10 hours ago, xzmattzx said:

I don't really like those guys that are feast or famine. I would rather have a guy like, say, Jaylen Warren at RB, who might not ever go over 20 points, but will get you 9 or 10 points no matter what. Then if you get that for 2 WRs, 2 RBs, and a Flex, you are working with a base of about 50 points, plus your QB, TE, Defense, and Kicker. I always put an emphasis on QB and TE as well, making sure that I get what I think will be the best in the league before anyone else can get them. Defense and Kicker can be anyone to start off, and then pick up the best of whatever is left over from waivers after a couple weeks. I got Jason Myers from Seattle on waivers in late September, and he has been #1 since.

This year I went the exact opposite strategy: 0 TE and 0 QB until later rounds in the draft. Instead I loaded up at WR and RB so I have a deep bench. I figure the difference between the #1 drafted QB and #10-#20 drafted QB, and #1 TE vs #10-#20 TE, is not as large as the early RB/WR vs. late RB/WR. And I figure the top TE is not going to score as much as the top WRs that go off the board at the same time in the draft. This year you could get Drake Maye or Matt Stafford at QB scoring the same or better than the top QBs drafted. McBride is the exception at TE. He is scoring at a top WR-rate, but you had to swap out a top-WR pick to get him. If you went Bowers at TE you threw away points. At best I figure it was a 50/50 proposition. Plus the deep bench gets you through the Bye weeks. It is nice to have starting caliber players ready to sub-in.

3 hours ago, toolg said:

This year I went the exact opposite strategy: 0 TE and 0 QB until later rounds in the draft. Instead I loaded up at WR and RB so I have a deep bench. I figure the difference between the #1 drafted QB and #10-#20 drafted QB, and #1 TE vs #10-#20 TE, is not as large as the early RB/WR vs. late RB/WR. And I figure the top TE is not going to score as much as the top WRs that go off the board at the same time in the draft. This year you could get Drake Maye or Matt Stafford at QB scoring the same or better than the top QBs drafted. McBride is the exception at TE. He is scoring at a top WR-rate, but you had to swap out a top-WR pick to get him. If you went Bowers at TE you threw away points. At best I figure it was a 50/50 proposition. Plus the deep bench gets you through the Bye weeks. It is nice to have starting caliber players ready to sub-in.

Maye and Stafford are surprises. You could gamble on Maye in a late round knowing his upside, and it would've paid off. It is a little like Jayden Daniels last year, who is the opposite this year as a bust. Stafford is more of like a second-tier QB that is having a career year.

I made sure to get Josh Allen, who is outpacing all QBs by 30 or more points. I knew I needed to get Allen or Jackson, and when both were available when I wanted a QB, I went with Allen. So I gambled and won there, but it was a calculated risk.

I got George Kittle at TE. I knew to get McBride, Kittle, Bowers, or Warren. After that is a dropoff. Kittle has been good when not injured, so it has worked out, and I got a decent backup TE to cover for that.

While my strategy is the opposite, what I do is identify people who I think are a lock to be in the top 5 in points at their position, and try to get them before others. Kickers and D/ST are usually a complete gamble, and I just take someone and have no problem cutting them after a few weeks, but I do put value in having an advantage at each individual position as possible.

The only draft strategy I find that works is you must hit your early draft picks (like CMC, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan, Nacua, St. Brown, Chase, etc.). Plus find some diamonds in the late rounds. It requires some skill, but it's really a lot of luck .

At QB I settled with Stafford, Dart, and Brissett this year. Also I had Purdy early in the season, but I got rid of him for spare parts. On the plus side, I can play the matchups and swap them at will. I am not heavily invested in any of them. Downside is I have 3 QBs taking up space on the roster.

9 hours ago, toolg said:

The only draft strategy I find that works is you must hit your early draft picks (like CMC, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan, Nacua, St. Brown, Chase, etc.). Plus find some diamonds in the late rounds. It requires some skill, but it's really a lot of luck .

At QB I settled with Stafford, Dart, and Brissett this year. Also I had Purdy early in the season, but I got rid of him for spare parts. On the plus side, I can play the matchups and swap them at will. I am not heavily invested in any of them. Downside is I have 3 QBs taking up space on the roster.

I was high on Gibbs and got him in my first round when he was still on the board. McCaffery was still available as well, but I was worried about the injuries, so he was a gamble for me.

You're right, you have to nail it early on. You have to get a RB and WR in the first two rounds. After that, I consider the drop-off from RBs and WRs to be significant enough where getting a/the can't-miss QB is more important. Then, like you said, you have to find diamonds in the rough in later rounds.

In the semi's this week in 2 leagues...in one, I am playing Nacua (blew the F up), JSN (his steady usual) and Ken friggin Walker, who decided to have his best game of the year.

