Benching your starters for gambles (1 Viewer)

[Knobs]

Let's say I had two great options at rb this week, but wanted to bench one or both of them for two players that are less talented, but have slightly better matchups (benching SJax and/or LT for Greene/Bell).

It's the last week of the regular season. It will in no way affect *who* makes the playoffs, though it could potentially alter the seeding. If I lose, I will lose my division and have a harder matchup the following week.

I've done this kind of thing throughout the year - benching one player for another, simply out of boredom or so I can watch/root for a player on a Thursday/Monday game. It's cost me one or two wins (it's also worked nicely for me a couple times and I owe 1 win to this) but I figure if you can't have some fun along the way then there's no point in playing.

A couple league members are rather upset over my decision this week, saying I HAVE to play my best team. I will concede if this were the playoffs I wouldn't consider it but I won't be overly upset if I lose this week. The way I see things, it doesn't change too much and it gets boring playing the same players every week and never altering anything.

Does anyone else do this kind of thing? I don't see the problem but am I completely and totally in the wrong?

 

[rvmblack]

Just play the guys you think will put up the most points. I really dont understand any other logic.

 

[munygon2]

Considering benching Steve Smith (NYG) for Shonn Greene with the hopes that Greene sees a lot of carries tonight to help give Thomas some rest. SS hasn't been as good as he was earlier in the season.

 

[Doug B]

Just play the guys you think will put up the most points. I really dont understand any other logic.

There's exceptions to this, IMHO. But it depends on how serious you are about FFB. You can be quite serious about things, and still have the occasional "fun move". I guess if it's life-&-death for you, then fun moves are out of the question.For instance #1: I sat usual starter Tony Gonzales Wk 12 so that I'd have a player to root for on Thanksgiving Day (Jermichael Finley vs DET). Not a huge risk ... Finley had a great matchup, and that FFB team has a gaudy W-L record. Starting Finley cost me a few points, but not the win.

For instance #2: I regularly sit players that go against the Saints. Not always, but pretty often for players below absolute-stud level if my backup is decent. I will take a 20% hit in one FFB starters' production to avoid having players go against my real-life team.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Let's say I had two great options at rb this week, but wanted to bench one or both of them for two players that are less talented, but have slightly better matchups (benching SJax and/or LT for Greene/Bell).It's the last week of the regular season. It will in no way affect *who* makes the playoffs, though it could potentially alter the seeding. If I lose, I will lose my division and have a harder matchup the following week. I've done this kind of thing throughout the year - benching one player for another, simply out of boredom or so I can watch/root for a player on a Thursday/Monday game. It's cost me one or two wins (it's also worked nicely for me a couple times and I owe 1 win to this) but I figure if you can't have some fun along the way then there's no point in playing. A couple league members are rather upset over my decision this week, saying I HAVE to play my best team. I will concede if this were the playoffs I wouldn't consider it but I won't be overly upset if I lose this week. The way I see things, it doesn't change too much and it gets boring playing the same players every week and never altering anything. Does anyone else do this kind of thing? I don't see the problem but am I completely and totally in the wrong?

I did this on Thanksgiving day, picking up and starting Jermichael Finley and Nick Folk. They both got me less than my previous lineup starters. I had fun watching the game though. I luckily won last week largely due to having Drew Brees. My gamble could have backfired though. It was a dumb move, but on the other hand, it enhanced my TV viewing after getting stuffed with a huge Turkey day spread.

 

[Knobs]

Just play the guys you think will put up the most points. I really dont understand any other logic.

There's exceptions to this, IMHO. But it depends on how serious you are about FFB. You can be quite serious about things, and still have the occasional "fun move". I guess if it's life-&-death for you, then fun moves are out of the question.For instance #1: I sat usual starter Tony Gonzales Wk 12 so that I'd have a player to root for on Thanksgiving Day (Jermichael Finley vs DET). Not a huge risk ... Finley had a great matchup, and that FFB team has a gaudy W-L record. Starting Finley cost me a few points, but not the win.

For instance #2: I regularly sit players that go against the Saints. Not always, but pretty often for players below absolute-stud level if my backup is decent. I will take a 20% hit in one FFB starters' production to avoid having players go against my real-life team.

I've regularly benched guys going against my Niners simply because I don't want to root against my team.

I also enjoy rooting for players in games I would otherwise have zero interest in. Jets vs. Bills? Yuck. I have a player going? Now I can watch it without killing myself.

 

[lyon812]

Just play the guys you think will put up the most points. I really dont understand any other logic.

There's exceptions to this, IMHO. But it depends on how serious you are about FFB. You can be quite serious about things, and still have the occasional "fun move". I guess if it's life-&-death for you, then fun moves are out of the question.For instance #1: I sat usual starter Tony Gonzales Wk 12 so that I'd have a player to root for on Thanksgiving Day (Jermichael Finley vs DET). Not a huge risk ... Finley had a great matchup, and that FFB team has a gaudy W-L record. Starting Finley cost me a few points, but not the win.

For instance #2: I regularly sit players that go against the Saints. Not always, but pretty often for players below absolute-stud level if my backup is decent. I will take a 20% hit in one FFB starters' production to avoid having players go against my real-life team.

