Shark guilt? (1 Viewer)

[Concept Coop]

Does anybody have "Shark Guilt" when playing Fantasy Football with less informed friends, family, co-workers, et cetera?

I did two re-drafts over the weekend, in which strange picks were the norm - a big difference from the dynasty leagues I play in. In a nutshell, defenses being drafted in the first 5-6 rounds, kickers drafted before #3 running backs, and Hakeem Nicks falling to me in the 3rd, in both.

Anybody else feel a little guilty?

On a side note: The under informed love to use the term "He's gonna blow up this year" a lot, usually after bad picks.

 

[Wadsworth]

No guilt at all. But with friends and family member I would offer advice and send them to sources like this forum where they can grow as fantasy owners. If they choose not to learn then that's on them and just consider beating up on them in the meantime a tax on education.

 

[Ariakis]

Heck no ... they tend to make head scratcher picks but somehow score high points the week they play YOU.

 

[Nate]

No.

 

[CentralPA]

Show no mercy!

 

[belljr]

No unless a person is in way over their head. I don't question anyone's draft anymore because I've seen the worst draft on paper end up winning it all and the best team on paper stink it up. We have one guy in our leauge that always makes questionable picks and off the wall picks. I'd say those odd picks are working out 50% of the time for him.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Heck no ... they tend to make head scratcher picks but somehow score high points the week they play YOU.

Or they somehow come up with a 10-3 record despite being 9th in points scored.

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

Why would you want to play in leagues like that? Is it to make you feel better when you lose to me?

 

[ImTheScientist]

Does anybody have "Shark Guilt" when playing Fantasy Football with less informed friends, family, co-workers, et cetera?I did two re-drafts over the weekend, in which strange picks were the norm - a big difference from the dynasty leagues I play in. In a nutshell, defenses being drafted in the first 5-6 rounds, kickers drafted before #3 running backs, and Hakeem Nicks falling to me in the 3rd, in both. Anybody else feel a little guilty?On a side note: The under informed love to use the term "He's gonna blow up this year" a lot, usually after bad picks.

I don't bother with playing with people that have inferior FF knowledge.

 

[Concept Coop]

Why would you want to play in leagues like that? Is it to make you feel better when you lose to me?

Friends and family. I get much more enjoyment out of competingwith and beating informed owners like you. But, it is nice to play wither people closer to me, as well. For different reasons, I guess.

 

[griff321]

Does anybody have "Shark Guilt" when playing Fantasy Football with less informed friends, family, co-workers, et cetera?I did two re-drafts over the weekend, in which strange picks were the norm - a big difference from the dynasty leagues I play in. In a nutshell, defenses being drafted in the first 5-6 rounds, kickers drafted before #3 running backs, and Hakeem Nicks falling to me in the 3rd, in both. Anybody else feel a little guilty?On a side note: The under informed love to use the term "He's gonna blow up this year" a lot, usually after bad picks.

I don't bother with playing with people that have inferior FF knowledge.

I hate easy money too.

 

[FUBAR]

No unless a person is in way over their head. I don't question anyone's draft anymore because I've seen the worst draft on paper end up winning it all and the best team on paper stink it up. We have one guy in our leauge that always makes questionable picks and off the wall picks. I'd say those odd picks are working out 50% of the time for him.

A few years back I played in a work league with a guy who writes for one of the ff mags, a few others that seemed to understand ff and 5 who were just there to hang out and drink beer. The writer finished out of the playoffs, I barely made them and got thrashed, the top 3 were teams that seemed clueless. There is so much luck involved that I won't ever feel guilty about being informed.

 

[Addai's Adidas]

Don't feel guilty until you've won it. And you probably won't.

 

[Funkley]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.

 

[DoubleG]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.

