Oh no, a new year's resolutions post. Quite possible the most boring topic on planet blog. I know, I dislike them every bit as much as you do.
Bear with me, though, because this is less about resolutions than it is about mapping out a plan. A plan for fantasy play in '09 (at Fantasy Sports Live obviously), a plan for this blog and that sort of thing. It just happens that I'm posting it on January 1 because I have the day off and time for this sort of thing. Here we go:
Resolution #1: Play more.
If you ask me - and pretend that you just did - the key to success at fantasy sports is to (1) find an edge and (2) exploit that edge as often as possible. Win, repeat. I had a good 2008 as far as the win part goes, but was lax when it comes to playing. Seven day in December, something like 11 or 12 in November. Not enough.
Goal: Average 15 days per month.
Chances of success: Fair. In order to reach this goal, I need to adjust my schedule slightly. With basketball and hockey contests often starting at 7:00, I can't just arrive home at 6:30 and sign up. I need to set my lineups further ahead and just review them for injuries and errors in that window before game time.
Resolution #2: Move up the leaderboard.
This is really an extension of resolution #1, because to move up the leaderboard, I have to win more contests which means I have to play more. Pretty simple. It also means that I have to attempt to master other sports - thus far I've been a football specialist. Basketball has been going better of late. I've been staying out of hockey but will reconsider if time permits. The biggest change will be getting back into baseball.
Goal: 350 wins, top 20 ranking
Chances of success: Fair to good. I ended 2008 with 114 wins and at #42 on the leaderboard. Most of those wins came over the last three months, and that's with minimal non-football play. If I can continue to have some success at basketball and also figure out a way to win at baseball, I like my chances. Of course I have to continue to manage my "bankroll" - some of which will be cashed out for real life needs - and not tilt when things go bad. At the moment 208 wins is 20th on the board, so 350 is a guess as to what it will take.
Resolution #3: Get systematic.
The best fantasy players I know (both online and off) have at least a rudimentary system which they follow carefully in making their selections. I do have a system of sorts for football, but it honestly could be refined and tightened up. More importantly, I need to do a better job of following it - less player variation, less contest variation. I do not have much of a system for basketball at this point and none at all for baseball, hockey or NASCAR. I need to get on developing those if I'm going to increase my play volume in 09.
Goal: Develop and apply systems for at least three sports.
Chances of success: Fair to low. Time is always a factor.
Resolution #4: Make this site more helpful.
At the moment, I have too many "here are my results" type posts. Well those are all well and good (and let's be honest here, they're not going away because they're for me). But they're not why other people would want to read the site and come back more than once.
Goal: Compile a set of links and resource guides for players of daily fantasy sports contests. Offer more of a one stop shopping approach. I also want to add more strategy content - although there are limits as to how much I'm going to give away - and analysis.
Chances of success: Fair to good. This isn't hard, it's mostly a matter of taking the time. If I can get a good jump on it before golf season arrives I think it'll happen.
Resolution #5: Have fun with it.
So far anyway, both the play and this site have been fun. I want to keep it that way. If either becomes too much of a grind, they're going to be put aside.
Goal: As it says, have fun.
Chances of success: Good. No doomswitch please!
Bear with me, though, because this is less about resolutions than it is about mapping out a plan. A plan for fantasy play in '09 (at Fantasy Sports Live obviously), a plan for this blog and that sort of thing. It just happens that I'm posting it on January 1 because I have the day off and time for this sort of thing. Here we go:
Resolution #1: Play more.
If you ask me - and pretend that you just did - the key to success at fantasy sports is to (1) find an edge and (2) exploit that edge as often as possible. Win, repeat. I had a good 2008 as far as the win part goes, but was lax when it comes to playing. Seven day in December, something like 11 or 12 in November. Not enough.
Goal: Average 15 days per month.
Chances of success: Fair. In order to reach this goal, I need to adjust my schedule slightly. With basketball and hockey contests often starting at 7:00, I can't just arrive home at 6:30 and sign up. I need to set my lineups further ahead and just review them for injuries and errors in that window before game time.
Resolution #2: Move up the leaderboard.
This is really an extension of resolution #1, because to move up the leaderboard, I have to win more contests which means I have to play more. Pretty simple. It also means that I have to attempt to master other sports - thus far I've been a football specialist. Basketball has been going better of late. I've been staying out of hockey but will reconsider if time permits. The biggest change will be getting back into baseball.
Goal: 350 wins, top 20 ranking
Chances of success: Fair to good. I ended 2008 with 114 wins and at #42 on the leaderboard. Most of those wins came over the last three months, and that's with minimal non-football play. If I can continue to have some success at basketball and also figure out a way to win at baseball, I like my chances. Of course I have to continue to manage my "bankroll" - some of which will be cashed out for real life needs - and not tilt when things go bad. At the moment 208 wins is 20th on the board, so 350 is a guess as to what it will take.
Resolution #3: Get systematic.
The best fantasy players I know (both online and off) have at least a rudimentary system which they follow carefully in making their selections. I do have a system of sorts for football, but it honestly could be refined and tightened up. More importantly, I need to do a better job of following it - less player variation, less contest variation. I do not have much of a system for basketball at this point and none at all for baseball, hockey or NASCAR. I need to get on developing those if I'm going to increase my play volume in 09.
Goal: Develop and apply systems for at least three sports.
Chances of success: Fair to low. Time is always a factor.
Resolution #4: Make this site more helpful.
At the moment, I have too many "here are my results" type posts. Well those are all well and good (and let's be honest here, they're not going away because they're for me). But they're not why other people would want to read the site and come back more than once.
Goal: Compile a set of links and resource guides for players of daily fantasy sports contests. Offer more of a one stop shopping approach. I also want to add more strategy content - although there are limits as to how much I'm going to give away - and analysis.
Chances of success: Fair to good. This isn't hard, it's mostly a matter of taking the time. If I can get a good jump on it before golf season arrives I think it'll happen.
Resolution #5: Have fun with it.
So far anyway, both the play and this site have been fun. I want to keep it that way. If either becomes too much of a grind, they're going to be put aside.
Goal: As it says, have fun.
Chances of success: Good. No doomswitch please!
0 comments:
Post a Comment