by Tim Delamatter

Created on: January 24, 2009

Fantasy Sports are one way to feel like you are a part of the season. I always thought it would be a waste of time, but then I was bored on year and gave it a go.

I learned you had to rate players and then the league would have a draft. I also learned there were different types of drafts. There were Automatic drafts, they work automatically. You and the rest of the teams in your league rate your players, then a random order is chosen to start the draft, and your players are picked in the order you have rated them. I.E. if you rated Kobe Bryant number one and you get the first pick then you get Him, if you pick fifth and he doesn't get picked by the first four people then you get him. If however he is picked, then when it's your turn they go to your next choice. If he isn't picked then you get him.

Normally Automatic drafts last for twelve rounds. This is my personal preference because you do not have to do anything but rate the players and then await your team.

There is the Live Draft. Within this type you have to be on-line with the rest of the team, and pick your team as the other players do so. This draft is nice because you can make sure you get certain players, but it is time intensive, and if you miss the draft date or time, your basically screwed for the year.

When you receive your team after the draft, there are always good players who have not been picked for whatever reason, and you always have a couple duds you have to unload. I always look on what is called, the Players available page. It is supposedly the waiver wire, but these players are all playing they just didn't get picked. Anyway, I have usually picked up some decent players right away. I have also found that guys within the leagues get rid of decent players during this time as well.

The first few weeks of the season are also god times to make trades. Most of the people in the league are excited about being in the league and willing to deal. As the season prgresses, deals are hard to do because most people aren't as into the league as much. It becomes a job rather than fun for some people. I suggest to make most deals before the first month is over.

There are different types of leagues as well. Some only allow you to set your lineup once a week, while others allow you to change players everyday. I find its more work for the everyday variety, but much better because you have more control over your stats.

Stats are what drives your team. It doesn't matter if you have guys like Kobe, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron if they rank 156 then you will drop in the standings. It's better to have a team comprised of consistent stat producers, then superstars who are only good in one arena, like scoring but deficient in fg%.

Points are nice but they are only one aspect to consider, there are usually over ten to fifteen different categories of stats you need to accumulate to be strong in the league. Sometimes it's good to have a guy like Eric Dampier, over a guy like Baron Davis just because one has a low fg% .333, to .717. Dampier will not give you points or assists, but he will give you rebounds and fg%, If your team is loaded on assists and points, then it would be good to trade Davis.

The fun for me in Fantasy leagues, is to be able to be like a kid again and know everyone's stats again. You understand the Nba much better as you scan the player page, watch the injuries and see the trends of who is up and who is down. It has given me a type of insider look into what makes a good team.

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