I love buffets! I walk in and a huge smile can’t help but be plastered all over my face. I especially love the Multi-Plex buffets. You know the type: five different sections with three food tables in each section. Yep, 15 troughs of gastronomical delights. One can look at drafts in much the same way. Running backs, the meat of the draft, are the staple to any fine buffet. There is a fine line between a juicy prime rib or dried out roast beef. Be choosy — one cannot live on meat alone. Wide Receivers, the carb-side dishes– many great choices so no need to rush. On down to the veggie bar, the kickers: if I must have one, give me a stir fry broccoli.

Fantasy football buffet: so many choices that look good upon first inspection, but with a slight twist - I have only 60 seconds to decide on a dish and once someone chooses a dish it’s gone. Actually sounds like a great way to spend an evening with a few drunken buddies on a Thursday night. “For my first pick I choose the smoked brisket”… “Hey, I’ll trade you the corned beef and twice baked potatoes for the fried chicken”… “NO DEAL! I already have mashed potatoes!” OK, sorry let me refocus here.

What can you do to make your fantasy buffet a productive experience that instead of gas pains and heartburn leads to championships, pride and maybe some cash? One very simple but highly effective tool is using a tier system to dominate your draft. For those new to the concept let me break down what I mean by tiers.

We all go into drafts with our top 200 sheets along with our rankings broken down by position. These are the basics - the must haves. When looking at the positional rankings there will be a point when the projected outcome of the players above that point is significantly better than those below that point. For example Steven Jackson is the fifth ranked running back on ESPN’s RB ratings, with Frank Gore coming at number six. That is where my tier 1 ends and tier 2 starts. I like both this year and I consider them both top running backs; however there will be a difference in output between the two. You continue this dividing through the rest of each position’s rankings. I generally have four tiers for running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks, three for tight ends, and two for Def/ST and kickers. But why go to all this trouble…well keep reading and I’ll make my case.

Reason #1: Planning ahead

While you could quickly and without much thought develop a tier system, to do it correctly, spend some time researching those fringe players. The difference between tier 1 and 2 is, in most cases, easy to see; however the difference between a tier 2 and 3 player may be much more subtle. Ask yourself these questions: what is the quality of their line; strength of the defensive schedule (both overall and playoff weeks); what is the emphasis of their offense; are they the primary back up; injury status (or risk of injury), are they more likely to play from behind; are they an every down player or a situational player. You will find that if researched appropriately, there will be a definite divide in your tiers. Just arming yourself with this information will make you a better draft manager.

Reason #2: Take a picture; Avoid the runs

Once you have your tiers in place you will have a snap shot of where the value is in the draft. You will see that some tiers and positions are extremely deep, while others lack depth. Let’s say you reach the fourth round and you went RB, RB, QB and consequently all of your tier 1 WR are gone. For the unprepared drafter panic will set in and drafts can be compromised. Take a breath and look at your tiers. What you will see is that tier 2 WR is an absolutely deep commodity with tons of great bargains. So if there is a RB you see as a great value in the fourth round and most likely won’t make it back to you in the fifth, don’t hesitate to pick him up.

An unfortunate side effect of draft panic is the dreaded runs (also a side effect of a bad buffet). When a run happens you see players drafted well ahead of their projected value. QBs and TEs tend to be the positions that incur this phenomenon most often. Runs are the playground of the frightened and weak; you’re not weak, are you?

By the way taking a picture of your runs (buffet style) is always a bad idea…unless you are showing them to said drunken buddies. 

Reason #3: Don’t play the name game; let the numbers do the talking

Tiers will force you to look at a player’s numbers rather than his names. If there was one thing I learned from GI Joe cartoons was that knowledge is power. Last year it was Shaun Alexander and this year it will be Larry Johnson. Guys who two years ago may have been draft 1 and 2 are now players that we need to be leery of. You have done the research and compiled your rankings, so trust yourself. Don’t feel pressured into a sloppy pick; let the ignorant draft LJ at number eight.

