Comparative Player Rankings - QB
Comparative Player Rankings - RB
Comparative Player Rankings - WR
Comparative Player Rankings - K
Comparative Player Rankings - DEF
Fox Sports Draft Guide
Comparative Player Rankings - TE (currently n/a)

Contrary to one of the myths surrounding fantasy football that it takes hours to research teams, players, statistics, past performances, and the like, there isn’t really all that much to know – provided you have access to updated Fantasy Football Player Rankings. Oh, sure, there are those who put their heart and soul into fantasy football, but we all start out the same. We all reference our own brand of Fantasy Football cheat sheet.

Without knowing how to pronounce names, or who’s recently been traded and how that trade will affect the team’s dynamics according to preferred offensive formations and overall team dynamics, everybody simply works their way through their cheat sheet from top to bottom. The best players go first and your team is built from the highest ranked player that’s available when it’s your next turn to pick.

Sixteen rounds later, you have a team.

If I were to offer any advice for fantasy football newcomers, it’s to familiarize yourself with the strategy of what position to pick first. Here are my thoughts on that ..

Since the object of the game is to accumulate the most points (and if your league allows it), your first four picks should be high-scoring positions – two running backs and two wide receivers. Why not pick your quarterback first?

Point for point, running backs and wide receivers earn you more points than a quarterback. When you think about it, a quarterback is only as good as his wide receivers. Running backs are basically an entity unto themselves and contribute little to QB points but are the workhorse of any good winning offense, making them a staple in any line-up.

Although the measure of a productive quarterback is reflected in the collective passing yards of his ace receivers, if you land two quality wide receivers, from two different teams of course, you’re looking at a better team than the real thing. Theoretically.

The majority of your points will come from your running back, so choose well. The points that will make or break your roster will come from the air. So again, pick wisely.

QBs earn their points by the collective effort of multiple backs and receivers, which is why the Peyton Mannings and Tom Bradys do so well. But think about it – Manning has favorite clutch receivers that do very well in fantasy football leagues while Brady’s offense is designed to utilize every receiver, reducing individual performance points for receivers from New England.

But don’t just look at the passing game. A mobile QB can rack up points on the ground, running for their lives, even without the record-breaking receptions. That’s why Vince Young, Donovan McNabb and yes, even the aging Jeff Garcia are so coveted.

Essentially, a team rich in offensive weapons is an easy call for the quarterback position. Meaning that, you might not want to select your quarterback from this team. And a talented quarterback doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to select your receivers from his team. But not everyone shares this opinion.

With the first NFL game scheduled for September 6, you’ll want to have your team all ready to go. Use the Fantasy Football Player Ranking Comparison Chart and the Fox Sports’ Draft Guide to help you pick your premiere Fantasy Football team.

There’s a lot of mediocrity out there when it comes to Fantasy Football content.

But you know you’ve found something special when you read something that either raises the hair on the back of your neck, or compels you to supplement the empty flower vases in your home with flowers.

Roger Rotter writes for Fox Sports and he has hit the nail on the head with Top 10 Signs You’re A Fantasy Football Addict (paraphrased):

10. You check your fantasy team’s box score while the rest of the family opens holiday gifts. ‘Tis the season.

9. You’d rather watch a Thanksgiving Day blowout instead of feasting at the dinner table.

8. You miss work for one straight week using the excuse that the DirectTV installer never showed up. You’ll do anything to make sure you know every statistical detail about each fantasy football player to gain an edge on your league foes.

7. You arrive an hour late everywhere because you were picking up players on the waiver wire.

6. You’re the best man at your friend’s wedding and you remember to take your
cell phone to consummate a trade, but not the ring, on the morning of the wedding.

5. While you’re on a romantic night out with your spouse, you sneak away to check your fantasy team in the hotel lobby.

4. You list your fantasy football league entry fee (from time spent researching) as a tax deduction for work-related expenses.

3. The $100 US Savings Bond that was supposed to go to a nephew was spent on a fantasy football entrance fee.

2. You spend more time studying for your fantasy football game than your college final history exams.

1. Your biggest fantasy involves a trophy, and it’s not found at the annual hotdog-eating festival.

Thanks Rotter.

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Fantasy Football Index’s 25-member experts’ poll has never before experienced a unanimous #1 pick .. until now. And who else to reign supreme but none other than the league’s elite, no-risk, 31-touchdown running back, LaDainian Tomlinson.

Further, there are eight other running backs that round out the top-ten overall picks before Peyton Manning even enters the picture at slot #10! So who are the top overall picks according to Fantasy Football Index’s expert poll? I hate to say it (ok, I’m over it) but, the overall player rankings come later.

In the meanwhile, use this comparison chart to round out your Running Back picks.

Your welcome. :)

Here it starts …

Hours after Michael Vick acknowledged his guilt to dogfighting charges on Friday (Aug 24), NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely without pay.

