SeniorVBDStudent
Footballguy
I stopped playing in leagues cuz virtually everyone wants to payout based on playoofs rather than points. Playoff payouts are the suck imo.
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Anyone who's played ff for over 15 years............ (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ppierce
- Start date
I've been playing since 98 as well and I HAVE been playing for 15 years. In fact, I'm in my 16th year. #simplemath
I don't understand how or why people feel this way. Show me a sport where someone gets hardware for most points in a season?! Everybody gets a trophy in your world!!
kobain
Footballguy
Yes, i agree you need an insane amount of luck to win a championship. This is only my fourth year playing on money leagues, so i'm can't really comment on the main topic, but last year I was running late for my draft and the auto pick had done 3 picks. 2 of those picks i probably wouldn't have made due to all the info that was available at the time and my own personal preferences. Auto pick picked Brady 1st, Lynch 2nd round pick, and AP on the third round. When i saw the AP pick i immediately thought about his injury and what a waste of a pick that was, and even tried to trade him on the first couple of weeks of the season. Glad i didn't have any reasonable offers. Needless to say i won that league last year, mostly because of good fortune.
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
I made the championship game in my 10-teamer 7 years in a row at one point (won 3, alternating) and 9 years out of 11 (winning a 4th title in there), and all told I think it's been 10 finals appearances in the last 16 seasons - maybe 11, I've lost track.
-QG
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
Ive been playing since 1996 when I was 12 years old (2 team league that first year, hah. I remember first 3 picks were Emmitt, Rice, and Favre). Luck is definitely a big factor, but I think in this day and age with all the updated info being at your fingertips for the draft and entire season, it is even a bigger factor because now its more difficult to field a highly competitive team when things go wrong (injuries, busts, etc).
I was up to 10 and 12 team leagues by '98, and I recall winning at least a few championships during that stretch, and almost always being competitive and making the playoffs. Id say things started changing around 2004 or so when information/advice on the internet became much more prevalent and reliable. Doing my own projections and using VBD wasnt as big of an advantage anymore, although in the new league I joined right around that time and another in 2006, I still was able to draft teams that annually were a champ contender. I got kicked out the league I joined in 2004 basically because people got sick of losing and hearing me complain about lopsided trades near the deadline with teams out of the playoffs (I'll never forget a prime LT for Gonzo and some scrub). Joined another in 2008 that Im still in.
Still in both of those leagues. I went to the championship game 4 straight years (won 3) in league I joined in 2006, but since then its been a combination of bad luck (see 2011 and this year thus far), and bad karma - clear 1st place in both leagues last year, left 2 starting spots in my lineup empty last week of regular season so a weaker team could slip in the playoffs, and fantasy gods ####ed me and I lost in week 15 in both leagues after having I think 3 losses combined between those teams. That said, I also think some of my league mates have become better FF guys the last few years. The endless information for them doesn't hurt, but I used to dominate in areas like IDP's, sleepers, building a strong bench, getting value from others overdrafting, and I just rarely see it anymore. A few guys in each league have gone from middle of the road-bottom of the barrel to consistent playoff teams. I dont mind the challenge, but I love the taste of victory.
I was up to 10 and 12 team leagues by '98, and I recall winning at least a few championships during that stretch, and almost always being competitive and making the playoffs. Id say things started changing around 2004 or so when information/advice on the internet became much more prevalent and reliable. Doing my own projections and using VBD wasnt as big of an advantage anymore, although in the new league I joined right around that time and another in 2006, I still was able to draft teams that annually were a champ contender. I got kicked out the league I joined in 2004 basically because people got sick of losing and hearing me complain about lopsided trades near the deadline with teams out of the playoffs (I'll never forget a prime LT for Gonzo and some scrub). Joined another in 2008 that Im still in.
Still in both of those leagues. I went to the championship game 4 straight years (won 3) in league I joined in 2006, but since then its been a combination of bad luck (see 2011 and this year thus far), and bad karma - clear 1st place in both leagues last year, left 2 starting spots in my lineup empty last week of regular season so a weaker team could slip in the playoffs, and fantasy gods ####ed me and I lost in week 15 in both leagues after having I think 3 losses combined between those teams. That said, I also think some of my league mates have become better FF guys the last few years. The endless information for them doesn't hurt, but I used to dominate in areas like IDP's, sleepers, building a strong bench, getting value from others overdrafting, and I just rarely see it anymore. A few guys in each league have gone from middle of the road-bottom of the barrel to consistent playoff teams. I dont mind the challenge, but I love the taste of victory.
