Happy draft month! Yes, the time is truly now. The calendar has been moved to August and that is officially fantasy football draft month. We waited all year and now it is here. Over the last month I have shared some insight and knowledge to help prep you for your draft. This week I will wrap the series with a few last-minute things you’ll need to know to have a fun, successful, positive and profitable season.

In preparation for your live draft, always have a game plan. I still like to type up my own power rankings by position and bring them with me along with a pen so I can cross them off as they get picked. If you do not have time to do it, there are tons of power rankings online that you can print out or just pull up on your phone. Also, always know the league rules, format and settings before you draft. A responsible league commissioner will have all that information announced prior to the draft. There is nothing worse than drafting and finding out that there is a different format than what you prepped for.

If you are hosting the draft at your house; there are a few guidelines. First be respectful of others’ situations. If you have a sober person in the league, try not to have alcohol or other tempting items out on display. Second, make sure you have plenty of food and have it ready for distribution upon the arrival of guests. Have a draft kit that is large enough and legible for everyone to see. Most draft kits come with color coded stickers to indicate what position players are (red for quarterback, blue running back, green wide receiver, just as an example).

Once your draft is complete, stay on top of your team. Make the appropriate adjustments each week based on health, bye weeks and match-ups. We all want to win so make sure you are active on the waiver wire and trades. Be several steps ahead of the competition at all times; check on injury and weather reports. Weather plays a huge role in fantasy football. Heavy winds, rain and snow will affect your team. So, plan accordingly.

Finally, if you are gambling, please gamble responsibly. Only wager what you can afford to lose. Do not place bets on what you can win, only what you are willing to lose. If you have a problem gambling call 1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537).

Dennis D. Cruz is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. He may be reached at drcruz@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 847-3021.