70% of all ESPN leagues have Week 17 Championships (1 Viewer)

[matuski]

We figured this out back when we were still relying on USA today for our stats.

Just looking at my league.. the 1st, 2nd, and 4th place team would be pissing their pants right now with all the players possibly sitting/not playing full games (Brady, Vick, etc.).

I assumed most ended their leagues week 15/16 to avoid this for the most part (not entirely).

70% (source Sportscenter) is a hard number to believe.. does this sound right to you?

 

[TheWick]

Does anyone who knows what they are doing play on ESPN?

 

[hauser42]

Local league that I played in for 20 years always played till the last week. Some years are better than others with who is sitting.

12 league is allowed to have 2 division games and play other teams once. 3 division leaders and 3 wild cards in 3 week playoff system.

 

[Captain Hook]

Not sure why it surprises you - most people who play there want to PLAY each week

In addition a high percentage of their leagues, the Championship matchup is a combined Weeks 16/17 game

There are other ways to set up a league there, but most just opt for the default settings.......again not so surprising

 

[Ghost Rider]

Does anyone who knows what they are doing play on ESPN?

Probably not.

 

[montana_grizzly_bears]

You might want to provide all the information about ESPN. They may play week 17 but they combine week 16 and 17 in all the leagues I have seen there. Only 4 teams make the playoffs. Week 14 and 15 are the Semi's and than 16 and 17 are the Championship.

 

[rocketsauce]

montana_grizzly is correct. Combined week 16 + 17 Cumulative Scoring is the default for ESPN. I would venture to guess that about 75% of the leagues on ESPN are default/draft and go kind of quick setups, therefore you're gonna have a larger majority going with that for their setup. And as long as you know it going into the season (which you should if you're a smart fantasy owner that actually reads his rules) you can gameplan for that bizarre week 17 accordingly.

We adapted my home league a few years ago to this "ESPN setup" but took out week 17. 4 teams make the playoffs, Semi's are weeks 13 + 14, and then Finals in weeks 15 + 16. Downer is only a 12 week season, but since we went to it about 5 years ago, it seems the right team usually emerges in the playoffs in this very fair format.

For instance, this year I was the hands down #1 seed. Best record, best points, best all-play,etc. My team absolutely tanked in week 15 (when in a lot of leagues the #1 seed may have been playing the winner of a wildcard matchup) and put up 103 pts, 40 pts less than my season average. The next week my team put up 175, the other guy's team tanked, and boom -- championship.

I love this format, as I think it rewards the best and most consistent teams and prevents them from having one bad week. But yeah, I can't condone playing week 17. Crazy talk.

 

[Bayhawks]

We figured this out back when we were still relying on USA today for our stats.Just looking at my league.. the 1st, 2nd, and 4th place team would be pissing their pants right now with all the players possibly sitting/not playing full games (Brady, Vick, etc.).I assumed most ended their leagues week 15/16 to avoid this for the most part (not entirely).70% (source Sportscenter) is a hard number to believe.. does this sound right to you?

Not surprising to me, at all. I've played FF for 15 years (multiple teams most years), and only 2 leagues didn't play in week 17.It is always surprising to read the posts of the minority who believe that since their league ends in week 16, that this is the norm; and that anyone who doesn't do things the way their league does it is doing it wrong.

 

[theplayer11]

^ I agree...NFL play s 17 weeks, no reason fantasy shouldn't either.

 

[azgroover]

My league championship is in week 3 so we don't have to worry about adjusting rosters for byes. It's too hard!!

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Does anyone who knows what they are doing play on ESPN?

My son (11) and I play in an ESPN league together for a friendly father-son rivalry, and it's embarrassing how bad our league is. Basically the entire waiver pool is like my bench because I can pick up whoever I want at will. This week (second week of our week 16/17 championship), I picked up Kenny Britt off waivers to replace Nicks for example. The best was waivers after week 1. I claimed Brandon Jackson with the 9th waiver spot, and then got Vick in addition in the second round of waivers. GB D/ST and both NE TEs are currently FAs in this league. Last year was the same way. It's just sad.

