Posted in Fantasy
3 comments
12/2 2010

Fantasy Dilemma: When Should You Help A Contender Win?

Posted by Dan Levy.

I have a fantasy dilemma. I’m in the Blogger Fantasy League sponsored by P&G. You may have heard of it. Anyway, I’m on Team Gillette, who are like the nicest corporate folks on the planet, and my team absolutely stinks. I’ve totally let down the brand. I’m as bad as bad can be. Last week, I lost to Josh Zerkle’s team by around 50 points. (Read Jerod Morris’ recap from last week).

It’s that bad.

Now, what do I do the next few weeks? Do I try my darndest to play spoiler, or should I firesale my good players and help someone else make the playoffs? Do I pull the trigger on the fantasy football equivalent of an organ donation? My season is, after all, a train wreck.

I was faced with this dilemma last week when Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders asked me to trade him Roddy White and one of my crappy quarterbacks for Big Ben and two of his crappier receivers. I thought about it for a day or two before I declined the deal. I don’t want Ben on my team, no matter how bad it gets. Besides, the deal in no way made my team more fun and if you aren’t going to get any better, at least the players should be fun to follow for a few weeks. That trade would have made my team worse…and less enjoyable. That’s a bad trade.

But…was I wrong? From a fantasy standpoint, should I have given Schatz White in an effort to help him over the hump and into the playoffs? And why, pray tell, was he the only contender trying to make such a move? How was that the only request I got all week for White? It’s inexplicable.

This isn’t a keeper league. I literally have nothing to play for and the contenders have a chance to go to the Super Bowl so why didn’t they try to get my best guy for nothing? Should I have rewarded Schatz just because he asked? Was it wrong of me to say no in hopes that Zerkle or a closer friend in contention made a similar offer so I can help them? (Note: I can’t in good faith offer a shitty trade, but accepting it is totally different, right?)

What’s the fantasy protocol here? The winner gets a trip for two to the Super Bowl, so can I sell off any of my good players for that extra seat?  I have the Pittsburgh defense, so anyone want White and Pitt for a trip to Dallas? Maybe a souvenir?

The P&G Blogger Fantasy League (BFL) is a group of 12 digital sports influencers competing on the NFL.com fantasy platform for the chance to win P&G product, a donation to a local charity, and a trip to Super Bowl XLV, all furnished by P&G. The NFL Entities have not offered or sponsored the sweepstakes in any way.

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Posted on December 2, 2010 at 2:16PM
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  1. Max Power
    12/2 2010

    I’m shocked you guys can still trade this late in the season. All of the fantasy leagues I’m in had the trade deadline around Week 10.

  2. Colin's Face
    12/2 2010

    Sounds like collusion to me, only not secret. That’s usually frowned upon in fantasy sports.

  3. Gunaxin Links
    12/2 2010

    Fantasy Dilemma: When Should You Help A Contender?…

    This article has been featured on Gunaxin Links…