FDH Fantasy Newsletter: Volume III, Issue XXXV

Welcome to our 100th edition of the FDH Fantasy Newsletter, as we continue to bring you weekly fantasy sports updates in addition to our usual content on FantasyDrafthelp.com. Our archive of past editions is available right here on The FantasyDrafthelp.com Blog and specific links to past editions are available at FantasyDrafthelp.com.

This week, we bring you a huge double-issue in honor of our 100th edition:

^ NFL Week 1 preview

^ 2010 NFL schedule

^ Our 2010-11 fantasy hockey season overview (serialized from our forthcoming FANTASY HOCKEY DRAFTOLOGY 2010, just like our other fantasy puck features)

^ 2010-11 fantasy hockey overvalued and undervalued players

^ 2010-11 fantasy hockey sleepers

^ 2010-11 fantasy hockey Don't Be That Guy

^ Fantasy hockey suggested league guidelines

NFL Week 1 preview

Here’s a few standard preface notes:

^ Notwithstanding the claims of any website to be your “home for Sunday morning injury report news,” nothing beats Google News – nothing. Entering a player name into this search engine trumps any other means of gathering information because it culls the data from an unbelievably wide variety of sources.

^ Especially earlier in the season, it’s always good to refer to a strong baseline of where players should have been drafted – and nothing beats FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFTOLOGY 2010.

^ Unless there are any injury questions, we never discuss “gimme” players. Such core players should be started week in and week out unless there is any question surrounding their playing status. Winning teams only need to worry about “playing the matchups” with one, two or (at the most, during bye weeks) three spots in the lineup. With a full slate of games, and players drafted in a certain order for a multiplicity of reasons, we especially don’t advocate much juggling for the first two weeks of the season. Some websites promise you a crystal ball for how to manage high-risk, high-reward juggling during the season. We don’t. We play the percentages. That approach may be boring, but it’s highly effective and much more intellectually honest in what we promise you.

^ By the way, here are your core players who should not be benched if healthy or available (players listed in their order on our draft board):

QB: Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Tony Romo

RB: Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Maurice Jones-Drew, Frank Gore, Steven Jackson, Michael Turner, Ryan Grant, DeAngelo Williams, Rashard Mendenhall, Ryan Mathews, Jamaal Charles, Knowshon Moreno, Shonn Greene, Matt Forte, Beanie Wells, Cedric Benson, Jonathan Stewart, LeSean McCoy, Ronnie Brown

WR: Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Miles Austin, Greg Jennings, DeSean Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin, Marques Colston, Steve Smith (Carolina), Chad Ochocinco, Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith (NY Giants), Pierre Garcon, Dwayne Bowe, Mike Wallace, Michael Crabtree, Donald Driver, Vincent Jackson

TE: Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, Brent Celek, Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez, Jermichael Finley

^ Links for each game take you to the NFL.com home page for each game, with stats and analysis.

^ All times listed are EDT.

^ Teams listed as “All-In” have a combination of all of the above players and any marginal players reaching a status where QB/RB1/RB2/WR1/WR2/TE all should be played. Teams listed as “All-Out” should have only the above “locks” for their team in a fantasy lineup, with all marginal players being benched.

^ All advice is relative, because there are exceptions to every rule. There are no marginal players who absolutely should be played or benched, but the ones we refer to here should be in the vast majority of circumstances.

^ Of the non-gimme players we like this week, the stronger plays are the ones in all caps.

Week 1

Sun. Sep. 12

Dolphins at Bills, 1:00 PM: QB Henne, all-out on marginal Bills

Colts at Texans, 1:00 PM: WR Gonzalez, all-in on marginal Texans

Lions at Bears, 1:00 PM: RB Best, QB Cutler, WR Knox

Falcons at Steelers, 1:00 PM: QB Ryan

Browns at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM: RB HARRISON, RB C Williams

Bengals at Patriots, 1:00 PM: QB PALMER, WR Owens, all-out on marginal Patriots

Broncos at Jaguars, 1:00 PM: QB Orton, all-out on marginal Jaguars

Raiders at Titans, 1:00 PM: All-out on marginal Raiders and Titans

Panthers at Giants, 1:00 PM: All-out on marginal Panthers, QB E MANNING, RB Bradshaw, RB Jacobs

49ers at Seahawks, 4:15 PM: All-out on marginal 49ers, QB Hasselbeck

Cardinals at Rams, 4:15 PM: All-out on marginal Cardinals and Rams

Packers at Eagles, 4:15 PM: Packers are automatically all-in based on our default recommendations, QB Kolb, WR Maclin