 

[shader]

We don't play ESPN, but we've adopted their week 16/17 combined championship and it works great.

 

[Ghost Rider]

It is always surprising to read the posts of the minority who believe that since their league ends in week 16, that this is the norm; and that anyone who doesn't do things the way their league does it is doing it wrong.

It IS the norm. Next summer, check out all of the fantasy football magazines that hit the stands, and you can bet your bottom dollar that all of them (except probably the ESPN one , if they have one) make projections and such under the assumption that no one plays in week 17. Many of them even highlight weeks 14-16 as being the playoff weeks. I have never played in a league that uses week 17. And I never will. And I'll bet if you did a poll here, asking how many owners play in leagues that play in week 17, the percentage of those who do will be very small.

 

[Bayhawks]

It is always surprising to read the posts of the minority who believe that since their league ends in week 16, that this is the norm; and that anyone who doesn't do things the way their league does it is doing it wrong.

It IS the norm. Next summer, check out all of the fantasy football magazines that hit the stands, and you can bet your bottom dollar that all of them (except probably the ESPN one , if they have one) make projections and such under the assumption that no one plays in week 17. Many of them even highlight weeks 14-16 as being the playoff weeks. I have never played in a league that uses week 17. And I never will. And I'll bet if you did a poll here, asking how many owners play in leagues that play in week 17, the percentage of those who do will be very small.

Again, just because it's the way you do the things (and you'll never change), it's not the norm.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Again, just because it's the way you do the things (and you'll never change), it's not the norm.

I didn't say that was why. Most people do it that way, which is what makes it the norm.

 

[Bayhawks]

Again, just because it's the way you do the things (and you'll never change), it's not the norm.

I didn't say that was why. Most people do it that way, which is what makes it the norm.

Not in my experience, they don't. If you can provide any kind of substantiation for that assertation, please do so. Otherwise, maybe you should stop stating your opinion as if it were fact?

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

You might want to provide all the information about ESPN. They may play week 17 but they combine week 16 and 17 in all the leagues I have seen there. Only 4 teams make the playoffs. Week 14 and 15 are the Semi's and than 16 and 17 are the Championship.

oh so only 1/2 the championship game is suspect and unfair to the teams that have good players on good teams.wk 17 shouldn't play into any legitimate league, except as a 'zany' week/pro bowl type thing...

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

montana_grizzly is correct. Combined week 16 + 17 Cumulative Scoring is the default for ESPN. I would venture to guess that about 75% of the leagues on ESPN are default/draft and go kind of quick setups, therefore you're gonna have a larger majority going with that for their setup. And as long as you know it going into the season (which you should if you're a smart fantasy owner that actually reads his rules) you can gameplan for that bizarre week 17 accordingly. We adapted my home league a few years ago to this "ESPN setup" but took out week 17. 4 teams make the playoffs, Semi's are weeks 13 + 14, and then Finals in weeks 15 + 16. Downer is only a 12 week season, but since we went to it about 5 years ago, it seems the right team usually emerges in the playoffs in this very fair format. For instance, this year I was the hands down #1 seed. Best record, best points, best all-play,etc. My team absolutely tanked in week 15 (when in a lot of leagues the #1 seed may have been playing the winner of a wildcard matchup) and put up 103 pts, 40 pts less than my season average. The next week my team put up 175, the other guy's team tanked, and boom -- championship. I love this format, as I think it rewards the best and most consistent teams and prevents them from having one bad week. But yeah, I can't condone playing week 17. Crazy talk.

/thread

 

[Mjolnirs]

I'm in two leagues and both play week 17 championship games. One league is in its 21st season and the other its 8th and both have always played the final week.

 

[TheWheel]

I'd say around 70% of FF players don't take their hobby to the point you guys do. I'm pretty sure a lot of the fantasy leagues on ESPN aren't paid attention to. There are a crapload of random leagues with 17 weeks. It's simple math. There are bound to be more crappy, non competitive and non-caring leagues than legitimate leagues.