Cenobite
Footballguy
Golf - Fedex? Nascar - Chase? FF is not a sport. It is a game taken from stats. from a sport. I play in a H2H league where total points also receive prizes. $750.00 entry so enough to go around. It's the best of both worlds. Back to the original question - I have been very fortunate over the years so I can't complain. Doing the same in the beginning as I am now. Must be 20+ years the league has been around. .
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Mr. Irrelevant
IBL Representative
It strongly depends on the league format.
You can reduce the luck factor any number of ways: more balanced scoring (e.g. PPR); deeper starting lineups and deeper rosters; auction drafting and free-agent bidding; moving away from H2H for standings and/or playoff qualification (e.g. total points and/or All-Play); assigning "home-field advantage" for playoff games to give the superior teams during the regular season a built-in advantage. I've used every one of these five ideas in previous leagues of mine, and to various degrees they definitely move the needle towards skill and away from luck. And, of course, dynasty leagues reward skill far, far more than do redrafts.
But you know what? Most casual FF owners don't like having a disproportionate emphasis on skill, because they don't have the time or the desire to invest in honing the necessary skillsets. They want FF to be just enough about skill that they can think of themselves as being skilled when they win - the same reason most casual gamblers play poker, not chess.
And there's nothing wrong with that! First of all, FF is supposed to be entertainment, not a job. Secondly, I prefer having a built-in edge over most of my opponents at the start of every season; even if a large degree of luck is involved, a +EV play is a +EV play. And finally, I'd much rather be able to spot the sucker at the table (or in the league) instead of always having to wonder if I'm him.
socrates
Footballguy
I have been playing since 1991. As others have mentioned, the biggest difference is the volume of information available now. Back in the pre-internet days, I felt like I had a distinct advantage over many of my leaguemates, since I scored the games, and consequently scoured and tracked statistics for every NFL team. I stayed ahead of the curve on identifying potential free agent gems. Nowadays, that curve has radically changed, and it is far more difficult to gain an information advantage. Rather, the best advantage sometimes is learning how to assimilate and use such a volume of information, how to identify useful trends, and how to distinguish between what is valuable information and what is not.
mjr
Footballguy
I don't feel the volume of information available these days really levels the playing field as much. You still have to know what you're looking at in a statistic or an analysis.
In fact, I've found that the more I put stock in all of the info pouring out these days, the worse off I seemed to be. I went through a 4 year slide from making the championship games each year to barely making the playoffs as I invested more and more into magazines and websites offering professional analysis. Bottom line is that nobody can predict the future with an elevated rate of success, and sometimes people are just dead wrong.
Once I started taking it all in with a grain of salt, my production shot back up again. I think there is a new niche that can be carved out by savvy FF fans that can take advantage of the seemingly huge influence all this new info has on player selection and predictability (to a decent degree anyway) in fantasy drafts, trends and the like. My best picks over the last 5 years or so wasn't with the big-hype players you'd select in the 1st round who had pages and pages of info available to read on, but the later round players where a lot of the info and analysis offered out there isn't deep. CJ2k, Aaron Rodgers, Mike Wallace, etc... all players who weren't hyped very much during their debut year, if at all.
In fact, I've found that the more I put stock in all of the info pouring out these days, the worse off I seemed to be. I went through a 4 year slide from making the championship games each year to barely making the playoffs as I invested more and more into magazines and websites offering professional analysis. Bottom line is that nobody can predict the future with an elevated rate of success, and sometimes people are just dead wrong.
Once I started taking it all in with a grain of salt, my production shot back up again. I think there is a new niche that can be carved out by savvy FF fans that can take advantage of the seemingly huge influence all this new info has on player selection and predictability (to a decent degree anyway) in fantasy drafts, trends and the like. My best picks over the last 5 years or so wasn't with the big-hype players you'd select in the 1st round who had pages and pages of info available to read on, but the later round players where a lot of the info and analysis offered out there isn't deep. CJ2k, Aaron Rodgers, Mike Wallace, etc... all players who weren't hyped very much during their debut year, if at all.
