Living in fantasy land

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

It’s finally that time of year again. The time of the year when football junkies (and nonjunkies) gather their friends, crack open cold bottles of Perrier water, and conduct the fantasy football draft.

Despite being a devoted football fan, I had never played fantasy football until last season. I have played fantasy baseball before, but it is way too complicated and requires too much attention. With the football team, I only really had to check up on the roster twice a week. Baseball was an everyday job.

And as much as I think I am one, I’m far from a fantasy football expert. Nevertheless, here are a few things to keep in mind when you fire up the computers and draft in the coming weeks as the season gets going.

1. During the draft, make sure you know who you want and when. Have second and third options, and don’t let the game auto pick for you. The computer’s list doesn’t get updated for last-minute injuries.

2. Look for the sleepers. Tons of fantasy points can be made off players having a breakout year. In fact, a championship team almost always has a few undervalued players who complement the stars.

3. Don’t draft players from your favorite team! Just because you love the Oakland Raiders (no offense, Raiders fans), that doesn’t mean you should draft Jason Campbell as your No. 1 QB.

Also, here a few players that could be fantasy sleepers: Mark Ingram (RB, New Orleans Saints); Julius Thomas (TE, Denver Broncos); Chad Ochocinco (WR, New England Patriots); Cam Newton (QB, Carolina Panthers); and Julio Jones (WR, Atlanta Falcons).

And keep this in mind: The Jacksonville Jaguars begin their preseason at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, against the New England Patriots.

Projected starting QB David Garrard likely won’t play because of a lower-back injury. Instead, Blaine Gabbert, the No. 10 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, will likely start the game.

If Gabbert does well, I’ll reward him by picking him as my starting QB. He should be plenty available in the first round.

Talk about a sleeper!

Go Jags!