And some of you really need to cut down on the smugness. You are making a game based on a game a little more important than it actually is.

 

[matuski]

We figured this out back when we were still relying on USA today for our stats.

Just looking at my league.. the 1st, 2nd, and 4th place team would be pissing their pants right now with all the players possibly sitting/not playing full games (Brady, Vick, etc.).

I assumed most ended their leagues week 15/16 to avoid this for the most part (not entirely).

70% (source Sportscenter) is a hard number to believe.. does this sound right to you?

Not surprising to me, at all. I've played FF for 15 years (multiple teams most years), and only 2 leagues didn't play in week 17.It is always surprising to read the posts of the minority who believe that since their league ends in week 16, that this is the norm; and that anyone who doesn't do things the way their league does it is doing it wrong.

Like you using your own subjective experience this same way? eta - I said it was surprising, not wrong. Sorry to upset you.

 

[matuski]

I'd say around 70% of FF players don't take their hobby to the point you guys do. I'm pretty sure a lot of the fantasy leagues on ESPN aren't paid attention to. There are a crapload of random leagues with 17 weeks. It's simple math. There are bound to be more crappy, non competitive and non-caring leagues than legitimate leagues. And some of you really need to cut down on the smugness. You are making a game based on a game a little more important than it actually is.

Probably right on here.

 

[Bayhawks]

We figured this out back when we were still relying on USA today for our stats.

Just looking at my league.. the 1st, 2nd, and 4th place team would be pissing their pants right now with all the players possibly sitting/not playing full games (Brady, Vick, etc.).

I assumed most ended their leagues week 15/16 to avoid this for the most part (not entirely).

70% (source Sportscenter) is a hard number to believe.. does this sound right to you?

Not surprising to me, at all. I've played FF for 15 years (multiple teams most years), and only 2 leagues didn't play in week 17.It is always surprising to read the posts of the minority who believe that since their league ends in week 16, that this is the norm; and that anyone who doesn't do things the way their league does it is doing it wrong.

Like you using your own subjective experience this same way? eta - I said it was surprising, not wrong. Sorry to upset you.

WTF are you talking about?Where did I use my experience to say that teams who don't play in week 17 are wrong? I didn't, so how can you post that I'm using my "own subjective experience this same way?"

All I said is that it's not surprising to hear that more people play in week 17 than many posters on this (& other) FF boards seem to think. It happens every year, if not multiple times every year. The people who don't play in week 17 go on and on about how "real" or "serious" FF leagues don't play in week 17, and that you must be leaving in the past to play in week 17.

Then I went on to say that it's surprising when people think that leagues that do things differently then the leagues they play in are doing things wrong.

PLEASE, show me how/where I suggested that anyone who doesn't play in week 17 is doing something wrong.

You won't be able to because I never posted anything like that, but I doubt that you'll be man enough to admit that you were wrong for trying to call me out.

 

[Neal Cassady]

over 20 years playing fantasy football..have played week 17 every year.

 

[Truman]

^ I agree...NFL play s 17 weeks, no reason fantasy shouldn't either.

The NFL actually goes to a playoff format after week 17. Does your league do that?

 

[Instinctive]

6 dynasties, all week 16 finish.

1 redraft, week 16 finish.

I must just be lucky, but I figured I was in the majority or I would have at least one league with a week 17. Interesting to see how many people do that...

 

[thetman]

It is fact that most leagues play the championship in week 16. Week 17 championships are mostly for beginners, casual, or free leagues.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Bayhawks, you are about as logical as Al Davis during the NFL draft.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

^ I agree...NFL play s 17 weeks, no reason fantasy shouldn't either.

The NFL actually goes to a playoff format after week 17. Does your league do that?

a few years back some old hs friends of mine started a league at MSU. They were all rookies making it up on the fly, and being spartans none too bright They ran the playoffs for the FFL during the actual playoffs. Playoff teams were scrambling to pick up anyone actually playing at times, as if you didn't have a player it was a 0. My buddy was in the championship game and thought he had his match sewn up, since the other guy was only able to start a backup on one of the teams named Frank Reich... needless to say he lost...

