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How many play their fantasy bowls on week 17? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Jbl1967
- Start date
In the only league that I really care about (18 year old dynasty league) we play our championship on week 17. I'm actually a very firm believer in the notion that if there is a regular season football game being played we should play fantasy that week. I think there is more volatility in that final week with some teams trying to make the playoffs and others resting their players but I hate the argument that we should change the fantasy season to make sure that someone's stud isn't on the bench. Tough luck. Plan for it. Scour the waiver wire or trade for someone whose team will need to be playing hard. It adds another dimension to the strategy of the game. Furthermore not all teams are resting players at the end of the season anymore. Several teams have wrapped up their place in the playoffs and kept competing to keep their players sharp.The logic that says to play the Championship game on week 16 is flawed. Some teams rest their starters for more than the last game of the season. Should you play championship games on week 14 or 15 to make sure nobody is resting?I spend about 30 weeks of the year desperately anxious for the fantasy football season. I love every weekend that I am watching football with fantasy teams in the mix. Why cut out one week of that if I don't have to? In summation I am a big believer in week 17 championships.
Thank you, that is a great point!
DarkManX
Footballguy
I like the idea of having the playoffs be weeks 16-17. As was said above, if there is a week to be played it should count regardless if teams rest their starters week before the season ends or not. In my main league we always play our championship game on week 16. It has been a long-term keeper league, stretching for around 8 years now and we took a general consensus when we first began and majority was for weeks 15-16 to be the playoff schedule.
When preparing for the draft I believe every week should be taken into account. Nobody can plan for players being benched by their given NFL team so early in the season and that can hinder a team greatly come championship time but thats just part of the game, twists and turns you cant plan for on draft day. It happens every week with players being injured and whatnot, so why should it change come playoff/championship time?
When preparing for the draft I believe every week should be taken into account. Nobody can plan for players being benched by their given NFL team so early in the season and that can hinder a team greatly come championship time but thats just part of the game, twists and turns you cant plan for on draft day. It happens every week with players being injured and whatnot, so why should it change come playoff/championship time?
PosterNutBag
Footballguy
I am a firm believer that the championship game should be in week 16 b/c history shows that too many teams with nothing to play for in week 17 will end up resting their studs (which adversely affects FF in an indirect way). It's just a bad idea to take players that have carried teams out of the equation in the game that means the most to the FF league. I wish this was not the case (thus making week 17 a feasible week in which to play, but IMO there is no way week 17 should be considered).
comfortably numb
Footballguy
No, all mine are week 16.
It is a far point, but I don't think the argument for week 16 fantasy bowl is flawed.
Yea, we can "plan" for it, and we can not avoid inj, or NFL teams benching players, but how do you plan for a team playing someone for only 1 QTr or half on week 17
Do you bench LT even though he will play week 17, then have him only get 3 carries for the 1st half and get rested.
Im in very deep leagues where very few teams have depth, and i am all for hardcore competition and strategy needed, but I just would not like setting up a team to go 14-1, and then have to rest Manning, Wayne, LT for Garcia, Stokely, and Perry.
but, in the end, whatever works for ech owner is what is most important.
It is a far point, but I don't think the argument for week 16 fantasy bowl is flawed.
Yea, we can "plan" for it, and we can not avoid inj, or NFL teams benching players, but how do you plan for a team playing someone for only 1 QTr or half on week 17
Do you bench LT even though he will play week 17, then have him only get 3 carries for the 1st half and get rested.
Im in very deep leagues where very few teams have depth, and i am all for hardcore competition and strategy needed, but I just would not like setting up a team to go 14-1, and then have to rest Manning, Wayne, LT for Garcia, Stokely, and Perry.
but, in the end, whatever works for ech owner is what is most important.
Ruffrodys05
IBL Representative
In my 12-team, 5-player keeper league we have playoffs weeks 15 through 17. Good money on the line.
Playing the championship in week 17 forces a playoff caliber team to make sure they can field a strong line-up with suitable backups if they want to win the title. Chances are your stud(s) may be sitting week 17, so you have to make sure you are prepared to go the distance.
I prefer championship games in week 17 because it is a challenge to win that game with studs on the bench and backups in your starting roster.
Playing the championship in week 17 forces a playoff caliber team to make sure they can field a strong line-up with suitable backups if they want to win the title. Chances are your stud(s) may be sitting week 17, so you have to make sure you are prepared to go the distance.
