The Week 16 Championship Debate

[tlance]

I’m sorry if u lose ur top 1-2 scorers it’s gonna kill anyone’s chances regardless of the rest of their team. U def had ur mind made up here

I mean, I hear you, but that isn't necessarily true. Obviously depending on how shallow the waiver wire is.

But just take this season for example. Studs like:

Drew Brees, Andrew Luck
Zeke Elliott, Saquon Barkley, Melvin Gordon
Keenan Allen, Tyreke Hill, Adam Thielen
Zach Ertz (weeks 14 and 15)

Carried their teams all season and then posted some epic duds at the worst time.

Meanwhile, guys like:

Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield
Damien Williams, CJ Anderson, Elijah McGuire, Jamal Williams, Derrick Henry
Robby Anderson
CJ Uzomah

Have been huge gets and led to many championships. Hell, in MBBRL, my top 2 position players (Zeke and Allen) were my two lowest scorers and my team posted 150.

Points are always out there if you look in the right places. And it is a lot easier to find high priority waiver guys in weeks 16 and 17, because you are only competing with 1-3 other owners instead of 11+.

 

[SteelersPride]

I mean, I hear you, but that isn't necessarily true. Obviously depending on how shallow the waiver wire is.

But just take this season for example. Studs like:

Drew Brees, Andrew Luck
Zeke Elliott, Saquon Barkley, Melvin Gordon
Keenan Allen, Tyreke Hill, Adam Thielen
Zach Ertz (weeks 14 and 15)

Carried their teams all season and then posted some epic duds at the worst time.

Meanwhile, guys like:

Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield
Damien Williams, CJ Anderson, Elijah McGuire, Jamal Williams, Derrick Henry
Robby Anderson
CJ Uzomah

Have been huge gets and led to many championships. Hell, in MBBRL, my top 2 position players (Zeke and Allen) were my two lowest scorers and my team posted 150.

Points are always out there if you look in the right places. And it is a lot easier to find high priority waiver guys in weeks 16 and 17, because you are only competing with 1-3 other owners instead of 11+.

I agree but, the chances of landing them are slim and u shouldn’t have to rely on a waiver when u have a brees

 

[SteelersPride]

I guess I try to draft a roster, and draft a roster all year, I don’t wanna rely on a waiver when I have a top 5 guy if I don’t have to

 

[tlance]

I guess I try to draft a roster, and draft a roster all year, I don’t wanna rely on a waiver when I have a top 5 guy if I don’t have to

But that is the point I guess.

Fantasy Football is a weekly game. Every week studs get you there, but it is the Robby Anderson's and Damien Williams of the world that win championships. Now, I am not benching a top 5 guy unless he is definitely going to be limited and I have a great option.

But far too many use their top 25 guy because that is who brought them there and they miss great opportunities ripe for the taking.

 

[tlance]

I agree but, the chances of landing them are slim and u shouldn’t have to rely on a waiver when u have a brees

In a 12 team league, guys like Jamal Williams were sitting there and you only had to battle 3 other owners to land him in semifinal week. Not bad odds at all!

 

[SteelersPride]

In a 12 team league, guys like Jamal Williams were sitting there and you only had to battle 3 other owners to land him in semifinal week. Not bad odds at all!

Again u want ur hopes to
Come down to waiver wire guys after using top end players all year

 

[tlance]

Again u want ur hopes to
Come down to waiver wire guys after using top end players all year

Um.

100% Yes.

Week 1, week 10, week 16 or week 17

I am using all available information and starting the guys who I think will get me the most points. I don't particularly care if they came from the waiver wire or an early round pick.

Waiver wire guys aren't overtaking the high end options anyway. I am talking about the RB2/3 and WR2/3 types who get blindly started in these games when better options are out there.

 

[SteelersPride]

Um.

100% Yes.

Week 1, week 10, week 16 or week 17

I am using all available information and starting the guys who I think will get me the most points. I don't particularly care if they came from the waiver wire or an early round pick.

Waiver wire guys aren't overtaking the high end options anyway. I am talking about the RB2/3 and WR2/3 types who get blindly started in these games when better options are out there.

I understand if they are better options. But the point is like this week if u have zeke and can’t play him. That’s brutal and some bs

 

[tlance]

I understand if they are better options. But the point is like this week if u have zeke and can’t play him. That’s brutal and some bs

It sucks, sure.

But, you can get Brian Hill or Dwayne Washington who are both capable of posting a strong number. No, they aren't Zeke. But for 1 week they could replace him in your winning lineup.

 

[leftypower]

In the end, it's a matter of preference in how you wish to play the game. Weekly games are big these days and, as I see it, a week 17 Championship kind of boils down to just that. .... it's not for me in a season long league, I like having all the planning, trades and WW pick-up throughout the season as the basis for either being the top dog or not - think there is enough challenge dealing with injuries, suspensions, etc to keep me plenty busy rather than worrying over my studs potentially sitting based strictly on his teams success - especially in a $$ league.

But there are large numbers of guy who really seem to like the challenge (or gamble) of weekly games - and, by golly, hat's off to them. .... guess I'm just an old school conservative.

