My name is Matt Vensel, and I have a problem.

Like a lot of people, I’m pretty serious about fantasy football. But during a 36-hour span from Sunday afternoon to the wee hours of Tuesday morning, I took that obsession over the line. It dominated my thoughts so much that I was frantically checking my fantasy matchup all weekend, even as I sat in the press box during the Ravens-Steelers game (hey, I wasn’t the only one). It kept me awake on multiple nights.

My semifinal matchup was so intense, so excruciatingly close that when Domenik Hixon hauled in a pair of passes in garbage time Sunday night, my opponent and I finished in an 84-84 tie. I had the tiebreaker — most TDs by starters — but I was worried an overnight scoring correction would cause me to miss out on a shot at the title — and a pretty sizable chunk of change.

When I woke up Monday morning, we were still tied, but the score was 86-86. My heart skipped a beat. Apparently, both Jay Cutler (my guy) and Adrian Peterson (his) had fumbles reversed Sunday, causing the changes. What are the odds?

After another restless night, I awoke Tuesday to see that I was indeed heading the finals. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t embarrassed at how much a fake football team was able to shake up my life. Not too embarrassed to celebrate, though. Read the rest of this entry »

My condolences if you were voted off the fantasy football island over the weekend. Especially if your team laid an egg or you ran into the Brian Westbrook buzzsaw. Unfortunately, that’s how the playoffs go. Only the strong — and lucky — survive.

If you’re still standing like me — thank you, Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Wes Welker! — you’re one step closer to winning that championship belt. What, your league doesn’t have a belt? You better get on that.

Every point matters now, so you’ve got some tough decisions to make. Don’t worry. I’m here to help. Read the rest of this entry »

Screw Christmas, Kwanzaa and all those other December holidays. The event I’ve been eagerly awaiting for months is finally here: fantasy football playoffs. (No offense to those who choose to celebrate the other holidays. I guess they’re OK, too.)

Let’s get right to it with the matchups I like and dislike in Week 14, which is the first round of all normal leagues.

Who I’m a big fan of: Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall against K.C., Kurt Warner and his teammates against the Rams, all Patriots against Seattle, L.T. and Philip Rivers against Oakland, Roddy White against New Orleans, Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Steven Jackson, the Steelers’ passing attack (sans Nate Washington), Kevin Smith (could benefit from Minnesota’s two suspensions on the D-Line), Joseph Addai, Larry Johnson, Dustin Keller, Carolina’s D/ST and Baltimore’s D/ST (though I think Clinton Portis will have a decent week).

I’d try to avoid starting these players (unless you’ve got no better options): Every Brown except for Braylon Edwards (he could click with Ken Dorsey), Bernard Berrian against the Lions, Ronnie Brown, Donovan McNabb, Santana Moss, Mark Clayton, Lee Evans, Philly’s D/ST and Tampa’s D/ST. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m pissed off right now (I know, big surprise, right?). It’s not because my fantasy teams are struggling; three of my four teams have pretty much locked up playoff spots. The fourth? Let’s just say it’s been rough for the Charm City Cheetahs (the crappy name might be a factor).

As the final weeks of the season wind down, there are a million useful things to discuss. But recent events have forced me to write about a little bit of fantasy etiquette. I feel like the Fonzworth Bentley of fantasy football. Read the rest of this entry »

Time flies when you’re having fun, especially when that fun involves watching football, demoralizing your friends and potentially acquiring a sum of money for your troubles. Alas, there are only three weeks left in the fantasy football regular season. Boo.

If you’ve managed your team somewhat decently and avoided the injury bug, you should be getting ready for the playoffs. If you’re not playoff-bound, it’s never too early to start getting ready for the fantasy golf season (I hear Bubba Watson is in for a huge year in ’09). Better luck next year. For our lucky playoff participants out there, here’s what you need to do to prepare for a title run: Read the rest of this entry »

Take a look at the National Football League’s leading rushers for Week 9 and you’ll see a handful of players who piled up a ton of yards last year — in college.

Rookie runners Matt Forte, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Slaton and Chris Johnson made their presence known at the season’s start. Darren McFadden and Felix Jones started strong, too, but have been sidelined with injuries. Now fellow frosh like Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles, and Tim Hightower are joining the rookie coming-out party.

So what impact does their emergence have on the realm of fantasy football? Read the rest of this entry »

Uh-oh. There are five weeks left in the fantasy football season, and when it comes to the playoffs, your squad is on the outside looking in. Your team is 3-5 — or worse — and time is running out for you to leapfrog your leaguemates and grab a playoff spot. So what can you do to salvage your season?

Panic, that’s what.

I’m talking about organized chaos here. You’ve got nothing to lose, so why not go for broke? It’s time to shake up the chemistry in your fantasy locker room (yes, I say that with a straight face). Read the rest of this entry »

The first half of the ’08 fantasy football season has come and gone. I think I might start crying. What will I do with the 20-plus hours a week I spend researching important matters like the odds some guy named Lance Ball will get activated from the Colts’ practice squad? And the people at Hopkins think they have it tough.

Instead of dwelling on the already-looming absence of football from our lives, let’s look ahead to the rest of the fantasy season, including the playoffs. Here are 10 second-half predictions you can set in stone: Read the rest of this entry »

The NFL trade deadline passed yesterday, but in the world of fantasy football, now is the prime time to play let’s make a deal.

By now, you should know if your team has what it takes to make a title run or if you’re in need of a roster overhaul to salvage your hopes. And even if you’re in first place, there’s nothing wrong with improving your team via another’s desperation.

If you’re poised to make the playoffs, one thing you should keep in mind is your players’ matchups in Weeks 14-16. Pay attention to them as you mull over trade offers; many owners don’t until later in the season, when it’s too late. If one of your starters has tough playoff matchups (such as Willie Parker), consider trading him for an equal player with better matchups (such as Marshawn Lynch). But remember, always play your studs, no matter the opponent. Read the rest of this entry »

in the immortal words of Ricky Bobby, “if you’re not first, you’re last.” When it comes to fantasy football, truer words have never been spoken. You should be in it to win it, folks, even if that means you have to make some enemies in the process. They’ll get over it. Usually.

There’s no better way to win the money, trophy and/or bragging rights than by fleecing one of your friends whose team has been beset by injuries, mediocrity or both. Here’s how you do it. Read the rest of this entry »