You play to win the game (1 Viewer)

[jbird]

I'm sure this has been brought up before but I believe I have the opportunity to decide my playoff opponent next week. I am in second place and there are 2 teams that are 2 games back of me fighting for the final playoff spot to play against me next week. I play Team A who has been decimated by injuries, Gore being the latest. Team B, who is on a 5 game win streak, plays the division leader. If I start all my backups and let Team A win then I figure I have the path of least resistance to get to the division final by playing Team A again next week. If both teams win then Team B makes the playoffs.

Good money is on the line. Is this a $h!tty move?

 

[rizzler]

your team, you do as you please.

as long as you start a valid roster. the rest is pointless to argue.

 

[fred_1_15301]

I'm sure this has been brought up before but I believe I have the opportunity to decide my playoff opponent next week. I am in second place and there are 2 teams that are 2 games back of me fighting for the final playoff spot to play against me next week. I play Team A who has been decimated by injuries, Gore being the latest. Team B, who is on a 5 game win streak, plays the division leader. If I start all my backups and let Team A win then I figure I have the path of least resistance to get to the division final by playing Team A again next week. If both teams win then Team B makes the playoffs.Good money is on the line. Is this a $h!tty move?

You can do what you want. Just don't complain if the shoe is on the other foot next year.

 

[rizzler]

You can do what you want. Just don't complain if the shoe is on the other foot next year.

Yep, I know every guy in my league, and Id personally drive over to biotchslap the person who pulls that stunt.But I stand by your right to do it.

 

[Mik789fl]

I'm sure this has been brought up before but I believe I have the opportunity to decide my playoff opponent next week. I am in second place and there are 2 teams that are 2 games back of me fighting for the final playoff spot to play against me next week. I play Team A who has been decimated by injuries, Gore being the latest. Team B, who is on a 5 game win streak, plays the division leader. If I start all my backups and let Team A win then I figure I have the path of least resistance to get to the division final by playing Team A again next week. If both teams win then Team B makes the playoffs.Good money is on the line. Is this a $h!tty move?

You can do what you want. Just don't complain if the shoe is on the other foot next year.

 

[RamMan]

I'm sure this has been brought up before but I believe I have the opportunity to decide my playoff opponent next week. I am in second place and there are 2 teams that are 2 games back of me fighting for the final playoff spot to play against me next week. I play Team A who has been decimated by injuries, Gore being the latest. Team B, who is on a 5 game win streak, plays the division leader. If I start all my backups and let Team A win then I figure I have the path of least resistance to get to the division final by playing Team A again next week. If both teams win then Team B makes the playoffs.

Good money is on the line. Is this a $h!tty move?

In my opinion - yes. It's not in keeping within the spirit of good sportsmanship and would just feel "slimey" to me (in a "look at yourself in the mirror" sort of way). To each their own.

 

[Modog814]

I agree that you have the right do this, however to me it seems a little bush league. But if you feel compelled to do this and don't want to risk alienating the league, perhaps you can start your no-brainers as usual, but any player that seems "close" start the player you think will actually do worse.

That said, I am a huge believer in "If you have chance to eliminate someone from the playoffs...do so." This is in fantasy and real life. I could live (at a FF owner and as a Football fan) with my team losing to a team in the playoffs that "earned" their way in. It would kill me if my team lost to a team that I could have eliminated if only my team played their starters.

Case in point was the colts last year, I thought it was absolutely silly for them to lay down in the 2nd half to the Jets and it nearly cost them in the playoffs.

 

[The Rook]

Not to take this off topic, but we actually added an element to playoff pairings the last two years. Once regular season is over, the top seed picks his first round playoff opponent. Next highest seed has next choice and so on until pairings are set. This also sets the brackets for the playoffs (meaning, no re-seeding or re-picking after first round). It's added an interesting twist.

You wouldn't have to decide if you were going to throw a regular season game. You get to pick your first round opponent anyway.

