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denouement

12/31/2014

We all have made it, fantasy enthusiasts.

The long season is finally at a close.

Week 17 of the NFL season, to me, is like the denouement of a story.

A typical story map starts with a beginning, has a rising action, builds to a climax and then ends with a denouement, or a final resolution.

Fantasy football is a lot like a story.

The beginning is the draft where the fantasy season starts. The rising action is the fantasy regular season: filled with twists, turns, trades made, games won and games lost. The climax is the playoffs. Everything builds up to that pivotal semifinal matchup where you either win and go on for the championship, or lose and end up playing for pride.

The denouement is week 17. Many leagues have already crowned a championship and are done playing games. Week 17 is the first time of the season, in my opinion, where the drama of the NFL is greater than the drama of fantasy football.

With most leagues finished, attention turns to the pro football regular season finale, to see who will play in the NFL's second season and who will go home.

Win the season over, it's time to take stock and see where you finished in your league (or in my case leagues).

Three of my leagues were inactive in week 17. I finished eighth out of 14 teams, third out of six teams and sixth out of 12 teams in those three leagues. All three of them were leagues I made the playoffs, but failed to win in the quarter or semifinals.

The three leagues that did play in week 17 went 2-1. I was able to save face and avoid last place in one league, but finished 11th out of 12 teams. After coming so close to the playoffs in my money league, I finished seventh out of 10 teams. Finally, in my best finish of the season, I finished fourth out of 12 teams.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed by this season. I had much higher expectations for the year, but unfortunately was unable to achieve them.

Whether you were able to come away with the championship this year, fell just short, or just never got off the ground this season, you have a reason to celebrate: The NFL playoffs are finally here!

How did your fantasy season go? I'd love to hear about it! Email me at [email protected].

Be sure to check back early in 2015! I'm going to evaluate my Waiver Wire Picks of the Week, to see the highs and lows of the year.

Happy New Year, fantasy fans!

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Playing for pride

12/24/2014

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So you lost in the first round of the playoffs.

It's ok. You can't win them all.

But just because you aren't playing for a title anymore doesn't mean you can't play for pride.

Third place is better than making the playoffs and losing out. Plus, in a lot of money leagues, third place could mean your season ends with (at the very least) your money back.

So there's still a lot of incentive to play in your third place game if you've failed to make your championship game.

Then there's games that keep you out of the league's cellar.

One of the most devilish trends in fantasy football is punishing the league's loser for finishing in last place. Some of the punishments range from slight indignity, to complete and utter humiliation. I've seen a league that required the loser to get an embarrassing tattoo on their upper thighs. I've seen a league that required the loser to recreate a music video (they picked Sia's Chandelier this year if you haven't seen it yet).

So while winning might give you some pride, not losing might save you from a good deal of shame/heckling from the other members of the league.

Finally, most importantly, there's the big one. The championship game. If your team made it this far, congrats! Now you have to clear the final hurdle standing in your way to fantasy glory.

As for me, with no teams winning in the playoffs, I was left solely playing for pride, with mixed results.

I finished in third place in my family league thanks to big days by Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill and San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore.

I also look like I will avoid finishing in last place in the Rambler Sports Locker league, thanks to a big comeback from San Diego Chargers' quarterback Phillip Rivers.

Unfortunately, that's where the luck runs out.

I lost a game by a point and a half in a PPR league, to finish eighth and dead last among playoff teams.

I also followed up my .16 point loss with a five point loss in the same league. Bengals' wide receiver A.J. Green was injured on the second series of the game and netted zero points for my team.

I'm trailing in my other two leagues by 12 and 20 points, respectively.

While I may have finished in the playoffs in four leagues, it looks like my ceiling for this year is a disappointing third place. Oh well.

In the championships and need last minute advice? Finish with a disappointing season? I want to hear about it! Email me at [email protected]!

Nick's Waiver Wire picks of the Week:

Note: Many fantasy championships are already over, but if you're playing in week 17, these players could help put you over the top. Only play them if you're desperate, however.

