Fantasy Football Literature - the good, bad, and ugly
All right, just in case some of you are considering forking over your hard earned cash for fantasy insight, here are my thoughts regarding those that I've read, and I only read the ones that stand a chance, there are many other fantasy magazines out there that aren't worth my time.
Fantasy Index - This is still the undisputed champion of fantasy football magazines. Ian Allen has more insightful analysis than the rest of the magazines combined - not that I always agree with his opinion, like Rod Smith coming in at number four in his receiver rankings. Ouch, the guys a quality 2nd fantasy receiver, but no longer even close to being a dependable top notch one. Allen still has the Experts contest, which is a crazy contest considering all information has to be submitted in May, like most magazines that hit the shelves in July. And frankly, most magazines do have some sort of "mock draft" or contest, allowing the "experts", and I use that term very loosely, to offer insight for their picks. Then you really get to find out how little these guys know. Nonetheless, this is a solid read, one that you'll undoubtedly find worth your time.
Pro Football Weekly - Their weekly newspaper walks on water in my eyes, I've subscribed for the better part of ten years, but I find their fantasy analysis to be average at best. They've focused more on fantasy information this season than ever before, but they offer nothing different than the rest, just lots of generic opinions based on last seasons results, assuring their readers a chance at nothing more than fantasy mediocrity. Here's a perfect example; Trent Modglin, their "fantasy guru", points out that fantasy owners have to account for bye weeks during their draft, or they could be faced with a week when most their players are off. To that I ask you this; would you rather draft guys based on their production for thirteen games or for the one week when their off? So what if all your players are off in one week, at least you wont' be bled to death with two and three players missing time for the better part of a month. Also, if you do identify a division, like the NFC South this season, that has a very liikeable schedule, then you'll draft more players from that division and therefore will lose many players to specific bye weeks. That's exactly why I use the term "experts" so loosely, they all think and act like a sheep, bah, bah, bah.
Athlons: Although I've always found their NFL preview magazine worth my time and money over the years, their fantasy magazine lacks a punch, much like PFW and The Sporting News. It also focuses most of its attention on player biographies, including stats for the past three seasons (imagine that). They do provide a "statistical considerations" paragraph for each player, which is the most educational aspect of this magazine. But on the whole, I wouldn't bother.
The Sporting News: Now, although their fantasy magazine is ideal for the bottom of your bird cage, their NFL preview magazine runs away with the title this season. They stepped up big time, featuring five page previews for every team. Those previews include scouting reports detailing players on the rise and on the decline, plus they point out five things to look for in the upcoming season (for each team). This is worth mentioning because fantasy football is nothing more than a derivitive of the NFL itself. So if you know the players and teams and can create an accurate picture of the upcoming season, you stand a better chance at forming correct opinions about players for fantasy purposes. But their fantasy magazine is worthless. Like most magazines, they concentrate on "player biographies, which lists most the players, gives a one paragraph synopsis of each, and list their stats for the last three seasons. So if you need someone to tell you that Manning is as consistent as they come and has tossed at least 26 TD passes every season, you'll be just fine with this read. But if you want some sound foresight on things to come, don't bother.
Sports Weekly fantasy preview: I believe it hit the shelves in early August, so it's a little more up to date than the rest, but I found it to be just another fantasy magazine pimping itself as "expert analysis". Take a guess at their format? That's right, they provide player biographies, including each players three year stats. Man I wish someone would at least predict the next three years, that'd be so much more interesting. I also wish this magazine, and the rest, would explain how they rank their players - based on yardage or TD leagues? I know, minor details. They do provide a brief team bio, and in it they list each team's depth chart with the players ranking next to the name - that is done well. Their mock draft was painful to say the least. One guy, and I won't mention names, drafted Faulk and Henry at 12 and 13 - way to take care of those first two picks. Something tells me that guys plays powerball every week. And get this, with his third pick, the guy took Buckhalter. Lay off the drugs dude, and draft something other than a risky RB!
Anyone read any of the other countless magazines out there? Hopefully at this time next year, you'll be pulling one of my magazines off the shelf. The fantasy world needs to shake itself, and I'm just the guy to do it.
Stewy
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Hung like Einstein and smart as a horse.
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