Learning the fantasy rules

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008

Leading up until the start of the NFL regular season Sept. 4, as the New York Giants host my beloved Washington Redskins, there must be some draft ground rules to follow and we will get through them together over the next few weeks.

Rule No. 1

No more running back by committee

As I have plenty of years of experience under my belt, I have come to notice something this season after already participating in eight drafts, that being, the running back by committee rule that was so sacred in years past is slowly fading.

In previous years, managers would draft running back-running back-quarterback-running back. However, this year, I am seeing running back-best player available-running back-best player available.

Few still believe in the running by committee, which is understandable, because you want points, points get earned by touches and running backs usually get those touches.

However, only two running backs (San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson and Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook) were in the top 10 in total fantasy points in ESPN’s fantasy leagues.

The other eight are quarterbacks. Only four running backs were in the next 10 spots, the other six are three quarterbacks and three receivers.

Point being, if you can’t get two of the top tier running backs in back-to-back picks, it would better serve you to get a top running back and then strengthen that pick with a best player available pick, usually a quarterback or a top receiver, before going back to select a running back.

I won two leagues last season with Tom Brady and Randy Moss on my squads. How I got the two on the same team in both leagues still baffles me to this day.

Nonetheless, I had Clinton Portis as my running back on one team, and Larry Johnson, who was not even in the top 50 in ESPN scoring, on the other, but I still managed to win both leagues.

How you ask? Taking the best player available after my first running back pick.

It’s a risky move, indeed, but you can add a lot of strength to your team if you are solid across the board rather then having five starting running backs and only being able to start two or three at the most.

Two words for you all, mock draft.