And finally…

Reason #4: Use ADP to enhance the tier system

This is where leagues are won and lost; where draft managers become draft experts. As part of my tier sheet I always add the most up to date Average Draft Position (ADP) for each player. Finding those hidden gems is all well and good, but drafting them three rounds too early effectively nullifies their value. I look at a guy like Vincent Jackson (Chargers WR) as a perfect example of this. I have him down as a tier 2 WR but his ADP is 139. I call that value…if he is taken in the 10th round or later. If he pans out and has a great year I’m a genius; if he flops, so what — I used a deep pick on him. As a reminder to myself I will highlight or bold print players that I view as sleepers.

Let’s say I am in the tenth round of my draft and I am trying to decide between a handcuff to my number one RB or adding depth at WR. With a quick glance at my tier sheet I can see how many tier 2 WR are available. If there are several whose ADP indicate that they will be available in the upcoming rounds I take the handcuff. However if the well of tier 2 wide receivers is about dried up and my running back’s ADP indicates he will be there in a later round I go WR.

Using tiers can only strengthen your drafting abilities. Let your buddies choose between the cold broiled chicken and the overcooked green beans while you enjoy your crab legs. Good Luck!

Check out my blog – ffbcommunity. I have just added my rankings and tiers for Quarterbacks along with their current ADP.

Here is another post to help you get those rusty fantasy gears oiled and moving again. I have a quick little four round mock draft for you to look over to get an idea of how some fantasy savvy bloggers/writers and I value many of the top players.

The scoring format was based on a standard system other then the fact that QB’s will get 6 points per TD.

If you are wondering about my picks, they are in bold and I will provide a little insight as to why I chose them below (your thoughts are welcome encouraged).

Oh and one more thing, make sure you stop by each of these blogs and add them to your reader or sign up for email updates - links to the sites are in the first round. That way you will never, EVER miss even a morsel of fantasy football information from now until you are counting your first place cash.

Check it out!

Round 1

1. Curveballs 4 Jesus: L. Tomlinson
2. Sean McCall/Football Outsiders: A. Peterson
3. Football Burrito: J. Addai
4. Pancake Blocks: S. Jackson
5. West Coast Nonsense: B. Westbrook
6. Bruno Boys: T. Brady
7. The Hazean: M. Barber
8. Football Jabber: F. Gore
9. Fantasy Football Fools: C. Portis
10. Fantasy Football Geek Blog: M. Lynch
11. Fantasy Football Goat: Larry Johnson
12. Fantasy Football Librarian: Randy Moss

Round 2

1. Fantasy Football Librarian: Reggie Wayne
2. Fantasy Football Goat: Terrell Owens
3. FF Geek Blog: Ryan Grant
4. FF Fools: Braylon Edwards
5. Jabber: Peyton Manning
6. Hazean: Willis McGahee
7. Bruno Boys: Brandon Jacobs
8. West Coast Nonsense: Larry Fitzgerald
9. Pancake Blocks: Andre Johnson
10. Football Burrito: MJ Drew
11. Sean McCall/Football Outsiders: L. Mauroney
12. C4J: Drew Brees

Round 3

1. Curveballs 4 Jesus: Jamal Lewis
2. Sean McCall/Football Outsiders: Marques Colston
3. Football Burrito Tony Romo
4. Pancake Blocks: Chad Johnson
5. West Coast Nonsense: T.J. Housh
6. Bruno Boys: Steve Smith
7. The Hazean: Brandon Marshall
8. Football Jabber: Plaxico Burress
9. Fantasy Football Fools: Edgerrin James
10. Fantasy Football Geek Blog: Torry Holt
11. Fantasy Football Goat: Santonio Holmes
12. Fantasy Football Librarian: Reggie Brown

Round 4

1. Fantasy Football Librarian: Ronnie Brown
2. Fantasy Football Goat: Earnest Graham
3. FF Geek Blog: Anquan Boldin
4. FF Fools: Michael Turner
5. Jabber: LenDale White
6. Hazean: Carson Palmer
7. Bruno: Darren McFadden
8. West Coast Nonsense: Willie Parker
9. Pancake Blocks: Jonathan Stewart
10. Football Burrito: Wes Welker
11. Sean McCall/Football Outsiders: Jason Witten
12. Curveballs 4 Jesus: Lee Evans

My Round One Choice
I was all over Marshawn Lynch until Matt and Brandon over at FFGeeksBlog wisely picked him just before me (props to them) which led me to taking Larry Johnson.

I’m not crazy about taking him considering the laundry list of question marks surrounding his supporting staff; the line, the QB and experience in general. But he’s the best player on his team (equaling touches), an every down back (rare these days) and has a schedule filled with “projected” weak run D’s.

