Out on a Wire

The waiver wire is one of the most frustrating aspects in fantasy football.  Seeing that little "W" next to an available all-star puts even the most confident fantasy owners on edge.  I'll explain it like this, every week team owners add and drop players in ways that they think are useful.  When a player is dropped from a team, he is then up for grabs for any other team in the league, however, the team with the worst record (which is currently myself) gets preference.  If you're in last place, congratulations on your newest team acquisition.  If you're at the top of the leader board, good luck... Every other team gets a chance to scoop up that player before you do. So enjoy the bottom while you're there (I am!), because although you're losing, you're getting the first crack at all the available players.

Overall, a fantasy football league with the guys from my work is a great way to promote some competition in the otherwise mundane routine.  But the waiver wire can create some animosity.  The waiver wire can plunge an otherwise unstoppable team into mediocrity with no warning (leaving you completely vulnerable to any and all heckling).  Last year I started the season off with 6 straight wins, and I walked around that office like I was a football guru who had all the answers.  Fast forward to the following week, and my top player breaks his leg.  With no other super-star RB's available that late in the season (being at the top meant I was ostracized from coming anywhere near picking up anybody who could save my season), I spiraled into a losing streak that barely even landed me in the playoffs.  It's not like the guys at work would let something like that go, and every time I showed up for work I was presented with some comment about my money being a nice contribution to the winner's bank account.

So don't worry if your team starts off a little slower than the rest of the teams.  Take this time to enjoy the fruits of the waiver wire and make the changes that can help pull your roster out of the gutter.  A slow climb to the top gives you a lot more ammo for trash talking, than a downward spiral from the top of the league.