tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76311668753070169402012-02-17T03:19:10.598-05:00Making all your fantasies come true one player at a timeFantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.comBlogger311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-91220761811156071792007-11-07T00:08:00.000-05:002007-11-07T00:20:53.152-05:00

Flashback to early September: It's a few days before opening weekend in the NFL. You've drafted your team. You've scouted your opponents' rosters for potential trades. And you've cleared your Sunday schedule for the next 17 weeks. One critical element remains:Picking a witty team nameYou know the feeling: 10 minutes after entering the name on your league Web site, you eagerly await the inevitable

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-39124397782754479582007-11-04T20:20:00.000-05:002008-12-11T13:04:57.199-05:00

November 4, 1984:The Seattle Seahawks' defense scored 4 touchdowns--all on interception returns--for high school teacher Billy Matthews' "Fierce Falcon Crests." However, he lost a heart-breaker to attorney Rosetta Fandango's "Reagan Regulars," as the league commissioner's answering machine was broken that week, thus preventing Mr. Matthews from placing the Seahawks on his active roster.

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-27139279015679504062007-11-02T01:21:00.000-04:002008-12-11T13:04:57.435-05:00

The Rebound EffectWhen a bad player has a bad game, that player is not likely to rebound in his next game.When a mediore player has a bad game, that player has a medicore shot at rebounding in his next game.When a great player has a bad game, expect that player to rebound, hardcore-style.This is our Week 9 philosophy, and it should carry us through any fantasy sports competition we pursue from

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-70162636911147943502007-11-01T00:43:00.000-04:002008-12-11T13:04:58.134-05:00

Jo-Jo McSofty has become a familiar voice on Hardcore Fantasy Sports Blog. To the newbies out there, he represents the fantasy player who makes softcore fantasy decisions, leading invariably to fantasy futility.Last week, when I asked Jo-Jo about his strategy for picking up free agents between games, he replied:"I look at who did the best the previous game."Gasp. [Pausing to catch my breath] That

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-74119842115501352762007-10-31T00:11:00.000-04:002008-12-11T13:04:58.444-05:00

Someone named "hidrnick" added a comment after last Sunday's blog asking whether I would add "gut feeling" to my approach for picking hardcore fantasy players. Currently I pick players based on empirical evidence such as:Unrealized player potential (I've mentioned Lee Evans as a break-out candidate for this reason, and he's starting to prove me right)Injury situation on team (for example, why

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-2075739941448218142007-10-30T00:29:00.001-04:002008-12-11T13:04:58.881-05:00

Week 8 was solid. 2 hardcore picks out of 5--given the significant risks of taking each--is nothing to sneeze at or vomit on.I realize that by having a blog read every day by percentages of millions of people, I am expected to help you make lots of money and win respect from your peers by giving you the answers to all of life's fantasy secrets. As you sit comfortably at your office desk,

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-30733339082068007732007-10-29T00:09:00.000-04:002008-12-11T13:04:59.311-05:00

A certain fantasy team owner named Eric had to leave town during the weekend of the annual fantasy draft, which would have stripped him of his team, which would have wounded his pride, and which would have left him bored for the next few months. He begged the other league owners to pick his team in his absence, so that he might have a team to return to.And by chance there came a certain other

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-89621275061000295522007-10-28T00:08:00.000-04:002008-12-11T13:04:59.734-05:00

October 28, 1962:The New York Giants' Y.A. Tittle passes for 505 yards and 7 touchdowns, leading accountant Jimmy Sampson's "Kennedy Sensations" to a 105-97 victory over typist Julia Fontaine's "Lawrence Welkathons."The loss dropped Ms. Fontaine's record to 2-and-6, prompting her to mail a first-class letter to her league's commissioner announcing that this would be her final season.

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-17136158581295869052007-10-27T01:02:00.001-04:002007-10-28T14:38:50.845-04:00

I received an e-mail today from David M. who's playing in 3 leagues--or at least 3 that he admitted. There could be more.He posed the age-old fantasy question, "I have 'x' number of players and have to sit 2 of them. Which ones should I bench?"As I wrote this past Tuesday, the first step toward returning to basics is understanding your league's scoring system. If you're choosing between a running

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-47434442213598846012007-10-26T15:59:00.001-04:002007-10-26T16:02:10.661-04:00

NOTE TO READERS: Due to enormous increased volume on this site, I've received more hardcore fantasy questions than ever before. Please be patient: I plan to respond to each one by no later than 3:00pm this Saturday.Then I'm heading out for the evening.

