You Missed the Playoffs... Now What?

We are coming to the end of the fantasy football season. Some teams have clinched a playoff berth, and some have clinched a losing season. What if you are one of the latter?

There are some things every manager should and should not do in this scenario. No one likes to be in a league with bad managers. Whether it be the ones who forget to set lineups or those who make trades that are clearly only done to help their friends. These managers should be replaced immediately and reported so no one else gets into a league with them.

How you handle yourself after being eliminated from playoff contention says something about you. Of course, if your league has a consolation bracket to determine draft order, this may be a bit different. But if you are in a league that has a simple playoff bracket of the top teams, then there are a few things that should never happen by a team that is eliminated.

Don't Pick Up Players Off Waivers

Do not be this person. You are out of the playoffs, but you decide to be the jerk who continues to make high-priority waiver claims just to spite others. Not only is this crappy to do to your league mates, but it also shows them exactly why you should not be in the league.

Whether you think this is just a joke or whether you have ulterior motives, this offense is unforgivable. Think of it as the fantasy football version of the Cruciatus curse in Harry Potter.

Most leagues have a setting turned on in which eliminated teams are unable to add players from waivers. If your league does not, make sure to ask the commissioner to turn it on. It will save a lot of headaches and a lot of hurt feelings.

Don't Dump Good Players on Waivers

This one may be even more egregious than taking players off waivers. Not only are you trashing the rest of your season, but you are also causing a fight in the rest of the league. Sure, DK Metcalf might not be doing much lately and you don't care if he's in your lineup when you're eliminated anyway, but allowing a contending team to add him at the Flex rather than hoping for a big game from Donovan Peoples-Jones could alter the outcome of a playoff game.

You would never drop him in a regular situation, so this should be your same mindset through the entire season. This is why many leagues have a no-cut list. Whether it be provided by the platform or another form, this needs to be followed. The only exception should be made for season-ending injuries such as for Christian McCaffrey or now DeAndre Hopkins.

Again, if this happens, the commissioner needs to step in. The player involved immediately needs to be placed back on the offending roster and the manager immediately blocked from making any moves. I am aware this may seem obvious, but it still needs to be done. Not everyone can see the obvious right in front of their face.

Keep Setting Your Lineup

This may seem insignificant but it shows you are still involved in the league and have integrity.

Nothing is worse than a manager who quits halfway through a season. They get off to a bad start or have some injury misfortune and just phone it in. It is also bad as many leagues use the NFL format for draft selection the next season. If this is the case, a person who does not set their lineup should be penalized one draft slot for each week they do not set a lineup. It is also an apparent reason we should be using expected points available for positioning. If you do not set a lineup, the points available by your best available players should be used to determine your slot, like a best ball league.

Tanking is one thing. You can still tank and set a legitimate lineup. At least, by setting any lineup with active and non-injured players, you are showing you still care about the league. Dynasty is a whole other issue because draft picks become valuable currency. In single-season redraft leagues, tanking is poor form but still better than not putting a lineup at all.

Finally, the most important thing to remember:

Continue the Trash Talk

Who says the trash talk has to stop when you are eliminated? There is nothing better, or funnier, than someone who is already out of contention coming down on those left.

It may seem crazy to heckle someone, this may be true, but fantasy football is supposed to be fun. So, we need to make sure it is. There is nothing wrong with wondering if someone would have won had they made that trade with you earlier in the season for their player who is now injured. Or had they not lost to you, they would have played the other team who scored less and not the team who went off this week.

Trash talk is a needed and fun part of any league. It needs to be kept tasteful and respectful, but it needs to be done. If you cannot beat them on the field, you might as well make them laugh off it. And this is coming from a blind guy who constantly makes blind puns. So, follow my lead. Unless we are near the edge of a cliff. In which case, I will follow you.

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