Sports Fantasy Center

Make Money by Hosting Your Own Fantasy Sports League
By Brock Hamilton

Generally, most people flourish on their business because it is based on something they love and enjoy, like their interests or favorite hobbies. If you are into some kind of sport, you ought to make money by hosting your own fantasy sports league.

Many of us are into a certain sport, maybe basketball, or football, or baseball. Some sports are more popular than others, such as football. Football is the most popular sport in fantasy sports leagues. The general idea here is that you charge people a certain fee to pick their own team. You offer prizes and rewards, such as if the player scores the most points or goals in a season.

There are plenty of professional websites that run fantasy sports league, although you as an individual can also make money by hosting your own league. Make use of your social connections, such as your family, friends, and co-workers. This business offers a lot of fun, and at the same time, it rakes in a good amount of income, as well.

Of course, it is essential that you are particularly knowledgeable on the sport you have chosen, for it to run smoothly and properly. When hosting a fantasy sports league it is important to manage the sports league in every aspect and step of the way. If not, it will be difficult and time-consuming to catch up again.

This endeavor will surely be a money making machine. Remember, you can make money by hosting your own fantasy sports league, on a sport that you truly love and enjoy.

Ready to learn more about hosting your own Fantasy sports-league? Visit our website at http://www.101waystomakemoney.com.

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Drafting Injured – Suspended Players – Fantasy Football Impact Analysis
By Bobby Hastings

Every year there is that guy, the player who decided to fight dogs, drive drunk, sell drugs, etc. during the off-season. Typically these players face suspension prior to returning to active NFL duty. The question is how to are fantasy football managers to evaluate these players? While they are often talented without a doubt, the football season is short. How much does talent make up for lack of productivity? The same logic can be applied to injured players slated to miss the first few games of the season. This article will reveal a simple yet effective methodology for adjusting players pre-season ranking based on missed games due to injury or suspension.

In some cases deciding who to draft between an injured/suspended player and an active player is a no-brainer. Marshaw Lynch should easily put up more numbers in twelve games than say Brian Leonard over 16. In that case it is easy draft, Lynch over Leonard. The real challenge is how do we project Lynch’s performance so that we can get a sense of where to draw the line?

The following is fairly simple strategy that is fast, makes sense and is easy to apply. In short, for a suspended/injured player, take their previous years stats, project them to the coming year and adjust them downward based on the % of the season he will miss. For example, lets take Marshawn Lynch who is slated to miss the first four games of the season.

In 2008 Marshawn had 1036 yards and 8 TDs. With the arrival of T.O. we expect things to open up, and project Marshawn up to 1150 yards and 12 TDs if he were to play all 16 games. However, he is suspended for 4 games which is 25% of the season. We simply multiply Marshawn’s projections by (1-.25) .75 to get his adjusted projects. So we move 1036 to (1150* .75) 862 yds and (11*.75) 8.25 TDs.

Once you have his projected numbers it is easy to evaluate where to draft Marshawn. Draft him around the other running backs going for 862 yards and 8 TDs.

BleacherCreatureRotoTalk.com is a Fantasy Sports site intended to bring a scientific approach to player evaluation for fantasy baseball, football, basketball and now boxing! BCRT.com provides free news, statistics, and expert analysis of interesting trends which can give your fantasy team the competitive advantage it needs to crush your competition.

Read more at BleacherCreatureRotoTalk.com.

Fantasy Football

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Enhance Your Playing Skills Through Fantasy Sports Software
By Andy Brock

If you are a big sports fan then it is highly likely that you’ve had dreams of working as a professional athlete even at one point in your life. Whether it’s to become a basketball star, an NFL pro, or a famous baseball star, there is certainly nothing wrong about wanting to be a sports star. Aside from practicing on your own to enhance your playing skills or joining sports clinics to help you become a better athlete, there are certainly loads of ways for you to be able to push yourself to be the best.

Another thing that you can do to help you get better in your chosen sport is to get into a healthy lifestyle. Get into the habit of taking better care of your health, body, and mind through eating the right food, veering away from stress, and getting enough exercise. All these will work well into turning you into a lean, mean sports machine. Still, even people who are into these sports would still want to have some so-called “downtime” to help them relax and hopefully get them into a better playing mood. So for those times when you just want to chill out at home but you still can’t get sports out of your head, then why not try out fantasy sports?

