Head-to-head strategy: Winning tips
The use of traditional rotisserie scoring often results in owners beginning to abandon their squads as they sink out of contention. The ability to clear the slate and start from scratch each Monday morning keeps owners active and involved in the game. And like every contest, there's a million ways to achieve victory. In this column, I present several basic strategy points to help you achieve fantasy dominance.
1. Always Work For Balance
This principle doesn't change at all from the rotisserie world. The massive power totals from players such as Adam Dunn or Dan Uggla that help boost your totals in three categories will leave you wanting in the batting average and stolen base departments. As such, the value of players who contribute sizable totals across the board skyrockets. The selection of Alex Rodriguez, David Wright or emerging heroes such as B.J. Upton or Curtis Granderson allow fantasy owners to create a tremendous baseline upon which to build their squads. Similarly, pitching staffs anchored by a four-category hero such as Jake Peavy or Brandon Webb begin each week on a positive note. They rarely post a miserable start to obliterate the ERA and WHIP categories.
2. Find vultures
It's one of my favorite terms in fantasy sports, applied in fantasy baseball and for the goal-line monsters of fantasy football. In baseball terms, we're talking about those middle relievers who work in relative obscurity and pick up a few saves. They usually come in for an out or an inning before giving way to the closer. However, many of the players who toil in this role can be of great help to fantasy owners in all five categories. You've got strikeout artists such as Carlos Marmol and Jonathan Broxton, who post smallish ERA and WHIP numbers and offer contributions in win and save categories. Scot Shields of the Angels won 39 games in the past six years. Hideki Okajima of the Red Sox won three games, picked up five saves and offered stellar ERA and WHIP numbers. These players are the unsung heroes in Major League Baseball, but they're well known and prove to be true difference-makers in the fantasy realm.
3. Work The Waiver Wire
Playing in a head-to-head league allows fantasy owners to use the waiver wire more liberally. Typically, the last roster spots on a fantasy baseball squad (or any fantasy team, for that matter) are reserved for players who will be counted upon only in the event of injury or prolonged slumps. Owners must remain mindful of their progress toward games played and innings caps. Caps don't come into play in head-to-head leagues. Rather, owners look to maximize their contributions in each category for the short duration of a week-long matchup. As such, they'll be more active on the waiver wire, as there's an opportunity to exact speedy returns.
The major league schedule generally affords fantasy owners at least two opportunities to plug holes in a roster during a given week. There are generally only a handful of games on the slate each Monday and Thursday. Therefore, owners can push to the waiver wire for a spot play in an advantageous matchup. Schedule watching goes one step further, as owners can work the wire for the week ahead. If a hitter is traveling to Coors Field or Great American Ballpark, he may be worth a look-see on the wire. Similarly, if a pitcher is set up for a start in a spacious field such as RFK Stadium or Dolphins Stadium, they might be of use in four categories. Owners will also look to bolster their stats with two-start pitchers (We'll be sure to give you those projections each week on the pages on FOXSports.com to help your efforts).
4. Use Self-Preservation
Participation in a head-to-head league also presents one of the more controversial strategy possibilities. Unless it's explicitly spelled out in your league's rules that you must start a player if they have a game on the day the week ends, there will come a time where you may choose to sit down an individual player or multiple players in order to preserve a win. For instance, you hold a slight lead over your opponent in the batting average, WHIP or ERA category. A hitless day or weak outing on the mound could shift the balance and send you to a category loss. Certainly, your opponent may make a move to the waiver wire and pick up a player to plug in for that final day to beat you, but wouldn't you rather put the pressure on your opponent to make the right acquisition?
Some owners in your league will bemoan the use of this technique. They'll call it cheating or bad sportsmanship. They'll openly question your integrity. But, they'll turn around and use the strategy themselves when given the opportunity.
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| Julio Lugo doesn't produce in all the categories, but his stolen bases can save fantasy owners in head-to-head leagues. (Nick Laham / Getty Images) |
5. Don't punt
In straight rotisserie leagues, the idea of punting a category altogether is abhorrent to many. However, the ability to deal a team's lone closer or stolen base threat may help bolster their efforts in the remaining categories. After all, owners cannot receive lower than a score of one in the category. Being the lowest-ranked team in a category yields the same point total regardless of whether you are 10 units behind the leader or 100.
This strategy doesn't hold true in head-to-head leagues. The retention of even a single player who contributes heavily to a category such as saves or stolen bases may still spur you to a category win. A closer such as Todd Jones (38 saves) or middle infielder such as Julio Lugo (33 stolen bases) could be a difference-maker. Similarly, deft manipulation of the waiver wire (as detailed above) will help make up deficits in a hurry. There's no need to worry about the overall season total. You may still have the lowest number of saves or stolen bases for the full season. It's a week-long sprint where a midseason acquisition can turn the tide for a particular matchup.
6. The Basic Principle: Know Your Rules
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Overall: Catcher: First base: Second base: Shortstop: Third base: Outfield: Starting pitcher: Middle reliever: Closers: | ||
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As much as I hate to add this point to the list, it must be said. Often times, fantasy owners join leagues and fail to account for the subtleties in the setup. Most head-to-head leagues will be a straight replication of the standard rotisserie configuration with 10 categories. However, the league commissioner may occasionally expand the configuration to include categories such as Holds and OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) to expand the player base and boost the strategy level.
While pitchers such as Heath Bell, newly extended Jon Rauch or Broxton have value in the traditional setup, they ascend to another level with the addition of the Holds category. Similarly, the downside of Dunn's or Pat Burrell's batting average is mitigated by their sizable OPS totals.
Also, remember to note the minimum innings requirement for your league. Normally, the required number is very attainable, but there's been a movement to increase the number of innings required and force owners to move beyond a staff loaded with closers and middle relievers.
I'll be back with more tips and tricks in my blog as we approach the heart of draft season. Pitchers and catchers will begin packing very soon.
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