Fantasy owners have lineup decisions to make every week of the season. And in the playoffs, the stakes are even higher. For those games, some owners live by the motto "dance with the one that brung ya," a colloquialism that enrages English teachers and advises owners to stick with the players who got you where you are.

It's not only bad English. It's bad advice.

As you know, your team isn't a real team. The players don't practice together or go to team meetings. There's no team synergy, no hurt feelings when someone is benched and no internal politics or team veterans whose opinions need to be considered. Your fantasy team is made up of players who don't know they're on a team together and wouldn't care if they did. It's a "team" only in the manufactured universe of your league.

And that's a good thing. You don't have to answer to fans, agents or anyone else, except maybe a patient spouse who puts up with your hobby. You can make any decision you want with no regard to team chemistry, because there is no team chemistry. Your only job is start the guys you think will help you win your game. That's it.

Now, is it better to try and ride out the regular season with the best players? Sure. Over time they should prove their worth. They might not be great every week, but they should be consistent producers. And if they aren't, we give them the hook.

You can be more patient during the season, of course. You don't have to go 14-0 to make the playoffs. But you do have to go 2-0 or maybe 3-0 to win a title. You can't afford to ride out a bad game or slump. So that "dance" stuff should go right out the window. When you have to win, you have to put yourself in a position to win. And sometimes that means leaving normal starters out of the lineup.

I know an owner who benched Tom Brady for Colin Kaepernick in week 15. If that happened in the NFL, the coach would be fired before the first punt. And I know many fantasy owners who wouldn't have done it, even if they say they would. It's one thing to talk about it. It's another to actually do it.

But he did it. Facing the Broncos on the road called for a running gameplan, and that's exactly what the Patriots did. They did throw a little, but it wasn't a day for Brady to flex his muscles. And while Kaepernick could have melted down, the Falcons offered a more tempting matchup. Even in a 41-13 blowout, Kaepernick threw a couple of scores and did a little running. The difference in fantasy points was significant.

It doesn't always pay off, of course. I benched Jarvis Landry for J.J. Nelson that same weekend. I drafted Landry in August, and Nelson barely had time to unpack his hypothetical bags before I threw him in the lineup. Now, I admit I didn't see Matt Moore throwing four touchdowns. I figured Landry would put up a pedestrian 3-30 or so. And if the Jets could make a basic tackle on a play that became a long touchdown, that's what he would have had.

On the other side, I thought Nelson would crack 40 yards receiving. And if he had caught a gimme touchdown pass, he would have had a fantastic night. But he didn't, and Landry was the better play.

I still defend that move, though. I started the guy who I thought would have opportunities for long touchdown receptions in a shootout over the guy I thought would be a marginal, possession receiver with a journeyman quarterback. I didn't dance with the one that brung me. I started the player I liked better for that week. It didn't work out, but the rationale was sound and the opportunities were there. We can't control what happens on the field. We only control who we start, and hope they get opportunities to shine.

I got lucky and survived that move, and there are some players I'd keep in the lineup regardless of matchup. But I won't hesitate to do something similar if I think it's the right call.

If you think the player who got you there is the best guy to start, go for it. But if you think someone else has a better chance of helping you win, you have to go that route. There's no worse feeling than knowing the right move, still not making it and watching it cost you. If you lose based on that decision, you'll live with it a lot easier than getting kicked out of the playoffs because you were afraid to run your team.

Whenever possible, think like the late Al Davis. He didn't care what anyone thought: Not fans, not coaches, not players, not the NFL. He did what he thought was best for his team. It didn't always work out. Let's be honest; it usually didn't. But he didn't seem like someone who lost any sleep over it. When he owned the Raiders, there was no doubt who was in charge.

Right now, you're in charge. Nobody wants to lose, but you'll be okay if you go down swinging with the players you really want in the lineup. That's a lot better than wondering why you couldn't pull the trigger, even though you had the title in your sights. But Pick your dance partner and accept the results, no matter what. I hope they work out in your favor. Good luck this week.

Have you ever failed to make the decision you knew was the right choice, and it cost you? Did you ever take a fantasy risk and have it pay off? Share your stories below.