Fantasy Stereotypes: You Know Who They Are and How to Beat Them

Hey Guys,

Hope all is well in the shakeup of an offseason. There have been plenty of movers and shakers in both the NFL Power Rankings as well as some interesting depth chart issues. Don't even get me started on the prospect of Demarco Murray, Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathew all splitting carries for the Phillidelipha Eagles this season. How will Brandon Marshall fair alongside Eric Decker with the immortal Geno Smith at the helm? In the next coming weeks are you prepare for your Fantasy Football drafts we will tackle these issues. 

But back to Fantasy Football stereotypes. We all have friends, family and co-workers who fit the profiles outlined in the YouTube video below. Each stereotype comes with a fatal flaw which can be used against him during the fantasy football season. May the fantasy odds always be in your favor.

Once we can identify each of the individuals that fall prey to one a stereotype we can use this information to our advantage. Here's a list of who they are and how and when to exploit them.

The Homer:

The typical Fantasy Football Owner who plays favorites with his roster choices. This owner is known for consistently drafting players from the teams he roots hardest for. The homer does this with little regard for average draft position (ADP) or actual Fantasy output.

Exploit: 

Getting under the skin of the homer is quite easy, just draft players you know he covets. This is easy to accomplish since he can't draft all the high quality Fantasy Football players at once. They should be ample opportunities to draft skilled position players without reaching beyond that player's ADP.  It's important to exploit the homer as long as it isn't at the detriment of your own Fantasy Football team.  Chances are you will be able to have them overpay during the season via trade for these players you went out of your way to grab. 

Mr. Know It All:

This owner goes above and beyond to read every cheat sheet available. Watches the NFL combine, analyzes each offseason move carefully and subscribes to paid Fantasy resources. This type of owner lives and dies by the projected points of his players. Injuries, trade rumors, and depth chart dangers are dismissed for the almighty projected point algorithm of choice.

Exploit:

Well to be honest, there isn't an easy way to take down this type of Fantasy owner. Statistics are huge indicators on potential outcomes of Fantasy Football.  Projected versus actual performances can be quite different. That's why the games are played. Anyone can do anything on any given Sunday. If you use statistics such as touches, targets or snaps while in trade negotiations you are more likely to work out a trade. Use your gut when making your decisions because numbers don't tell the whole story all the time. 

The Ridiculous Trader:

This guy is usually the annoy and persistent owner who continues to spam the league's members with lopsided trades. A big pop-over window should appear when receiving these trades that says. " Are you sure you want to get ripped off?". 

Exploit:

At some point, it could be worth it to trade away the cornerstone of your fantasy team in exchange for some side cash. While this is highly immoral, it's not a terrible way to recover some of your financial investment in a lost Fantasy season. You will probably catch some flack for this, possibly even have the trade vetoed. I have seen owners banned from leagues for this type of collusion. However, in the world of Fantasy Football I have seen morals compromised for much less.

The Commish:

The commissioner of a fantasy football league is supposed to be a person of high moral character. They will not be influenced by one whiny owner who pleads for a rule change or for a trade veto. The commissioner may have some odd point scoring system or rules that may differ from traditional fantasy league formats. The commissioner can be abrasive and try to rule with an iron fist. But hey, it isn't easy being the commissioner, dealing with the trials and tribulations of trade disputes. 

Exploit:

There aren't many chinks in the suit of armor on this one. Criticism is rarely met with agreement and a victory over a rule change or trade dispute. You can however, achieve a common goal if you are able to get the majority of your league to fight in favor for something regardless of the commissioner's opinion on the matter. This is your best bet, also it never hurts to be "buddy buddy" with the commissioner. Sometimes all it takes its a little birdy to implant a subtle suggestion that could become fantasy law.

Protip: Pay your league dues early, you will score some bonus points with the commissioner.

The Overreactor / Rage Monster: 

The rage monster lives and dies with every win and loss during the season. His motions are erratic, depending on which way the wind blows. Count on lots of roster movement throughout the season as he grows tired of underperforming players. His short leash antics and overreactions will lead to a high turnover rate of players. Some good ones worth keeping will hit the waiver wire so keep your eyes peeled.

Exploit:

The rage monster, while someone you wouldn't want within an arm's reach of your finest china may be your best ally in acquiring talented players. The rage monster may be quick to give up on a high draft pick who has been riddled with injuries. The rage monster see's little value in players who don't suit up on game day. You should have your eyes on the prize, knowing that an underperformer today may be a total stud come keep in the playoff race, The rage monster is more susceptible to trades that yield short-term gains in return for long-term successes.  

The Autodrafter:

The autodrafter rolls the dice, either by being unavailable for the draft or by running out of time due to indecision. These owners are generally weak minded and don't invest the same amounts of time and effort. Within the definition of the autodrafter is it's own greatest weakness. Most autodrafts are based on the best player available which could in fact, produce a hefty roster of players. Autodrafters do win championships, it's possible if the owner has great knowledge for the game or just drafts with an incredible amount of luck. The autodrafter tends to get players that no one else in the league is high on or has slept on. You could autodraft an impressive squad or a team with three Quarterbacks, two kickers and two special teams/ team defenses. 

Exploit:

While through luck or misfortune, the autodrafter's team will be filled with sleepers or aging hasbeens. Autodrafters tend to be newer or casual owners who neglect their lineups and disregard making roster moves unless absolutely necessary, The autodrafter leaves his team to luck and the almighty algorithm which drafted the team. No need to find weaknesses in the autodrafter's skill set. The autodrafter often defeats himself.

Mr. Feeling:

Mr. Feeling is the anti-Mr.Knowitall. He makes roster moves based on gut instincts alone with little to no research behind his moves. Mr. Feeling can waste precious roster spots on players who won't ever produce. Mr. Feeling bases most of his "gut" on the perceived skill of players. Mr. Feeling probably gets most of his information from one source or catches some of the hype in players from ESPN highlight reels and sports talk radio. 

Exploit:

Sell high on players he is enamored with. While it may be hard to acquire players from him that he admires, you may be able to coax out a player who has recently cooled down in the past few weeks. Fantasy Football is a whirlwind of emotion dictated by performance, water cooler chats and the media. Play to his inability to separate true value from his over-hyped and sometimes random "feels" for certain players.

Thanks for reading and tweet at us with any suggestions or questions. Don't forget to subscribe to get all the weekly updates!

Michael Muss