 

[tlance]

In the end, it's a matter of preference in how you wish to play the game. Weekly games are big these days and, as I see it, a week 17 Championship kind of boils down to just that. .... it's not for me in a season long league, I like having all the planning, trades and WW pick-up throughout the season as the basis for either being the top dog or not - think there is enough challenge dealing with injuries, suspensions, etc to keep me plenty busy rather than worrying over my studs potentially sitting based strictly on his teams success - especially in a $$ league.

But there are large numbers of guy who really seem to like the challenge (or gamble) of weekly games - and, by golly, hat's off to them. .... guess I'm just an old school conservative.

Don't get wrong.

If given the choice, I prefer week 16. But week 17 is fine too. Because the same challenge applies to both teams.

 

[leftypower]

Don't get wrong.
If given the choice, I prefer week 16. But week 17 is fine too. Because the same challenge applies to both teams.

If I shared your successes, I'd want to play as long as I could. .....

 

[averagejoe]

Don't get wrong.

If given the choice, I prefer week 16. But week 17 is fine too. Because the same challenge applies to both teams.

Not necessarily. For a league that only allows the top 4 teams in, i would agree that week 17 affects those playoff teams equally.

However, if a league expands the playoffs to 6 or 8 teams, you know that some inferior and possibly even some sub-500 teams are getting in.

My experience would dictate that the teams outside of the top 4 probably have steady but subpar contributors in their lineups. Which means they would benefit more from a top seeded playoff team losing a key starter for no other reason but to rest said player.

And to your point regarding waivers in week 17 is limited to a couple teams. This may be true, but if the other 6-8 playoff teams picked thru waivers in weeks 15 and 16, you can't convince me that by week 17, a championship-caliber FA will be available.

In addition, even if a guy like Ekeler was available to replace Gordon, 1 is a stud, while the other is nothing more than a change-of-pace RB. This is not an ideal scenario for a top seeded playoff team looking for waiver help.

In addition to the addition, as we've seen all season long, what may appear to be the most ideal matchups and expert projections do not always work out as planned. Especially in week 17. That's a little skewed against a top-rated fantasy team IMO.

 

[femurov]

I think I have changed my mind. It looks like Luke Kuechly hasn't even played this game. What the fuck are they resting him for?

 

[Sam Sportboy]

So, it looks like our league is going to be having the discussion about changing our Championship from week 17 to week 16... again. We have been discussing this for at least 7 or 8 years now and we have never found an alternative that we like. I am in the middle of writing up all the pros and cons to making this switch and wanted to get you guys' input on this topic.

Keep in mind, that our league is already set up having 3 divisions with 4 teams each. We play every team in our division twice (6 games) and every other team once (8 teams), which equals 14 weeks. 6 teams make the playoffs with the top 2 teams getting a bye, so in week 15, the 3 seed plays the 6 seed and the 4 seed plays the 5 seed. In week 16, the 1 seed plays the lowest remaining seed and the 2 seed plays the highest remaining seed and in week 17, the two winners play. So, we would need to change something about the way that all works to move the championship game to week 16.

I have brought up about 7 ways to do this including cutting the playoff teams to 4, realigning to 4 divisions with 3 teams each, eliminating a regular season game so you don't play every team in your division twice or you don't play a team at all, a hybrid schedule, eliminating head to head games altogether and using the all play record, and a couple other creative ways. I even suggested holding the playoffs in weeks 12, 13 and 14, where you just keep track of your point totals from those weeks, then continue the regular season head to head games in weeks 15 - 17, then going back to calculate the playoff weeks with seedings and naming a winner then. All of them get shot down and most of them are shot down immediately.

So, do you guys have any unique ideas as to how to make this change or maybe arguments that have not been made for or against for us to consider?

Well I'm a bit late on this one but my league is in the same boat, but I'm on the other side of the argument. I have no problem with the week 17 championship in this league and as FF has evolved, we have changed a lot of rules...........this just isn't one I'm willing to vote fer in this league. 17 weeks just sets up too good IMO. And we have floated damn near every single idea yooose guise did.......................lol.

 

[Sam Sportboy]

So a triple threat death match? With the winner playing the #1 seed and #2 vs #3?? Cool

You should see the set up in the Way Too Long League................it's a hoot. Of course I won't be part of it this year...........I'm playing fer the $100 Toilet Bowl prize.

 

[Sam Sportboy]

BTW, I've always thought it was fun/challenging being put in the position @tlance brought up: There are points out there to be had. The challenge to me is looking ahead at the teams that will sit and snagging guise off the wire to replace them. I'll post a couple of my SB winning line ups from this league in a minute. Funny thing is CMac sitting this last week cost me another run at the money in this league................bastard!

 

[Sam Sportboy]

Grabbed Branch and Scheffler off the wire week 16. Colts were sitting their starters. Actually PLAYED Hill over Warner the week before as Warner sat. Only started week 17 cuz the Cards were put back into a situation where they needed a win.

 

[eaglesnut]

Here's the MAN's way to do it.

Get two more teams. Play everyone once, then 6 team playoff weeks 14-16.

I know, I know, most of your league is little girls... Mine too!

 

[femurov]

Here's the MAN's way to do it.

Get two more teams. Play everyone once, then 6 team playoff weeks 14-16.

I know, I know, most of your league is little girls... Mine too!

How would divisions work? I guess you do away with them and have everybody play each other once?