If you're new to fantasy football, there's really only one secret to winning: commitment.
Apart from being able to predict the future, paying off players to throw the games or bribing your commissioner to add points to your team, the best thing you can do is be committed. Constantly scout free agents, read advice from experts, look up tendencies of team defenses and how they play against the pass and run and please, for the sake of the leftover sesame chicken in my fridge, don't start players that are hurt.
This process should be completed in four stages.
Stage 1: Tuesday morning.
I know you have that one class you hate every Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. I see those kids in the front of my orgo class look back at me and think, "What is he typing on his laptop?"
I'm destroying your fantasy dream, that's what I'm doing.
Taking notes? I have my hired friend to do that for me. Meanwhile, I'm looking at busts, studs and sleepers from that weekend and, most importantly, I'm hitting up the waiver wire picking up that one flex player I need before any of you scrubs get your hands on him.
Stage 2: Mid-week.
Every night, take some time to look over how players' injuries are coming along.
Watch a video. Stare at your roster for a while. Become one with it. Love it. Nurture it. It could be a gold mine. A good rule of thumb is to spend as much time on your fantasy league as you did on your chemistry lab this week.
Stage 3: Saturday.
Take this time off.
Use it for family, friends, homework and food - NOT. There's no time for that nonsense. During Stage 3, do the same thing as Stage 2.
Stage 4: Sunday morning.
OK, this one's serious.
The final stage is Sunday morning moves. This is the most neglected, yet most important time for fantasy owners. Sunday morning is when teams make game-time decisions on players of questionable health. So stop trying to remember what you did last night because the true embarrassment will come if you don't get Fred Jackson out of your lineup.
With that in mind, let's check out my confidence ratings for Week 3.
Andre Brown (RB/NYG) -[Confidence rating: On a scale of 1 to 14 - a perfect 10].
Bradshaw is hurt, and the team is unsure how quickly he will recover. David Wilson is not the running back he was expected to be. Brown should be getting 80 percent of the workload this week against Carolina, a team that allows an average of 147 rushing yards per game.
If you're looking for flex play, or even a RB2 this week, Brown is nice option.
Donnie Avery (WR/IND) -[Confidence rating: 7.8/14]
His original preseason ranking was 1,758 in the Yahoo! leagues. With 12 receptions in two games, he ranks at No. 11. And yet he's only owned in 10 percent of leagues, according to Yahoo.
I'm telling you now, pick this man up.
With this week's matchup being a home game versus Jacksonville, and Andrew Luck gaining some confidence, don't be surprised by an output of 80 yards and a touchdown.
Toby Gerhart (RB/Min) - [Confidence rating: .01/14]
Oh, don't get snippy with me Gerhart owners. I know you were hoping AP wouldn't come out strong and that Gerhart would become a star. If your excuse for having him is because you own AP and have an extra roster spot, maybe that's fine. But if you're telling me you are actually considering starting Gerhart, you may as well just delete your team now, and apologize to your commissioner.
Nikki Johnson - [Confidence rating: Yes, please.]
This girl is a monster.
Playing in the Lingerie Football League, she didn't just sign up to be sexy. She brings her "A" game every week. If you have not seen the way she runs, please Google "Nikki Johnson Football." Look for the weekend's news story, and wow, just keep an eye out for when she gets signed to the NFL. She really knows how to pound the hole.
Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