1) Charles Johnson, Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver

Johnson has looked like fellow receiver Cordarrelle Patterson was supposed to be this year. Since receiving regular playing time since the Vikings' week 10 bye, Johnson has caught 23 passes for just under 400 yards and two touchdowns. This week, the Vikings take on the Chicago Bears. A team who has been both hurt and ineffective all over the defensive side of the ball this year. He's available in 83 percent of ESPN leagues, so you should be able to grab him.

2) Andre Williams, New York Giants Running Back

Williams has exploded over the last few weeks running the ball 68 times for 285 yards and a touchdown. While his reception numbers aren't as impressive, Williams will likely do well against a Philadelphia Eagles team that let the Seattle Seahawks gash them on the ground a few weeks ago. And the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago. And the Washington Redskins last week. Notice a pattern? Williams will have a big day. He's available in just over 50 percent of EPSN leagues, so do what you can to get him.

3) Colts D/ST

Yes, they were just embarrassed by the Dallas Cowboys last week. Yes, they have five games this season where they have scored negative points. However, those games were not against the Tennessee Titans, the opponent the Colts will take on this week. The Titans are hopeless, helpless, and have completely fallen apart. They pose little threat to the playoff-bound Colts. The Colts Defense is available in 80 percent of leagues, so if you're desperate for a defense, this is the one to grab.

Good Luck, fantasy experts. And may my teams lose, so yours don't have to.

Merry Christmas to all! Hopefully Santa brings you a fantasy trophy this year!

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Jay Cutler'd

12/17/2014

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I've been playing Russian Roulette the last few weeks in one of my fantasy leagues.

So far, I've survived and even thrived.

But this last week, my luck ran out.

I've been playing Chicago Bears' Quarterback Jay Cutler.

I originally drafted him in the eighth round, as one of the last starting quarterback drafted. At the beginning, it wasn't too bad. Cutler wasn't on the level of Aaron Rodgers or Peyton Manning, but he was still a serviceable quarterback.

Then the wheels started to come off.

Quickly, before things got out of hand, I grabbed Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer off the waiver wire.

Two weeks later, Palmer tore his ACL and was done for the year.

With the waiver wire cupboard barren, I was forced to continue to play Cutler, despite my reluctance to.

I was able to win in spite of him, but sooner or later, I knew he would doom me.

Of all the times to have it happen, it had to be in the fantasy playoffs.

Going into the Monday Night Football game that put Cutler's Bears against the New Orleans Saints, Cutler had not one, not two, but THREE interceptions.

Despite two late touchdowns, Cutler was unable to get my team into the lead when I needed him to most.

But that isn't what bothers me the most.

What bothers me the most is that not only did I lose, I lost by .16 points. That's point-one-six points. As in a yard and a half more from any one of my running backs or wide receivers and I would have won.

Instead, Cutler's three picks sunk my team and any hopes of making it to the championship game.

And now Cutler's been benched, so what little hope I had in winning the consolation matches is gone as well.

This week as a whole was crushing.

Two weeks ago, I messed up by not playing Aaron Rodgers and losing. This week I lost, in part, because I played Rodgers.

That's because Rodgers had, statistically, the worst game of his CAREER against the Buffalo Bills.

Plus Julio Jones was a last-second scratch and I didn't have time to swap him out.

Finally, my two-week playoff matchup ended in disastrous defeat. Not only did I fail to make up the 14 point difference, I slipped even further, losing by 62.

This week was the worst of the season, and possibly, my entire fantasy football career. I went 0-6. That's right, six losses and not a single win.

Early in the season? You can come back from it.

With three weeks left? It's all over.

I've been bumped from contention in all six of my leagues, and now I'm left playing for pride.

What's your horror story as the season winds to a close? How close were you to making the championship? Email me at [email protected] for some commiseration!

Nick's Waiver Wire Picks of the Week:

1) Toby Gerhart, Jacksonville Jaguars Running Back

Gerhart was off to a less-than-impressive start in Jacksonville before he got injured in week 5, giving rise to Denard Robinson. However, now Robinson is injured and Gerhart is healthy. If he can find the end zone against a mediocre Tennessee Titans' defense, he could prove to be a good pickup for a team desperate for a running back. Owned in just 16 percent of leagues, he should be available for you to grab.

