Fantasy Dos And Don'ts
By AJ Mass
This past week, we saw that in the world of real football, there are some clear "Dos and Don'ts" when it comes to strategy. For instance, we learned that it is a big DO to take a knee just short of the goal line so your team can run out the clock before kicking the game-winning field goal, rather than scoring the touchdown and kicking the ball back to your opponents, giving them a chance to drive down the field and win the game. We also learned that it is a huge DON'T to go for it on fourth down from your own 28-yard line no matter how many Super Bowl rings you have on your fingers or how good your quarterback might be.
Of course, fantasy owners might not subscribe to these real-world designations, especially those, like myself, who ended up losing this week because Maurice Jones-Drew failed to score an uncontested touchdown while their opponent, who had started both Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne, got a cheap double-dip touchdown. But that's because the rules and strategies for fantasy football are different.
While teams in the NFL still have 44 percent of their regular seasons left to play, in fantasy leagues that play only 13 weeks before starting the playoffs, we're down to the final three contests of the season. With that in mind, it's time to remind all owners of the "Fantasy Dos and Don'ts" as the fantasy regular season comes to an end. At this point of the season, unless you're playing some form of rotisserie football, all fantasy teams fall into one of the following three categories: clinched a playoff slot, fighting for a final spot or already eliminated. Refer to the category that applies to your team and follow our advice accordingly:
Clinched the Playoffs
DO feel free to tailor your roster for the postseason by looking ahead to the matchups your players will face. At this point of the season, we pretty much know we want our running backs to face the Buffalo Bills or the Oakland Raiders, rather than the Pittsburgh Steelers or Minnesota Vikings. It's also a pretty good bet that your quarterback and wide receivers will fare better against the likes of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as opposed to the New York Jets or Carolina Panthers. Making trades, even seemingly lopsided ones, or pickups that set you up for the playoffs is a wise move.
DON'T tank games in order to "choose your opponent" for the playoffs. Too many times we've seen owners try to manipulate the playoff seeds by starting their benchwarmers in order to let what they perceive to be weaker opponents make the playoffs. However, since your players don't actually square up head to head, such a move often backfires as you end up facing that lucky owner and inexplicably losing in the playoffs. Start your best lineup, week in and week out, and let the chips fall where they may.
Fighting for the Final Spots
DO go out and get as many handcuffs to your stud backs as possible. The bye weeks are over and done with, so you probably will never have a need to start that No. 6 wide receiver or backup tight end sitting there at the bottom of your team's pecking order. It's far more to your benefit to make sure you have guys like Jason Snelling and Ladell Betts ready to step into your lineup in case your starting backs, for example Michael Turner and Clinton Portis, go down with injuries at a crucial time.
DON'T overthink your lineup decisions. So what if you "need" to win every game just to make the playoffs. That doesn't mean you suddenly bench Aaron Rodgers for Kyle Orton because his matchup is "better" or you swap out Anquan Boldin for Ted Ginn Jr. because of the "bigger upside" should he return a few kicks for scores. Similarly, don't concern yourself with whom your opponent is starting. You're not actually lining up toe to toe, so don't worry if he has Tom Brady and you have Wes Welker. You start Welker. Period. You don't sit him and "root for the Patriots to get shut out." Don't manage your lineup any differently in Week 11 than you would have in Week 1.
Already Eliminated
DO continue to work the waiver wire and make trades to try to improve your team. If you're in a keeper league, this is a great time to package some of your veteran talents like LaDainian Tomlinson and Laveranues Coles to take a chance on a potential "star of the future" such as LeSean McCoy or Mark Sanchez, guys who might not see the light of day on their current fantasy teams but could help you next season and for many more to come. Even in a one-and-done league, there's no reason a player such as Jamaal Charles should end up being claimed by a playoff contender when there are four or five teams with a better waiver priority who simply didn't bother to put in a waiver bid. You signed up to play the whole season, so finish it out with integrity.
DON'T fail to start a lineup just because it no longer matters to you whether you win or lose. That's bush league, and it all but guarantees you won't be asked back to the league next season. Perhaps that doesn't matter to you, but come on! Finish what you started and relish playing the role of the spoiler. If you don't, be fully prepared for the proverbial "Bud Adams treatment" that is sure to come your way from the rest of the league.