Not only that, but the "clueless" have to care sooooo little, it doesn't bother me at all. If anyone cares, even in the slightest, they can find countless resources to help them. IMHO, at this point in the FF landscape, there are 2 types of people:1) The people who have decent knowledge2) Those that don't care. If people in group 2 don't care about increasing their knowledge, why should I care about taking their league donation (...ermm...fees) every year?This also holds true for "active" vs. "inactive". In a dynasty league I'm in, it's not coinicidence that the teams that trade/utilize the waiver wire the most, have also won it all the most times - and have made the playoffs/money consistantly. Meanwhile, the teams that sit on their hands during the offseason (and during the season), don't answer trade emails, etc. (either because they don't want to trade or simply don't care) usually finish near the bottom. Same principle - if they don't care enough to make their team better, I don't care about beating them.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

I don't question anyone's draft anymore because I've seen the worst draft on paper end up winning it all and the best team on paper stink it up.

Getting all puffed up because you spend way too much time looking at FF information and forum boards is a recipe for humble pie. No one wins a damned thing on draft night.

 

[Concept Coop]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.

Good point.The difference is really established in the later rounds. Although, they under informed have little concept of value, and will take who they think is the best option, regardless of the flow of the draft, tiers, et cetera. They can usually get a pretty good starting lineup. That is where the luck really comes into play. Even if they draft Desean Jackson over Hakeem Nicks because they see Jackson on Sportscenter more often, or are an Eagles fan, there is plenty of potential for that pick to work out for them, even though most in the know would strongly disagree.The difference seems to really go into effect once they have drafted their starters, however. Also, the spread sheets are far too generic to rely on. They don't adjust them for flex options, starting requirements, TE=WR, scoring, start 2 QB, Superflex, et cetera.

 

[NeverEnough]

No way, I just smile as I draft the value they let fall to me.

 

[Concept Coop]

I don't question anyone's draft anymore because I've seen the worst draft on paper end up winning it all and the best team on paper stink it up.

Getting all puffed up because you spend way too much time looking at FF information and forum boards is a recipe for humble pie. No one wins a damned thing on draft night.

Luck plays a major part, but there are plenty parallels to poker. Over time, the good players win more often that the under informed.

 

[Funkley]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.

Good point.The difference is really established in the later rounds. Although, they under informed have little concept of value, and will take who they think is the best option, regardless of the flow of the draft, tiers, et cetera. They can usually get a pretty good starting lineup. That is where the luck really comes into play. Even if they draft Desean Jackson over Hakeem Nicks because they see Jackson on Sportscenter more often, or are an Eagles fan, there is plenty of potential for that pick to work out for them, even though most in the know would strongly disagree.The difference seems to really go into effect once they have drafted their starters, however. Also, the spread sheets are far too generic to rely on. They don't adjust them for flex options, starting requirements, TE=WR, scoring, start 2 QB, Superflex, et cetera.

we, the "informed", tell ourselves this but the same place they got their cheatsheet from also had their last minute sleepers and late round finds. They are within 80% or so of us on information with 2-3 clicks.

 

[belljr]

I don't question anyone's draft anymore because I've seen the worst draft on paper end up winning it all and the best team on paper stink it up.

Getting all puffed up because you spend way too much time looking at FF information and forum boards is a recipe for humble pie. No one wins a damned thing on draft night.

Luck plays a major part, but there are plenty parallels to poker. Over time, the good players win more often that the under informed.

True. We have had the same 12 guys for 9 years and 10 of us the last 17. In those 17 years the same 7 maybe 8 are fighting for the playoffs while the same 4 or 5 struggle. Now you have those years where the 4 or 5 win it all etc, but over the whole time there is definitely a difference between the groups. The gap is not as far apart now with internet and news everywhere, plus cheatsheets et al.Back when the newspaper and a magazine was your source of material, there was a much wider gap.

 

[Concept Coop]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.

