Strategy question (1 Viewer)

[baronson]

Just curious what the sharks think about being 4-4 after 8 weeks (i am in both my keep3 league and my redraft). in each league, i feel like i'm strong enough to make a run through the playoffs, but i've had some tough breaks so far this season. so, do you typically mess with a formula you think can work, and risk a couple other bad breaks, or do something drastic and make a run at a hitter??

now, i'm not looking for people to say "make a trade if it makes your team better," because i like to think i'm smart enough to know that. what i'm wondering is if people actually feel a necessity to improve, or if this is a record in which you can rest complacently if you like your team.

i think this is a good discussion in that it'll not only help other .500 owners, but it'll help understand the mindset of other .500 owners in your league and whether or not they're chomping at the bit to get a deal done.

personally, i'm inclined to hold, but i'll be doing so nervously. of course, i'll keep looking to improve, but am not feeling the impetus to NEED to do anything. although with a 13 week regular season, you really don't want that 5th loss before the 11th week, in my opinion. especially when in both my leagues, week 13 is "rivalry week" when you square off against your nemesis.

anyway, discuss.

 

[rolliehouliranson]

I agree with the hold attitude. This year has been the most completely screwed up year I have ever seen in terms of fantasy. All bets are off with trying to predict what will happen on any given week with any given player. Tatum Bell flat killed me this week. So, I'm just going with what I have and hoping I get some breaks down the stretch.

 

[Byron_nyc]

It really depends primarly on your league's playoff rules, and your playoff players.

I'm 4-4 in a ten man league, without divisions, where the top six teams make the playoffs. Tiebreakers are by total points. The top team is only 5-3, so I'm one game back, and third in total points. I'm sitting tight, and positioning for the playoffs as if I were 6-2.

In another league, a league with divisions with only the division winners go and the wild card go to the playoffs, a guy is 4-4 in a division with a guy who is 7-1. He is desparately trying to run the table, as he must.

All depends. What's your situation.

d

 

[H.K.]

Cheat.

 

[Snotbubbles]

I am currently the high scorer in one of my leagues but am sitting at 4-4. The past two weeks I've played the highest scoring team of the week. In this case, I am not going to do anything to my starting lineup. I figure (hope) that the law of averages will work in my favor and eventually I won't play the highest scoring team each week. I always look to move a player of players to improve a starting position, but I am not desperate to do so.

If I were 4-4 and mayber in the middle of the pack in scoring my outlook would be different.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

two of my leagues are 12 team leagues...we play a 13 week schedule witha double header in week 11 that allows us to play a total of 14 games....one game against everybody and additional game against other 3 teams in division.....

4-4 in one.........what I have really focused on is firming up the core of my team....my weekley starting lineup after the bye weeks will be over.....early in the year I draft and try to aquire depth.....but now at 4-4, the playoffs aren't a given, so I look at it as I am gonna make my run at this point with what I have....trade deadline has passed.....plug in my studs and go....don't overanalyze matchups....if I get in, I could do some damage, but I got to get in first....the double header week will be pivotal.....

trust what did early and hope it pans out....that is what I am doing......guys that haven't been producing....85, Rudi, etc.....just have to hope that things come back to the norm and balance out....record should be better, but have run into Manning, Vick, McNaab, LT, Holt etc when they have gone off and just run into some bad luck.....trust your team and move forward....

also at this point, I focus on the WW, but not so much in how to improve my team, but in how to keep possible "difference makers" from being on other teams rosters the rest of the way....I may not need Romo, but I don't want anybody else to have him, just an example..both the teams above me and below me(backup QB's getting a start, same with RB's).....

 

[TommyGilmore]

I'm 4-4 in one league, holding onto the last playoff spot (but only 1 game out of the division lead). I'm fairly weak at RB (with McGahee and KJ as my starters), so I am thinking of trading one of my QBs (Peyton/Vick) to upgrade at RB.

I also have Marvin Harrison at WR and I'm seriously considering trading him because I'm concerned that he's slowing down.

 

[Game Time]

Same situation........ going with what I got! As long as Vick keeps throwing, I'll hopefully be talking about a championship soon!

 

[Banger]

Regardless of my record, 8-0 or 3-5, I'm always assessing my roster strength's/weakness as well as my leaguemates rosters and looking to improve my team. Whether it's upgrading my bench or improving my starters I'm always looking to improve.

 

[pfalvey]

I think it depends on how your team has performed up to this point. My record is only 4-4, but I was 3rd highest scoring team entering week 8 and will likely move up to 1st/2nd after another good week. Our league is very competitive this year, as all but 1 team (of 12) were either 4-3 or 3-4 entering week 8. I have no reason to think my top players will stop producing, so I don't feel as though I need to make a move in order remain in the playoff hunt.

With that said, as the season wears on and the players become known quantities, I will be much more willing to trade my depth for quality upgrades in my starting lineup. Looking at playoff matchups is also a consideration in whether I need to make a move.

 

[Phil Elliott]

I am 4-3, hoping to go to 5-3 after tonights game... I am especially looking at how the players performance in the playoff's are starting to look (strength of schedule and opponents). You can see there is a lot of churn among the NFL rosters right now with injuries and players getting 'benched'. I think you want to make sure you have some good quality depth - especially with RB's and WR's. I want to get to the playoffs and then dominate the playoffs...

 

[falconeyed]

My 4-4 could very easily be 7-1. I would hold pat if I were you, barring injury.

 

[BaBastage]

I think you need to take into account your specific playoff scenario. Assuming you are a head to head league, you may also need to look at who you're competing against for the playoffs.

In our leage (12 team, 3 division), the three division winners make the playoffs based on divisional record. The next three teams with the best records get the 'wilcard' spots.

For example, I'm 4-4, but 3rd in overall points. I have a strong team, but my division record is 1-2. Since there are 3-0 and 2-1 guys in my division (with 3 more division games remaining), it's highly unlikely that I can win the division, so I have to compete for the three wildcard spots.

There is also a non-division leader at 7-1. It's highly unlikely that I can overcome him. Fortunately for me, there are no 6-2 owners

This means I'm competing for two playoff spots against owners that are 5-3 and 4-4 like myself.

Since I only have to gain +1 vs 2 other opponents, I can be pretty conservative and keep my overall plan.

If I had to gain 2 or more games against other owners, or was competing for only one realistic berth, then I think a more aggressive play would have to be made, like trading for some high risk/rewards players, or focusing on players with easier schedules and hope for the best.

 

[TheFanatic]

This is what I am sitting at. My Running backs are Alexander, MoMo, TJones, Cedric, Addai, and Rhodes. I've gotten lucky to go 4-4. McNabb is carrying me. I'm not sure where I can go with these running games. I need someone in Seattle to step up. I don't care who. I need 1 guy in Chicago to step up and I need Addai to take over full time over in Indy and I need all of this to happen right away. I don't see it happening in time to make the playoffs...