So, you've decided to take the plunge and join the millions of men of women (yes, women. There are 6. Lovely gals all.) that play Fantasy Football every year? Well, here at Fantasy Football Oasis University we offer an easy to follow, comprehensive primer that will have you one step closer to hoisting your league's Championship trophy in no time!

Our curriculum kicks off with a brief overview of fantasy football and the four things you'll need to know to win your league before going into these items in more detail.

What is Fantasy Football?

In Fantasy Football, "Owners" (that's you) draft teams of NFL Players in Leagues of 8 or more teams. These players are then awarded points depending on each player's statistics in that week's NFL games. The team whose players accrue the most points wins. The season is usually broken down into a Regular Season of 13-14 weeks followed by Playoffs, just like in the NFL.

FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. Know Your League

The number of teams in your league, roster sizes, and lineup requirements can make a great deal of difference in the strategy you'll want to take both into your draft and season. The pool of talent thins more quickly in larger leagues, and wide receivers will carry more value if you are forced to start 3 each week as opposed to 2.

TIP: For novice players I recommend a 12 Team League with 14 to 16 player rosters. The league is large enough to be competitive, but the rosters are small enough to "level the playing field" a bit.

If you're looking for a league to play in or for owners to fill out your league be sure to check out the Fantasy Football Oasis Message Boards.

2. Know Your Scoring

In order to accurately rank players prior to your draft, it is very important to know how your league's particular scoring system will affect their values. In leagues that award points for receptions, "possession" receivers and pass catching running backs get a boost, while elite quarterbacks might see their value drop in leagues that only award 4 points for passing touchdowns.

3. Know Your Draft

Once you've acclimated yourself to your league's rules and scoring the real fun begins. Draft preparation is an essential part of a successful season, as the homework you do can have a large effect on the strength of the team you draft. However, many fantasy football players consider Draft Day the highlight of the entire season, and the pride you'll feel at knowing you've selected a solid squad will make it well worth the effort.

Fantasy Football Oasis' downloadable Draft Kit contains everything you need for draft day success, including printable cheat sheets, strategy tips, sleepers and busts, and more!

4. Know Your Roster

Drafting well is only half the battle. Finding that waiver wire gem to fill in for your injured player, making a well-timed or advantageous trade, and setting the best lineup possible on any given week can be the difference between cellar dwellar and fantasy glory, so staying on top of the happenings in fantasy football and the NFL during the season is a must.

Looking for Breaking News, Injury Updates, Player Rankings, Start/Sit Advice, or Trade Help? Fantasy Football Oasis has you covered, including a Live Chat on Sunday for Last-Minute Updates and Lineup help.

KNOWING YOUR LEAGUE

The first step on your road to fantasy dominance is to acquaint yourself with the number of teams in your league, roster sizes, and starting lineup requirements.

Fantasy football leagues can range anywhere in size from 6 teams to 32, but generally contain from 8 to 16 teams. In simplified terms, the more teams there are in a given league the more difficult a league is, as the elite-level talent is spread out more (and quite possibly disproportionately). In an 8 team league nearly every team will be littered with fantasy studs, while in a 16 team league one team may have only 1 (or even none) Top 10 performers at a given position, and every roster move or lineup choice's importance is increased. The flip side of this coin however, is that the "luck factor" is amplified in smaller leagues. In a league where every team is stacked, that one fluke injury or one bad game can spell the end of your season. A good rule of thumb is to leave the 14 or more team leagues to experienced players, as there's little fun in going 3-10.

Roster size has a similar effect on fantasy football leagues. Leagues with smaller (14 or fewer players) rosters and few reserve spots increase the number of free agents that will be available as replacements for injured and underperforming players, but also increase the risk of bye-week conflicts or injuries forcing you to drop players you'd rather not. It's eye-poppingly frustrating to be beaten over the head by your opponent with a player you dropped two weeks before. Conversely, large rosters (18 or more players) strip Free Agency bare leaving very few "gems", but afford team owners a greater measure of flexibility in regards to depth, sleepers (players you believe will significantly exceed expectations), and handcuffing (acquiring the backup for a player [almost always a running back] as injury insurance).