Add to that the fact that you gotta think he’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder after a dismal 2007. I’ll take my chances.

My Round Two Choice
I took T.O. The running back pool drops of some right here and I think I can get some some decent value later. I was thinking QB with 6 points per TD but again, I think there will be some value in the later rounds. I am going to make sure I have a solid WR1 and take Terrell Owens before they get run on (long time until my next pick).

My Round Three Choice
I was not that excited about any of the running backs left and I think there is some good value at QB to be had in the later rounds. So, I am going to take Santonio Holmes.

He’s a number one on a fairly pass happy team and he seems to get a little better every year. In my opinion, he is a very solid WR2 (arguably even low end WR1).

My Round Four Choice
I took Ernest Graham. A potentially reduced workload with Warrick Dunn in town presents some risk but he is a good value in round 4. And I don’t think Cadillac will be a factor - at least until much later on in the season.

Bottom line, a very solid RB2 who runs behind a good offensive line and plays on a team that will run and play ball control against an accommodating schedule.

Again, I invite any comments or questions you might have.

There you have it. I want to thank all the bloggers and writers that participated. And most importantly, I want to thank you for reading this.

Here’s something to help get your wheels turning in preparation for your fantasy football draft. After devouring every podcast, scanning the mock draft results over on Fantasy Football Calculator’s ADP tool and reading piece after piece of fantasy football information over the past few weeks, I have started to compile a list of players who I - and other people in the know - think will either provide great value in your fantasy football draft or simply come out of nowhere to help out your squad.

So here they are, a few players who are not getting a ton of respect… which is fine when they are falling to you.

Quarterbacks

Mark Bulger (STL) - Last year his line was hammered and then so was he. They Rams lost a few o-line starters for the entire season - including the All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace - and there was only one man who started 16 games on the line - each at different position.

He has been the 12th QB taken which means people are forgetting that just a year ago - with a healthy line - he was considered top six. That equals value. You could stock up running backs and receivers when you can get a QB like this later in the draft.

With a healthy line and a suspect defense expect the Rams offense to bounce back and be required to score often.

Jake Delhomme (CAR) - If his shoulder holds up - and there is no reason to think it won’t at this point - Jake offers tremendous value being the 14th QB taken on average. His line will be healthy, he has Steve Smith, old reliable Moose and newcomer D.J. Hackett. All of which should be able to help him get into the swing of things.

Running backs

Thomas Jones (NYJ) - An upgraded line and weak schedule versus the run could equal a return to the top ten for Thomas Jones this year. He is getting up there in age but the man has some pride. I don’t think it is a stretch for him to go over 1000 yards and pick up 10+ TD’s this year and getting production like that in the 4th or 5th round is a pretty good deal.

Ernest Graham (TB) - Ernest also has a good line, will be the primary runner and yet he is getting no respect. On average, he has been the 22nd running back taken. Even if Warrick Dunn steals a few carries it won’t be in the red zone. And what about the Cadillac? I for one won’t be holding my breath. He shouldn’t be a factor until late in the season if at all.

Ricky Williams (MIA) - I see Ronnie Brown getting the love everywhere but last time I checked, he isn’t even on the practice field and has admitted that “I have a long way to go.” Ricky has been looking great in practice and is on a mission to shake his past. Don’t believe me, read this Miami Herald article. Bottom line, he will come very cheap and you could do a lot worse with some of your late round picks.

Wide Receivers

Bobby Engram (SEA) - With Deion Branch in serious doubt until late in the season and D.J. Hackett catching balls in Carolina, someone has to get the ball in a very pass happy offense. Why not Mr. Old Reliable? Sure he wants more cash but he’s old school, a gamer and most importantly in camp. You could get him late and have a very solid WR2 or WR3 on your hand hands (maybe even better in PPR leagues).

Chad Jackson (NE) - I am not completely sold on this myself but I think that Doug at Football Burrito made a compelling case in our bloggers mock draft.

In week 12 of the 2007 season the Eagles decided to get physical with Randy Moss bumping him at the line with help over the top. Moss was shut down, and from week 12 through the play-offs other teams copied the Eagles approach. With Moss shut down, Welker got 143 yards receiving against the Eagle and for the rest of the year Moss hardly did anything while Welker flourished. This is not a small sample size either we are talking about 9 games! While one of your friends grabs Randy Moss in the first round, grab Welker in the 4th and remind them every week when Welker outperforms Moss.

