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Why does ANYONE have their fantasy championship in week 17 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter TheGBU
- Start date
butcher boy
Footballguy
Same reason people still have leagues with no yardage scoring, yardage plateau scoring, and no payouts for scoring the most points: some leagues are just stuck in the past and are stubborn to make changes that could better the league.
cheese
Footballguy
The best reason for it is the simplicity it creates for scheduling in a 12 team league.
3 other teams in division twice
Other 8 teams once
Leaves 15 16 17 if playoffs are 5,6,7, or 8 teams.
In one league we discuss changing every year but we won't give up the divisions or move from 12 teams so we always get stuck. If someone else has 12 teams and 3 divisions I'd be interested in your reg season schedule.
3 other teams in division twice
Other 8 teams once
Leaves 15 16 17 if playoffs are 5,6,7, or 8 teams.
In one league we discuss changing every year but we won't give up the divisions or move from 12 teams so we always get stuck. If someone else has 12 teams and 3 divisions I'd be interested in your reg season schedule.
pittstownkiller
Footballguy
So who is your starting QB, Rodgers?
butcher boy
Footballguy
Pretty sure most leagues decided that it's better to have an uneven schedule than force a championship game in Week 17 and have a heavily skewed result.I mean, you might as well just flip a coin and have it be just as effective in determining the better team.
only 4 teams make the playoffs in our league.
No, I had M. Ryan and C. Newton. Already won my league in week 16. Any other questions?
butcher boy
Footballguy
And apparently no fixing things that are broken either.
cubbie5150
Footballguy
^^^ sameWe all hate playing the championship week 17, but can't get a consensus about how to best "fix" that. No one likes the idea of creating even more scheduling luck by not guaranteeing that every team plays each other at least once during the regular season (1st 14 weeks in our case). We get 6 into the playoffs...I've argued we should cut it down to 4, no more week 15 BYE for top 2 seeds (instead having semi-final that week, winners advance to week 16 championship. But, I also understand desire to have more teams in the mix down the stretch. It'd be like MLB suddenly taking away the wildcard
B Maverick
Footballguy
Who says week 17 is a broken week? Why are you a fool for playing in a league that goes to 17? Why is any one league setup better then another? It all causes different strategy and planning. Creates different player values. and on and on....
Every year we get the same debates over and over... what league setup is better? dynasty vs redraft, auction vs draft, start 2 vs start 1 qb, ppr vs td only, IDP vs team D, week 17 vs week 16... Lets just stop it.
What fun would we all have if we all played in the same format and type of leagues? Seriosuly.
FYI, I'm in 2 leagues, one is a dynasty with 30 man rosters, start 2 QBs, champion crowned week 16. The other is a 7 player keeper with salary and contracts, crowned week 17.
Every year we get the same debates over and over... what league setup is better? dynasty vs redraft, auction vs draft, start 2 vs start 1 qb, ppr vs td only, IDP vs team D, week 17 vs week 16... Lets just stop it.
What fun would we all have if we all played in the same format and type of leagues? Seriosuly.
FYI, I'm in 2 leagues, one is a dynasty with 30 man rosters, start 2 QBs, champion crowned week 16. The other is a 7 player keeper with salary and contracts, crowned week 17.
Dr. Awesome
Footballguy
People still do week 16 championships? 
at the noobs in here. Why did Romo sit last week? Because the game meant nothing. The end of the year always has crap like this happen. REAL sharks do it like our league. We have our championship in week 13. Then we do a redraft and play out the last couple weeks - it really makes things a challenge.
at the noobs in here. Why did Romo sit last week? Because the game meant nothing. The end of the year always has crap like this happen. REAL sharks do it like our league. We have our championship in week 13. Then we do a redraft and play out the last couple weeks - it really makes things a challenge.
pittstownkiller
Footballguy
Well I know I had an accusatory tone but I'm the one with A. Rodgers and a week 17 championship; other 2 options are Flynn and Ponder. the one good thing I have going for me is that my opponent only has Brady as his QB; so I shouldn't have too much to worry about, right?
I have been an advocate of a week 17 playoff, in my league, for a while now. I like the extra week because I enjoy fantasy and want the season to last. I do understand all the arguments against a week 17 championship and do not disagree with any of them; I do think I am going to try to get our league to go to total points for the playoffs though.
pittstownkiller
Footballguy
Shtick or serious here; how is this working for you?People still do week 16 championships?
Dr. Awesome
Footballguy
Works wonderfully. Nobody gets screwed from teams resting guys in meaningless games (and who wants to win/lose just because it's the end of the year and the coach benches someone to get some rest?).Shtick or serious here; how is this working for you?People still do week 16 championships?