A typical fantasy football starting lineup consists of 1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, 1K, and one Team Defense, but many variations (including leagues with Individual Defensive Players) are common. The starting lineup requirements of your league can have a large impact on draft strategy and player values due mostly to an effect in fantasy football known as positional scarcity, in which a position such as running back carries more value than a position such as quarterback due to the number of players at those positions "starting" for fantasy teams each week relative to the number of actual NFL starters at that position.

TIP: Positional scarcity sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is. Say you're in a 12 Team League where you start 1 quarterback and 2 running backs, which means each week 12 QBs and 24 RBs will "start" in your league. Given that there are 32 teams in the NFL (and as such 32 starters at each of those two positions), running backs will have additional value in that league (especially in the era of the Committee approach at the position) and their draft value must be adjusted accordingly. The same can hold true for quarterbacks (in leagues where you start 2), wide receivers (in leagues where 3 or more start), or any other position.

In addition, the type of fantasy football league you play in can have a large impact on player values and draft strategy, especially during your first draft in a new league. In redraft leagues (where no players stay on a team from year to year) player age is not that much of a consideration in strategy, as owners need only look ahead one year. However, in keeper (where some players stay on a team from year to year) and dynasty (where all players stay on a team from year to year) leagues owners need to take more of a "big picture" approach, looking at the team from the perspective of a several-year window, so factors such as age become much more pronounced.

TIP: Fantasy Football Oasis offers separate Redraft, Keeper, and Dynasty player rankings to assist you in determining how players' values vary across the differing types of leagues.

KNOWING YOUR SCORING

The next ingredient in your recipe for Title Pie is a healthy helping of knowledge of your league's scoring system, which can have a drastic effect on player values and draft strategy.

In a Standard scoring league players are awarded points for yardage gained, touchdowns, field goals, extra points, and defensive stats including sacks, takeaways, and sometimes points and yardage allowed. Points are deducted for fumbles and interceptions thrown. This is the most common type of league, and the majority of fantasy football rankings and strategy pieces are based on standard scoring leagues.

Point-Per-Reception leagues differ from standard scoring leagues in that a point (or half a point in some cases) is awarded for each catch, which adds value to wide receivers and some running backs relative to the other positions. For example, Maurice Jones-Drew amassed 218 fantasy points in standard scoring in 2008, good for an RB8 finish. However, in PPR leagues Jones-Drew's 62 receptions (and the additional points he received for them) improved his ranking at the position to RB3.

TIP: Fantasy Football Oasis offers both Standard Scoring and PPR player rankings that reflect the differences in player values between the two formats.

In a TD-Heavy (or TD-Only) league the points awarded for yardage are reduced (or eliminated altogether), which can render backs or receivers that rack up yardage but rarely score much less valuable (or even worthless) while giving a sizable boost to goal-line backs such as T.J. Duckett, who only managed 172 rushing yards in 2008 but scored 8 times.

It is important to bear in mind that there are endless variations in scoring from individual league to individual league that can also impact player values. For instance, in only 4 points are awarded for passing touchdowns (as opposed to 6) then quarterbacks are devalued somewhat relative to the other positions. Conversely, in a league that awards points for passing attempts selecting a QB from a pass-heavy team or one that plays from behind a lot becomes a more attractive option. Also, the scoring for team defenses can vary wildly from league to league, leaving that position's worth anywhere from fantasy afterthought to one of the highest scoring slots on the roster. Study the scoring rules of your league, and be sure to acquaint yourself with any "quirky" scoring rules that may exist.

TIP: If you have questions about the scoring rules of your league and their ramifications on player values the Fantasy Football Oasis Help Forum is great resource to use to find answers.

KNOWING YOUR DRAFT

With a Working Knowledge of your league's rules and scoring in hand it's now time to move on to one of the most important and enjoyable days of the season...the draft.

Although some variations exist (such as Auction Drafts) the majority of fantasy football drafts employ a serpentine (or "snake") method, meaning that draft order is reversed in the even-numbered rounds. For example, in a 12 team league the team with the 4th selection in the first round will have the 9th choice in the second, the 4th in the third round, and so on.

Without question preparation is the biggest key to a successful fantasy football draft. Fantasy football magazines make for fun reading, but given their publication dates (and the lead time) required they can be woefully out of date by draft day, leaving the owner relying on them as their sole source of info up the proverbial creek. On the other hand, the owners that have done their homework (or utilize resources that have) are usually the ones pleased with the results at draft's end.

