You've made it into your fantasy league playoffs this year for one or more of the following reasons: you drafted well, made the right lineup moves, didn't forget about bye weeks, picked up hot players quickly and kept a reasonable eye on matchups. Oh, and you did not bench your studs because they were going up against a stiff defense.
Unfortunately, I'm not writing about this from first-person experience in 2007. That's because I didn't follow my own advice. You can read too much and visit websites that tell you who to start and who to sit each week, but in the end you have to rely on your gut and on your players' abilities, regardless of the opponent. I made the mistake of having guys like Wes Welker, Brandon Marshall and Willis McGahee on the bench when they put up their best numbers of the season; and of expecting more out of guys like Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, Adam Vinatieri and Warrick Dunn when the matchups seemed favorable.
But enough about me. My advice to you as you head into your opening playoff game this weekend is to do what got you here. Play your best players, regardless of matchup. Yes, the Oakland Raiders have a tough pass defense and have given up only 10 touchdowns through the air, but if you bench Peyton Manning or Reggie Wayne because of that, you shouldn't be in the playoffs to begin with. Likewise, you shouldn't let Brian Westbrook ride the pine against the Dallas Cowboys' stiff run defense — the dude is a playmaker as a runner and receiver, regardless of the opponent.
You should, however, pay attention to weather, because if it snows in the Northeast, the New York Jets-New England Patriots and Washington Redskins-New York Giants games could be lower scoring than usual. OK, maybe not the Patriots, but you get the idea.
In addition, and this is even more important, make sure you set your lineup or part of your lineup before the Thursday AND Saturday games this week. How embarrassing would it be to watch Jay Cutler light up the scoreboard tonight only to realize you forgot to start him in time?
OK, that's about all I've got. Make me proud, and go win your league!
Unfortunately, I'm not writing about this from first-person experience in 2007. That's because I didn't follow my own advice. You can read too much and visit websites that tell you who to start and who to sit each week, but in the end you have to rely on your gut and on your players' abilities, regardless of the opponent. I made the mistake of having guys like Wes Welker, Brandon Marshall and Willis McGahee on the bench when they put up their best numbers of the season; and of expecting more out of guys like Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, Adam Vinatieri and Warrick Dunn when the matchups seemed favorable.
But enough about me. My advice to you as you head into your opening playoff game this weekend is to do what got you here. Play your best players, regardless of matchup. Yes, the Oakland Raiders have a tough pass defense and have given up only 10 touchdowns through the air, but if you bench Peyton Manning or Reggie Wayne because of that, you shouldn't be in the playoffs to begin with. Likewise, you shouldn't let Brian Westbrook ride the pine against the Dallas Cowboys' stiff run defense — the dude is a playmaker as a runner and receiver, regardless of the opponent.
You should, however, pay attention to weather, because if it snows in the Northeast, the New York Jets-New England Patriots and Washington Redskins-New York Giants games could be lower scoring than usual. OK, maybe not the Patriots, but you get the idea.
In addition, and this is even more important, make sure you set your lineup or part of your lineup before the Thursday AND Saturday games this week. How embarrassing would it be to watch Jay Cutler light up the scoreboard tonight only to realize you forgot to start him in time?
OK, that's about all I've got. Make me proud, and go win your league!