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just_want_2_win
Footballguy
First of all, kudos to all who've stuck with this hobby that long. I've met many who've quit it and done so quickly.
I've been playing FF since 1998. I'd say the obstacles today vs. when I started are:
1) Injuries. I need to see a study -- are there really more injuries today than in years ago? Sure feels like it. Maybe it's just because the NFL is more protective now because of the former players' lawsuit, etc. Then again, the athletes are faster and stronger than ever, so it wouldn't surprise me if there are more injuries.
2) Information availability. Info, strategy, analysis. It's everywhere now, so it's harder to lap the competition than it used to be. Also, not only is the info ubiquitous, it arrives SUPER quickly via Twitter, etc.
However, just because the info is out there, doesn't mean you can't still separate yourself from the pack. Those who work hard, diligently tracking the info, pouncing on potential impact players early, and who constantly optimize their rosters and lineups based on the most current info, will usually prevail. I see lots of teams that take the most popular surface information and make change here and there and those teams eventually fade, even after jumping out of the gate.
I've been playing FF since 1998. I'd say the obstacles today vs. when I started are:
1) Injuries. I need to see a study -- are there really more injuries today than in years ago? Sure feels like it. Maybe it's just because the NFL is more protective now because of the former players' lawsuit, etc. Then again, the athletes are faster and stronger than ever, so it wouldn't surprise me if there are more injuries.
2) Information availability. Info, strategy, analysis. It's everywhere now, so it's harder to lap the competition than it used to be. Also, not only is the info ubiquitous, it arrives SUPER quickly via Twitter, etc.
However, just because the info is out there, doesn't mean you can't still separate yourself from the pack. Those who work hard, diligently tracking the info, pouncing on potential impact players early, and who constantly optimize their rosters and lineups based on the most current info, will usually prevail. I see lots of teams that take the most popular surface information and make change here and there and those teams eventually fade, even after jumping out of the gate.
My first year was 1997. The guy who set up the work league got a bunch of newbies together and had a field day... a kicker went 7th overall. The evolution after that went from drafting from paper with more and more info each year, to now having who you should pick right there on the draft board. It's not as much fun as it used to be and the teams from league to league look the same for the most part based on where they drafted.
To keep an edge you have to (IMO) do the opposite of what everyone else is doing. This year the consensus picks were RB/RB. If you went QB/TE, WR/QB etc., you're probably happy about it. The year before it seemed a lot of people went WR/WR and it didn't work out, but IMO it was because most people drafted in leagues where they weren't the only ones going WR/WR. Things I've learned:
Stud QB's like Brees and Rodgers are in a different class than up and down good QB's, as they produce consistently. The end of the year stats don't reflect peak and valley type of QB's like Eli.
Stud TE's are the new stud RB's of old, because they're aren't that many of them. Jimmy Graham was worth the first round pick and would have been worth it (again IMO) before the end of the first.
Stud WR's like Megatron and AJ Green are in a different class and should be considered before good RB's on mediocre teams. Real NFL points equate to fantasy points, and teams that still win by only putting up 20 don't equate to great fantasy points.
Lastly, the cheatsheets are just a guide based on last year's stats. Last year isn't this year, and next year won't be this year either. My guess is Graham will be listed somewhere around 7th overall next year and V. Davis and J. Cook will go in the second. Probably 6 RB's in the top 12 sounds about right and will mix up. If the experts tell you to go XX/XX, don't do it, but do the opposite. It's worked for me the past few years. My RB's are always (outside of my keeper league) picked out of the middle of the pack. I don't expect them to hit every week, just like one wouldn't expect a WR3 to hit after going RB/RB. Oh... you need luck and lots of it. I missed the playoffs last year after scoring the highest point total in the league, so it's not always about being good at this game, but being good enough and lucky.