Fantasy sports software is not just a fun way to pass the time especially for sports buffs but it also helps you improve your game techniques and can serve as an alternative way of practicing and getting ready for your next game. Fantasy sports software is actually quite popular these days especially among sports fans who want to live their big sporting dreams. Through fantasy sports software, you can actually build your own dream team and get into the action of your favorite sport. A lot of websites on the internet have actually started offering such games – sometimes for free and sometime on just a limited run. However, you do have the choice to get a better gaming experience by having your own fantasy sports software that you can install in your own computer. This allows you more gaming options as well as certain perks to help you improve your game. Several brands of fantasy sports software are now actually available online and purchasing one is not that complicated so don’t hesitate to order in case you find something that catches your fancy. Several types of fantasy sports software are now available like football, basketball, baseball, and hockey so don’t worry about whether you will find a fantasy sports software of your favorite sport.

Find more information on fantasy sports software at the website: fantasy sports software

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Fantasy Football Debate – Willis McGahee Or Ray Rice?
By Mark Parachas

Entering the 2009 fantasy football season, there was a lot of hype bestowed upon Ray Rice. The versatile, quick running back out of Rutgers was entering his second season and following a strong finish to the 2008 NFL season, it seemed like Rice was primed to break out.

Ray Rice had a great preseason and ended up winning the title of starting running back for the Baltimore Ravens. Fantasy gurus all over the internet proclaimed Rice as the sleeper pick for 2009, predicting that Rice, who catches many passes too, would have a Brian Westbrook/Steve Slaton type season in 2009. It was also announced that Rice would be receiving the goal-line carries for the Ravens.

Through the first two weeks of the 2009 season, Rice has played some solid football for the Ravens. With 144 rushing yards and 58 receving yards, Rice has been an effective force for the Ravens. The major downside is the fact that he hasn’t yet scored a touchdown. Not in 2009, and not in his NFL career.

Willis McGahee, on the other hand, already has four touchdowns through the first two weeks of fantasy football. Not only does he have the touchdowns, but he also has the yards. With 123 rush yards and 41 receiving yards, his totals aren’t too far behind those of Rice’s.

McGahee has obviously been the better fantasy football running back so far, but one has to wonder if his health can keep him this effective all year. He seems to think so, but what happens from here is anyone’s guess.

Win real cash in a free fantasy football league at RootZoo, the only site that rewards you for winning a fantasy league. Leagues are still open, in addition to a great sports forum.

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Fantasy Football Insurance – How Necessary Are Handcuffs in the Two RB System Era?
By Bobby Hastings

The Handcuff used to be a common term overheard during fantasy football drafts around the country. Today is a new day. Today is the day of the dreaded running back by committee (RBBC). Today the word handcuff is almost dead. We think it is still an important concept. The handcuff is the idea of drafting a players backup that will gain the majority of carries in the event of an injury to the primary running back. If you owned an injury prone player it was believed to be a good idea to handcuff his backup onto your squad under the assumption that in the event of injury the backup would step right in and your team would not suffer too much.

The RBBC has decreased the value of the handcuff. On some teams the RBBC can be as deep as three players. The handcuff does not work as well in that case when an injury creeps up. However, there are a few legitimate two-back RBBC situations around the league, where if the primary back went down to injury the handcuff would actually dramatically increase in value as a result of becoming the primary ball carrier.
Of course, a handful of situations do still exist where there is one primary ball carrier – in those cases the handcuff is certainly not always a necessity. In fact, in some of those situations, should the primary ball carrier go down to injury the handcuff would NOT become the primary ball carrier – the team would go to a RBBC.

The following is a list of recommended handcuffs. If a player is not on this list, in the event of injury we see a RBBC situation.

2009 BCRT Handcuffs To Target
Chester Taylor
Jerious Norwood
Ladell Betts
Jonathan Stewart
Donald Brown
Ricky Williams
Justin Fargas
LeSean McCoy
Darren Sproles
Edgerrin James
Glen Coffee
LenDale White

There you have it – to handcuff or not to handcuff? We say go for the cuff in certain siutations. Hopefully list provided above will serve you well on draft day.

BleacherCreatureRotoTalk.com is a Fantasy Sports site intended to bring a scientific approach to player evaluation for fantasy baseball, football, basketball and now boxing! BCRT.com provides free news, statistics, and expert analysis of interesting trends which can give your fantasy team the competitive advantage it needs to crush your competition.

read more at BleacherCreatureRotoTalk.com Fantasy Football

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2009 Fantasy Football Busts
By Dave Gawron

The following players are unlikely to earn their ADP (average draft value).