2) Harry Douglas, Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver

This one is entirely dependent on the health of fellow receiver Julio Jones. If Jones is good to go, Douglas won't be a good play. However, if Jones doesn't play, Douglas is absolutely the Falcons receiver you want in your lineup. He's also owned in just 16 percent of ESPN leagues, so you should be able to grab him and see what happens with Julio.

3) Lance Dunbar, Dallas Cowboys Running Back

Again, this one is dependent on injury. If DeMarco Murray is sidelined with the broken hand he sustained last week, then Dunbar is a player you want to roll with. The Indianapolis Colt's defensive line has been a weak spot for the team all season, and Dunbar could be in for a big day both running and catching the ball. He's around in 95 percent of ESPN leagues, so he should be around for you to grab.

Good luck, fantasy experts! And may my teams lose, so yours don't have to.

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Second Chances

12/10/2014

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You did it! You made the playoffs!

You drafted with the knowledge of an expert. You pulled off a trade not even an NFL General Manager could make. You fought your way through the regular season, and emerged as a favorite to win the league.

And last week your team blew it.

Your star player suffered a minor injury.

You left a player on the bench that had a career day.

Your last minute waiver wire pickup busted.

You finished the week with less points than your opponent.

It's all over right? Wrong!

In the playoffs, there IS such a thing as a second chance.

In ESPN standard leagues, the playoff matchups last two weeks each. This allows teams that had one bad week the chance to redeem themselves and prove that they are worthy of making it to the next round of the playoffs.

In my only ESPN league that I made the playoffs in, this two-week playoff is my saving grace. I was outscored 111-125 due to poor weeks by Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon and Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. I also made a questionable call to play Arizona running back Marion Grice, who didn't nab a single point in the Cardinals' win over Kansas City.

But I'm only 14 points down! I have a chance to redeem myself this week.

If you're the lucky manager who is leading this week, now is NOT the time to get cocky. My first-ever fantasy football playoffs were ruined in the second week of a semi-final matchup by thinking I couldn't lose.

I was up 40 points going into the second week of the playoffs, and I didn't really bother to weigh my options with my lineup because I thought it didn't matter.

My opponent went on to have an awesome week while my team was much less-than-impressive. I lost, but could have won if I had actually set my lineup.

Point being, you spend the whole year trying to put forth your optimal lineup. Don't let the playoffs be the time you feel you don't have to.

Unfortunately, not all leagues are set the same way.

My 14-team Green Bay Packers fan league has one-week playoffs with the top eight teams making the second season.

The one week Colt's quarterback Andrew Luck had the worst fantasy game of his season (the league has settings based on completions which make them different than a standard league), and the week Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas says he's going to play, but doesn't see the field is the week I take on a team that goes on to score the most points in the league this week.

Not even Julio Jones, who put in a herculean effort with 11 catches, 259 yards and a touchdown could pull me back into contention.

So that leaves me with half of my leagues still alive to hoist the fantasy championship trophy this year.

Have a bad first week? Need roster advice? Email me at [email protected]. I'd love to have a "mailbag" section of this column.

Nick's Waiver Wire Picks of the Week:

1) Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers running back

FINALLY the Panthers realize Stewart's talents. After playing second fiddle to D'Angelo Williams for a good portion of the last few years, Stewart is finally starting to see the bulk of carries. And he's been doing great things with them. Over the last two weeks, Stewart has over 200 yards plus a touchdown. With Cam Newton's status uncertain after a car crash early on Tuesday, the offense will likely lean on Stewart even more. He's still available in 47 percent of ESPN leagues, so you still might be able to catch him while he's hot.

2) Johnny "Johnny Football" Manziel, Cleveland Browns quarterback

Why not? He's available in 90 percent of leagues and was just named the starter for the Browns this week. I'm not saying play him, but if you're in a keeper league, he might be what you want for next year (or later). Plus he might actually do well over the next few weeks. I'm not saying start him (unless you're seriously desperate), but hey, he might not be the worst pickup you make this year.