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-63412966162743567982007-10-26T00:42:00.000-04:002008-12-11T13:04:59.995-05:00

If you're a frequent reader of Hardcore Fantasy Sports Blog, you know all about Jo-Jo McSofty. Let's fill in the newbies.Jo-Jo is the type of fantasy sports player who makes softcore fantasy decisions, leading invariably to fantasy futility. Maybe there are several Jo-Jo's in your league. Maybe you're one of them. Shhhh, it's okay. We're here to help.How do you know if you're a Jo-Jo? Read on.I

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-32512360370602205612007-10-25T00:36:00.000-04:002007-10-28T14:41:17.991-04:00

With apologies to David Letterman--and if this goes poorly, with deep apologies--each Thursday we'll bring you a Top Ten List on a topical fantasy football story. This week we're covering the Miami Dolphins, a once storied franchise that has descended to the depths of fantasy hell. In the last few weeks alone, the team has seen the loss of:#1 RB Ronnie Brown (to torn ACL) #1 WR Chris Chambers (to

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-21687045745143522432007-10-23T18:40:00.000-04:002008-12-11T13:05:00.343-05:00

Time to open the mail bag once again. Here's a letter from weekly reader Rob Bironas of the Titans:---Dear Fantasy B.J.,All season I've been annoyed as hell that you don't make hardcore predictions for field goal kickers. No punter picks? I can understand that. Punters are wusses. But I've worked very hard to become an NFL kicker, spending hours each day stretching my legs and watching others

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-36463983577501257022007-10-22T19:22:00.000-04:002007-10-28T19:13:53.442-04:00

A certain running back went down from head to turf, and fell among linebackers, who stripped him of his ball, and wounded him, and returned to their huddle, leaving him out 6-8 weeks. And by chance there came down that way a certain back-up running back; and when he saw the wounded 1st stringer, he passed by on the other side, joined his huddle, and proceeded to rush for 60 yards on 9 carries.---

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-68593288424585348552007-10-20T08:31:00.000-04:002007-10-28T14:42:43.520-04:00

It turns out Kurt Warner is a daily reader of this blog, as he wrote a follow-up letter in response to my posting of his first letter:----------------Dear Fantasy B.J.,You are an ass. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. There's no need to cuss. But what gives you the right to print my last letter, which was written when I was at my most vulnerable? As a result of your callousness, I have decided to screw you (

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-10619561586707755202007-10-16T19:37:00.001-04:002007-10-16T19:58:19.358-04:00

I received a letter today from Kurt Warner:---Dear Fanttasy [sic.] B.J.,Sorry to have hurt my elbow after only a few plays this weekend. I realize you picked me as one of your Week 6 hardcore performers. I understand that you and your readers may have lost a lot of money as a result of my injury. I wish I could pay you, but I need that money to fix my elbow.It's ironic that the elbow I hurt

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-3230434657594304072007-10-11T19:30:00.000-04:002007-10-11T20:09:59.710-04:00

Last week I talked about one difference between hardcore and softcore fantasy players--that hardcore players understand the importance of scanning the Internet Sunday morning for last-minute injury reports and other helpful fantasy gossip. With so many great players remaining game-time decisions this Sunday, don't let Sunday morning pass you by. I know what you're thinking: "But I'm out 'til 4am

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-18339786680259993632007-10-09T18:19:00.000-04:002007-10-09T18:33:12.503-04:00

As a hardcore fantasy player, I've been touring fantasy hot spots throughout the country to gain new insights, which I'm happy to pass on to you. For example, Nashville has a lot of buildings, while Atlanta has a lot more. This is good stuff people; write it down.Actually, I was in Atlanta this weekend and watched Sunday's early games at a tex-mex sports bar called something-or-other . . . I

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-89495843080345875862007-10-04T22:34:00.000-04:002007-10-05T23:23:05.832-04:00

Another week, another group of injured players listed as "questionable." Is it frustrating? Yes. Should it provoke violence? No, though my friend Pete doesn't listen. So what should you do if you have 1 or 2 starters listed as "questionable" this week? 1) If you have a deep bench, drop someone you'd never expect to play and pick up someone who will be good this week if the starter is ruled

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-32433343812803944322007-10-02T23:14:00.000-04:002007-10-05T22:32:09.171-04:00

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

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-1265848397496575722007-09-27T18:59:00.000-04:002007-09-27T19:44:19.972-04:00