Good point.The difference is really established in the later rounds. Although, they under informed have little concept of value, and will take who they think is the best option, regardless of the flow of the draft, tiers, et cetera. They can usually get a pretty good starting lineup. That is where the luck really comes into play. Even if they draft Desean Jackson over Hakeem Nicks because they see Jackson on Sportscenter more often, or are an Eagles fan, there is plenty of potential for that pick to work out for them, even though most in the know would strongly disagree.The difference seems to really go into effect once they have drafted their starters, however. Also, the spread sheets are far too generic to rely on. They don't adjust them for flex options, starting requirements, TE=WR, scoring, start 2 QB, Superflex, et cetera.

we, the "informed", tell ourselves this but the same place they got their cheatsheet from also had their last minute sleepers and late round finds. They are within 80% or so of us on information with 2-3 clicks.

I strongly disagree. A cheat sheet can tell you that Mark Ingram is a better pick than Mario Manningham. But that offers very little value without context. Getting Ingram in the 5th round has very different value in every draft, even in mirror systems (rules/scoring, etc). The biggest thing I have learned over the years is how to predict, affect, adapt to, and generally "feel" the flow of the draft. No cheat sheet is going to do that for you. So the uninformed will often take players at a "good spot" on paper, not understanding that they could get similar value at the same position next round, with players at other positions are drying up. And this is assuming the spreadsheet is specific for the rules, which they often are not.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Sharks have no guilt.

J

 

[dagwood]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.

Good point.The difference is really established in the later rounds. Although, they under informed have little concept of value, and will take who they think is the best option, regardless of the flow of the draft, tiers, et cetera. They can usually get a pretty good starting lineup. That is where the luck really comes into play. Even if they draft Desean Jackson over Hakeem Nicks because they see Jackson on Sportscenter more often, or are an Eagles fan, there is plenty of potential for that pick to work out for them, even though most in the know would strongly disagree.The difference seems to really go into effect once they have drafted their starters, however. Also, the spread sheets are far too generic to rely on. They don't adjust them for flex options, starting requirements, TE=WR, scoring, start 2 QB, Superflex, et cetera.

we, the "informed", tell ourselves this but the same place they got their cheatsheet from also had their last minute sleepers and late round finds. They are within 80% or so of us on information with 2-3 clicks.

I strongly disagree. A cheat sheet can tell you that Mark Ingram is a better pick than Mario Manningham. But that offers very little value without context. Getting Ingram in the 5th round has very different value in every draft, even in mirror systems (rules/scoring, etc). The biggest thing I have learned over the years is how to predict, affect, adapt to, and generally "feel" the flow of the draft. No cheat sheet is going to do that for you. So the uninformed will often take players at a "good spot" on paper, not understanding that they could get similar value at the same position next round, with players at other positions are drying up. And this is assuming the spreadsheet is specific for the rules, which they often are not.

Are you done patting yourself on the back, yet?

 

[Jayrod]

For the last 5 years, I have run a family and friends redraft league with a crew of people who mostly rely on the yahoo draft lists I provide. However, I have won the league only one time in those 5 years. That one time I absolutely dominated wire to wire, but there was one year I even didn't make the playoffs.

Luck has a lot to do with it. You can have the perfect draft, but if your first round pick blows out his knee and/or some waiver wire pickup ends up as the top QB making an average team great, you may not even make the playoffs.

Unless it is so bad that people are drafting 2 QB's in the first two rounds of a start 1 league or drafting LT in the first round, you shouldn't feel bad at all. You are likely going to lose anyway.

 

[Concept Coop]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.

Good point.The difference is really established in the later rounds. Although, they under informed have little concept of value, and will take who they think is the best option, regardless of the flow of the draft, tiers, et cetera. They can usually get a pretty good starting lineup. That is where the luck really comes into play. Even if they draft Desean Jackson over Hakeem Nicks because they see Jackson on Sportscenter more often, or are an Eagles fan, there is plenty of potential for that pick to work out for them, even though most in the know would strongly disagree.The difference seems to really go into effect once they have drafted their starters, however. Also, the spread sheets are far too generic to rely on. They don't adjust them for flex options, starting requirements, TE=WR, scoring, start 2 QB, Superflex, et cetera.

we, the "informed", tell ourselves this but the same place they got their cheatsheet from also had their last minute sleepers and late round finds. They are within 80% or so of us on information with 2-3 clicks.

