Armchair quarterbacks and people looking to relive their glory days when they threw footballs over mountains can finally rejoice. It’s fantasy football season.

Hours and hours of work will start being ignored as people prep for their drafts or start taking trash with their league. Being a great fantasy football manager can feel like a full-time job.

Trust me, I’d know.

Last year I pulled off one of my greatest successes to date. I’m not talking about my award-winning coverage of Warren County sports. No, the big thing I did was win both my fantasy football leagues.

The Hefty Leftys were unbeatable, thanks to great management by yours truly. The only problem I’ve had dealing with my success? Trying to figure out a keeper in one of my leagues.

Because of my excellent drafting and team management last year, I ended up with top players at almost every position. 

I drafted Pat Mahomes, easily the best fantasy quarterback, in the 13th round. I added James Connor, a Le'veon Bell stand-in who ended up making the Pro Bowl, in the 15th. Add in TE George Kittle (11th round) and Christian McCaffrey, stolen in the second round, and I was completely stacked.

I honestly don’t know who to keep. I have too many good players.

Now there’s probably a few people out there reading who think they could beat me in fantasy football. You’re definitely entitled to be wrong. But right now, I want to speak straight to those men and women who are desperately grasping at straws in hopes of being the winner I already am.

Here’s a few tips I’ll give out free of a charge for this upcoming season:

Don’t worry about defenses - I can’t remember the last time I drafted a defense. The difference year-to-year in team production can be almost impossible to predict, so why waste a valuable late pick trying to project when you could grab some extra trade bait? 

Take my team – the Jacksonville Jaguars – for example. In 2017-18, the Jaguar defense was one of the best fantasy stop units since 2001. Last year, with almost every single starter back, they were brutal. 

Just check the matchups on the waiver wire and prey on rookie quarterbacks.

Do the same for kickers - Again, it’s just easier to pick a couple more position players in those last two rounds than mess with kickers and defenses. Some of the best kickers can be claimed off waivers in the first 2-3 weeks.

Instead, grab an extra position player and try to pair them in a 2-for-1 trade.

Have phone alerts - When big injury news breaks in the NFL, you need to be the first to know. Getting to the waiver wire or free agents first is vital

If you want more suggestions on how to play fantasy, my boss James Clark is going to give his best tips soon. Personally, since I beat him handily last year, I’d take them with a grain of salt – unless you want to be at the bottom of your league’s standings.