At what point do you abandon a long-term strategy (1 Viewer)

[Clifford]

Obviously this is a specific question to a league I am in but I want this to be a general discussion about when to scrap plans you thought would really serve you well throughout the season and start hitting the WW scrapping for a win every week.

We're going into week 5 and teams that are 1 or less wins need to seriously start thinking about whether they will be making the playoffs at all. Obviously a lot of this depends on playoff size, but how many of you out there are dropping injured players just to get a win this week?

This is more for short-roster leagues where you just can't prepare for sustaining a ton of injuries.

Again, not a WWJD with this team, but to make it a little more concrete, I'm staring down Vick and Stafford at QB this week, and I really believe that both will be starting and playing really well by week 6, but If I tank this week and go 1-4, does that do me any good at that point? I would need to win weeks 6-9 for a winning record.

To sum up, is now the time to panic and scrap for every win you can, future be damned?

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

The point of FF is to win....win a trophy, money, respect, etc. If you think you have any chance to win you stick it out. If you think you have 0% chance in a dynasty....then you play it smart and trade for players that are underperforming....injured....or young for a chance at "winning" next year.

 

[Glatty]

When circumstances or facts about the situation change, one needs to adapt to the new information.

Waivers or trades, do whatever it takes to get the W.

 

[jimmyd9989]

I'm in the same boat. I'm currently 0-4 and my team is Vick(w/Kolb)/Big Ben, Steven Jackson/Ray Rice/Tim Hightower/Cadillac Williams, Reggie Wayne/Hakeem Nicks/Hines Ward, Zach Miller/John Carleson.

 

[footballnerd]

Stafford is on waivers in our redraft league. You need to get a healthy QB.

 

[MIMN]

In a redraft the future is now. You need to figure out how to get to the playoffs. Anything can happen then. Many FF championships have been derailed by a week 13 injury.

A reasonable approach is to publicly auction off your highest rated player. Make it clear that they are getting moved and if you get an offer that is sub-par to others make sure to tell that owner what the offer is that you expect to take. That gives them a chance to up their offer. I saw this work in a league of mine a few years back.

I don't play in dynasty but those seem to allow you to mail it in for the year and play for next year.

 

[akaoni]

The answer to this question depends on whether you are in a redraft, keeper, or dynasty league. Different strategies would apply in these cases.

But assuming you're discussing re-draft. I think you need to probably drop one of your QBs and look to the waiver wire for a replacement. You state that you have short benches so there should be some talent out there to fill in for a week or two. I have seen your optimism about Stafford in other threads, but I think you probably have to get off the bus here. He likely won't play until after his week 8 bye and there's no guarantee that he plays well first thing back. I'd drop him and try to grab a guy like Bradford who could do a good job filling in.

In a dynasty league you might have make some trades or pack it in and try to make moves to help next year or sometime down the road. That's the best I can do with the information available.

 

[reprisal]

To get at just the specific problem.

Stafford is on waivers in our redraft league. You need to get a healthy QB.

Exactly, Stafford hasnt proven enough to be held thru these circumstances in redraft, unless maybe its 16+ teams or 2QB. If thats the case you need to make a 2 for 2 trade involving Stafford and the Romo owners back up or Freeman, Farve or any own who has 2 decent QBs rostered.

 

[whitem0nkey]

"Everybody has a plan, ’till they get hit." — Mike Tyson

just like in the draft its great to have a long term plan and goal, but you need to deviate from it as the landscape changes if you want to win.

 

[MIMN]

To make this more general. Is this the time to abandon "project" players? Those are the fliers you took convinced that if they just got a chance they'd be huge (or at least medium). If you have a losing record and expect to struggle just to make the playoffs I'd say yes. If you are strong you might be able to hold on a bit.

 

[Clifford]

"Everybody has a plan, ’till they get hit." — Mike Tysonjust like in the draft its great to have a long term plan and goal, but you need to deviate from it as the landscape changes if you want to win.

This is more where I am leaning at this point. Wondering if Rice owners are feeling the same way. Trouble is now you are almost forced into a sell low with high-name-rec players like Rice, Moss, D-Will. If I say Moss is available (which I already have and no one wants him) I won't get so much as single offer for him.I think the desperate owners need to be the ones bringing the offers and likely offering players at well below their perceived value.

 

[Clifford]

To make this more general. Is this the time to abandon "project" players? Those are the fliers you took convinced that if they just got a chance they'd be huge (or at least medium). If you have a losing record and expect to struggle just to make the playoffs I'd say yes. If you are strong you might be able to hold on a bit.

Thanks I don't want this to be about my situation. Best is a perfect example of this type. Spiller is a more extreme example. Both have shown that with 16-20 touches per game they could be successful players, but either injuries or morons are holding them back. Trouble is, I doubt I could get a player like Hillis for Rice at this point, and Spiller would elicit only laughter in a trade offer.Do you go ahead and target a player that is much riskier, injured, or what? I know I want to deal some guys like this but having trouble coming up with any scenario that would get that done.