Fantasy Football

And we’re back as promised. I have no idea why other than to serve our OCD. But the NFL has spent so much time and effort on this Playoff fantasy Challenge that I think it’s starting to take its toll on us. We’re now doing the devil’s bidding. Helping the corporate machine indoctrinate the masses. Or at least we would be if anyone ever read this site. I wish I could tell you they were paying me. But no, this is painfully being done of my own volition.

But anyhow, the concept is quite simple. The game allots you 300 units to use on whichever players you see fit. Their values fluctuate based on their performance during the season. Once the playoffs start, you are locked in to those eight players for wild card week. After that, you have eight moves to use at your discretion. The one entry amongst the hundreds of thousands that are sure to participate wins a trip to the Superbowl in sorta sunny, sorta enviable Tampa Bay.

I could think of worse places to spend the first week of February.

The premise is simple in theory but difficult in practice. Obviously you want to take players representing teams that you believe have the potential to advance far in the playoffs, but you do not want to put all your chips in one basket (if that team loses, you’re stuck unloading a good portion of your moves in one week), nor do you want to take just any player off a team that you think will reach the Superbowl, but doesn’t score a lot of points (after all, you have eight transactions at your disposal). It’s something of a balancing act, really.

If you’re at all interested, this is how my roster currently looks:

Matt Ryan: He came relatively cheap at 49 units. I wanted Peyton Manning, but the disparity between what Manning can do to the Chargers and what Ryan can do to the Cardinals isn’t as great as what I expect to see out of some of my other players relative to what their peers offer.

Adrian Peterson: At 50 units he’s fairly affordable as he’s probably the most consistent player in the NFL. I fully expect them to lose, but I just can’t envision a scenario in which he doesn’t explode in his playoff debut, especially since it’s at home. To me, the potential value he offers is worth the likelihood that it will be a one shot deal. I also have my suspicions about Philly, but we’ll get to that tomorrow.

Michael Turner: In short, he’s playing in a dome against a team that hasn’t been able to stop anyone for awhile, especially anyone out of division. Reportedly the Cardinals still have 8,000 tickets available for this game, so I really wouldn’t expect the crowd to be a factor. Not that the crowd has ever been a factor with the Arizona Cardinals.

Vincent Jackson: This is somewhat of a gamble, but he’s playing a team that the Chargers tend to fare well against (at least offensively), he’s at home, and he is a game-breaker. Basically, if San Diego is going to win this game, they’re going to need Jackson and Chambers to deliver in what will all likelihood be a shootout.

Reggie Wayne: He didn’t play too much in Indy’s annual week 17 exhibition. I fully expect him to have used the week off to prepare for a match up against what’s probably the second worst defense in the playoffs. Also, he needs to save some face from a rather disappointing season. Obviously, if you get word that he isn’t playing, go with someone else. But much like with Vincent Jackson, if the Colts are going to win this game, they’re going to need their wide receivers to produce.

Dallas Clark: Simply put, he’s been on a tear lately. And when Indy throws short yardage touchdowns (inside the five), it inevitably is thrown to Clark in a 4 wide diversion set (I just made that phrase up). Also, see Wayne and Jackson.

Neil Rackers: He’s playing at home, made 21 of his last 22 (the one he missed was a 68-yard free kick to end a half against the Giants). Not to mention, I had Vinateri and dropped him in favor of Rackers because I didn’t want three people from the same squad.

Philadelphia’s Defense: Well, they’re playing Tavaris Jackson. In other words, I am hoping for some interceptions and forced fumbles a la the week 17 Cowboys game. I understand it’s somewhat counter-intuitive to take Philly’s defense while the best player I selected is on the opposite side of the ball, but I am hoping Tavaris Jackson will make it all work out for me.

This is all subject to change, so I wouldn’t put too much stock into it (like, for instance, I just noticed that passing touchdowns are worth the same as receiving and rushing touchdowns. Peyton Manning here I come!). But it’s as enjoyable as any other type of low stakes gambling I’ve ever participated in. So even though I am really doing this strictly for the purposes of this here website, I’m not actively regretting it.

Back tomorrow with wild card previews.