RADIO
The fantasy football playoffs are upon us. A time for those involved to rejoice and make that final push to glory while league mates on the outside looking in must recalibrate (or just hope for better luck).
A fantasy season is four months long but goes by in a flash. As much as we stress out over a weekly result, remember to take a step back and enjoy these next few weeks before it is all gone for another nine months.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this piece or the playoffs, feel free to contact me on Twitter (@RotoSurgeon). Now, without further ado, the four pillars to making a championship.
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Having a Bye
First off, pat yourself on the back for securing the most valuable asset in all of fantasy. There is nothing more important to winning a championship than limiting the volatility of getting there in the first place.
Byes are not to be taken too lightly despite what you would imagine as a week to hit cruise control. You should be game-planning your next week along with the championship matchup diligently. With COVID as rampant as it has been in the league of late along with the natural occurrence of injuries, you need strong backup options, specifically at WR and RB. View future matchups to make sure you have strong WR3 or FLEX options in beneficial matchups and who could replace them if need be.
There really is not ~too~ much to do outside of rolling with the players that have led you this far but it is necessary to work the edges available to leave no stone unturned. That also means checking the waiver wire once or twice a day to see if anyone who could help you has been dropped.
Gaming the Waiver Wire
Something crucial to remember is the limited competition in the playoffs affects the waiver wire. You no longer need to hoard a 5th WR or backup TE that is better than a non-playoff team's starter. Those roster spots should be utilized holding backup RBs with massive, starting upside along with next week's best QB, DST, Kicker, assuming the one you have is not as start-able as the present week.
While rostering multiple D/STs or Kickers in the regular season is frowned upon, it could behoove you in the playoffs to have the best possible option in the best possible matchup. Oftentimes, everyone is (rightfully) focused enough on the week in front of them that they leave an opportunity to be attained.
Checking next week's matchups can set you up nicely to climb your way up the ladder. QBs could be considered reckless to roster multiple of in a single QB league but they score more than any position on a regular basis. Don't underestimate the power a good QB has in the right matchup.
Nevertheless, RBs are the priority given the upside they present at any given moment. It is evident that the position is the most fragile in all of fantasy but what matters is that their upside is the most tantalizing to chase. Make sure you roster RBs whose usage would skyrocket if the starter goes down because usage is the name of the game.
Available examples: Ronald Jones II, Mike Davis, Rhamondre Stevenson, Devontae Booker, Khalil Herbert, Samaje Perine.
Start/Sits
DON'T. GET. CUTE.
"Start your studs" is wailed into the void every season for good reason. This game is extremely volatile with just 17 small samples fitting together to create the bigger picture of a season. Any and every healthy stud can make up for a lackluster or "rollercoaster" year within a span of 3 weeks. Usage is the name of the game and touchdowns can happen in bunches (see: Alvin Kamara in Week 16 last year).
*Not to say Kamara was getting benched by anyone but that is beside the point*
A more recent example is Tee Higgins who averaged 11.5 PPR points per game from Weeks 1-11 (WR40). However, over the past 3 weeks, he has averaged 22.9 PPR points per game (WR6). These things can change in an instant. Whether it is because of defenses shading more towards breakout WR Ja'Marr Chase, or strictly due to luck of the draw is unknown but what we do know is that talent is what you should bet on, not last week's points.
Healthy players to consider un-bench-able "studs" based on usage: DK Metcalf, Ezekiel Elliott, Antonio Gibson, Saquon Barkley, David Montgomery, Amari Cooper, Aaron Jones, and James Robinson. Although you may have trepidation based on a recent dip in performance, blip in usage due to a teammate's explosion, or potentially daunting matchup, these players all fit the bill of "studs" you start no matter what.
Understanding Luck
Each matchup is a microcosm of fantasy in general as mentioned earlier. There is no perfect formula outside of having the best players possible along with a significant amount of injury and touchdown luck.
Davante Adams has 90 catches this year and 17 red-zone targets while DeAndre Hopkins has 37 catches and 14 red-zone targets. Does it make sense for Hopkins (8) to have one more touchdown than Adams (7)? No, but you accept the noise and move on. For all we know, Adams can have his total doubled by the end of the season.
You could have made the playoffs drafting a sound, high upside+floor team from the 1st overall spot starting with Christian McCaffrey (almost a no-brainer), A.J. Brown, D'Andre Swift, Lamar Jackson, and Adam Thielen. In all likelihood, none of those players are available to you in Week 15. Why? Damn luck.
Not to say you are the only one in your league to deal with injuries/COVID/etc. but it's all about timing. You can live with a player missing a week or even 3 but come playoff time on top of having it compound? Forget about it. You drew the short end of the stick.
Conclusion
Speaking of luck, best of it to everyone in the playoffs. Whether you win or lose, keep this in mind: making the fantasy playoffs consistently takes skill (along with a good bit of effort), while winning a championship is mostly luck. You can do everything in your power to set the highest projection or have more high-usage studs than your opponent and in the matter of a 3-hour morning slate, those dreams can either come to fruition or shatter.
This game we love is fickle and can cause plenty of heartaches just like a favorite sports team/athlete, just in a different way. *You* assembled this team and constructed it for several months while personally experiencing the results week-in and week-out. It may seem superfluous to others but your frustration/joy is valid whatever the end result may be.
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