Viva Murillo!

In the middle of July, starting lineups haven't been finalized. Training camp battles haven't been decided... because training camp hasn't even started yet. Voluntary mini-camps don't lend much insight, and nobody knows what role rookies will play on each team.

With so little useable information coming from teams, what can you do to help your own team? A lot, actually. You might not be able to formalize a winning strategy just yet, but you can prepare now to make your season go a lot smoother later. Just getting a jump on things can save you time and headaches throughout the year. Consider these opportunities while we wait for the league to gear up for the new season:

Choose your leagues. Do you collect leagues like football cards, adding to your collection each year? If so, ask yourself if they're all really worth the trouble. Don't make your league decisions close to your drafts or auctions. The thrill of another draft might be too tempting, and you'll always end up in a few extra leagues that have openings. But midway through the season, are they all as fun as you'd hoped? Do you end up paying less attention to some of them, and focusing on your more important leagues?

You should decide now -- with several weeks before draft or auction day -- which leagues should stay on your schedule and which can be cut loose. It's better for you, because you can figure out your fantasy football budget objectively and decide which leagues are most important to you. Plus, you'll be able to focus on the scoring systems and league formats that you like the best. And it's better for the leagues you leave, because you're giving them enough time to find replacements. Ditching a league two days before the draft is bad form. But with a month to go, they'll have little trouble finding another owner.

Now, if you can handle 10 leagues, great. But I think we've all seen too many owners who bite off more than they can chew, abandoning teams or not following up on trade offer or the waiver wire like they should. The teams you have should get 100 percent of your effort, so make sure you manage a number that works for you. Choosing that number now will be easier than doing it later.

And on that note...

Pay your league dues early. You want to be a good owner? Pay your league dues before they're due. You could walk into the draft with a check, but it would be better for you and the league if you took care of it now. Paying early shows you're not a slacker and it will be one less headache when all your league dues are expected around the same time. And I guarantee that your commissioner will appreciate it and see you as a good owner. Collecting league fees is a hassle that will only get worse in a challenging economy. Just pay them now and you won't feel the sting of those expenses later.

I know that most owners pay their dues on time, but the ones who don't make it tough on everybody, especially the commissioner. But how many actually pay them early? If you know you're going to pay them anyway, I suggest you pay early and put it out of your mind.

That's if you can afford it, of course. If not, do what you have to do. But consider your fantasy football budget now, and decide how many teams you can really have this year. If money is tighter than usual (as it is for many folks) now is a good time to make adjustments. If you play in fewer leagues, you might be able to pay all those dues early and really focus on the leagues you keep. You'll be prepared mentally and financially for the new season in the middle of July, which is more than most NFL teams can say.

You can reach Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@hotmail.com.

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