To keep an edge you have to (IMO) do the opposite of what everyone else is doing. This year the consensus picks were RB/RB. If you went QB/TE, WR/QB etc., you're probably happy about it. The year before it seemed a lot of people went WR/WR and it didn't work out, but IMO it was because most people drafted in leagues where they weren't the only ones going WR/WR. Things I've learned:
Stud QB's like Brees and Rodgers are in a different class than up and down good QB's, as they produce consistently. The end of the year stats don't reflect peak and valley type of QB's like Eli.
Stud TE's are the new stud RB's of old, because they're aren't that many of them. Jimmy Graham was worth the first round pick and would have been worth it (again IMO) before the end of the first.
Stud WR's like Megatron and AJ Green are in a different class and should be considered before good RB's on mediocre teams. Real NFL points equate to fantasy points, and teams that still win by only putting up 20 don't equate to great fantasy points.
Lastly, the cheatsheets are just a guide based on last year's stats. Last year isn't this year, and next year won't be this year either. My guess is Graham will be listed somewhere around 7th overall next year and V. Davis and J. Cook will go in the second. Probably 6 RB's in the top 12 sounds about right and will mix up. If the experts tell you to go XX/XX, don't do it, but do the opposite. It's worked for me the past few years. My RB's are always (outside of my keeper league) picked out of the middle of the pack. I don't expect them to hit every week, just like one wouldn't expect a WR3 to hit after going RB/RB. Oh... you need luck and lots of it. I missed the playoffs last year after scoring the highest point total in the league, so it's not always about being good at this game, but being good enough and lucky.
chinawildman
Footballguy
FF is dungeons and dragons for football fans, and having played for quite some time now, it is the role-playing element of player evaluations as a GM that keeps me coming back. I like sites like rotoworld (or FBG for that matter) for updates, news, and the community aspect, but defer to actual game footage when it comes to talent evaluation.
The day that actually watching the games no longer offers an advantage (or the day they cancel Game Rewind and Sunday Ticket) is probably when I'll stop playing FF.
The day that actually watching the games no longer offers an advantage (or the day they cancel Game Rewind and Sunday Ticket) is probably when I'll stop playing FF.
lyon812
Footballguy
Everything’s cyclical. I’m moderately successful--usually make the playoffs with my teams--but fortunes rise and fall. I've had one championship team steadily degrade over the last three years because of players aging or becoming ineffective (such as Turner, Clark), injuries (Jennings, Nicks), and draft busts (Benn, Baldwin, Pead come to mind). On the other hand, I have another team that seemingly can't do anything wrong; every draft pick is a winner, every trade I want to go through does. It's creepy.
Even the savviest drafter/trader likely doesn’t always come out with a win. Plus, drafting highly does have an advantage, and the teams you’re beating aren’t always going to suck (granted, some owners never “get it”, but I find those increasingly rare with all the info out there).
Just keep in mind that chances are you'll likely recover as long as you maintain a good process.
This happens in all fantasy sports. Had one fantasy baseball team that won its division or championship for 13 straight years, then collapsed for similar reasons as above. Now, it's time to rebuild, and the team's finally showing progress.
In football, I’ve had the most luck sustaining success by accruing first round picks, particularly high ones. Probably common sense, but drafting highly does have an advantage; it lets you get the Doug Martins and A.J. Greens of the world when other people are drafting Zac Stacy or Arrelious Benn.
SportsGuru311
Footballguy
Yes and some years it goes great and some years it goes bad. I have had a few really good runs but have struggled lately
Ketamine Dreams
Footballguy
I'm wondering if the game hasn't changed the way we need to draft. I went strong at RB this year again with 2 out of my first 3 picks being RBs in most of my leagues. I play all PPR and I think it has become such a passing game a change to 1/2-3/4 of a point for receptions for WRs might balance things back to the importance of grabbing RBs early. Many of the teams winning so far this year took WRs and stud QBs early and would be just fine with the more pedestrian RBs like D. Williams.
Varmint
Footballguy
Fourteen teams....I played in the Championship games in the first five out of six seasons ('99, '00; 01. 02, 03, 04)....winning three of them ('99, '01. 04)
Didn't even make the playoffs for the following 5 seasons.
Finally got back on track in 2010 making it back to the Championship game (I lost) but have made the playoffs every year since..
