Fantasy or Nightmare?

Hi, my name is Hugh, and I'm addicted to Fantasy Football.

For those who still haven't been exposed to the fantasy game, simply put, fans draft NFL players and accumulate points based on those players' performances. Sounds easy enough, right? What's amazing is the more you play it, the more addicted you get.

I ventured back into the "fantasy" world in 2003, with co-workers in West Palm Beach. Being a newbie to the whole live draft experience, I wasn't too upset when I finished dead last in our league. I did very little research and just figured I'd use my good football knowledge to draft a team. Looking back, I made some pretty poor choices... my first round pick was Corey Dillon! (just typing that irks me) But, by the end of that season, I was hooked.

Unlike the past, the internet made it extremely easy to follow my team. I first attempted to play fantasy football as a teenager, but prior to the year 2000 fans would have to keep track of stats on their own. I remember scanning the box scores on Mondays to total up my team's points... eventually placing a call into our league's commissioner, who acted as scorekeeper, to find out how I fared for the week.

Fast forward to present day. Yahoo, ESPN, and several other web sites allow you to hold drafts online, or in my case, enter the players taken in our live draft. Once that's done, the web-site runs itself. They keep track of the stats, records, and even settle potential scoring disputes. Now that I don't have to calculate my point totals, I can just look at the box scores to see which players are performing well. Do I want to pick up the 3rd string wide receiver for the Denver Broncos? I also get to see the health reports on all of my players. Should I sit my starting running back because he's suffering from turf toe? So much information is out there and you just want to use it to make your team that much better.

With one season of fantasy knowledge under my belt, I brought the craze to my co-workers in Macon. Of the 12 of us, I was the only experienced member of the group. Yet at the end of the season, it didn't matter. The guy who almost won the league had most of his players drafted for him (he had to answer phones during a hurricane). However I had minor success that season, reaching the playoffs for the first time. The following year, I entered the playoffs as the top seed in the league, received a bye to start the post-season, and proceeded to lose in the semi-finals.

I just missed the playoffs in 2006 (a year in which my wife claimed the league championship), but finally in 2007, I had my glory. In dominant fashion, I rode Drew Brees, Randy Moss and a host of others to the title! I had my bobblehead trophy to go next to the Mrs.' on the mantle (see picture above). But instead of relief, I felt more pressure! I wanted to repeat. I wanted a Fantasy Dynasty. I wanted to play more fantasy.

To prove my dominance wasn't a fluke, I prepared like never before. I took part in mock drafts online. I watched more preseason games than I can count. I had a strategy like never before. I even joined a second league that my brother started this year.

Then on draft day, I picked 6th overall, gladly choosing Tom Brady. How could I go wrong with the reigning NFL MVP? He's a quarterback who threw for 50 TD's last season and had a knack for not missing a game...that is until he blew out his knee in the first quarter of the first game of the season. I overcame that loss by trading for Philip Rivers, who has been quite dominant himself this year, but the week one karma hasn't let go of me. Six weeks in, I have one win, four losses, and one tie. This week, I needed an average performance from the NY Giants defense and I would have won. What do they do? Give up 30+ to the Cleveland Browns! I basically need to win five of my last seven games if I want to sniff the playoffs, and my next game is against our league's newest member... who just happens to be 6-0 and all alone in first place.

So, six years into my fantasy world, it has come full circle. Last place in year one... champion in year five... looking at last place in year six. But I won't throw in the towel. I'm still making trades, still looking at what free agents are available, and already thinking about my draft strategy for 2009.

On Friday, I'll head back into the brodacasting world to give you a fun story from "the biz" and let you in on what my predictions (sure to go wrong) will be for Week 7 in the NFL. Feel free to drop me a comment or a line and give me your thoughts.