Tricks of The Trade

It's seven weeks through the season and I hate to say it, but some of you have been realistically eliminated from the playoffs.  Week seven is the part of the season where you can honestly see where you are.  After looking at league standings for some time now I have learned that on average you need at least 9 wins to make the playoffs.  Sometimes, if you are lucky you can sneak in as the 4th seed with 8 wins but 9 pretty much gets you in.

So what does that mean for you.  Well if your league runs the standard 14 week regular season, then these are the scenarios that are playing out for you.  We are going to look at teams that are 4-3 or worse because if you are doing better than that then you have already taken my advice or forgone it and done well for yourself.  This is for redraft leagues only. 

Teams that are 4-3 need to trade any excess talent for depth.  Let me explain.  If you have three running backs that have already had their bye and you have slim pickings at receiver or quarterback, it's time to make the move and get rid of that extra back.  Realistically he's going to sit there most of the time, give yourself the ability to play matchups in areas of need; especially when you have players that are no-brainers.

Managers of 3-4 teams need to stop hoping that their Cedric Benson, or other underachiever, is going to pull it together.  So maybe you take a lesser star on his way up; remember that Benson once was out of the NFL and worked his way to a 2nd round running back.

2-5 teams are in dire straights.  If you are in this position you probably have incosistent scoring coming from one or more positions.  I'm going to be honest with you; you need to win out and the only way to do it is by trading that big star for two lesser players.  It's great that you have Antonio Gates but if he's giving you a steady amount of points and your constantly changing your lineup around him, then you lack consistency and will not be as confident if you had a Jason Witten and Hines Ward.  I'd rather have the points from those two then those of Gates and Receiver X.  "Receiver X" that's cool.  I should name my first born son that...

Anyways, if you're 1-6 or worse 0-7, your season is over.  Sorry, still fix your lineup and play spoiler but that championship dream is completely over.  Remember, the only way you get better at fantasy is by playing it.  We learn through trial an error and fantasy is the biggest example of that.

Challenges

It's so hard to string two wins together, but so easy to go on a four game losing streak.  This week Matthew V. took us out 23-19 in our Starting 5 Challenge.  Congrats Matthew, you'll be entered into our drawing this year.  Congrats on the win.

On the other hand, Vincent C. did not have such good luck and finished with a score of 0.500 in this week's NFL Pick'Em.  It was a valiant effort however he fell short and Eric M. still leads all participant with his score of 0.785.

If you want to participate in either of our challenges send your email to us at postfantasyfootball@gmail.com with either your picks or Starting 5.  This week the deadline for the Starting 5 is Friday and as always the Pick'Em is Saturday.  Here is our Starting 5:

Fantasy Football Post:

QB: Peyton Manning vs. Houston
RB: Rashard Mendenhall vs. New Orleans
WR: Brandon Marshall vs. Cincinnati
TE: Jason Witten vs. Jacksonville
K: Kris Brown vs. Tennessee