I've played Sports Buff Salary Cap games for almost ten years now. Last season I won their Sports Reporters/VIP Football league and got to go to Vegas for their Elite Eight postseason draft. It was simply awesome. Jeff Thomas is a class act, running the show, and everybody there had a blast.

NOTE! Contest starts Nov. 2 (NBA Week 2) so you still have time to enter!

There's no Vegas trip in the Basketball game, but I've played it for years, and I can tell you, it's lots of fun working your cap each week for the best possible line-up. The players are ranked according to performance and assigned dollar values based on projected stats. You essentially get to draft a new team every week, as you can't use the same player in consecutive weeks. The $500 league prize is nice, too, with just $100 in. RotoCommunity.com has become a Sports Buff (World fantasy Games) Contest Partner, so click on the link below to sign yourself up and compete against other RotoCommunity.com site users...

LEARN MORE/SIGN UP!

Rules, Scoring...

1. Prize package is designed to payout more than 90% for the 2009-2010 NBA season.
2. Create a team, become a World Fantasy Games Member, and join a league for one dues payment of $100 per team for the season.
3. START WEEK TWO. To play the entire contest, register by 6:00PM central time, November 2nd 2009. The first (shortened) week will not count.
4. "Salary Cap Style" - you manage your team just like a big league GM on a level playing field. We all play by the same rules. Select your team using a salary cap of $450 for a 12 player roster (2 Point Guards, 2 Shooting Guards, 2 Small Forwards, 2 Power Forwards, 2 Centers, and 2 FLEX).
5. Your team roster must change every week. No player may be played two weeks in a row.
6. Each week, your roster starts with zero players. You add players to fill your entire roster.
7. For the All Star Week, we will multiply your score for that week by 2 so that it will be a valid week with the potential to score as many points as a typical week of the season.
8. One team, playing in one league per WFG Member.
9. No partial leagues will be formed. If the number of entries is not divisible by 12, the final league of less than 12 teams will be offered a refund or alternate rules will be proposed and must be accepted for that final league.
10. You can select from any player listed on the site. To add an eligible offensive player, just email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
11. You must be 18 years old or older to participate.
12. All contestants play via the internet.
13. Live Scoring is provided free of charge.
14. The entry deadline for all teams is 6:00PM central time on Monday, November 2nd 2009. The first, shortened week will not count. The weekly team creation deadline for all weeks of the season is 6:00PM central time every Monday.
15. Questions. Just contact our fantastic staff at Sports Buff during normal business hours by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
16. Enjoy the Season. Thumbs Up! Coach B

ALERT! UPDATED AGAIN 11/30, ELIMINATING WEEK 12

We have updated our 2009 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule printable PDF download charts projecting Weeks 13-17 based on the cumulative 2009 stats and adjusting for recent team performances. Print out the grid sheet keep it by your side as the season winds down for your all-important remaining line-up, waiver wire and trade decisions. I like to run a highlighter down the current week's column after that week's games finish on Sunday to easily keep track of what's left.

You must be logged in to download the PDF. Go HERE to register/log in and then HERE to download the PDF.

Note that ARI isn't "hard" to run against, but rather teams pass more against them to keep up with Kurt Warner, keeping the rushing yards low. Likewise, WAS isn't necessarily "hard" to pass against, but rather teams tend to work up a lead and not need to pass against them, keeping the passing yards low.

OFFENSE vs DEFENSE - RUSHING

Very easy to run against: BUF, CLE, TB, OAK, STL

Easy: KC, SD, WAS, CAR, ATL

Hard: ARI, BAL, DEN, PHI, DAL

Very hard: PIT, CIN, MIN, MIA, SF 

Best Week 13-17 RUSHING schedules: NO, NYJ, DEN, BUF, TB

Worst Week 13-17 RUSHING schedules: DET, GB, PHI, ARI, CHI, SF

It's a little risky, but trading away Ryan Grant for Knowshon Moreno could work for you, schedule-wise, to get set up well for your fantasy playoffs.