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

I'm in two leagues and both play week 17 championship games. One league is in its 21st season and the other its 8th and both have always played the final week.

I don't mind being smug. That's ####### stupid. Why? feel free to craft a jackass bowl/contest/pro bowl, but to let week 17 decide the hard work, sweat and tears of the other 16 + weeks (and offseason). It's tantamount to playing in a poker tournament where the game is no limit 5 card hold em but then you decide to play Razz or 7 card stud at the final table only. Because with all the uncertainty about how long so many key players are playing, and the huge # of healthy scratch all stars, it might as well be another game entirely.

 

[buster c]

I don't like playoffs and championship games. whoever has the best record after 17 weeks wins. that's the way it should be.

 

[Blue Barbarian]

I don't like playoffs and championship games. whoever has the best record after 17 weeks wins. that's the way it should be.

On board with this proclamation. Our dynasty work league of about 15 years plays 17 weeks, no playoffs and it's great. If you can't plan for a wacky week 17, you ain't doing it right. Sometimes we play the NFL playoffs with a non-draft format to extend the season. We also play a 36 week Nascar season. To each his own. There is no right or wrong in fantasy games.

 

[KellysHeroes]

Does anyone who knows what they are doing play on ESPN?

Probably not.

I play for fun...

 

[Polar Dude]

Does anyone who knows what they are doing play on ESPN?

Probably not.

I play for fun...

You're not doing it right.

 

[Bayhawks]

It is fact that most leagues play the championship in week 16. Week 17 championships are mostly for beginners, casual, or free leagues.

I've asked before in this thread, and several times in other threads like this over the years, but how do you know it's a fact? If it is a fact, there should be some proof of this somewhere, so please share that proof. Otherwise, maybe you should stop stating your opinion as fact?

 

[Bayhawks]

Bayhawks, you are about as logical as Al Davis during the NFL draft.

Do you mind explaining this?The thread started with the OP saying that he assumed most leagues ended in week 15/16, but that Sportscenter showed that 70% of leagues are still playing, and then he asked if it sounded right.I responded to the OP by saying it doesn't surprise me at all because virtually all of the leagues I've participated in played in week 17, but it did surprise me at how most people who have posted in threads like this over the years have been convinced that their way (ending in week 16) is the norm, and any other way is wrong.How is this "illogical?"Someone else (predictably) responded with "week 16 IS the norm," with no support or proof for that assertion. My response was merely "just because it's the way you do it doesn't make it the norm."How is this "illogical?"Another post said "it's not the norm because it's how I do it, but because most people do it that way." My response was "can you substantiate that belief (that MOST people do it that way)?" (Big surprise, he posted no proof or substantiation.)How is this "illogical?"Then someone else posted that I was using my "subjective experience" the "same way." (In response to my post that said I was surprised that people believed leagues run differently than theirs were wrong-meaning that I was saying that leagues that didn't play in week 17 were wrong). I merely responded that I NEVER said leagues that ended before week 17 were wrong. In fact the only points I've made are that I'm not surprised that many leagues still play in week 17, AND that people who are in leagues that don't play in week 17 believe that their way is right, and other ways are wrong. Both of these points have been proven in this thread (OP provided the only "proof" or "evidence" about playing in week 17, when he/she said Sportscenter shows that 70% of leagues are still active in week 17, and several posters have made comments like "Week 17 championships are mostly for beginners, casual, or free leagues.")So, I've demonstrated that there is nothing illogical about my posts, but I doubt that you will be man enough to admit that you were wrong.

 

[Bayhawks]

I'm in two leagues and both play week 17 championship games. One league is in its 21st season and the other its 8th and both have always played the final week.

