FANTASY NBA: Scouring the Box Scores

The best way to keep up with the free agency market in your league is to scan box scores as often as you can. With Allen Iverson being traded from Philadelphia to Denver as well as rotation issues on the rosters of inactive trade teams, there are some things to sort out. And when there are things to sort out in terms of who gets minutes, there are opportunities to find value before anyone else.

Beginning with the 76ers, the biggest winners appear to be Andre Iguodala and Willie Green. Both are taking far more shots now that Iverson's 20-plus attempts per night have gone west. Iguodala is not available in your league, but Green might be. His field goal shooting has been far from stellar, but if you can absorb that, you'll get a nice boost in his scoring, rebounding and assist numbers.

In Boston, guard Tony Allen continues to put up big numbers in Wally Szczerbiak's absence. He went for 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks against the Warriors last night and has now scored in double figures in four straight games. Teammate Al Jefferson has played big and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in six straight games. If either is available on your waiver wire, go get them now.

Charlie Villanueva is working his way back from an elbow injury and scored an efficient 16 points on 5-of-8 field goals, 2-of-2 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws. He recently missed a game against Minnesota with shoulder tendonitis, so monitor his healthy closely before making any roster moves involving him. When he's 100%, he's got the game of a Top 50 fantasy player.

My guy, Memphis PF Alexander Johnson, scored nine points in just 13 minutes, but the problem was, he also picked up six fouls. Portland's Travis Outlaw continued a nice scoring streak, but more importantly, he continued a very nice shot blocking streak. Outlaw blocked four shots against the Rockets last night, giving him 14 over the last six games (2.3/game).

Shaun Livingston is officially a fantasy stud, no matter whether Sam Cassell is playing or not. He is playing big minutes and putting up progressively bigger numbers. His value is going to snowball, so if you have any thoughts of picking him up or trading for him, my suggestion would be to do it ASAP. Same goes for Toronto PF Andrea Bargnani, who is scoring in different ways, blocking shots and putting up better rebounding numbers.

FANTASY NBA: A Surprise Contributor in Memphis

By Dustin Hockensmith

There seems to be a piece of the pie for everyone on the Memphis Grizzlies roster, even since the team's star, Pau Gasol, has returned to the lineup. Chucky Atkins, Hakim Warrick, Dahntay Jones, Mike Miller and Rudy Gay are all getting chances to put up numbers, and a new face has emerged in forward Alexander Johnson. Some good points and rebounds numbers from Johnson have been nice for fantasy teams, but his ability to blend and contribute in different ways should encourage consistent real life playing time.

The return of Gasol has actually helped Johnson's value. With the wiry Gasol inside, head coach Mike Fratello has elected to go with more width at the power forward. Johnson has replaced one of his chief competitors for playing time, Hakim Warrick, in the starting lineup, which is a great sign. Lawrence Roberts and Jake Tsakalidis represent the Grizzlies' only other real size, and neither complement Gasol as well as Johnson.

Whether he continues to start should not matter, Johnson should log steady minutes as long he keeps hustling and making plays. A second round pick in this past year's draft, Johnson has averaged 10.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in his last four games. He has shown the ability to shoot a high percentage from the field (59 pct.) and from the free throw line (72 pct., decent for a big man), so he might be worth a fantasy manager's while.

Have some optimism with Johnson; take him on if you can spare a roster spot. There might be a small window to get production out of him, but he has earned some time on the floor in the next few games with good play. Play him until he stops getting the minutes and hope for that to never happen.

FANTASY NBA: Matt Barnes, Fantasy Stud?

MATT BARNES
With Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy injured, Matt Barnes is making the most of his minutes. As a starting SF, check out his line: 14.8 PPG on 54.9%, 2.4 3PM, 6.2 REB, 3.0 AST, 1.6 STL, 1.2 BLK, 85.7 FT% and 1.2TO.

Right now, Matt Barnes is essentially a top five fantasy NBA player. Who knows how long it will last or what will happen when Richardson and Murphy come back. But to get even one game like last night's 32 point, 11 rebound, three assist and three steal effort seems worth the chance.

SEAN MAY
In the off chance Sean May is still available in your league, pick him up. He slipped in the 2005 NBA draft because of concerns over his body, a la Carlos Boozer. While Bobcat teammate Raymond Felton and Hawk Marvin Williams got all the draft day love, May was the reason the Tar Heels beat Deron William's squad in the 2005 NCAA Championship Game.

Point is, I expect Boozer-like things from May.