I prefer championship games in week 17 because it is a challenge to win that game with studs on the bench and backups in your starting roster.
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Neil Beaufort Zod
Footballguy
I played in a really fun league that had its playoffs during the NFL playoffs. One cool aspect of it was instead of your NFL players not caring about the game (week 16 or 17, maybe playing out the string), every player played like it was a playoff game-- because it was.
But I agree that playing in week 17 isn't radically different than playing in week 16. Why deny yourself an extra week of football? That being said, all my leagues have championships in week 16. I think it's just standard practice these days.
But I agree that playing in week 17 isn't radically different than playing in week 16. Why deny yourself an extra week of football? That being said, all my leagues have championships in week 16. I think it's just standard practice these days.
Liquid Tension
Footballguy
Except for the fact that I disagree 100% with your logic.With this logic you might as well play during the playoffs..."tough luck if your team didn't make it, plan for it!"
Liquid Tension
Footballguy
Because it makes so much more sense.You won't get many people to post here because it is almost indisputable that if you want a competitive league where luck is reduced and talent prevails you don't want your playoffs in week 17.
That being said, if you are happy with week 17 playoffs than have fun at it; that is why we play... to have fun.
Tecmo
Footballguy
having teams that get to the playoffs get to ride their horses that got them there far outweighs the joys of playing 1 more regular season game, imho. Sure you can plan for it on a 12 team league, not so easy to deal with in a 16 team league.
But seriously, put yourself in the shoes of the championship game... you want your horses out there. Playing all these oddball sort players just doesn't feel like THE game. I guarantee you will hate w17 bowl games if you lose $$$ while your studs aren't playable.
All for what? 14 regular season games instead of 13. Not worth it, better to have a real bowl game
But seriously, put yourself in the shoes of the championship game... you want your horses out there. Playing all these oddball sort players just doesn't feel like THE game. I guarantee you will hate w17 bowl games if you lose $$$ while your studs aren't playable.
All for what? 14 regular season games instead of 13. Not worth it, better to have a real bowl game
I've been playing FF since 185 and have always had our "Superbowl" in week 17. I agree 100% with the logic as stated by Chreesto, and think the extension of that logic as stated by Liquid Tension is sound also. That's why my league ends it's regular season in week 17 of the NFL season, then start a NFL playoffs contest that goes through to the NFL Superbowl. Not a single NFL game is wasted, unless you count the Probowl. When I can think up a good contest for that, I'll include it, too.
tonystrong
Footballguy
A valid argument can be made for week 16 or week 17. It all depends on how the people in your league feel.
My league has a week 16 super bowl. However, the highest scoring team each week receives a $50 bonus so everyone continues to enter lineups through week 17 no matter what.
My league has a week 16 super bowl. However, the highest scoring team each week receives a $50 bonus so everyone continues to enter lineups through week 17 no matter what.
Das Boot
Footballguy
And vice versa I'm sure.
kaa
Footballguy
The problem with having a championship game in week 16 is that ... it doesn't fix the problem. The 2005 Colts clinched HFA in week 15, and Peyton Manning sat out both weeks 16 and 17. Well he threw a few passes each week "to keep fresh" but had no meaningful stats to speak of. This happens once in a while.
If you really want to avoid having your studs unavailable during your fantasy season because the NFL club benched them for clinching early, you should hold your title game in week 15.
If you really want to avoid having your studs unavailable during your fantasy season because the NFL club benched them for clinching early, you should hold your title game in week 15.
cubbie5150
Footballguy
12 team redraft league in existence for its 13th year now, and we play the championship game week 17. We have 3 4 team divisions, and the commish feels this is the only way to do it as it means each team plays it's division opponents twice, and everyone else once (weeks 1 - 14) for the regular season. No one seems to want to take away a playoff round (week 15) just to avoid playing in week 17, and everyone wants to continue to play division opponents twice during the regular season, as well as guarantee that evry team plays every other non-division team once.
comfortably numb
Footballguy
hauser42
Footballguy
This is same set up our league is, and we have played since 1990. Our league loves having a full season of games. Yes sometimes the best team doesn't win the championship, but that also can happen by being beaten before the title game.Some years are worse than others when it comes to teams sitting out players, it all comes down to how much of the playoff seeds are settled in the NFL.