It's Week 4, and if only I could pick Brady or Addai or any receiver named Johnson. But that's for other, simpler blogs that state the obvious and then pat themselves on the back. If you're like me or the owners in my league, you've got 1 or 2 star players, 1 or 2 underperforming stars, 1 or 2 injured stars, and a smattering of mediocrity (anyone have too many #3 receivers?). It's time to

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-2312879796125814622007-09-24T22:50:00.000-04:002007-09-24T23:27:46.298-04:00

In case you're joining us mid-season, this blog aims to help you find the "surprises" each week. I won't recommend top-10 players at any position, but when a lower-ranked player finishes a week in the top 10 at his position, that's what makes him "hardcore."Last Friday, Wade C. from Nashville asked me whether to play Ronnie Brown or LenDale White. I told him Brown was due. How did I know? Because

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-39205543362731589762007-09-20T21:57:00.000-04:002007-09-20T23:08:46.429-04:00

Here are your Week 3 hardcore picks:QB -- Josh McCown: How bad is he? More importantly, how bad is the defense of Cleveland--his opponent this coming Sunday? Cleveland has given up 79 points in the first two weeks, and has lived up to its expectation as one of the worst defenses in the league. McCown has a very strong receiving corps and has proven he can put up big numbers (Week 1 -- 313 yards).

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-63703439300085359722007-09-18T22:30:00.000-04:002007-09-18T23:18:29.854-04:00

What can be said about my abysmal Week 2 picks?(1) The Saints are better than how they're playing. It would be shocking if they didn't finish with a winning record.(2) The Bears offense is as bad as they've been playing. It would be shocking if Grossman finishes the season as the starter.My Week 2 shortcomings raises a larger issue that I've heard from many of you:When do you cut bait on a

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-81579448034732458742007-09-13T00:13:00.001-04:002007-09-13T10:40:29.925-04:00

I received two questions this week: One from Chris Hood from Atlanta, who asked whether to play Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes over Reggie Brown. The answer is yes. Although the Giants are facing a downgrade at QB and RB, which likely will adversely affect Burress, Brown hasn't proven himself to be a top-flight NFL wide receiver. That's not to say the Eagles won't slaughter the Redskins on

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-82800996971730123702007-09-11T20:19:00.000-04:002007-09-11T20:38:56.885-04:00

Before discussing Week 2's hardcore picks, let's take a look at how we did in Week 1:Lame Picks: Joe Horn (1 reception, 14 receiving yards). Horn was awful. I underestimated the Falcons' ability to score. I also didn't predict that QB Joey Harrington would find 8 other receivers during the game, severely compromising Horn's ability to distinguish himself from the pack.Softcore Picks: Daniel

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-21616846070623657812007-09-08T11:33:00.000-04:002007-09-08T17:39:55.519-04:00

A message from our sponsor . . . Technorati

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-66821085498744462972007-09-07T22:15:00.001-04:002007-09-07T23:34:54.698-04:00

It's time to get this thing started. Remember, if they're good enough to be in your line-up every day, I'm not going to mention them. Barring injury or suspension, guys like LaDainian Tomlinson, Peyton Manning, and the Ravens Defense should always be active on your team. You don't need me to remind you.This blog is about giving you the hardcore edge to maximize your performance every week. This

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-78179957288964819812007-09-07T21:33:00.001-04:002007-10-25T19:28:43.413-04:00

This is my first hardcore fantasy post. I promise to be gentle.Over the years I have played a lot of fantasy sports, and I have offered fantasy advice to at least half a dozen people. No joke: 6 people at least. . . .Since I'm no longer volunteering my time helping inner-city kids, I have been looking for some way to give back to my community. Tonight my friend Justin said, "You should start a

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-18575675371668936722007-09-01T00:01:00.000-04:002008-12-11T13:05:00.901-05:00

Long a child of privilege, B.J. Rudell soon rejected his reality in favor of a new life . . . a fantasy life . . . a hardcore fantasy lifestyle filled with danger and intrigue. Today, Fantasy B.J. is one of the world's foremost authorities on fantasy sports picks. He customarily finishes among the top performers in online fantasy sports contests, which frequently include 100,000+ competitors. The

Fantasy B.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16410717673393104642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631166875307016940.post-16517419055229934762007-09-01T00:00:00.000-04:002007-10-27T01:10:35.012-04:00

Don't get stuck keeping the same line-up throughout the season; that's like driving in the right lane in dense traffic when the left lane is clear. Sure, your fantasy studs should remain in your line-up week to week. But the others should be shuffled in and out. When to shuffle them in and out? Read on.Mediocre players shine against weak defenses just as much as star players shine against great

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