Strategy for shorter benches/bigger leagues? (1 Viewer)

Ack88 said:

With 14 teams, I'd roster 2 QB. (Typically in formats like this that are 10 or 12 team, you can roster 1 QB and not be hurt.)

I would stack as many RB as possible on my bench. Irrespective of format, RB is the toughest position to replace.

I'd roster only 1 TE, K, and D. (This is a personal preference as I view TE6-TE25 as basically the same guy.) Personally, I would not chase a top tier TE, but that's a personal preference, not an iron clad model for success.

As for the draft, your position means a lot. What draft spot do you have?

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wlwiles said:

I play in an identical league, 14 team, same starting requirements, and same bench size.  Couple of rules I follow: 

I gamble at QB, and only roster one.  That means dropping my 4th bench option for a bye-filler QB for that week.  If my starter goes down injured, there's typically another one available on the wire because maybe only 1-2 owners have a second QB rostered.  There's gonna be a Foles/Rivers/Jackson type out there so if you lose your QB you're not left with Rosen/Eli. 

I do the same for TE, using that 4th bench spot, unless I'm streaming at TE and just drop one for another.  So that means I generally want my QB and TE to have different bye weeks.

I try to go for one elite (QB or TE) but not both.  In a 14 team you need a difference maker, and unless you were lucky enough to get Mahomes last year your roster is going to have holes if you just load up RBs and WRs and go middle of the pack on the rest.  This one is probably negated bc you're in an auction, if the prices and timing are right you could end up squeezing an elite and semi-elite combo.  

Don't care if you have Gostkowski, Lutz, or Tucker.  Drop your K on his bye for another one, don't waste the bench spot.   If your league allows it, and if your starters are strong, you can always drop your kicker and take a 0 to get through a tough bye week/injury if you absolutely have to (again, IF your league allows it). 

Same goes for defenses, unless you've got the 2017 Jags who are just scoring points like crazy.  Not worth wasting a bench spot on a 2nd defense. 

So that means most weeks I have all 4 bench spots taken up by RBs and WRs.  Generally try to have 3 and 1 respectively, but not always.  I try to make sure and handcuff my top RB if at all possible, or if he's sniped in the draft then I'll try for that owners top handcuff and make a trade.  Losing a stud RB in a 14 team and having to go from Mixon to Ronald Jones starting because you missed out on Gio hurts the most when you're 14 teams deep. 

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mm927 said:

Thanks. I think the strategy makes sense re: QB/TE. Didn't necessarily think through bye weeks a lot, but will probably have to keep it in mind with so few bench spots. Probably leaves stacking out of question?

Another strategy I've been floating is going after the Seattle backfield and the current 49ers backfield (i.e. drafting Carson/Penny and Coleman/Breida). The players/teams don't necessarily matter but the idea was one I saw on FBG last year–take 5 RBs, but 2 pairs to both handcuff and start in case of emergency (i.e. might be able to start both Carson and Penny if things go really wrong). 

In this case, I imagine I'd try to strongly hit WR and aim for an elite TE. Auctions always vary, but these backfields seem cheapish and hopefully one becomes a larger value?

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wlwiles said:

This is definitely a good idea, especially if you can get them semi-cheap and use your $ on WRs.  If your 5th RB (the one not paired with a teammate) is flex-worthy then you can get away with a bench of 2/2 RB/WR or maybe have room for a 2nd TE.  Don't take my bench makeup as gospel though, you'll have to adjust on the fly obv. 

I will say though re: bye weeks/stacking.  The guy that finished 2nd in our 14 teamer the last two years seeks out the stacks.  Last year he had Ryan/Julio/Coleman, the year before I think it was Brady/Edelman/Gronk. Not necessarily stacking because of point exploitation (see the stacking thread/argument for that), just stacking bye weeks to avoid so much bench gymnastics.  

One more thing I forgot to mention - not sure if you use waivers or FAAB, but in our league it never fails that some team takes a bunch of injuries all at once, and has to drop someone he wouldn't normally just to survive.  If you hoard FAAB/waiver priority (and have the room) you can grab some nice pickups that you should never be able to in a normal league. 

At first I absolutely hated the short benches, but after about half a season it quickly became my favorite league.  So much trading, so many interesting roster moves, so little depth that everybody is angling for any edge.  Some RB tweaks a toe in mid-week practice and it's a scramble to the wire to grab the 4th RB on that team, and it leads to some interesting drops also.  Enjoy it! 

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