Fantasy Sports News: An Interview with Fantasy Football Expert Jason McCoy

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by Jason McCoy
on Friday, August 21, 2009

Interview by Steve Jones (Stinkball.com/blog)

Fantasy football fans, the season is upon us. Things are really starting to heat up now that pre-season games are only weeks away. To get a better idea on some fantasy football projections for the 2009 season, I sat down with Stinkball.com Fantasy Football creator Jason McCoy in Asheville, North Carolina. McCoy is a member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association and was recently (July 21, 2009) featured on a MockDraftCentral.com expert draft.

S: Thanks for joining us today. I play fantasy football and follow the off-season news religiously. I was surprised by some of the choices in this year's NFL draft. What do you predict will happen in the fantasy drafts?

J: Honestly, no matter who is number one on the depth charts right now, their true value won't be known until at least after the second pre-season game. A lot of fantasy relevant positions are up for grabs this year, and we're going to see most teams nailing down those key slots sometime in mid-August. With the rookies, there's too much uncertainty to pigeonhole them now; as usual rookies are somewhat of a hit and miss proposition.

S: When you're drafting players for your fantasy leagues, how do you determine your draft strategy?

J: One site that I use frequently is www.mockdraftcentral.com. I was just recently featured on one of their expert drafts and it was an awesome experience. When it comes to fantasy news and advice I use footballguys.com, thehuddle.com, and fantasyguru.com. For people who are new to fantasy football sites and draft strategy, pay attention to the Average Draft Positions (ADP). Professional agents and team representatives do a great deal of vetting before investing in a player. Hence, if a rookie is picked in the first round and gets a seven-year contract, then he's done something to earn that. If you have a player and aren't sure whether or not to throw him back into the player pool, check his ADP.

S: Do you participate in fantasy football mock drafts?

J: Constantly, I've done a couple already this season. Mock drafts are great because they let you know which players are over/underrated. I pick my players for my "real" drafts based around what I see in the mock drafts.

S: Do you really pick the players that are going to be on your fantasy squads based on mock draft results?

J: Absolutely. I'll watch where the player is drafted in the mock drafts I participate in and how other fantasy owners rate him. And based on that, I'll either pick him a little earlier than other fantasy owners just to ensure that he's on my team, or I'll wait and let someone else take a chance on him.

S: There are some pretty tempting names in the 2009 draft. When it comes to fantasy football rankings, who do you think is the most overrated?

J: Honestly, a lot of people. Michael Turner had a good season with the Falcons last year, but I think he might have trouble repeating those numbers because of the Falcons' tough schedule this year against the run. I think Kurt Warner and Tony Romo are slightly overrated, although some people would probably disagree. Other players like DeAngelo Williams and Calvin Johnson are still a risk in my book because the sample size is just too small to get a feel for their true value.

S: Who would you say is an underrated player in this year's draft?

J: Personally, I see great things for LaDainian Tomlinson. He's consistently scored a minimum of 10 touchdowns per season, and, although he is on the other side of 30, I think he still has one great season left in him. For quarterbacks, Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers are good picks. Both had their best season last year, and I bet we'll see great things from them this season. Wide receivers, I'm keeping an eye on are Wes Welker and Chad Ochocinco.

S: Who are some of your sleeper picks?

J: Pierre Thomas and Matt Ryan are still young and I have no doubt that their best years are ahead of them. I could see both of them outperforming their draft positions. Larry Johnson is someone I think could rebound this year and be a top 15 RB that you can draft in the early to middle rounds of most fantasy drafts. As for WRs, Ted Ginn Jr is a guy I will be watching closely because he is a 3rd year receiver and Chad Pennington has a very accurate arm. I could see Ginn end up as a top 25 fantasy WR that you can get in the later rounds.

S: Well that's all for today. Thanks for answering my questions Jason. I really appreciate your fantasy insights.

J: No problem Steve. It's my pleasure.

Jason McCoy is owner and creator of Stinkball.com Fantasy Football. This interview was completed in downtown Asheville, NC. Whether you play Yahoo fantasy sports or ESPN fantasy football, participating in mock drafts and listening to expert opinion can help give you the competitive edge you need to win big.

Also, don't forget to check out Stinkball.com, home of the web's newest "loser league" style fantasy contests.

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About the Author - Jason McCoy

Contact Jason McCoy:
Real McCoy Fantasy Sports, Inc
828-274-4255
www.StinkBall.com

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