With the explosion of sports betting fantasy games over the past couple of years, there has been no shortage of supply by the major sports networks and internet sites to meet the demand of the hardcore fans. Whether it’s baseball betting season, hockey, basketball or the NFL, there is no shortage of fantasy leagues to choose from and sources from which to get the trends and systems required for success. When it comes to the NFL, there are a few simple rules that stand above the rest when it comes to preparing for a fantasy draft, with the most obvious centered around one of the most important position’s on the field.

Selecting an elite running back is the most crucial factor in the success of an NFL fantasy team, more important than any other position there is. The reason for this isn’t because the running back is the most important player on the field (a role obviously designated for the quarterback), but because they are truly hard to find. Only one running back reached at least 1,500 yards rushing a year ago, with 15 surpassing the 1,000-yard mark. Jacksonville Jaguars’ running back Maurice Jones-Drew finished with 1,606 rushing yards and ranked 12^th in touchdowns among backs with eight scores. By contrast, three quarterbacks threw for over 5,000 yards with 10 throwing for at least 4,000 yards, and there were five that threw for more than 30 touchdowns. The pay head bookies that have an understanding of this rank the running backs highest not only for their rushing yards, but for their ability to gain receiving yards as well, making them a threat in more ways than one. Their consistency, versatility, and limited numbers are all factors that make running backs so important, and any NFL fantasy magazine will tell you to make the elite backs a priority in every draft.

One of the most important aspects of MLB blog fantasy baseball leagues is the ability to plan ahead and accurately asses the talent at your disposal for various positions, including most notably the ability to break down the top fantasy hitters, and where they should be drafted. It’s funny how often managers take a player a couple of picks too high or too low only to come back and wonder why they made such a tough break, so here are a couple of names to remember in the first round of your draft, including one that might surprise you.

While most mock drafts have Detroit Tigers’ slugger Miguel Cabrera going in the top spot, or even the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, the one name that should be pegged at the top of every list is Albert Pujols. With five home runs already this sports betting spring Albert seems to be loving life in Hollywood, and having no problem whatsoever getting used to his new team. A lot was made of Pujols having a down year in 2011 despite a .299 average and 99 RBI, and just the same way that he did in delivering the goods for the St. Louis Cardinals in their World Series championship, expect him to deliver again. Meanwhile, Cabrera and Kemp remain quality options, but there is also Toronto Blue Jays’ slugger Jose Bautista and Boston Red Sox hitter Adrian Gonzalez. Both had huge seasons in the American League East last season, and there is no reason to think that they won’t build on those performances this season. Another name to consider that could be flying under the radar is Cincinnati Reds’ first basemen Joey Votto, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the pay head season. Votto will be eager to do whatever he can to get a mega deal in the same mold as Prince Fielder, and if his 2010 season was any indication, he could be this year’s fantasy baseball MVP.

With the March Madness betting tournament getting underway this week, and MLB spring training continuing, the countdown is on for Opening Day 2012. While sports betting fans can’t wait for the meaningful games to begin to get in on the action, fantasy gurus are holding their drafts over the next couple of weeks, looking to build a team of the best players in the big leagues. When breaking down the best starting pitchers, there really is no better place to start than the National League, where the best ERA numbers always are.

A quick look at the top of the charts for last year’s baseball numbers shows that six of the top-eight ERA’s in the big leagues belonged to pitchers from the NL. Los Angeles Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw led the way with a 2.28 mark, and while it won’t be easy to duplicate that hit, he should get more wins on an improved Dodgers’ team. The second and third spots as far as ERA were concerned went to a couple of Philadelphia Phillies’ starters in Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, and there is no reason to think that they will show any significant drop off from their 2.35 and 2.40 marks respectively. Lee tied American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers with that 2.40 mark, only Verlander finished with seven more wins overall (24). Verlander, Halladay, Kershaw, Lee, and New York Yankees’ ace CC Sabathia should all be back near the top of the table in wins again in 2012, and with only a select few that can combine solid MLB win totals with quality ERA, make sure to grab at least one of those guys early on in your pool.

Following an announcement from the St. Louis Rams that the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft is available to the highest bidder, the social media landscape exploded with desperate fans begging their favorite team’s to get in on the action. With former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck set to go to the Indianapolis Colts with the top pick, the consensus is that Robert Griffin III will go in the second spot, and teams that are hungry to bring in a new franchise quarterback have been calling to find out how much it will take. While the exact number of pay head teams that have shown interest in RGIII cannot be known, the Washington Redskins have emerged as the sports bet favorites to land him, with at least two first round picks on the table in exchange for that second pick.

With the top two quarterbacks in Luck and RGIII set to go right away, there is no doubt that the Minnesota Vikings will take offensive lineman Matt Kalil. At 6’7’’ and 295 pounds Kalil is as close to a sure thing as there is in the NFL draft pool this year, and the Vikings would love to have him protecting quarterback Christian Ponder’s blind side. Where the Cleveland Browns go at No. 4 could be as unpredictable as March Madness betting, although it would make sense for them to take the best pure talent left on the board in cornerback Morris Claiborne, who opposite Joe Haden will provide an immediate upgrade in the secondary. Wide receiver Justin Blackmon is another choice, but with the Browns more likely to concentrate on defense it is likely that the top wide receiver in the draft could slip to No. 5 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.