QUARTERBACKS

Ryan, Matt ATL

He’s been going in the sixth round of many drafts, and that’s too early. He absolutely has the talent, but the Falcons like to run so much, there should be many games where Ryan fails to top 200 yards and one score.

Cutler, Jay CHI

He’s not in Denver anymore. His best receivers are his tight end and running back now. The Bears will still try to rely on their running game and defense. Cutler shouldn’t be drafted before many of the quarterbacks he’s being drafted before.

RUNNING BACKS

Tomlinson, LaDainian SD

Yes, he could very well bounce back for one great comeback year. He’s aging, and he proved last year that injuries can derail him now. I just can’t take that kind of chance in the middle of my first round.

Westbrook, Brian PHI

The Eagles drafted LeSean McCoy this past summer for insurance. When Westbrook gets hurt this year, the Eagles will rest him and barely skip a beat.

Smith, Kevin DET

He’s a great, great back, but you don’t burn a second round pick on a Lions running back when they’ll be playing from behind constantly. He could make up for it in PPR leagues, but still, I wouldn’t take him until Round 4.

Thomas, Pierre NO

People are writing him off because of his injury and the crowded backfield, but he has the potential to provide great value if you can snag him in the fifth round.

Addai, Joseph IND

He won’t hold off the rookie Donald Brown enough to earn his ADP.

Jones, Thomas NYJ

They’ll use Leon Washington more anyway, but Jones overachieved last year, and this year opponents will stack the box if/when the rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez can’t stretch the field for Jones.

Lewis, Jamal CLE

He’s toast, pure and simple. The Browns will turn to a combination of Jerome Harrison and James Davis before long.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Owens, Terrell BUF

If things go south in Buffalo, Owens could get pretty worthless pretty fast. Really, how well can a guy with his personality take being blown out often?

Edwards, Braylon CLE

Quinn’s arm isn’t strong enough to take advantage of Edwards. He’ll be a terribly inconsistent fantasy wide receiver.

Williams, Roy DAL

He could pan out, but I wouldn’t waste a fourth round pick on him to find out if he will or not. Jason Witten should overshadow him in fantasy football.

Bryant, Antonio TB

He is okay to nab in the seventh or eighth rounds, but he’s being drafted before that based on last year’s numbers. Byron Leftwich is an awful quarterback, and the Bucs will try and run the ball as much as possible.

TIGHT ENDS

Gonzalez, Tony ATL

Okay, so he won’t be a bust in the true sense of the word, but people expecting him to duplicate last year’s numbers would be mistaken. Michael Turner and Roddy White will see to it that his numbers decline in 2009.

Winslow, Kellen TB

He can’t stay healthy. His quarterback is byron Leftwich. He’s on a team with a serious run-first attitude. Need any more reasons?

KICKERS

Gostkowski, Stephen NE

He’s just simply being drafted too early. You don’t take kickers in the tenth round. You wait.

Gould, Robble CHI

New Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will see to it that Gould has very inconsistent opportunities from game to game with his turnovers and poor decisions.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Steelers, Pittsburgh

They’re just simply being drafted too early. You don’t take a defense in the eighth round. You wait.

Jets, New York

Great talent, but there’s a chance that their rookie quarterback will struggle. If so, they’ll end up tired being on the field too long.

I currently own and write for http://www.RotoCommunity.com … My fantasy football, baseball, and basketball writings have been published on the net (SportsIllustrated.com, ESPN.com, NBA.com, TalentedMrRoto.com, SportsBuff.com, & CREATiVESPORTS) and in print (Fantasy Football Sourcebook and Fantasy Baseball Sourcebook) since 2001. Visit http://www.RotoCommunity.com and create an account, so that you may download fantasy football, fantasy basketball, and fantasy baseball projections, rankings, cheatsheets, and schedule analysis draft kits.

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NFL Updates For the Fantasy Football 2009 Season
By Marcus Whittman

We are two weeks into the NFL season, and to put it mildly, the Super bowl is still anybody’s game. So far we’ve seen some old hands make it rain, some fresh blood showing that they have what it takes to win, and some disappointments drafted in the first or second round. Fear not for your picks, we still have the bulk of the season ahead of us, and fantasy football leagues will have a lot more surprises. Here’s a rundown of the best (and worst) of fantasy football news.

