When Andrew Luck retired, the grind of the game was taking a toll on him mentally. To enjoy his life, he needed to step away from the game he loved. He felt it was time to call it quits and stop playing.
Fantasy GMs who drafted him probably feel the exact same way about their own game.
They won't quit, of course. But if you drafted him, or Hilton, or Mack, or Ebron or even Funchess, the team you selected doesn't look quite as great. And if you doubled up on some of those players, you're feeling doubly sick. Everything looked so much better a couple weeks ago.
Which begs the question, why draft a couple weeks ago? What is the annual rush to select a team of guys whose fortunes will change several times before the games start? Sure, their fortunes change once the games start as well. Guys get hurt in week 1, too. But you can at least start week 1 with as close a snapshot to the current NFL as possible. If one guy's retirement was ever cause for a league to consider moving their draft closer to September in 2020, this is it. Many leagues draft online anyway. Just pick a date closer to the start of the regular season.
I know it's hard to get everyone together, and some leagues have awesome annual traditions (in person) that an online draft can't ever replicate. But it's 2019. You can have your annual tradition, an awards banquet, a getaway weekend or just a fun night trash-talking, partying and bonding. You can vote for new rules, hand out the league trophies, and announce new team names (especially if they're a result of losing league bets). You can do all of that in August, or even July if you want. But a couple days before the start of week 1, fire up your computer and select your players.
Have your draft tradition; just don't actually draft when you do it. It sounds unorthodox, but it gives every team a fighting chance to actually claim the title in a few months. I'm certainly not saying a Luck owner can't win. I'm not even saying a Luck/Hilton owner can't win. I'm saying the team they have isn't the team they want headed into week 1, and that's through no fault of their own. To reduce the variables, all you have to do it draft later nest year.
But that's next year, of course. Here and now, owners have to deal with what's already happened. If your draft is coming up, you'll react accordingly. Some people believe Mack might become a bigger part of the offense, and some think Jacoby Brissett can be a functional replacement, preserving the value of the other skill positions. But you have the luxury of taking in this information before you select your players.
But what if you already have one of the above guys on your team? Suppose you drafted Lamar Miller, who looks to be done for the year? Your options are limited. They're not exhausted, but they are limited.
You can hit the waiver wire, of course. Grab the best available players at the positions where you're hurting. In fact, you should consider replacing some depth at other positions for even more depth at that position. Carry more quarterbacks than you would normally. Take an extra chance on a flier at running back instead of at wide receiver. It might not help enough, but it certainly won't hurt. Fortify your roster, and be on the lookout for quick turnarounds. Final cuts might reveal some new opportunities, so you might ditch a new backup for someone better a few days from now.
While you're at it, feel free to ignore almost all trade offers. Vultures are waiting to take advantage of your frustration, and you'll be encouraged to make a bad situation worse. Don't do it. Acting on emotion makes it feel like you're doing something, and you are. It's just not something that will help your team.
On that note, should you make a lopsided trade offer to the Luck owner, and hope they bite? Yeah, as long as it's not insulting. If you an insult a fellow owner, they'll remember it for years. But if it's advantageous for you and provides some relief for them, they might consider it. They shouldn't, but they might. Throw your hat in the ring.
Finally, remember the arguments against drafting later: Injuries occur in week 1, too. It doesn't really excuse drafting too early, but it is technically true. And it might help you as well. Another team's injury might open up an opportunity for a guy on your bench. Each week there will be new injuries, and perhaps they'll work in your favor. You might be feeling great about that roster of yours by week 3. You never know.
And finally (did I write finally already? Ignore that, please), remember that you haven't lost any games yet. You could dominate your league, and tell the tale about how your early-QB strategy was replaced by a QB-by-committee strategy. How everyone counted you out, and now you're counting your winnings. Nobody will want to hear you brag, which will be a great reason to do it frequently.
In other words, you haven't lost anything. None of your opponents have won anything. I wish Andrew Luck the best, and the same to all fantasy owners dealing with his retirement. And Lamar Miller's injury. And whatever else might (will) happen as the weeks go by.
How has Luck's retirement impacted your league? Have you suffered (or maybe benefited) from the changing landscape? Any tips for dealing with unexpected setbacks early in the year? Share your thoughts below.