OFFENSE vs DEFENSE - PASSING

Very easy teams to pass against: DET, KC, JAC, SF, TEN

Easy: STL, CLE, ATL, MIA, ARI

Hard: CAR, DEN, SD, BUF, PHI

Very hard: NYJ, NYG, NE, IND, WAS 

Best Week 13-17 PASSING schedules: ARI, STL, HOU, SF, SEA, PIT, DET, CHI

Worst Week 13-17 PASSING schedules: DAL, NYG, ATL, KC, CAR, WAS

Unloading Austin for Breaston may not be a bad swap, considering the schedule, if you're looking for a little late-season boost. Trading away Steve Smith NY for T.J. Houshmandzadeh could pay dividends, too.

D/ST vs OPPONENT - OVERALL

Very easy to score D/ST points against: STL, CLE, WAS, OAK, DET

Easy: BUF, TB, KC, CHI, TEN

Hard: DAL, SD, BAL, NYG, ATL

Very hard: NO, MIN, NE, IND, PHI

Best Week 13-17 D/ST schedules: BAL, KC, SD, SEA, IND, STL

Worst Week 13-17 D/ST schedules: DAL, WAS, CAR, PHI, NYG, BUF, TB

You want to make sure you have alternatives for PHI and NYG on their tough weeks. Keep an eye on SD and IND as sleeper D/STs down the stretch.

Again, you must be logged in to download the PDF. Go HERE to register/log in and then HERE to download the PDF.

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We feel that the following players are likely to out-earn their ADP (average draft value).

QUARTERBACKS

Stafford, Matthew DET

He's a quarterback that you can get in your last round, and though he'll struggle at first, he could be a good option for you in November and December.

Leinart, Matt ARI

He proved that he was vastly improved in the preseason. Can the aging Kurt Warner stay healthy all year again? We don't think so, and Leinart should flourish when Warner goes down.

RUNNING BACKS

rookies Wells, Beanie ARI and Brown, Donald IND

Both backs are second on the depth chart right now, but before long, they will become the featured backs of their respective teams, which makes them bargains where I've seen them go in some drafts (rounds seven and eight).

Rice, Ray BAL

He won't score many touchdowns, but he should catch many passes and run well between the twenties. If he's sitting there in Round 5 or even 6 in PPR leagues, you have to take him.

Davis, James CLE

We fully expect him to take over for Jamal Lewis before long, which makes him a very reasonable gamble in the tenth round, though you could probably even get him later.

James, Edgerrin SEA

Yes, he's sort of washed up, but he's been going late. He should get the goal line carries right away, and he could pass Julius Jones on the depth chart soon.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Walter, Kevin HOU

He's a great fantasy WR3 to nab in the ninth round, as he flies under the radar behind Andre Johnson, and Walter has a knack for big games.

Ginn, Jr., Ted MIA

He apparently matured this offseason. Though he's in a conservative offense, he's their number one wide receiver and has a shot at putting up better numbers than his ADP would indicate.

rookies Harvin, Percy MIN and Nicks, Hakeem NYG

Harvin should contribute right away, and Nicks may take more time. Each has a shot at making the rookie impact that Desean Jackson made in 2008.

Schilens, Chaz OAK

He was clearly the best wide receiver on the Raiders in the preseason. His injury has dropped his ADP way down. Draft him, stash him, and reap the rewards a few weeks into the season.

Williamson, Troy JAC

He has teased us before, but if you give him one more try with a late draft pick this year, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

TIGHT ENDS

Miller, Zach OAK

Given their wide receiver situation, Miller could be an absolute monster for the Raiders this year. Nabbing him in the tenth round is a very smart move, no matter what tight ends are already on your roster.

Davis, Vernon SF

The 49ers coaching staff has specifically stated that they want Davis to emerge this year. He has the talent to do so and is going very late in drafts.

KICKERS

Longwell, Ryan MIN

He's in a great position to be the league's leading point-scorer this season and is being drafted late.

Carney, John NO

He may lose his job when Garrett Hartley returns, but you have to like being able to draft the kicker in such a high-powered offense with your last pick of the draft. Week 1 against the Lions is such a great match-up!

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Vikings, Minnesota

They're an elite defense that you can have in Round 11, a couple rounds after the Steelers and Ravens, but in truth, almost as good.

Saints, New Orleans

If you're feeling gutsy, draft them with your last pick, as they could rack up points against the hapless Lions and their rookie quarterback in Week 1.