Cowboys at Redskins, 8:20 PM: RB BARBER, RB F Jones, QB McNabb, RB Portis

Mon. Sep. 13

Ravens at Jets, 7:00 PM: WR Mason, QB Sanchez

Chargers at Chiefs, 10:15 PM: WR Floyd, QB Cassel

2010 NFL Schedule

Week 1

Thu. Sep. 09

Vikings at Saints, 8:30 PM

Sun. Sep. 12

Dolphins at Bills, 1:00 PM

Colts at Texans, 1:00 PM

Lions at Bears, 1:00 PM

Falcons at Steelers, 1:00 PM

Browns at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM

Bengals at Patriots, 1:00 PM

Broncos at Jaguars, 1:00 PM

Raiders at Titans, 1:00 PM

Panthers at Giants, 1:00 PM

49ers at Seahawks, 4:15 PM

Cardinals at Rams, 4:15 PM

Packers at Eagles, 4:15 PM

Cowboys at Redskins, 8:20 PM

Mon. Sep. 13

Ravens at Jets, 7:00 PM

Chargers at Chiefs, 10:15 PM

Week 2

Sun. Sep. 19

Ravens at Bengals, 1:00 PM

Buccaneers at Panthers, 1:00 PM

Bills at Packers, 1:00 PM

Dolphins at Vikings, 1:00 PM

Bears at Cowboys, 1:00 PM

Eagles at Lions, 1:00 PM

Cardinals at Falcons, 1:00 PM

Chiefs at Browns, 1:00 PM

Steelers at Titans, 1:00 PM

Seahawks at Broncos, 4:05 PM

Rams at Raiders, 4:05 PM

Patriots at Jets, 4:15 PM

Texans at Redskins, 4:15 PM

Jaguars at Chargers, 4:15 PM

Giants at Colts, 8:20 PM

Mon. Sep. 20

Saints at 49ers, 8:30 PM

Week 3

Sun. Sep. 26

Bills at Patriots, 1:00 PM

Falcons at Saints, 1:00 PM

Lions at Vikings, 1:00 PM

Browns at Ravens, 1:00 PM

Cowboys at Texans, 1:00 PM

49ers at Chiefs, 1:00 PM

Titans at Giants, 1:00 PM

Steelers at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM

Bengals at Panthers, 1:00 PM

Eagles at Jaguars, 4:05 PM

Redskins at Rams, 4:05 PM

Raiders at Cardinals, 4:15 PM

Chargers at Seahawks, 4:15 PM

Colts at Broncos, 4:15 PM

Jets at Dolphins, 8:20 PM

Mon. Sep. 27

Packers at Bears, 8:30 PM

Week 4

Sun. Oct. 03

Jets at Bills, 1:00 PM

Seahawks at Rams, 1:00 PM

Panthers at Saints, 1:00 PM

Lions at Packers, 1:00 PM

Bengals at Browns, 1:00 PM

Ravens at Steelers, 1:00 PM

Broncos at Titans, 1:00 PM

49ers at Falcons, 1:00 PM

Colts at Jaguars, 4:05 PM

Texans at Raiders, 4:05 PM

Redskins at Eagles, 4:15 PM

Cardinals at Chargers, 4:15 PM

Bears at Giants, 8:20 PM

Mon. Oct. 04

Patriots at Dolphins, 8:30 PM

Byes: DAL, KC, MIN, TB

Week 5

Sun. Oct. 10

Buccaneers at Bengals, 1:00 PM

Falcons at Browns, 1:00 PM

Giants at Texans, 1:00 PM

Chiefs at Colts, 1:00 PM

Packers at Redskins, 1:00 PM

Jaguars at Bills, 1:00 PM

Broncos at Ravens, 1:00 PM

Bears at Panthers, 1:00 PM

Rams at Lions, 1:00 PM

Saints at Cardinals, 4:05 PM

Chargers at Raiders, 4:15 PM

Titans at Cowboys, 4:15 PM

Eagles at 49ers, 8:20 PM

Mon. Oct. 11

Vikings at Jets, 8:30 PM

Byes: MIA, NE, PIT, SEA

Week 6

Sun. Oct. 17

Browns at Steelers, 1:00 PM

Saints at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM

Dolphins at Packers, 1:00 PM

Chargers at Rams, 1:00 PM

Ravens at Patriots, 1:00 PM

Chiefs at Texans, 1:00 PM

Lions at Giants, 1:00 PM

Falcons at Eagles, 1:00 PM

Seahawks at Bears, 1:00 PM

Raiders at 49ers, 4:05 PM