Tight ends

Ben Utecht (CIN) - The former Colt is now with the Bengals. The word is that he should be in line to pick up Chris Henry’s work. You and I both know that their offense can get it done and we both know that their defense can’t get it done. Sooo there should be plenty of balls to go around in Cinci right? I’d give you his ADP but I can’t find it. Now how’s that for a sleeper.

Defenses

Baltimore D - Think about it, last year at this time they were considered an elite fantasy defense but then the injury bug hit, their offense barely helped and the slowly faded. Now they are healthy. So once the run on defenses starts, don’t worry. Chances are you’ll be able to snap up the Ravens a little later than usual this year. They have been the 10th defense taken on average in mock drafts according to Fantasy Football Calculator’s ADP tool.

So do you agree or disagree?

Or did I miss anyone? Feel free to offer up your opinion in the comments below.

Oh, and stay tuned. This list is only about half complete right now. I am sure I will come up with more and more as training camps progress.

With training camps in full swing, our favorite teams all have a long list of questions that need to be answered. Fantasy football owners are also gearing up and preparing for the season, and just like their professional counterparts they face their own unique uncertainties that need to be answered before heading into the draft. Who are the number two running backs, who are the tenth round sleepers, or how will Mike Shanahan f with us this year? However the biggest question facing owners may just be where to take Tom Brady in the draft.

Currently Brady is the fourth player being taken off the boards on ESPN’s live drafts. His Average Draft Position (ADP) is a 4.8 and he is the #6 ranked player overall. So if you are sitting there with the number 4 pick — do you take him? Let’s break down the numbers and take a look at what drafting Brady early (or any QB for that matter) can do to the overall landscape of your draft. I will be using ESPN ADP player list and their project point values according to ESPN’s standard scoring system.

Let’s say we are in a standard 12 team league, you are Team D and have the fourth pick and I am Team E and have the fifth pick. To simplify matters I went to the fourth round for both teams whereby at the end of that round both teams would have a QB, two RB’s and WR. I will use the ADP list to determine which player each team will draft. So let’s start the draft.

Team D’s fist pick is Brady, Team E gets Joseph Addai. The second round sees Team E pick up Braylon Edwards and Team D get MJD. In the third round Team D selects Laurence Maroney and team E gets Drew Brees. In the fourth round Team E gets Thomas Jones and Team D gets Santonio Holmes. (Actually according to the ADP list team D would have chosen Derek Anderson so I had them choose the best available WR on the list). Using ESPN scoring system Team D projected points would be 808 for the 4 starter and Team E 865 points. Advantage ME.

Obviously a productive draft is not decided after 4 rounds; however, these first few picks can get things going in the right direction. What it comes down to is that in most cases a championship fantasy team has to have depth at RB. Of the top 10 projected QBs, eight of them started all 16 games with an average of 15.7 games played while the top 10 RBs only had three players start all 16 games averaging only 13.9 games. Fact is you can go the whole season using one QB plus a bye-week fill in, whereas more than likely you will need to replace your stud RB with a capable fill-in at least one week during the season. Add to that the fact that you will need at least two RBs in your starting line up and the lack of depth is compounded.

I have participated in a couple of mock drafts recently and noticed a disturbing trend for those teams that drafted Brady. In one draft Brady was selected seventh and in another he was selected fourth. Both teams were very similar in make up, even aside from them drafting Brady. In rounds two and three they both chose big name WRs even though there were some high end tier two backs left on the board. Finally in the fourth round they chose their first running backs. Both teams top RB’s (Rudi Johnson and Earnest Graham) are lower end tier two type players that have some significant question marks to their fantasy values. Both owners knew after round one that running backs were going to be a weakness on their team and tried to make up for it by making the strength of their team at WR. They both went on to choose a TE in the fifth round. Once again, they went after a big name instead of adding depth at RB causing both of their number two RB’s (both chosen in the sixth round) to be of tier three-type quality (Joseph Forte of the Bears and Julius Jones of the Seahawks).

