FBG Community Center: Week 2 (1 Viewer)

[Keys Myaths]

I like weekly posts, and I like those weekly posts that get at a lot of information and generate many different types of discussion.

So, to that end, every week this year, I'm going to have a different informational post designed to not only get to know each other as FF players better, but to get to know ourselves better.

I hope you guys see this, and in the upcoming weeks, as a way of getting to know each other better--and even generate a lot of relevant, macro-FF discussion. We delve so much into the minutiae of fantasy football that we forget the bigger picture. I'm hoping this is a springboard to discuss those topics.

Week 1 Thread: Why do you play FF?

For Week 2, the question is a little more touchy than Week 1: What is your biggest fantasy football weakness?

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Our strength grows out of our weaknesses."

Why? Because when we admit where we're weak, we admit our limitations. By admitting our limitations, we can shy away from acting upon those weaknesses, and instead, acting upon our strengths.

So, what is your biggest weakness when it comes to this game?

Mine is simple. It's pure, old fashioned hubris.

I'm not saying I think I'm better than everyone else. I know I'm not. My hubris is a little more subtle than that. My hubris comes from the fact that when I think I make a great move, I have to exploit it as much as possible. An example from this week would be starting Chris Henry in two leagues over other quality players. I felt the Henry pickup was so smart, that I wanted to show it off. It backfired, and that's because of my own hubris.



So, in this thread:

1. Tell us your weakness.

2. Give an example of how it manifests itself.

3. What can we do to avoid the same mistake?

 

[ShaqAttaq]

I am horrible at lineup decisions. i'd be a much better FF owner if all i did were draft. week-to-week, i'm a liability.

 

[Andrew74]

I am horrible at lineup decisions. i'd be a much better FF owner if all i did were draft. week-to-week, i'm a liability.

This is me. It seems I always leave points on the bench and they seem to always cost me in the W-L.

 

[Native]

Oftentimes I have a difficult time seperating my "personal feelings" about a player ( ) from my "FF feelings". Case in point - I just dont like Tom Brady. I cant stand the Pats in general, and Brady in particular. As such, Ive passed on him in several drafts where he probably represented pretty good value. Not smart, I know, but FF is an extension of being a football fan - and I have difficulty rooting for a guy in a Fantasy League when I cant root for him in real life.

In the past, Ive had the same thing happen with guys such as Curtis Martin and Randy Moss. Every once in a while, those draft day biases come back to bite you in the ###.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I tend to let off of the gas when I'm doing well. Case in point:

Last season, I had one of those years where I'd be the second or third highest scoring team most every week but would play the #1. But our league awards two playoff spots (we play 17 regular season games & have 5 teams redraft for the NFL playoffs) to the highest scoring teams that didn't win their divisions. By week 13, our division was clinched by the #1 scorer & I had no chance to catch him. But - I was #2 in points, by a lot.

I kind of went into cruise control. Though I was setting what I thought was my best lineup, I didn't sweat it too much. I also stopped combing the waiver wire. My guys started getting nicked up or thrown out of games (thanks, Steve Smith). Anyway, someone else got red hot & had almost caught up to me by week 17. All of his players were getting hurt, but he was picking up guys who were helping him out. The last Sunday was torture: he was relugated to Morency & Gore at RB. If you recall, their teams played each other. The game went into overtime & neither of these inept teams could score. Oh no, but Gore & Morency could combine for about 60 yds in OT. To add insult to injury, he also had Wilkins (I think) in the last Sunday night game against (again, I think) Dallas. The Rams were getting shut out like 16-0, but had the ball first & goal with time running out. They took 3 shots & couldn't make it in. So what do they do? Kick a FG to make it 16-3.

My team scored over 2,000 points last season & I missed the playoffs by 2.3 points. I've also gotten lazy in other years but it hasn't cost me. This was a hard off-season because I know I could have made it had I put just a little more work in.

 

[Borat]

Oftentimes I have a difficult time seperating my "personal feelings" about a player ( ) from my "FF feelings". Case in point - I just dont like Tom Brady. I cant stand the Pats in general, and Brady in particular. As such, Ive passed on him in several drafts where he probably represented pretty good value. Not smart, I know, but FF is an extension of being a football fan - and I have difficulty rooting for a guy in a Fantasy League when I cant root for him in real life. In the past, Ive had the same thing happen with guys such as Curtis Martin and Randy Moss. Every once in a while, those draft day biases come back to bite you in the ###.