May's averages seem rather pedestrian, but he's rattled off five 10+ rebound games, seven 15+ point games and three 5+ assist games this season.

ANTHONY PARKER
Anthony Parker is terribly inconsistent and I would proceed with caution when considering him on your team. Every single one of his statistical categories, however, has improved in December. He's getting over 32 MPG as a starter, up from just under 30.

If you're going to take a flyer on a guy, why not have it be on the starter who is getting more minutes?

BRENDAN HAYWOOD
Etan Thomas sprained his left ankle and Brendan Haywood started in his place last night, good for 12 points and 13 rebounds. He's already averaging 2.3 blocks a game. If you need a center, he's you're guy--for now.

JARED JEFFRIES?
Keep your eyes on Jared Jeffries, although I wouldn't pick him up now. Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas knew Jeffries for most of his life and both share the Indiana connection. He quite possibly could fill a prominent role on the team, despite previously doing little to validate his 2002 lottery selection.

He started last night at PF--possible eligibility at SG, SF and PF--and scored 15 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and had three steals.

FANTASY NBA: Striking Before the Iron Gets Hot

In a competitive Fantasy NBA world, the free agency market can be cruel to slow-to-react shoppers. Recognizing who CAN be good before he actually starts producing is incredibly important, and it's an art of judgment and timing that helps you sift through all the unpredictability. The market is on the verge of getting hot, so it is now time to really do your homework; the breakdown below should help you get started.

Recommendations by Position:

Point Guards
Shaun Livingston, PG LA Clippers: If Livingston's on my team, he never makes it to the waiver wire in the first place. If he's there in your league, pick him up immediately. Sam Cassell is going to fade down the stretch, and Livingston is already putting up solid numbers (7.6 pts, 4.5 assists, 0.9 blocks) in spite of the 14-year veteran. What puts him to the top of the point guard free agent list is his length and ability to block shots; that will keep his value high until the triple-doubles start coming. Pick-up Potential: Daniel Gibson, Cleveland (consistent playing time, consistent production are keys); Sebastian Telfair, Boston (needs to shoot the ball better, more consistently); Chucky Atkins, Memphis (needs to keep up this pace, not die of old age).

Shooting Guards
Luther Head, PG/SG Houston Rockets: Head is shooting the lights out from 3-point range, and he won't be stopping anytime soon. He has a big man in the post in Yao Ming and a star in Tracy McGrady that can penetrate and kick and keep giving him open looks. Sure, his numbers across the board are a little weak, but there are only eight other players in fantasy basketball that average more 3's per game, and none of them are on your waiver wire. Pick-up Potential: Martell Webster, Portland (has upside, exceptional length and freedom to fire away from downtown); Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando (percentages, scoring are down, turnovers are up so far).

Small Forwards
Andrea Bargnani, SF/PF Toronto Raptors: Combines the field goal percentage and blocks of a power forward with the scoring and 3-point shooting of a small forward. Neither numbers by themselves are particularly impressive, but he's averaging 13 points, 1.0 block and 1.3 three-pointers a night in his last six games. To put thsoe numbers into perspective, there are four players in all of basketball that are averaging at least one block and one 3 per game for the year. Pick-up Potential: Chuck Hayes, Houston (not much scoring, but he's hitting the glass HARD); Martell Webster (see above).

Power Forwards
Craig Smith, SF/PF Minnesota: Smith's got to show better rebounding potential to warrant a pick-up, but if Kevin Garnett gets dealt, there are 12 more potential rebounds to go around. He is scoring points in limited minutes, but is very inconsistent in the rebounding and hustle categories. His value is directly tied into his potential on the boards though, so look for consistent 5+ rebound games and strike before anyone else does. Pick-up Potential: Al Jefferson, Boston (a better immediate pick than Smith); Travis Outlaw, Portland (just when he was getting better, he picked up five fouls and scored zero points in 10 minutes Wednesday).

Centers
LaMarcus Aldridge, SF/PF/C Portland: Multi-position eligibility is a nice bonus for a nice fantasy player. His rhythm was disrupted when he took an elbow to the mouth on Nov. 28, but he's averaged 9.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in the four games since. His season percentages aren't bad, either - 53.9% from the floor, 80.8% from the line. Pick-up Potential: Alonzo Mourning, Miami (2.6 blocks per night is a big number); Mark Blount, Minnesota (it's likely no other free agent big man has better scoring prowess).

