The Golden Rules

Hey yo...

Here are my Golden Rules for fantasy football.
This should be your Bible, Koran and Torah rolled into one. A one-stop shop for the do's and don'ts of fantasy football. Pay attention, and remember: These may be fake teams, but it's real life.
Here are seven rules to live by, in honor of the greatest quarterback of all-time: John Elway.

Rule No. 1: Never draft a quarterback earlier than the fourth round.
Tom Brady's 2007 season was a fluke, an aberration. His 2008 season was a lot more realistic - thousands drafted him early, only for disappointment to slap them across the face. Granted, going out on the second series of the year was a surprise, but not much of one.
Rather than draft a QB early, wait a few rounds for a Brees/McNabb/Roethlisberger, or if you're a gambler, wait even longer for Cutler/Schaub/Rivers.

Rule No. 2: Pay attention to league settings; they can be the difference this season.
With the amount of top-tier receivers out there, a second-round pick might not be wasted on a wideout with points-per-receptions settings. In quarterback-plus leagues, with six points per passing touchdown, a third-rounder on Brees isn't the worst thing in the world.

Rule No. 3: Still, it's always best to go RB, WR, RB, RB in drafts.
In-demand running backs are at a premium now, and the wideout position is deeper than ever before. With the fourth pick in the draft, be satisfied with Joseph Addai, Andre Johnson, Brandon Jacobs/Jamal Lewis and Michael Turner. That's a winning team.

Rule No. 4: Never draft a kicker earlier than the last round.
Just. Trust. Me.

Rule No. 5: A good system supersedes talent any day of the week - especially Sundays.
Michael Turner may not be the most physically gifted running back in the NFL, but Atlanta's running game has long been impressive. Selvin Young was a nobody - now he could be a top-15 back with the Broncos. Drew Brees has one of the weaker arms for an NFL quarterback, but the Saints throw all over the place.
Go with them and run to the bank.

Rule No. 6: A tight end is a terrible thing to waste.
There are almost too many good tight ends in fantasy football these days, and it's easy to put them on the backburner and go for a third running back or a fourth wideout.
Don't, or else you'll get saddled with Randy McMichael?

Rule No. 7: Pay attention to other owners' stupidity, and make them pay.
In one league, another owner dropped Brandon Marshall. Seriously, he dropped his third-round pick, for no apparent reason. Try to maintain a high waiver-wire spot so you can jump all over that.

That's it for now, folks - but the Golden Rules will grow...