In the last column, I wrote that daring to win big means one has to risk big. By the time I finished the article, I realized that the strategy and counter punches I outlined would help a fantasy owner build a competitive team, but there weren't enough risks taken to achieve legendary status.

I'm not just talking about winning a fantasy league. I'm talking about dominating it by earning what is considered The Triple Crown of most leagues: championship, best record, and most points scored. That's a great season, but it's still a step away from being a legend in your league.

That next step is doing something so ballsy that your competition tells the story with reverence for years to come. I came close twice. Most recently, was my first season at this site in 2009 when I went 13-0 in Footballguys' Staff IDP league, scoring the most points this league has ever seen during a regular season. However, I lost in the playoffs to eventual champ Aaron Rudnicki and it cost me a shot at going undefeated in my first competition with my peers. That might have qualified as legendary.

The other came in 2000 in my first league. I was the first team to ever win the Triple Crown after drafting rookie Edgerrin James in the first round of a 12-team draft. It was talked about for 10 years. At the time, taking James that early was a risky move. In hindsight it was a great season, but not a legendary one.

So it's time to up the ante, dare to be great, and [insert any other useless cliché about striving for excellence that I often hear corporatized human beings say that makes me want to show them my Joe Frazier] take a risk of epic proportions. If you pull it off, your competition will make it an annual story of draft lore. If you don't, it might take 10 years for your opponents to transition from ridicule to reverence for your guts for trying it. I'm calling it "The Evel Knievel."

I think this strategy can be pulled off in a PPR or non-PPR draft that starts 2-3 running backs, 3-4 receivers, and 1-2 tight ends. However, you're going to have to be willing to work at building your team after the draft. If you approach fantasy football with the mindset that you do all your work up front to build a team and then play it out after the draft then this strategy is not for you.

I think this mentality is a big reason why so many fantasy owners don't consistently make the playoffs in competitive leagues. The draft is your "initial draft" of a team. Your job throughout the season is to continue refining it until you have a polished product. Owners that have this mentality compete deep into the postseason. I can't think of one team I've had in the past seven years in competitive leagues where I drafted the team, kicked back, and watched it dominate. Even with great drafts, I made moves that benefited my season.

The Evel Knievel will force you to be an active owner beyond setting your lineup. If you see the opportunity that exists within the philosophy of this strategy, it could be a great match for your talents. Otherwise its appeal will be limited to a drunken parlor trick.

Crazy Stunt or Savvy Strategy?

It might seem like a crazy stunt for many fantasy owners because the approach goes to extremes that most fantasy owners don't want to consider. The reason is human nature. People want the easiest path to success. The odds of the Evel Knievel being the easiest path are small.

The possible outcomes of the Evel Knievel reminds me of what college coaching legend Woody Hayes' said about his rushing offense, "Three things can happen when you pass and two of them are bad." Of course, you could say the same thing about air travel a century ago. Still, it's important to know the possible outcomes of a plan:

1. You hit on your late picks, acquire insane depth with your early picks, and compete for every possible prize your fantasy league offers.


2. You miss on your late picks, but acquire insane depth to trade for serviceable starters that helps you contend for a championship.


3. You crash into the proverbial Snake River, shatter your ego and pride, and require months – perhaps years – of to rehab your psyche. The recovery process will make Greg Childs' dual patellar tendon tears look like a calf bruise.

Two of these outcomes will require a lot of in-season work to create a champion. The Evel Knievel is for those with the mentality of ice road truckers, fishermen of Alaskan king crab, oilrig workers, radio tower climbers, or Jene Bramel. Forget Jack Youngblood. He merely played with a broken leg? Bramel once talked shop on the Thursday Night Audible while passing a kidney stone.

Legendary.

