How Early is Too Early?
Jun 17, 2009 at 1:33 PM
While it's never too early to start preparing for the fantasy football season ahead, there is definitely such a thing as "too early" when it comes to holding your league's draft or auction. I know of some leagues that have their drafts soon after the NFL conducts their's at the end of April. That's just plain silly! Even drafting right now is a tad ridiculous. And I'm not talking about mock drafts, either. Mocks are always an effective tool for getting ready for the real thing...which should happen in August at the earliest.
To clarify, I am not completely against holding fantasy football rookie drafts for those in dynasty and keeper leagues in June or July; however, it's still best to wait whenever possible. As far as non-rookie drafts go (meaning 99 percent of the fantasy drafts out there) holding them prior to August will mean drafting before you know all that can be gleaned from preseason games and training camps.
Think of all that remains unsettled. There are numerous position battles that remain to be fought out in camps and preseason games. Depth charts are not even close to being finalized. Most of the rookies remain unsigned. We still don't know for sure whether Brett Favre will be a Viking, Brandon Marshall will remain a Bronco, Anquan Boldin will remain a Cardinal, or Braylon Edwards will remain a Brown. Will Michael Vick play this season? What about Plaxico Burress? Will Tom Brady truly be 100 percent once the hitting starts? When will Brian Westbrook be ready to play?
The later your league holds your draft, the better chance there is of knowing the answers to these, and myriad other, questions.
Then there's the injury factor. The disappointment and frustration of drafting a player the last week in July only to see him shred his knee in the team's second preseason game can't be measured. I've seen it happen too many times and it's never fun for anyone.
We know you are excited to get started; so are we. But at what cost? Just wait until August, late August if possible. Early September works even better. Week 1 doesn't kick off until September 10 this year, so there's plenty of time.
In the meantime, I suggest getting your drafting fix here at FFChamps, by doing some mock drafts using the industry's best mock draft tool. No, it's not the real thing, but the real thing is worth the wait...with the emphasis on "wait."
To clarify, I am not completely against holding fantasy football rookie drafts for those in dynasty and keeper leagues in June or July; however, it's still best to wait whenever possible. As far as non-rookie drafts go (meaning 99 percent of the fantasy drafts out there) holding them prior to August will mean drafting before you know all that can be gleaned from preseason games and training camps.
Think of all that remains unsettled. There are numerous position battles that remain to be fought out in camps and preseason games. Depth charts are not even close to being finalized. Most of the rookies remain unsigned. We still don't know for sure whether Brett Favre will be a Viking, Brandon Marshall will remain a Bronco, Anquan Boldin will remain a Cardinal, or Braylon Edwards will remain a Brown. Will Michael Vick play this season? What about Plaxico Burress? Will Tom Brady truly be 100 percent once the hitting starts? When will Brian Westbrook be ready to play?
The later your league holds your draft, the better chance there is of knowing the answers to these, and myriad other, questions.
Then there's the injury factor. The disappointment and frustration of drafting a player the last week in July only to see him shred his knee in the team's second preseason game can't be measured. I've seen it happen too many times and it's never fun for anyone.
We know you are excited to get started; so are we. But at what cost? Just wait until August, late August if possible. Early September works even better. Week 1 doesn't kick off until September 10 this year, so there's plenty of time.
In the meantime, I suggest getting your drafting fix here at FFChamps, by doing some mock drafts using the industry's best mock draft tool. No, it's not the real thing, but the real thing is worth the wait...with the emphasis on "wait."
