Midseason is a critical time in fantasy football, as you are either solidifying a playoff spot or making a push to turn things around. Here are some key tips to help you succeed.
Maximize Potential
The hardest thing to do in fantasy is admit you were wrong with some of your draft picks. Do not be sentimental about early-round picks who have not produced. It might be time to move on in favor of players on the upswing. Look to target underperforming stars who could bounce back in the second half of the season and sell off players who have overperformed or face tougher matchups. The Dolphins’ offense was highly drafted this summer, but their fantasy stock has plummeted with Tua Tagovailoa out of the lineup. You will have to sell Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at a discount.
When looking for upgrades, things to focus on are increased opportunities, upcoming favorable matchups and players returning from injury. Isiah Pacheco is out for an extended period, but he should be back for the playoff run. Christian McCaffrey’s status is a little more unclear, but he represents a risk I’m willing to take if he’s active for the final month.
Work the waiver wire for players gaining momentum, particularly rookies and backup running backs (handcuffs) in case of injuries to starters. Those handcuffs matter more as the season progresses than having a sixth receiver or second tight end. Think of them as lottery tickets if there is an injury. Make sure to check PressboxOnline.com for my weekly waiver-wire pickups and handcuff rankings.
Knowing the rest of the league’s needs is crucial when looking for potential trades. If you are weak at running back but have depth at receiver, find a team in the opposite position. If you have a deep roster, offer two mid-tier players for a superstar to beef up your roster. If you need to win now to make a playoff run, do not be afraid to trade away one of your top assets if you need help at multiple positions.
Stream Wisely
You want to ensure your depth can handle upcoming bye weeks, especially for key players. If you are battling injuries, stream those positions based on weekly matchups. It is even more important to plan ahead if you have just one quarterback or tight end on your roster. I like to pick up my steamers a week in advance to ensure I get the best matchups.
Many fantasy owners will draft one of the top kickers and defenses on draft day and ride them out the entire season. I cannot stress enough how important it is to never be loyal to any kicker or defense. Focus on streaming defenses with favorable matchups, playing against turnover-prone offenses or weak offensive lines.
Kickers should be played based on the offense backing them, but weather needs to be strongly monitored as well. You do not want to be the fantasy owner regretting that your kicker scores zero points because you did not know his team was playing in a nasty storm. Realistically, you should have a different combo at these two positions every week.
Plan Ahead For Playoffs
Stash potential league-winning players. Think of adding players who might return from injury or take over late-season roles. Begin thinking about your fantasy playoff weeks by targeting players with easy playoff schedules or add depth where your starters may face tougher opponents. Targeting players with easy fantasy playoff matchups in Weeks 14-17 can give you an edge.
Week 14 is the most challenging of the season with six teams on a bye. It is the start of the fantasy playoffs for some leagues and a crucial week to decide playoff positioning for others. Some key names — Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor and Nico Collins, to name a few — will all be out of action that week. Balancing waiver-wire moves, trades and planning for these crucial weeks is key at this stage.
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