Submitting Backups for your Starters (1 Viewer)

[faux_bear]

In one of my leagues, we're allowed to submit bench players as "back-ups". Their scores count only if our listed starter doesn't play.

For example:

Starter Backup

Matt Schaub Garrard

Travis Henry S. Young

M. Harrison Greg Jennings

B. Edwards M. Jenkins

Basically how this works is that if your starter Matt Schaub suffers a freak injury during warmups, you wouldn't get a zero for the game, but would get Garrard's numbers instead. The same goes for every other player. If Travis Henry (or anyone else on your team) is a game time decision, then you don't have to sweat too bad over the thought of getting a zero. Just submit your backup and rest easy.

With the amount of game time decisions, and the veil of secrecy under which many teams guard the injury status of their players, I wish more leagues would employ something like this. It certainly does help diminish the craziness that goes on Sunday mornings as everyone rushes online to find out who's inactive and whatnot.

We've used this system for over 10 years and everyone seems to like it. The only downside is that, to my knowledge, there aren't any FFL league management websites that accomodate this (but there should be). In our case, we submit lineups by e-mail.

Are there any other leagues that do something like this?

 

[Assani Fisher]

Never played in a league that had this, but it sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[videoguy505]

I'd like backups in case of injury anytime up to halftime. I hate when my guy gets hurt on the first series of the game, comes out, and never comes back. His coach can sub--he doesn't play the rest of the game with only 10 guys on the field, but I have to. If the guy doesn't come back in the second half, the backup numbers get plugged in.

 

[DolphinsFanAlways]

In one of my leagues, we're allowed to submit bench players as "back-ups". Their scores count only if our listed starter doesn't play. For example:Starter BackupMatt Schaub GarrardTravis Henry S. YoungM. Harrison Greg Jennings B. Edwards M. JenkinsBasically how this works is that if your starter Matt Schaub suffers a freak injury during warmups, you wouldn't get a zero for the game, but would get Garrard's numbers instead. The same goes for every other player. If Travis Henry (or anyone else on your team) is a game time decision, then you don't have to sweat too bad over the thought of getting a zero. Just submit your backup and rest easy.With the amount of game time decisions, and the veil of secrecy under which many teams guard the injury status of their players, I wish more leagues would employ something like this. It certainly does help diminish the craziness that goes on Sunday mornings as everyone goes online to find out who's inactive and whatnot.We've used this system for over 10 years and everyone seems to like it. The only downside is that, to my knowledge, there aren't any FFL league management websites that accomodate this (but there should be). In our case, we submit lineups by e-mail.Are there any other leagues that do something like this?

It does give an interesting twist and also gives more of a reasone to have a better bench instead of just having some player that you hope will start someday (because of injury, or whatever).But how does the scoring get handled? At what point do you use your starting QBs score compared to using your backup QBs score?Lets say your starting QB plays the entire first half, and kicks ###, then gets hurt the first play of the second half. but your backup QB put up rotten stats.Or do you only use your backup QB if your main QB doesnt start the game?

 

[largentslovechild]

I call 'em spot starts. Here's the rule:

The prioritization of qualification for a "spot-start" player is as follows:

1. The owner has him designated via email, prior to gametime.

2. The player is the highest seasonal scoring player, at that position, not in the starting lineup for that week.

3. The player was in his starting lineup the previous week.

4. If it's a flex position, and the owner has nobody designated, the spot start goes to the player with the highest season total points at either RB, WR, TE..

Spot starts happen when a player is started but does not play at all. I use NFL.com's gamebooks for verification.

 

[faux_bear]

Or do you only use your backup QB if your main QB doesnt start the game?

Yes, you only get the backups score if your listed starter does not play. If your starter plays one snap, gets injured and doesn't record a stat, you'd still get a zero from your starter because he played in the game. There are no half-time substitutions or anything like that.We do this mainly to safeguard against last minute pre-game injuries, your player waking up with the flu, straining his hammy during warm-ups, and of course players who are game time decisions. You have Kenton Keith and Joseph Addai? No problem. Start Addai and list Keith at his back-up position, then go on and enjoy your afternoon tail-gating or watching the games without stressing out over whether Addai plays.In this league I have Anquan Boldin. To be honest I'm not really too worried about whether or not he plays because knowing he's banged up, I'll just submit my best bench WR at his backup spot. If he plays, great. If not, well then I know I don't have to worry about getting a zero, nor do I have to spend all morning on these message boards scrolling through the inactive lists and stuff...of course I still do this because I'm in 3 other leagues that don't use back-ups, but at least I know that there's one league I don't have to worry about.

