By Todd “The True GURU” Farino (8/31/2008)

1. League Types - When choosing your first league its best to keep in simple.  SO steer clear of auction or roto league systems.  Those are for the more advanced players and will require more experience to fully be successful at.  Choose a point’s league that is either head-to-head or just points based, which means the team with the most total points at the need of the season wins.  A head-to-head league matched a team vs. another team each week, and based on the total points for that week determines which team will get the win.  In a head-to-head league your final record could be 10-4.  In a points league your final score could be 1250.  That is the difference.  Most head-to-head leagues keep count of your total points, but those are normally used as a tiebreaker. 
2. League Scoring - I recommend using a more basic scoring system to get your feet wet.  There are many ways to score fantasy football.  Things like yards, touchdowns, interceptions, receptions, sacks, etc…  In the more basic scoring systems, only yards and touchdowns score.  Maybe interceptions and fumbles play in as negative scoring, but for the most part it yards and touchdowns.  Keeping it simple will help you to draft better players because you won’t be thinking in all different directions.  Your primary though will be Runningbacks, and more runningbacks.  Keeps the draft more simple for the first timer. 
3. Draft Preparations - When preparing for a draw a plan for the first 4-5 rounds.  Draw up a mock draft and try to figure to by information you are reading where players will go.  Studying is the key to a good draft.  Know who you want to take in what rounds and plan backups incase they are taken.  I’ve never seen a drawn up plan work to perfection, but if you can get 3 out of 5 players that you expected, that is great.  Make sure your preparations take into account your leagues scoring system, bye weeks, and positions.  If you go RB rounds 1 and 2, go WR, QB, or TE in the 3^rd.  Never draft the same position 3 rounds in a row.  Another no-no is not having a QB by the end of the 5^th round.  This isn’t a do or die rule, but I wouldn’t recommend having your starter be a late round pick. 
4. Drafting - When drafting players, go for the best available player for a position you need to feel.  Meaning, if you need a QB, and the best available player is a QB, TAKE HIM.  Stick with that advice and your draft will be fine.   Always go with your gut feeling over ranking.  Remember rankings are guesses to, and you’d rather be right or wrong with your gut then right or wrong listening to some other guys ranking system. 
5. Drafting Strategies - Don’t be afraid to take a certain player in a position that hasn’t been grabbed.  This goes back to the rule of getting the best available players at the time.  Some managers see WR’s going fast, and think they have to grab a WR.  Just remember, get the best player available.  Example.  You have the 3^rd pick in the 3^rd round.  You have Stephen Jackson & Marion Barber.  The last 5 picks have been wide receivers.  Ok, you can either get the 6^th best WR or get Antonio Gates a TE.  The decision there is obvious, but that is a simple example.  Do not let the draft drive you, you drive the draft! 
6. Picking Sleepers - If and I mean IF you decide to draft “Sleepers” make then true late round sleepers.  The late rounds are round 9 and beyond.  It doesn’t make any sense to grab a sleeper in the 5^th round.  Veteran players will grab certain sleepers early depending on the players, but for the novice player I would recommend taking the best available player through the first 8 rounds.
7. Setting Your Roster - When you are picking your roster for a given week make sure to check the following.
   1. Make sure the player isn’t injured or at least will start.  Make sure he is not on a bye.
   2. If you have solid bench options at given positions, check how good the DEF is that the player is playing against.  Sometimes it’s better to start a backup on your team if the starter is facing a ferocious defense.  Even more detailed, look at the opposing teams pass and run defense depending if you are starting a quarterback, runningback, or wide receiver.
   3. Also, check if the player is at Home or Away.  A player playing at home always has an advantage against a player playing on the road.

8. Injuries - Constantly watch the injury reports everyday.  If a player is injured, his backup may become very valuable to your team.  You will always have 1 or 2 players you can cut to improve your team.  Backup runningbacks are especially valuable so watch for them and them quickly.  Make moves fast and assume if you are considering the pick up, so is someone else.
9. Trades – Do not make trades early in the season because injuries can burn and you won’t get value for your players.  Make trades in the middle of the season and near the trade deadline only.  Make sure you trade for players that won’t be sitting during the playoffs (i.e. Peyton Manning).  We seriously recommend not trading for players that aren’t proven.  Trading for rookies or hot players could be a disaster in the making.  If you are going to pull the trigger on a trade, at least make sure you get a reliable player who will play the rest of the season.
10.  Playoffs - Playoffs are sudden death.  Treat each game as you are playing your last.  Do the following:
    1. Make sure your players will be playing a full game.
    2. If a good backup will be playing all or part of a game (i.e. Michael Turner), grab him from free agency to fill in for a player of yours that will be benched.
    3. Do not plan a lineup to kill your opponent.  Points mean nothing in the playoffs.  All that matters are “W’s” (wins).  When setting your lineup match up position vs. position and try to put the best lineup to beat your opponent, not destroy him.  Like I mentioned earlier, bench your start runningback that you know will be benched and start the backup.  You won’t get the giant points, but you’ll get the steady points.  Same thing with quarterbacks.  You have steady QB’s like Steve Mcnair, Tom Brady, Marc Bulger, etc… Then you have risky QB’s like Eli Manning, Tony Romo, and Vince Young.  Go with a steady QB IF your steady QB matches up well with your opponents quarterback.  The bottom-line is, put in your most steady lineup that can win.  You just need to win.