Fantasy Football Preview 2008

Sorry for the loooooooooooooooooooong delay in updates. Turns out, summer was not a great time for me to start this blog. I quicky found out that once the NBA season ends, all you get is baseball, baseball and more baseball. And since I grew up as a 'post-1984 Detroiter,' I'm what you would call the lost-generation of baseball fans that just can't get into the sport.

But now that FOOTBALL IS BACK I will have much more to write about, as I actually care about the sport and know a little bit about it. And the best part of the NFL? Well, that's fantasy football! I've completed 3/4 drafts that I'm in as well as listened/read more fantasy related material than I want to think about.

With that said, I'm willing to call myself a sort of 'expert.' And if you're taking my expert advice, you'll want to know which players you SHOULD draft and which players to AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE.


GO GET 'EM:

1. Bryan Westbook, RB, Eagles - Sure he's probably only going to play 14 games this season, but he's about as much as a sure thing as there is in this draft. With LT getting old and AD hurt every year, consider taking Westbook first overall.

2. Fred Taylor, RB, Jaguars - He's a hundred years old, but he sure doesn't show it. His numbers keep getting better. He's good for 1100 yards and 7 TDs this year. Not bad for some one you should be able to get as a third-or-fourth RB.

3. Donald Driver, WR, Packers - His numbers last year were great: 82 catches for 1032 years. The problem? He only had 2 TDs. I'm willing to chalk that one up to a flukey year, and he'll score his fairshare for the Packers this year.

4. Marvin Harrison, WR, Colts - I have no idea why he is falling so far in fantasy drafts. (I just picked him up in the 6th round in my draft!) He's been playing in the preseason games so far for the Colts and has looked fine. Worst case scenario for Harrison: He's the number 2 WR in Indy this year... and that's something that I can deal with in the 6th round.

5. Jason Hanson, K, Lions - The 'ole stand-by. He's been my fantasy kicker forever, until this year when he was sniped in the 13th round. Don't worry, I have plans...

6. Ray Rice, RB, Ravens - Willis McGahee recently had knee surgery and Rice has looked good in the preseason. He's worth picking up in the last round, if only to hold over McGahee owner's head.

STAY AWAY FROM:

1. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers - He's not worth a 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th round pick. He's suspended for the first two games of the year, he's always hurt and he's sucked the past couple of seasons. Don't let your team fall for the namebrand.

2. Ryan Grant, RB, Packers - Can you say 'one-year-wonder?' There's a reason he wasn't able to play on the Giants or on the Packers for the first 8 weeks of the season... and it's becuase he's not a good football player. To make matters worse, fantasy drafters have no real idea what the Packers' passing game is going to look like, which may put even more pressure on Grant.

3. New England's Defense in the Third Round - Yes, this actually happened. This guy in my draft, who we'll call "Bryan" seemed to think this was an alright thing to do. Friends don't let friends pick like this.

4. Nick Folk, K, Cowboys - Yahoo! Auto-rankings has him ranked as like the 80th best player in the draft. Totally outrageous. If you have to auto-draft, please, please, please tell me that you are going to move him down in the rankings first.

5. Julius Jones, RB, Seahawks - Sure he's a starting running back, but he sucks. Stay away no matter the round.

6. Drew Stanton, QB, Lions - Another one of 'Bryan's' outstanding picks. I'll save my Stanton rants for later though.