FANTASY NBA: Stop Doubting Tyronn Lue

He's been unwanted in Fantasy NBA for years now, but Atlanta PG Tyronn Lue has become a pretty good player. The acquisition of Speedy Claxton was thought to have hurt his fantasy value this season, but Lue's stock has only gone up in my eyes. He's not a starting point guard in the NBA, but this season, he's been one of the top reserves and a candidate for 6th man of the year.

Lue has not started a game in 2006-07, but has still found a way to score in double figures in 12 straight games. Throw in 1.7 three's and 4.6 assists per night over that time, and he has made for a pretty useful fantasy point guard. Don't think that Lue has done anything out of the ordinary from his career numbers (he's averaged at least 10 ppg in 4 of the last 5 seasons), he has just carved out a bigger niche in the Atlanta offense. His percentages, which have always been solid, have improved but not spiked, and he is a virtual lock for 45 percent shooting and 85 percent free throw shooting.

Go pick him up now.

Other 3-point help out there comes at a greater sacrifice to your overall team goals, but there are some options. Nearly all of Houston PG/SG Luther Head's 9.5 ppg have come by way of the 3-pointer, as he has knocked down at least two 3's in nine straight games. He's also shooting an insane 48.7 percent from downtown.

Veterans Chucky Atkins, Brent Barry and Hedo Turkoglu offer some help there, but don't add any kind of excitement to your roster. Both Head and Martell Webster offer a little upside to go along with their long-range prowess so watch for their weak scoring averages to improve and strike if or when that happens. Webster already has given some hope with 18 points on Sunday.

FANTASY: Blue Chips vs. Day Trades

Potential Fantasy NBA Blue Chips

While SF/PF Andrea Bargnani, SF/PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge and SF/PF Shelden Williams have yet to justify their NBA draft selections, all three appear poised to do so. As is the case with all rookies, you need to exercise a little patience, both from a consistency and playing time perspective, but these are all guys who can help you in the short to medium term.

Bargnani is scoring points (averaging 12.3 ppg in his last six) and showing some nice potential in the hustle categories, but is rebounding like his effeminate first name suggests he would. Aldridge was just starting to play a more prominent role in Portland, but took an elbow to the chops on November 26 and has played just 12 minutes in the last two games. Williams is beginning to put it together, but remains a little weak in the points and rebounds departments.


Historically Awesome Fantasy NHL Blue Chips

After the NHL lockout, many young stars emerged. The trend in fantasy hockey is to take youth, which means there is tremendous veteran value on the waiver wire.

Pittsburgh's LW Evgeni Malkin and C Sidney Crosby have been the talk of the hockey world, but why not pick up RW Mark Recchi? With 490 career goals, he's the perfect veteran to play on their line. ... C Brad Richards and LW Gary Roberts similarly had great months and may be worth a look.


Day Trading to Fantasy NFL Glory

In my fantasy football league, there is literally nothing available on the waiver wire. You're likely screwed if you need waiver help now. But everyone thinks they can strike it rich in a week. A good place to look for quality depth this point in the season is WR.

Marty Booker was once was nasty and since Joey Harrington took over, Booker is 17 yards behind Wes Welker for the team lead in receiving yards. ... In my league, Kenny Bloggins just picked up Santonio Holmes, a strong short-term buy. Hines Ward could miss two weeks and Holmes is a pedigree wide out with a bright future, one Kenny hopes begins Sunday. ... Tom Brady consistently spread the ball this season. Maybe, just maybe, Reche Caldwell will replicate his 9 reception, 90 yards and 1 TD Week 10 performance? Against a soft Detroit defense this week, I'd say the chances are better than average.

FANTASY NBA: Emerging Forces

SHALLOW LEAGUES

In my league (which is actually ridiculously deep or "subterranean"), someone dropped PG/SG Randy Foye. I'm sure this happened in plenty of leagues where patience is not a requisite for a league championship, so it deserves to be pointed out he should be picked up immediately if he's available.

You cannot teach a player to be clutch. Coaches rely on this intangible and players who have it get the opportunity to shine. Last night, Foye scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter against the Mavs. En route to victory against the Clippers Saturday he scored 14 of his 15 points in the fourth. He's stepping up in a big way against quality opponents while Kevin Garnett is occupies defenses. The other stats should fill out in time, which is awesome potential for the 13th man.