PosterNutBag
Footballguy
I agree. You have to draw the line somewhere and the above mentioned example is a VERY rare situation since I have been playing FF for the past 13 years.Unrelated to the above quote, I think the "plan for it" argument from the "week 17 championship game" crowd is silly. How can you plan on what a coach might do when the trade deadline in most leagues is in week 10? You can't plan for it b/c in today's NFL parity world you have no idea who will have a first round bye and home field wrapped up heading into week 17. That's silly to think someone can plan for that. I can't blame those teams for resting their studs either since I would do the same thing in a meaningless game. I would never participate in a league that didn't end in week 16.
Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
I don't like ffl play in week 17 - just me I guess. We have limited waiver wire opportunities so it wouldn't well in our league anyway. I just don't understand the logic of putting together a good team for the year - only to have a couple of key guys sit in the championship. This is different than adjusting your team with studs with more favorable match ups. How big are your rosters?
We have 53 man rosters, and the reason i was asking is because we play a 16 game schedule and i do not schedule our double-headers on bye weeks. Well when the whole thing with the texans went down, it screwed our schedule up big time as i did not think it would be fair to have owners with those two teams getting stuck playing a double-header with their players on bye weeks. We have a full IDP league and it would have affected them. So i canceled the doubleheaders for weeks 2 and 3. Now we are revisiting the topic again, as it made no difference at the time. We would either have to play a triple header on weeks 11 and 12 or add another week to our regular season (12 games to 13 games) and have our fantasy bowl on week 17 for this year only.So i wanted to see if there were still leagues that had week 17 championship games. I did away with them five years ago.Thanks for the reply.
The High Priest
Footballguy
I like the week 17 championship, adds one more level of strategy. 
In my league it puts more money in the pot.
In my league it puts more money in the pot.
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
The two money leagues in which I play have always done a Week 17 Super Bowl. I like it, and there have been very few complaints about it. Both leagues also splits the money between the playoffs and overall points, so perhaps why there has been virtually no push for a Week 16 Super Bowl in either league.
Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
Wow! 53 man rosters - that does make it a good deal more workable, but still impacts your studs that may sit. I would expect (but just don't know) that most leagues have roster sizes around 16 - 22 or so. I am suprised at the number of responses here loving a week 17 championship. We do a general side bet and pool for those that still need to squeeze something out of the last week.
The Man With No Name
Footballguy
My local 12 team IDP league has a week 17 championship and always has (16 years). You just have to plan for it.
My planning failed in 2006 when Detroit beat Dallas. That clinched the division for the Eagles, so they rested their players, of which I had 2 in my lineup. Lost by 6 measly points.
My planning failed in 2006 when Detroit beat Dallas. That clinched the division for the Eagles, so they rested their players, of which I had 2 in my lineup. Lost by 6 measly points.
hauser42
Footballguy
And you knew the rules coming in so you can not be as upset as most would think. Like I said before we have played for we have played since 1990 and not once has it been brought up that we should change the week we play for the title. This league also does a ton of bragging on where you are in career wins.
That's the first rule I look at when considering joining a new league. I will never join a league with a week 17 championship.
Sure, it's nice to get the extra week, but I refuse to spend all that time and lose the championship because two or three of my best players aren't playing because their team clinched.
Hell, if it's just more weeks you're after, and don't care whether or not the stars play, why not go all out and start including the pre-season games? 21 weeks is even better than 17.
Sure, it's nice to get the extra week, but I refuse to spend all that time and lose the championship because two or three of my best players aren't playing because their team clinched.
Hell, if it's just more weeks you're after, and don't care whether or not the stars play, why not go all out and start including the pre-season games? 21 weeks is even better than 17.
Fantasy_Freak
Footballguy
The league I have been in for the past 18 yrs has the championship game in week 17. The league is a 16 team start 10 league, I have been trying to get guys in my league to comearound and change the championship in week 16 with a pro bowl in week 17. The pro bowl would entail every team starting 1 qb, 1 wr, and 1 rb, the winner would win $100. Just abouteveryone voted it down. The argument againstwas that they wanted as many regular season games as possible, plus they felt their would be an unfair schedule. My feeling was this, pretty much the championship game is comprised of the 2 best teams in the league and why have a championship game where a team is handicapped because the starter is sitting. Here's a prime example, last year I was one of the top teams, I was forced to sit Reggie Wayne who was one of mybest players last year. I had ot sit him because he didn't see the field because the Colts had their playoff position locked up. My statement to my fellow owners was, "we are playing for a nice sum of money, why have the championship where back-ups are forced to play and decide the championship."