I can see disliking the Patriots out of jealousy and disliking Moss because of all his nonsense, but why in the world would anyone ever dislike Curtis Martin? He's one of the classiest athletes of his era.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Oftentimes I have a difficult time seperating my "personal feelings" about a player ( ) from my "FF feelings". Case in point - I just dont like Tom Brady. I cant stand the Pats in general, and Brady in particular. As such, Ive passed on him in several drafts where he probably represented pretty good value. Not smart, I know, but FF is an extension of being a football fan - and I have difficulty rooting for a guy in a Fantasy League when I cant root for him in real life. In the past, Ive had the same thing happen with guys such as Curtis Martin and Randy Moss. Every once in a while, those draft day biases come back to bite you in the ###.

I can see disliking the Patriots out of jealousy and disliking Moss because of all his nonsense, but why in the world would anyone ever dislike Curtis Martin? He's one of the classiest athletes of his era.

My guess is that he's either a Miami or Buffalo fan & hates the Jets. That's the only explanation I can see.

 

[JMJ]

I normally value WRs as much as I value dirt.

This year was different because of all of the instability at the RB position but in years past, I would not draft my first WR until round 5 and sometimes not my second one until round 7.

We can start 3 RBs every week. I would draft RB, RB, RB, RB .... then my first WR ..... then QB or RB in round 6 also. Very few times did it blow up in my face because being a shark, I would normally get a valueable but undervalued-by-most WR in round 5 and then again in 7, or be able to parlay my plethora of stud RBs into a stud WR, but there have been a few occassions were I overestimate the intelligence of my fellow owners and can not pull off a trade with any of them because some leagues just don't trade no matter what. In some (again, very few) instances I've been stuck with 5-6 stud RBs and nobody willing to trade for one of them so it would make matchups impossible and I'd always have a RB with 20+ points on a given week on my bench.

 

[bentley]

Booze.

 

[Native]

Oftentimes I have a difficult time seperating my "personal feelings" about a player ( ) from my "FF feelings". Case in point - I just dont like Tom Brady. I cant stand the Pats in general, and Brady in particular. As such, Ive passed on him in several drafts where he probably represented pretty good value. Not smart, I know, but FF is an extension of being a football fan - and I have difficulty rooting for a guy in a Fantasy League when I cant root for him in real life. In the past, Ive had the same thing happen with guys such as Curtis Martin and Randy Moss. Every once in a while, those draft day biases come back to bite you in the ###.

I can see disliking the Patriots out of jealousy and disliking Moss because of all his nonsense, but why in the world would anyone ever dislike Curtis Martin? He's one of the classiest athletes of his era.

Dolphins fan.

 

[Rounders]

I have 2 glaring weaknesses:1. Setting my weekly lineup - I do one of two things each week. Either I'm fairly confident with my lineup and don't look at matchups or I tend to over analyze matchups each week. Both scenarios result in missed points on the bench. Example: I started R.Smith over L.Coles this week. I didn't even look at the matchups, was confident Smith was my #2 WR, and didn't look back. It cost me my game this week. I'm not sure what I can do on a weekly basis to stop this since I flip flop. 2. Arrogance - I believe that I have better tools, information, ability and knowledge than the rest of my league. So naturally I believe that going into the draft I will have a better team than anyone else. I believe that after the draft my team is better than the other 9 teams in the league. Example: I lost this week 96-79 (normal week scores are 90-110), and was the only team in my division to lose, so now I'm looking up at 4 teams in my division and what do I say to myself:

Team A had a big week, but won't continue that pace. Team B had a solid week but got good weeks from bad players. Team C & Team D lucked out and played the 2 lowest scoring teams of the week. So even though I'm 0-1, I'm not worried because my team is still the best.

(it's funny to quote myself)So what do I have to do to overcome my weaknesses???My thoughts:1) Lineups - I think that the best way to do it, is to pick one road and travel down it.2) Arrogance - I need to analyze teams better and take a step back and look at my team from a different perspective (not sure how???).

 

[Keys Myaths]

2) Arrogance - I need to analyze teams better and take a step back and look at my team from a different perspective (not sure how???).

Seems like this is a common theme. Does it have to do with the atmosphere in here--where you're forced to defend your opinions so hard, that you believe them TOO much?

 

[pizzatyme]

2) Arrogance - I need to analyze teams better and take a step back and look at my team from a different perspective (not sure how???).