 

[DocHolliday]

I would play to win every week. As soon as you start trying to make things go your way, things seem to NOT go your way.

 

[Zoomanji]

I'm sure this has been brought up before but I believe I have the opportunity to decide my playoff opponent next week. I am in second place and there are 2 teams that are 2 games back of me fighting for the final playoff spot to play against me next week. I play Team A who has been decimated by injuries, Gore being the latest. Team B, who is on a 5 game win streak, plays the division leader. If I start all my backups and let Team A win then I figure I have the path of least resistance to get to the division final by playing Team A again next week. If both teams win then Team B makes the playoffs.Good money is on the line. Is this a $h!tty move?

bad karmado it then let us know how badly Team A beats you in the playoffs

 

[jbird]

I agree that you have the right do this, however to me it seems a little bush league. But if you feel compelled to do this and don't want to risk alienating the league, perhaps you can start your no-brainers as usual, but any player that seems "close" start the player you think will actually do worse.

That said, I am a huge believer in "If you have chance to eliminate someone from the playoffs...do so." This is in fantasy and real life. I could live (at a FF owner and as a Football fan) with my team losing to a team in the playoffs that "earned" their way in. It would kill me if my team lost to a team that I could have eliminated if only my team played their starters.

Case in point was the colts last year, I thought it was absolutely silly for them to lay down in the 2nd half to the Jets and it nearly cost them in the playoffs.

This has me thinking of putting my starters back in. It would kill me too, all off-season, if Team A beat me after helping him get in.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

It would be tantamount to what AJ smith did to VJ/McNeil based on the lockout provisions in the cba. Ie yes it's a ####ty move, but I say do whatever you think maximizes your chances.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

this rarely works out, you'll play the team full of scrubs and next thing you know Billy Volek and Drew Bennett knock your 11-2 team out of the playoffs.

Karma baby, dont temp it, the fantasy gods are not to be toyed with

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

I agree that you have the right do this, however to me it seems a little bush league. But if you feel compelled to do this and don't want to risk alienating the league, perhaps you can start your no-brainers as usual, but any player that seems "close" start the player you think will actually do worse.

That said, I am a huge believer in "If you have chance to eliminate someone from the playoffs...do so." This is in fantasy and real life. I could live (at a FF owner and as a Football fan) with my team losing to a team in the playoffs that "earned" their way in. It would kill me if my team lost to a team that I could have eliminated if only my team played their starters.

Case in point was the colts last year, I thought it was absolutely silly for them to lay down in the 2nd half to the Jets and it nearly cost them in the playoffs.

This has me thinking of putting my starters back in. It would kill me too, all off-season, if Team A beat me after helping him get in.

This sounds like you just need to deal with adversity better.

 

[DoubleG]

The reason I take issue with such a move is that if you had played this game at any other point of the season, you wouldn't be trying to take a dive.

As an example, a few weeks ago a very poor team had a chance to beat a contender due to an injury and bye week situation. The poor team confided in me that they were considering "tanking a little" in hopes of a better draft pick next year. I pointed out that other contenders would not think this was fair, as other teams had to face the contender at full strength and lost and other played this poor team and lost for similar reasons earlier in the year (when the poor team was still 'trying'). He agreed, started his best lineup...and lost anyway.

The point is two-fold. Head-to-head FF can have bizarre results, especially in very small (1 or 2 game) sample sizes. Nothing is a given. That's why earning a bye in leagues that have them is huge. The second point is that games that happen later in the season should be played under the same premise as games early in the season - while this doesn't happen in the NFL, it should in FF (mainly because "resting players" in FF doesn't actually accomplish anything in terms of avoiding injury or fatigue for future games).

 

[Ghost Rider]

I would play to win every week. As soon as you start trying to make things go your way, things seem to NOT go your way.

