Think back about 5-10 years ago and try to remember what summer meant to you… Maybe it was a time for warmer temperatures. Or, perhaps it was that annual vacation with friends or family. How about a trip to the ballpark to catch a baseball game? Baseball no longer has center stage in the sports world during the summer months. Once July comes around, I find myself only thinking one thing – TRAINING CAMP! After I that, my next thought is DRAFT!

I think you can at least partially thank the fantasy football boom for the superpower that is the National Football League - and the reason football is becoming a year-round desire. As a kid, I remember football being a distant though come summer time. But now, after six full months with no NFL, it can’t come soon enough.

The draft is kind of like the Daytona 500, the biggest day of the season to start things off. Sure some will go on to have great seasons while others won’t. But in August, everyone has bright dreams and sky-high hopes of wining a fantasy football title, and even some extra cash for after the holidays.

So, here are some things to think about, even though most drafts are still over a month away…

CHANGE OF HEART ON QBs
When I started my fantasy football “career” back in the 1990s, it was etched in my head that running backs were what you live and die with. For the first time, I’m beginning to at least wonder about that.

Last year I entered the draft not thinking too highly about quarterbacks. Big mistake.

My philosophy was let someone else make my decision and I’ll take what’s left because the sixth best QB was as good as the 15th. While that probably still ended up true, what I miscalculated was how dominant the top quarterbacks turned out to be last year. Donovan McNabb, Dante Culpepper and Brett Favre were all disappointments for one reason or another and it opened the door for guys like Carson Palmer, Tom Brady and Jake Delhomme, who probably weren’t in most people’s top-10.

So far this summer, quarterbacks continue to fall in mock drafts. Reports of Manning falling to the third round have been abundant. This means, if you’re willing to spend a third or a fourth rounder, you’re more than likely going to get your guy.

Seeing the light
I think one time in an article I wrote the words “Tom Brady is the kind of guy you want leading your football team, but not your fantasy football team.”

It’s time to take that back.

Last summer, 4for4.com was alone and had Brady ranked in the Top-8. It turned out to be a great move. 

Brady’s value as a fantasy player continues to rise. Last year, there were just two games where he didn’t throw for a touchdown, a 23-20 win in week 3 over the Steelers and a 16-3 win over the Jets in week 13. What stands out is he still threw for 372 yards over Pittsburgh (his season high) and an acceptable 271 against the Jets.

Six times he threw for one score and eight times for two or more TDs. The secret on Brady is out. While he’s ranked in the top-10 this year, he’s often been the third quarterback taken behind Manning and Palmer in early mock drafts, usually being snagged in the fifth round. When you compare it to the wide receivers which average going in the same round (Plaxico Burress, Donald Driver, Javon Walker and Andre Johnson) Brady may be a profitable bargain.


GET ‘EM WHILE THEY’RE HOT
Okay, so I didn’t mean in my above words that running backs aren’t valuable. The key will be to get your backs and mix in a stud quarterback or receiver. I know, easier said than done….

If you remember back to last year’s predraft time period, it seemed as if running backs were plentiful heading into the big day. There was a nice crop of rookies who were destined for starting positions as well as the usual suspects.

But, don’t think that trend is continuing.

This year entering training camp and fantasy drafts, there seems to be a growing number of running back situations you’re better off staying away from (see my chart at the bottom of this page). The dreaded “running back by committee” is mostly to blame for this. Some teams will eventually name a starter, but it may not be until after your draft.

So far in early mocks, it seems picking in the top-three is going to be a huge advantage, as well as providing a nice cornerstone to your lineup. A top-three selection overall should give you two full-time starting backs and then either the receiver or quarterback of your choice. Assuming you take Larry Johnson, Ladainian Tomlinson or Shaun Alexander between one and three, coming back around mock drafts show tailbacks like, Domanick Davis, Julius Jones, Brian Westbrook and Kevin Jones as still being on the board. While Palmer and Peyton Manning are most likely gone at QB, you should still have the option of Brady, Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselbeck or Donovan McNabb at quarterback. That should get you off and running.


CHANGING OF THE GUARD
The look of your wide receiver draft board has probably taken on the greatest change since last year. The days of Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens as the top-three are gone.

While you can argue Owens is still among the elite, Harrison and Moss had down seasons and memories of big-game points from Steve Smith, Chad Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald are fresh in our minds. Now, those three are most likely at the top of your list in one order or another, and all seem to be going on the second round.

Smith has emerged as the clear-cut top receiver, going around the middle of the second round. Johnson is going a couple picks later. It will be interesting to see how much Keyshawn Johnson affects Smith’s point totals. For me, Chad Johnson may be a better bargain if you’re taking the first receiver.

