participating (half pros and half Joes). The overall field is divided into separate 'Divisions'. Each division of 12 conducts their own draft. All teams drafted are tossed into one master league to compete. The highest scoring team across all divisions is crowned the 2009 FFPC Pros vs Joes Draft Challenge Champion. One team wins, period.

The scoring system is of course the signature FFPC scoring (with 1.5 points per catch for TE). It's a DraftExperts format which is essentially a "Best Ball" league where the system automatically fills out your weekly roster with your best performing players at each position. No waiver wire moves or setting of lineups by the participants. Once you draft your team of 26 players, you're administrative duties are done for the year. Just monitor the leaderboard as the year goes on.

What do they win? Originally it was just bragging rights with a claim to the title of the 2009 FFPC Pros vs Joes Draft Challenge Champion.But we now have the following prizes or bounties on the table.
Footballguys has generously offered up a three year Footballguys subscription to the top team in each of these different leagues.
FantasyFootballTrader will offer a 2010 subscription to every Joe across all the 5 leagues that outscores them.
Draftsharks is offering a free lifetime subscription to any Joe who wins their league. Plus $100 to any Joe who wins the league that Draftsharks is is in.
Fantasy Football Oasis will offer $50 cash to the overall champion.
BFD Fantasy Football has stated that 'Any Joe in my league that beats me gets A $77 draft for 2010 AND a subscription to ANY ONE FF Website of their choice that is part of the Joes vs. Pros challenge.'
FantasyMojo has recruited a trophy sponsor to award our overall winner this sweet silver cup trophy (a $169 value) courtesy of FantasyTrophy.com
The Yellow Line is Unofficial will buy an entry into a FFPC-77 next year for any Pro that wins the overall
FFGuidebook is offering a copy of "Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football" to any Joe that wins their Division. Also, they are offering a copy of "Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting" to any Joe (that blows) and comes in last in their division.
FantasyFootballWhiz will offer a free RapidDraft in 2010 to any Joe that wins any one of the leagues
MockDraftCentral is giving an Official Draft Shirt to every division winner.
JunkyardJake would like to bestow upon the overall winner a Mike Ditka 92-0 T shirt

And courtesy of Dave and Alex, we have this incentive - FFPC Pros vs. Joes Clean Sweep BonusIf either the Pros side or the Joes side win all 6 leagues (winner means having top scoring team only in each league), The FFPC will award $150 per team (in FFPC dollars towards future FFPC Leagues) to:The 6 league winners ANDthe other 30 owners on that team's side.That is correct, if either side gets a clean sweep, ALL 36 PLAYERS on that team get $150 towards future FFPC Sat leagues or the Main Event. However, if one side wins 5 leagues and the other wins 1, no one gets anything. Hence the word "bonus". Retail value is $5400

I am a Pro in the 6th Division-Irvin's "Candy" Store

Thursday, August 13th, 9:00 pm EST

Fantasy Hulks,MVN.com,FFGuidebook.com (slam),Pigskin Addiction,Fighting Chance Fantasy,MockDraftCentralJoes- ColtsFan, Bald is Beautiful, Azzurri, Zeus, Angry Zygotes, Shifty50

Here is the draft order;

Draft Order

1 Shifty50

2 Pigskin Addiction

3 Bald is Beautiful

4 MockDraftCentral

5 Zeus

6 MVN.com

7 ColtsFan

8 Fantasy Hulks

9 Angry Zygotes

10 Fighting Chance Fantasy

11 Azzurri

12 FFGuidebook.com

Fantasy Football Tips-Latest book from Sam Hendricks!

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95 Amazon and BN) has sold more copies than Fantasy Football Guidebook in the 2 short months of release. It currently resides at 6th in Amazons Fantasy Football book list just behind Fantasy Football Almanac 2009 and ahead of Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($26.95 hardback /$19.95 paperback).

Many have asked for MY advice on how to play and win at fantasy football.

How do you calculate your rankings?

Which tactics do you use in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF)?

How did you do so well (7th overall in 2008) in the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC)?

Fantasy Football Tips provides 201 exclusive tips from the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook.

"It is the Best of Fantasy Football Guidebook. In the guidebook I provide everything I know about Fantasy Football. Some strategies/tactics/tips I do not agree with, but provided anyway to give a comprehensive guide, to get the information out there. Now I can reveal which strategies I use and which I ignore. What is my way and what is not."

Available at Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

NFL News-Chris "Beanie Wells injured; D. Mason back with BAL

Chris "Beanie" Wells the AZ rookie RB who just signed with the team, rolled his ankle in his first practice. According to reports he left the field on a cart. That is never a good sign in my opinion, although he was smiling. His smile no doubt came from the fact that the ink was dry on his new contract. This is something to watch but do not overreact, wait and lets get more facts before you start trading for Tim Hightower. Hightower may have started as the RB1 in any case; but this bodes well for him and not Wells due to Beanie probably missing some PT.

Derrick Mason ended his "retirement" (I know how that feels) and returned to the Baltimore Ravens. I drafted him in the Fantasy Index Magazines Expert Auction which is a Draft Masters (best ball) format. of course this draft was in mid May before he retired. I was not looking forward to his goose egg on my bench the entire season (no FA moves in DM format).

And as a bonus Tarvaris Jackson (competiting with Sage Rosenfels for Min QB1) apparently hurt his knee in practice. Rumors are that it is a MCL. Does anyone else see this is as another chance for Brett Favre to change his mind and come back to save the Vikings? Oh my.

Author,
Fantasy Football Guidebook ($26.95/$19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602640203

Fantasy Football Tips ($9.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Guidebook-Award winner with great reviews!

Fantasy Football Guidebook ($26.95 hardback and $19.95 paperback, Amazon has paperback on sale at $17.95 10% off) is highly praised.

1) Finalist in the Sports category of the 2009 National Indie Excellence Awards

2) Named one of Top 4 Fantasy Football books of All-Time by RotoNation.com

3) Award-Winning Finalist in the Sports category of the National Best Books 2008 Awards, sponsored by USA Book News

Reviews:
"Fantasy Football has been a major pastime for football fans and those who dream to be a coach."Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football" is a complete and comprehensive strategy guide for those who have taken a liking to the game and want to get an edge on their opponents. Covering the history of the concept alongside the strategies, "Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football" is an ideal gift for any fantasy football player and recommended for community library sports collections." -- --Midwest Book Review, July 11, 2008--

"Whether you're a beginner to fantasy football or a vet, a local league guy or a high stakes player, a redrafter or auctioneer, Hendricks has you covered. What a great book!"
-- Rob Zarzycki, Author of Drafting to Win

Amazon Reviews: (9 and ALL 5 Stars)
-"Probably the best fantasy football book yet written"
-"Great Book For Any and All FF Owners, Regardless of Experience!"
-"How to win at Fantasy Football"
-"An ideal gift for any fantasy football player"
-"Outstanding!"
-"Awesome book!"

Available at Amazon (http://tinyurl.com/ncsetb) and
Barnes and Noble (http://tinyurl.com/ner696)