Why do most leagues still use a DST and K?

Sandman62 · Post by **Sandman62** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:56 pm

I tried to make it clear that this isn't sour grapes; we too have benefited from our kickers and DSTs. But with kickers, excluding Akers, the difference between K2 and K14 was just 1 PPG. Given that and how late they're drafted suggests to me that it's simply a "wildcard". Some weeks they'll matter, some they won't. But there apparently isn't a whole lot of skill involved, IMO.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:58 pm

I don't think luck was the dominant factor for those who drafted Akers. He's long been one of the best kickers in the NFL and he was moving to a situation which seemed ripe for FG attempts given the 49ers' lack of offensive firepower. Those who targeted him got an elite fantasy player, no different than those who targeted Aaron Rodgers, LeSean McCoy or Calvin Johnson.

Akers doesn't play a glamour position but that doesn't change the fact he's an elite talent at the position he does play. The fact he has one of the strongest legs in the game enhances his value - both in terms of fantasy and to the 49ers. I posted the other day that Akers has been San Francisco's best offensive player. I don't think we should remove any team's best offensive player from fantasy.

I think we should reward and applaud those people who got elite talents, regardless of whether the position they play merits a TV commercial or not.

[ December 30, 2011, 07:01 PM: Message edited by: Tom Kessenich ]

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:14 pm

Originally posted by Chi_Town_FEW:
Sorry to revisit this so late, but I like the kicker and defense. In a 14 team format every starting spot is worth a lot. Akers was available in a lot of leagues on the wavier wire this year. If you are aggressive in those categories it can pay dividends. Joe Treffiletti's K and Def were worth 91 points in the championship round. George Melbrod's were worth 56.4. Joe won $100,00 grand by 27.27 points. Difference between K's and Def's, for Joe over George, 34.6.
I think they can help win a championship for sure. Ask Joe. Definitely. The right kicker and defense carry value. This season, defenses were completely unpredictable from week to week so if you hit on the right one, more power to you. I think you deserve to reap the rewards for the good calls you made.

There's no denying the luck factor in fantasy football. It's there and it's at every position. Look at Tom Brady last week. He had a big fantasy day due in large part to what? Two rushing touchdowns. He's obviously a fantasy stud, but how many of his owners were projecting one rushing TD for Brady last week, much less two?

Luck happens, good and bad. I lost 18 points last week because two of my WRs got stopped at the one-inch line and I had a fullback vulture a touchdown from my stud RB. On the flip side, I got a TD run from Tebow after a McGahee touchdown was overruled. So I had a couple breaks go against me and one go my way. It happens.

There's no way we're going to remove the luck factor from fantasy football. It's an inherent part of the game. But I think there's skill involved in targeting the right players, regardless of position. That's when the game is fun (for me anyway). And if those players get some good fortune too, it makes it even more enjoyable.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:24 pm

If I had put in Buffalo's defense last week, instead of the NYJ defense, I would have scored around 27 extra points in my championship game...It's a total roll of the dice, but then again, this is fantasy football...How many weeks did someone start a guy like Miles Austin and get no production, and watch a guy like Torrey Smith score 30+? A runningback like L.Blount play a full game only to see some Lumpkin character score more fantasy points...

There is a luck factor that is there. Except when I win. Then luck had nothing to do with it.

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:27 pm

Originally posted by Diesel:

There is a luck factor that is there. Except when I win. Then luck had nothing to do with it. Sig worthy.

Sandman62 · Post by **Sandman62** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 3:10 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:
quote:Originally posted by Diesel:

There is a luck factor that is there. Except when I win. Then luck had nothing to do with it. Sig worthy.

[/QUOTE]Like with you landing Akers this year, Tom?

[ December 31, 2011, 09:11 AM: Message edited by: Sandman62 ]

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:47 pm

How bout that David Akers.

larry schechter · Post by **larry schechter** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 4:35 pm

I totally disagree. I don't think there's any more luck with DEF and K than with other positions. It is possible to pick a DEF and K that are more likely to do well than most other DEF and K.

And I think it's not smart of everyone who waits till the last round to grab a kicker because they think it doesn't matter.

KenGill · Post by **KenGill** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:02 pm

I normally have two kickers and two defenses on my roster. That way you can try to get the best matchup each week. No way would I want to see these two positions go away in fantasy. They add to the strategy. Picking up the Seahawks defense about 2 months ago probably won me a satelite league this season.

Sandman62 · Post by **Sandman62** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:37 am

Originally posted by TOXIC ASSETS:
Picking up the Seahawks defense about 2 months ago probably won me a satelite league this season. You mean after they scored 11, 21 and 14 in three out of four weeks? :rolleyes: That's exactly my point - how hard is it to pickup a player or DST after they've shown what they can do this season, as opposed to predicting what they might do before we've seen them (on draft day)? I know that the same can be said for position players, but at least with them, there is some strategy that isn't necessarily based on already having seen good production (i.e. many WRs and TEs are picked up based on targets and future expectations that those targets will yield catches).

• SF was drafted 21st among DSTs and finished 1st.
• BUF drafted 27th, finished 6th.
• HOU drafted 29th, finished 10th.
• CIN drafted 31st, finished 12th.
• JAC drafted 32nd, finished 13th.
• PIT drafted 1st, finished 11th.
• NYJ drafted 3rd, finished 9th.
• NE drafted 5th, finished 14th.
• SD drafted 8th, finished dead last.

That means that in 14-team leagues, a startable NFFC DST could be acquired off waivers by 5 teams (or at least that some of us had the fortune of using our 2nd DST most of the season, whom we likely drafted in round 19 or 20). We really like that 35% of a position was meaningless on draft day?

Again, please remember that I've already admitted to benefiting from some of our DSTs (and Ks) too, so this is really just a suggestion - and much like any other suggestions... some gain momentum and yield improvements, others do not. But I understand that I'm apparently alone in thinking that these positions are a bit too volatile and would like to see their relevance reduced. It was worth a shot.

[ January 02, 2012, 10:12 AM: Message edited by: Sandman62 ]