GregR
Footballguy
Yeah, this is the case with one of my leagues. I've thrown out numerous different schedules we could use to get away from week 17 super bowls, but none of them have gotten enough support to pass. I should probably give up on trying to change it as it seems to work out for me in the end. Playing in my 6th straight super bowl in that league, with 3 wins in the 5 previous. It sucks though having to bench for the biggest game of the year the key players who got you there. This year isn't as bad as some... Foster, OD and JJ Watt are the only big worries I have. Some years though I've had to swap out 6 or more players from my normal starters.
dwashington
Footballguy
We have 3- 4 team divisions. Play each division opponent twice, every non-division opponent once by choosing one week (no NFL byes that week) as 'double up' week where you play a division opponent and a non-division opponent the same week.Playoffs start week 14, 6 teams make the playoffs, top 2 seeds get first round byes. Super Bowl in week 16.
biju
Footballguy
My 14 team league uses multi-game weeks to fix this problem, where we have predetermined weeks (usually the odd weeks from week 3 to 13) where each team plays two games. In your case, you can have each 3 games within your division and one within the two others (9 games + 8 games) by having 4 weeks of multi-games. Maybe this isn't the best solution, but at the same time you no longer have any issues with tiebreakers since everyone plays an uneven number of games.Just a thought...
dollarbill13
Footballguy
Why does ANYONE get bent out of shape about other people's leagues' rules? It makes NO SENSE to care about a fantasy championship that don't affect you.
Two of my seven leagues have a week 17 championship, which I really don't mind. I have Rodgers in one of the leagues and will likely be benching him for Dalton this week. Does it suck to bench your best guy? Yea... but one thing I like is that it forces you to carry depth for the playoffs. I could have just as easily been "screwed" last week by having to play a team that had a flukey high scoring week while the other two teams in the playoffs laid eggs. There's a lot of randomness in fantasy football already, what difference does a little more make?
Neil Beaufort Zod
Footballguy
Honestly, why not? If you're comfortable with the random luck of a head to head schedule, what's the difference when you end it? Just make it more random-y and end in week 17.
In a toal points league it's just 1/17 of the schedule, so not a big deal. But I can see why week 17 can raise some challenges for teams.
In a toal points league it's just 1/17 of the schedule, so not a big deal. But I can see why week 17 can raise some challenges for teams.
Keith R
The Don
Bottom Line - do what works for you.
Just as a point of reference though, this is my main league's 20th season and we have always played our championship the final week of the NFL season. Four teams make the playoffs. Here are the statistical breakdowns, through last week's semifinals.
Week 16* (Semifinals)
38 games in league history (Only two teams made the postseason in 1992, changed to four teams in 1993).
22 times the higher seed has won.
22/38 = .579 winning rate for higher seeds.
Week 17* (Finals)
19 games in league history
14 times the higher seed has won.
14/19 = .737
Now, one can say the sample size is too small, not all higher seeds ought to be considered favorites, etc, etc, etc, and such critiques could be valid. But if one was to draw a conclusion from the above, it would have to be that Week 17 favors higher seeds (i.e.; "deserving" teams) more than Week 16 does. I would be curious to see data from other longtime leagues to see how they compare to the above.
* In 1993, the NFL had an 18-week season. Our semis were Week 17 and championship Week 18.
Just as a point of reference though, this is my main league's 20th season and we have always played our championship the final week of the NFL season. Four teams make the playoffs. Here are the statistical breakdowns, through last week's semifinals.
Week 16* (Semifinals)
38 games in league history (Only two teams made the postseason in 1992, changed to four teams in 1993).
22 times the higher seed has won.
22/38 = .579 winning rate for higher seeds.
Week 17* (Finals)
19 games in league history
14 times the higher seed has won.
14/19 = .737
Now, one can say the sample size is too small, not all higher seeds ought to be considered favorites, etc, etc, etc, and such critiques could be valid. But if one was to draw a conclusion from the above, it would have to be that Week 17 favors higher seeds (i.e.; "deserving" teams) more than Week 16 does. I would be curious to see data from other longtime leagues to see how they compare to the above.
* In 1993, the NFL had an 18-week season. Our semis were Week 17 and championship Week 18.
FavreCo
Footballguy
Because his hand got totally ####ed up. Do you even pay attention? You are so awlsome!People still do week 16 championships?
Jersey35
Footballguy
Honestly. There are so many different ways for a league to be successful. As long as the rules work for an individual league, leave it at that.
We just switched TO a system including a week 17 game this season, and it has been the most exciting postseason for as long as I can remember.
But our league is probably different from yours:
> 12 team idp dynasty with 35 player rosters
> each playoff game is a two-week series, starting in week 14 and culminating in a week 16 and 17 showdown between the last two teams
For us, with large rosters in a dynasty setting, we felt that forcing teams to utilize their entire rosters at the end of the season rewards the deeper teams in the playoffs. The two-week series system also tends to favor the better teams.
