Fantasy players are an enthusiastic group, but they can be a bit judgy sometimes. Fewer than 12 teams? Amateurs! Don't use decimal scoring? Absurd! And if your league doesn't end in week 16, well, are you even playing the same game?
Yes, you are. Ignore the criticism. If you have another game to play, enjoy it.
There are reasons most leagues end in week 16, or course. Some playoff-bound teams might use the last week as a manufactured bye, especially since there's only so many per conference (one this year). So the guys you used to get to the title game might not be available. Some real teams are mailing it in, and a few playoff spots have been claimed, so it's unlike any other week. But, despite all that, some leagues still play all the way to the end.
And there's nothing wrong with doing so. I've played in several week 17 leagues, and they weren't any less fun. The winner wasn't any less legitimate. Sure, you had to navigate a few obstacles, and you might have to dig deeper into your bench (or even the waiver wire). But so what? It's not any different than your best player being injured, or on the Covid list. You had to deal with it all season. What's one more game?
You also get a good feel for which players would be playing, and which would be taking the day off. When a coach won't say any more than "we'll play to win," the backups are coming. If a team has a shot at a bye, the starters are definitely playing. If they can only improve their wildcard seed, odds are you won't get a full game out of those guys. And eliminated teams play the way they normally play. If a player is getting shut down, you'll usually know it in advance, so managing your lineups isn't too hard.
Plus, you get an extra game. That means many leagues extend the regular season by a game as well, or they expand the playoff field. So you get more fantasy football, more chances to stay in the playoff hunt or maybe more spots in the postseason. Sounds like a good deal to me.
To be fair, championship teams could be without some good players this weekend. Kansas City has a bye in hand, and a few players on other teams have already been ruled out. What little hope you had for guys like Christian McCaffrey or Joe Mixon to come back has already been dashed. But that's what your bench is for, right? If you made it this far without some of them, you can make it one more week.
Plus, there aren't too many teams that have actually been eliminated. In the NFC East, only the Eagles have no shot. In the NFC West, only the 49ers are out of it. The Bears might be in, or not. Same with the Browns and the Dolphins. The Colts and Titans could each win their division, or miss the postseason entirely. And three teams in the NFC still have a shot at the bye. Oh, and the Ravens are still alive, too. Maybe this week 17 thing isn't so bad after all.
Even if you won your league, you have nothing to play for this weekend while others are enjoying another week of competition. Is that really so terrible? Maybe they're on to something. I'm not saying you should switch your main league to play in week 17, but I am saying you might want to try playing in one that does. Or, at the very least, not dismiss it out of hand when a league does it.
Many leagues are finished, but a select few have another game to play. If you're in one of those, I'm actually a little jealous. After all, my season is over and yours isn't. Enjoy it. Good luck this week.
Does your league play to the very end? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Could you see yourself playing in this kind of league? Share your thoughts below.
11 Reader Comments:
Scott Anderson
Tamra Britt
Ben Hogevoll
Russell Pitts
Never again!
Eric Pryne
Jim Kontopoulos
Ben Hogevoll
Andy Richardson
derek king
Technically I had the head to head win in the season, but what to do? I had made a joke earlier in the day that my Bills kicker could only get 8 points and it could happen...he was depressed and already conceding...then it happened. Final TIE, so I asked our commish if we could play the 17th week to decide it (and he didnt know) but I decided to leave it as is (and save the friendship) and be co-Champs. Best news is I also Won my other two leagues, so 3 for 3. Happy new year :)
derek king
derek king