Don't be afraid to try a different kind of fantasy league
Are you out of the playoff hunt, or hanging on by a thread?
Things looking bleak and already looking forward to next season?
Well, there's a different kind of fantasy football league that I joined this season in which the fun extends for 16 weeks, then takes its postseason into the NFL playoffs.
Sound intriguing? Read on.
The league works like any other in that you play head-to-head competition on a weekly basis, only there is no draft or set roster.
Instead, you pick a starting lineup each week, but once you use a player, you can no longer use him. This way, you can use every stud in the NFL before the season is over.
Players have until just before kickoff of the week's first game to enter their lineup, and once the game starts, you can see your opponent's roster by logging into the Web site and checking out his lineup.
You may have heard of this type of league, although it is rare.
Jack Olichwier of Schaumburg is the league's commissioner and a Daily Herald reader, and he asked me if I would join this season.
I obliged and have done fairly well from a points-scored standpoint (11th out of 24 teams), but not so well in the win-loss category (3-7-1).
The benefits of this type of league are many, including:
• Not worrying about losing your top draft picks to injuries.
• Not worrying if your top draft picks flop.
• Having plenty of time to make up for a bad start.
• Extending the fun all the way through the NFL playoffs.
To me, there are some negatives, such as not having a face-to-face draft, which is one of the highlights for many players as they go golfing or just hang out for an evening of fun.
There are also times where your opponent will pick the same player for that week. That is a bummer, but it has only happened a handful of times to me. Plus, the Web site allows you to see whom your opponent has used, which is helpful as the season progresses.
Overall, as a secondary league, it's been a blast because of the strategies involved (do I burn the good players early, late?) and because the season is so long.
Olichwier's league has grown from six teams to 24 in the course of three years.
He has set up four divisions of six teams each. You play each team in your division twice and the six teams from the other division in your conference once.
Olichwier allows the top four teams in each division to make the playoffs, and once those start, the teams get to start over in terms of picking players they've already used.
"I really enjoy this league far more than I do my normal fantasy league," Olichwier said. "And most of the other guys in the league do too."
I agree that it is a lot of fun, and it's something worth suggesting to friends and family members.
My teams: The miracle run continues in my unit league, where I won 55-38. After sitting at 3-5 and trading away Clinton Portis to get stronger for next year, I've now won three straight and would qualify for the playoffs if they started this week. Unfortunately, they don't and two tough teams remain on the schedule. In the regular league, I improved to 6-5 with a 94-70 victory.
Good bets
• Bears QB Kyle Orton vs. St. Louis. I know Orton looked like Rex Grossman in Green Bay, but the Rams (12 total TDs allowed last three) are the perfect tonic for every team - and player - in the league.
• Browns RB Jamal Lewis vs. Houston. The last three teams to play the Texans have gone over 150 yards on the ground with 4 rushing TDs.
• Cowboys QB Tony Romo vs. San Francisco. He may not be ready to explode yet, but Romo figures to throw at least 2 TD passes against the Niners.
• Bills RB Marshawn Lynch at Kansas City. So where have you been, Mr. Lynch? Sure was good to see that outrageous performance (177 yards from scrimmage with a TD) on Monday night. Even scarier numbers could be posted against the hapless Chiefs.
• Giants WR Plaxico Burress at Arizona. Since Week 2, Burress has averaged just 34 receiving yards per game, but I'm thinking this game could be a shootout and Eli Manning will find Burress in the end zone.
• Packers RB Ryan Grant at New Orleans. The past six weeks, Grant has been making his presence felt, racking up rushing totals of 83, 90, 105, 86, 75 and 145.
• Colts WR Marvin Harrison at San Diego. This isn't just a knee-jerk reaction to Harrison's big day last week. It also stems from the fact that the Chargers aren't stopping anybody through the air.
• Bucs TE Jerramy Stevens at Detroit. Big-time sleeper pick here. The Lions have allowed 56 yards per game and 4 TD passes to tight ends. Stevens (6-84) had a big game last week, so watch for Jeff Garcia to target his big man a lot in this game.
Bad bets
• Rams WR Torry Holt vs. the Bears. Because the Bears' defense is struggling, this may seem like a good spot for Holt. But St. Louis is having an awful time moving the ball against anyone, so play Holt only if your other options are truly weak.
• Eagles QB Donovan McNabb at Baltimore. If he couldn't shred the Bengals' secondary, one has to think the Ravens will keep McNabb all tied up.
• Jets QB Brett Favre and WR Jerricho Cotchery at Tennessee. Expect only modest numbers from these two against the league's best defense.
• Titans WR Justin Gage vs. New York Jets. Plenty of you will be jumping on the Gage bandwagon after seeing his stat line from last week: 4-147-2. But remember: The Titans are still primarily a running team, and Gage only has 21 catches on the season.
• Broncos RB Peyton Hillis vs. Oakland. Here's another player some of you may be all over based on one-week results. Resist the urge; the Broncos' RB situation is still way too unstable.
• Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck vs. Washington. Clearly, Hasselbeck (3 interceptions) was rusty in his return. Throw in a possible concussion and one of the league's best pass defenses, and it's safe to say he should remain on fantasy benches.
• Read more from John at ffmastermind.com and listen to him next Wednesday in the 1 p.m. hour with Mike Murphy on WSCR 670-AM.