I never really understood #2. If my QB was playing the Saints, I'd root for the Saints to win 36-35 and for my QB to throw five touchdowns. Rooting for good performance != wanting your team to lose. To answer the original question, I always shoot for the most points. If I don't have anyone to root for in the Jets-Bills game, I should probably be thankful.

 

[Doug B]

I never really understood #2. If my QB was playing the Saints, I'd root for the Saints to win 36-35 and for my QB to throw five touchdowns. Rooting for good performance != wanting your team to lose.

Gotcha. I won't gouge my FFB teams to avoid Saints' opponents. For instance, this past week, I'd have started Tom Brady over a Kyle Boller or Bruce Gradkowski. But if my options are Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers (my IRL keeper league QBs), I'd bench one if they were playing the Saints.This comes into play a more with fantasy WR2s, RB-WR flexes, D/STs, and so forth. Not really for stud players.

 

[RamMan]

I think you owe it to your leaguemates to start the best possible roster each and every week. Even though a win or a loss may not affect your team specifically, if it has any impact at all on other teams (standings, seedings, etc) you owe it to your league to field the best team possible. Anything else - in my opinion - would be supremely egocentric and in bad form.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I wouldn't start a second tier player over your regular starter strictly because he's playing in primetime. But if you have a legtimate choice between two evenly matched players, then I'd go with the player playing in primetime.

This week, I'm starting Favre over Schaub for only the third time this year. I think both are evenly matched. However, I'm starting Favre in part because he always seems to shine in primetime.

 

[Fireballer]

This week's game has no bearing on if I make playoffs, so I started F Jackson over Colston.

 

[tigerz]

Just play the guys you think will put up the most points. I really dont understand any other logic.

There's exceptions to this, IMHO. But it depends on how serious you are about FFB. You can be quite serious about things, and still have the occasional "fun move". I guess if it's life-&-death for you, then fun moves are out of the question.For instance #1: I sat usual starter Tony Gonzales Wk 12 so that I'd have a player to root for on Thanksgiving Day (Jermichael Finley vs DET). Not a huge risk ... Finley had a great matchup, and that FFB team has a gaudy W-L record. Starting Finley cost me a few points, but not the win.

For instance #2: I regularly sit players that go against the Saints. Not always, but pretty often for players below absolute-stud level if my backup is decent. I will take a 20% hit in one FFB starters' production to avoid having players go against my real-life team.

I've regularly benched guys going against my Niners simply because I don't want to root against my team.

I also enjoy rooting for players in games I would otherwise have zero interest in. Jets vs. Bills? Yuck. I have a player going? Now I can watch it without killing myself.

Wow, I feel bad now. I do the exact opposite. I start guys who are going against the Bears because then I have someone to root for and I don't think the Bears could stop any talented player these days. I benched Randy Moss for Desean Jackson a couple weeks back. At least then it's not a total loss when your team gets humiliated. I can only imagine how people in Detroit, Cleveland, and Oakland feel.

 

[glumpy]

I'll play lower tier players if the matchups look promising, but never for scheduling a tv game or to avoid rooting against my team. Like lyon posted-you root for your team to win while your player scores all the opposing points (actually been to games in that situation--you have to be careful not to actually cheer the points!!

Looking at such a move this week--Fitz and Driver in tough matchups, maybe with Warner less than 100%...meanwhile Crabtree has a sweet home game matchup.

If I pull that trigger it'll be a gamble for points more than just for a dare, though.

 

[ATC1]

You needed to have someone in your line up to watch that game last night.

 

[The_Wolfman]

Just play the guys you think will put up the most points. I really dont understand any other logic.

There's exceptions to this, IMHO. But it depends on how serious you are about FFB. You can be quite serious about things, and still have the occasional "fun move". I guess if it's life-&-death for you, then fun moves are out of the question.For instance #1: I sat usual starter Tony Gonzales Wk 12 so that I'd have a player to root for on Thanksgiving Day (Jermichael Finley vs DET). Not a huge risk ... Finley had a great matchup, and that FFB team has a gaudy W-L record. Starting Finley cost me a few points, but not the win.

For instance #2: I regularly sit players that go against the Saints. Not always, but pretty often for players below absolute-stud level if my backup is decent. I will take a 20% hit in one FFB starters' production to avoid having players go against my real-life team.

I've regularly benched guys going against my Niners simply because I don't want to root against my team.

I also enjoy rooting for players in games I would otherwise have zero interest in. Jets vs. Bills? Yuck. I have a player going? Now I can watch it without killing myself.

Wow, I feel bad now. I do the exact opposite. I start guys who are going against the Bears because then I have someone to root for and I don't think the Bears could stop any talented player these days. I benched Randy Moss for Desean Jackson a couple weeks back. At least then it's not a total loss when your team gets humiliated. I can only imagine how people in Detroit, Cleveland, and Oakland feel.

Haha I did that too. I traded Djax in my league, but I made the guy wait until after the Eagles/Bears game to make the trade because I couldn't stand the thought of watching the guy I just traded tear up my favorite team.