 

[T Love]

Done this for years and it is absolutely the best way to handle injuries. Kind of B.S. if you guys play in the late games and inactives aren't declared by 10AM games to just get a 0.

We do the same thing where they have to play, and once they play, whether they get a stat or not, they count as your starter. Just declare, if Joseph Addai does not play, start Brandon Jacobs.

 

[faux_bear]

Done this for years and it is absolutely the best way to handle injuries. Kind of B.S. if you guys play in the late games and inactives aren't declared by 10AM games to just get a 0. We do the same thing where they have to play, and once they play, whether they get a stat or not, they count as your starter. Just declare, if Joseph Addai does not play, start Brandon Jacobs.

yeah, even for leagues that are managed online, I'm sure that there are commissioner functions in these various websites that would allow a player to be replaced by another even after games start. In this case, then league message boards or e-mail would be a fine way to submit backups. If a starter doesn't play, no problem, the commish can go in and replace the starter who didn't play with their listed backup. This seems like an easy enough thing to get around, assuming commissioners can change teams' lineups even after the "lock".

 

[glumpy]

We do this as well. If the starter even takes the field, though, then it's his score that counts.

 

[Islander]

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

 

[Irish]

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

Lame rule IMHO. Injuries are part of football and thus part of fantasy football.

 

[Addai's Adidas]

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

Lame rule IMHO. Injuries are part of football and thus part of fantasy football.

Playing your backups is also part of football.

 

[nerangers]

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

Lame rule IMHO. Injuries are part of football and thus part of fantasy football.

Playing your backups is also part of football.

I would think it is also handy for the Sunday night and Monday night games. I tried to get this introduced before, but it was voted down. I only won in my league this week because the team I played against could not replace Maroney in his line-up.

 

[quadcity]

So, you can start anyone on your roster as the guys backup? He does not have to be the actual backup? IF he is the actual backup, what happens when another owner starts that guy also. Do both owners get the points in the same week for the same guy? This would easily happen in RBBC situations where you do not have both guys rostered.

We have a team QB rule about a starter getting injured during play and you getting the rest of the teams QB points also. But, you do not get this if another owner starts the guy. I think the QB spot makes most sense since most leagues start one only. I could see taking one bench player on your team and using him as a spot start for any injured player, but not more than one. I mean, if you loose a bunch of guys one week, you will likely loose your game just like an NFL team will likely lose their game. It sucks, but it is life and only one week.

I like this concept of a spot start and will suggest it to my league. It will have to be a bench player on your team, and it will have to be just one guy for any one late scratch. OK, maybe it has to be more detailed since everyones spot start would be a QB I guess. Oh, and the web site must handle this and make it automatic.

Anyone know of MFL can do this?

 

[-OZ-]

So, you can start anyone on your roster as the guys backup? He does not have to be the actual backup? IF he is the actual backup, what happens when another owner starts that guy also. Do both owners get the points in the same week for the same guy? This would easily happen in RBBC situations where you do not have both guys rostered.We have a team QB rule about a starter getting injured during play and you getting the rest of the teams QB points also. But, you do not get this if another owner starts the guy. I think the QB spot makes most sense since most leagues start one only. I could see taking one bench player on your team and using him as a spot start for any injured player, but not more than one. I mean, if you loose a bunch of guys one week, you will likely loose your game just like an NFL team will likely lose their game. It sucks, but it is life and only one week.I like this concept of a spot start and will suggest it to my league. It will have to be a bench player on your team, and it will have to be just one guy for any one late scratch. OK, maybe it has to be more detailed since everyones spot start would be a QB I guess. Oh, and the web site must handle this and make it automatic. Anyone know of MFL can do this?

That would be more along the lines of "Team QB".The idea here is the player is YOUR backup RB, not the NFL team's. I haven't played in a league like this, but it would save some of the last minute anguish, like last week when I had Boldin, Walker, and Hines Ward all out. I could have saved some heartburn with this rule, it would have saved my 0 from Walker.

