The Friday Interview -- A Sit-down With Jo-Jo McSofty

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 sat down with Jo-Jo this morning to learn more about what makes this Fantasy Non-Icon tick:

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-- What makes you tick, Jo-Jo? --

That's loaded question. There are so many things.

-- So name just one thing. --

One?

-- Yes, one. --

I'm kinda nervous.

-- Does this help? [NOTE TO READERS: At this point, I put my hand reassuringly on his shoulder] --

What were we talking about again?

-- Let's try a new question. What's your strategy for deciding which free agents to pick up? --

That's easy: I look at who did the best the previous game.

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Are sirens going off in your head? If not, then you're a Jo-Jo McSofty.

One of the biggest mistakes softcore players make is picking up a bad player who had one great game. If you're considering picking up a break-out player, do your homework first.

1. Why did that player suddenly rock? Was someone else injured? Did most of the stats come during end-of-game "garbage time" when the defense was slacking off?
2. What's the outlook for the coming week? Are they starting? How tough is the defense they're facing?
3. What's the local paper saying? Are they anticipating a trend, or do they sense things will return to normal next game?

After playing as a #3 WR last season for the Rams, 29-year-old Kevin Curtis--now with the Eagles--entered this season as a low-end filler in most fantasy leagues. His highest season yardage total was 801 yards; his second highest was 479 yards . . . certainly not a hot commodity by any stretch.

After two quiet games to start the season, Curtis broke out in Game 3 with 221 yards and 3 TDs. Such gawdy stats usually are reserved for All-Pros like Chad Johnson and Steve Smith. So what happened? All of the world's Jo-Jo's clamored to pick him up, believing that this half-decent wide receiver was suddenly a top commodity.

In the CBS Sportsline fantasy leagues, Curtis was started in 9% of leagues in Game 3. After his break-out performance, that number rose to 80% in Game 4. 80%.

And how did Curtis do the following week? A pathetic 21 yards with no scores.

Don't get me wrong: Curtis is more valuable this year than at any time in his career. He's proven in 2 out of 6 games that he can help your fantasy team. But he's not an every-week player.

So the next time a previously unheralded player has a break-out game, do your homework. One hardcore performance does not translate into a full season of hardcore performances. Separate the flukes from the gamers, and you'll be on your way to beating all the other Jo-Jo's in your league.

"Top Ten" Thursday

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 the Chargers)
• #1 QB Trent Green (to concussion)
• #1 Linebacker Zach Thomas (to car crash)

While bad teams certainly can have great fantasy players, the Dolphins are running out of options. They are dead last in defense, and they are without their only two legitimate offensive threats. Do we really expect Marty Booker and Derek Hagan to pick up the slack at wide-out? Can we imagine Cleo Lemon leading the Dolphins back from 21-point deficits (which will occur each game at arond the 8-minute mark of the 1st quarter)? Can anyone explain how new #1 RB Jesse Chatman will get any carries near the goal line, as the 'Fins struggle to avoid going 3-and-out on every possession?

And so, with 0-16 imminent, here it is . . .

The Top Ten Things The Dolphins Actually Could Be Good At:

10. Covering the spread

9. Watching television

8. Patting each other's asses after a well-deserved 1-yard run on 3rd and 8

7. Patting their opponents' asses when there's no ass left to pat

6. Making toast

5. Sending "thank you" notes to their 40 remaining fans

4. Getting hit by lightning (or some other freakish accident destined to befall this cursed team)

3. Eating Snickers bars

2. Farting

1. Instilling in their opponents a healthy sense of pride

2007 NFL -- Week 7 Recap -- Is Rob Bironas Relevant?

Time to open the mail bag once again. Here's a letter from weekly reader Rob Bironas of the Titans:

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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 play football.

By last Sunday, I'd had just about enough of your negligence. So I kicked a record 8 field goals--not to win the game, but to prove you wrong. Kickers can make a differnce. From now on, you should treat us like football players, and not as the former-soccer-players-who-weren't-good-enough-to-go-pro that we are.

Sincerely,

Rob "Hardcore Now and Forever" Bironas

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In my head-to-head league, waivers shut down 5 minutes before game time and don't open up until 5:30pm on Tuesday. We get to pick in reverse order of our record, so that the worst teams get the pick of the litter. And so I was struck dumb a little over an hour ago when 4 waiver pick-ups were wasted on kickers.

Whether you're drafting or playing the free agent market, know your league's scoring system. Which positions are worth more than others? In our league--as in most--kickers are the bottom of the barrel.

Here's how my league stacks up. Through 7 weeks, the top points at each position are:

• Kicker -- 66 points (Kris Brown)


• Defense -- 89 points (Patriots, Chiefs)


• Running Back -- 110 points (Ronnie Brown)


• Tight End -- 118.5 points (Jason Witten)


• Wide Receiver -- 142 points (Randy Moss)


• Quarterback -- 205 points (Tom Brady)

There are 13 QBs better than the best kicker. 18 WRs. 12 Defenses. And so on. Predicting weekly kicker performances is almost as futile as wasting a high waiver pick on one. How many times have I read some fantasy pundit say, "Pick Kicker A because he's playing against an easy defense."? It just doesn't work that way.

Do what I do, especially if you don't have a spare player to drop: Cut your kicker and pick up an extra offensive player. Then scan the news in the days leading up to game-time. Right before the cut-off, drop your least important player and snag a kicker who's connected on a fairly high percentage (80% should be the target). I follow this strategy nearly every week. Today it led to my picking up Lee Evans, who appears to ready to resume his place among the wide receiver elite--or at least put up a respectable 70-90 yards a game.

Whatever you do, understand how your league scoring works. Only then can you capitalize on each pick you make.

As for Week 7, Patrick Crayton had a shockingly anemic performance, while Vernon Davis and the Saints defense were adequate at best. But Drew Brees came through with his 2nd best performance of the year. And as pointed out yesterday, Kenny Watson finished #1 at his position.

Remember, do your homework. Only then can you earn your hardcore degree.

This kid is a master fantasy athlete. Get to know him. Get to know his books.