Didn't even make the playoffs for the following 5 seasons.
Finally got back on track in 2010 making it back to the Championship game (I lost) but have made the playoffs every year since..
SD1977
Footballguy
This is my 21st season .... Thank god we don't have to keep track of rosters and waivers on paper anymore. I don't miss calling people on landlines to make trade offers , lol however I do miss actual drafts. The live draft at someone's house was the highlight of the entire season.
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BigSteelThrill
Footballguy
Pretty steady at winning whether I was sending my line up and free agents in via snail mail and phone calls, or using the computer.
I have found myself being a bit overly confident at times and taking extreme risks as a result over the past 5 years. But its fun.
I have found myself being a bit overly confident at times and taking extreme risks as a result over the past 5 years. But its fun.
QuizGuy66
Footballguy
LOL this reminds me of when I ran a league in college - people had to slide waivers under my dorm room door before the deadline (we had a preset waiver order before the season for each week)
-QG
Bobby Guano
Footballguy
This is all in reference to the same league which I first joined in 1994 and is still going strong today with 9 of the original 12 owners.
Was ok 1994-2000 made the playoffs every year never won a title though.
2000-2006 hit a rough patch and I think I only made the playoffs twice in this time period. I wasn't putting as much effort in during this time though, I had a lot of other things going on.
2007- present made the playoffs every year. #1 seed and points in 2010 and 2012. Finaly won the championship in 2011. I attribute my more recent success to a couple things.
Making a ton of WW moves throughout the year. Transactions in this league are $5 a move so I used to be very careful about them but the past few years I have been top 3 in moves made during the season.
I've mostly been upside down drafting the past 3-4 years since its PPR start QB/2RB/3WR/TE. Having 2 top ten WR and pairing them with a top 15 WR3 and top 5 TE is killer for this set up.
Been lucky.
Was ok 1994-2000 made the playoffs every year never won a title though.
2000-2006 hit a rough patch and I think I only made the playoffs twice in this time period. I wasn't putting as much effort in during this time though, I had a lot of other things going on.
2007- present made the playoffs every year. #1 seed and points in 2010 and 2012. Finaly won the championship in 2011. I attribute my more recent success to a couple things.
Making a ton of WW moves throughout the year. Transactions in this league are $5 a move so I used to be very careful about them but the past few years I have been top 3 in moves made during the season.
I've mostly been upside down drafting the past 3-4 years since its PPR start QB/2RB/3WR/TE. Having 2 top ten WR and pairing them with a top 15 WR3 and top 5 TE is killer for this set up.
Been lucky.
Mr. Know-It-All
Footballguy
This is me - first 17 years always in the playoffs - won a couple titles, nearly every year was the highest scoring team (even in the years where I got knocked out of the playoffs). Last year went 3-10 and lost in the toilet bowl. So this year - get #2 pick, have my best draft ever (on paper) - and am staring at a 1-2 start. So I get what you are saying - luck has favored me in the past and now I am on a cold streak. Just riding out the storm - hopefully I'll catch a few breaks and right the ship.
SD1977
Footballguy
I remember having a notepad by the phone and having to write down who was picked up and the time the call was made so I could tell the next guy to call the exact time he was taken. The game has come a long way ,thank god !
belljr
Footballguy
our 20th year.... things have "evened" out for sure. i do have 6 championships and most years its familiar faces in the playoffs but overall it seems like a crap shoot i do remember my wife then girlfriend writing down called lineups because i golf sunday morning 
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belljr
Footballguy
Stumbled over my old pic forget what year this was
https://picasaweb.google.com/109155151455425057515/Lineups?authkey=Gv1sRgCMy1tMSFgpC3dQ#5783381801393390754
https://picasaweb.google.com/109155151455425057515/Lineups?authkey=Gv1sRgCMy1tMSFgpC3dQ#5783381801393390754
Sweet Love
IBL Representative
Interesting this post was in early 2013 season...V-Jax performed better than Cobb and Cruz and Brown was better than Jordy.
