Can you say, “Are you ready for some football?” It’s only the preseason, I know, but we fans are a wee-bit excited. Adrenalin is rushing through our veins already.
When a Nascar race is about to start, Darrell Waltrip yells out, “Boogity, boogity, boogity!” Football fans are not that creative, we just go, “Yeah, baby…where the chips and dip at?”
We start wearing our tattered jerseys, t-shirts, team logo hats, and bring out our team logo koozies (them are actually like Christmas lights left hanging year-round; we use them 24/7).
That excitement is raised several notches when you’re into Fantasy Football (FF) like I am. We buy magazines, do web team roster research, and are thinking, talking, dreaming FF. And Draft Day? We’ve waited 6 months for it.
You may ask, “But… aren’t you a pastor?” It may surprise you how many pastors are into FF. In fact, our draft day happens in our church’s youth building.
Not everyone loves FF, though. I’ve met several wives that seriously dread and absolutely despise this time of the year. My next post will hopefully encourage them. But for now, I want to share with you the right FF strategy to have so you can crush it this year.
BTW, I am a 10 Team Keeper League Champion. Our league trophy, ‘The Widow Maker’, has my name on it. Just saying! (see pic above)
Ok, so I want to help you out.
The key to success (not only in FF but in life) is to pace yourself. (Tweet that) This is critically important. You need to have a list of priorities you live by. Mine are as follows:
- God – He always deserves top spot in all we do. There’s a Bible verse that goes, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1Corinthians 10:31 NLT, emphasis mine)
- Family – my wife and children deserve my loving attention.
- Work/church – for me these 2 are tied together, after all, I am a preacher. But even if you’re not in a church related vocation make sure Sunday church worship with your family high on your list. God blesses those who honor Him! Also honor the Lord in whatever you do for a living.
Once you have a good grip on those then it’s game on.
As you get ready for Draft Day (ours includes pizza, chips, drinks, world famous tater salad, and dessert) keep this short strategy in mind:
- Concentrate on the now – last season is in the past. The fact that one player was tearing it up last year may be a sign of good things to come but not necessarily.
- Follow a few mock drafts to see where the players you like are being drafted. This year there’s a good crop of 2nd tier QB’s so don’t draft one too early. Be wise.
- Keep up with injuries. You don’t want to be like my buddy Gene who drafted a guy that was out for the season. Ouch!
- Research players strength of schedule, especially late in the season.
- Pick players with the most value.
- Draft players with upside.
- Remember that seasons are often won or lost in the middle rounds of the draft. Have your dream team in mind.
- Read, read, read.
- On draft day my wife (she is also my team’s GM) makes a point to say, “Stick to your game-plan” as I walk out the door. You do the same.
To whoever invented FF, “Live long and prosper!” And to fantasy footballers everywhere, “Have a great season!”
What’s your FF strategy? Please leave me a comment.
LOL! Thanks, Jorge, I needed this. To answer your question, one thing I always want to stress to any ‘newbie’ to fantasy football is to make sure you get a kicker early, maybe even in the first round. Most gamers don’t realize that kickers can make or break your team. Those 6 or 7 points each week can make a big difference……………..NOT! Just kidding!
Your priority list above is right on the money. Sometimes on a particularly rotten day at work, I get through it by reminding myself that through God’s grace and planning, I have my job; so I need to work at my job as if God is my boss or supervisor. It really helps me put my day in perspective, and reminds me that God is sovereign and in control of my life.
Getting back to fantasy football, here’s a thought that just came to me. I wonder if God is a fantasy football fan. After all, if we’ve accepted His Son, Jesus, we are in God’s ‘Keeper League’!
You make me laugh, Jim. God is my boss. Great line! I have a neon yellow sticker in my office that reads ‘Jesus is my Homeboy.’ That may not be the same thing, though.
Thanks very interesting blog!
Thanks, glad you got something out of it!