Skipping Brady early will allow for more flexibility in your draft and depth at your running back positions. Both of the owners who selected Brady in the live drafts were forced to build their drafts through WRs, a position that traditionally has a lot of value late into drafts. Consequently the value of their running backs is based upon the need for other teams’ first and second stringers to get hurt and taking flyers through the wavier wires. There is value to be had in rounds three and four at the quarterback position. Brees (29.7 ADP), Ben Rothlisberger (34.1), Carson Palmer (36.2), and Anderson (47.4) are all available after the second round.

I say let the rookie gloat over taking Brady at number four and watch him cry while trying to decide if Fred Taylor or LenDale White should be his number one RB.

If you are anything like me, you are starving for any football discussion that doesn’t include Brett Favre (please make it stop!). So, I figured I would give you an update on a little mock draft that some very football savvy bloggers and I have been participating in over the last week or so.

So far, not many surprises but round two is a pick away and there are usually a few head turners to be had. Check it out.

Oh, and before I forget, make sure you stop by each of these blogs and add them to your reader (or sign up for email updates). That way you will never, ever miss even a morsel of fantasy football information from now until you are counting your first place cash.

Here ya go:

1. Curveballs 4 Jesus: L. Tomlinson

2. Sean McCall: A. Peterson

3. Football Burrito: J. Addai

4. Pancake Blocks: S. Jackson

5. West Coast Nonsense: B. Westbrook

6. Bruno Boys: T. Brady

7. The Hazean: M. Barber

8. Football Jabber: F. Gore

9. Fantasy Football Fools: C. Portis

10. Fantasy Football Geek Blog: M. Lynch

11. Fantasy Football Goat: Larry Johnson

12. Fantasy Football Librarian: Randy Moss

I was all over Marshawn Lynch until Matt and Brandon over at FFGeeksBlog wisely picked him just before me (props to them) which led me to taking Larry Johnson.

I’m not crazy about taking him considering the laundry list of question marks surrounding his supporting staff: the line, the QB and experience in general. But he’s the best player on his team (equaling touches), an every down back (rare these days) and has a schedule filled with “projected” weak run d’s.

Add to that the fact that you gotta think he’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder after a dismal 2007. I’ll take my chances.

This division lacks a little up front, and the effort trickles down from there. Subpar efforts and lack of healthy players on the line and in the backfield have created an uphill battle for these West Coast teams. That said, Seattle and St. Louis have been the most successful teams from this division, and that success is tied to the guys up front. Consider how much the loss of Orlando Pace hurt the Rams last year.

Seattle Seahawks (1st in NFC West, 7th in Conference)
If you want a safe bet on draft day, then grab whoever emerges as the lead runner for the Seahawks. The lack of production last year had more to do with the decline of Shaun Alexander than it had to do with the linemen.

LT Walter Jones
LG Mike Wahle
C Chris Spencer
RG Ray Sims
RT Sean Locklear

St. Louis Rams (2nd in NFC West, 8th in Conference)
Obviously a healthy Orlando Pace will go a long way toward improving the play of his unit from a year ago, but a healthy quarterback (Marc Bulger) and running back (Steven Jackson) need to return to form this year for the team to turn the corner on offense.

LT Orlando Pace
LG Mark Setterstrom
C Brett Romberg
RG Richie Incognito
RT Alex Barron

Arizona Cardinals (3rd in NFC West, 13th in Conference)
This group is still finding his way as they try to build around Levi Brown, but expect marked improvement from this unit in 2008 with Russ Grimm leading the way.

LT Mike Gandy
LG Reggie Wells
C Al Johnson
RG Deuce Lutui
RT Levi Brown

San Francisco (4th in NFC West, 15th in Conference)
They seem to have solid tackles in Joe Staley and Jonas Jennings, though Jennings has had a hard time staying on the field due to injury. They should improve from another year of playing together as a unit, but who they will be blocking for is a guess with quarterback Alex Smith and running back Frank Gore both needing to prove they can stay healthy.

LT Joe Staley
LG Adam Snyder
C Eric Heitmann
RG Daavid Baas
RT Jonas Jennings

This is another post in a series in which we go division by division looking at and ranking the most overlooked factor in the success of your fantasy football squad, the offensive line. So you might want to keep an eye out over the next few weeks - which by the way, I have made it easy for you to do because…

In case you didn’t know, subscribing to the Goat is at the all time low price of free. You can subscribe to The Fantasy Football Goat by email and have this stuff in your inbox seconds after I post it or you can subscribe in your feed reader or on your home page. Either way you get the info fast and easy. Don’t understand this whole subscribing thing? Check out this short video on RSS. Isn’t technology great?