For me personally, I have been on a roll the past 5 seasons...been playing since 1997 and was good my first season (lost in championships). Next year I promptly traded TO and Keyshawn for Favre and things began to go downhill. Had many dry years until I found this site in 2003 and it has been uphill since. I do always wonder though, if my first year were a disaster (I was out to lunch with guys from work when they stated they would be starting a league and they need an 8th team) would I have never played again?
Sweet Love
IBL Representative
I would guess 1997 or 1998...Thigpen, T Davis, Jeff George and Glenn make me think that.
bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
been doing this 19 years now, hot streaks come and go, in most leagues the best owners have the most titles, and usually compete year in & year out, any chump can get lucky and win 1 though. Cold streaks happens, like in 1 league for a long stretch I always got eliminated in round1 for years it seemed.
Kinda miss the grabbing the USA today and crunching the stats on a monday morning.
Kinda miss the grabbing the USA today and crunching the stats on a monday morning.
Monty Burns
Footballguy
one league that I play in is a "friends and family" redraft....its been going since about 1998 and was the first league I was ever in....most of the members, while solid football fans, were and still are, only marginally concerned with FF, they just do it for fun....initially I was pretty successful in this league but now, with all the easy info out there, and, IMO, better draft rankings available, I have to work a LOT harder to be successful in this league....no more easy steals in the draft and a lot fewer WW steals....
and I think its GREAT....as its a lot more fun for me and everyone else in that league....not just the same few diehards dominating....
and I think its GREAT....as its a lot more fun for me and everyone else in that league....not just the same few diehards dominating....
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mphtrilogy
Footballguy
25 years for me
Past two years have been brutal
Past two years have been brutal
LAbronco
Footballguy
Because performance over a 13-14 week season is a much stronger sample size and indicator of the true strength of a fantasy team than a 2-3 week playoff season, and therefore should be rewarded for strong performance accordingly.
Since you assert that it's unrealistic, compared to what happens in the NFL, so what? It's also unrealistic to not assemble a unit to stop or hold the other team's offense down. But in Fantasy, there's no true way of doing that. You cannot hold my team down if i play you h2h, unlike an NFL game, where any offense has to peform against the opposing D.
been playing in a 12 team dynasty salary cap IDP league since 1997.
Until 3 years ago I was a virtual lock for playoffs every year, won 3 titles and was the winningest team in league history.
I have gone 5-7-6-8 and 5-7 the past 3 years. I've had some bad luck, outscored a lot by high teams when I had good weeks, made some bad trades, etc...
Looking forward to getting on track as my nucleus for next year is $220 cap
Cam $5
Manuel $5
Moreno $10
Morris $10
Ball $20
ingram $10
Julio $27
Harvin $19
kendall Wright $3
Robert Woods $4
Torrey $17
Cameron 41
Ertz $1
Tucker $1
Going to make less trades and just hope these young guys I've built up the past 18 months start performing. Good luck to everyone else in my kind of boat
Until 3 years ago I was a virtual lock for playoffs every year, won 3 titles and was the winningest team in league history.
I have gone 5-7-6-8 and 5-7 the past 3 years. I've had some bad luck, outscored a lot by high teams when I had good weeks, made some bad trades, etc...
Looking forward to getting on track as my nucleus for next year is $220 cap
Cam $5
Manuel $5
Moreno $10
Morris $10
Ball $20
ingram $10
Julio $27
Harvin $19
kendall Wright $3
Robert Woods $4
Torrey $17
Cameron 41
Ertz $1
Tucker $1
Going to make less trades and just hope these young guys I've built up the past 18 months start performing. Good luck to everyone else in my kind of boat
Hooper31
Footballguy
My first pick was Dan Marino in 93. He quickly blew his achilles. Didn't matter. After watching MY running back score I was hooked.
Won some when I shouldn't have. Lost some where I thought I was a lock to. Ups. Downs. Seen a lot of stuff through the years. Fantasy football is an education in risk management and patience.
Some old school memories....
Pencil and paper with the newspaper on Monday.
Bob Harris and the TFL report via fax.
RSFF on the USENET boards.
Drafting that perfect undefeated squad in 96 (Tony Martin, MIchael Jackson, Ricky Watters, Curtis Martin, and Vinny T).
