If you’re new to Fantasy Football or new to 4for4.com, then this article is for you.

I’ll introduce you to several characters you may find at the table during your first year as an owner of a team and how to prepare like a contender.

First, let’s meet the people sitting around the table at your draft.

1. Technology Guy
PDA, laptop, MP3, blackberry…These guys are generally distracted at all times and now you can add the annoying hands free cell phone headset to the list.

Note: Using pcDrafter is smart and if you’re bringing technology with you, focus on pcDrafter and its powerful GOLD algorithm. Case studies have already showed it can get you 10% or more points on draft day. 

See: http://www.4for4.com/pre06/pcdraftart.php
Also see: http://www.4for4.com/pre06/goldcoming.php


2. Multiple Magazine Guy
These guys usually have at least 3 magazines and are constantly flipping through pages looking for the Holy Grail.


3. Drunken Guy
May happen to one or more members of the league. Drunken guy usually starts off ok, but ends up with more tight ends than running backs.


4. Nicotine Fit Guy
Always organizes the break schedule for the draft.


5. Father and Son Combo Guy
Never liked this idea. Fantasy Football is a day you say goodbye to your family for 8 hours so you can curse freely.


6. Anxiety Guy
This is the guy who always gasps after every pick as if that was his next pick.


7. Not Prepared Guy
Asks to see your list. Feels offended when you don’t show him your 4for4.com rankings and PC screen.


8. Drafting Retired Players Guy
“I can’t believe I got Steve Young in the 7th round!”


9. Helping Hand Guy
“You know Steve Young is retired right?”


10. Goon Guy
This is the guy that always has something derogatory to say after every pick. “That would have been a great pick 2 rounds from now.”


11. Substitute Drafter Guy
This is the guy that calls the absent team owner before every pick and has to recite all the players drafted since his last pick.


12. Did this Guy already get Picked Guy
 I have seen this happen as soon as the 2nd round. “Is Shaun Alexander gone yet?” “How about LaDainian Tomlinson?”


13. Brought Girlfriend to the Draft Guy
Very rare, but it does happen. Usually the youngest member of the league. Girlfriend always wants to know when the draft will be finished.


14. Terrible Pick Sympathizer Guy
This guy always says, “Great pick” even when the pick was well… terrible.


15. Professional Guy
There could be one or more of these guys at the table. They are the ones that have that glow around them. They are prepared and take less than 15 seconds to select a player. They almost always go deep into the playoffs and usually find a way to win.

These are just some of the characters that make up the great game of Fantasy Football. Winning at this game requires draft day preparation, working the waiver wire, carefully timing trades, good weekly roster management and a little luck.


PREPARATION
For me, the season begins the day after the NFL draft. I start looking at how players chosen will improve or hurt offenses. Certainly, the Saints changed as soon as the words “Reggie Bush” came out of the Commissioner’s mouth. Deuce McAllister was already facing a tough road coming off a knee injury, but now his ability to get carries is in question. Starting early is essential. It is not enough to simply print out a list of players the day of the draft and just pick down the list. I am a list kind of guy, so here is my preparation list.

1. May: Read up on all NFL draft analysis of players selected and draft day trades. If you are in a keeper or dynasty league, this is essential.

SEE: the 4for4.com Rookies Page - http://www.4for4.com/members/rook05.php


2. June – July: Start participating in Mock drafts. They are easy to get into and are invaluable. ADP is a critical component to making your list of players. Also be sure to run some simulated Mock drafts with the 4for4.com Full Impact Draft Simulator. Also try the pcDrafter MockDrafter; it has several options for you including ADP, GOLD and you pick 'em. These types of automated mock drafts only a few minutes to run and they give you a great opportunity to try different ideas out as well.

SEE: http://www.pcdrafter.com/mock.shtml
ALSO SEE: http://www.4for4.com/members/fi/fihub.php


3. Late July – August: Camps have begun and the preseason is upon us. Read as much as you can about each team. This is perhaps the most critical component to formulating your team. What I look for is injury status and how each unit is adjusting to a new offensive scheme. An offensive line is a unit that I pay the closest attention to.