In Life and in Football, Experience Matters

The first few weeks have reminded us all why established players consistently rank as the top fantasy football players. Drew Brees holds the #1 Quarterback spot for on NFL.com. Now in his fourth year with the Saints, the man moves the ball quickly and confidently. There’s no doubt that he was in control against Philadelphia, and he knows his assets (see Colston and Henderson). Tom Brady didn’t perform as expected against the Jets, but by no means does that mean that he’s lost his touch. My prediction is that he’ll have a very strong season. Andre Johnson has never played better for the Houston Texans. And let’s not forget about Tony Gonzalez, the first Tight End in NFL-history to accrue more than 11,000 yards. This man has fantasy football stud written all over him.

NFL Rookie Report

Some of the rookies and younger players are poised for a breakout season. Denver may have a new star quarterback on their hands with Kyle Orton. Now in his fifth year in the NFL, he’s quick to the snap and his accuracy looks solid. Calvin Johnson is playing smart and skillfully for the Lions, but quarterback Matthew Stafford has a lot of work ahead of him. The Minnesota Vikings are in-the-pocket with newcomer Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson. Both Harvin and Peterson work well with Brett Favre, and the trio performed some notable power plays against the Browns and Lions. No doubt we’ll be seeing more from them in the future. And for best in defense, look to the Baltimore Ravens. They shut down both Kansas City and San Diego with top-notch performances.

NFL Injury Updates

On the unfortunate side, let’s talk about the injuries. Brian Urlacher is out for the season, which leaves Chicago with a lackluster defensive line. They’ve been rebuilding their defense for the past two years. Without Urlacher, it’s going to take some seriously creative coaching to help them hold their own against the top teams. The Indianapolis Colts are feeling the same heat after losing Anthony Gonzalez. The other wide receivers on the roster are mediocre at best, which leaves their passing game in deep waters. And the Seattle Seahawks fare no better with their quarterback Matt Hassellbeck out with a broken rib. They expect him back on the field soon, but in the meantime, we’ll probably see Seneca Williams starting. Finally, Cowboys running back Marion Barber suffered a painful quadriceps strain that’s going to keep him on the bench for a minimum of two weeks.

All of these events early in the season will shape the eventual outcome of the Super Bowl, but what that outcome will be is anybody’s guess. Be sure and stay updated on NFL player news each week so you can make sound, successful decisions when it comes to your fantasy leagues and teams this year.

An accomplished athlete in his high school days, Marcus Whittman is a sports writer freelancing for the fantasy football web site http://www.Stinkball.com Whittman enjoys watching live games and putting together a variety of fantasy sports teams each season.

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Fantasy Football Draft Advice – Defense & Kickers
By Ryan Lester

Defense

There comes a time in your fantasy draft when you have your starting QB, two or three RBs, three or four WRs, and possibly your Tight End taken care of. Adding depth is very important, but don’t overlook the value of a top flight defense. The good thing about defenses are the elite ones don’t tend to change from year to year despite injuries and turnover. Take the Giants for example. Who would have figured they would have an elite defense after Strahan retired and Osi went down? Yet, they did. Philly has had players come and go without missing a beat. Think about how long Pittsburgh and Baltimore have been elite fantasy defenses.

The top fantasy defenses based on Average Draft Position are:

Pittsburgh – 8th round
Baltimore & NY Giants – 9th round
Minnesota – 10th round

You can chose to wait until the 11th or 12 round, assuming there isn’t a run on defenses, and land San Diego, Chicago, Philadelphia, NY Jets or Tennessee.

Don’t worry if you miss out on one of the top D’s. There are still great values to be had later like New England, Green Bay, Dallas, and Washington, but landing Pittsburgh D can be a difference maker. Some of the players going in the 8th round along with Pittsburgh D are Jamal Lewis, Julius Jones, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Percy Harvin. Jamal and Julius have little upside. Ahmad and Julius have great potential, but can you really rely on them any given week? Meanwhile Pittsburgh is a plug and play. You don’t have to worry about matchups. You just use them every week.

Kickers

Yesterday we discussed being bold and taking a top defense early. Since the top defenses don’t tend to change from year-to-year, it’s a calculated risk. Kickers, on the other hand, are much more of a crap shoot. In fact, since 2002 there have only been two Kickers to be in the top five in points in consecutive seasons.

Stephen Gostkowski is one of the back-to-back Kickers so he may be the exception, although his average draft position is the 11th round. I see no reason why New England’s offense doesn’t continue to score in bunches, but personally I would rather secure a top flight defense or provide depth to another key position. Of course, I am not opposed to ditching the Kicker position all together, but that’s a topic for a different day. If you are drafting a Kicker based on last year, you’ll probably miss the boat. Here’s a look at the top five point scorers from 2002-2008.

