Junk Food Nation, it’s Fantasy Football time. Oh yes it is. YES. IT. IS.  And nationwide, fantasy geeks male and female are rejoicing, signing up for 1, 2, 3 fantasy football leagues, daily cash leagues, survivor leagues, loser-survivor leagues, pick’em leagues, etc. etc. FANTASY OVERLOAD!  And it’s happening. All around you. Fantasy geekdom.

If you’re gearing up for fantasy football, it means you’re also preparing for your fantasy draft. You’re trying to figure out whether to draft a QB first, an RB first, or do you take Megatron? If you’re stuck with the 8^th, 9^th, or 10^th pick overall, you’re trying to figure out how to not cut yourself as you punch your fist through the screen. But no matter – since it’s draft time, here are some important things for you to think about / mention to your commissioner before your league starts to draft:

1. How much are passing touchdowns and receptions worth in your league? ESPN Standard Leagues have passing TDs worth 6 points, but Yahoo makes them only worth 4. Why? Obviously to lower the dominant value of QBs, even though IN REAL LIFE PASSING TDs ARE WORTH SIX POINTS.  Yahoo, you’re stupid. Anyways, that point distinction could mean the difference between drafting a QB in the 2^nd round and drafting one in the 9^th round. Same thing with receptions – I played in a league once where each catch by a WR was worth 1 pt, no matter how many yards it went for. Wes Welker destroyed everyone that year, with something like 1.6 million points. It was crazy. Be aware.
2. What’s your playoff like? Yahoo’s not the only stupid league out there – did you know that ESPN standard leagues’ default setting is to only have four teams make the playoffs, with each round of the playoffs lasting TWO weeks??? What is this, baseball? Ridiculous, ESPN. Check that sh*t.
3. Is your league using Individual Defensive Players (IDPs)? If so, quit that league. Fantasy football leagues that use IDPs are absurd, because no one cares about individual defensive players. Sure, you love it when JJ Watt gets a sack, but you care more if the team in general shuts down an opponent.  If your co-worker ever comes traipsing down the hallway gleeful because Luke Kuechly got 1.5 sacks, you have my permission to trip him.

Just some food for thought, JFN. All season long I’m going to do some fantasy football nuggets, and you should feel free to hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy if you want me to answer some fantasy football questions. Nope, not an expert, but it always helps to have someone to bounce questions off of, right? Hell, ask me some Qs in the comments if you want, or tell me about YOUR league. Is it a keeper? One with friends from high school? I’d love to know.

Meanwhile, bring on THE NOSH SHOW EPISODE 36:

The Nosh Show!

This week, “we review the 2014 Lay’s Do Us a Flavor flavors: Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese, Mango Salsa, Wasabi Ginger, and Cappuccino. We also get excited about Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream, less so about Walker’s Do Us a Flavour Ranch Raccoon Crisps, and even less so about Candy Apple Milk Chocolate M&M’s.”  Listen embedded here:

You can subscribe to The Nosh Show using various services: iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, RSS, or, you can also download the episode.

TODAY’S JUNK FOOD: Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn!

Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn: The Money Shot

Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn. Caramel macchiato…candy corn.  Never mind that I think caramel macchiato is just a made up word for a latte that has vanilla in it and caramel on it…but applying this flavor to candy corn??  We’ve lost our way. We’ve all lost our way.

Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn: 140 cal per serving

Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn: Sesame oil??

Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn contains coffee, as opposed to “natural flavors.”  Wait, the natural flavors ARE there…but so is coffee.  Mark me surprised.

Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn: smells like coffee

When I smelled the bag of these Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn, I could immediately smell caramel – not coffee necessarily. Smelled like how a bag of caramel popcorn would smell.  Which is not a bad thing – I enjoy caramel corn. I was still wary of these, as I popped some into my mouth…

Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn: Like burnt coffee

Ok, here’s the thing about these Brach’s Caramel Macchiato Candy Corn – it does indeed taste like a caramel macchiato. Here’s what I mean – the sugary.honey like flavor of the candy corn normally isn’t too difficult to tweak into a caramel flavor, which Brach’s did successfully here. Tasted like burnt sugar.  And, flavor wise, there was an actual nice intense flavor of roasted coffee, or espresso, or whatever.  I got that smoky roasted coffee flavor too. Add the caramel and coffee together? Tastes like a caramel macchiato, and if you like those, you’ll think these taste GOOD.  I promise you.

But the next question really is: do *I* WANT my candy corn to taste like this? For me, that answer is no. I barely like candy corn as it is, and I can get into SOME flavoring of candy corn…but I’m much more of a plain candy corn and peanuts mix kind-of-guy.

But yeah – see if you can find these – let me know what you think in the comments!

PURCHASED AT: Walgreens

COST: $0.99

Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. I also have Google+!! Let’s hang out.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy