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.