I don't mind being smug. That's ####### stupid. Why? feel free to craft a jackass bowl/contest/pro bowl, but to let week 17 decide the hard work, sweat and tears of the other 16 + weeks (and offseason). It's tantamount to playing in a poker tournament where the game is no limit 5 card hold em but then you decide to play Razz or 7 card stud at the final table only. Because with all the uncertainty about how long so many key players are playing, and the huge # of healthy scratch all stars, it might as well be another game entirely.

If this is the way you like to do it, good for you. Why do you feel that your way is better than anyone else's though?You compare it to playing a NL 5 card hold em poker tournament, but you switch to Razz or stud at the final table. While I don't think that is a fair comparison, if the tournament makes it public knowledge that this "switch" will occur before the tournament starts, and everyone is aware of it and plans accordingly, why does it matter?For the record, in a league with week 17 championship, you (as a FF owner) know this, and it's incumbent upon you to plan accordingly. There was an owner in one of my leagues a few years ago who NEVER carried a back-up kicker, even after pick-ups had been frozen for the playoffs. One year, his kicker got hurt, and he was stuck in the playoffs with no kicker. He somehow managed to win his first week, but lost by a few points in the second. He knew that there was a chance his kicker could get hurt, but he took the risk because he wanted to hang on to some young players with keeper potential.Managing your team for week 17 championships is SIMILAR. If you drafted Tom Brady/Peyton Manning, you knew he might have a good team and might be in a position to not play a full game in week 17. So you either draft a suitable back-up or monitor the situation throughout the season. By 1/2 way to 3/4 through the season, you should know whether this possibility is still likely or not. You can either prepare for this possibility or you can take your chances.

 

[Ghost Rider]

A lot of settings are such that the league is still active and such, and starting lineups are still in place and will be active, but the seasons have already ended. Just because 70% of leagues are still active does not mean the games are still meaningful. I can still adjust and change my starting lineup in the RT Sports league I am in - thus, the league is still active - but our season and playoffs ended last week.

 

[Bayhawks]

A lot of settings are such that the league is still active and such, and starting lineups are still in place and will be active, but the seasons have already ended. Just because 70% of leagues are still active does not mean the games are still meaningful. I can still adjust and change my starting lineup in the RT Sports league I am in - thus, the league is still active - but our season and playoffs ended last week.

This is true, which is why I haven't really hung my hat on the fact that 70% of leagues are still active according to Sportscenter (I did mention it once, I believe). I've never said that it (playing in week 17) is the norm, as if it were a fact. You, however, HAVE said that NOT playing in week 17 is the norm. So, I'll ask again, what proof do you have? The answer is simple: none. You don't KNOW that MOST FF leagues don't play in week 17, but you state it as a fact. If you had any proof, you'd have shown it by now. I don't have any proof that playing in week 17 is the norm, but I don't try to pass my experience off as the norm, or try to mislead people into believing that there is proof that my way is the right/normal way to do things.

 

[ratbast]

It's a fact that the greater % of serious leagues created in the last 10 years play their championship in week 16.

It's also a fact that dinosaurs once roamed the earth.

I can prove both but don't want to.

 

[thetman]

Ratbast...thank you for a sane view. Week 17 is a joke with rested players so why use it?

 

[Bayhawks]

It's a fact that the greater % of serious leagues created in the last 10 years play their championship in week 16.

It's also a fact that dinosaurs once roamed the earth.

I can prove both but don't want to.

No, you can't, and that's why you CHOOSE not to try. (BTW-I'm talking about your FF comment, not the dinosaur thing-don't want to turn this into a FFA religion thread )

 

[Bayhawks]

Ratbast...thank you for a sane view. Week 17 is a joke with rested players so why use it?

OK, if that's a sane view (that playing week 17 is a joke) because players MIGHT BE "resting," then please explain to me why having FF games during bye weeks when we know players WILL BE sitting is not "a joke?"Please address this issue. If you are so convinced that FF leagues shouldn't play in week 17, then you must hold to the same belief that FF leagues shouldn't play during bye weeks, right?