2008
Stephen Gostkowski – 148
David Akers – 144
John Carney – 143
Matt Bryant – 131
John Kasay – 130

2007
Mason Crosby – 141
Stephen Gostkowski – 137
Rob Bironas – 133
Nick Folk – 131
Shayne Graham – 130

2006
Robbie Gould – 143
Nate Kaeding – 136
Jeff Wilkins – 131
Matt Stover – 121
Josh Scobee – 119

2005
Jay Feely -148
Neil Rackers – 140
Shayne Graham – 131
Lawrence Tynes – 125
Mike Vanderjagt – 121

2004
Adam Vinatieri – 141
Jason Elam – 129
Jeff Reed – 124
David Akers – 122
Shayne Graham – 122

2003
Jeff Wilkins – 163
Mike Vanderjagt – 157
Matt Stover – 134
John Kasay – 125
Gary Anderson – 123

2002
Jay Feely – 138
David Akers – 133
John Carney – 130
Martin Gramatica – 128
Sebastian Janikowski – 128
Ryan Longwell – 128

My advice is fill your roster with good depth at your key positions and grab a Kicker in the last round. Odds are you’re going to drop your Kicker in your bye week anyway. Unless you have an extremely deep roster, you don’t want to hold onto two Kickers at one time.

Ryan Lester

http://lesterslegends.com

Helping you win your fantasy football, baseball, basketball, and hockey leagues.

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Fantasy Football Tips For Winning Your Fantasy Football League
By James Hamaker

Fantasy Football Season is upon us again, and there are many issues to consider for this season. One of the biggest early decisions is who to draft in the early rounds of the draft. I would like to take this time to share with you my strategy on when I draft players and why you should draft your players at certain times during the draft.

The early rounds of the draft are the most important rounds for your fantasy team. The decisions you make with your early picks can make or break your team. Rounds one through four are very important, and you should draft carefully according to your place in the draft.

Your first pick in the draft should always be a running back or wide receiver. In a points-per-reception league, the WR position grows in importance. In most seasons, a running back should be selected in the first five to seven positions in the draft. If you draft later than seventh in the first round, you might want to consider drafting a wide receiver in the first round. In round two, you want to draft a wide receiver or running back. I would only draft a quarterback in round two if you selected a wide receiver in round one. In most seasons, you do not want to draft a quarterback early unless he is one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the league.

Your first four picks should be wide receivers and running backs. Do not draft a tight end or quarterback earlier than round five unless you pick up an elite quarterback. After the first four rounds, start filling up the positions on the rest of the team. I recommend filling all starter positions first before filling up the bench. Do not fill your kicker or team defense slots until the last two rounds of the draft. You can pick up better kickers and team defenses during the season.

Finally, pick up sleeper picks in the last rounds of the draft. Do not select benchwarmers or handcuff players in most situations unless you play in a really deep league. This will give you a better chance to win if an entire team is bad.

These are all the tips I recommend to fantasy football players. I wish you the best of luck with your team.

James Hamaker loves to write about everything. Look for more articles from James!

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Fantasy Football Surprises in 2009 Through Week 2
By Ryan Lacioca

Here are some of the more pleasant fantasy football surprises of the 2009 season so far. We’re only two weeks into the season, so much is subject to change, but as it stands right now, there are definitely quite a few players exceeding all expectations placed upon them.

Mario Manningham, wide receiver for the New York Giants. Everyone wondered what would become of the Giants’ receiving situation. Having lost both Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the Giants entered the season without their longtime top two receivers. At wide receiver, Mario Manningham is amongst the biggest 2009 fantasy football surprises so far, and may very well be the biggest.

Manningham has been superb though. Through the first two games, Manningham has 208 yards and a total of two touchdowns. It’s clear that the Giants are in pretty good hands so far, and Manningham has broken out.

Fred Jackson, running back for the Buffalo Bills. Talk about a great first two games of the season! With 220 rush yards and 108 receiving yards (not to mention a touchdown too), Fred Jackson has one of the highest rushing totals in the NFL through the first two games of the season and is definitely one of the bigger fantasy football surprises of the 2009 season so far.

The versatile running back has done an excellent job filling in for Marshawn Lynch, currently serving a suspension, and one has to wonder what the running back situation will look like in Buffalo once Lynch returns. Without a doubt, Jackson will remain an integral part of the Bills’ offense.

Find out about more fantasy football surprises and join a free fantasy football league at RootZoo, the only site that pays you cash for winning your league! Play weekly pick ‘em too.

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