ID-Top 25 LB Rankings

Here is a quick look at my Individual Defensive Players (IDP) Top 25 Linebackers for 2011

Player Name Team
1 Patrick Willis SF
2 Jon Beason CAR
3 James Laurinaitis STL
4 Paul Posluszny BUF
5 Jerod Mayo NE
6 D. J. Williams DEN
7 Barrett Ruud TB
8 Curtis Lofton ATL
9 Desmond Bishop GB
10 Lawrence Timmons PIT
11 Ray Lewis BAL
12 Demeco Ryans HOU
13 London Fletcher-Baker WAS
14 Karlos Dansby MIA
15 Chad Greenway MIN
16 Jonathan Vilma NO
17 Lance Briggs CHI
18 Brian Urlacher CHI
19 Steven Tulloch TEN
20 David Harris NYJ
21 Derrick Johnson KC
22 DeMarcus Ware DAL
23 Brian Cushing HOU
24 DeAndre Levy DET
25 Gary Brackett IND







Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

NFL games will expand to three nights a week in 2014. 16 Thursday night games!!!

As negotiations continue between the NFL and NFLPA, word has leaked out that starting in 2014 the NFL will move towards games on three nights. In addition to Sunday and Monday night football, Thursday will have a game every week as well. If the NFL moves to a 18 game season (which is on the negotiating table too) that would mean 18 more televised games and the revenues that go along with that coverage. Hopefully those games will go to ESPN or at least be split between the NFL network and ESPN.

The move to Thursday night games every week could occur in 2012 with a restructuring of the TV contracts for CBS and Fox. This is not unprecedented so 2012 could see an 18 game season and a game on every Thursday night. Fantasy Football may be going to an entirely new level...




Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

Latest on World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF) situation

Sorry folks to keep harping on this but I feel like the word needs to get out. Things are not looking good there.

Latest developments:
1) Fantasy Players Association (FPA) sent a message to the WCOFF asking for answers to why 2010 winners had not been fully paid. The WCOFF politely replied back that they would not answer the FPA

2) Posts at the National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) message board replied that the 2010 World Championship of Fantasy Baseball (WCOFB) grand prize winner has not been paid in full from last year. This would put the amount owed previous winners of 2010 football and baseball into 6 digit territory.

3) The WCOFF were a no-show at the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) annual conference and the FSTA did not seem to tackle the non payment issue directly.

4) Speculation continues about why the WCOFF has not attempted customer service damage control during this "transition" to new owners.

5) The two other major high stakes competitions (Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) and National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) continue to ramp up there offerings in an apparent attempt to gain the fleeing WCOFF customers. They sense "blood in the water".

I hope all 2010 WCOFF and WCOFB winners are paid in full and those who rolled over winnings into 2011 can get that cash if desired.





Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

NFL.com opens their Fantasy Football league management site for 2011...Fantasy 11'

Even though we do not have a NFL 2011 season yet, NFL.com recently unveiled their fantasy football leagues.

Fantasy 11' offers some new league features for 2011:
-Custom schedules
-Keepers
-Individual Defensive Players (IDP)

Improvements have come in their app support, live stats and reseach areas.

Lets hope we have a season to test these new improvements!






Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

Small glimmers of hope from NFL/NFLPA secret negotiations?

A few industry insiders have dropped hints that the secret negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA have gone well. While no deal is done as of yet, this promising development is more hope than NFL fans have had for months.

I predict a deal is done by the middle of July at the latest and we have a full 16 game season with a 18 game season in 2012 or 2013.

Of course I am also on record as predicting the sucessful voyage of the Titanic too.

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

Several fantasy football companies in trouble for non-payment of 2010 winners

The list of companies who have yet to fully pay their winners is growing. Please, please research their situations before committing to play in these contests this year.


World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF)

Sportsbuff and Rapid Draft have accusations of non payment surface recently.

Add this to previous years issues with AFFL, Fantasy Jungle and FFOC and you have a potentially dangerous situation brewing for 2011.

The Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) (Note-Not the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) of which I am a member) meets this coming week to discuss these non payment issues and their affect on the players of fantasy football. We can only hope that the FSTA takes a tough stance on their companies!!!


Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

Why I took a 2 week med cruise this summer?

I am in a quandary. I do not know whether to quit on the NFL and FF this year or just wait it out quietly and hope for the best. I can see both sides of the coin.

I decided to go on a 2 week cruise with my family the end of may thru the first week in June. It was great. No football talk. Just sunshine, mid 70 temperatures and exotic locations such as Venice Italy Athens Greece and Istanbul Turkey. I never would have gone on vacation then in a normal year because Expert drafts for magazines are usually held then and all of the rankings and projections for those magazines articles are due then too. But you know what...I saw this train wreck coming. If ever there was a May-June for traveling, this lockout infected year was the ticket. So there I was enjoying the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini and not missing a thing. But I digress...

What is a Fantasy footballer to do this year?

