September 7. The day every fantasy football team owner is anticipating. Champions are looking to repeat their title, while the rest of the league is aiming to force a turnover of the trophy. With the NFL season about to kickoff, the students of North Atlanta are reflecting on last season and preparing their game plan for this year’s draft. From superstars to rookies, owners are scanning through draft boards in order to build the best team and dominate this season.

Winning the league is every owner’s goal but only some actually achieve this. Sophomore Alex Sowatzka was able to was to capture his league’s championship and a few hundred dollars as well. “I was very excited when I won my league because not only did I earn bragging rights over the offseason but I was able to take home the 300 dollar prize as well,” Sowatzka said.

Most owners were forced to finish last season in defeat. Whether it was by one yard or twice as many points, a loss is a loss, and owners have had around nine months to reflect on last season’s mistakes. One common mistake that is made in almost every league is drafting an injured player which has haunted junior Pano Karatassos all offseason. “During my draft last year, I was able to select a star wide receiver, only to find out he was out for the year with a torn ACL,” Karatassos said.

For the ones who are lucky enough to draft first, there are many top options.

According to junior Ralston Flores, Arizona Cardinals’ running back David Johnson is without question the best player to choose. “He is projected the most points and he is a dual threat because of his able to run and catch the ball to gain yards. He has everything going for him,” Flores said.

Of the teams that won championships last season, many had an underrated player who outperformed his projections. Senior Adam Flores believes wide receiver Zay Jones of the Buffalo Bills is primed to be this season’s most underrated player. “He’s my real sleeper because the Bills are weak at the receiver position, so Jones could have a breakout season. Also, he is a rookie, so NFL teams won’t really be expecting him to dominate,” Flores said.

Of all the players in the draft, there is one in particular with a huge red flag. Running back Ezekiel Elliott broke out during the course of the season in 2016 for the Dallas Cowboys, however, Sowatzka advises that fantasy owners steer clear of Elliott due to his issues off of the field. “I’m totally avoiding him because he recently received a six-game suspension due to his current domestic violence case,” Sowatzka said.

Top players, sleepers and busts will all be taken into consideration up until draft day. Championships are at stake, and one decision can make or break a season. Fantasy football is back, and it is time for the team owners of North Atlanta to begin their quest at a league championship.