I strongly disagree. A cheat sheet can tell you that Mark Ingram is a better pick than Mario Manningham. But that offers very little value without context. Getting Ingram in the 5th round has very different value in every draft, even in mirror systems (rules/scoring, etc). The biggest thing I have learned over the years is how to predict, affect, adapt to, and generally "feel" the flow of the draft. No cheat sheet is going to do that for you. So the uninformed will often take players at a "good spot" on paper, not understanding that they could get similar value at the same position next round, with players at other positions are drying up. And this is assuming the spreadsheet is specific for the rules, which they often are not.

Are you done patting yourself on the back, yet?

?Not my intention at all. Just pointing out that a spreadsheet is not going to calculate (Live) VBD for you. I am assuming that everyone reading this is what I would call a shark.

 

[imagroid]

No it won't do that, but it will give an entirely clueless person a decent chance at having a winning team. Obviously we have an edge over these people, but it's very negligible in the short term.

 

[Funkley]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.I

Good point.The difference is really established in the later rounds. Although, they under informed have little concept of value, and will take who they think is the best option, regardless of the flow of the draft, tiers, et cetera. They can usually get a pretty good starting lineup. That is where the luck really comes into play. Even if they draft Desean Jackson over Hakeem Nicks because they see Jackson on Sportscenter more often, or are an Eagles fan, there is plenty of potential for that pick to work out for them, even though most in the know would strongly disagree.The difference seems to really go into effect once they have drafted their starters, however. Also, the spread sheets are far too generic to rely on. They don't adjust them for flex options, starting requirements, TE=WR, scoring, start 2 QB, Superflex, et cetera.

we, the "informed", tell ourselves this but the same place they got their cheatsheet from also had their last minute sleepers and late round finds. They are within 80% or so of us on information with 2-3 clicks.

I strongly disagree. A cheat sheet can tell you that Mark Ingram is a better pick than Mario Manningham. But that offers very little value without context. Getting Ingram in the 5th round has very different value in every draft, even in mirror systems (rules/scoring, etc). The biggest thing I have learned over the years is how to predict, affect, adapt to, and generally "feel" the flow of the draft. No cheat sheet is going to do that for you. So the uninformed will often take players at a "good spot" on paper, not understanding that they could get similar value at the same position next round, with players at other positions are drying up. And this is assuming the spreadsheet is specific for the rules, which they often are not.

From my experience they are as likely to crap all over your plans by accident as much as their own. Like playing blackjack with a novice.

 

[Otis]

No such thing as Hawk guilt. There's predators and then there's prey and that's just the natural order of things. Just performing our god-given duties in the grand scheme of it all.

 

[GregR]

I agree that the gap has closed with the access to information that is out there. I also agree that Sharks don't have guilt. I once drafted for a newbie friend in league of newbies, and got him 6-7 of the top 16 or so RBs, in a league with 1 RB plus 3 flex positions that can start RB.

No guilt. We still laugh over it. Especially as they passed a rule the next year that I wasn't allowed to help anyone.

 

[Concept Coop]

No such thing as Hawk guilt. There's predators and then there's prey and that's just the natural order of things. Just performing our god-given duties in the grand scheme of it all.

Where does Darwin come into play?

 

[T with T]

Does anybody have "Shark Guilt" when playing Fantasy Football with less informed friends, family, co-workers, et cetera?I did two re-drafts over the weekend, in which strange picks were the norm - a big difference from the dynasty leagues I play in. In a nutshell, defenses being drafted in the first 5-6 rounds, kickers drafted before #3 running backs, and Hakeem Nicks falling to me in the 3rd, in both. Anybody else feel a little guilty?On a side note: The under informed love to use the term "He's gonna blow up this year" a lot, usually after bad picks.