We feel that the following players are unlikely to earn their ADP (average draft value).

QUARTERBACKS

Ryan, Matt ATL

He's been going in the sixth round of many drafts, and that's too early. He absolutely has the talent, but the Falcons like to run so much, there should be many games where Ryan fails to top 200 yards and one score.

Cutler, Jay CHI

He's not in Denver anymore. His best receivers are his tight end and running back now. The Bears will still try to rely on their running game and defense. Cutler shouldn't be drafted before many of the quarterbacks he's being drafted before.

RUNNING BACKS

Tomlinson, LaDainian SD

Yes, he could very well bounce back for one great comeback year. He's aging, and he proved last year that injuries can derail him now. I just can't take that kind of chance in the middle of my first round.

Westbrook, Brian PHI

The Eagles drafted LeSean McCoy this past summer for insurance. When Westbrook gets hurt this year, the Eagles will rest him and barely skip a beat.

Smith, Kevin DET

He's a great, great back, but you don't burn a second round pick on a Lions running back when they'll be playing from behind constantly. He could make up for it in PPR leagues, but still, I wouldn't take him until Round 4.

Thomas, Pierre NO

People are writing him off because of his injury and the crowded backfield, but he has the potential to provide great value if you can snag him in the fifth round.

Addai, Joseph IND

He won't hold off the rookie Donald Brown enough to earn his ADP.

Jones, Thomas NYJ

They'll use Leon Washington more anyway, but Jones overachieved last year, and this year opponents will stack the box if/when the rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez can't stretch the field for Jones.

Lewis, Jamal CLE

He's toast, pure and simple. The Browns will turn to a combination of Jerome Harrison and James Davis before long.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Owens, Terrell BUF

If things go south in Buffalo, Owens could get pretty worthless pretty fast. Really, how well can a guy with his personality take being blown out often?

Edwards, Braylon CLE

Quinn's arm isn't strong enough to take advantage of Edwards. He'll be a terribly inconsistent fantasy wide receiver.

Williams, Roy DAL

He could pan out, but I wouldn't waste a fourth round pick on him to find out if he will or not. Jason Witten should overshadow him in fantasy football.

Bryant, Antonio TB

He is okay to nab in the seventh or eighth rounds, but he's being drafted before that based on last year's numbers. Byron Leftwich is an awful quarterback, and the Bucs will try and run the ball as much as possible.

TIGHT ENDS

Gonzalez, Tony ATL

Okay, so he won't be a bust in the true sense of the word, but people expecting him to duplicate last year's numbers would be mistaken. Michael Turner and Roddy White will see to it that his numbers decline in 2009.

Winslow, Kellen TB

He can't stay healthy. His quarterback is byron Leftwich. He's on a team with a serious run-first attitude. Need any more reasons?

KICKERS

Gostkowski, Stephen NE

He's just simply being drafted too early. You don't take kickers in the tenth round. You wait.

Gould, Robble CHI

New Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will see to it that Gould has very inconsistent opportunities from game to game with his turnovers and poor decisions.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Steelers, Pittsburgh

They're just simply being drafted too early. You don't take a defense in the eighth round. You wait.

Jets, New York

Great talent, but there's a chance that their rookie quarterback will struggle. If so, they'll end up tired being on the field too long.

We completed our draft during the TEN-PIT game Thursday night, and both the draft and the game were tough, hard-fought battles, but lots of fun.

I used my RotoCommunity.com projections and cheatsheets for the draft, and they served me well. Here are the draft results:

http://football20.myfantasyleague.com/2009/options?L=66930&O=17

I ended up nabbing RBs Turner, Jacobs, and Portis with my first three picks. I generally like to wait for my TE and QB, but Witten and Rivers were sitting there in Rounds 4 & 5, so I had to take them. I then back-filled with decent enough WRs in Ward, Bryant, Ginn, and Harvin in the next four rounds before nabbing the solid MIN D/ST in the 10th. I grabbed upside WRs Hicks, Robiskie, Schilens, and the ever-steady Bruce later and feel good about my team. What do you think?

Check in on the league any time here:

http://www20.myfantasyleague.com/2009/home/66930