Make a Playoff Run!

The draft is over. It's time to think about adjusting your roster, not creating it. The most important job that you have during your fantasy football league's regular season is to put your most prolific players in your active lineup. This remains the principal duty for the fantasy football owner in the first two months of the season. However, once November hits, you must devote a chunk of your resources to another subplot: the playoff preparation. By week No. 9, you need to begin sculpting your roster for the fantasy postseason. While others are riding high off their successes, you'll be ready to switch gears and transform your roster into an elite phalanx of strategic steel. Each position remains a separate ingredient in the recipe, and like most ingredients, players must complement each other.

Quarterbacks. Most fantasy teams will start one QB, and sit one on the bench. For those of you that require two starting QBs, the strategy is essentially the same. Grab two solid signal-callers. There are three primary reasons why a QB won't play when you need him: injury, benched for poor play, benched to rest for the NFL playoffs. Ninety-nine percent of fantasy football leagues hold their playoff championship round in week No. 16 or 17. During this time, Marc Bulger may tweak his shoulder again. Kerry Collins may have to make room for Vince Young to gain some field experience. Peyton Manning may sit so he can rest for the postseason. No fantasy team is safe from such scenarios. The best way to avoid a QB meltdown is to create a buffer of at least two (three if you are thoroughly vigilant) solid players. Keep your eye on Charlie Frye or Brad Johnson. They are more than serviceable backups that would fit in nicely if your No. 1 should go down.

Defensive units (defensive team, defense/special teams, or IDPs). If all else is equal, choose the defensive unit/player that faces Green Bay, Tennessee, Oakland, or the Tampa Bay during your playoff time. These teams are like bleeding seals in the sea in 2006.

Tight ends. There are some leagues that don't require this position, but if you do, listen up. Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, and Alge Crumpler are extremely valuable down the stretch. There are no other WRs or TEs on their respective teams that come close to the symbiotic relationship that they share with their QB. Gates may be difficult to secure, but Gonzalez and Crumpler could be traded for a couple midlevel WRs (like Isaac Bruce and Matt Jones) or a serviceable RB (like Dominic Rhodes or Tatum Bell).
Running backs. The more fortunate owners will have a surplus of playable backs near the end of the fantasy regular season. Guys like Thomas Jones, Jamal Lewis, and Willie Parker are great RBs to go after because of their proven role on a team with a great defense. With the proper deal, many owners will be willing to part with them. Try offering them a WR like Reggie Wayne or Donald Driver for one of these underrated backs.

Wide receivers. If you can trade a top-shelf WR (like Torry Holt or Anquan Boldin) for one of your starting RBs (like Cadillac Williams or Warrick Dunn), then pull the trigger. Otherwise, watch the waiver wire and pounce. 2006 had many owners jumping after guys like Jerricho Cotchery and Bernard Berrian. Wait for the proven vets to appear on the wire and scoop them up. Rod Smith, Joey Galloway, and Keenan McCardell are players that tend to be forgotten. Also, look for beasts like Marcus Robinson, Matt Jones, and Chris Henry. They are taller and stronger than their more glorified counterparts. Remember that if a guy is likely to get you a TD in the red zone, then he is worth picking up. Your No. 4 WR is the guy that will fill any unexpected holes in your lineup.

Remember that your team must be strongest when playoff time arrives. Trade for the players who have proven roles in their offense. Trade away hype for quality. Depth trumps all else. There's no way to guarantee a victory, but there's a way you construct your roster in such a way that you should win. That's how you succeed in fantasy football.