Jets at Broncos, 4:05 PM

Cowboys at Vikings, 4:15 PM

Colts at Redskins, 8:20 PM

Mon. Oct. 18

Titans at Jaguars, 8:30 PM

Byes: ARI, BUF, CAR, CIN

Week 7

Sun. Oct. 24

Eagles at Titans, 1:00 PM

Bengals at Falcons, 1:00 PM

Browns at Saints, 1:00 PM

Steelers at Dolphins, 1:00 PM

Rams at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM

49ers at Panthers, 1:00 PM

Redskins at Bears, 1:00 PM

Jaguars at Chiefs, 1:00 PM

Bills at Ravens, 1:00 PM

Cardinals at Seahawks, 4:05 PM

Raiders at Broncos, 4:15 PM

Patriots at Chargers, 4:15 PM

Vikings at Packers, 8:20 PM

Mon. Oct. 25

Giants at Cowboys, 8:30 PM

Byes: DET, HOU, IND, NYJ

Week 8

Sun. Oct. 31

Packers at Jets, 1:00 PM

Broncos at 49ers, 1:00 PM

Jaguars at Cowboys, 1:00 PM

Dolphins at Bengals, 1:00 PM

Panthers at Rams, 1:00 PM

Redskins at Lions, 1:00 PM

Bills at Chiefs, 1:00 PM

Titans at Chargers, 4:05 PM

Vikings at Patriots, 4:15 PM

Seahawks at Raiders, 4:15 PM

Buccaneers at Cardinals, 4:15 PM

Steelers at Saints, 8:20 PM

Mon. Nov. 01

Texans at Colts, 8:30 PM

Byes: ATL, BAL, CHI, CLE, NYG, PHI

Week 9

Sun. Nov. 07

Buccaneers at Falcons, 1:00 PM

Saints at Panthers, 1:00 PM

Bears at Bills, 1:00 PM

Jets at Lions, 1:00 PM

Dolphins at Ravens, 1:00 PM

Patriots at Browns, 1:00 PM

Chargers at Texans, 1:00 PM

Cardinals at Vikings, 1:00 PM

Giants at Seahawks, 4:05 PM

Chiefs at Raiders, 4:15 PM

Colts at Eagles, 4:15 PM

Cowboys at Packers, 8:20 PM

Mon. Nov. 08

Steelers at Bengals, 8:30 PM

Byes: DEN, JAC, SF, STL, TEN, WAS

Week 10

Thu. Nov. 11

Ravens at Falcons, 8:20 PM

Sun. Nov. 14

Texans at Jaguars, 1:00 PM

Vikings at Bears, 1:00 PM

Panthers at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM

Lions at Bills, 1:00 PM

Jets at Browns, 1:00 PM

Titans at Dolphins, 1:00 PM

Bengals at Colts, 1:00 PM

Chiefs at Broncos, 4:05 PM

Cowboys at Giants, 4:15 PM

Seahawks at Cardinals, 4:15 PM

Rams at 49ers, 4:15 PM

Patriots at Steelers, 8:20 PM

Mon. Nov. 15

Eagles at Redskins, 8:30 PM

Byes: GB, NO, OAK, SD

Week 11

Thu. Nov. 18

Bears at Dolphins, 8:20 PM

Sun. Nov. 21

Packers at Vikings, 1:00 PM

Redskins at Titans, 1:00 PM

Cardinals at Chiefs, 1:00 PM

Ravens at Panthers, 1:00 PM

Bills at Bengals, 1:00 PM

Lions at Cowboys, 1:00 PM

Texans at Jets, 1:00 PM

Raiders at Steelers, 1:00 PM

Browns at Jaguars, 1:00 PM

Seahawks at Saints, 4:05 PM

Falcons at Rams, 4:05 PM

Buccaneers at 49ers, 4:05 PM

Colts at Patriots, 4:15 PM

Giants at Eagles, 8:20 PM

Mon. Nov. 22

Broncos at Chargers, 8:30 PM

Week 12

Thu. Nov. 25

Patriots at Lions, 12:30 PM

Saints at Cowboys, 4:15 PM

Bengals at Jets, 8:20 PM

Sun. Nov. 28

Titans at Texans, 1:00 PM

Buccaneers at Ravens, 1:00 PM

Jaguars at Giants, 1:00 PM

Panthers at Browns, 1:00 PM

Steelers at Bills, 1:00 PM

Eagles at Bears, 1:00 PM

Vikings at Redskins, 1:00 PM

Packers at Falcons, 1:00 PM

Chiefs at Seahawks, 4:05 PM

Dolphins at Raiders, 4:05 PM

Rams at Broncos, 4:15 PM

Chargers at Colts, 8:20 PM

