About three years ago I joined a league with anywhere from 8-10 people from the Monroe area. I know most of them, even if I don't know them really well. That makes the league a little more fun, when you can beat, or get beat by someone you know.
My first year in the league I was a late add, and didn't get to live draft, so I suffered through a season of mediocrity, and finished the year by losing the third place game, fourth out of ten wasn't terrible, but I knew I could do better. Sure some of the guys in the league are smarter than me, and most if not all are wealthier than me, but I was a former sports writer and at the time a recent college graduate with a lot o free time on my hands.
When the next season rolled around we lost three players, and added one "rookie." The rookie being a fantasy football veteran with a knowledge all of the game greater than my own. We separated into divisions for the first time, which at 4 teams each made being able to beat your own division important. In the league we play the division teams twice each, and the non-division teams once each.
The best three teams in the league were unfortunately all in my division, but I hung in and only had 3 losses in the regular season, two of them to the Rook. We were fast on a collision course in the championship game, when the unthinkable happened. Both of our teams suffered some pretty heavy under performances in the semi-finals and neither of us made the title game.
Again I lost the third place game, making me finish 4th in the 8 team league that year. I had the second best record, and had scored the most points of any team in the league.
This year I was more prepared than ever before for the draft. Seven of us returned with one newbie this season as well, a man I know nothing about. I really wanted to draft 4th or 5th ideally to get the best chance at a good top to bottom roster. I drew the 8th spot for the draft, which I found out 9 minutes before the draft. *gulp* That changed my draft strategy completely. Instead of going conventional I drafted Wide receivers with my first two picks, Andre and Calvin Johnson.
That move worked perfectly, not only did I get the top two receivers, but it spooked a few other managers into going early and drafting WR's with their next picks leaving me a pair of really solid running backs with my next two picks.
I ended up with most of what I wanted, though I got there unconventionally, I drafted Peyton Manning in the mid rounds, thinking he'd be out a month at most, so a QB wasn't a big priority, I also snagged Tony Romo, whom I have no confidence in, but though could manage until Manning was back.
Just days later we found out that Manning will most likely miss the entire season, so I chose to spot start his replacement week one, whom I had to pick up off the waiver wire. It was a mistake. I thought the team would be down a lot and he'd get a ton of yards in the second half, they were, and he did, but he also tossed 3 interceptions making his score low. Luckily I finally beat my buddy and won week 1.
Week 2 I started Romo, and he missed half the game with an injury, but came back in to throw for a TD and well over an extra 100 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime. That injury turns out to be cracked ribs and a punctured lung. He may play Monday night, but I can't start him.
So again I was scouring the waiver wire. I picked up Joe Flacco, who would be fine in a pinch, but I don't have confidence in him either. Finally I decided to spot start Ryan Fitzpatrick, playing against the Patriots. My thinking the same as week one again, that he's throw for a ton of yards while trying to make up a huge deficit. It worked once again, the stats aren't in for the week completely, but I have a big lead heading into the afternoon games and Fitzpatrick scored 21 fantasy points for me, and lodged a comeback to beat the Patriots from down 21-0.
Still in the fickle world of Fantasy Football, I have no idea what I'll do for a quarterback next week. I guess life ain't easy for "A Boy Named Suh"
League standings going into week 3:
Division A
| 1. | A Boy Named Suh | 2-0-0 | |||||||
| 5. | Strange Daze | 1-1-0 | |||||||
| 6. | Team T-M-T | 1-1-0 | |||||||
| 7. | MotorCity Gearheads | 0-2-0 |
| 2. | D Fence | 2-0-0 | |||||||
| 3. | Dickens Cider | 1-1-0 | |||||||
| 4. | 4th & Chuck Long | 1-1-0 0-2-0 | |||||||
| 8. | Billys Bombers |
