Here, then, are some helpful(ish) Dos and Don'ts to remember when drafting your team:
Do: Study. The opening line from Rounders has been oft-quoted and overused, but it's worth repeating for fantasy football purposes. The abridged version: If you can't spot the sucker, you are the sucker. It was a gross Hollywood oversimplification of poker, but it's not so absurd when applied to fantasy football drafts.
A little homework goes a long way. You don't want to be the dolt who doesn't know Sidney Rice is injured, Vincent Jackson is suspended for the beginning of the season, and Matt Leinart - who watched Derek Anderson start the Cardinals' third preseason game - has struggled mightily in the absence of Kurt Warner. People like that end up victimized - and laughed at when they draft LaDainian Tomlinson thinking he's still an RB1, only to later learn LT is now the backup running back for the Jets. It also doesn't hurt to do a few mock drafts to prepare a solid strategy.
Don't: Be a homer. You're not alone if you think the Eagles' offense could put up serious points this year (even though the Birds struggled to do that at times during the preseason). But that doesn't mean you have to draft Kevin Kolb, Brent Celek, Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, and Shady McCoy. One or two will be just fine - but only if they fit a need and you can get them in the appropriate round. Don't reach. Just because they wear green doesn't make them superhuman. Each year, someone in your draft will take one or more Eagles two or three rounds before that player should be selected. If you grab Kolb before Matt Schaub or Tony Romo, you might as well stamp a big, fat "H" on your forehead.
