The Life of a Fantasy Football Team Owner

As a fantasy football team owner one doesn't have to worry about things like whether or not T.O. will get along with Bill Parcells. The only thing that's important is that he catches passes and scores TD's. We couldn't care less whether or not Peyton Manning will make it to the Super Bowl this year, as long as he leads the league in passing yards and TD's. However, something fantasy football team owners do have to worry about are injured players.

If you're like me, then you've probably already had a draft in at least one of your leagues. On the one hand it's good because you have a firm idea of how your team is setup, and exactly what you need to do before the season opener to be competitive. The downside however, is that there's a very real possibility that a player you burned a precious draft pick on will get injured in the preseason.

Earlier this week I was trying not to crack a smile at the team owner who had drafted Clinton Portis. Sure, it sounds like he'll be back for the opener, but do you really expect Coach Gibbs to say "sorry folks, Clinton is done. We'll be relying on Ladell Betts now"? Seriously, can you imagine Betts dressed up like Southeast Jerome? It just wouldn't be the same.

Then yesterday I hear that Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens was injured in practice. I didn't think too much of it until I read the reports today that he was going to be out for six weeks. That wouldn't be a problem except that I drafted Stevens(actually he was autodrafted late), and at the time he was the only tight end on my roster(went heavy on the RB's). Luckily it was in one of my smaller leagues, and I was able to find a replacement(hope Ben Watson didn't call Greg Anderson).

However, it reminded just how precarious the preseason can be for us fantasy owners. Last night it was good to see Tiki Barber(one of my draftees) running well, but all I could think everytime he touched the ball was "PLEASE, DON'T GET HURT! JUST FALL DOWN AND GET OUTTA THERE!"

The preseason might be necessary for teams to get their rookies acclimated to the NFL and help sort out their roster, but all it does for me is help aggravate an ulcer that starts at the beginning of September every year. Soon I'll have to ask Chad Johnson for some pepto bismol.