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

Lame rule IMHO. Injuries are part of football and thus part of fantasy football.

I suppose, but our research is imperfect. Player says he'll play, coach doesn't give a firm answer, you're SOL.

 

[Keepers]

I like this as a rule as long as there are strict conditions as to what is considered out and/or not playing for the starter.

 

[TinHat]

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

Lame rule IMHO. Injuries are part of football and thus part of fantasy football.

holding vigil over your computer every Sunday right before 1 PM is part of Fantasy Football too, I guess?that's lame

I like the rule because it makes the game more like fantasy football and less like fantasy computer.

 

[SSOG]

I just started a league with this rule. Last week was the first time it was invoked. Wound up working pretty well for all involved. I'm definitely a fan.

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

I see it as a way to help teams that don't have a crystal ball and can't tell if the game-time decision they have playing on Monday will go or not at 10 AM Sunday morning. And the way I see it, the teams that can already see the future don't really need much of an advantage, anyway.

I like this as a rule as long as there are strict conditions as to what is considered out and/or not playing for the starter.

Official NFL gamebooks keep track of two types of players- the gameday inactives, as well as all of the gameday actives that don't log a single snap during the entire game. Our league puts the burden on the owners- if you want your backup subbed in, you must provide a link to the official gamebook demonstrating that the starter didn't log a single snap.

 

[AngryPatriot]

in my main league (rtsports) we have a similar rule. We post our backups, if you have them, on the message board. Our rosters are 16 so some weeks you just don't have a backup. If a player gets injured the bckup can be inserted by the commish. BUT- if the player takes just one snap in the second half his stats will count. Also- this does NOT apply to drug suspensions, conduct, plain benchings etc... Its suprising how little it has been used but it does help someone ocassionaly. I like the rule but its the only league I've been in that does it. We also can keep 3 players on IR as long as they're "Q" or worse on the Fri injury report.

 

[3C's]

We've thrown this idea around in our league before and it came up again recently. I like it since every week this year I've had to stay glued to the PC/TV to find out if player X was playing. PITA!! So my idea was to allow for one backup spot to be included in the starting lineup. The backup has to be designated for a specific player and that player has to be listed as questionable or worse on the injury report. If the starter plays one snap he remains the starter. Seems reasonable to me.

 

[womb]

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

Lame rule IMHO. Injuries are part of football and thus part of fantasy football.

Dude, here is the big point you are missing: You are a manager of a team - be it in the fantasyworld. So, the objective is to run your team to success. This is why we all are doing our research, study our match-ups, draft our players and make trades. The biggest different between us fantasy owners/managers and the real ones out there is actual information. Do you think Belicheck does not know if Maroney will start, or Reid does not know his decision regarding Westbrook? They do. Yet they declare them as doubtful and then start, or upgrade in the injury report and then sit. These choices are done with a full information set that is kept to themselves. Us not being a part of that information set does not make us not do our homework, or does not mean that we run our franchises bad. Injuries are a part of football and if communicated properly everyone will take action accordingly. But that will never happen due to strategies of NFL teams. Being put at a disadvantage through these strategic mind games is not a part of fantasy football I do not think as you have no control over it.

 

[Islander]

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

Lame rule IMHO. Injuries are part of football and thus part of fantasy football.

Dude, here is the big point you are missing: You are a manager of a team - be it in the fantasyworld. So, the objective is to run your team to success. This is why we all are doing our research, study our match-ups, draft our players and make trades. The biggest different between us fantasy owners/managers and the real ones out there is actual information. Do you think Belicheck does not know if Maroney will start, or Reid does not know his decision regarding Westbrook? They do. Yet they declare them as doubtful and then start, or upgrade in the injury report and then sit. These choices are done with a full information set that is kept to themselves. Us not being a part of that information set does not make us not do our homework, or does not mean that we run our franchises bad. Injuries are a part of football and if communicated properly everyone will take action accordingly. But that will never happen due to strategies of NFL teams. Being put at a disadvantage through these strategic mind games is not a part of fantasy football I do not think as you have no control over it.