But that's just us.
We just switched TO a system including a week 17 game this season, and it has been the most exciting postseason for as long as I can remember.
But our league is probably different from yours:
> 12 team idp dynasty with 35 player rosters
> each playoff game is a two-week series, starting in week 14 and culminating in a week 16 and 17 showdown between the last two teams
For us, with large rosters in a dynasty setting, we felt that forcing teams to utilize their entire rosters at the end of the season rewards the deeper teams in the playoffs. The two-week series system also tends to favor the better teams.
But that's just us.
MavsXT
Footballguy
.....I've been running a league for 21 years. We've kept the championship game on week 17 because it forces owners to use significant strategy (starting even at the time of the draft) to ensure that they have the players and depth to put a winning lineup on the field if they make it to the big game.....if you are short-sighted and don't make draft picks, trades, and waiver-pick ups during the regular season you will be left short-handed if you make it to the final. All of the members of our 16 team league have found it to be thought-provoking and fun. Plus, who wants to waste a week of fantasy football? We have 26 man rosters, so we are afforded the ability to "stash" players for future use later in the season.
I can understand the arguments of others, but I don't see us ever changing the set-up in our league. You can call it stubborn, old school, or whatever....
I can understand the arguments of others, but I don't see us ever changing the set-up in our league. You can call it stubborn, old school, or whatever....
Yenrub
Footballguy
Why does ANYONE get bent out of shape about other people's leagues' rules? It makes NO SENSE to care about a fantasy championship that don't affect you.
THE SNOWMAN
Footballguy
It forces the people in our league to think ahead and sometimes creatively.
Dr. Awesome
Footballguy
He would have gone back in if the game meant anything. For an example, see what he did against SF earlier in the season. I get the whole do what works for your league thing but we've done this the past two seasons and have yet to encounter a problem. Then we get to do a whole new redraft for the rest of the year. It really changes values - do you gamble on a slow start or jump ship while you can?Because his hand got totally ####ed up. Do you even pay attention? You are so awlsome!People still do week 16 championships?
SWC
Bromigo
i think it adds a laywer of strategery because you ahve to figure out who will be on good teams and rest or who might be injured or sit down at the end of the year so if you make it and you have the players to win you have really figured out teh puzzle and deserve all the dineros my brohans
shadyridr
Footballguy
you play your division rivals twice each and your other opponents once each. yes there will be one nondivision opponent you wont play. dont really see the big deal. much better than an even schedule and week 17 championship
shadyridr
Footballguy
so you dont wanna create any schedule luck yet you play a week 17 championship game? does this make sense to you?
Statorama
Footballguy
We play a two week championship (16/17). I'm down 2 points going into the week 17 game and have some interesting decisions. I could gamble with Megatron or start Denarious. I could gamble the 49ers won't get too big of a lead on STL and start Brees, or I could take the sure full game points from Dalton.Week 17 brings the full season GM work into play. You've had to think weeks ahead. Consider playoff matchups. Do you trade for a Frank Gore going into your playoffs? Do you start the stud player that might only play a half in week 17 or do you play the grade B player that you know will play the full game?There are some incredibly interesting scenarios that make the week 17 game the most exciting of the season IMO.
butcher boy
Footballguy
His hand swelled up to the size of a lemon. There's no way he would've been able to handle the ball.He would have gone back in if the game meant anything. For an example, see what he did against SF earlier in the season. I get the whole do what works for your league thing but we've done this the past two seasons and have yet to encounter a problem. Then we get to do a whole new redraft for the rest of the year. It really changes values - do you gamble on a slow start or jump ship while you can?Because his hand got totally ####ed up. Do you even pay attention? You are so awlsome!People still do week 16 championships?
GregR
Footballguy
As I mentioned, one league I can't get to switch from the week 17 super bowl.My other league started out with playoffs weeks 13-15. This year we changed up the schedule a bit though, to one that I think worked out really well.12 week regular season. Every week you have a triple header against 1 division opponent and 2 out of division opponents. This means you end up playing division teams 4 times a year and out of division teams 3 times a year.I think it is as perfect a schedule as I've found for 3 divisions of 4. The triple headers help limit the role that scheduling luck plays. You get tested against your division more than out of division. And the super bowl is week 15, when it's very unlikely anyone is going to be rested. And you still have enough room to give byes to the top two teams with a 6 team playoff so there is more for teams to play for at the end of the regular season.Don't think I can get the other league to switch to it though.
