To quote a former U.S. president, "Our long national
nightmare [of life without football] is over."
After many months spent twiddling my thumbs while feigning
interest in all that life has to offer, I'm ready to throw it all away for
fantasy football's simple pleasures: names, numbers, and 11 minutes of
high-stakes action nestled within each three-hour telecast. (Note to all
concerned: I care deeply about my wife, two kids, and wonderful job. And rainbows.)
Those 11 minutes of action . . . that's where fantasy
greatness begins. Any play could have
ramifications not only for that game but for the whole season, rippling through
player after player like that antepenultimate scene in "Raiders of the
Lost Ark" when the ark is finally opened.
(I had to look up "antepenultimate" and already
have forgotten what it means.)
Most of you know how Fantasy Football for Winners
works. This is where conventional wisdom
takes a backseat to facts, and where facts are dissected to reveal nuggets of
truth--the building blocks of fantasy titles (and for some of you, DFS payouts).
OTAs (Organized Team Activities) have come and gone,
offering a glimpse into how formerly injured players are recovering, what role
rookies might play this season, which depth chart battles merit watching more
closely, and so on. Everything I've
identified as meaningful predictors of future fantasy production have been
incorporated into my annual Top 300 Preseason Rankings and my newly created
(and I think the only one of its kind) "Comprehensive Player Values,"
featuring numeric ratings for 300+ players across three distinct criteria:
re-draft leagues, dynasty leagues, and the fantasy playoffs (weeks 14-16).
Many of you already have signed up to receive one or both of
these spreadsheets, which are updated daily and distributed via e-mail weekly
(and multiple times a week in August).
Subscriptions are available at www.fantasyfootballforwinners.com. It's pay-what-you-want, and everyone is
treated equally regardless. I wrote
100,000+ words on this site in 2015, so the donations help justify to my family
that all this time spent is worth it.
Starting tomorrow and continuing for the next 32 days, just
like last year, I'll share team-by-team breakdowns, highlighting the fantasy
prospects of every notable player (and many less-than-notable guys--surprising
players who will help you win championships).
Then we'll shift into FF4W's annual "bold" predictions. And we'll cap the preseason with
I-don't-know-what. There will be plenty
to talk about.
Finally, as most of you know, I enjoy answering everyone's
questions all preseason, regular season, and deep into the NFL playoffs. Keep your questions coming, and I'll do my
best to continue answering them all.
Great to be back, and great to have you back. This should be quite a year, which is the
easiest prediction I'll ever make.