Seems like this is a common theme. Does it have to do with the atmosphere in here--where you're forced to defend your opinions so hard, that you believe them TOO much?

Yes, someone looks at video footage, and reads a box score then professes to know everything about a football game.I think my biggest mistake is trying to argue with so many sharks in this forum. It really becomes counter productive.

 

[WhoDat]

Lack of Patience

I will quickly make a character determination about an owner based on emails or trade offers. After 3 or more horrible and obviously lopsided or fishing type trade offers I quit doing business with that owner. I make an effort to seek first to understand but, after 3 strikes, I completely disregard the owner or any communication coming from him from that point forward.

Some people conduct business that way, which is at the lowest level, and I know that. However, I refuse to accept it. It shortens the number of teams I can trade with over the course of a season but I just cannot get past it.

 

[barndog]

My big weakness is patience. We drafted guys for a reason, but usually I'm fully ready to cut someone loose the first week they fail to meet my expectations.

Two cases in point: Looking over last year's lineups I noticed that I had drafted Galloway on what turned into a mediocre team. He never even started for me before I cut him (not sure which week--had to be early).

This year I've already cut Plummer from one team (not a money league, so smaller ramifications, but still).

I think the way for me to avoid this, and I'm implementing it with **some** success is to avoid all but the most obvious waiver wire pickups the first 3 weeks.

For example, probably not a good idea for me to cut Mi. Clayton thus far, to pick up, say, Cotchery. I may lose out on Cotchery, but I had Clayton valued higher and need to give that time to play out.

 

[Keys Myaths]

2) Arrogance - I need to analyze teams better and take a step back and look at my team from a different perspective (not sure how???).

Seems like this is a common theme. Does it have to do with the atmosphere in here--where you're forced to defend your opinions so hard, that you believe them TOO much?

Yes, someone looks at video footage, and reads a box score then professes to know everything about a football game.I think my biggest mistake is trying to argue with so many sharks in this forum. It really becomes counter productive.

You really take counterpoints to your posts as personal attacks, don't you?That's....well, good for you.

 

[pizzatyme]

2) Arrogance - I need to analyze teams better and take a step back and look at my team from a different perspective (not sure how???).

Seems like this is a common theme. Does it have to do with the atmosphere in here--where you're forced to defend your opinions so hard, that you believe them TOO much?

Yes, someone looks at video footage, and reads a box score then professes to know everything about a football game.I think my biggest mistake is trying to argue with so many sharks in this forum. It really becomes counter productive.

You really take counterpoints to your posts as personal attacks, don't you?That's....well, good for you.

"Yes, you were at the game. Good for you. That doesn't make your interpretation of what happened any better than ours, because you're clearly blinded by something."I would take that as a personal attack on my judgement as a person who saw a game in person, yes.

 

[Keys Myaths]

2) Arrogance - I need to analyze teams better and take a step back and look at my team from a different perspective (not sure how???).

Seems like this is a common theme. Does it have to do with the atmosphere in here--where you're forced to defend your opinions so hard, that you believe them TOO much?

Yes, someone looks at video footage, and reads a box score then professes to know everything about a football game.I think my biggest mistake is trying to argue with so many sharks in this forum. It really becomes counter productive.

You really take counterpoints to your posts as personal attacks, don't you?That's....well, good for you.

"Yes, you were at the game. Good for you. That doesn't make your interpretation of what happened any better than ours, because you're clearly blinded by something."I would take that as a personal attack on my judgement as a person who saw a game in person, yes.

No, that's just stating my opinion, honestly. That's your only response to ANY argument put forward in there...which is why I said you're blinded by something.Seriously, it wasn't. I rarely do that in here anymore, and honestly, it wouldn't be you I'd go after.I'm one of the saner people in here. If you're upset by that, there's going to be serious issues in your future.

 

[Avery]

I guess this is an extention on the arrogence theme.

I tend to overvalue my own players. The arrogence ties in with thinking that if I picked the player in the first place, he must be good even if his stats don't show it yet. Sure, I often have some end of the bench fodder who I'm happy to dump for the next hot waiver wire pickup, but I'm sometimes hesitent to close a deal thinking that the player I'm trading away is about to "bust out" and I don't want to sell low on him.

What can I do about it?

I do repeat the matra of not falling in love with any player whether he is on my team or not. I think checking in with resources like the "Shark Pool" help for although I do make my own decisions about a player (sometimes right and sometimes wrong) it does help serve as a general barometer about what others think about a player. The masses aren't always right, and I don't always listen, but if I'm out on a limb by myself for sometime on a player, maybe its time to realistically re-examine the true value of that player.

