I hope you have lineups to set next week, and the week after. Maybe even week 17, if your league plays that far. While the majority of fantasy players will close out the season after this weekend, many are fighting to keep it going for (at least) one more week.
If that's you, keep reading.
With only so many postseason spots, and just a few weeks left to determine a champion, final cuts are about to be made. Some teams know their fate one way or the other. Many need a win to get in. Many others need that, and a lot of help. But whether the postseason technically starts in week 14 or 15, the playoffs in your league actually begin this week.
Practically speaking, there's no difference between a must-win game before the playoffs, and one during the playoffs. If you have to win to keep going, it's a playoff atmosphere. The reward is another game. The price to pay for a loss is a long offseason. And it's up to you to claim victory.
NFL teams know what it's like. When Andrew Luck was interviewed after dismantling the Jets on Monday Night Football, he said all their games are now playoff games. And you can tell he meant it. He has the look of a quarterback already in the playoffs. There's an energy and competitiveness that simply doesn't exist when you're waiting for a winter tee time. When the games matter, it raises the bar.
Now, maybe the Colts make the playoffs, and maybe they don't. In any case, they're an unlikely candidate for the Super Bowl. But Luck is experiencing the pressure and fun of a playoff atmosphere, even though the season doesn't end for a few more weeks.
If you have even the smallest chance of making the playoffs, you should be like Luck. Take advantage of it. Enjoy it. This week might be the beginning of an amazing run that nets you a title. Or maybe you sneak in and extend your season by another week. Then again, one or more pieces to your playoff puzzle might remain missing, and you won't advance.
In any case, there's a good chance you'll have a playoff game (of sorts) this week. So treat it as such and enjoy it. If you worked hard all year to field a strong team, you deserve a taste of the win-or-go-home mentality. Make this playoff week count in a positive way. Don't be a pessimist or a Negative Nancy, waiting for the executioner's axe to fall on your team. Win or lose, that's the wrong way to finish the regular season.
Instead, take charge of your lineup and treat it like the Super Bowl. If you win, you did your part and had fun. And if you don't, you got to play in an elimination game and hopefully still had fun. I think that beats losing interest or expecting defeat and just playing out the string.
Sure, it's not as fun as admiring your playoff seeding, or looking ahead past your bye. But this is part of the game, too. If you're totally out of it, your job is to play spoiler and win as many games as you can. But if you have even a glimmer of hope, latch on to it and have fun this week. It just might lead to another week, and maybe even another. But if it doesn't, you still get that playoff atmosphere this weekend.
Whatever you need to advance, I hope the calls go your way, and the regular season ends with a well-earned victory. Good luck this weekend.
Do you have a path to the playoffs, no matter how slim? How do you keep a positive attitude, even if things look bleak? Share your thoughts below.