A good "cheatsheet" can be your best friend in a fantasy draft, so be sure to have one that's updated (as a result of position battles and injuries) and that reflects your league's scoring. Ambitious owners may wish to take that a step farther by compiling and averaging several cheatsheets together and/or creating their own cheatsheets or projections for use in ranking players.

In addition, staying up-to date on NFL and player news is essential, as that 4th round steal you think you got won't be such a steal if it turns out he lost his starting job two days before your draft.

TIP: The downloadable Draft Kit from Fantasy Football Oasis contains a number of cheat sheets for different scoring systems as well as blank sheets for use in tailoring rankings to suit your league, and the Fantasy Football Oasis News Blitz will keep you posted on the happenings around the league.

Track your fantasy draft as it progresses, monitoring not only the picks you've made but also the picks of the other owners. This will help you identify which positions you and your opponents still need to address, which may help you gauge which players might be available for future selections and impact your present choice.

A few tips for use while drafting by inexperienced fantasy football drafters:

1. It's generally a good idea to spend at least two of your first three choices on Running Backs. Positional scarcity makes backs the rarest breed in the show, elite ones are rarer still, and in most leagues they'll come off the board early and often.

2. You can afford to wait until the middle rounds to select a Quarterback. This will allow you to load up on talent on running back and receiver or consider drafting an elite tight end, and there will be more than serviceable signal-callers available later in the draft. A Tom Brady or Peyton Manning is nice to have, but if you don't have solid backs and wideouts you're sunk.

3. DO NOT REACH FOR A DEFENSE OR KICKER. These two positions are notoriously unpredictable from year to year, so don't waste a pick that could be better spent on depth or an upside selection. Wait until the last two rounds to fill these spots.

TIP: More detailed discussion of draft strategies and answers to all your draft questions can be found on the Fantasy Football Oasis Forums.

KNOWING YOUR ROSTER

Now that you've drafted a solid, well-rounded, competitive team it's time for the final, and most important step on the road to fantasy glory...dominating the league itself.

A vital element in this step is stay apprised of the players available on your league's waiver wire, as the wire can be an invaluable asset to fantasy owners for improving their teams, either by replacing injured or underperforming players, or by adding that out-of-nowhere rising star to an already formidable squad. Familiarize yourself with when your league's waivers run, how waiver priority is decided, and check regularly to see what players are available.

Each Tuesday during the season Fantasy Football Oasis will look at some of the hottest players available on many waiver wires, so be sure to check out HotWIRED each week.

A timely trade can also be a huge boost to fantasy owners looking to put their team over the top, although you're going to have to give something to get something here. It's important to get to know the other teams' rosters and owners, as knowing each opponent's needs and proclivities can aid you in making an offer that will be accepted. Also, don't go into trade negotiations with the mentality that you need to "win" the trade. Deals that help both teams involved are the deals that get done, and the trade that appears to favor the other guy may just be the final piece in your championship puzzle.

The Fantasy Football Oasis Help Forums are a great place to get advice on trades from Oasis staff and members.

Finally, setting the best lineup possible means keeping abreast of player news and the week's matchups. Having a player in your lineup on Sunday is no good to you if he was ruled out on Friday, and matchups can play a major role in the difference between a big day and a big dud. Do your homework during the week, and you'll reap the benefits on the weekend.

Guess What? Whether it's the weekly Injury Report, NFL News Blitz, or Injury Updates and Player News Forums Fantasy Football Oasis is your one-stop shop for Player information as well!

Before the bell rings and class is dismissed, a couple of parting thoughts.

First, play it straight. Nobody likes a cheat, and it's a good idea to follow this rule of thumb. If you have to ask if something is shady or unethical, then odds are that it is.

Second, and this is the most important part of this entire class...HAVE FUN. Fantasy Football isn't life or death, so there's no point in lamenting over that close loss or wailing about the player that blew up while glued to your bench. Just take a deep breath, shake it off, and move on.

While this "class" isn't comprehensive, and there are any number of other topics regarding strategy that will be discussed elsewhere at Oasis this will give players new to fantasy football a basic understanding of the concepts necessary to field a team that will keep them in the playoff hunt. I've done my part, now it's time to do yours...

Go Get That Trophy!

APPENDICES

The Fantasy Football 101 Appendices will explore some more advanced fantasy football topics, beginning with Individual Defensive Players (IDP) leagues.