 

[notdarkyet]

I cant prove what every league on the planet does. What I do know is that no league that I have ever been in, nor any league of anyone I know has ever been in plays week 17 as a meaningful game. I also know that I would make it a point to not play in a league that did play week 17.

Neither is really "right" or "wrong". I just prefer to reduce randomness and luck to determine championships if possible. Week 17 adds randomness and by extension luck. It has nothing to do with feeling better than anyone choosing to play week 17, I just simply prefer week 16 and have valid reason for that preference.

 

[Mjolnirs]

I'm in two leagues and both play week 17 championship games. One league is in its 21st season and the other its 8th and both have always played the final week.

I don't mind being smug. That's ####### stupid. Why? feel free to craft a jackass bowl/contest/pro bowl, but to let week 17 decide the hard work, sweat and tears of the other 16 + weeks (and offseason). It's tantamount to playing in a poker tournament where the game is no limit 5 card hold em but then you decide to play Razz or 7 card stud at the final table only. Because with all the uncertainty about how long so many key players are playing, and the huge # of healthy scratch all stars, it might as well be another game entirely.

Sorry, don't get the poker reference. Regarding playing week 17 though: It is called team management. Every owner in our leagues knows that if they make the championship it will be played in week 17 and you have to draft and manage your roster accordingly. We allow waivers and trades too in case your draft leaves you lacking.

 

[matuski]

We figured this out back when we were still relying on USA today for our stats.

Just looking at my league.. the 1st, 2nd, and 4th place team would be pissing their pants right now with all the players possibly sitting/not playing full games (Brady, Vick, etc.).

I assumed most ended their leagues week 15/16 to avoid this for the most part (not entirely).

70% (source Sportscenter) is a hard number to believe.. does this sound right to you?

Not surprising to me, at all. I've played FF for 15 years (multiple teams most years), and only 2 leagues didn't play in week 17.It is always surprising to read the posts of the minority who believe that since their league ends in week 16, that this is the norm; and that anyone who doesn't do things the way their league does it is doing it wrong.

Like you using your own subjective experience this same way? eta - I said it was surprising, not wrong. Sorry to upset you.

WTF are you talking about?Where did I use my experience to say that teams who don't play in week 17 are wrong? I didn't, so how can you post that I'm using my "own subjective experience this same way?"

All I said is that it's not surprising to hear that more people play in week 17 than many posters on this (& other) FF boards seem to think. It happens every year, if not multiple times every year. The people who don't play in week 17 go on and on about how "real" or "serious" FF leagues don't play in week 17, and that you must be leaving in the past to play in week 17.

Then I went on to say that it's surprising when people think that leagues that do things differently then the leagues they play in are doing things wrong.

PLEASE, show me how/where I suggested that anyone who doesn't play in week 17 is doing something wrong.

You won't be able to because I never posted anything like that, but I doubt that you'll be man enough to admit that you were wrong for trying to call me out.

I have no idea why you are so upset, but it certainly adds to the entertainment factor of the thread.

Relax.. your leagues do it different than mine - thus we have different preferences. Life will go on.

PS - What is with the recent trend of trying to tie manhood to a fantasy football thread? You view your posting here as a reflection of whether or not you are a man? I can't relate.

 

[Bayhawks]

We figured this out back when we were still relying on USA today for our stats.

Just looking at my league.. the 1st, 2nd, and 4th place team would be pissing their pants right now with all the players possibly sitting/not playing full games (Brady, Vick, etc.).

I assumed most ended their leagues week 15/16 to avoid this for the most part (not entirely).

70% (source Sportscenter) is a hard number to believe.. does this sound right to you?

Not surprising to me, at all. I've played FF for 15 years (multiple teams most years), and only 2 leagues didn't play in week 17.It is always surprising to read the posts of the minority who believe that since their league ends in week 16, that this is the norm; and that anyone who doesn't do things the way their league does it is doing it wrong.

Like you using your own subjective experience this same way? eta - I said it was surprising, not wrong. Sorry to upset you.

WTF are you talking about?Where did I use my experience to say that teams who don't play in week 17 are wrong? I didn't, so how can you post that I'm using my "own subjective experience this same way?"

