First, a public-service announcement. As we enter Week 11 of the NFL season, the fate of some fantasy football players is already sealed. If you’re 0-10, 1-9 or 2-8, your chances of a comeback are likely over.
But that doesn’t mean your effort should follow.
When you sign up to play fantasy football, you’re committing to a season of following games, hunting for quality players, trying to make your team better. Something we like to call “playing fantasy football.”
Inevitably, there are losers who take their ball and go home once it’s clear that their team is out of the running.
Don’t be that guy.
Aside from ruining the integrity of your league and solidifying your status as a loser, your friends won’t like you.
It’s important that every member of a league do his or her best to present a quality lineup each week. That means replacing players who are out for the season, picking up free agents and continuing to make trades as though your next game is the most important of the season.
It does no one any good to allow teams to skate to easy victories because they happen to be playing against a team that has thrown in the towel is starting players who aren’t even on the field on Sunday. Help maintain the overall quality of your league and stick with your team to the end. That way, everybody wins.
Season finally starts, for some
Whether you drafted Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, or bought him at a low price after his foot injury, your season is about to begin. Let’s just hope it isn’t too late.
Alexander first went down after Week 3 and the initial thought was that he might only be out for two or three weeks, possibly returning for the Seahawks’ Week 7 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. What was two or three weeks quickly turned into seven, but it appears that Alexander is finally ready to make his return as he practiced Wednesday and should be ready for Sunday.
And what a way to come back?
Alexander will face the not-so-good San Francisco 49ers defense and will hopefully be in the mood to make up for lost time. Alexander wasn’t so impressive in the first three games of the season, failing to reach 100 yards and scoring twice. But the Seahawks offense is starting to click just in time for Alexander and possibly quarterback Matt Hasselbeck’s return.
Alexander’s replacement, Maurice Morris, struggled to pick up yards at first as he went four games without surpassing 75 rushing yards. But in the past two weeks, he’s posted 138 and 124 rushing yards, respectively, despite proving he lacks Alexander’s nose for the end zone.
All the pieces appear to be coming together now, and it could be just in time for Alexander owners if they were able to hold it together in his absence. If he plays, expect 100 yards and at least a couple of scores.
Keep and eye on Alexander’s status throughout the week, and if it looks like he isn’t playing just scratch everything I just said and apply it to next week hopefully.
Columnist Victor Balta:balta@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