I understand what you are saying, but I respectfully disagree. Owners that manage their team well will be aware of all public information. It's not perfect information, but they will know a certain player is a risk. Other teams don't do their homework and start players who will most likely not start. I don't want the rules to benefit those guys. Not having control over it is not a good argument in my opinion. In fantasy football there are plenty of things we don't have control over and it's part of the game. Who gets benched by the coach (Leinart), who gets injured, how many carries a RB gets (Adrian Peterson), who gets GL carries, etc. Coaches don't tell the whole story about their game plan (will they throw 80% of the game?) but we have to make decisions based on what we forecast with the imperfect information available to us.

 

[BLOX]

One of my local leagues does it this way and always have.

We submit our lineups normally through RTSports then post backups on the message board. If your guy does not play the game at all then your backup gets inserted, but you as the owner have to also post the "did not play" on the message board.

Also, you have to declare which WR is your backup WR#1, etc.

I haven't had internet at home for a while, just got it turned back on, so it helped me out last week although I would have won anyway.

 

[largentslovechild]

Frankly, I spend enough time and money to feel the love of fantasy football. I'm not missing anything by not sitting in front of my computer from 9:30-9:55am every Sunday morning making sure I'm not getting screwed over by the last minute scratch.

Trust me people, FF is just as "hardcore" without the headaches.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

I don't like it because it takes away yet another tough decision that we all have to make.

 

[Bears_Man2]

i like it a lot myself. Might even see if my local league wishes to do it next year.

 

[Irish]

It's done in one of my leagues. I see it as a way to help teams that don't do their homework and research injuries to their team. I don't like it.

Lame rule IMHO. Injuries are part of football and thus part of fantasy football.

Dude, here is the big point you are missing: You are a manager of a team - be it in the fantasyworld. So, the objective is to run your team to success. This is why we all are doing our research, study our match-ups, draft our players and make trades. The biggest different between us fantasy owners/managers and the real ones out there is actual information. Do you think Belicheck does not know if Maroney will start, or Reid does not know his decision regarding Westbrook? They do. Yet they declare them as doubtful and then start, or upgrade in the injury report and then sit. These choices are done with a full information set that is kept to themselves. Us not being a part of that information set does not make us not do our homework, or does not mean that we run our franchises bad. Injuries are a part of football and if communicated properly everyone will take action accordingly. But that will never happen due to strategies of NFL teams. Being put at a disadvantage through these strategic mind games is not a part of fantasy football I do not think as you have no control over it.

I understand what you are saying, but I respectfully disagree. Owners that manage their team well will be aware of all public information. It's not perfect information, but they will know a certain player is a risk. Other teams don't do their homework and start players who will most likely not start. I don't want the rules to benefit those guys. Not having control over it is not a good argument in my opinion. In fantasy football there are plenty of things we don't have control over and it's part of the game. Who gets benched by the coach (Leinart), who gets injured, how many carries a RB gets (Adrian Peterson), who gets GL carries, etc. Coaches don't tell the whole story about their game plan (will they throw 80% of the game?) but we have to make decisions based on what we forecast with the imperfect information available to us.

I agree, I don't like rules that takes away decision making and benefits owners who don't keep up with the injury info that is available all over the internet.

 

[Mene]

I dunno, I just consider GTD's to be part of the gambling aspect of FF. If Westy is a GTD, and you have a much weaker, but healthy option on your bench... time to gamble? Huge upside of a Westy, or the safe 5 - 10 pts but no real potential of a 25+ game. FF is nothing but a gamble anyways, considering the unpredictability of injuries, unexpected fall-off from players, and out of the blue emergence of players who get their chance by some strange twist of fate. All you can do is gather as much info as possible, and make an educated guess.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

I don't like it. I just is helpful to those who don't take the time to do their research.

For those complaining that you have to get your starters in for the late games in by early kickoff on sunday, either your league software sucks or your commish is a tard. No site should still make you do that. RTSports and Yahoo don't, for sure.

 

[videoguy505]

I don't like it. I just is helpful to those who don't take the time to do their research. For those complaining that you have to get your starters in for the late games in by early kickoff on sunday, either your league software sucks or your commish is a tard. No site should still make you do that. RTSports and Yahoo don't, for sure.

