Fantasy Football: Which vices are worth it?

OK — so we are heading into Week 8 and a lot is up in the air right now — especially for Patriots Nation.

However, what’s also up in the air is if coronavirus will end this season early.

According to a Lines study, more than half of fans/fantasy football players are worried the pandemic will cancel the season at some point.

Some fans are so worried about their fantasy seasons poofing away that 15% of Lines-surveyed players said they would actually rather contract COVID-19 in order to continue playing fantasy without a chance of the season being cut short.

On a personal level — I obviously want the season to continue, as a fan and — most importantly — because it’s a huge part of our jobs/livelihood.

But as a fantasy manager — I am not as “concerned.” I would just be disappointed. However, I can see how people in first place in a big money league would be extremely upset if the season were to end early.

How do you feel about this issue on both a personal level and as a league manager yourself?

BC: This is a cool study, and I’m gonna break out some things in a sec.

But: I love fantasy football, and have played it literally for decades. Would miss it terribly. Back in reality land, however … I’m in a more at-risk category, and I really prefer to avoid viral infections as a matter of course. I was one of the doom-sayers concerned the season could be tanked by COVID-19 anyway. I think sports and by extension fantasy sports are a part of our makeup; we work hard and play hard. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy. We need sports.

But not over getting sick.

In my pay league we have a “Covid IR” and we’ve adopted that in the Herald league if needed.

It’s 2020, so of course everything is terrible. The lines.com (https://ift.tt/37PuVK3) is fascinating to look through. More than half their respondents (51%) are worried the season will collapse. They talked to over 1,000 players … years ago I spoke with a professional statistician who told me that means the survey is reliable, so these items concern me:

* Almost 40% said they’d give up smoking (cigarettes … the pot-smoking sacrifice was less committed at 31.4%)

* Almost 39% said they’d give up alcohol. I guess this game draws a lot of partiers.

* However, 17.4% said they’d give up sex to keep the season going. Guess they have Patrick Mahomes. That’s … something.

AI: As much as I love fantasy football as much as the next gal and guy — I would not under any circumstances want COVID to keep the season alive. Call me selfish, but that’s just a bit wild.

The giving up bad habits I love to see though! What would you give up?

Also, love the idea of COVID IR. Wonder how that came to be? Lol.

BC: Yep, you were right about a COVID IR.

What would I give up … Can I give up watching Cowboys games? Because those are a nightmare. My team hasn’t won since Dak Prescott got hurt.

The NFL is my jam. That and the NBA are my two favorites. But again, we could choose another option: Delay the season and get your house in order.

Here’s my scenario on that. Halt the season for four weeks. And then it’s local bubbles and personal charter flights. And stop letting fans into the games. Some players are already self-isolating because they don’t want to risk infecting their loved ones. I say take that further. Bubble-wrap teams at their facilities. No more out and about.

Resume the schedule Thanksgiving weekend. The games skipped, tack on to the back end. Come on … wouldn’t you love to see a Broncos game played in a MIle High blizzard in January? I would. Football is the only sport that shrugs off the elements. Embrace that. And like the NBA and the NHL, once a team is eliminated, send ’em home. On Nov. 22, the presently 0-7 Jets are at the 2-4 Chargers. If that game is shoved to the last week of the regular season, it’s not going to need to be played. No one is going to miss it. Yes, it means it will be an unbalanced season.

Duh: It already is!

OK, do we have time to talk about strategies? I have Carolina RB Mike Davis, and he’s been great, but Christian McCaffrey is practicing and would take away snaps against Atlanta on Thursday Night Football. Do I bench him?

A number of teams use the “RBC” (running back by committee) approach, though. This causes consternation in places like Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Denver.

And, lot of people are also dealing with bye weeks. Readers: What’s your best ideas to get through these?

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3e8Jx8r