Some of us remember why we say “rolling” a car window down.
Kids today probably don’t have to deal with that. They’ve never felt the annoyance of adjusting TV antennas or the thrill of finally getting a good reception on their favorite channel.
And the term “B-side”? Well, they likely don’t know what that really means.
To sum it up for those new to this: back in the day, music came out on vinyl records. If you didn’t want to buy the whole album, you’d get a single.
There were hits on the A-side that everyone wanted. But then you’d flip it to the B-side for a lesser-known song, which was often just another track from the same album.
I get it, you’re here to talk about fantasy football, not music history. But there’s a connection: think of your fantasy football roster’s B-side players.
They rarely fulfill their potential. Sure, sometimes you might find a surprising gem, but generally, even those fleeting moments last only a week or two during the season.
Most people won’t pay much attention to these players, except perhaps when bye weeks come around and you need to fill a spot.
Similarly, when looking at kickers in fantasy leagues, there’s really not much difference in value between the top kicker and the rest. You don’t have to blow your draft capital on the “best” simply because they top the draft board. After all, why buy the B-side?
Ultimately, B-sides faded out, replaced by newer and better options, just like your fantasy kicker might if your league is competitive.
Your best strategy for kickers? Join a league that doesn’t require them.
Fantasy Football Draft Value Quotient (DVQ)
Now, let’s discuss the latest update to the Fantasy Madman’s ranking system. It’s been refined and enhanced, making it leaner and more effective.
DVQ analyzes players deeply, balancing their values based on position depth. The ratings reflect where draft expectations meet actual production. Each pick in the draft has an assigned value of expected output, which decreases gradually with each pick. But real-world player performance can be unpredictable, often leading to a disparity in these evaluations.
If you’re planning to draft, familiarize yourself with this system and use the DVQ to guide you.
If drafting isn’t an option, consider waiting until the last round to select a kicker. Alternatively, skip over drafting a kicker entirely if your league rules allow it.
Instead, take a chance on other players, and when the time comes, drop a lower-potential player to pick up a kicker later from the waiver wire.
This highlights their limited utility in fantasy leagues. You can mostly ignore kickers if you want and focus on more impactful players.
But if you’re really in need of a B-side recommendation, consider Ka’imi Fairbairn. He might still be available after a tough previous season, and he’s on a competitive team that can score.
That’s my only B-side pick for today. Hopefully, your league will evolve beyond these outdated options soon. For now, I’m rolling that window back up—it’s getting chilly.