All I said is that it's not surprising to hear that more people play in week 17 than many posters on this (& other) FF boards seem to think. It happens every year, if not multiple times every year. The people who don't play in week 17 go on and on about how "real" or "serious" FF leagues don't play in week 17, and that you must be leaving in the past to play in week 17.

Then I went on to say that it's surprising when people think that leagues that do things differently then the leagues they play in are doing things wrong.

PLEASE, show me how/where I suggested that anyone who doesn't play in week 17 is doing something wrong.

You won't be able to because I never posted anything like that, but I doubt that you'll be man enough to admit that you were wrong for trying to call me out.

I have no idea why you are so upset, but it certainly adds to the entertainment factor of the thread.

Relax.. your leagues do it different than mine - thus we have different preferences. Life will go on.

PS - What is with the recent trend of trying to tie manhood to a fantasy football thread? You view your posting here as a reflection of whether or not you are a man? I can't relate.

I'm not upset at all, but I'm glad you are enjoying the thread. As for the different preferences, I agree totally. Where I took exception was when you (INCORRECTLY) tried to imply that I suggested that leagues that don't play in week 17 are inferior to mine. I've never said that, and when others imply the opposite (that week 17 leagues are inferior to theirs), it's irritating. You were wrong, but I guessed (correctly, it seems) that you wouldn't have the stones to admit you were wrong.

 

[Truman]

Ratbast...thank you for a sane view. Week 17 is a joke with rested players so why use it?

OK, if that's a sane view (that playing week 17 is a joke) because players MIGHT BE "resting," then please explain to me why having FF games during bye weeks when we know players WILL BE sitting is not "a joke?"Please address this issue. If you are so convinced that FF leagues shouldn't play in week 17, then you must hold to the same belief that FF leagues shouldn't play during bye weeks, right?

You said it yourself. We know when bye weeks are. We don't know which guys are going to be sitting in week 17 (right now, Brady, Roethlisberger, Ryan are all benched, Sanchez didn't suit up - and that's just QBs in the early games)

 

[Bayhawks]

Ratbast...thank you for a sane view. Week 17 is a joke with rested players so why use it?

OK, if that's a sane view (that playing week 17 is a joke) because players MIGHT BE "resting," then please explain to me why having FF games during bye weeks when we know players WILL BE sitting is not "a joke?"Please address this issue. If you are so convinced that FF leagues shouldn't play in week 17, then you must hold to the same belief that FF leagues shouldn't play during bye weeks, right?

You said it yourself. We know when bye weeks are. We don't know which guys are going to be sitting in week 17 (right now, Brady, Roethlisberger, Ryan are all benched, Sanchez didn't suit up - and that's just QBs in the early games)

Those are HORRIBLE EXAMPLES. Sanchez was hurt, so he didn't play, he's not being "rested." Could he have played in a game where more was at stake? Maybe, but he IS hurt. Roethlisberger played 3 quarters of a game and now is sitting in the 4th quarter of a game where his team is up by almost 40 points. Matt Ryan played (like Roethlisberger) for 3 full quarters, and is sitting the 4th quarter of a game that his team leads by almost 30 points. Brady played into the 3rd quarter and didn't sit down until his team was up by over 30 points. In each case (except for Sanchez who was hurt), these QBs put up good numbers (280/2 TD for Roethlisberger, 263/2TD for Ryan, & 199/2 TD for Brady), so starting them wouldn't have hurt your FF team at all.

But, you said I said it myself, that we know when bye weeks are, but we don't know which guys will be sitting. So let's look at it from that angle.

Logically, if the goal is to reduce the impact of luck/chance/etc, it would make more sense to eliminate games when you KNOW players will not be available than to eliminate games when you THINK they might not be available, wouldn't it?

 

[Truman]

No, you can plan for bye weeks before the season. You can't plan for which guys are going to be sitting in week 17 because you don't know who they are. This year is unusual in that most teams still have something to play for, at least in the early games.