Fantasy football: Personal growth edition
Written by Hannah Ulm, Nov 9, 2011, 0 Comments
Earlier this week, I felt like a fantasy football analyst for the first time. A friend asked me a straightforward “this player vs. that player” question for the first time. And I dealt with the anxiety of possibly giving the wrong answer for the first time.
It’s not that I doubt my skills—my 7-1 record this season can attest to those—but I recognize there are many more qualified than I. Since my columns are restricted to printing once a week and distributed on Mondays, I am limited in the topics about which I can advise.
I write before the Sunday games, so I can never rely on those for inspiration. I try not to name specific players because whomever I mention could get injured by the time my words hit paper. Anyone could find a Yahoo! Expert’s blog or check out ESPN player rankings that are updated daily for reliable player info. What I try to do is give you different ways to approach your team or options you haven’t considered.
And lucky for me, my style doesn’t leave me a lot of accountability. I might suggest certain factors for you to look at, but ultimately you make your own decisions. It makes me feel as safe as Tim Tebow* feels about his No. 1 position in Denver fans’ eyes. Oh wait…
Anyway, I guess what I’m saying is that I’ve taken the next step. It’s not like Matthew Berry is always right, right? And he had a cameo on “The League”—something for me to think about as I step up my game. So if you have questions, send them my way. And to finish off this week’s column, something actually football related: keep an eye on player drama.
I read about the Cleveland Browns veterans starting to turn on Peyton Hillis. Hillis is still hurt, so this doesn’t affect whether you are going to play him, but it’s interesting to consider. AP sports writer Tom Withers wrote about the team being tired of his money drama. It’s bugging the players, which could change team dynamic, even with Hillis out.
Some teams leave the problems in the locker room, but lots of players bring theirs to the field. How about Randy Moss in 2010? Staying up-to-date on player drama might give you an unexpected advantage.
*I try to stay neutral on Tebow issues—his playing will speak for itself. As a journalist I have my own views on his media coverage, but as a normal person I recommend checking out the “Occupy Tebow” movement if you haven’t already. It’s not as political as Occupy Wall Street, but much more entertaining.