IDP FOR BEGINNERS
Written By Mike Barthel

As fantasy football is growing in popularity and more and more leagues are surfacing, new conceptions are being put into place. One of those new-style leagues is Individual Defensive Players (IDP) leagues. IDP leagues differentiate from standard leagues in that teams must draft individual players on defense in addition to the traditional QB, RB, WR, TE, and K. The transition to IDP leagues can leave even the most experienced fantasy gurus in the dark. However, if you follow to basic (yet often overlooked) rules and follow my position-by-position rule-of-thumbs, you should be able to put together formidable.

1. Know your defense. The league is nearing a 50/50 split of 3-4 and 4-3 defensive schemes and the decision has a direct correlation to a player’s value. Defensive ends, for example, are much more effective fantasy scorers in 4-3 defenses than in 3-4s.

2. Know your scoring. Since IDP leagues are so new, there isn’t a standard scoring set in place as there is in traditional leagues. Therefore, it is imperative to check your league’s scoring before blindly following “expert” rankings. Some leagues favor tackles, while others reward turnovers and sacks more heavily.

Position Analysis

Defensive Tackle: No matter the scoring system, defensive tackles are generally not big scorers. This shouldn’t be a surprise since, with the best defensive tackles, there are generally two offensive linemen stopping them from doing anything. If defensive tackles are mandatory, 3-4 defensive tackles are a tad more valuable simply because 3-4 defenses are designed to funnel running plays to the middle. However, the difference is minimal.

Defensive End: Here is where you want defensive ends in 4-3 schemes. The top defensive ends are all 4-3 guys: Justin Tuck, Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, Mario Williams… the list goes on and on. 3-4 defensive ends are notoriously bad for fantasy owners. As stated earlier, 3-4 defenses are designed to funnel plays to the middle of the field. Also, defensive ends line up on the inside of the offensive tackle, so edge rushers are obsolete. If your league is turnover/sack-heavy, defensive ends are the premier position because nobody gets more sacks than 4-3 defensive ends. If your league has a “DL” position rather than separate DE and DT positions, heavily favor defensive ends.

Inside/Middle Linebacker: In tackle-heavy leagues, this is where defenses are won and lost. Whether a team runs a 3-4 or a 4-3, the inside linebacker will contribute a bounty of points. Be warned though: some leagues ignore tackles. If that’s the case, middle linebackers are not nearly as valuable as their outside counterparts and should be avoided.

Outside Linebacker: Sack specialists in 3-4 defenses, outside linebackers can be just as invaluable in 4-3 defenses. Another factor that comes into play is the scoring system. Leagues that ignore tackles and reward sacks are going to heavily favor outside linebackers in 3-4 defenses such as Shawn Merriman and DeMarcus Ware. Another aspect of the outside linebacker position is which side they play. In the Cover Two defense, weak side linebackers such as Chad Greenway amass solid statistics (unlike his counterpart, Ben Leber).

Cornerback: The cornerback is the position in which most fantasy owners make mistakes. Champ Bailey and Nnamdi Asomugha are about fantasy duds. The reason for this is the quarterback’s ability to ignore that player’s wide receiver. These players are so good that offenses gameplan around them. Sure, if the Raiders are playing the Patriots, New England is going to throw it to Moss, but not as much as they will Welker or Galloway. For this reason, the team’s second cornerback is a better option. Rookie cornerbacks are especially tempting for quarterbacks. Another downside is the erratic nature of the position. Since cornerbacks can be avoided, teams with poor wide receivers may avoid a mismatch and diminish a cornerback’s value. If you have a good team, you don’t want to throw away a victory because of a cornerback’s goose egg.

Safety: More reliable than cornerbacks, safeties are able to roam all over the field. On any given play, a safety could be playing centerfield or right next to the line of scrimmage. The general rule of thumb, however, is that strong safeties play closer to the line and free safeties roam. In tackle-friendly leagues, strong safeties are more valuable commodities since they are in the play whether it’s a run and they play close to the line or a pass and they roam. Free safeties, however, are given more interception opportunities so they should be valued more in turnover leagues.

For additional information on Individual Defensive Players, including player updates, rankings, and commentary be sure to check out Kilroyz Krystal Ball, Fantasy Football Oasis' IDP blog!