I could start the kick-off to my coverage of Fantasy Football with, “Are you ready...blah blah blah,” but I won't. I'll spare you this year because I'm sure you'll read or hear it hundreds of times from everyone else.

Instead, it's all about RotoHog's second season in the fantasy football game. If you participated in the RotoHog Fantasy Football game last year, you know what it takes to get into the Top 100; or as I like to call it, cha-ching. For you newbs who are playing for the first time, buckle up because it's going to be a roller coast ride.

I thought about opening this season up with some quarterback rankings, but that'll have to wait until next weeks article. This week, I want to focus on the lessons I learned from playing last season and how I finished in the Top 100.

Here are my top 10 lessons learned from a year ago.

10. Although having fat pockets can help your team with player selections, you can't carry that money over to the next season, nor can you take a girl out on a date with it. Many players at the end of last year had so much money but didn't know what to do with it. Make your money, but don't get so focused on trying to have the most money in the league. You know why? There is no prize for the player who has the most money at the end of the season.

9. Research at the beginning of the season is nice, but what really matters is the first three weeks of the football season. During these weeks, you'll have an opportunity to evaluate player situations and your team will finally start to form some kind of identity. Look at your players role on his team. Did your number one wide receiver drop down to the number two options on his team? Did you miss the boat on that star quarterback? Those questions and more can finally be answered after the third week of the season.

8. Holy weather. Last season I did an Internet radio show each Sunday, one-hour prior to game-time, which discussed the weather and the conditions on the field, and fortunately for me, my contacts who were at the game were spot on with how the game would unfold. Make sure late in the season you stay tuned to the weather channel and to see if you need to make a change at the quarterback position for someone who's playing indoors or against the Miami Dolphins.

7. Have some extra flow on gameday. One of the biggest lessons many Fantasy Owners learned last year was having some extra cash available on Sunday just in case the top ranked quarterback, running back or wide receiver went down. I can't tell you how many times when the market opened on Tuesday and the back up players value went through the roof.

6. Don't second guess yourself on gameday. Last season in our RotoHog community of Fantasy Football geeks, many of us spent time in JIB-JAB's live-chat. I can't tell you how many times Fantasy Owners complained in there about changing a player at the last second for another and got burned. Go with your gut and stick to the lineup you put together earlier in the week unless of course there was some kind of injury to your player(s).

5. Follow the injury reports. Remember the saying, “Knowing is half the battle.” Well that also pertains to Fantasy Football. Injury reports usually come out on Wednesday. They also have a big part in how the market will fluctuate. Also see #7.

4. Bye-Weeks kill. Chalk this up as another huge lesson. For example, if you had a player in week 5 that had a bye in week 6, say good-bye to the value of that player. Now, the cool part is RotoHog rewarded those Fantasy Owners that held onto those players when the market opened in week 7. The problem was many of us that didn't have the deep pockets couldn't afford the keep the pricer players on our bench. So what's the lesson here? Know when the bye weeks for your players are, and adjust your team accordingly.

3. One bad week won't kill your hopes for the big prize. As many of us found out last year, just because we had one bad week during the course of the season didn't mean our chances of winning the $100,000 prize was out of reach. Stay focused, and if you have a bad week, collect yourself, and get ready for the next week.

2. Make sure to check the forums for help. One of the coolest parts about being apart of the RotoHog team last football season, was watching how the community came together to help each other out during the season. If you have questions ask. If you don't get an answer in the forums e-mail me at paul@rotohog.com and I'll get back to you within hours.

1. Matchups is what wins the game. If you ask any of the veterans, matchups really make or break how your team will perform. You want to construct your team with the best players you can afford, but also look at the matchups and how players have performed in the past against certain teams, offense or defense. Tie this in with #9 and you'll be ok.

Notice I didn't mention having a big fat bank roll as one of my lessons learned. Why? Well, I finished in the Top 100 last year, and I was right in the middle of the pack as far as RotoHog bucks were concerned. I played the best matchups possible each week and made sure I had some extra bucks on Sunday so that I could jump on the players I felt would help me increase my money for the following week.

With all the available players out there for you to own, it can kind of make you feel like a kid in a candy store. You walk onto the trading floor, look at the quarterback self and see Tom Brady, then you look over at the running back shelf and see LaDainian Tomlinson and you start to salivate. The RotoHog game brings you closer to the reality of you owning your favorite players in the NFL. The question is, will those players help you win the ultimate prize of being known as the best Fantasy Owner in Fantasy Football?