Say it's last week. You have Laurence Maroney as a GTD as your starting RB against the worst run D in football--Cincy, on Monday night. On your bench is Jamal Lewis, who's up against Baltimore--one of the best run D's in football--in the first game on Sunday.How will league software affect the fact that you don't know if Maroney is going to play or not in 30 hours? If Maroney doesn't play on Monday, you want to sub in Jamal Lewis on Sunday. But you can't do that on Monday. You have to have the crystal ball.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

I don't like it. I just is helpful to those who don't take the time to do their research. For those complaining that you have to get your starters in for the late games in by early kickoff on sunday, either your league software sucks or your commish is a tard. No site should still make you do that. RTSports and Yahoo don't, for sure.

Say it's last week. You have Laurence Maroney as a GTD as your starting RB against the worst run D in football--Cincy, on Monday night. On your bench is Jamal Lewis, who's up against Baltimore--one of the best run D's in football--in the first game on Sunday.How will league software affect the fact that you don't know if Maroney is going to play or not in 30 hours? If Maroney doesn't play on Monday, you want to sub in Jamal Lewis on Sunday. But you can't do that on Monday. You have to have the crystal ball.

If that's how you want to play then just push for your league to employ maximized roster scoring with no starters -- then you don't have to worry about it at all. There's risk, decision making and payoff all the time in FF. This is just another facet of it.

 

[ImTheScientist]

I agree 100% with everything AhrnCityPahnder is saying here

 

[Irish]

I don't like it. I just is helpful to those who don't take the time to do their research. For those complaining that you have to get your starters in for the late games in by early kickoff on sunday, either your league software sucks or your commish is a tard. No site should still make you do that. RTSports and Yahoo don't, for sure.

Say it's last week. You have Laurence Maroney as a GTD as your starting RB against the worst run D in football--Cincy, on Monday night. On your bench is Jamal Lewis, who's up against Baltimore--one of the best run D's in football--in the first game on Sunday.How will league software affect the fact that you don't know if Maroney is going to play or not in 30 hours? If Maroney doesn't play on Monday, you want to sub in Jamal Lewis on Sunday. But you can't do that on Monday. You have to have the crystal ball.

You don't use a crystal ball to predict how your other starters will perform do you? That is part of the fun in managing your team.

 

[Napptown00]

Our league does this as well. However you can only do it if the starter is on the Injury report. For instance I could start Addai this week but he may not play so I could choose a backup form my roster. This only works because Addai is Q. We all have to put them on our message board before all games start.

If no Addai then F.Taylor - type of thing

All of our owners use this through out the year but not every week. If a player plays one snap then they are plugged in to the scoring.

 

[duaneok66]

I don't like it. I just is helpful to those who don't take the time to do their research. For those complaining that you have to get your starters in for the late games in by early kickoff on sunday, either your league software sucks or your commish is a tard. No site should still make you do that. RTSports and Yahoo don't, for sure.

Say it's last week. You have Laurence Maroney as a GTD as your starting RB against the worst run D in football--Cincy, on Monday night. On your bench is Jamal Lewis, who's up against Baltimore--one of the best run D's in football--in the first game on Sunday.How will league software affect the fact that you don't know if Maroney is going to play or not in 30 hours? If Maroney doesn't play on Monday, you want to sub in Jamal Lewis on Sunday. But you can't do that on Monday. You have to have the crystal ball.

good post . . .If that's how you want to play then just push for your league to employ maximized roster scoring with no starters -- then you don't have to worry about it at all. There's risk, decision making and payoff all the time in FF. This is just another facet of it.

 

[TheBigDog]

So, you can start anyone on your roster as the guys backup? He does not have to be the actual backup? IF he is the actual backup, what happens when another owner starts that guy also. Do both owners get the points in the same week for the same guy? This would easily happen in RBBC situations where you do not have both guys rostered.We have a team QB rule about a starter getting injured during play and you getting the rest of the teams QB points also. But, you do not get this if another owner starts the guy. I think the QB spot makes most sense since most leagues start one only. I could see taking one bench player on your team and using him as a spot start for any injured player, but not more than one. I mean, if you loose a bunch of guys one week, you will likely loose your game just like an NFL team will likely lose their game. It sucks, but it is life and only one week.I like this concept of a spot start and will suggest it to my league. It will have to be a bench player on your team, and it will have to be just one guy for any one late scratch. OK, maybe it has to be more detailed since everyones spot start would be a QB I guess. Oh, and the web site must handle this and make it automatic. Anyone know of MFL can do this?

