Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this fantasy basketball thing for a while now, and let me tell you, figuring out who to start and who to sit each week can be a real headache. But I think I’ve finally started to get the hang of it, so I wanted to share my process and how I make these decisions.
First off, I check the schedule for the week. I look at how many games each player on my team has. Obviously, if a guy’s got four games in a week and another only has two, I’m leaning towards the dude with more games. More games usually mean more opportunities to rack up those sweet, sweet fantasy points.
Then I dig into the matchups. I check out who my players are going up against. I see if the opposing team is good or bad defensively. Some teams are like sieves, letting everyone score, while others are like Fort Knox. If my player’s facing a tough defense, I might think twice about starting him, especially if he’s not a superstar.
- Check the schedule
- Analyze the matchups
Next, I look at recent performance. I see how my players have been doing lately. If a guy’s been on fire, dropping 30 points a night, I’m definitely starting him. But if he’s been colder than a polar bear’s toenails, I might bench him in favor of someone who’s been more consistent.
Injuries are a big one too. I always check the injury reports to see who’s in and who’s out. If one of my starters is hurt, I have to find a replacement. Sometimes I get lucky, and one of my bench players has a great matchup and I can slot him in. Other times, I have to hit the waiver wire and try to find a decent free agent.
I also started paying attention to player roles. Sometimes, a player’s role on his team changes. Maybe he’s getting more minutes because someone else is injured, or maybe he’s been moved to the bench. I try to stay on top of these changes because they can have a big impact on a player’s fantasy value.
Making the Final Decision
After gathering all this info, I weigh everything out. I created a simple ranking of my players, it’s not perfect. I go with my gut. Sometimes I make the wrong call, and it costs me, but that’s part of the game. It’s all about learning from your mistakes and getting better at predicting who’s going to have a good week.
Honestly, it’s a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun. And when you get it right, and your team puts up a monster score, it’s a pretty awesome feeling. So yeah, that’s basically how I go about deciding who to start and who to sit in my fantasy basketball league. It’s a constant process of gathering information, analyzing, and then making the best decision I can. Hope this helps some of you out there!