The NFC East is the cream of the crop, especially when it comes to the big boys up front. With three of the four teams ranked in the top five in the conference, this is by far the most competitive position in the conference. Dallas and the New York Giants were two of the top teams in the league last year, and Philadelphia and Washington – despite off years in 2007 – are traditionally very tough opponents. What does in this mean in fantasy circles? When in doubt, draft skill players from the NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys (1st in NFC East, 2nd in Conference)

If these guys stay healthy, there isn’t much that is going to get in their way, unless Terrell Owens or Pacman Jones create problems from the inside. With lots of beef up front, Tony Romo will have all day to operate.

LT Flozell Adams
LG Kyle Kosier
C Andre Gurode
RG Leonard Davis
RT Marc Colombo

New York Giants (2nd in NFC East, 3rd in Conference)

The Giants were beasts on the road last season and only got better as the season went on as they rolled up playoff win after playoff win until they were crowned World Champions. It’s funny, this group seemed to get better when tight end Jeremy Shockey was lost for the season with a leg injury. Will the return of Shockey help or hurt? Time will tell.

LT David Diehl
LG Rich Seubert
C Shaun O’Hara
RG Chris Snee
RT Kareem McKenzie

Philadelphia Eagles (3rd in NFC East, 5th in Conference)

The Eagles seem to go as Donovan McNabb goes, but one thing is constant, production from the running back position. And that directly reflects strong play up front. So even if McNabb goes down, expect this line to create running lanes for Brian Westbrook.

LT Tra Thomas
LG Todd Herremans
C Jamaal Jackson
RG Shawn Andrews
RT Jon Runyan

Washington Redskins (4th in NFC East, 10th in Conference)

These guys aren’t the “Hogs” of old, but they hold their own in the trenches. They brought their lunch pals week after week for Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs last year. Can they muster the same effort for a new coach? He’ll have to make them believe.

LT Chris Samuels
LG Pete Kendall
C Casey Rabach
RG Randy Thomas
RT Jon Jansen

This is another post in a series in which we go division by division looking at and ranking the most overlooked factor in the success of your fantasy football squad, the offensive line. So you might want to keep an eye out over the next few weeks - which by the way, I have made it easy for you to do because…

In case you didn’t know, subscribing to the Goat is at the all time low price of free. You can subscribe to The Fantasy Football Goat by email and have this stuff in your inbox seconds after I post it or you can subscribe in your feed reader or on your home page. Either way you get the info fast and easy. Don’t understand this whole subscribing thing? Check out this short video on RSS. Isn’t technology great?

Running the ball, protecting the quarterback and controlling the clock are critical elements of any successful offensive line, and ultimately, any successful offensive. That even includes fantasy football offenses. You don’t just need to draft a good running back, you need to have the horses up front blocking for him. If you want further proof, consider Cleveland’s success last season after signing free agent guard Eric Steinbach and drafting Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas with its first-round pick. The strong line play helped Jamal Lewis rebuild his career. Because of the grind-it-out approach of all AFC North teams, this might be the most competitive group of offensive lines in the conference. Below is the way I see it.

Cleveland Browns (1st in AFC North, 4th in Conference)
As stated above, with Thomas and Steinbach leading the way, this above-average group should dominate for years to come.

LT Joe Thomas
LG Eric Steinbach
C Hank Fraley
RG Rex Hadnot
RT Kevin Shaffer

Pittsburgh Steelers (2nd in AFC North, 7th in Conference)
Losing guard Alan Faneca in free agency hurts, but Pittsburgh has a knack for knowing when to part with veterans. The smart money is on this blue-collar team finding a way to grind it out on the ground.

LT Marvel Smith
LG Chris Kemoeatu
C Justin Hartwig
RG Kendall Simmons
RT Willie Colon

Cincinnati Bengals (3rd in AFC North, 10th in Conference)
Willie Anderson and Levi Jones give this unit strong play from the tackles, but the middle of the line is average at best as Cincinnati rarely generates a push up the middle.