Huh? This post just made my brain hurt...WTF are you talking about in that first paragraph? When another owner starts the guy? Who said multiple owners could start the same guy? I thought we were saying you could designate someone else on your team as the backup...how would someone else have the same person as you?

 

[MojoDawg]

I like a rule like this because I am a season ticket holder, and obviously am in a tailgate lot prior to half of the games during the course of the year.

Believe me, it sucks starting a lesser guy who you KNOW will play and benching a guy who is questionable because I know I won't be in front of a computer to see the GTD's on TV.

Know what I mean?

 

[womb]

I like a rule like this because I am a season ticket holder, and obviously am in a tailgate lot prior to half of the games during the course of the year.Believe me, it sucks starting a lesser guy who you KNOW will play and benching a guy who is questionable because I know I won't be in front of a computer to see the GTD's on TV.Know what I mean?

I understand to some FF'ers that does not merit much. It is the same as not doing your homework or not being on top of your injury risk players. Same argument goes for many unfortunate owners who have such players at a 4 pm game - they do not do their homework or keep up with the GTD just because their league's deadline was 1 pm and there was no report by that time. Or worse still, the SNF and the MNF. And starting a worse guy at 1 pm and figuring out your stud will be playing at a later game even though your league has flexible deadlines is totally your bad as well. The coaches 1 pm players have done their homework so much better than the rest, right? And those who have a life, at least like hitting a sports bar with buddies must be slacking FFwise, right? I can agree to the taking chances part to an extent, but if anything, the rest of that refuting train of thought is totally lame.

 

[womb]

I don't like it. I just is helpful to those who don't take the time to do their research. For those complaining that you have to get your starters in for the late games in by early kickoff on sunday, either your league software sucks or your commish is a tard. No site should still make you do that. RTSports and Yahoo don't, for sure.

Say it's last week. You have Laurence Maroney as a GTD as your starting RB against the worst run D in football--Cincy, on Monday night. On your bench is Jamal Lewis, who's up against Baltimore--one of the best run D's in football--in the first game on Sunday.How will league software affect the fact that you don't know if Maroney is going to play or not in 30 hours? If Maroney doesn't play on Monday, you want to sub in Jamal Lewis on Sunday. But you can't do that on Monday. You have to have the crystal ball.

If that's how you want to play then just push for your league to employ maximized roster scoring with no starters -- then you don't have to worry about it at all. There's risk, decision making and payoff all the time in FF. This is just another facet of it.

I think you know that where you are taking this is beyond its point and being ridiculous. Being ridiculous to the specific point that you are implying an owner getting advantage of a guy buried deep in the roster who blows up in one game - like Kevin Curtis - over a subpar starter is at a similar situation as an owner who is retrospectively getting to start Jamal Lewis on Sunday when Maroney DNP's the next via this declaration style.Everyone will disagree with the Kevin Curtis part of the argument, unless they are in a league that has that specific bylaw, but that has nothing to do with this point. I am sure you know that, as well.BTW, videoguy - The retrospect scoring can be implemented to many sites if declarations are made made in a forum in a timely fashion and the commish who has priviledges to change box scores does the adjustments later on upon proof and request. It is not like this happens 5 times a week.

 

[nerangers]

Maybe only allow backups for players you are starting that are questionable in the late games. In the early games you have time to put in other players. After the one o'clock games start, your options have dwindled.

Maroney last week is a great example of how this rule could be used effectively...

 

[walnutz]

We use this rule in our league. Typically an email is sent out out to the whole league via the message boards. If you are away from a computer, you need to call the commish and your opponent prior to the first games starting. After that all bets are off.

 

[DoubleG]

I don't like it. I just is helpful to those who don't take the time to do their research. For those complaining that you have to get your starters in for the late games in by early kickoff on sunday, either your league software sucks or your commish is a tard. No site should still make you do that. RTSports and Yahoo don't, for sure.

