When Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals announced last week that David Johnson would be active for their game against the Giants, the fantasy football community took them at their word and started Johnson over his backup, Chase Edmonds.
Johnson played one series and never saw the field again. Twenty minutes and two Edmonds touchdowns into the game, it was then announced the plan all along was to have Johnson only used in an emergency.
How was this information not reported prior to kickoff? As a result, the rift between the fantasy industry and NFL teams, and the media’s failure to either obtain that info or get it out in time.
What is most amazing about all of this, though, is the fantasy community’s willingness to be led astray once again. The Chiefs are posting videos of Patrick Mahomes trotting around the practice field, alluding to the idea of their star quarterback returning from a dislocated knee in less time than the original minimum of three weeks.
The video shows Mahomes, at less than half-speed, doing a three-step drop and throwing the ball. There are no hits by defensive linemen and no quarterback roll-out, yet the fantasy community is suddenly of the mindset Mahomes could be under center as early as Sunday.
The same thing is happening in New Orleans. Earlier this week, reports from Saints beat writers announced Drew Brees had fully recovered from his thumb surgery and wanted to play this week against the Cardinals. The quarterback has declared himself a full-go.
Mind you, the medical staff has not cleared him and coach Sean Payton has said Brees’ status, at best, would be a game-time decision. The Saints have a Week 9 bye, and it would be more prudent to hold him out for an additional two weeks of rest and preparation, yet here comes the fantasy community ready to discard Teddy Bridgewater in favor of starting Brees in their lineups and no contingency plan in place.
Fantasy owners need to remember: Football is a business, and a team’s obligation, first and foremost, is to its bottom line. Though the fantasy community would like to see more hard-hitting news stories and more-detailed injury reporting, team websites are designed to get the fanbase hyped up each week in order to sell merchandise and tickets. If that means insinuating Mahomes is superhuman and can recover from a dislocated kneecap faster than the average man, so be it. If the prospect of Brees returning to the field ensures a sellout at the Superdome, that is what they will do.
An NFL team’s obligation is to no one but itself. As a fantasy owner, you need to both understand and accept it. It is your responsibility to set your lineups and, if injuries are prevalent, have a contingency plan in place. You are more than welcome to hold out hope for either quarterback to return, but if you don’t have an alternate ready for action, you’re only setting yourself up for heartbreak.
Howard Bender is VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays at 4 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football advice and NFL player rankings.