Watching Emmitt Smith turn into Terrell Davis turn into Marshall Faulk turn into Priest Holmes turn into LaDainian Tomlinson turn into Adrian Peterson turn into ???
It started to change quite a bit for me about ten years ago. Advent of the DVR changed how I watch football. I started rewinding more and more watching guards pull, safeties blitz, etc. I did a lot reading. Learned what the A gap was. Learned what the 5-tech was. Learned the difference between cover 2 and cover 3. Figured out that the more I learned the less I really knew.
The NFL has been a big part of my life since watching Curt Warner turn the Seahawks into a contender in 83. I liked the NFL in the 80s as a young Seahawk fan. Not sure if its right to say I "love" the NFL now. Its become more of a deep appreciation I guess like a long term marriage.
Thank you, NFL.
Won some when I shouldn't have. Lost some where I thought I was a lock to. Ups. Downs. Seen a lot of stuff through the years. Fantasy football is an education in risk management and patience.
Some old school memories....
Pencil and paper with the newspaper on Monday.
Bob Harris and the TFL report via fax.
RSFF on the USENET boards.
Drafting that perfect undefeated squad in 96 (Tony Martin, MIchael Jackson, Ricky Watters, Curtis Martin, and Vinny T).
Watching Emmitt Smith turn into Terrell Davis turn into Marshall Faulk turn into Priest Holmes turn into LaDainian Tomlinson turn into Adrian Peterson turn into ???
It started to change quite a bit for me about ten years ago. Advent of the DVR changed how I watch football. I started rewinding more and more watching guards pull, safeties blitz, etc. I did a lot reading. Learned what the A gap was. Learned what the 5-tech was. Learned the difference between cover 2 and cover 3. Figured out that the more I learned the less I really knew.
The NFL has been a big part of my life since watching Curt Warner turn the Seahawks into a contender in 83. I liked the NFL in the 80s as a young Seahawk fan. Not sure if its right to say I "love" the NFL now. Its become more of a deep appreciation I guess like a long term marriage.
Thank you, NFL.
mphtrilogy
Footballguy
I used to call the nfl office in the offseason in the early 90s and they used to provide a booklet of all the previous years stats
That was the kind of edge that does not exist anymore
Good times
That was the kind of edge that does not exist anymore
Good times
Hoss Style
Footballguy
Yeah, I'm there with you pencil and paper people. I remember the first time I tried it I wanted to be the "point guy". We didn't even call it "Commish" or anything like that. I was 15 or so (?) and facinated with sports and numbers.
We only had 6 of us. It was 1990? 1989? Maybe earlier. We hadn't even heard of official fantasy football rules. We just heard it existed and tried it.
I'd get home from practice on Monday and hit the newspaper for stats. A yellow legal pad, a yellow No. 2 pencil and a local paper were center of my world for the next few hours.
It's amazing how such a simple thing, using such simple tools, brings back such a warm and fuzzy feeling. I was probably as contented during those few hours scouring those stats as I've ever been since.
Good times.
Anyway, we did that for a few years. I quit because I was a busy kid. Came back to FF about 10 years ago.
We only had 6 of us. It was 1990? 1989? Maybe earlier. We hadn't even heard of official fantasy football rules. We just heard it existed and tried it.
I'd get home from practice on Monday and hit the newspaper for stats. A yellow legal pad, a yellow No. 2 pencil and a local paper were center of my world for the next few hours.
It's amazing how such a simple thing, using such simple tools, brings back such a warm and fuzzy feeling. I was probably as contented during those few hours scouring those stats as I've ever been since.
Good times.
Anyway, we did that for a few years. I quit because I was a busy kid. Came back to FF about 10 years ago.
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In my first real draft, I can remember my first few picks...summer of 95
Jerry Rice
Jake Reed
Brett Perriman
Aaron Hayden
Terrell Davis
Also took jim kelly and troy aikman as my qbs. That was a tough year, even though TD went large. Yes, Aaron Hayden before TD bc he was a "sleeper"
Jerry Rice
Jake Reed
Brett Perriman
Aaron Hayden
Terrell Davis
Also took jim kelly and troy aikman as my qbs. That was a tough year, even though TD went large. Yes, Aaron Hayden before TD bc he was a "sleeper"
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