LT Levi Jones
LG Andrew Whitworth
C Eric Ghiaciuc
RG Bobbie Williams
RT Willie Anderson

Baltimore Ravens (4th in AFC North, 11th in Conference)
The only thing exciting about this group was stud tackle Jonathan Ogden, who just retired last week. Is there anybody on the roster ready to lead this group like Ogden did? Time will tell.

LT Jared Gaither or Adam Terry
LG Jason Brown
C Chris Chester
RG Ben Grubbs
RT Marshal Yanda

We are half way through the series in which we go division by division looking at and ranking the most overlooked factor in the success of your fantasy football squad, the offensive line. So you might want to keep an eye out over the next few weeks - which by the way, I have made it easy for you to do because…

In case you didn’t know, subscribing to the Goat is at the all time low price of free. You can subscribe to The Fantasy Football Goat by email and have this stuff in your inbox seconds after I post it or you can subscribe in your feed reader or on your home page. Either way you get the info fast and easy. Don’t understand this whole subscribing thing? Check out this short video on RSS. Isn’t technology great?

Let me first introduce myself for those who may not be familiar with the “Commish Report“. The Commish Report is a blog produced by the self-anointed world’s foremost knowledgeable “Commish” (me). That being said I cover various fantasy sports topics as they relate to the everyday life of the average “American Joe”, or if you are a reader who lives north of the boarder, the everyday life of the average “Canadian Jacques”.

Today’s topic as you could probably can decipher from the title of this article covers the anatomy of producing a live fantasy draft — i.e. what actually goes into creating a successful but yet enjoyable live draft.

If you have never heard of fantasy sports, you have either been serving an extensive prison sentence or have been living in cave with you know who. I am sure you can get internet access in both prison and a cave, so no excuses for you. To briefly bring you up to speed, Wikipedia defines fantasy sports as “a game where fantasy owners build a team that competes against other fantasy owners based on the statistics generated by individual players or teams of a professional sport“. The founding father of an early version of fantasy sports is William A. Gamson, a Harvard professor, though modern history has credited a sportswriter named Daniel Okrent with bringing the world of fantasy, or “rotisserie”, sports to the forefront in 1980. Being the modest man that he is, Gamson does not accept the fact that he invented the fantasy sports genre and gives all the credit to Mr. Okrent. My theory on why he denies to take credit is rooted in the belief that his wife and wives (or significant others) across the world would unite and track down Gamson for stealing away their husbands every Sunday in the fall.

Now that you are caught up with the rich history and tradition of fantasy sports lets focus our attention on creating a successful live fantasy football draft. This summer millions of leagues are already taking shape (according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, roughly 14.7 million Americans played fantasy football last year). Now is the time to start planning a live draft. Just following these easy steps for complete fantasy bliss:

Step 1

I will assume you the reader have already chosen a league commissioner, picked a internet site to run the league and configured the points system of your particular league. These details are a necessary evil to run any successful league but you can always use the default settings of your host site. The most important step is choosing a date for the live draft. This task sounds very easy but from experience I can tell you that this is the hardest step in throwing a successful live draft. It is easier to find Ricky Williams without weed than to get 10-12 owners to all decide on a particular day and time to show up for a draft. End of the summer vacations, weddings, births/deaths, bar/bat mitzvahs, and quinceaneras tend to fill up calendars. That is why one must start drawing up the draft day plan early. In one of my oldest and fondest leagues we have moved our draft this season several times before finally deciding on holding it the night before the NFL season actually kicks-off due to the above-mentioned life distractions (I mean blessed events except for the death one). Decide on the date early and if you are the commissioner have in mind some replacement owners just in case someone backs out at the last minute. There is nothing worse than finding out that an owner has to back out of the league at the last minute because he has to attend his son’s bris (click on the word “bris” if you have no idea what I am talking about, but you have been warned). In the first place, it is not like he is actually performing the “thing”. This now sends you scrambling more than Michael Vick in the prison shower looking for a new owner so that your league does not have an odd number of members (bye-weeks are no fun in the world of fanta and reality).

