It's called "Fantasy Football for Winners," not "Fantasy Football for Third Placers." I reached the final four in all three of my leagues, but made it to the finals in only one. In the other two I'm playing for third place.
Is that really necessary? With my offseason seem brighter if I'm #3? Will any of the non-playoff managers eagerly checking the site next Tuesday morning to learn which loser came in fourth?
The basis for my book and this blog is that we'll never be satisfied unless we win. That's what drives us forward--what makes us want to be smarter about fantasy football's numbers and nuances.
On the flip side, winning is winning. And bragging rights are bragging rights. So everyone with a competitive edge wants to win no matter the context. So let's go out with a bang and kick some butt.
Here are some initial thoughts on waiver guys who might help you win. It's not a comprehensive list, but enough of these guys should on waivers to give you plenty of options:
-- QB Derek Carr has huge potential if Amari Cooper plays, and very good potential if he doesn't. Either way, for a guy who's unrostered in 20% of ESPN leagues, he's a steal. And I'm playing against him this week in my championship game. So you know I'm high on him if I'm hoping he fails (not him personally--just on the field . . . for one game . . .)
-- It's hard to fathom why QB Tyrod Taylor is available in one-third of ESPN leagues. If you lost Andy Dalton or Marcus Mariota or whoever and are looking for a sure-fire 20+ point QB for Championship Week, look no further. He and Sammy Watkins are clicking, and three of his best performances this season have come in the past four weeks.
-- RBs Karlos Williams or Mike Gillislee: Williams might not be at 100% by game time. One of these guys should get 15+ touches. If you guess right (and we should know more by Sunday morning), you've landed an RB2/3 without breaking a sweat.
-- RB Cameron Artis-Payne asserted himself as Carolina's lead back. I wrote last weekend that he was the RB to roster on that team. Now he has legit RB2 potential if Jonathan Stewart sits; 20 touches are more likely than note.
-- RB Jay Ajayi: Keep an eye on what the Dolphins do with Lamar Miller. I hinted several weeks ago that there's no way Miller's staying in Miami. He has two 20-carry games in something like 47 starts. He'll be an elite RB wherever he goes (within reason). If the Fins decide to try on Ajayi for size--giving him a full load while sitting Miller because of "injury." Ajayi becomes a must-start RB2+.
-- WRs Rueben Randle and Dwayne Harris: If Odell Beckham, Jr.'s suspension holds, Randle could flirt with WR1 numbers this week, while Harris is a fantastic deep flier with 7+ target potential.
-- If WR Amari Cooper sits, Michael Crabtree will be a top 7 WR this week. End of discussion.
-- There's still time for WR Eddie Royal to salvage his season. If the ailing Alshon Jeffery sits, Royal is worth a WR3/flex flier based purely on upside.
-- TE Will Tye could be Eli Manning's #2 target this week. We've already seen how good he can be. He's got a great shot to be even better, which makes him a near-elite TE option.
-- TE Clive Walford had a letdown performance Sunday but should be on everyone's radar this weekend, especially if you don't have a top 8 TE option.
-- If you haven't given up on Austin Seferian-Jenkins, don't. If you have, change your mind. Few TEs have his potential, and now that he's healthy (and rostered in only 35% of ESPN leagues), he's an easy pickup and start in a plus matchup. 10+ points is very likely, especially if Vincent Jackson remains sidelined.
Is that really necessary? With my offseason seem brighter if I'm #3? Will any of the non-playoff managers eagerly checking the site next Tuesday morning to learn which loser came in fourth?
The basis for my book and this blog is that we'll never be satisfied unless we win. That's what drives us forward--what makes us want to be smarter about fantasy football's numbers and nuances.
On the flip side, winning is winning. And bragging rights are bragging rights. So everyone with a competitive edge wants to win no matter the context. So let's go out with a bang and kick some butt.
Here are some initial thoughts on waiver guys who might help you win. It's not a comprehensive list, but enough of these guys should on waivers to give you plenty of options:
-- QB Derek Carr has huge potential if Amari Cooper plays, and very good potential if he doesn't. Either way, for a guy who's unrostered in 20% of ESPN leagues, he's a steal. And I'm playing against him this week in my championship game. So you know I'm high on him if I'm hoping he fails (not him personally--just on the field . . . for one game . . .)
-- It's hard to fathom why QB Tyrod Taylor is available in one-third of ESPN leagues. If you lost Andy Dalton or Marcus Mariota or whoever and are looking for a sure-fire 20+ point QB for Championship Week, look no further. He and Sammy Watkins are clicking, and three of his best performances this season have come in the past four weeks.
-- RBs Karlos Williams or Mike Gillislee: Williams might not be at 100% by game time. One of these guys should get 15+ touches. If you guess right (and we should know more by Sunday morning), you've landed an RB2/3 without breaking a sweat.
-- RB Cameron Artis-Payne asserted himself as Carolina's lead back. I wrote last weekend that he was the RB to roster on that team. Now he has legit RB2 potential if Jonathan Stewart sits; 20 touches are more likely than note.
-- RB Jay Ajayi: Keep an eye on what the Dolphins do with Lamar Miller. I hinted several weeks ago that there's no way Miller's staying in Miami. He has two 20-carry games in something like 47 starts. He'll be an elite RB wherever he goes (within reason). If the Fins decide to try on Ajayi for size--giving him a full load while sitting Miller because of "injury." Ajayi becomes a must-start RB2+.
-- WRs Rueben Randle and Dwayne Harris: If Odell Beckham, Jr.'s suspension holds, Randle could flirt with WR1 numbers this week, while Harris is a fantastic deep flier with 7+ target potential.
-- If WR Amari Cooper sits, Michael Crabtree will be a top 7 WR this week. End of discussion.
-- There's still time for WR Eddie Royal to salvage his season. If the ailing Alshon Jeffery sits, Royal is worth a WR3/flex flier based purely on upside.
-- TE Will Tye could be Eli Manning's #2 target this week. We've already seen how good he can be. He's got a great shot to be even better, which makes him a near-elite TE option.
-- TE Clive Walford had a letdown performance Sunday but should be on everyone's radar this weekend, especially if you don't have a top 8 TE option.
-- If you haven't given up on Austin Seferian-Jenkins, don't. If you have, change your mind. Few TEs have his potential, and now that he's healthy (and rostered in only 35% of ESPN leagues), he's an easy pickup and start in a plus matchup. 10+ points is very likely, especially if Vincent Jackson remains sidelined.