Romofan
Footballguy
I have always played in 12 team leagues but my long time $$ league comprising of old friends is a 10-teamer this year. For others that are in similar situations I thought it would be good to get a thread going on your thoughts and strategies and the difficulties you are facing adapting to a more "guppy-like" mindset.
1) Bench management is totally different in smaller leagues:
For me personally one of the hardest things is I do too much homework. I like digging for nuggets and identifying those sleepers. I usually have a good grasp on what types of players I hold on to in 12 team leagues but in 10 team leagues I'm finding it more difficult. I would be better off dropping players that I feel won't be picked up. Like a poker game .....you have to take educated guesses that certain players will be picked up off waivers while others won't. A good example is in my current league players like ABryant, Nate Burleson Mike Sims Walker and Steve Smith (last week) are/were available due to our short benches while I'm holding on to Chris Wells and Donald Brown, DWard, and Caddy. While I love DBrown and will hold on to him I think a guy like Wells with his game production of 2,2, and 0 through 3 games is a perfect candidate for someone to drop. The guppies in my league won't see his upside because he really is not producing. I'm finding I'm struggling because psychologically I feel like I can't drop him because I think I'm playing with a 12 team league mindset - I get attached to the guys I've identified and I can't seem to convince myself that with a small bench I am wasting a spot on my team when I could have guys that are producing.
2) With better players on the wire a good draft isn't as important:
I've seen drafting blunders by others quicky fixed by early waiver moves in weeks 1-3. A guy picking up Brent Celek or Dustin Keller and dropping terrible draft picks of Bo Scaife or Alge Crumpler. Watching guys grab great backup TE's and QB's while I stay glued to my "good picks"
3) Bye weeks become huge problems:
It doesn't matter if your depth is fantastic because you will have to drop players to get that 2nd TE or 2nd Def. Once again - if your bench players are other people's starters you are still screwed because now you will be forced to drop a few to get a TE or D for one of your bye weeks.
4) trading is nearly impossible:
Again because a good WR3 can be picked off the waivers nobody wants to trade. Owners know (and probably rightly so) that there are players still on teh waiver that could produce like 3rd or 4th round draft picks even for a few weeks. I need to tell myself that I should be doing this more.
Any other frustrated owners in 10 team leaguers with 12 or 14-team mentalities... or am I alone?
1) Bench management is totally different in smaller leagues:
For me personally one of the hardest things is I do too much homework. I like digging for nuggets and identifying those sleepers. I usually have a good grasp on what types of players I hold on to in 12 team leagues but in 10 team leagues I'm finding it more difficult. I would be better off dropping players that I feel won't be picked up. Like a poker game .....you have to take educated guesses that certain players will be picked up off waivers while others won't. A good example is in my current league players like ABryant, Nate Burleson Mike Sims Walker and Steve Smith (last week) are/were available due to our short benches while I'm holding on to Chris Wells and Donald Brown, DWard, and Caddy. While I love DBrown and will hold on to him I think a guy like Wells with his game production of 2,2, and 0 through 3 games is a perfect candidate for someone to drop. The guppies in my league won't see his upside because he really is not producing. I'm finding I'm struggling because psychologically I feel like I can't drop him because I think I'm playing with a 12 team league mindset - I get attached to the guys I've identified and I can't seem to convince myself that with a small bench I am wasting a spot on my team when I could have guys that are producing.
2) With better players on the wire a good draft isn't as important:
I've seen drafting blunders by others quicky fixed by early waiver moves in weeks 1-3. A guy picking up Brent Celek or Dustin Keller and dropping terrible draft picks of Bo Scaife or Alge Crumpler. Watching guys grab great backup TE's and QB's while I stay glued to my "good picks"
3) Bye weeks become huge problems:
It doesn't matter if your depth is fantastic because you will have to drop players to get that 2nd TE or 2nd Def. Once again - if your bench players are other people's starters you are still screwed because now you will be forced to drop a few to get a TE or D for one of your bye weeks.
4) trading is nearly impossible:
Again because a good WR3 can be picked off the waivers nobody wants to trade. Owners know (and probably rightly so) that there are players still on teh waiver that could produce like 3rd or 4th round draft picks even for a few weeks. I need to tell myself that I should be doing this more.
Any other frustrated owners in 10 team leaguers with 12 or 14-team mentalities... or am I alone?
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