What is Fantasy Football?

As the NFL season approaches, many of us sports geeks play a game where we draft our own team of offensive players who gain points to determine a winner within our own made up leagues.  Especially if you are in a city without an NFL franchise to root for (like me in LA- ridiculous), Fantasy Football brings an added element to the NFL season.  These league are provided by CBS, ESPN, and Yahoo just to name a few.

This is a great way to learn about other teams and moreover have a vested interest in more than just your city's team.  And since many leagues are play for free, there isn't a lot of risk.

Some leagues have been continued from year to year with the same set of owners/managers of these created teams.  My family and friends league has existed for 9 years with the same set of guys, and that is average.

Certain very competitive leagues can take themselves very seriously and include a entrance fee of hundreds of dollars.  Other leagues expand the points system of scoring to include team defenses and even individual defensive players.

Drafting in fantasy leagues can be 1 of a few different types.  Drafting players can start carte blanche every year, others can allow teams to keep a number of players and still others decide to auction players off.  You can see how developed this hobby has gotten.

Maurice Jones-Drew for the number 1 pick.  Agree or disagree?

NFL Playoff Update

At the beginning of the NFL season, I made some personal picks of who would make the playoffs. These were the teams I thought would be strong and win their divisions. Well, my Superbowl pick was one ESPN analysts most disappointing team- the Jacksonville Jaguars. This was for good reason as the Jag's offensive line was injured the majority out the season. Therefore their ground game, which is the team's strength was never at full strength. I'll keep my day job.

The playoffs matches up like this:
NFC
Falcons @ Cardinals
Eagles @ Vikings
Byes- Giants and Panthers

AFC
Colts @ Chargers
Ravens @ Dolphins
Byes- Titans and Steelers

To my credit, 5 of my 8 picks from the beginning of the season did make it to the post-season. The short story in my opinion for each conference is this-- the AFC is defense heavy and should be decided with low scoring games, whereas the NFC will be more fun to watch with more explosive offenses.

Superbowl Prediction- Panthers over Steelers

Your Sports Minute

This is that special time of year for sports fans where all of the major sports are playing at the same time, in addition to your very popular NCAA/college football. Until the Phillies cliched the World Series earlier this week, baseball was wrapping up while the NFL, NHL, and NBA all are active as well. Even Soccer, the MLS is in its playoff run.

Quick Notes-

NBA preview: Many analysts are predicting a finals rematch from last year, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. The stout western conference is no joke, where 50 wins is the bar to simply make the post-season.

NFL: The lone unbeaten team, the Tennessee Titans head the EPSN power rankings, followed by the NY Giants, Panthers, Steelers and Redskins in the top 5.

NHL: In hockey's early season poll, the top 5 teams as ranked by ESPN fall this way- 1. Sabres 2. Canadiens 3. Red Wings 4. Sharks 5. Rangers

Now over to Dallas with the weather.

NFL Football 2008-09 Picks and Preview

Do you remember who won the Superbowl last year?

The new NFL schedule kicked off last night between the Washington Redskins and the Defending Champion NY Giants. The final score ended, Giants 16 Skins 7- all of the scoring which was in the 1st half.

Here are my picks for the upcoming year"

AFC:
East- Patriots
North- Steelers
South- Jags
West- Chargers

NFC:
East- Cowboys
North- Vikings
South- Panthers
West- Cardinals

Superbowl: Jags over Cowboys

Those are my picks- Sunday is the 1st full day of games. Enjoy the new season, it will be a good one with the AFC as open as it has been in years mainly do to injuries. The Carolina Panthers are my comeback team of the year and yes, the Jacksonville Jags finally breakthrough the Patriots/Colts impenetrable wall to make the big dance this year. Its all about defense.