THE SNOWMAN
Footballguy
Especially this week, given there are 12 games that have playoff implications. Your best point (while all of your points are valid) is "Week 17 brings the full season GM work into play." Good luck my friend!'Statorama said:
Raiderfan32904
Footballguy
I can't imagine going a 17th week in fantasy football. It was fun to manage a team and later it was kind of exhaustive once rosters locked and waiver pickups were limited. I'm relieved that it's over. It was fun, but I'm tired of keeping up with all 32 teams updated depth charts. I have no desire to know who the 3rd string Cleveland TE is or the 4th string Detroit RB is. It's all pretty much flushed out of my hard drive and I don't care to keep up to date with it anymore.
Finally am looking forward to watching the games as matches between teams/cities rather than individual atheletes. It goes back to the pure love of the sport. I don't want to have to pay attention to a couple of week 17 also ran teams fighting for who gets the better draft slot. But if week 17 fantasy football is for you, more power to you and good luck.
Finally am looking forward to watching the games as matches between teams/cities rather than individual atheletes. It goes back to the pure love of the sport. I don't want to have to pay attention to a couple of week 17 also ran teams fighting for who gets the better draft slot. But if week 17 fantasy football is for you, more power to you and good luck.
downsouth
Footballguy
Ok... I'll play along.
32 team league. Divisions mimic NFL. We play our division twice without bye week issues, which requires regular season going to week 13. Division winners and wild cards take us to week 17. We draft over 700 players including defense. But I guess we are the noobs stuck in the past.
I scoff at your tiny leagues. Insert evil laugh...
We could force division play during bye weeks but nobody seems to complain except those that don't even have to deal with the issue.
32 team league. Divisions mimic NFL. We play our division twice without bye week issues, which requires regular season going to week 13. Division winners and wild cards take us to week 17. We draft over 700 players including defense. But I guess we are the noobs stuck in the past.
I scoff at your tiny leagues. Insert evil laugh...
We could force division play during bye weeks but nobody seems to complain except those that don't even have to deal with the issue.
Probably sounds simple, but the overwhelming majority in my leagus ( who 10 out of 12 will not play in week 17), just don't want to give up the week in the regular season. The thought process is they enjoy fantasy football so much, they want as much as possible. It' s hard to get angry when you put it that way.
RoosterScott
Footballguy
16 team leagues need it. Injuries and resting players always is a topic between the final two weeks of the season. Give it a rest. 16 or 17...who cares.
BigSteelThrill
Footballguy
Its just part of the landscape.
We play 16 weeks for 25 years,and whenever we bring the rule up for a vote its always unanimous to keep playing a full schedule.
More football and more fun for more people/teams.
The final two teams dont get to supersede all 16 teams enjoying 14 weeks for the regular season.
We play 16 weeks for 25 years,and whenever we bring the rule up for a vote its always unanimous to keep playing a full schedule.
More football and more fun for more people/teams.
The final two teams dont get to supersede all 16 teams enjoying 14 weeks for the regular season.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
The bolded is exactly what my main 12-team dynasty league instituted when we finally stopped going with the week 17 championship. Three 4-team division, play the 3 teams in your division twice and everyone else once. 4 teams make the playoffs(division winners and one WC) and they run week 15 and 16. No byes for the top seeds. (Want the title? Earn it.
)It's been quite a few years since the switch now and, though that first year there was some foot dragging, everyone likes it a good bit more than the old way. Eliminating two teams would, seemingly, make you think that there's less teams involved down the stretch in any given year, but it really hasn't worked out that way. (Although, part of that is from this league requiring that you win the "toilet bracket" to get the first overall pick the following year.)I'd argue this setup actually has forced some of our more "short attention span-esque" owners to be more vigilant throughout the year. Less chance that they "happy birthday" into a playoff spot, so every week is more important.
I get it ain't for everybody, but going to a 4 team playoff isn't as sucktastic as it might sound.
mr roboto
Footballguy
This is basically true in H2H formats anyway.
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Tony Reali
Footballguy
Enjoy week 17 Rodgers and McCoy owners
Of course, McCoy ####ed most of us over last week anyway
Of course, McCoy ####ed most of us over last week anyway
Dr. Awesome
Footballguy
Rodgers owners knew this was a very strong possibility many weeks ago. If they didn't make any moves they're really stupid.Enjoy week 17 Rodgers and McCoy owners
bigfoamfinger
Footballguy
We stick a double header or two in there to even out the schedule. It also adds a bit to the end of the year as the last week is a double header week.
Tony Reali
Footballguy
It's still the point that now you have to play without the top scoring QB in your most important gameRodgers owners knew this was a very strong possibility many weeks ago. If they didn't make any moves they're really stupid.Enjoy week 17 Rodgers and McCoy owners
Yenrub
Footballguy
Rodgers owners knew this was a very strong possibility many weeks ago. If they didn't make any moves they're really stupid.Enjoy week 17 Rodgers and McCoy owners
Winning their 1st 9 or 10 games should have been a "hint"