While Fitzgerald emerged as a stud last year, it could be a bit of a stretch to take him as early as most mocks have shown. Remember, a lot of points from Cardinal players in 2005 came in garbage time. With more and more weapons, including a legit running back, it’s only a matter of time before Arizona starts to win games and that usually takes away from the passing game/garbage time points.

Overall, wide receiver looks to be a deep position this fall, filled with a bunch of sleepers in the middle rounds that could outperform some taken before them. As of late June, it looks like Joe Horn can be nabbed in the seventh and Derrick Mason in the eighth. Donte’ Stallworth looks to be going in the ninth, Muhsin Muhammad in the 10th and Nate Burleson in the 10th as well. All could put up good numbers for where they are drafted. It’s all about getting value for your pick.


LONG DISTANCE DEDICATION
So how far do you plan to go to your draft this year? A couple miles? Maybe an hour away?

After just looking up the distance on Mapquest.com, I discovered one draft I attend this year will take me 2,849.37 miles across the country. I wonder if that’s a record? This won’t be an online draft, I’ve opted to show up in person, making the trip from Pennsylvania to California in August.

About four years ago, my addiction for simulated baseball games and stats, like Earl Weaver Baseball, allowed me to meet eight guys from the state who are probably more dedicated than me (only now using the more advanced Diamond Mind Baseball simulation).

I was never able to make their annual baseball draft in December due to it being too close to Christmas. But, this year, they decided to start a football league, and, the chance to take a vacation that includes a fantasy football draft was too good to pass up for another friend and myself. Sure we’ll see the sights for a few days, but it will be hard to concentrate, at least until the draft order is selected. These guys do it the right way too and have had it all planned out for months: ping-pong ball selection process, draft boards, podiums – the works. Only thing missing is the round-card girl as of now … unfortunately the host’s wife has other things to do that day. I’m not even sure I would have ever come up with that idea.

Okay, to close this out lets get back to the RB situations...


Running Back Situations

SOLID
Buffalo – Willis McGahee
Miami – Ronnie Brown
Pittsburgh – Willie Parker
Cleveland – Rueben Droughns
Cincy – Rudi Johnson
Houston – Domanick Davis
KC – Larry Johnson
SD – LaDainian Tomlinson
Oakland – LaMont Jordan
NY Giants – Tiki Barber
Washington – Clinton Portis
Detroit – Kevin Jones
Tampa Bay – Carnell Williams
St. Louis – Steven Jackson
Seattle – Shaun Alexander
Arizona – Edgerrin James


QUESTION MARKS
New England – Rookie Lawrence Maroney could take away carries from Corey Dillon this year, especially later in the season – fantasy playoff time.

NY Jets – Curtis Martin showed signs of breaking down last year after leading the league in rushing two years ago. Those days are gone.

Baltimore – Jamal Lewis is healthy and has a clear mind, but Michael Anderson didn’t sign to sit on the bench.

Indy – Will it be veteran Dominic Rhodes or rookie Joseph Addai?

Jacksonville – With Fred Taylor always a question mark, the Jags seem to have a group of backs that can handle ball. Not an ideal fantasy situation.

Tennessee – If Chris Brown doesn’t lose carries and yards to LenDale White, he’ll probably lose some touchdowns.

Denver – Could Ron Dayne really be the starter or will it be Tatum Bell who finally steps up? Bronco backs are always productive but you have to know who will get the workload.

Philly – Brian Westbrook is the number one guy but do you really want a back on a team that passed nearly 70% of the time last year? Westbrook is probably the team's best receiver and main weapon, and, should still produce. But, if the possible lack of rushing points scares you, it may be better to go another route.

Dallas – Julius Jones seemed like a sure bet to be the man in Dallas but is now rumored to be in the doghouse. That could open up the door for Marion Barber. Keep an eye on this.

Green Bay – Will Ahman Green be back and healthy enough to resume his number-one spot or will one of the host of backs who stepped in last year steal the job? Regardless, this team seems to be an offensive mess.

Minnesota – Chester Taylor should get his shot at being a number-one, but Viking backs always seem to have their share of problems from week-to-week.

Chicago – Thomas Jones would appear to be the clear-cut favorite but in some mocks Cedric Benson has been selected before Jones.

New Orleans – Duece McAllister fans probably were expecting big things from their injured start last year, but with Reggie Bush falling into the Saints lap, it’d be foolish to think the rookie would spend much time on the sidelines.

Atlanta – Warrick Dunn continues to impress year-to-year but Vick and Duckett also continue to take carries and touchdowns away at the goal line. Plus, the Falcons now have a dangerous rookie runner with Jerious Norwood in the mix as well.

Carolina – DeShaun Foster appears to finally have his shot but is he an every down back? Also, don't forget about rookie DeAngelo Williams and goal-line runner Eric Shelton.

San Francisco – Kevin Barlow just doesn’t seem to want the starting job, but Frank Gore might.