If you don't learn something new every year, you're falling behind. Even when I'm not trying, I get reminded of lessons I never knew, forgot a long time ago, or didn't really believe until now. Here are just a few things I learned over the course of the fantasy season and beyond.
I learned that the waiver wire is still important. Sure, it's the only way you have to improve your team (outside of trades) so it's going to mean something. But this year, you could have made several mistakes on draft day or throughout the year, but rescued yourself with some shrewd pickups.
Let's put it this way. I know owners who won their leagues with Tim Hightower, Rashad Jennings and Allen Hurns. And that information won't surprise anybody. Go figure.
I learned that what coaches say is still not important. From depth charts to injuries, head coaches are about as honest as presidential candidates at a debate.
In my mind, Andrew Luck is still day to day. Really glad a kept a roster spot open for him all year.
I learned that depth matters. Maybe the Cowboys learned that, too. They were 3-1 with Tony Romo, and 1-11 without him. Talk about a lost season.
I learned that I'm not a great evaluator of rookie talent. In 1998, I wasn't sure if Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf would be the better NFL quarterback. But hey, I was young and silly, right?
Well, this past year I was convinced Jameis Winston didn't have what it takes to succeed in the NFL. Glad to be wrong about that, but kind of sad that I still have a lot of learning to do.
I learned that being a good sport still matters. In one league I had the best team and got bounced in the first round of the playoffs. In another I had the second-most points and didn't come close to qualifying for the post-season. In those cases you have to accept the results and face the expected mockery. I didn't like it, but it was the right thing to do.
But I also learned that's tough to do. Nobody blames Cam Newton for being down after losing the Super Bowl. But Josh Norman also lost, and he conducted himself in a much better manner in the post-game interviews. Coach Ron Rivera did the same thing. Losing my penny-ante leagues is nothing compared to the bright lights of the biggest football game of the year, but you still have to handle it right after a loss.
Facing the media might be the worst insult you can bestow on a losing athlete right after an emotional defeat. But that's part of the game. You have to do it, and do it with some degree of professionalism. Minnesota's Blair Walsh did it after he cost his team the game. I think Newton will do it in the future as well. He's only 26, after all, and already the league's MVP. Better days are ahead for him. The Panthers didn't win it all, but they have no reason to hang their heads after a 17-2 season.
I learned that you don't always get to go out on top. People talk about Peyton Manning's expected retirement as a Super Bowl champion, but Marshawn Lynch is also hanging up his cleats. An injury-riddled season was a poor follow up to a Super Bowl that could have ended much differently if he had just been given the ball at the end.
Lynch will retire a Super Bowl champion, but a three peat could have been a possibility if things had gone a little differently. Still, hats off to a great player.
I learned that doing your homework matters. For the Puppy Bowl at least. Hope you took my advice, because all three of my puppies scored in the big game.
Of course, I also learned that there are other ways of getting things done. My mom chose her puppies based solely on the cuteness factor, and her team was much better than mine. She had two of the three MVP finalists on her team, including the eventual winner. Oh, well. I did better than my girlfriend, at least.
Finally, I learned that the game is still great if you let yourself have fun with it. You go into every draft wanting to win, but you have to enjoy the season no matter how it turns out. Fantasy football keeps getting more technical, more mainstream and often more serious. But it's the relationships you have with your league mates and friends that make it worth playing.
So don't forget that, no matter the stakes, you're supposed to have a good time while doing it. I still enjoy the game after playing more than 20 years, and I still enjoy writing this column after more than 15 years. And that's because of you guys, the fantasy owners who understand the game, experience the highs and lows and offer great opinions in the comments section. I thank you for reading. It's much appreciated.
Enjoy the off-season, whatever that means these days. "The Walking Dead" is about to start back up. Netflix will release another season of "House of Cards" soon. "Game of Thrones" is also coming back, and one year we might even get another book in the series.
And hey, there's always hockey. It's about to get interesting. So enjoy the next few months, and I'll see you in the summertime.
Did you learn anything interesting this season? Share your thoughts below.
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