DEEP LEAGUES

Miami G/F Dorrell Wright is finally cracking the rotation. Drafted in 2004 out of high school, he barely saw the light of day on the Heat bench despite having some freakish athletic gifts. He developed a knowledge of the game, being coached by Pat Riley, playing with some legendary veterans and being part of a championship team. Now, he is budding into a star. With Riley calling out his team, Wright should continue to get minutes as long as keeps earning them.

In three games as a starter, his line: 8.7 PPG on 50%, 100% FTP, 11.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 SPG and 1.0 TO.


SUBTERRANEAN LEAGUES

I was one of the many Knicks that attended the 2006 draft who booed Isiah Thomas' draft selection of SF Renaldo Balkman (for the record, Kenny Bloggins called Isiah drafting the most unconventional player possible). While PG Marcus Williams appears capable of being Jason Kidd's successor, Balkman is a high energy rebounder and shot blocker, who has the ability to lead the fast break.

Channing Frye will be inactive for five weeks and Quentin Richardson and Jared Jeffries are out for about a week apiece. Balkman will get more minutes too after coming off a truly spectacular game against Chicago.

In 20 minutes, his line: 10 PTS on 50% FGP, 1 3PM, 13 REB, 3 AST, 3 BLK, 1 STL and 1 TO.

FANTASY NBA: Give Kyle Lowry a Look

By Dustin Hockensmith

The best piece of advice I can give you right now is to give Memphis PG Kyle Lowry a look in your leagues. Not only is he going to continue to get playing time in the Memphis backcourt, he looks like a good bet to start really producing. He is lightning quick off the dribble and in the passing lanes and will likely give you boosts in points, assists and steals.

Beyond Lowry, I think Memphis is a nice place to look for your free agency needs because it's a pretty fluid playing time situation and young players have a chance to play early. Lowry and rookie teammate Rudy Gay have responded nicely in their roles, and Hakim Warrick has shown nice potential scoring the basketball. Stromile Swift has been his usual shotblocking self and is one of at least two of these four players to be on your waiver wire right now.

Similarly to our suggestion to pick up Hilton Armstrong last week, and this should go without saying for any rookie free agent, be ready to ride out some inconsistent playing time. Both situations are ripe for these guys to contribute heavily; we'll just have to wait for Tyson Chandler in New Orleans and Damon Stoudamire to start losing minutes to them.

FANTASY NBA: One Small Step Last Night, One Giant Leap to Come

By Kenny Bloggins and Steve "Supreme Commander" Cernak

Every Weighed Bloggs staffer picked up New Orleans’s C Hilton Armstrong around midnight. He is an absolute stud-in-waiting playing alongside MVP candidate Chris Paul.

With Tyson Chandler injured, Byron Scott surprisingly started the 12^th overall pick in last June’s draft because of the athleticism he has is rare in a 6-foo-11 frame. Armstrong moves like a small forward and his long limbs don't get in his own way. And because he'll seldom be the focus of an opposing team's game plan and qualifies as a center, he's a must-have on your fantasy roster.

Armstrong emerged against the Detroit Pistons. In his first career start, he scored 17 and grabbed 9 boards. He also showed some guts and heroics in the final seconds, first sinking the winning free throw and then swatting away his own miss on the second attempt as time expired.

Remember, Armstrong was successful at UConn, along with fellow 2006 draftees PG Marcus Williams, SF Rudy Gay and PF Josh Boone. Now he's in a better position to succeed because of Paul's brilliance, SF Peja Stojakovic's zone-busting shot and he'll play alongside front court stalwart David West.

FANTASY NBA: Digging Deep on the Waiver Wire

Fantasy basketball enters Week Two, and I suddenly feel a sense of urgency after crawling into the cellar of a Yahoo! Public league. In my defense, the team hasn't been looked at in a week since the draft, but if that's anything other than a short-term excuse, that's not exactly a compliment. It is now time to step up my game and do what I do best: Find free agents. Here are some of the best undervalued commodities out there, and there is a strong possibility that more valuable guys are available

F/C Andris Biedrins, Golden State
I wanted to pick up Biedrins before he blocked six shots on Tuesday night, and now I'm thinking it's an absolute must. If you're looking for blocked shots, Biedrins has a nice pedigree (11th overall, 2004 draft), is playing consistent minutes and is shooting a ridiculously high percentage from the floor (17-of-21, 80.9%). Foul trouble plagued the 20-year old in his first two seasons, but he seems to have gotten a handle on those problems this season. Even if you don't need a center or blocks, it would still be a good idea to pluck an upside guy with blocks potential off the waiver wire and keep your opponents from getting better.