SEE O-line Article: http://www.4for4.com/pre06/stancol2.php
ALSO SEE Premium News: http://www.4for4.com/members/news/news.php


4. August – September: This is crunch time. You have watched all the Preseason games, or at least the first 2 quarters, and have an idea of where to pick some of those 2nd and 3rd tier position players and how a team is adjusting to a new offensive scheme. This is critical. Most experts would say that it takes a Quarterback about 3 or 4 seasons to become proficient in the West Coast Offense. See Mike Vick.

Leverage 4for4.com Rankings (Classic Style is good for beginners)
SEE: http://www.4for4.com/pre06/cspqb.htm (before 7/24)
Subscribers get the latest after 7/24: http://www.4for4.com/members/cspwr.htm


5. Night Before
The night before the draft, or Christmas Eve as I call it. Here’s some good info to gather and study.

a. Print out the latest ADP (Average Draft Position) data. Naturally, print out the latest 4for4.com rankings as well.

SEE: http://www.4for4.com/pre06/proj/QB2.PHP (before 7/24)
Subscribers get the latest after 7/24: http://www.4for4.com/members/proj/QB2.PHP

These reports not only contain ADP, but player projections, General Consensus views and more.

b. Print out NFL team schedules. Also, read the 4for4.com Schedule Roadmap and take down some notes.
SEE: http://www.4for4.com/pre06/2006schedule.php

Subscribers should review all the latest HOT SPOTS:
http://www.4for4.com/members/reports/hotsp.php

c. Print out a list ranking the offensive lines.
SEE: http://www.4for4.com/pre06/stancol2.php

d. Finally, review your league rules.

NOTE: if your league rules are highly unique, then be sure to consider using 4for4.com FULL IMPACT Cheat Sheets. They will allow you to approximate your league's set up. Also, pcDrafter is designed for customized rules.

Once you have these items you can get started. It is important to remember that rankings are critical. One of the best parts of Fantasy Football is that you are making picks based on your diligence too. For example, Larry Johnson is primed to have a huge year and may be a consensus #1 pick according to many ADP lists. I feel that Shaun Alexander is a safer pick. Larry Johnson runs upright and isn’t afraid of collisions. This puts him in a riskier position than Alexander in my opinion. I typically use the ranking list as my base. The 4for4com rankings, among other things consider the following criteria:

1. Strength of schedule – Does this player play against tough run or pass defenses week to week?

2. Quality players around him – Just as it states. Defenses will game plan is to stop what an offense does best.

3. Does this player have an injury history?

4. How many times do they call his number? Workload.

5. What system does the player’s team use (West Coast Offense, Ball Control, Spread, etc.)?

Further, I like to identify my own Sleepers. These are my candidates for the very late round picks.

You can create start with the 4for4.com rankings and tweak them to make your own or just let 4for4.com do all the work. Last year the 4for4.com staff helped folks win a ton of leagues including WCOFF (preseason cheat sheets) and FFTOC (in season weekly cheat sheets). So letting the staff do all the work is always a good bet.


A WORD ABOUT TRADES
I like to be in control when it comes to trades. Typically, I won’t trade a stud. I like to take advantage of hot players on my roster that may appeal to teams that are a little weak at that position. For example, I will trade a wide receiver that has put together a couple nice games. I will package him up with perhaps a goal line back for a 2nd tier running back. Chances are that the hotness will wear off of that player and you will be reaping rewards from your end. So, spend an hour on Monday searching for weaknesses that you can exploit from opposing rosters. Call or email with your proposal.

Also, starting as early as midnight Sunday each week be sure to log into 4for4.com and start checking out all the Waiver Wire pickup suggestions and Trade Idea reports.

LUCK – GOOD AND BAD
Lastly, there is luck. Any of the 15 personalities above have a shot at winning it all.

Injuries can decimate your team and you can have the misfortune of playing the highest scoring team every week.

Conversely, you can make all the right moves at the right time and coast to victory.

Minimize the effects of bad luck by drafting smart and working your waiver wire each week. I believe running backs are the most often injured players, so I draft more of them.


PARTING SHOT
Finally, don’t over analyze during the season. The golden rule is “Always start your studs” (and always check the 4for4.com inseason weekly player projections).