When you go out to eat, do you prefer trying new restaurants, or going with old favorites? When you order, do you gravitate toward something different, or a dish you already know you like? I feel like most people fall squarely in one of those two camps.
I'm the kind of person who likes to know in advance if he'll like the restaurant and the meal. It might sound boring to some people, but if it ain't broke, I'm not looking to fix it. I'm not like that with everything, though; mostly just food. I'm still trying to get more comfortable with trying new things, because sometimes it yields great results. And I think that's especially true when it comes to fantasy football. Trying something different can enhance your experience this coming season.
If you're in three or four leagues this year (or 15, for some folks) are they mostly the same formats? A 12-team redraft PPR, reverse-snake, head-to-head league over and over and over? You might prefer that setup, but at that point you're just running different permutations of your draft strategy. You're not getting anything new out of it, you're not thinking any differently and it's easy to feel underwhelmed during the season. It's like there's only one way to play "fantasy football" and it gets stale after a while.
But suppose all your leagues are a little different: One is a dynasty league. One has 16 teams. One has just eight teams and starts two quarterbacks. One is an auction league. One is total points. Doesn't all that change the game, literally? You'll need a different mindset for each one. Every week will bring new challenges and new opportunities, and you might find you really love a certain format you never tried before. And if you hate one of them, you know enough about football to get through the season, do your best and bow out gracefully the next year. You have a lot to gain and very little to lose.
I play in one smaller league that has no RB or WR positions. It's all flex. Your lineup can be five wide, or like the old-school Nebraska triple option with a bunch of running backs, or a package of multiple tight ends or whatever you want. It's pretty fun, and it makes dealing with injuries more manageable because just about any player can fill any position. I still like traditional formats but it's a nice wrinkle. It changes how I draft and how I manage the team. Turns out there are almost infinite ways to play fantasy football. You just have to find different leagues that interest you.
I also think it will keep you more interested throughout the season. Suppose in one league you're 1-7, and in another you're 7-1. It's human nature to focus on the winning team. You'll still try to win in both but it gets harder to be associated with a loser. Now, suppose your 1-7 squad is a dynasty team. Now you're not a loser. You're rebuilding! You'll scour the waiver wire for talent, try to move some players for draft picks and your engagement will go up. Every add/drop means more. That 1-7 team might become as interesting and maybe even more fun than the redraft powerhouse, because you're looking years into the future. A little change in format can bring a lot more enjoyment. And really, isn't that why you're here?
I'm publishing this article in July, on purpose. You still have plenty of time to look for a different kind of challenge this season. See if a dynasty league has an opening, or if there's a league with a different scoring system you can join. Just make sure that you always have the time to devote to a new league. No formats work without active managers, so you need to be one from the very beginning. But trying something different can really be good for you. Just not at dinnertime.
Do you play in different types of leagues, or are they mostly the same? What’s the weirdest format you learned to enjoy? What would you recommend to managers looking for something different? Share your thoughts below.