Mon. Nov. 29

49ers at Cardinals, 8:30 PM

Week 13

Thu. Dec. 02

Texans at Eagles, 8:20 PM

Sun. Dec. 05

Jaguars at Titans, 1:00 PM

Broncos at Chiefs, 1:00 PM

Redskins at Giants, 1:00 PM

Bears at Lions, 1:00 PM

Falcons at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM

Saints at Bengals, 1:00 PM

Bills at Vikings, 1:00 PM

Browns at Dolphins, 1:00 PM

49ers at Packers, 1:00 PM

Raiders at Chargers, 4:05 PM

Rams at Cardinals, 4:15 PM

Cowboys at Colts, 4:15 PM

Panthers at Seahawks, 4:15 PM

Steelers at Ravens, 8:20 PM

Mon. Dec. 06

Jets at Patriots, 8:30 PM

Week 14

Thu. Dec. 09

Colts at Titans, 8:20 PM

Sun. Dec. 12

Bengals at Steelers, 1:00 PM

Falcons at Panthers, 1:00 PM

Packers at Lions, 1:00 PM

Patriots at Bears, 1:00 PM

Browns at Bills, 1:00 PM

Giants at Vikings, 1:00 PM

Raiders at Jaguars, 1:00 PM

Buccaneers at Redskins, 1:00 PM

Seahawks at 49ers, 4:05 PM

Rams at Saints, 4:05 PM

Dolphins at Jets, 4:15 PM

Chiefs at Chargers, 4:15 PM

Broncos at Cardinals, 4:15 PM

Eagles at Cowboys, 8:20 PM

Mon. Dec. 13

Ravens at Texans, 8:30 PM

Week 15

Thu. Dec. 16

49ers at Chargers, 8:20 PM

Sun. Dec. 19

Bills at Dolphins, 1:00 PM

Eagles at Giants, 1:00 PM

Redskins at Cowboys, 1:00 PM

Browns at Bengals, 1:00 PM

Jaguars at Colts, 1:00 PM

Texans at Titans, 1:00 PM

Saints at Ravens, 1:00 PM

Chiefs at Rams, 1:00 PM

Cardinals at Panthers, 1:00 PM

Lions at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM

Falcons at Seahawks, 4:05 PM

Broncos at Raiders, 4:15 PM

Jets at Steelers, 4:15 PM

Packers at Patriots, 8:20 PM

Mon. Dec. 20

Bears at Vikings, 8:30 PM

Week 16

Thu. Dec. 23

Panthers at Steelers, 8:20 PM

Sat. Dec. 25

Cowboys at Cardinals, 7:30 PM

Sun. Dec. 26

Patriots at Bills, 1:00 PM

49ers at Rams, 1:00 PM

Ravens at Browns, 1:00 PM

Lions at Dolphins, 1:00 PM

Jets at Bears, 1:00 PM

Redskins at Jaguars, 1:00 PM

Titans at Chiefs, 1:00 PM

Seahawks at Buccaneers, 1:00 PM

Vikings at Eagles, 1:00 PM

Texans at Broncos, 4:05 PM

Colts at Raiders, 4:05 PM

Giants at Packers, 4:15 PM

Chargers at Bengals, 8:20 PM

Mon. Dec. 27

Saints at Falcons, 8:30 PM

Week 17

Sun. Jan. 02

Dolphins at Patriots, 1:00 PM

Buccaneers at Saints, 1:00 PM

Panthers at Falcons, 1:00 PM

Cowboys at Eagles, 1:00 PM

Raiders at Chiefs, 1:00 PM

Titans at Colts, 1:00 PM

Jaguars at Texans, 1:00 PM

Bengals at Ravens, 1:00 PM

Bears at Packers, 1:00 PM

Vikings at Lions, 1:00 PM

Giants at Redskins, 1:00 PM

Steelers at Browns, 1:00 PM

Bills at Jets, 1:00 PM

Chargers at Broncos, 4:15 PM

Rams at Seahawks, 4:15 PM

Cardinals at 49ers, 4:15 PM

2010-11 Fantasy Hockey Season Overview

^ Goalies are not quite as deep as they were a year ago, but you are not sunk if you don’t get one of the consensus top-four netminders. Having said that, you can’t wait so long that you lose out on any of the next four and if you end up with one of them (or worse yet, miss out altogether), you should not wait too long to pick up your second goalie.