PG Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana
It's only three games into the season, but his numbers across the board are starting to take the same shape of his numbers from the 2005-06 season. He won't have the freedom to take a lot of shots, but if he can keep setting up his teammates (6.7 assists/game) and racking up steals (1.7 steals/game), he should be on somebody's roster. Any kind of injury or inconsistency from Tinsley likely lands him back on the waiver wire, but take a chance now if you could use a true point guard.

SF Luke Walton, Los Angeles Lakers
Walton was a tease at portions of last season because he flashes eight-category potential. He also found a way to essentially disappear from December through February last season, then came back and played well in the final month and the postseason. He's a nice fit in the Triangle offense, so as long as he remains an important part of the Lakers' rotation, he could keep putting up double-figure scoring games (4 in 4 games this season), strong shooting numbers and a little bit of everything else.

PF Craig Smith, Minnesota
If Smith keeps scoring big points in small minutes, he's bound to see more playing time. He's scored in double figures again tonight and has scored 48 points in his last 70 minutes on the floor. Don't worry about the low rebounding numbers, if he can start pushing 25 minutes per night, he'll hit the boards.

PG Carlos Arroyo, Orlando
He doesn't have to unseat Jameer Nelson in the backcourt to have value in fantasy hoops. We've seen point guards coexist in the backcourt before, and we'll see it again. If Arroyo can keep scoring the basketball, he'll keep playing and helping your team.

PF Travis Outlaw, Portland
It's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide with Outlaw early, so take a wait-and-see approach and look for an improvement in his discipline. If he can avoid picking up fouls in bunches, he'll get into a better rhythm with the offense and produce more consistent results. That might be a big 'if' though.

Fantasy NBA: Andrew Bynum

By Steve "Supreme Commander" Cernak

Andrew Bynum is my early favorite to become this year's Boris Diaw.

I don't mean that he's going hit every statistical category. What I'm telling you is he available in one out of every two leagues and will be one of the best centers in the league.

Last night I watched Screamin' A. Smith's show. Kobe Bryant said he's at the Laker's practice facility at 5:30 AM rehabbing his knee and Bynum is there by 6:30 or 7:00 AM practicing his game.

That's ridiculous (in a good way). He puts the hours in now that are required to be legendary--at 19 years of age.

PICK BYNUM UP NOW.

FANTASY NBA: Drafting a Team That Could Almost Nearly Win Your League – Part Two

• Drafting a Team – Part One

By Dustin Hockensmith

So we got you pointed in the right direction with Part One. You know where you pick in the draft, you know who's picking around you and you should have an idea of which players you're targeting. Now comes the hard part: executing the draft. In Part Two, we'll talk about prioritizing your players, crunching the numbers and finishing the draft on a high note to get your season started with a bang.

The Early Rounds
You can probably guess that the first five rounds are the most crucial and difficult in the draft. You get to use your imagination in the later rounds, but in the early rounds you're feeling the pressure of filling all your positions as best you can. This includes not just getting the best players, but also filling most of the spots in your starting lineup. Timing is a key, and it's the first pick you make that sets the pace of your draft and how you want to use your next handful of picks.

The first round always seems to be broken down in thirds, and many times you'll do well by picking with the last of the picks in those groups. With picks No. 4, No. 8 or No. 12, you should usually get as good a player as the ones leading up to yours. An example from my lone draft of the season went as follows: I had the fifth overall pick and Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas and Kobe Bryant virtual equals. So the way to differentiate between the three is how you feel about what they give you. Do you like Wade's field goal percentage and blocks, Arenas' 3-pointers and steals or Bryant's scoring and lesser mix of the other two's strengths?

After you make this choice, you should be able to narrow your next pick down to who you should expect to be there. Brace yourself for the possibility of all three being there and know how all three would complement your first round pick. How you want them to complement that player is entirely up to you: You can find a player with similar strengths and hope to 'kill' categories, address your first-rounder's shortcomings or complete a dominant backcourt or frontcourt. Be flexible how you view this pick, but keep these types of strategies in the back of your mind as you go.

My Personal Take
I overplayed this strategy in my draft this year, but I think it is always a good idea to select players who can put up DOMINANT numbers in steals, blocks and, to a lesser extent, 3-pointers. These categories are available in the form of weaker players in the middle of the draft and in moderate doses late, but anchoring these categories with big-time producers greatly increases your odds of scoring big points. Points, rebounds, assists and percentage numbers are available in decent packages throughout the draft, but these harder-to-find categories come at a higher sacrifice to at least one area of your team.

