Remember that euphoric feeling you had on the night of your fantasy football league’s draft?
Everything was perfect then, wasn’t it? At the end of the night you took a glance at your final roster. You surveyed each position and determined your fake team’s endless potential then and there. You salivated on your keyboard.
Do you remember that moment of absolute contentment? If you do, it’s probably a distant memory at this point.
Each year, we struggle to define the nature of the NFL. We repeat ourselves in describing the chaos and frustratingly unpredictable outcomes week after week. These sentiments are not new. The NFL is in a constant state of flux, and uncertainty pervades from the first week onward. The story has always been tortuous.
Fantasy football championships are not won on draft night.
If you’re doing your job well, your final roster should look considerably different from your initial draft-night roster. Your abilities to trade and add or drop players throughout the season are advantages. Use them.
When deciding to make a move, you should always avoid panicking. No rage drops. No impulse trades. Be patient. Never sell low.
Conversely, you shouldn’t ever determine a player on your roster to be untouchable. Consider all trade offers with an open mind and realize that no player is ever more valuable simply because you drafted him. Don’t be afraid to trade a player coming off of a string of impressive performances.
Never become too attached to any player. A player’s relative value can only grow to an extent before plummeting or regressing toward the mean. In fantasy sports, the owners with the best business sense generally win.
Don’t you wish you traded Brian Hartline when you had the chance two weeks ago? I know you liked him, but which direction did you think his numbers would trend toward following his 250+ yard illusion against Arizona in Week 4?
Being proactive during peaks is a winning strategy. Accept it, and learn to cope with the separation anxiety of losing the flavor of the month in order to gain a proven commodity.
Think of fantasy football as a stock market and make informed, calculated decisions.
Assessing a player’s value at the time of a trade comprises more than a basic comparison of total fantasy points. Favorability of schedule becomes more significant in analyzing trades as the season progresses. Team strategy is also a determinant of relative value. Maintain a balanced, holistic approach.
There are several steals going into Week 7 that may be acquired at a discounted price. Let the bargain hunting begin:
LeSean McCoy (PHI) – Arguably the most explosive running back in the NFL, McCoy has only one rushing touchdown to date. But the Eagles can’t afford to continue to allow Michael Vick to rush in goal-line formations given his ball security issues.
Chris Johnson (TEN) – CJ has felt the brunt of an offensive line in total discord so far this season, though his performances against Houston and Pittsburgh are some indication of improvement. Use caution and give up as little as possible. CJ owners will likely accept a half-gallon of expired milk in return at this point, so take a shot.
Matthew Stafford (DET) – The touchdowns will come soon enough, don’t worry. The Lions are a pass-first team, and Stafford’s yards per game have been outstanding lately. Look for him to mature as a decision-maker and put up big numbers from here on out.
David Wilson (NYG) – Have people forgotten about this man? Ahmad Bradshaw has always had a history of fragility, and recent reports of an apparent foot injury ignite speculation of yet another setback. Wilson may have an opening here, Tonya Harding-style.