"What have I done."
That's the question I asked myself as I watched the Bears-Packers Sunday Night Football game.
As a Packers fan, you'd think I'd be happy to see Aaron Rodgers shred the Bears defense to the tune of six first-half touchdowns, and you'd be right.
But, in the second half, I got a text from my cousin, who I was playing against this week: Boy did you make a mistake sitting Rodgers.
I did WHAT?
I SAT RODGERS?!
In disbelief, I ripped open my laptop to see if it was just a cruel joke. Sure enough, there was Rodger's six touchdowns and 370 yards gone to waste.
The quarterback I played? Carson Palmer. Not usually a BAD decision, per say, except for the fact that this week he tore his ACL and didn't finish the game.
To add insult to injury, had I switched my quarterbacks, I would have easily won. Instead I lost, sending my team to last place in that league.
This marks -- bar none -- the worst decision I have EVER made in fantasy football.
Just because it was an auto-drafted six-team league, I got cocky and didn't really bother to check my team beyond switching out players on their bye week.
This is a cautionary tale: no matter how much you think you have a game in the bag, it is no excuse to slack off and not take everything seriously.
Bad decisions happen. It's excusable if you took the time to weigh your options and then pick wrongly. We're not psychic, after all.
But if you don't take the time to choose carefully, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Every win in fantasy is sacred. Every loss could be the one that sends you home.
I finished this week 2-4 and wondering what could have been if I had put the necessary time and effort into my team.
Make an earth-shatteringly bad decision like I did? Need some roster advice? Let me know at 14tange14@gmail.com. One of these days someone will reach out, I know it!
Nick's Waiver Wire Picks of the Week
1) Mychal Rivera: Oakland Raiders Tight End
The last three games, Rivera has averaged seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. With only one game left on the schedule that the Raiders actually have a legitimate chance at winning (week 16 against Buffalo), there's a good chance that they'll be down and throwing often. In a PPR setting, Rivera is a player you should be able to start with confidence. Since he's only taken in 40 percent of ESPN leagues, you should be confident in your chances of picking him up.
2) Mike Evans: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver
Another player from a team that has no hope for the rest of the season. They'll also be playing from behind a lot, and rookie Mike Evans has emerged as a decent target. Over the last two weeks, Evans has caught 14 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. In the next few weeks, Evans will get to play the Redskins, Bears and Panthers who have surrendered large chunks of yards to wide receivers, so he's a player that can make an impact as the season winds down. He's only around in 29 percent of leagues, so get him while you still can.
3) Ryan Mathews: San Diego Chargers Running Back
Mathews has been out since sustaining a knee injury in week two. With his return, he'll provide a boost to a Chargers team that has been extremely injured at running back all year. He gets to start his comeback against the Raiders: a team he rack up 119 yards and a touchdown against last year. He's around in 55 percent of ESPN leagues, so don't hesitate to pick him up.
Good luck, fantasy experts! And may my teams lose, so yours don't have to.
That's the question I asked myself as I watched the Bears-Packers Sunday Night Football game.
As a Packers fan, you'd think I'd be happy to see Aaron Rodgers shred the Bears defense to the tune of six first-half touchdowns, and you'd be right.
But, in the second half, I got a text from my cousin, who I was playing against this week: Boy did you make a mistake sitting Rodgers.
I did WHAT?
I SAT RODGERS?!
In disbelief, I ripped open my laptop to see if it was just a cruel joke. Sure enough, there was Rodger's six touchdowns and 370 yards gone to waste.
The quarterback I played? Carson Palmer. Not usually a BAD decision, per say, except for the fact that this week he tore his ACL and didn't finish the game.
To add insult to injury, had I switched my quarterbacks, I would have easily won. Instead I lost, sending my team to last place in that league.
This marks -- bar none -- the worst decision I have EVER made in fantasy football.
Just because it was an auto-drafted six-team league, I got cocky and didn't really bother to check my team beyond switching out players on their bye week.
This is a cautionary tale: no matter how much you think you have a game in the bag, it is no excuse to slack off and not take everything seriously.
Bad decisions happen. It's excusable if you took the time to weigh your options and then pick wrongly. We're not psychic, after all.
But if you don't take the time to choose carefully, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Every win in fantasy is sacred. Every loss could be the one that sends you home.
I finished this week 2-4 and wondering what could have been if I had put the necessary time and effort into my team.
Make an earth-shatteringly bad decision like I did? Need some roster advice? Let me know at 14tange14@gmail.com. One of these days someone will reach out, I know it!
Nick's Waiver Wire Picks of the Week
1) Mychal Rivera: Oakland Raiders Tight End
The last three games, Rivera has averaged seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. With only one game left on the schedule that the Raiders actually have a legitimate chance at winning (week 16 against Buffalo), there's a good chance that they'll be down and throwing often. In a PPR setting, Rivera is a player you should be able to start with confidence. Since he's only taken in 40 percent of ESPN leagues, you should be confident in your chances of picking him up.
2) Mike Evans: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver
Another player from a team that has no hope for the rest of the season. They'll also be playing from behind a lot, and rookie Mike Evans has emerged as a decent target. Over the last two weeks, Evans has caught 14 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns. In the next few weeks, Evans will get to play the Redskins, Bears and Panthers who have surrendered large chunks of yards to wide receivers, so he's a player that can make an impact as the season winds down. He's only around in 29 percent of leagues, so get him while you still can.
3) Ryan Mathews: San Diego Chargers Running Back
Mathews has been out since sustaining a knee injury in week two. With his return, he'll provide a boost to a Chargers team that has been extremely injured at running back all year. He gets to start his comeback against the Raiders: a team he rack up 119 yards and a touchdown against last year. He's around in 55 percent of ESPN leagues, so don't hesitate to pick him up.
Good luck, fantasy experts! And may my teams lose, so yours don't have to.