NFBC Weekly Profile - Bill Strickler

[Tom Kessenich]

Bill Strickler is no stranger to winning national fantasy sports title. The 2009 winner of the National Fantasy Football Championship’s Primetime event, Strickler is well aware of all it takes to achieve such an amazing accomplishment.

So when Strickler says he is surprised … no make that “shocked” … to find himself perched atop the NFBC XII event after 10 weeks of the season this isn’t just a case of idle modesty. This is an experienced, successful fantasy player taken aback by the success his team has enjoyed.

“I am so shocked to be having some success with Albert Pujols and Roy Halladay as two of my first three picks,” said Strickler, who entered play on Tuesday with an 83-point lead in the overall standings. “The key to my start is pitching. So far my pitching has been very strong.”

Indeed. Strickler’s pitching staff currently ranks second overall in the NFBC XII and has accounted for 55 percent of his team’s point total. Having Justin Verlander has played a pivotal role in that production thus far. But Strickler also made quality picks such as Matt Moore, Yu Darvish, Jake Peavy and Kyle Lohse and that type of quality depth has proven critical in the first three months of the season.

With a strong pitching staff in place, Strickler knows the key to remaining in contention in the event is simple – it’s all about offense and especially his No. 1 pick.

“My draft strategy was to be well balanced with hitting and pitching, but my hitting has not been where I would like it,” said the 46-year-old Strickler, who lives in Holiday, Fl. “Pujols has not performed as a No. 1 pick.”

The good news there is Pujols has begun to pick things up at the plate. He’s batting .361 with nine RBIs in 10 games so far this month.

If Pujols can find himself and injuries don’t play a major role, Strickler’s team has the talent to remain a powerful threat all season long. But the seven-year NFBC veteran knows it will not be easy.

“My league has been very tough,” he said. “There are a lot of NFBC veterans in the league and they will make it very difficult. I need to stay healthy and start hitting the ball. That’s the biggest key from here on out.”

[Edwards Kings]

Congrats Bill! Keep it up!