The complaint is not about the software. Yes, with most sites you can change starters up until 5 minutes before the game. However, say, for example you've got MBIII (for the sake of this discussion, let's pretend he's questionable) and MJD. You'd rather start MBIII, but if you wait until Monday Night, and it turns out that 20 minutes before MNF, they list MBIII as inactive, you can't go back to Sunday and start MJD in his place.The biggest reason for the complaint is that in REAL football, the Cowboys don't simply play without a RB (although, your team does.) - they get to plug in a backup. In FF, especially when you have games going off at at least 4 different times, you have no such benefit. A perfect example of this was last week when many Ward owners, not wanting to find out at the last minute that he might be sitting, benched him for someone who was playing earlier - only to find out later that he was both active and effective.Please note: This has nothing to do with people "doing their homework" - it has to do with the games starting at different times. Incidentally, it also would prevent the "mandatory" vigil from 12:30 ET until kickoff just to make sure none of your guys got hurt during wrm ups. When poeple have things like church, their kid's games (my son has a football game this week at 12:00 ET - i'm never going to make it back by early kickoffs) and other things of that nature, it seems silly to "punish" them for being unable to sitdown in front of their computer a half hour before kickoff to make sure none of their players was hurt in warmups, got sick, etc.This is similar to the reason I won't play in a league that has "instant" WW pickups - that is, I don't want to get screwed out of a player becuase I happened to be at work, coaching my son's games, etc., when FBG's emailed that so-and-so got hurt at practice and won't start. Basically, it rewards people that have no life or just happened to be near a computer when the news broke.

 

[-Crippler-]

What if you have multiple backups...say Travis Henry along with K. Keith, Nate Washington, and Andre Johnson's fill-in?

Could you make a 3 or 4 player list? Seems a little complicated.

 

[PranksterJD]

At first thought, I wasn't a big fan of this. I agreed with most of the people saying it takes a level of difficulty away from the game, and that's the opposite of what I'm looking for.

However, there's another side to this that I thought about. I think this would dramatically help in the later weeks of the season ( 15-17 ). I had always played, in the two leagues that I commish, the playoffs in weeks 16 and 17. I changed this for this year when several players on one championship team were late scratches, which gave and easy win to the other team.

Jeff Garcia is the one I remember, and there was ZERO news saying he wasn't starting until 15 mins before game, and I can't fault the owner for going to a bar.

Using a rule like this could eliminate that problem, making it easier to have a week 17 final, which gives an extra week of fantasy to everybody in the league. Good news for everyone.

 

[thayman]

I enjoy it, really eliminates some of that luck factor you find in H2H.

 

[thayman]

What if you have multiple backups...say Travis Henry along with K. Keith, Nate Washington, and Andre Johnson's fill-in?Could you make a 3 or 4 player list? Seems a little complicated.

In my league you just make a backup list. So if Willie Parker is your starting RB, you would have a backup list where you would list Ahman Green, Marshawn Lynch for example. If Parker doesn't play then you get Green's stats, is Parker, and green don't play you get Lynch's stats.

 

[Refbuz]

It has absolutely NOTHING to do with "doing your homework" and has EVERYTHING to do with ADVANTAGE/DISADVANTAGE.

Your on crack if you don't think that the owner of an injured player in a 1:00 game has a distinct advantage over an owner with an injured player in a late game.

The NFL doesn't want one team to have an advantage over the other, why should your fantasy league be any different???

Now that being said i think that the player should be listed as Questionable or worse on the injury report and it should be limited to 1 (maybe 2) players. Anymore than that and you should just play rotisserie or best possible lineups...

 

[Daywalker]

Given all the above circumstances won't the more knowledgeable owner have an advantage over the long-run?

Sure dealing with late game injurey concerns can be difficult but I figure I can deal with them better then lesser informed owners.

Plus a more knowlegeable owner should have a better substitute then a lesser owner. So playing it safe doesn't hurt as much.

 

[Sabertooth]

Sounds like coddling. Typical in today's world. No wonder the Chinese are burying us.

 

[Futeki]

I'd like backups in case of injury anytime up to halftime. I hate when my guy gets hurt on the first series of the game, comes out, and never comes back. His coach can sub--he doesn't play the rest of the game with only 10 guys on the field, but I have to. If the guy doesn't come back in the second half, the backup numbers get plugged in.

This is the way we roll in one league I commish. It is great in that it reduces the luck factor slightly, and thus increases the skill factor. However, I do understand all of the "hard core" guys that would prefer to win because their opponent lost a starter or two in the first minutes of the game or were a game time scratch in the late/Monday game.If my NFL team loses the QB on the first series, they don't just continue on without any QB. Half-time is just the arbitrary cutoff because we have to draw a line somewhere.