“I just bought my first fantasy football magazine…”

Yes, I know it sounds awful. You’re probably wondering how can I call myself a fantasy football geek if  “I just bought my first fantasy football magazine” last week. I already told you why – I’ve been behind schedule, so let’s leave that in the past.

I’m hear to rap about which one I bought, and why I am only using one this year.

Actually, it wasn’t that deep. I was passing through Grand Central Terminal (NYC) last Tuesday and said to myself, “I wonder if they have any FF mags on the newsstand?” I asked myself that because I hadn’t seen any fantasy football magazines this month.

Call it fate or whatever you like, but the “one mag standing” was the Sporting News 2011 Fantasy Football guide. It is actually the first time that I had ever purchased this magazine. And I must say, I was not disappointed.

Prior to purchasing it however, I was somewhat skeptical. I have always seen the Sporting News as a periodical that was slow to evolve. More specifically, I can’t shake the memory as a child of wondering why it was printed on newspaper material while the snazzier Sports Illustrated was on glossy paper, filled with snazzy photos.

But childhood nostalgia aside, I have found its unique, 205-player cheat sheet very helpful. Other than that, it’s been pretty standard fare, as far as fantasy rags go.

But for now, it’s the only “offline” magazine that I will use for my fantasy football draft preparation this season. The reason: I rely mainly on online sources, such as CBS Sportsline and ESPN.

If you could only purchase one fantasy football magazine this year, which one would it be, and why?