If you don't like bad weather, you're scared of the open water, don't like getting your hands dirty, afraid of heights, or afraid enduring a little pain, don't go any further. If you have the frontier spirit, enjoy risk, can sell ice to an Eskimo, or the Dos Equis' Most Interesting Man in the World is less appealing than Ben Stein when you walk into the room, the Evel Knievel is for you. Of course, if you know you have these qualities, you're not likely reading this piece. However, many of you have it in you and you're just not willing to take it out for a spin.

Here's your chance.

A High-Risk Complement for the Wheeler-Dealer

If you're skilled at pulling off trades, this strategy has excellent potential because you'll be stockpiling depth at key positions that you should be able to turn into players you want. Dominating your draft doesn't mean you'll dominate your league. It just gives you the tools to do so. If your best skill is wheeling and dealing, then draft a team where you can build to your strength.

Think about it. Why try to get good players at every position? Quality kickers and defenses can be had on most waiver wires and they are two positions that don't need to be selected until the end of the draft. In my experience running back and quarterback are the two positions in the greatest demand. Because of the nature of the position and structure of fantasy leagues, stockpiling tried-and-true running back talent is the most difficult approach.

Wide receiver tends to be the easiest currency for exchange in fantasy trades. Quarterback and tight end are next on that list but it will likely take a receiver paired with either of these players to grease the wheels of a deal in exchange for a top runner. The Evel Knievel is designed to make that job easier.

The purpose is to stockpile 2-3 of these non-running backs positions in the early and middle rounds and waiting until the late rounds on running backs. If you hit on some late-round runners, you'll have the makings of a dominant team. If you don't, you should have the depth to trade for backs that will make your starting lineup a contender.

Trade Advice

If I were to "go Evel" on my opponents, I would most likely approach trades from the perspective of placing my name brand studs at receiver or quarterback on the trading block. I wouldn't limit the terms to a name brand stud at running back. In fact, I'd be open to listening to deals for multiple players in exchange for my one player. If you go this route, you have to be sure that you're not accepting a bunch of glittery fantasy trash in exchange for your treasured piece of the puzzle.

Opt for players that are earning significant time to play and will do so for the foreseeable future, barring injury. This means it's okay to make a deal for Jonathan Dwyer and a mediocre performing Reggie Wayne early in the season in exchange for one of your name-brand studs if Dwyer is named the starter and no other Steelers back is in his way to fantasy glory six weeks from now (as long as Dwyer performs to expectation). If Dwyer works and Wayne falters, you still have depth at wide receiver to call this deal a success. If Dwyer falters and Wayne rebounds, then you have more depth at receiver to make another deal.

On the other hand, if Ahmad Bradshaw breaks his wrist and is out for the year and David Wilson has a strained hamstring that has him on the bench for two weeks, taking Da'Rel Scott as part of package deal with Reggie Wayne is most likely glittery fantasy trash. Scott glitters because he has a noticeable skill or talent like blazing speed. You'll hear a respected analyst like Cecil Lammey talking about his talents and you could be prone to focusing on the talent and possibilities than the likely shelf life of that player. If Wilson is due to return to the field, Scott will be in the fantasy waste bin after his fantasy appeal rots in short order.

These are the risks you have to consider when you want to be ahead of the curve.

Here are three drafts using the Evel Knievel approach and what kind of talent is available to stockpile. These teams are based on ADP values from Fantasy Football Calculator during the first week of August.

The overall trend here is that you're drafting players with flash at wide receiver because of big-play ability in passing offenses and then backing them up with substantive middle and late-round pass catchers that can either take the starting role or serve as attractive throw-ins with deals. The same is true of the late-round backs. All are talent, all are a step away from significant time, and at least half of them will see enough time to earn fantasy points most weeks. These picks afford you flexibility to compete while entertaining offers for your stockpiled positions.

Evel Knievel Draft A From the 12th Spot

Evel Knievel Draft B From the 6th Spot

Evel Knievel Draft C From the 2nd Spot

As always, feel free to provide comments or suggestions to waldman@footballguys.com.