I think you have 3 options:

1) Skip FF this year. Just blow it off and do not worry about anything FF in 2011. The rookies will have less impact due to the reduced OTA time, more injuries will occur and (dare I say it) there will be more luck in 2011 than in previous years. I hate luck. Unfortunately, as much as I talk about skipping 2011, I know IF a deal is worked out I will miss FF if I skipped it. NOTE: I am already committed to the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) Main Event for their $200,000 Grand Prize. How is that for will power?

2) Play FF but wait until a deal is done and then only go for smaller entry fee contests. I know I know I hear all the HSFF operators going collectively "You're killing me Slam". But hey lets call a spade a spade. Many HSFF players have money in WCOFF and that cash may not be forth coming. Anyone who takes a bath by a company that does not pay out is going to be twice as shy about jumping back in to the HSFF arena. If this is the case, or the reasons posted above make you nervous, but you still want your FF fix, then go with the lower cost FF leagues($60, $77, $125, $250) and play a few of them to keep the buzz.

3) Go with a High Stakes Fantasy Football league (Like FFPC or NFFC).


I will keep you posted on my activities as the summer progresses.

Right now I am still watching NFL Total Access and peeking in on great information sites like www.Footballguys.com and www.Footballdiehards.com. I ma thinking about ordering my local leagues draft board from www.draftkit.com (Aw what the heck I will order it today)

But I am ignoring all of the hoopla about the NFL lockout. Those vacation pictures sure look good.




Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF) has yet to resume paying 2010 winners

Unfortunately the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF) has not completed their transition of ownership. They have not re-started their late payments to winners from 2010. Some winners have been paid, others have not. Significant money is owed to 2010 winners.

The following statement sums up their current situation.

"On April 25th we announced the World Championship of Fantasy Football and Baseball was in the process of transitioning ownership of the business.
We are still in the process of working through a transaction and unfortunately the process is taking longer than expected."

They had previously stated a 30-45 day window for the transition.

These are sad days for the first high stakes FF league I ever played in. I will not be participating in the World Championhsip of Fantasy Football this year.

It is my hope that all players owed money will be paid as soon as possible.

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

No fantasy football magazines at the bookstores. Fantasy Football Almanac 2011 is available!

First the bad news, magazines like Fantasy Football Index and Fantasy Football Draftbook will not be published this year due to the lockout and ongoing NFL and NFLPA issues.

The good news, there is still a resource for the fantasy football season which I believe we will have. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011 is available now at BN, Amazon and other online retailers. Ask for it in your local BN or Border store and they can order it if they do not have it in stock at the time of your request.

It includes the 2011 NFL pre, regular and post season schedules, 2010 statistics by player, position and team, projections for 2011 and player rankings for multiple leagues.


Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

Yahoo unveils Fantasy Football Leagues for 2011 and some needed upgrades

Finally, another thing to help get you in the mood for Fantasy Football. What with all the pessimism floating in the air (Lockout talk and lost season malaise) it is good to have another motivator. The first was the release of Fantasy Football Almanac 2011 last month. There may not be any FF magazines coming out this year folks!

June started with YAHOO starting signups for their 2011 leagues. I know, I know, YAHOO leagues are not for everyone. But to be fair the price is right. Free...so if you are running a local league they are the best no-cost option and they have made some upgrades for 2011.

Here are the most significant:

1) ADDED Scoring categories-One of my biggest beefs with YAHOO was their limited scoring options with the free leagues. That is improving. This year they added such categories as PICK 6, tackles for a loss, long TD bonuses, 4th down stops and Defensive yards allowed. Personally I hate the long TD bonuses but a 4th down stop should be as good as a safety (2 pts) in most leagues and a sliding point scale for DEF yds allowed can improve the DEF scoring too. PICK 6 is a INT that goes back for a TD by the defenders. These interceptions should be worth twice as many negative points in my opinion (so -1 for a INT, -2 for a Pick 6 INT)

2) Yahoo allows franchises so new owners can take over an existing team and its keepers and any past draft picks gained or lost from trades. Think Dynasty and keeper leagues.

3) Co-managers can now exist

4) Draft picks can be traded now

All in all good improvements. Lets hope we have a 2011 season to try them out.

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936635003

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12

NFL Lockout drags on so I went on vacation.

Many of you noticed I had not posted for over 3 weeks. Well I went on vacation.
2 weeks in the Eastern Med on a cruise with family. Venice, Croatia, Athens Greece, Instanbul Turkey to name a few places. Great time. And I did not miss anything.
The NFL and NFLPA are still where they were 3 weeks ago.

This could be a long, boring summer friends.

Fantasy Football Almanac 2011: The Essential Fantasy Football Reference Guide (10.95) now only $7.38 (32% off) http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-Almanac-2011/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635009/?itm=11

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Basics: The Ultimate "How to" Guide for Beginners available ($10.95) at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428634

Fantasy Football Guidebook (2nd Edition): Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95) http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982428650

Fantasy Baseball for Beginners: The Ultimate "How-to" Guide ($10.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428693

Fantasy Football (Soccer to Yanks): The Ultimate "How-to" Guide for Fantasy Football/Fantasy Soccer ($14.95) Now 32% off at $10.08. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Fantasy-Football-for-Beginners/Sam-Hendricks/e/9781936635016/?itm=12