^ As usual, centers are deeper than either wing position. The main difference from last year is that right wings are only marginally deeper than left wings, whereas the gap was more pronounced heading into last fall.

^ On defense, Mike Green is as clear-cut a top overall pick as have seen in years, with Duncan Keith and Drew Doughty looming as the only other worthy high-round selections. While you would be very wise to get one of the top eight overall, you can certainly take your time filling out the blue line overall this year.

^ While we saw the “Big 3” as being a slam-dunk at the top of the draft last year, this year’s picture is a bit more uncertain due to Evgeni Malkin’s disappointing ‘09-10 campaign. Nevertheless, we still see him at that level and thus, the same three players at the top of the draft as last year. The first round should be very thick with Capitals, Penguins and Canucks.

^ The changing of the guard that we spoke of in this space a year ago continues to pick up steam this season. Players such as Vincent Lecavalier, Jarome Iginla and Nick Lidstrom are giving way rapidly to the likes of Zach Parise, Nicklas Backstrom, Ryan Kesler, Patrick Kane, Bobby Ryan and Tuukka Rask.

2010-11 Fantasy Hockey Overvalued Players

NOTE: Overvalued & undervalued players are determined by a comparison of their value on our draft board to their placement on the “experts’ draft board” we consult.

Goalies: Niklas Backstrom, Antti Niemi, Semyon Varlamov

Centers: Jeff Carter, Mikko Koivu

Left Wings: Tomas Holmstrom, Milan Lucic, Patrick Marleau, Peter Mueller, Patrick Sharp, Ryan Smyth

Right Wings: Niclas Bergfors, Jarome Iginla, Jamie Langenbrunner, Rick Nash, Devin Setoguchi, Jakub Voracek

Defensemen: Kevin Bieksa, Jay Bouwmeester, Matt Carle, Joe Corvo, Tobias Enstrom, Tomas Kaberle, Kimmo Timonen, Stephane Robidas, Ryan Whitney

2010-11 Fantasy Hockey Undervalued Players

Goalies: Miikka Kiprusoff, Marty Turco

Centers: Ryan Kesler

Left Wings: Rene Bourque, Patrik Elias, Simon Gagne

Right Wings: Steve Downie, Ales Hemsky, Corry Perry, Teemu Selanne

Defensemen: Brian Campbell, Nicklas Lidstrom, Joni Pitkanen, Brian Rafalski

2010-11 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers

Rene Bourque, Brad Boyes, Simon Gagne, Alex Goligoski, Martin Havlat, Ales Hemsky, Nathan Horton, David Krejci, Steve Mason, Carey Price, Derek Roy, Jakub Voracek, Keith Yandle

2010-11 Fantasy Hockey Don’t Be That Guy

At your draft or auction, Don’t Be That Guy who:

^ Doesn’t properly understand his league’s scoring system. Have the specific parameters down before you go to select your players.

^ Relies on a publication such as The Hockey News that doesn’t have a draft board. Can you imagine such a thing?

^ Gets caught at the tail end of a run at a position: specifically, #2 defensemen should not be confused with the #1s.

^ Doesn’t put enough emphasis on goal-scorers as opposed to assist-talliers. As is always the case in fantasy sports, scarcity leads to value.

2010-11 Fantasy Hockey Suggested League Guidelines

We recommend that you hold your auction or serpentine-style draft with 10 owners, selecting 18 players (6 defensemen, 3 goalies, 3 left wings, 3 centers, 3 right wings). In case of an auction, use a financial system that allots an average of $11 per player. Our preferred style of play is head-to-head roto, in which teams compete on a week-to-week head-up basis. Recommended categories are points, goals, assists, penalty minutes and plus-minus for forwards and defensemen and wins, least losses, shutouts, goals-against-average and save percentage for goalies. A rotating tiebreaker category should be utilized in the case of a 5-5 category tie. The starting lineup should consist of 2 goalies, 2 left wings, 2 centers, 2 right wings and 4 defensemen.