Ugh, that's the FF life!

Anyway...since this is an advice thread, I have a few dilemmas and would like some thoughts!

Main one: Who to start at QB. This is a 6pt per TD pass league (rest is the same). My choices for this week:

Jaxson Dart - in a bad matchup, seems to be a concussion risk, but has some upside with his rushing. Vikes D has been hard on QBs.

CJ Stroud - Mediocre QB, has been playing better lately, doesn't run all that much, plays the Raiders so super easy matchup. Possible problem: game flow. If Houston dominates them like we did, Stroud will be pulled.

Bryce Young - Ugh...but he's playing the Bucs who have been making opposing QBs look like Joe Montana. But can you really trust Young?
Tyler Shough - Great matchup, but he's missing Vele this week and he's obviously a rookie, which can be very shaky regardless of opponent. But, he's been putting up decent FF numbers as of late.

JJ McCarthy - Really sucked earlier this season in games he played. Has been better lately and has a very good matchup. Can he be trusted? And don't get me started on how he's killed Jefferson!

I really view all 5 of those players as being in the same tier this week. Who do you think has the safest floor combined with the highest ceiling?

My other league:

PPR. Of the below, I need 1 WR and 1 Flex and 1 TE...these are who I am choosing from:
X. Worthy (if Rice misses the game...but it's Minshew and Chiefs OL isn't good....but they play the Titans)
Christian Watson (will his injury effect him, assuming he plays?)

Jayden Reed (Better if Watson doesn't play, but it's hard to trust any GB receiver, really)
Q. Judkins (Browns are just bad)
W. Marks (good matchup, but this guy can't stay healthy)
E. Wilson (if Josh Jacobs is out)
Tyler Warren (hasn't done much as of late, Old Man Rivers now at QB)
Dallas Goedert (Goedert has had some boom weeks and some duds...what will it be this week?)

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

I screwed up this week by not starting Stafford and Kenny Walker. Let's go Brissett and Swift (or Monongai)!

down 49.6 going into the weekend. f Puka!

50 minutes ago, EaglesAddict said:

Main one: Who to start at QB.

Gutsy call. Dart has shown he will still run with the ball. So he seems to be matchup-proof offering the safest floor IMO. Hard to trust the rest of that group, even though they all have better matchups on paper. Shough is trending the right direction, playing in the Superdome so weather isn't a factor. But the offense is falling apart.

1 hour ago, EaglesAddict said:

My other league:

It is hard to believe Watson may play on Saturday less than a week after the scary injury in Denver. I think Reed is probably your best option at WR. Worthy hasn't done much but he is the type of player who could break out at any point. He is a boom or bust flex. I think Judkins is the best of the RB group, so he is your safer option Flex. Goedert at TE and hope for the best.

1 minute ago, toolg said:

Gutsy call. Dart has shown he will still run with the ball. So he seems to be matchup-proof offering the safest floor IMO. Hard to trust the rest of that group, even though they all have better matchups on paper. Shough is trending the right direction, playing in the Superdome so weather isn't a factor. But the offense is falling apart.

It is hard to believe Watson may play on Saturday less than a week after the scary injury in Denver. I think Reed is probably your best option at WR. Worthy hasn't done much but he is the type of player who could break out at any point. He is a boom or bust flex. I think Judkins is the best of the RB group, so he is your safer option Flex. Goedert at TE and hope for the best.

Dart is the one I have in my lineup right now...the other guys are on waivers that I can pick up. I think he's the best QB of the bunch, but definitely not a "no brainer" start. Vikes have really limited QBs this year and Dart seems to get a concussion check every week. I'm really, really waivering on benching him and picking one of the others...ugh. I need every single point I can get this week because I'm playing the buzzsaw team in this league (he has a friggin all star team).

I was fully planning on starting Reed because I was assuming Watson would be out. It's hard for me to trust either of them if Watson plays. I agree about Worthy. This is the league I'm facing Nacua/JSN/Walker who totalled 95 points last night. So...now I think I need to start guys with more boom potential (but could also bust). Not sure "safe" will help now, lol. Ugh.

Really appreciate the feedback. Usually I have decent clarity on who to start from week to week, but this week I feel like I have too many uncertaintees with players I view on the same tier.

2 minutes ago, EaglesAddict said:

This is the league I'm facing Nacua/JSN/Walker who totalled 95 points last night.

Well, then go for broke. It is going to be difficult to top their performances last night. Good luck!

On 12/19/2025 at 9:09 AM, toolg said:

I screwed up this week by not starting Stafford and Kenny Walker. Let's go Brissett and Swift (or Monongai)!

This is how you lose Round #2 in the playoffs. I threw away 35 points.