If you look at your roster, you’ll see a collection of guys you drafted, gems you picked up off the waiver wire, some depth fillers you have on your roster and maybe a trade acquisition or two.
The playoffs are a great equalizer. Now that you’re in, all players are the same. Everybody should be considered for a spot, and nobody gets a fast pass to your lineup based on how you acquired them.
It makes sense, but it’s not always easy to put into practice. If you drafted a starting quarterback, and he’s been there for you all season, and he helped get you to this game, don’t you have to start him? If you traded for a guy, isn’t he someone who should be in your lineup? Isn’t a depth pick supposed to be there only in case of an injury?
No, no, and no. I’m not saying you have to bench a player, but it should always be on the table. Even if Josh Allen got you to week 16, he’s not an automatic start at New England. December weather might have you looking for better starting options than your regular guys. And, as I’ve mentioned previously, a losing streak might cause a team to give its injured stars a break at the end of a lost season. Any and all of those circumstances might cause you to make a change to the starting lineup, or a pivot from the guys you expected to be available.
There are two competing factors at work here: First, the lesson of week 15 is that you can’t take anything for granted. There were head-scratching performances across the board, and untimely power outages from some of the best fantasy stars of the year. So you have the reminder that your tried-and-true players might be fool’s gold when you need them most. Every player’s stats start back at zero each week.
The other factor is the nostalgia of your successful season. A player carried you this far, so why replace them when it matters most? It’s a fair query, and perhaps valid, all things being equal.
But all things aren’t equal. The weather isn’t equal. Injury status isn’t equal. Their teams’ records aren’t equal. An alternate player’s potential isn’t equal. Nothing is equal, so putting aside your warm feelings toward your players allows for an objective evaluation. And that’s important, even if everything is on the line. Actually, especially if everything is on the line.
Oh, and there’s something else: A hunch. Sometimes you just have a feeling about a guy. It’s your team, so feel free to play that hunch if you feel strongly about it. You know what’s worse than losing because you benched a guy you should have started? Losing because you knew who you really wanted in the lineup, you felt like it was the right move, but you didn’t have the guts to do it. Knowing that guy could have saved your season will stay with you. Make the moves you want to make.
And hey, sometimes that move isn’t making any changes at all. Maybe you think someone might be better, but you don’t have a strong feeling about it either way. In that case, nothing wrong with dancing with the one that brung ya (or whatever that saying is). You’re still evaluating your options and doing what you think is best. If your regular starters look like the best option, go with them. That’s running your team.
But if you have a playoff roster to create, start from scratch. Every single position should be evaluated, from the quarterback to the kicker. Look up the weather in every city where you have starters playing this week. There’s no guarantee it will work out, of course. But if your job is to manage your team, you can’t afford to let tenure affect your decisions. Give your team a critical eye and don’t be afraid to make changes. Give them a chance to succeed and you might still be playing next week (or celebrating a title, depending on when your season ends). Good luck this week.
Do you take risks in the playoffs, or do you tend to play it safe with established starters? How does the weather factor into your decisions? Are you definitely benching a regular starter in the most important game? Share your thoughts below.