Personally, I dont like it, but the majority rules and I am forced to accept it.
Personally, I dont like it, but the majority rules and I am forced to accept it.
ffinmyblood
Footballguy
Week 17 ends the Regular Season in the NFL, thus it should also signal the end of your Fantasy season. Having depth is the key. My $$$ league is a significant amount of money, but I couldn't care less about that....I want the title and the bragging rights.
Fantasy Freak makes a good point, no matter who or how many/what percentage of people disagree with his point. I only play $$$ 3 FF leagues (down from 7), and all three are vastly different, on purpose. The one I hate/love the most has the championship in week 17. This is how it's been for 12 years now and it is a pain but cool at the same time. I'm not saying I've agreed with it all 12 years (I hated it most of the time), but I learned to deal with it and adapt my late season trades/WW moves accordingly. It's different, but there's nothing wrong with it..everyone has the same deck to deal with.Liquid Tension said:
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Studs not playing in week 17 is a very common occurance. Very common.Every now and again, you get a team that is so far out in front that they no longer can even affect a playoff spot or home field in week 16. This, however, happens rarely and in my 16 years of playing fantasy football, can only remember it being an issue 3 or 4 times.Your logic is flawed.
Deepster
Footballguy
I commish a league that's been around for 15-16 years. This is the first year the league took it to a vote and switched our championship from Wk 17 to Wk 16.
Points I'll make where I agree with it?
1) It's a redraft, so you don't build your teams year over year....and one good draft pick or trade may be what it takes for you to win that year.
2) We have good prizes for the Championship as well as Total Pts Standings (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and the Total Pts goes through all 17 weeks. So, now Week 16 and Week 17 are like Championship Weeks for us.
I dunno. I don't think it really makes a difference. Personal preference.
Points I'll make where I agree with it?
1) It's a redraft, so you don't build your teams year over year....and one good draft pick or trade may be what it takes for you to win that year.
2) We have good prizes for the Championship as well as Total Pts Standings (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and the Total Pts goes through all 17 weeks. So, now Week 16 and Week 17 are like Championship Weeks for us.
I dunno. I don't think it really makes a difference. Personal preference.
Fingers Freddie
Footballguy
I am Commish for one league and we have been playing our championship in week 16 for 7 of 9 years. I think playing the championshiop in week 17 is a mistake. Why introduce a variable of such large magnitude that no one on earth could ever predict or plan for into the most important FF week? When they decide to rest LT, Barber, CJ3 is not what FF is all about IMO. I am in another leage (keeper) and we play the championship in week 16 as well.
If planning for players sitting or playing diminished time in week 17 is part of the startegy of FF, why not start your season during the pre-season?
If planning for players sitting or playing diminished time in week 17 is part of the startegy of FF, why not start your season during the pre-season?
Binky The Doormat
Footballguy
skillz
Footballguy
Super Bowl is Weeks 16 and 17. I tried to get it reduced to only Week 16 before the season started but everyone wanted to keep it as is. Commish keeps saying that the two week Super Bowl minimizes any harm in getting a star player benched for Week 17 and the rest of the league seems to have bought into his belief. It's not completely perfect but still better than a one week Super Bowl in Week 17.
I commish a relatively significant $$ league that's been around for 11 years. We're a 12 team league, we start 8 with a limited keeper rule. Our league is divided 7-5 right now with 7 Owners favoring Week 17 and 5 Owners favoring Week 16 (we've always had a Week 17 Superbowl). I think the most important thing to remember during Banquet/debate/discussion time is that there really is no 'right' answer. Its Owner preference and each 'side' has valid reasons for his/her position.
hove
Footballguy
Or put another way...
After years of playing our Super Bowl on week 17, we have switched to week 16 this season as it makes so much more sense for all the reasons already cited in this thread. We have retained our historical 14-week regular season- for statistical and historical purposes- and reduced the playoffs to weeks 15 and 16 (there is a losers' bracket for the teams which don't qualify for the four-team playoff). Week 17 is now simply a winner take all- highest point total wins the normal weekly payout.
