Fantasy draft do's and don'ts

This column will offer advice based on a standard scoring league with 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 D and 1 K. (If you don't understand what those initials stand for, move on to another part of this newspaper.) The advice in this column is appropriate for leagues of average size, 10 to 12 teams.

Our first installment covers the draft. It's vitally important you spend some time preparing for it. We can't be there for you on draft day, but we can at least give you some pointers to help you gain an edge. So without further ado, hop on board "dee plane, dee plane!"

· Running Man: Make sure you pick at least one dominant RB (e.g. Deuce McAllister, Shaun Alexander, LaDainian Tomlinson) with your first pick. Sure, QBs get all the endorsements and the chicks, but RB is, by far, the most crucial position on your roster.

In fact, try to get two dominant RBs. And make sure you save roster space for good backups at that position to fill in for injured starters and bye weeks.

Tattoo says: After Peyton Manning and Daunte Culpepper, most QBs have the same potential. If you don't have the opportunity to draft either of those QBs early, just load up on RBs and wait until mid-draft to get your QB.

There will be plenty of quality in the sixth through 10th rounds. Guys like David Carr, Steve McNair, Brian Griese and Byron Leftwich should still be there. If you're lucky, a Chad Pennington might fall down to those rounds, too.

· The NFL Eats its Young: Generally, rookies tend to perform poorly in their first seasons. Unlike hoops, where a Shaq or LeBron James can come in and start dominating, in football the learning curve, as well as the physical demands, are a lot steeper.

That said, some of the highest impact rookies, we predict, will be RBs Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown; and WRs Mike Williams, Braylon Edwards and Troy Williamson.

Tattoo says: There's one guarantee when it comes to rookies: Do not go with a first year QB. Especially those with any Bay Area connections (Alex Smith, Berkeley alums, etc.).

· Fan Loyalty Does not a Good Fantasy Team Make. Don't draft players because you grew up liking them or because you and your dad used to watch their games together before you became estranged. Nostalgia has no place on Fantasy Island. You are drafting individual players and you must be team-color blind.

Tattoo says: One exception to that rule would probably be the Indianapolis Colts. A team with Manning, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, and Reggie Wayne would probably do quite well. Still, never put all your eggs in one basket.

· Medic! This is stating the obvious, but don't draft players who are hurt. Maybe not so obvious is to not draft folks who are injury prone. Watch out for those star-crossed or pillow-soft players who always seem to spend time on the sidelines watching their back-ups snag all their playing time.

Tattoo says: Avoid WRs Todd Pinkston, Tyrone Calico and Steve Smith; RBs Correll Buckhalter, Michael Bennett, Fred Taylor, Lee Suggs and anyone running for Tennessee; and QBs Rex Grossman, Tim Rattay, Kurt Warner and other slow immobile arms with slow releases.

· This ain't fantasy soccer. Draft your K last or not at all. The difference between the highest scoring and the 12th highest scoring K in most fantasy leagues is negligible. Never pick one earlier than round 11.

In fact, we generally wait until after the draft and just pick up a kicker off waivers before the first game of the season.

Tattoo says: I use that strategy for defenses, too. After the Baltimore D, it's one big crapshoot when it comes to how the Ds will perform. Might as well wait until the end of the draft or get one off waivers depending on matchups.

· Find the next grocery store clerk turned Super Bowl hero. Many football leagues are won during the late rounds of the draft, when all the so-called sleepers are selected. Remember awhile back when some lucky fool picked up former grocery store clerk Kurt Warner in the final round? Warner ended up being the highest scoring player in the league that season (not to mention Super Bowl MVP).

It's the unheralded, unknown draft picks that will separate your team from the rest of the pack.

Tattoo says: Our favorite sleepers this year, by position, are WRs Kevin Curtis, Reggie Williams and Samie Parker; RBs Stephen Jackson, LaMont Jordan and Kevin Barlow; TEs Chris Cooley and Matt Schobel; and QBs David Carr, Joey Harrington and, coming full circle, Kurt Warner. And yes, we realize Kurt Warner also made our injury-prone list. It wouldn't be a sleeper if there weren't some risk involved.

Fantasy Island runs weekly. Do you have a question for Mr. Roarke and Tattoo? If so e-mail fantasyisland@smdailyjournal.com Questions and answers will be published in subsequent installments of this column.