Weeks 11-12
It has been many days since I have had time for football. Between a long vacation and business trip out of the country, there has not been much time for anything. However, I finally have a free moment to get caught up.
Attention New Guys
First, to all the guys launching threads seeking help for IDP play I would suggest a few things. Go back to the beginning of this thread. Check out some of the other posters (Tick, Rovers, Birdie, Portis_26, Urak-Hai, Bloom, Bob Magaw) and what they had to say. These guys are active in the IDP forums; have plenty of FF acumen and post frequently. They are worth reading or seeking for help.
Second, if you lack a basic understanding of defense in general, then consider these books, which were previously mentioned here in post #25.
http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...ic=156123&st=0#
If you are seeking some lighter reading that is directly related to IDP FF play, then here are this year’s magazines that have some of plenty of IDP information. You will have access to game logs; player rankings; bios and basic strategy articles.
FBG 2005 Fantasy Football Strategy Guide
Fantasy Football Index
RotoWorld.com Fantasy Football Guide 2005
Rotowire Fantasy Football Guide 2005
Fantasy League Football 2005
Each of these listed have substantial information for IDP players both novice and expert. The following magazines have limited and general IDP information and have limited information regarding players; bios and or game logs. For the most part IDP play is covered in a basic cheet sheet or 1-2 page article.
Fantasy Football.com The Magazine
Pro Football Weekly & CBS Sportsline Fantasy Football Guide 2005
Fantasy Sports
Grogan’s Fantasy Football
Here is a set of articles that is available at footballguys.com. It is well worth the read and was posted in reply #25.
http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...ic=156123&st=0#
Lastly, find a reliable source of information over the coming weeks to help you monitor training camp battles and I would suggest something besides television. Defensive position battles are not going to get too much run on ESPN or Fox. The casual football fan does not care about the battle for the MLB position for the Bengals. However, these types of stories will be covered by regional sports talk radio shows; local newspapers; Internet football sources and team message boards. It is tough to cut through some of the blind, subjective homer tendencies of beat writers, local reporters or message board posters but you will be able to capture some useful information.
Before and After
The rookie draft is long over and I have spent my allotted dollars for FA. What I have remaining is going to be left to cover any late blooming starters that come out of camp or for FA bidding during the regular season. Here is the team before and after the draft and free agency.
Offense
QB-Before
Bollinger
Pennington
Bledsoe
Volek
QB-
After
Bledsoe
Palmer (Trade)
Kitna (FA)
RB-Before
M. Anderson
K. Barlow
A. Galloway
O. Gary
W. Green
G. Hearst
T. Henry
T. Hollings
J. Robertson
C. Sapp
RB-
After
M. Bennett (Trade)
R. Brown (Draft)
C. Fason (Draft)
W. Green
T. Hambrick (FA)
T. Hollings
T. Minor (Trade)
WR-Before
Battle
Darling
Gaffney
R. Gardner
M. Harrison
F. Mitchell
E. Moulds
M. Muhammed
C. Rogers
C. Wilson
WR-
After
Darling
B. Edwards (Draft)
J. Gaffney
R. Gardner
B. Jones (Draft)
G. Lewis (FA)
F. Mitchell (FA)
S. Parker (Trade)
C. Rogers
D. Stallworth (Trade)
C. Thorpe (Draft)
M. Williams (Draft)
Reg. Williams (Trade)
Roydell Williams (Draft)
C. Wilson
TE-Before
Crumpler
Troupe
J. Stevens
TE-
After
C. Anderson (FA)
Crumpler
Troupe
K
Akers
Tynes
Defense
DL-Before
S. Adams DT
J. Henderson DT
S. Rogers DT
J. Smith DE
A. Carter DE*
DL-
After
S. Adams
T. Harris (FA)
J. Henderson
S. Rogers
A. Carter
J. Smith
D. Ware (Draft)
LB-Before
S. Cowart
A. Davis
N.Harris
R. McKinnon
M. Peterson
T. Pierce
T. Spikes
LB-
After
A. Davis
A. Fincher (Draft)
N. Harris
R. McKinnon
L. Mitchell (Draft)
M. Peterson
T. Pierce
B. Ruud (Draft)
O. Thurman (Draft)
DB
C. Scott
I. Bashir
D. Gibson
L. Milloy
I. Ohalete
T. Polamalu
D. Sharper
S. Williams
DB-
After
A. Jones (FA)
C. Scott
I. Bashir
T. Davis (Draft)
D. Gibson
L. Miloy
I. Ohalete
T. Polamulu
D. Sharper
S. Williams
I have not looked at this team in a few weeks nor have I looked at the before and after snapshoot. My initial observations…
I really like the addition of Palmer. His potential is being debated, as well as his immediate future, but I feel more comfortable with his upside, situation and team versus Pennington and the Jets. Obviously, I need 1-2 QB prospects but I was not going to overpay for such players in this year's draft, as none presented themselves as BPA.
RB was a problem before the draft and is a problem after. My absolute disdain for Barlow finally saw him traded and T. Henry was leverage to move two additional picks into the first round. I am not worried about the R. Brown v. R. Williams situation. Brown was not selected that high to ride the pine. The basic economics of football will see that R. Williams is gone at some point during the season or at the end of it.
I really like the Bennett/Fason combo. I know I am in the minority on this one but Fason will be starting by 2006. Overall, I will need to catch a few lucky breaks but I have realistic expectations.
The WR position was gutted. There are plenty of young hands, which is not necessarily a good thing, but players I feel comfortable with over the next 1-3 year period. Should Rogers, Stallworth, Parker and Reg. Williams comes around I might actually win a few games.
My expectations of all the rookie WR are also realistic. I do not expect any of them to follow in the footsteps of Moss, Boldin or Clayton. Hey, if someone does, that is ok but each of their situations indicate that will probably not be the case. However, Edwards, M. Williams and B. Jones will begin to produce by next season. Thorpe is the player I am most curious about.
I liked the players I got on defense. Of course, I had to trade away some vets, like Spikes, to do so but Ruud, Thurman and Davis were just too much to pass up. Picking up A. Jones in FA was a nice addition but his recent arrest is concerning. Ware is a wild card, as it is yet to be determined how good he really is and how Parcells plans to use him.
This is not the best team but I can also say it is not the worse, which is comparing rosters right off paper. As usual, post your thoughts or criticisms. I would just ask you attempt to be descriptive, as this is a learning tool for all of us IDP new guys. As usual, thanks for your time.