Are you ready for some (fantasy) football?  If not, below you will find all you need to succeed at this most challenging – and addicting – of endeavors.  From The Fantasy Man’s famous Top 40 lists to key sleepers and, new this year, The Ultimate Squad – after a solid draft and a season of smart adds, drops, and sage trades – that will guarantee you a championship no matter what league and format in which you toil.

In this comprehensive analysis, you will find in-depth previews of the six principle positions – quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, kicker, and team defense – including a sure-fire sleeper pick that will knock your league-members’ socks off!  The assistance doesn’t end there, however; make sure to check back with Atomic Sports Media for sage advice and to ask questions directly of The Fantasy Man throughout the entire campaign.  Email – fantasy_man@atomicsportsmedia.com – him also with difficult roster decisions or more macro advice on how to better your team.  Without further delay, let’s kickoff the 2006 Fantasy Football season!

Before I begin with individual player-by-player analysis, a word on draft strategy.  When deciding on the proper tack to take, look first at your league’s settings.  If it is in standard format – and if you are slotted for a middle-to-high first round pick – you probably want to select running backs with your first two choices, followed then by top-notch receivers – or an elite quarterback – before picking up a lesser known tight end and signal caller between rounds five and nine.  And never underestimate the utility of combos, especially with a stud receiver. 

Complicating these matters, though, are players like Peyton Manning and Antonio Gates, fantasy performers who outshine their peers, preventing them from being conveniently pigeonholed.  If receptions are worth one point for example, you will need to alter your strategy, skewing your draft board toward pass-catching running backs, elevating number one receivers, and upgrading possession tight ends.  Never forget to notice return yards either; under such provisions, players like Dante Hall are king.

To maximize all of these lessons – and to make sure the time limit, usually just 90 seconds to make your selection, is fully utilized – breakdown each of your six positions into tiers.  Tier I should have the elite players – Manning, LaDanian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander, Larry Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, Gates, Adam Vinatieri, and Baltimore to name the most dominate – followed by lesser cadres (Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer and Matt Hasselbeck; Tiki Barber; Torry Holt and Terrell Owens, etc.), down through your personal depth charts until you have finalized Tier VI.  After that, there should be little or no distinction save favorite players, teams, or even alumni status.  In summation, my advice is simple, yet prophetic: take the best player available.