I don't bother with playing with people that have inferior FF knowledge.

Me either, unless they are putting up some money $$$$. Even the most knowlegeable lose sometimes and guys that are total nutcases with there picks end up winning. I see it all the time, as the best player in the league this year may be on the FA wire, that's how Football is. I do however prefer competitive leagues with owners who know their stuff to make it more of a challenge when I take your money.

 

[imagroid]

Seriously? You won't play a casual work league or a league with friends that will probably be 100X more fun then a FBG league.

 

[Concept Coop]

Seriously? You won't play a casual work league or a league with friends that will probably be 100X more fun then a FBG league.

"No thanks, uncle/cousin/buddy/boss. I don't play with chum"

 

[Flying Elvis]

What is this . . . guilt . . . of which you speak?

I finally left a (crappy) friends league b/c there were apparently "rules" that I never even knew existed. While I was playing, though, it was plenty of fun to beat up on the clueless, considering the amount of trash talk the beer powered out of them at the live draft BBQ each year.

Most leagues have a cash cow or two if they're friends/family leagues. The fun there is generally more about being a fan and having a sure-fire way to keep in touch and talk some trash on a yearly basis.

 

[JamesTheScot]

Does anybody have "Shark Guilt" when playing Fantasy Football with less informed friends, family, co-workers, et cetera?I did two re-drafts over the weekend, in which strange picks were the norm - a big difference from the dynasty leagues I play in. In a nutshell, defenses being drafted in the first 5-6 rounds, kickers drafted before #3 running backs, and Hakeem Nicks falling to me in the 3rd, in both. Anybody else feel a little guilty?On a side note: The under informed love to use the term "He's gonna blow up this year" a lot, usually after bad picks.

I don't bother with playing with people that have inferior FF knowledge.

That's kinda where I come down on it. But if I do, it's for reasons other than competitiveness. I don't pull punches on my picks, but I keep my mouth shut too. Results speak for themselves and usually inspire an uptick in the learning curve for next year. But not matter what, #### about how someone is running their team. The only thing worse than some jackass dogging someone for how bad their picks are is for some arrogant jerk to try and fix someone else's team with his unsolicited little nuggets of wisdom.Better to put on a polite smile and work your way through that dry turkey at Thanksgiving than to spend a couple of nights in the doghouse because you were trying to give the wife some helpful advice.

 

[bryhamm]

Does anybody have "Shark Guilt" when playing Fantasy Football with less informed friends, family, co-workers, et cetera?I did two re-drafts over the weekend, in which strange picks were the norm - a big difference from the dynasty leagues I play in. In a nutshell, defenses being drafted in the first 5-6 rounds, kickers drafted before #3 running backs, and Hakeem Nicks falling to me in the 3rd, in both. Anybody else feel a little guilty?On a side note: The under informed love to use the term "He's gonna blow up this year" a lot, usually after bad picks.

Absolutely not. Too many times I have had the best team on paper, only to see some out-of-the-blue player explode for someone else or see injuries factor in to things.

 

[Lash]

no guilt

it helps pay the christmas credit card bills

 

[Couch Potato]

I don't bother with playing with people that have inferior FF knowledge.

Lucky for you just about all leagues are still available to you then.(ha ha, sorry couldn't resist!)

 

[Couch Potato]

I was in a local league once where a guy had to be brought in at the last minute to fill a spot for a late drop out. This was a bunch of years ago before FF was so popular and he really knew nothing about drafting. So he took a borrowed Street and Smith Football Guide and literally drafted guys he saw in pictures on the pages, reasoning that if they are pictured they must be good. I think he finished 5th of 10 teams. Not exactly VBD strategy but not completely unsound either.

