The Crow's Nest

Although I always felt confident the NFL labor issues would be resolved by the time regular season started, I must admit I breathed a sigh of relief once it was official. Then I thought, “How will that crazy offseason affect my fantasy football draft?” If you think you can approach your draft in the same way you’ve done for the last few years, you’re wrong. Many things have changed. Here are some offseason effects to take into consideration before you form your team.

1. The Lockout.

Duh. The lockout affected every player, but its safe to say the rookies felt it the most. With only 17 days between the end of the lockout and the first preseason game, rookies had a brief period of time to get accustomed to their new teams. Players who were traded to new teams had even less time to adapt, but had an advantage over rookies by already being familiar with the NFL.

So how should this affect your draft? Be wary of rookies. If you still love Mark Ingram, consider drafting him as a backup until he gets a little more time to practice.

Also, read up on players you are considering. How did they spend their time during the lockout? NFL.com reported that San Diego Chargers RB Ryan Matthews arrived to training camp out of shape and was “unable to finish a conditioning test.” Players who trained hard during their break will have an advantage until the slackers can catch up.

1. New Rules.

The only new rule I foresee affecting players is the new kickoff line. Kickoffs will now be done from the 35-yard line, a change from the previous 30-yard line start. The reasoning behind this change is to limit injuries to players returning the ball. But it also limits opportunities for players to return the ball. Without a doubt, more kickoffs will result in touchbacks, and the glory of 100+ yard TD returns for players like Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs could be lost forever.

Kickoff returns for TDs usually result in points for your defense/special teams, depending on your league settings. So you should also consider this rule when picking your defense, especially if you counted on return points in the past.

1. Trades.

Once the lockout ended and trading began, some teams took the opportunity to revamp their rosters. Those who utilized the trade options well gave themselves an edge and gave us an opportunity for more fantasy points. A few teams to think about:

The New England Patriots

I salivate at the thought of Tom Brady, now more so than ever. He played incredibly last season and this year has the chance to do even better because of the many weapons at his disposal. The offseason added another one: Chad Ochocinco. Yeah, Ochocinco is crazy but I truly expect him to conform to the Patriots’ mature way of playing and become a great option for Brady. Ochocinco has distracted the nation with his antics in the past few years, but let’s not forget he is a six-time Pro Bowler and he accomplished that while on the Cincinnati Bengals. I think this trade made his stock go up, but may have negatively affected other Patriots players.

Tom Brady will be throwing to Ochocinco, Wes Welker and Deion Branch. He’ll hand off to BenJarvis Green-Ellis and the adorably talented Danny Woodhead. Don’t forget about his superb TE options as well. This talent means Brady is going to spread the wealth. So to count on any of these players for big points every week is probably unrealistic. But as your second WR option or a player in a flex position, I would trust anyone Brady has his eye on.

The Arizona Cardinals

All I want to say is welcome home Kevin Kolb. I’m not saying he is an elite QB at the moment. I’m not sure he ever will be. But if he does become one, this trade will help him immensely. Kolb finally has the chance to run his own team, and what better way to start than by throwing to the best WR in the NFL? Yes, we finally have a realistic chance to watch Larry Fitzgerald do his thing again. Although it’s only been one season since Kurt Warner’s departure, Fitzgerald fans like myself felt the loss. I was genuinely unhappy he wasn’t getting the opportunity to play at the level he should because of a lack of QB talent (I’ve felt the same way about Carolina’s Steve Smith for years). I do think Kolb could be the answer to this, but I’ll admit it’s partly wishful thinking.

The Philadelphia Eagles.

Just a brief mention, because I’m sure you have already heard everything possible on ESPN. They acquired Nnamdi Asomugha. His presence has completed “The Dream Team.” I think this is a little overhyped, but I don’t doubt the Eagles as a strong defense. I’ve been happy to have them as my main D/ST for the past two seasons and having Asomugha only increases their value—but not by much. So don’t jump on them too early. And don’t forget about our own alumnus Nate Allen starting at SS.

Good luck in your drafting endeavors. Keep the offseason in mind.

Tags: arizona cardinals, fantasy football, lockout, new england patriots, new rules, philadelphia eagles, tom brady