 

[nerangers]

I think for me it has become over-analyzing my teams. I used to be more willing to play by my gut feelings, but now I am constantly reading up on all my players, etc. Too much information can actually be a bad thing.

Example, week 1 I already had benched my starting QB for my backup based on everything I read. They both did about the same (poorly I might add). In years past, my backup player would be just that. Every week it seems like I am wishing I had left my roster alone instead of tweaking it on the weekends based on all the information out there.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

My weakness is hoping that players will "turn it around" or "break out." I will keep players on the bench in hopes of them turning into the next big thing or justifying a high draft pick. I don't want to drop them and then have them fill the stat sheet for someone else's team, but they usually stink it up and I'm left there holding onto crap. Case in point: Last year I drafted Mi Clayton in the 3rd round (2 player keeper league). He wasn't producing but because he was a high draft pick, I didn't want to part with him.

This year I will shop those players around. Maybe another owner feels the same way I do and I can turn an ugly situation into something productive. Damn, this is like therapy. How much am I being charged per hour, and when is my next appointment?

 

[redjake]

I tend to overvalue my own players.

You are so not alone. Everyone in my league feels the same way you do...

 

[intrinsic]

A problem i realize i have is overlooking a horrible team's bleak chances during the season to realize SOMEONE must catch and run the ball for them.

Every year, even when the stats are staring me in the face, i tend to look past the Eddie Kennisons and Antonio Bryants for the "sexier" which ends up being someone who will not score as well or as consistantly.

 

[nerangers]

Just because the Draft Dominator says you drafted the best team, does not mean you will win every game.

 

[stevegamer]

My biggest problem depends on the league:

In my redraft league(s), it has always been getting eliminated in the playoffs by much lower seeds. Either I don't pay enough attention to playoff schedule, or I mis-read the schedule and think good matchups are bad and vice-versa.

In my dynasty league, it's getting talent in the first 2 rounds of the draft. Yes, you read that right. It's a deep IDP league, and my mid-late round picks have worked out great. Wen your 1st 2 rounds the last 4 years have been: Rogers/Pinner, KJones/KWinslow, MClayton/Pearman, and VDavis/traded for DJax, you've got problems. I simply cannot predict offensive rookies with any accuracy, unless they are at the position I don't need: QB.

 

[bentley]

Booze.

Nobody else? Seriously?

 

[Jackal King]

I put WAY too much emphasis on the mental aspects of the game. Last year....I grabbed Deuce and Horn because I was convinced that the Saints would carry the banner of everyone who lost everything to Katrina.

This year...I'm all over Branch because he's going to be on a mission to show everyone what a mistake the Patriots made in their handling of his situation. I'm much better off ignoring that stuff because it seems to almost always be irrelevant and short term at best.

That and booze.

 

[HALtheCOW]

My weakness is QBs. I just cannot bring myself to roster a good one. Normally this wouldn't be such a terrible flaw, but anything in excess is dangerous. I play in two main leagues (both very deep) (both auction). One of them is 16 team start 1QB (1pt/20 passing, 6 pt TD). My fellow owners spend way too much on QBs. Every year some idiot spends big money on 2 QBs (this is a worst flaw and always cost the owner the season). However, then the other owners start to buy backups. You see the problem. I end up with totally crap and every year I just refuse to do anything about it. I end up with flaky starters and am hoping I can manage to get more bad starters after the injuries start. My team is always starts in a hole b/c of the QB position.

The second league is a 14 team league, Start 2 QB. Now, I have done the math. I know how valuable this will make the QBs, but I just cant ever pay the price that it takes to get any quality. So I end up with Pennigton/Alex Smith (so far, so good this year). I always think the next QB will finally go for value and they almost never do.

QBs.......Gotta Learn to Love Them.

 

[Sister Havana]

I am horrible at lineup decisions. i'd be a much better FF owner if all i did were draft. week-to-week, i'm a liability.

This is me. It seems I always leave points on the bench and they seem to always cost me in the W-L.

Me too. I tend to way overanalyze matchups and stuff, and whenever I'm seriously torn between two players it seems like I make the wrong choice most of the time. It also seems like the closer to gametime I make a switch, the more likely the person I switched to will do squat and the person I switched from will go off on my bench.