Step 2

Deciding on the venue of the draft. I prefer to have it at an owner’s house who has wi-fi access for those owners who must Google their intended draftee one last time to make sure they are not in a full body cast. Other great venues for a draft include sports bars with private back rooms so as not disturb other bar patrons when a league owner takes a player in the ninth round who was already taken in the fifth round, or a large conference room at a hotel or an owner’s office. “Destination Drafts” is the latest growing trend in the world of fantasy sports. Similar to destination weddings, destination drafts are drafts that take place at a locale out of town. I have one friend in a league that has drafted in Las Vegas, New York City in the past, while this year his league will be heading south of the boarder to draft in Cancun. I find this type of draft filled with too many distractions. Which leads to the number one post draft day debacle: Drinking and Drafting. Just like in real life its okay to partake in a couple of your favorite tasty ice-cold beverages during a draft, but more than a few and you could be kicking yourself come mid-October when your team roster consists of these guys.

Step 3

Come to the draft prepared. As the commissioner, it is your duty and obligation to supply the most essential tool to make the draft more enjoyable. That tool is the draft kit or draft board. You can buy the draft board on various Internet sites (prices may vary). There is nothing worse than an owner not knowing when it’s his/her turn to draft or an owner who takes the same player two, three, or even four times. As a team owner, spend a few minutes researching on the internet the latest team depth charts and injuries. The Fantasy Sports Review website alone has some expert writers who can help you dominate your league (my editor required me to plug the site at least once in this article or I would not be allowed to continue with this article).

Step 4

A fantasy draft is serious business but it is also a social gathering. Have fun, enjoy yourself, and connect with team owners you only see once or twice a year. Make sure every owner brings lots of food and drink. Every draft has that owner who shows up late, who brought nothing to contribute to draft besides his fantasy magazines and cheat sheets and even has to borrow a pen and/or highlighter. He ends up eating more than double than any other owner, drinking his weight in Homer Simpson’s favorite beverage, and tops it all off by stealing your pen. Yes, you know who I am talking about.

In conclusion, if you follow the Commish Report’s four easy steps for throwing a successful live draft (date, location, preparation, and fun) everything else should fall into place. I cannot guarantee you that you will win your league, finish .500 or even one single game but you will be held in the highest regard by your fanta peers and your legend as the commissioner will grow with each passing fantasy season.

Please feel free to pass along any other draft day planning strategies and/or favorite places to hold a live draft. Until next time, happy planning and good luck remaining stress free.

It has long been stated that football is won in the trenches, and the signing of Michigan tackle Jake Long by the Miami Dolphins as the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft underscores that importance. Since New England has dominated its division foes by giving quarterback Tom Brady all day to pick apart opposing defenses for nearly a decade, it’s clear the Dolphins, Jets and Bills are trying to match the Patriots with strong play up front. Have any of them closed the gap on New England? Stay tuned.

New England Patriots (1st in AFC East, 6th in Conference)
They didn’t do much to consistently establish the run last season, though I guess when you go undefeated in the regular season, it doesn’t matter how you got there. Much like Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning, Tom Brady makes this group better.

LT Matt Light
LG Logan Mankins
C Dan Koppen
RG Stephen Neal
RT Nick Kaczur

New York Jets (2nd in AFC East, 8th in Conference)
With the free agent signings of Alan Faneca and Damien Woody along with the additional seasoning of D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold, this unit appears to be on the upswing. Now if only they could find a quarterback.

LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson
LG Allan Faneca
C Nick Mangold
RG Brandon Moore
RT Damien Woody

Buffalo Bills (3rd in AFC East, 9th in Conference)
The offensive line was one of the few bright spots for this injury-riddled team in 2007. With Jason Peters, who receives praise as one of the best young tackles in the league, paired with guard Derrick Dockery, expect Marshawn Lynch to run left a lot behind this improving unit.

LT Jason Peters
LG Derrick Dockery
C Melvin Fowler
RG Brad Butler
RT Langston Walker

Miami Dolphins (4th in AFC East, 15th in Conference)
The Dolphins move up from the cellar on the strength of Long being named the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft. This 6-foot-7, 325-pound monster should open a few holes for Ronnie Brown.

LT Jake Long (1st overall pick)
LG Justin Smiley
C Samson Satele
RG Shawn Murphy
RT Vernon Carey

This is another post in a series in which we go division by division looking at and ranking the most overlooked factor in the success of your fantasy football squad, the offensive line. So you might want to keep an eye out over the next few weeks - which by the way, I have made it easy for you to do because…

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