American Football Info Needed

[Angry Dan]

I need some help identifying players for the ESPN Fantasy Football competition.

I work for NATO at the minute and have been goaded into joiniong their league. The problem is I do not know how the draft system works or which players I should be looking at using.

Any help will be gratfully received.

[Imy]

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html

[BrooklynRed]

I have played for years and know the game very well (living in the USA and all)... ask away!
Usually, the draft system works as follows:

Everyone draws lots to see who gets to go in which order, and then on draft day, you all gather (online, in a room) and draft your players. Most leagues do a snake system (so, in a four team league...)

Player 1
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4
Player 4
Player 3
Player 2
Player 1

Player 1 gets the #1 pick and the #8 pick, etc.

The way the game is scored depends on the league, but usually it is for yardage, touchdowns and the length of a scoring play (a 1 yard TD is worth less than a 50 yard TD). So, your best players are the ones who get a lot of yards, get a lot of TD's, etc.

That means that Running Backs are usually taken first; They carry the ball the most, can get big plays, score touchdowns from one yard away or from a long way away, etc. The best Running Backs also catch the ball (meaning, they are thrown to and not just handed the ball); They get points for their running yards AND receiving yards, and they have more chances to score touchdowns (receiving and running). This is why Ladanian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers is (usually) always picked first; He usually scores a ton of touchdowns, catches the ball and runs with it, and is a points machine for Fantasy Football.

Last year, Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots was a surprise; A WR who caught a record number of touchdowns, many of them very long (more points). Same with Tom Brady, who threw for 50 TDs for the Patriots. so, you can score lots of ways, but you need two good running backs to carry the team. Most managers will pick RBs first and then there aren't many left.

I love this game, so let me know if you want more... I could babble all day...

[BrooklynRed]

This is a decent guide: I disagree with some of it, but it's a decent start. Again, happy to answer anything I can so you can win and shame them all!

http://games.espn.go.com/frontpage/ffldraftkit

Also, all the news on injuries, etc: Bookmark this now...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/index

[Angry Dan]

Thanks for the info I will read through it all.

I understand you pick one team for the whole defence is that the case and if so which teams would you recommend. I know I should pick the patriots and avoid the dolphins but that is about it.

I will have a look on the net for guides on up and coming stars to watch out for to try and get an insight in to who might be a suprise star.

[BrooklynRed]

Yes, don't worry about surprise stars... The most important thing is to get two good running backs, one good QB, two good WR's...

Defense: I would take (in this order) The Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears (if Urlacher comes back). If you can get one of those (in that order), you should be sorted. Make sure that Defenses are scored with "Special Teams", meaning kick returns. If so, the Chicago Bears are even better because they have Devin Hester, who is a touchdown machine on kick returns.

QB: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo will go fast, but Ben Rothlesberger from Pittsburgh is going to have a great year, I think. Derek Anderson from Cleveland too.

TE: You may now know much about Tight Ends, but the Dallas Cowboys (Jason Witten), SD Chargers (Antonio Gates) and Indianpolis Colts (Dallas Clark) all have great TE's.

WR: Randy Moss (NE), Terrell Owens (Dallas), Braylon Edwards (Cle), Torry Holt (STL) andPlaxico Burress (NYG) all are very good.

Also, as a lifelong Detroit Lions fan, you should avoid the Detroit Lions at all costs. Maybe Roy WIlliams (WR) but that is it.

How many teams in your league? Do you know the rules for scoring?
sorry, just fun to help teach a newbie to the game...

[Angry Dan]

These are the rules

And I do really apreciate the help.

[BrooklynRed]

doi you know which type of league and draft you are having? Is it a snake draft

1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1
or regular
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Also, this is the most important thing to know:

http://games.espn.go.com/ffl/content?page=fflrulesscoringformats2008

is this the format they are using? If so, I can def. help, but we need to know what the custom options are: if there are bonus points for long touchdowns, it makes a big difference.

Finally, I hope you are not drafting until well into August; Pre-season injuries are common and it would SUCK to pick a player before the pre-season is out and have him hurt, wasting a high draft pick... Be ready; injuries are very common.

[Angry Dan]

There will be ten teams in the league and I found out yesterday that the draft is not getting done like you suggest until much later. The guy who is setting the league up sent the invitations early (i.e yesterday). He is a Lakers fan so probably wants to take his mind off basketball. Especially as his computer desktop has now been set to the Celtics and he does not have permissions to change it.

I will find out about the custom options and get back to you.

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

Anyone get tickets for the October Chargers game?

[Angry Dan]

The lads I am in this league with have all got tickets for the game

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

The lads I am in this league with have all got tickets for the game

Good work, bit pricey but well worth it!