I play in one league where we play three opponents a week, you win money for every win, you lose money for every loss, and the league champion is determined by whichever team wins the most money over the course of the whole season (meaning the winner of the playoffs may not necessarily win the league). I love it. It rewards the team that is the best the whole season, and discourages tanking or throwing games for reasons as stated in threads like this.

 

[Tigerbot Hesh]

 

[footballnerd]

Okay, I'm starting to think like the OP here. I'm currently in first and high points of an 8 team playoff league and am playing the 7th slot this week, he has one of the hottest teams in the league. If I lose this week I guarantee all 3 of the other higher scoring teams to be in the other bracket, if I win I will face this opponent again in round 1. We get cash prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The 8 playoff seeds are a lock and now just jocking for positions. Wondering what would be the wise play here....

 

[emge]

it is not like your decision is going to affect all other millions of fantasy players. play your game. DO WHAT YOU THINK WILL HELP YOU GET TO THE FINALS AND WIN THERE.

 

[FantasyTrader]

Not to take this off topic, but we actually added an element to playoff pairings the last two years. Once regular season is over, the top seed picks his first round playoff opponent. Next highest seed has next choice and so on until pairings are set. This also sets the brackets for the playoffs (meaning, no re-seeding or re-picking after first round). It's added an interesting twist.You wouldn't have to decide if you were going to throw a regular season game. You get to pick your first round opponent anyway.

This is a great idea. Completely removes the temtation to purposely tank regardless.

 

[Catbird]

I believe you play the game to win, within the rules. I would expect any team in my leagues to tank against Team A in this situation and would do it myself. If you don't want the situation to occur, adopt one of the many rules that helps avoid it. But when your choice under the rules is to give yourself a better playoff position or a worse one ... I say give yourself the best shot the rules provide for. If your rules say you have to try your bets to win every game - that's the rule and you follow it.

And certainly either do it or not. Don't weakly start a few bad players with some studs. Win this week or try your best to win the league. Don't do a little bit of each hoping to soothe your conscience. Starting one should-be-benched guy is as bad as starting all of them. IMO, make your decision, believe in it, and go for that 100%.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

this rarely works out, you'll play the team full of scrubs and next thing you know Billy Volek and Drew Bennett knock your 11-2 team out of the playoffs.Karma baby, dont temp it, the fantasy gods are not to be toyed with

Lol I haven't thought about those two in a couple years. I started those two together in the playoffs and just murdered someone.Just play your best team, you may not even win this week. If you win it all, do you really want owners in your league a little bitter about it? Earn it the right way, it's not all about the money.

 

[Utter Chaos]

I did that once about 10 years ago.

The "bad" team ended up beating me in the first round of the playoffs. Had I played the "good" team I would have won that week and would have been the champion.

Karma doesn't like it when you do things like that.

 

[wiscstlatlmia]

this rarely works out, you'll play the team full of scrubs and next thing you know Billy Volek and Drew Bennett knock your 11-2 team out of the playoffs.

Karma baby, dont temp it, the fantasy gods are not to be toyed with

Lol I haven't thought about those two in a couple years. I started those two together in the playoffs and just murdered someone.Just play your best team, you may not even win this week. If you win it all, do you really want owners in your league a little bitter about it? Earn it the right way, it's not all about the money.

i would only do this move if your i a high money league and youve never talked to anyone in the league face to face....kinda like online poker...but if your playing with your buddies dont even think about it

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Been discussed ad nauseum in a thread Gianmarco started last year and just bumped a couple weeks ago.

After all of the back and forth I think league rules ought to specifically prevent what you're talking about. Either by taking away the points spot altogether and removing the incentive, or by defining what you're doing as tanking. The league is damaged if every team isn't playing to win its game each week.

 

[fsufan]

this rarely works out, you'll play the team full of scrubs and next thing you know Billy Volek and Drew Bennett knock your 11-2 team out of the playoffs.Karma baby, dont temp it, the fantasy gods are not to be toyed with