I think, maybe both? Preparing for NFL drafts during baseball season

Written by Xach on June 14, 2005

Well, it's time for me to write another morning article, and as usual there's plenty to discuss this week.

"What's to discuss," you ask?

Fantasy sites have started opening the doors for Fantasy Football fans to create their leagues, Rasheed Wallace is busy calling Manu Ginobili "nothing special," the fantasy baseball landscape is changing rapidly, David Stern is already busy threatening a lockout, and much much more.

So let's get to it.

Getting ready for fantasy football season
It's always tough changing focus for fantasy football when the baseball season is just hitting its stride. After all, football is still several months away. But as a feller once said, the early bird gets the worm.

For the uninitiated, the first order of business is to find a fantasy league that you can enjoy. Among Rotogods, it seems that head-to-head play is the consensus bread winner so far as a fun competition is concerned. If you're new to the game, I suggest you start with a small head to head league. Ten teams is a nice, manageable number that should allow you both enough teams to have a good season and enough NFL players that you won't have to deal with third string running backs and kick returners. Head to head leagues also allow you to do the most trash talking, as you square off against a different opponent each week. If you are new to the fantasy deal and have further questions, drop a Rotogod an email or hit us up on the message boards.

For the initiated and uninitiated alike, it's time to look at the players who you will want to target for the 2005 season. I haven't begun this process yet in ernest, but here are some players to keep in mind who were relatively less important last year than they should be this year:

Ricky Williams: Everyone's favorite toker is said to be returning this year. If he returns, he will have to miss the first 4 games due to a drug suspension he never served. Word on the street is that he has also lost 20 pounds or so since he last played. It's clear that Ricky wants to play, and he was a top 5 running back the last time he set foot on the gridiron. Keep your ears to the ground for any indication that Ricky looks good as the season approaches. If he does, you will want him in the middle-to-late draft rounds.


Steven Jackson: Last season Jackson averaged 5 yards per carry, but only started three games. This year, coach Mike Martz says that Jackson will be the starter while aging superstar Marshall Faulk comes in off the bench. If this is truly the case, Jackson has to be considered among the second tier of viable running back options. The Rams like to pass, so Faulk will likely see a majority of third down opportunities, but Jackson should be a decent option after the top backs are gone and could be a star in the making.

Michael Clayton: This Tampa Bay wide receiver managed 1193 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in his rookie season. This in only 13 starts and with a crappy QB. In a full sophomore season, 1300 yards and 10 TD wouldn't be out of the question. Now then, if Tampa only had a decent QB ...

Jason Witten: Tight end is, without question, the weakest offensive position in fantasy football. So when a 6'5", 261-pound sophomore tight end racks up 980 yards and 7 touchdowns, it's time to take notice. Add notoriously tight end dependent Drew Bledsoe as the new quarterback in town, and you have a terrific coming out party in the makings. The last time Bledsoe was coached by Bill Parcels, a certain tight end named Ben Coates was feeling pretty nice.

Moving on from football -- since I don't have anything else prepared for football today -- I thought I'd rattle off ...

A few thoughts on the fantasy baseball scene

Gary Sheffield: You hear this every season when he gets dinged up, but count me among the people who are running away from Gary right now. He's still got heaps of value, but that's exactly why I just traded him. Yes, I realize that he has a history of playing through injuries, but with his current list of ailments including left wrist tendonitis and sore knees, he certainly hasn't performed well of late. He's batting a paltry .238 over the past 30 days. I think now would be a good time to point out the fact the facts that he had 5 homers in that span and did fine while playing injured last year. Then ship him off for a very nice return. Sure, he might be fine in the end, but he's got enough value as-is that there's no need to be the person worrying about him.


Kelvim Escobar: This is why you trade away pitchers with bone chips the minute they return from the DL and appear absolutely dominant. Our own Junky pointed this out to me when he was looking phenomenal a week or two ago and I immediately recognized the sanity in this argument. File this away under Lessons to Remember Next Time. Or just file it away under Mark Prior a Month From Now. Of course, now I won't be able to trade Mark Prior for anything now that I said this, but hey, I'll sacrifice my savvy for yours since I'm in last place with a million injured players anyway.

Rickie Weeks: I have almost no basis for saying this, but my hunches alone tell me to believe in this kid. Grab him if he's available on your league's waiver wire.

Well kids, that's all for now. I was going to discuss some NBA matters and maybe some pop culture stuff too, but I need to get some sleep, as I just found out a few hours ago that I have a job interview to prepare for at noon today. Wish me luck!

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For comments, suggestions, or to find out how you can make a non-tax deductible donation to Drunks for a New New American Century, you can send Xach an E-mail or post a comment below.

-- Written by Xach on June 14, 2005