Welcome to RotoHog's opening day. After all the hard work we've put into the game we're excited to finally throw open the doors and welcome everyone in. I've been writing about RotoHog.com for a while now, but this will be my first season doing so as a part of the RotoHog team.

In the few short weeks between now and opening day I'll be going over many of the basics of the game as well as some of the strategies you'll need to finish at the top. My goal is to give all my readers the skills and tools needed to finish in the prestigious (and lucrative) Top 100 at the end of the year.

Instead of a draft period like last year we've changed formats so that the trading floor is open immediately. We'll be releasing players in batches, the top 20 guys and the cheaper role players will be coming along later, but many of the core guys you will want to build your team around are already out there.

For now, the prices on the trading floor are fixed, and the transaction fees are all waived. This is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with the game by buying and selling players without the risk of losing any of your RotoHog dollars. Practice building a team out of the players that are available and get familiar with the kind of balance you'll need for a successful team. Don’t forget to leave some money aside for the players who will be coming later.

I'll be checking in soon with strategies for building an initial roster and identifying bargain players that will help you expand your team value and field a more talented lineup on a day-to-day basis.