Why You’re Not Winning Your Leagues: Must-read Strategy Tips. : Colston Loveland

Drafting the right players is a big part of winning your fantasy league, but it’s only half the job. We talk a whole lot about waivers and start/sit decisions and they make a difference too, but the most overlooked part of fantasy is setting up your bench correctly. So today its time to ensure you’re making the most of every asset, including those ultra-valuable bench spots.

I’ll be assuming 5-7 bench spots with normal league settings in a 8-16 team redraft leagues. If you have an unusual league set up or want advice for dynasty leagues, drop into the comment below.

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The golden rule:

Let’s start off with the most important rule in fantasy football. NEVER EVER roster kickers or DSTs on your bench. In a normal redraft league, there simply isn’t a good reason to do this. Even if there are only half a dozen kickers or DSTs available, you can still stream your way to a title very easily. In fact, if you started the top kicker and DST in my waiver wire article from last season, you would have done better than all but one kicker and two DSTs by the end of the season. (You can find the latest one here.) There is one exception. The fantasy playoffs. By late in the season, with the bye weeks gone and little room for more injuries, your roster spots drop in value and you can stash a DST for the next round if the right one is available. But out side this exception, NEVER do it. Never bench a kicker or DST. This includes bye weeks.

Value your roster spots:

Roster spots are a valuable commodity. You should always use every roster spot and every player should be on your roster for a good reason. The main reason to roster a player are:

-You will need them during a bye week and there won’t be a comparable player available on waivers at that point. (That second part is really important. You don’t need to roster a bye week quarterback now if your starter’s bye is Week 8.)

-You can reasonably expect them to start for you ahead of some of your starters at some stage this season. (For example, Chris Godwin hasn’t looked great so far this season, but it is possible he’ll be a starter for most teams if Baker Mayfield gets things together.)

-They will become a starter for you if there is an injury to the starter in their real-life time. (For example, Mike Washington isn’t a viable option at this stage, but if Ashton Jeanty gets injured, Washington would be a starter for most teams.)

-If they are injured or suspended and will start for you or be a valuable bench asset when they return. (For example, Josh Jacobs and Caleb Williams are viable bench stashes. Jaxson Dart isn’t, as he likely won’t return.)

-It’s possible this player will experience a change in situation or role which would make them startable in the future. (For example, Malachi Fields has underwhelmed so far, but he’s the WR2 in New York, so if Jameis Winston can settle in, Fields himself improves, or Malik Nabers goes down, Fields would likely be a starter in most teams.)

Quarterback Advice:

-It’s very tempting to roster a backup quarterback if a good one is available, but this often turns out to be a waste of a roster spot. If you have any of the following quarterbacks, you don’t need a backup: Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow. I would also attempt to avoid rostering one if I have any of Jalen Hurts, Jared Goff, Tyler Shough, Caleb Williams (once healthy), Trevor Lawrence and maybe Justin Herbert and Drake Maye.

-In superflex leagues, it’s vital to have three starting quarterbacks, ideally you want four. These should, however, not include backup quarterbacks. There’s little point in rostering Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson if you have at least two healthy starters, as they are both unlikely to start in the near future and will likely struggle when they do.

-When picking up a bye week cover at quarterback, it’s sensible to do so the week before if the waiver wire is a little bare, but never earlier.

-If you have two good quarterbacks, don’t drop one without attempting to trade for an upgrade at another good position. There’s not much point in holding both when you could gain at another position.

-If you lack a good quarterback, don’t trade away valuable assets for one. Roster a couple of high upside ones and stream them until one sticks.

Tight End Advice:

-As with quarterbacks, there isn’t a good reason to roster a backup quarterback if a good one available and you’re not going to use the backup as a bench option. Every week starters (who don’t need a backup) include: Trey McBride, Brock Bowers and Dalton Kincaid. In many leagues, you also don’t need one if you have Sam LaPorta, Tyler Warren, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Tucker Kraft or Isaiah Likely.

-As with quarterbacks, it’s sensible to pick up bye week cover the week before if the waiver wire is a little bare, but never earlier. If you have two good tight ends, you don’t need to trade one away, but you’re likely to get more value by doing say, given it’s a tougher position to cover than most others.

Running Back Advice:

-You will want one, maybe two, running backs on your roster that you can use as bye week and injury cover. Having said that, in PPR leagues which skew wide receiver heavy, I will often prioritise upside options who could become league winners over players I know you remain mediocre.

-You will want to fill your bench with upside league winners. Outside your one or two backups, every other running back should have the potential to be a stud.

Good bench stashes: Kaelon Black, Brian Robinson, Mike Washington, Emmett Johnson, Braelon Allen, Woody Marks, Kenny Gainwell, Tank Bigsby, Seth McGowan

Bad bench stashes: Alvin Kamara, Jonah Coleman, Devin Singletary, George Holani, Raheim Sanders, Chris Brooks, Justice Hill, Ty Johnson, Will Shipley, Tyler Badie, Emari Demercado

Wide Receiver Advice:

-As with running backs, it’s important to roster one or two reliable backup wide receivers who you can use during bye weeks or to cover for injuries. It’s OK if these guys don’t have upside, as long as they have a clear, reliable role.

-You will want at least one or two upside wide receivers. These guys should have the potential to be a starter for you if something changes in their situation.

Good bench stashes: Marvin Harrison Jr., Jalen Coker, Kalif Raymond, Denzel Boston, Pat Bryant, Jakobi Meyers, Xavier Worthy, Tre Harris, Chris Bell, Malachi Fields, Germie Bernard

Bad bench stashes: Zachariah Branch, Andrei Iosivas, Jerry Jeudy, Ryan Flournoy, Isaac TeSlaa, Tyquan Thornton, Any Raiders receiver, Any Rams receiver except Nacua and Adams, Jauan Jennings, Kyle Williams, Darius Cooper, Hollywood Brown, Roman Wilson, Cooper Kupp, Tez Johnson, Calvin Ridley

Summary:

Every player on your bench should have a purpose and that purpose should align with attempting to win your league, not attempting to avoid coming last. Shoot for upside and don’t be afraid of having no backup quarterbacks, tight ends, kickers or DSTs. I usually have none of any of these. Good luck this season!

Finally:

If you have any questions, please hit me up in the comments or hit me up on my socials @hashtagwasley. You can also find my waiver wire rankings and weekly rankings over on my website. Good luck this week!