Do I feel guilt when I play inferior competition? No way. I'm too paranoid to assume anyone is inferior.

 

[Mister CIA]

 

[De Novo]

A recent cheatsheet and a pulse gives everyone a shot these days. The ol' days with little to no info......now that was tough. The clueless were humiliated. Now, they can win with a decent cheatsheet and luck.

This is why I don't feel guilty. I play in competitive leagues but every year there are 1 or 2 guys who are working 100 hour weeks or just had a baby and didn't do any research that year and base their draft off past ff knowledge and a good cheat sheet. It kills me to see a guy print up a cheat sheet 30 seconds before drafting and end up with players who've shot up the draftboards like Felix Jones, Hightower, and Reggie Bush. Because of this, I have no remorse whatsoever.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

This magic tool called the internet has all the info these folks will ever need. Do they use it? Do you feel bad for folks overweight even though there is more info than ever on how to maintain their health?

I play in many highly competitive FBG type league. I have 3-4 others that are mostly local leagues with less informed people but it's not like I go 4-0 in these leagues every year. I make the playoffs most of the time unless I hit a rash of bad injuries but once you get there you need some luck.

The money from the local leagues pays for the entry fees in more competitive leagues where I can have my butt handed to me by the FBG types, it's a vicious cycle.

 

[coolnerd]

It took me like 4 years to win my in-person friends and family league, so I not only don't have guilt but play it just like I would a "money" or "FGBs" league. In fact, I am comfortable enough to share information/ideas when asked or it just comes up in discussion. Just more fun for me this way.

 

[wiscstlatlmia]

Are any sites competitive with footballguys? we should have a huge thread-off and defeat them lol

 

[identikit]

Does anybody have "Shark Guilt" when playing Fantasy Football with less informed friends, family, co-workers, et cetera?

I did two re-drafts over the weekend, in which strange picks were the norm - a big difference from the dynasty leagues I play in. In a nutshell, defenses being drafted in the first 5-6 rounds, kickers drafted before #3 running backs, and Hakeem Nicks falling to me in the 3rd, in both.

Anybody else feel a little guilty?

On a side note: The under informed love to use the term "He's gonna blow up this year" a lot, usually after bad picks.

There should be noticeable differences between the 2 bolded.

 

[habsfan]

This magic tool called the internet has all the info these folks will ever need. Do they use it? Do you feel bad for folks overweight even though there is more info than ever on how to maintain their health?

Ironically, I was about to comment on the annual rash of threads that get started by people this same week every year, asking for info and opinions on "player x" or "situation y" because they don't want to digest the 10 page topics already here on those very subjects. The Internet is a wonderful research tool but equally leveraged for instant "information gratification".

 

[firstseason1988]

Does anybody have "Shark Guilt" when playing Fantasy Football with less informed friends, family, co-workers, et cetera?I did two re-drafts over the weekend, in which strange picks were the norm - a big difference from the dynasty leagues I play in. In a nutshell, defenses being drafted in the first 5-6 rounds, kickers drafted before #3 running backs, and Hakeem Nicks falling to me in the 3rd, in both. Anybody else feel a little guilty?On a side note: The under informed love to use the term "He's gonna blow up this year" a lot, usually after bad picks.

The story of my life in fantasy football with friends. Especially back in the 90s when no one had the internet to explain VBD to them. One year, 94 maybe, fools drafted Qb Qb Qb... I had 6th pick, "uh, emmitt smith" qb, qb... 2nd round some rbs taken, "uh, Jerry Rice."I crushed the league, emmitt set the record for TDs and Rice was 2nd in Tds, it was a joke. But yeah, I would feel bad, but I figured it out on my own back then. Drafts these days go better, but you always get crazy picks. whatver

 

[beerbarron]

Id much rather play with competent owners.. Part time owners cause to much trouble and once they realize they are horrible and their team sucks.. Then quit the league and leave an unsaveable team which cause all kinds of league issues..