2007 NFL -- Week 4 Recap -- Introducing Jo-Jo McSofty and Dirk Hardy

In every fantasy league, there's a Jo-Jo McSofty and a Dirk Hardy:

• Jo-Jo McSofty makes all the wrong moves at all the wrong times. He sticks with bad players too long, picks up one-hit wonders a week too late, and makes excuses like, "If I'd had these players last week, I would've won this week . . . dag-nabit . . ."

• Dirk Hardy plays each week like it's a season, examining each of his players with objectivity and acumen, leading to the development of line-ups that (a) maximize the probability of winning that week, and (b) doesn't leave him vulnerable in future weeks.

Don't be a Jo-Jo. I can't tell you how many times just this season I've witnessed my competitors clamor to pick up journeymen who didn't know the meaning of having a "career day" before breaking through in one glorious game. Look at Chris Brown's performance Week 1, when he ran for more than 180 yards; the person who picked him up was sorely disappointed by Brown's pathetic Week 2 output. Or examine Kevin Curtis's Week 3, when he cracked 200 yards. It's not surprising he had a forgettable Week 4.

Even worse, Jo-Jo's tend to hang onto bad players way too long. Rather than improve their team from week to week, they expect Mr. Mediocre Quarterback to live up to the hype, rather than identifying how many better QB's remain on waivers.

After winning my 14-team head-to-head league last year, I've started this one 3-1. In typical Dirk Hardy fashion, I've just dropped LaMont Jordan. A free agent pick-up right before Week 1, Jordan outperformed nearly every other running backs in the first 4 weeks. A McSofty wouldn't dare drop him, fearing that others would perceive him to be "an idiot." But a Hardy cuts bait when reality hits. With a bye week upcoming, with Jordan questionable for Week 6, and with Dominic Rhodes returning from suspension, Jordan likely will never put up the same numbers for the rest of the season. With an eye toward assembling the best team for the playoffs, a Hardy won't hesitate to replace Jordan.

If you remember nothing else from this post, play fantasy as you would (or should) play the stock market:

• Don't get emotionally attached to your players.

• Find the best bargains.

• Hold on to your best players only if their anticipated rate of return cannot be matched by free agents. LaMont Jordan is a prime example. He's the penny stock that damn near turned the N.Y. Stock Exchange on its head. But at the end of the day, he's just a penny stock. Your future as an investor in great fantasy players lies elsewhere.