"Ask the Expert" Question: The often arbitrary nature of the fantasy playoffs: Unfair, or part of the fun?

Fantasy Football Index Magazine "Ask the Expert" Question for the week: The often arbitrary nature of the fantasy playoffs: Unfair, or part of the fun?

Granted lady luck has some part in the fantasy football outcome, but I am tired of the loser in any given contest blaming “luck”. There are steps (and strategies) you can take to mitigate your risk. Some work, some do not and some work some of the time. Handcuffing your stud RBs backup is a perfect example. Those Larry Johnson owners, who whine about bad “luck” as he is suspended and traded, need to reflect on how they got in the situation in the first place. He was a “bad boy” going into the draft. You knew the risk! If you passed on getting LJs handcuff in Jamaal Charles, then you have nobody to blame but yourself for missing 31 points versus the Bills 30th ranked rush defense. Moreover, you will miss his gift of a good day this week versus the Browns 27th ranked rush D.

Likewise, if you kept just one kicker after the free agency period ended and he is John Carney or Shaun Suisham you are screwed. However, you made the choice to keep only one kicker and probably have an extra RB (who may have turned out to be Quinton Ganther-in which case the strategy worked). Had you gone with a back up kicker (for weather, injuries or suspensions) you might have eight or more points this week (or been without a RB or WR that may have been needed).

So stop blaming everyone but yourself. You draft. You add/drop. And you start/sit em.

ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly at http://www.fantasyindex.com/ with answers to a new question posted Thursday morning.

Sam Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Almanac 2009, all available at his website, http://www.ffguidebook.com/, at all major bookstores, and at http://www.amazon.com/. He is a 19-year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF), National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th overall in the 2008 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC).This year he is 6th overall in the Fantasy Football Players Championship (out of 228 players) going into Week 14.

Fantasy Football Tips: 201 Ways to Win through Player Rankings, Cheat Sheets and Better Drafting ($9.95) www.amazon.com/dp/0982428669

Fantasy Football Guidebook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Playing Fantasy Football ($19.95 on sale for $17.95) http://www.amazon.com/1602640203