Originally posted at The Show Speak.
So what does getting stuck between a lady with more cushion for the pushin and a guy that you can’t wait to see fall asleep pass out so you can share photos in compromising positions via Instagram have to do with fantasy football strategy?
Nothing.
However, the Southwest Airline group boarding system does.
SWA has already mapped out a good fantasy football strategy for you to succeed in your draft with their boarding process. They recognize everyone wants the best seat - so they prioritize based on preparation of the passenger. Just like YOU should prepare based on your goals in your 2012 fantasy football draft.
My Sammy Hagar 3 Lock Box- DRAFT STRATEGY
Group A: These are the guys that you know you want outside of the top ten picks. Recall Spencer Pratt look alike next to you on the plane? He could get a top ten pick right. I’m talking about draft targeting in rounds three, four, five and beyond . For me, the quarterback (QB) position is what I roll into a draft with a target round group focus. While our boy Spence is breaking his arm patting himself on the back for selecting Aaron Rodgers with the sixth pick overall, I am focused on a draft strategy for all 15 rounds. I’m looking for value trends. Evaluating our friends cumulative statistics at fantasy football calculator, we can see average draft position (ADP) of all the top quarterbacks. As of now, Rodgers, Brady and Brees are top fifteen selections. After that, there is a bit of a drop to Stafford, Romo, Rivers, Newton, and the Manning Bros. not named Cooper. In your draft, watch what everyone else is doing. Have your Group A QB list ready to go when things get hot. If Peyton Manning is your target in the fifth round, play your draft that way. More importantly, if the funnier less successful Super Bowl brother is picked up prior to your fifth round target -be ready with your substitute. Rivers, Romo, or Eli would be a great alternative in that situation. Also, have a Group A2 plan ready if your "A" plan blows up on you. There is nothing wrong with picking up Big Ben or Matt Schaub in the seventh round. In fact, that may be the right mix for your 2012 championship.
Prepare early, prepare wise, prepare with a purpose.
Group B: This is my favorite group. Finding the value guy with upside in the fantasy football draft who elevates his performance like New England Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski did in 2011 can be as exhilarating as watching an American Bald Eagle swoop in and swipe an egg from a flock of seagulls on an Oregon beach in the summertime. It is rare, but it happens. Mapping out your hit list of guys to take fliers on in the middle rounds is a little research, some foresight, and some luck. This year, the class of guys likely to take over for Mr. Yo soy Fiesta are Titus Young, Denarius Moore, and Jacquizz Rodgers. All three play in above average offenses, have above average skill sets and have had a season to prove they can play in the NFL. The Group B strategy is to have a vision and hedge with a few guys at the skill positions with break out performance capability. You only need to be right on one out of the three to take your team from average to playoff bound.
Take some risk based on research.
Group C: The late round-best guy available who has performed at one time or another in the league. Cedric Benson, Rashard Mendenhall, and Peyton Hillis all have ADP’s of the eighth round or later right now. For various reasons, you should be careful with these guys. Mendenhall may have another twitter meltdown about Bin Laden (and he’s coming off knee surgery): Benson has been known to get into a few bar fights in his day, and Hillis may have had his character questioned for health reasons last year in Cleveland. However, at the right price, in the right round - you may have yourself a steal. The fantasy football season goes for a full 16 weeks (for me). Weeks 8-16 count in your standings as much as weeks 1-7. Prepare for it with some vision. Benson, Mendenhall and Hillis are running backs NFL coaches trust when they are on the field. With Jamal Charles coming off knee destruction surgery in Kansas City, Hill will get his opportunity. Currently, Benson is unsigned. You can bet Benson, who has rushed for over 1000 yards each of his last three season will end up in a system that we give him a chance to be productive. And Mendenhall? I’d be willing to draft and stash the former All Pro running back out of the University of Illinois with the idea of his carries increasing in the second half of the season.
You have a bench for a reason - think about it Spencer Pratt.
There you have it. Solid draft strategy based on Southwest Airlines passenger boarding philosophy, presented by LL Cool T.
Now go do your own damn research.
Until Next Time,
Craig Turley (LL Cool T)
@That_Dude_CT