Middle and Late Rounds
These rounds should be pretty wide open to personal preference. You have the opportunity to guess a little and try to hit home runs or choose the safer producers to be fixtures in your lineup. Again, there's no right or wrong way to do it, but I try and have it both ways. My theory is to seek out 'controlled upside', as in third or fourth year players in new roles or who appear ready to break out. The worst-case scenario is that they underachieve and you're left with the same player from the season before. Not great if it happens often in your draft, but not bad if you're closer to the upside for some other key players.

With that in mind, my advice is to usually stay away from the popular rookie and let your opponents overpay for them. I'll take slightly less upside in a less risky package, though it's usually a non-issue since someone always takes these guys too early. Give me (actual examples) Charlie Villanueva, Danny Granger, T.J. Ford or Shaun Livingston, guys that can be found at cheaper prices than the top rookies.

I hope that paints a pretty good picture of where your thoughts should be on draft day. With the draft complete, our thoughts will next shift to the upcoming free agency market and what you can do to be the first to act. In the third and final Fantasy NBA preview segment, we'll talk about how to strike gold on the waiver wire, address your needs through trades and field a consistent team for an entire season.

FANTASY NBA: Drafting a Team That Could Almost Nearly Win Your League - Part One

By Dustin Hockensmith

So you're starting your fantasy basketball draft, and you're not real sure which direction to go with your team. Beyond the first round, there is a lot of room for projection and personal taste, and there are a number of different approaches for building your squad. I won't try to talk you out of your strategy or tell you who to pick, but I will rather give you some tips that have made me a moderately successful Fantasy NBA General Manager.

The first part of this exercise focuses on the early stages of your draft, including your plan, your opponents and your league's rules. Often overlooked, these are parts of your strategy that you must understand as well as, if not better than, the other members of your league to get off to a good start and keep the upper hand.

Your Opponents
You likely can't do anything about how or where your opponents draft, but what you can do is not let them affect your draft strategy. We all have moments during the draft when our players of choice are snatched up one pick before ours. That's inevitable, but what we can do is understand how the other players draft and what positions on their roster they need to fill.

Say, for instance, you pick eighth in the fourth round and fifth in the fifth round, and you need both a point guard and a center. Look at the two opponents who stand in your way and see which is the least likely to be taken after you pick. If both have centers on their roster, you're safer to leave a more desirable center and select a point guard. It's not quite as straightforward if there are 10 picks before your next, but you're still better off when you calculate the odds.

Your Draft Order
Knowing which pick you have as soon as that information becomes available is an easy way to get a jumpstart on your strategy. Since the first round is pretty cut and dry, you can anticipate which player you will get and which needs you will then have. Look ahead to the second, third and fourth rounds and try to find a group of three to five players that you would ideally select in those situations. What this does is establish a good, tentative framework for your team and show the options you will likely have for each of your top four picks.

How to Rank Your Players
To me, it's a waste of time to create your own set of rankings from scratch. You know who you like and who you don't like, and you know who is not listed on the rankings that you'd like to draft anyway. There are plenty of time consuming things that you can do to prepare yourself for the draft, don't get caught up in the trivial work of documenting them.

My solution instead would be to print out the rankings you like (I also find ESPN's live draft results helpful since they gauge which players' stocks have risen), highlight or star the players you like and cross out the players you will not draft. It is also very important to find the rookies who are not listed in the rankings and list them in your pre-draft rankings so they're easy to find. The bottom line: know the general vicinity of where your desired players are, and make sure you can find all of the underrated rookies that interest you.

Knowing the League Rules
Just as important as drafting good players is drafting the RIGHT players. If you know your league scoring system and know what your starting roster looks like, then you can keep the playing field level or take an advantage over some of your opponents. You also must know who is eligible for which position(s), so you can get a feel for exactly how scarce quality players are at each position.

Many leagues have standard formatting for rosters and scoring systems, so knowing them well is all that you can do. But some leagues are set up in these regards by humans, which almost always gives you an opportunity to capitalize on a flaw. In a rotisserie situation, it may be an exotic category that no one else anticipates, or in a points-based league maybe blocks are weighted too heavily. Find if or where these opportunities exist and get an edge on your opponents before the season even begins.

Part two will be released soon and include: how to make your early-round selections, how to value rookies and how to adapt to the draft and change your strategies as you go. Stay tuned to Weighed Bloggs leading up to and throughout the season for all of your sports and fantasy sports needs.