3)Kerwynn Williams, Arizona cardinals running back

Ask how, ask now. Ask Kerywnn Williams. Awful puns aside, Williams looks like he's the guy to replace Andre Ellington who is out for the year. Williams crossed the century mark against the Chiefs last week, vastly out-producing the other options at the position. While Cardinals' Head Coach Bruce Arians has said that Stepfan Taylor is "the guy" going forward, it's hard to imagine Williams not getting the ball after a solid performance. He's owned in .2 percent of ESPN leagues. That's point-two percent. You should have no problem picking him up if you're desperate for a running back.

Good luck fantasy experts! And may my teams lose, so yours don't have to.

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fantasy eulogy

12/3/2014

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Friends. Rivals. Fantasy football aficionados everywhere.

We are gathered here today to mourn.

Mourn the touchdowns that were called back. The injuries that sidelined players. The poor choices we, as owners, made.

We come here today to mourn those fantasy football teams that failed to make the playoffs.

There are many reasons why teams don't make the playoffs.

Not every trade works out. Sometimes the waiver wire fails you.

Or, in my case, your first round pick could have been Adrian Peterson, who missed the season after week one for legal issues.

Maybe your draft strategy was off. Maybe you picked a player that did nothing all year in favor of a player that went on to have career numbers.

Or maybe you spent almost a quarter of your auction balance on a number two wide receiver on a team that is currently 5-7 like I did.

Maybe your team was just unlucky.

Every year, at least once, I play the top-scoring team of the week and score the second-most points of any team in the league. If I was playing any other team, I would have won, but because I had to play that one team that had a hot week, I lost.

Such is life in fantasy football.

While your seasons are over, may your memories live on for the next four weeks in the purgatory known as the "consolation bracket." While you have no hope of victory, you can still snatch a shred of dignity from the jaws of utter defeat.

While there may be no hope for glory, it is still a chance to play on. To do your team's due diligence and attempt to not end up in last place.

Amen.

For those in the upper echelon, now is the time. Time to put your thinking caps on and make the most of your matchups. This is not the time to get cute with a matchup. If you have LeSean McCoy, you best be playing LeSean McCoy this week, unless, by some miracle, you have some seriously better options out there.

This is your team's time to shine! We are four short weeks away from declaring fantasy champions all across the country. Will your team be one of them? Or will you be writing eulogies for the missed opportunities you had along the way?

Miss the playoffs? Tell me what went wrong! Make the playoffs? Tell me what went right! Need help picking players for your big matchup this week? No Problem! Email me at [email protected] and I'll answer all of your fantasy questions!

Nick's Waiver Wire Picks of the Week:

1) Daniel Herron, Indianapolis Colts Running Back

Another week, another Colts running back takes center stage. While the organization continues to waste carries on notable bust Trent Richardson, Herron has been good in relief of the injured Ahmad Bradshaw. Herron is averaging over seven yards per carry over the last two weeks and found the end zone last week. If you're as desperate at running back as I am in a few leagues, Herron could be a good option going forward. Since he's still available in over half of ESPN leagues, you should be able to pick him up.

2) Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams Running Back

Mason exploded last weekend for three touchdowns and over 150 total yards. While the rookie didn't get a chance to prove himself until week 6, he has been getting a large number of carries since and has been making the best of them. With games against the Washington Redskins and New York Giants still on the docket, Mason could really provide some lift to a mid-level running game. His only downside is that he is only available in about 29 percent of ESPN leagues. Don't plan on getting him, but use him if you do.

3) Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver

Mike Wallace is being paid a lot of money in Miami to not produce consistent numbers. Over the last few weeks, QB Ryan Tannehill has been looking towards Landry about as much as he looks at his de-jure No. 1 option. Landry has risen to the challenge, catching 20 passes for over 150 yards and three touchdowns over the last three weeks. With three home dates still on the schedule, Landry could really see some big numbers down the stretch. Available in over 70 percent of ESPN leagues, he should be around to help you reach your goal.

Good luck, fantasy experts! And may my teams lose, so yours don't have to.

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denouement

Playing for pride

Jay Cutler'd

Second Chances

fantasy eulogy

Nick Amatangelo

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