Also from Goodell, “I have advised the Falconsthat, with my decision today, they are no longer prohibited from acting [to attempt to recover $22million of Vick’s signing bonus from the 10-year, $130 million contract he signed in 2004] and are now free to assert any claims or remedies available to them under the Collective Bargaining Agreement or NFL Player Contract.”

Thankfully, the Falcon’s won’t be obligated to pay Vick his $6 million base salary for the season and can use that to go toward his season replacement. Sadly however, Vick will remain on the team’s roster - an action required in order to make a legal claim under the CBA.

On a personal note, I can’t help wonder how s-t-u-p-i-d you have to be to risk a 10-year multi-million dollar income for a “job” that the average Joe would give their right arm for…?! $22 million in BONUSES alone!

I mean, C’mon!

And to think that there are people out there who actually support the guy and think he should be allowed to return to the game. Sure — let Michael Vick be the poster child for “sports heroes extraordinare” that I want my kids to emulate. Because … I want my kids to learn how to mistreat animals, smuggle drugs in a water bottle with a false bottom, and that’s not to mention the questionable inappropriate public behavior.

No, I’m not a Vick fan. Anymore. Good luck sorting it all out, man.

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There are tons o’ leagues to join and some are even free. Depending on your level of adrenalin, you might be the kind to part with some pizza funds for the luxury of realtime Fantasy Football.

OK, so this is a shameless sales pitch, but the way I look at it is, whoever you decide to join, make it a group expense. Or, keep the info to yourself and pay yourself back when you claim !st place at the end of the season.

Whatever you decide, the guys over at FFL Commish have as good a package as any.

Just so you know, their premium package has an early-bird special and 30-day guarantee attached to it.

Fox Fantasy Football has made their 2007 Draft Guide available online. This is a great resource for the skinny on how to play, how to compete, how to create your own league, get players, you name it. Basically, your premiere Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet.

But what I REALLY appreciate is seeing their top rankings (with anecdotal notes) in the following categories:

Top Overall 300 Players
Top 40 QBs
Top 50 RBs
Top 50 WRs
Top 25 TEs
Top 20 Kickers
Top 15 Defences
Sleepers
Flops
Top 10 Draft Tips
Draft Planning Tips
Fantasy Myths and Truths
Roster Worksheet (showing Bye Weeks)
Draft Day League Chart

Honestly, I don’t know how I’d manage my Fantasy Football Player Rankings without this guide!

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OK, here’s phase-1 of my draft project: Fantasy Football Player Rankings Cheat Sheet - QB Comparisons.

Using the same sources, I’ll be following up with comparison charts for RBs, WRs, TEs, Kickers, Special Teams (ST), DLs, DBs, Def, and finally, the top 200 overall draft picks.

I’ve converted the comparison charts to pdf. They’re a little cramped but I’m trying to keep them to a single at-a-glance page. And because of that, I’ve had to resort to listing only 50 players per category. Still, I think it’ll be a handy addition to your draft efforts.

This has been an interesting project for me because, although I understand that many people have different biases, I am genuinely surprised to see how many people seem to be making their predictions out of thin air!

The sources that I selected were chosen for no particular reason, although for the most part, I liked that there was a measurable amount of background to back up predictions. If you’re curious, the sources I settled on using for my own comparisons are:

ESPN Fantasy Football
Fantasy Football Today
AllSorts Sports
Fantasy Insights
RealTime Fantasy Sports
Darned if I can remember the sixth …

Hope these Fantasy Football Player Rankings will be useful tools for you come draft day!

With the first game scheduled for Thursday, September 6, Fantasy Football season is just around the corner. Never mind psyching up for back to school … have you done your draft homework?

I know it’s hard trying to prioritize your picks — what with everyone claiming to be the expert! So to help round out the playing field, I’m in the process of compiling my own research. A good mix of “known resources” with a touch of “unknown resources” and I should have a pretty good impression of the top Who’s Who for this year’s run for football glory.

Although compiling the actual research has been incredibly monotonous, the fun part will be laying all the paper down and crunching numbers — and of course, personal biases. Naturally, I’ll be sharing this information with my readers so that we can all have the Insider Scoop to this year’s Fantasy Football.

Stay tuned. In the meantime, let me help you … get your game on.

Well, hey –

Time being what it is, I’ve put the site’s aesthetics on hold until i get more of it. Contrary to what people think, summer vacation does not necessarily mean “more time.”

What I’m trying to confess is … I haven’t taken the time to upload the new header. Heck, since I’m being honest, I haven’t even designed it yet. Guess it will be a surprise for all of us when it happens ….

OK, I’m cutting corners here … but in the best possible way I can think of.

Facing The Giants is this year’s Insider Fantasy Football theme. Great movie. Great incentive.